I went to bed with that thought in mind. Unable to sleep, I sit by the window. I can see the sea and the infinite darkness beyond. I can't see any stars. The darkness is truly blinding. Maybe, there's nothing really there. Maybe it's hollow. I should have given up on my dream a long time ago.
I sighed. I feel very sad. It truly feels like a prison. I wanted to explore. I wanted to discover new places. I wanted to get out of this unbelievable place. I wanted to find the truth with my own eyes. I have this strong desire to be FOUND.
Morning came. I thought about it a lot. Maybe attending the Adji is something I got to use too. It's only for three days. Maybe, once I become a chief, I just need to wait for the Roro to become extremely old that he can no longer kill me with his fist when I abolished the useless belief.
I'm saying all of these but my feet found its way on the cliff again, my favorite hiding place of the island. I immediately turned around after realizing my stupidity.
"If I'm not going to attend the 'Adji', Roro will certainly kill me this time."
I tried to convince myself but it's useless.
But that's what you got to do!
I can hear my conscience clear and loud.
Ok, just for three days. Just for-
I can't move from shock and amazement. There's something, no more like SOMEONE in the sky! It glides beautifully on the air before going down on the back of the mountain.
I never saw anything like that before. The foreign clothing and material, I instantly knew it wasn't from here.
I'm shaking. I pinched my cheek just to know if I'm not dreaming. It hurts. At that moment, every doubt I had a while ago disappears. I won. That someone is my savior and my key to freedom. I got to find him.
If my estimate is correct, that being should be in the Thorny forest. The forest has an amazing waterfall but since its home to thorny and scratchy plants, it's off-limits to children, much alone elders.
I run with excitement. My heart is beating fast. As a hunter and explorer, I'm used to the steep and difficult layout of the mountain. The chief also trained me on how to trace runaway animals from subtlest signs.
It didn't take me that long to find the 'outsider'. The thing he was riding got caught on the tree branch. That only means, he's near.
I come closer, skillfully dodging the poisonous plants and thorns. I took out my arrow in case something happens. I might not be as monstrous as the chief but I'm confident with my strength and flexibility.
"Wha-ha-ha-ha-ha! I can't believe I'm still alive. I was so scared. Hear that folks! I'm still alive! The man that's slightly younger than the chief laugh gloriously as he raises both of his hands on the sky while kneeling on the ground.
Not far away from him is a thick bag. Strange items have protruded from the torn parts of the bag. Is he struggling to land?
Dum. Dum.
My fast beating heart reminds me of my mission. This is the day. The day that I got to prove to everyone we're living on a lie.
I take another step closer.
One
Two
Three
I counted. Ten seconds more and the man will feel the itchiness on his body.
Four
Five
Seven
Just like I predicted, the smile on the man's face disappeared a few seconds after. I bet his whole body is burning from the itchiness. The scratchy trees and plants have been doing their job. He'll be on that painful torture until sunset.
"Ah, so itchy. Ahhhh… So itchy. I'm going to die from the itchiness."
He fell on the ground while scratching his entire body. He must have a way to alleviate the tickling pain for he stopped panicking and start crawling towards his bag. Before he has the chance to, I stamp his arm.
"Who are you?" Naturally, you'll give a stranger a threatening look after finding them in your territory. Despite trying my best to do that, my eyes spark with excitement.
"Geek!" He was obviously shocked to see me. He eyed me from head to toes. I know how he feels. Everything about me might be strange to him. My clothing, my accessories, and even my neatness.
"Ah, so scratchy. Move your foot. I have to scratch my back!"
I feel sorry for him so I remove my foot. Since I don't have an intention to give him the upper hand, I rolled his bag on the edge of a cliff, near the waterfall.
"Idiot, what are you doing?!" He shouted.
"Move or I'll throw your things below."
"Ok, I won't- No sorry. I have to move to scratch my body. Ah, what the hell is this place? I'm allergic to your plants or something?"
While he's busy scratching his body, I opened his bag with the edge of my arrow. I saw a couple of things, some flat, curb, and close. I know hard objects.
I can also see fine papers bind between thicker papers. There are well-folded papers too that contain fluffy and fine scented smooth materials. I look at his things with extreme curiosity. Are they things from the outside world? What are they for?
"My foods! Don't touch my food!" He shouted.
"Is this food?" Indeed, it smells sweet. Since I have a high tolerance to poison, I tasted it without hesitation.
"It's delicious!"
I was so happy while looking at his shocked face. I bet he might have figured out now what type of person I am.
"Perhaps, y-you have never seen these before?" He gives me a puzzled look.
"God, did I truly arrive on the isolated island?!"
I didn't reply. Rather, my curiosity lands on the binded papers. I noticed this while going through his things. Even though there are terms I'm not familiar with, I can understand the words written on the material. I think it's possible since we speak in the same language.
I open the bonded papers and started to read the first page.
"The Blessed and Cursed
Written by Zilla Mana
"Ah, my precious collection! Don't touch it. I camp for three days outside the store just to get the first edition of that fictional book!" The strange man shouted again.
"Old man, what is a fictional book?"
"Huh, you don't know what's a fictional book is? You know, a made-up story for entertainment!"
I nod while playfully pushing and pulling his bag at the edge of the cliff, just to threaten him to answer my questions.
"Hey kid, I can see that you're curious but you don't need to hold my bag hostage! I'll answer all of your questions ok, but first, I need my medicine to get rid of this itchiness."
"You have that kind of medicine?" How advanced the outside world is?
"Of course! That's basic knowledge. Now, please pass to me the small blue container in the bag."
"Why should I do that? You might escape."
"Hah! Do you think I have somewhere to go? Since you're living in isolation, I bet your clan will get rid of an outsider like me, right?"