I was gravely offended by his words, despite knowing I mustn't make the topic of my works to be a sensitive manner. My head was burning with rage but I felt the need to not let that anger set my tongue ablaze.
"Where should I start then?" I made a calm response whilst I opened the door.
"You may start whenever, Alastair, be it the moment you picked up your pen or the moment it all came to you so suddenly like lightning." Richard stated.
I laid down the bucket right next to the fireplace and laid myself down upon the couch inside of the lounge area. I dwelled upon the thought of how I started the story in the first place until my eyes met the very top of a tower in the town square through my window. I sat up to look at the vague image of the Greenberg town square much more clearly. My memories finally started to flow into my mind clearly and easily like the running waters of the river outside.
"Have you made yourself comfortable, Richard?" I asked while I also fixed a proper sitting position.
"Very much so, Alastair" answered Richard who sat on the chair at the right side of my couch.
"Very well then," I made myself ready and prepared my words carefully in my mind to avoid stuttering, "It began two summers ago." I spoke.
On a normal day where the sky would shine brightly upon the enthusiast and melt the pessimist, I walked down the streets of the town square to purchase vegetables, meat, or any kind of ingredient I could use to create either an edible dish or the devil's concoction. Hearing things such as gossip, politics, or family affairs did not bother me at first until the chattering would go on continuously even when children were out on the stone street to play with their dolls or fanciful mock swords. Their words were eventually able to pass through my wall of ignorance and seemingly, the way people functioned altogether had caught my interest.
I learned more about how people would talk, argue, and interact with each other. Hearing things such as a relative's marriage coming soon or a couple's decision to separate despite their marital vows, my ears became more attentive to people's affairs.
My thoughts became disorganized and my mind was no longer occupied with my current errands. I wanted to know more about the lively events and actions of the people but of course, it would be rude of me if they noticed my prying further into their affairs. After all, I would consider myself to be envious of their lively chatter.
Since I could use some new material other than the wonders of nature and the beasts that roam upon it, it then became my goal to know more about other people and to see if the raw emotions expressed around me can be translated well unto paper. I continued to do my errands and listened to more of the people's gossip in secrecy. There were many exchanges filled with words of happiness, sadness, anger, grief, envy, greed and so many more emotions that continued to fuel my curiosity.
While continuing my endeavors, I soon found myself in quite a predicament. As I was purchasing fruits and vegetables from a stand, a passerby had come to the store. She walked towards my right side and called for my attention in some foreign language. I felt a slight curiosity she harbored within her tone and I became curious as to what she might want from me so I asked if she may speak into a tongue that was the same as mine.
"Oh, I'm sorry, are you from around here? I thought you might have been a newcomer in this place." The woman asked as her face was brought close to mine.
"Yes, but I live quite a distance from here which is why I'm not well acquainted with most of the people." I responded.
"I see, I thought that you may have been someone I know of." She said in a disappointed manner but she seemed to try to speak again to avoid an awkward interaction, "So, would it be okay if I were to ask what might be your name and line of work?" She asked in a friendly manner.
"My name is Alastair and I am a writer of sorts, miss, would it be okay if I were to ask you of yours?" I kept my head down to avoid eye contact and tried to be as polite as I can with her.
"Of course, I'm Elizabeth Lafitte and I'm a teacher of foreign languages to the children here." The way she smiled while she spoke made her face brighter than the summer sun, "Since you are a writer yourself, Alastair, would it be fine if I were to come by your home and ask for stories so that I may use them when I can for my classes?" Her one request and my acceptance of it were able to grow our conversation into one that would last for hours as we knew more of each other.
Despite the unforeseen circumstances of our encounter, I am still grateful for meeting her on that day and I am even more delighted to realize that I had gained inspiration and a new friend for my project.
"I don't quite seem to follow how her presence affected your writing." Richard had stated, bringing my senses back to the quiet and empty reality I had been in.
"At the time, I thought of what character should the protagonist have before I began the process of writing the plot. It was then that I thought of her and decided that the protagonist would be crafted after her image." I responded.
"I see" As Richard was about to continue his sentence, he noticed a distant figure and told me, "It seems that we might have a guest, Alastair." He pointed out towards the window where the rider on horseback could be seen.
The sight of an incoming familiar figure from the northern window and the faint noises of hooves colliding with the ground was able to urge me to clean up the interior whilst I only had a few seconds left. Once the interior looked more presentable, I made myself ready as well and walked towards the door to greet the visitor.
Upon opening my door, it seemed that I had been greeted by two radiant and beautiful suns. One of them rode upon the blue skies whilst the other was mounted upon a young stallion.
"You seem to be early today, Elizabeth, you usually arrive when the sun is just about to set." I greeted my now long-acquainted friend, Elizabeth.
"The summer season had just freed both me and my students from the burdens of academics and I thought if it would be best if I could use your meadowy land to spend my free time, Alastair" Elizabeth spoke as she dropped down from her saddle and fixed her attire, "I don't suppose you had brought something interesting to help pass the time while we eat?"
"Not so, I was hoping that you may be the one to do that." How terrible, it seemed that our time today might become awkward.
I thought to myself as I looked at Elizabeth about how I was never able to complete my latest work despite the abundant knowledge on human thinking and emotion that she had freely supplied to me. Perhaps if love were to be present between us, I would be able to fully understand many more things about human thinking. Then again, I would not go as far as having to fall into a dangerous trap.
Elizabeth, a woman of many tongues, delightfully set her package of food on the table as she entered my home. Her jubilant smile had already filled the insides with her enthusiasm. Her presence would cause my heart to feel as if it were wrenched and tightened by a malevolent spirit.
"Come now, Alastair" She had called for me, "Surely if I were to request even a small fable or poem, your imagination would not fail so easily, would it?" She asked me to create something for entertainment.
I slightly grew embarrassed and daunted by her demand. Yet if I were to fail at creating fiction so easily, I would have to forfeit my right to live and to write altogether. Mustering up the courage as I approach the tableside, I had decided to recall the beginning of the story that I could not finish; and since Richard was also present within my home, he stayed by the lounge area since he knows I would speak of my unfinished work just by looking upon my nervous face. I, being now well collected and composed, sat down and initiated a friendly and hopefully long talk with my friend. She, in turn, fills her cup with tea and asks me to satiate her appetite with a story.
"The story I have in mind begins with a young maiden" I began explaining certain details to her first before I started narrating.
"Intriguing, would you consider her appearance and features to be beautiful?" Elizabeth made a joke as I explained.
"Indeed, she is" I chuckled, "Is it wrong to want and chase after beauty?" I responded with a question.
"If beauty is all there is to seek, then why would I want to know of a story from an orc such as yourself?" Oh dear, such harsh joking had come from Elizabeth, "Forgive me, please, continue."
As I had said, the story begins with a young maiden named Sylvia. As young as she was, she yearned for the eyes of others to see her in a more mature light. She was driven by a powerful resolve that would eventually lead her to form a small band of friends and journey across the world to find their own hearth. Sylvia's resolve, as fervent and unwaning as it was, would eventually curse her future.
"She becomes blinded by her own ambitions I presume?" Elizabeth interjected.
"Obviously, that would be a given, but in addition to her ambitions, something else would come in and curse her life."
A devil, whose looks are as deceptive as wine laced in poison, would come and exploit Sylvia's drive to entrap her within his palm easily. On one eerie night in her room, the devil appears before the maiden at the foot of her bed just before she could leave and abandon her family in the morning. There were no words exchanged between the two but there was only Sylvia's inexplicable fear and the devil's soul-piercing gaze. "It is as if I'm being judged", Sylvia thought, and her theory was merely half right. For the devil had been making his plans and is now judging to what use Sylvia can accomplish and to what extent can she fulfill his needs.
"You…" The devil had finally spoken, "You follow the wants of your heart without questioning it at all as if you are unbound from the laws of this world and you pursue it knowing that it might take a grave cost from you."
The girl's words could not be properly expressed through her mouth, but with the tears in her eyes diluted with her fear, it was clear that she had the intention of rebuking the devil.
"It is because that I know this is what my destiny requires of me!" she would shout within her mind's chamber, "No matter the trial presented unto us, we will endure knowing that at the end of our journey there lays our own home and country!" Her resolve was unwavering still as if she was persuaded with hearsay that Heaven had made its domain on the world.
"Then answer me, child" The devil spoke to her directly without showing any signs of taking offense, for he had heard her thoughts as it echoed out from the mind, "What is it that attracts you to this purpose you proclaim so gallantly about? A calling? A premonition of curses that may come upon your estate and familial line? Or could it be that your heart wills you to do so and you follow it simply because it is your heart's word?" It was made clear that the devil planned to test her integrity but for what purpose could he want it?
"Would it be wrong to follow the desires of the heart? If God had created our hearts for us to live and to love, then would it not be also God-willing if we were to follow what our hearts say of ourselves? It would be unreasonable to not know what the heart wants!" Sylvia gave her answer with all of her heart, and the devil, whose current business had already been finished, gave no further exchange and left the confines of her room.
Sylvia finally calmed down after the devil was nowhere to be seen. As she laid back down to sleep, she thought if she should take the devil's words to heart or not. It was a conflict of conscious decision making but Sylvia would eventually try to ignore his spoken words and sleep peacefully thinking that the devil who appeared in her room was but an illusion brought about by her sense of doubt.
As the day of her journey dawned, so did her body urge her to leave immediately and to prepare her needed luggage. She threw her bags out the window and prepared herself to jump out of the window as well. Even though her plans had pushed through with her friends, she could no longer face her journeys with excitement or courage for the burning memory of the devil's image had scarred her confidence.
She continued to run into the deep wood despite her fears and came across a wagon prepared by her two friends. These friends, Joseph and Mary, were well acquainted with Sylvia ever since their infant days. Joseph prepared the wagon from his family's barn whilst Mary brought a bag of food and a canteen of water to satiate their journey-worn appetites. The now united group of three embraced each other dearly and made confirmations that all of their preparations were complete.
They all boarded the wagon whilst Joseph sat in front to drive the horse. The trio easily succeeded in escaping their family homes for the sake of following their own dreams and desires. But the journey they would take will soon have its own hindrances just like any other story.
The three rode in the wagon for almost the entirety of the day. Mary had proposed to Joseph that he would stop and rest the horses in a decent hiding spot. Joseph was inclined to take her up on her request but he completely refused to do so once he had laid his eyes upon a group of distant lights.
As those lights flickered in the distance, the hopes of the three would begin to rise again since they may have just found a proper place to find rest in. Sylvia and Mary insisted Joseph to move faster like they were impatient toddlers bothering their parents. Fortunately for Joseph's suffering ears, they were able to arrive into the lively, bustling, and lit-up town within less than an hour. As they entered, they noticed a sign that greeted them with the town's name, "Mightily Stand" which was the given title.
With almost every corner of the place lit up, the streets and shops of the town were occupied with large amounts of people as if a festival had been taking place. Sylvia peaked her head out of the wagon as they traversed to ask any of the random civilians what was the special occasion of the night.
Many men and women heard of her question and altogether they rejoiced the same words, "Freedom and liberty! Each and every day!". It was as if all of the citizens within the town were placed under a spell, a jubilant spell that is, whereas everyone seemed to enjoy themselves in ecstasy. The strange and joyful atmosphere did not cause any of the three to suspect what has befallen this town one bit.
As they carefully traversed through the thick crowds, Joseph was able to find a proper area to park his wagon, and the two girls who desperately waited, quickly got off and dived into the wondrous ocean of lights and festivities. Soon enough, the two thought it was best that they should stay here in Mightily Stand. Men were seen gallivanting around showing off their riches arrogantly and women were merrily dancing around in pleasure. Consumed by the pride of their lives, it was no mystery as to why they were all rejoicing and jubilant.
However, what did pose as a question to Sylvia and Mary was that there were no other children in the town other than themselves and Joseph. No matter the direction their eyes looked toward, no one within their age group could be seen. In an attempt to feed their curiosity, Sylvia pulled the sleeve of a random man on the street to ask him.
"Sir, might I ask what has become of the children here?" Sylvia asked with friendly intent within her but the man was able to look past her intent and realized what kind of person he was speaking to.
"You will find no other children like you here for it is by law that all citizens fend for themselves only. If a woman were to bear a child the next day, she must leave the newly born child at the edge of town so that it may fend for itself." The man answered Sylvia in a rude, belittling tone.
"How absurd, then that would mean there will be no future people for this place." Sylvia was shocked at such a tradition.
"On the contrary, almost everyone you see here was born in this town. For once a newly-born child is taken to the edge of town, nature and fate will decide the baby's ability to live on as a fully grown adult." The man smiled as if he profited from her distraught reactions.
"You mean to say that in a child's developing years, they become raised as if beasts were their parents and live out their childhood as a savage creature of nature?" Her anger became more present with each passing second.
"We may indeed seem to be raised that way, but the reason why we stand here as humane members of the community is how much we cater to our curiosities and desires. Like me, I learned how to speak and to work as a man just by watching and learning from those who used to live here. As for my sustenance, the beasts of the forest were able to provide for me when I was young. From the moment I had reached adulthood, fate had presented unto me the father who had put me in my mother's womb. I killed him with my own hands so that I may wear his clothes that you see now and inherit his wealth." The man had suddenly opened up and explained his gruesome childhood that had caused Sylvia and Mary to be disturbed rather than angered.
"Did you not feel any sort of guilt from taking his life? How could such a son commit a heinous act against his own father?" She continued to speak in horror of Mightily Stand's truth.
"Of course, there was no guilt within me, for I have already told you before, all citizens of this place must fend for themselves and only themselves. Since his death was profitable to me, my act of murdering him was good and since I find pleasure in vice, it is, therefore, moral to me drink and sleep as much as I want to for that is the purpose which I have created for myself." As he finished his words, both Sylvia and Mary were taken aback upon realizing the horrid truth of everyone who lived here.
They ran as fast as they could in search of Joseph, hoping that they may leave as quickly as possible. As they continued to run and called out his name, Joseph was unknowingly attracted by their voices and stumbled upon a few bystanders as he tried to run past those people. Those who were pushed around by Joseph's reckless running became easily angered.
Soon, a majority of the town became bitter enemies of the three and already agreed to have them killed. However, the people who had not even interacted with the children did not interfere with the matter simply because there was nothing to gain from it. With swift movements and agile evasions, the three were able to use their small childlike physiques to their advantage making themselves difficult to strike with the blade.
The trio ran inside a vacant building, completely void of any people, and barricaded the door with as much furniture as they could gather from the interior. With no other exit located, the three could only pray for salvation to come and prepare for the event that the people may come through their defenses. The three sat down on the creaking, dust-covered, hardwood floor to accept their inevitable doom. How cruel it must be to have our journey end abruptly, Sylvia thought to herself, for as they all left their homes with bright hopes during the day, their hopes and expectations were consumed as the night sky ruled the world. The people continued to break apart the entire front wall of the house but a heavenly light that descended from the sky above had caused them to stop.
In the center of Mightily Stand, there appeared an angel in all of its glory. From its blinding light, a humanlike figure came forth to speak with the people. Three pairs of wings came out from its behind whereas the top and bottom pair covered the angel's face and feet whilst the remaining pair of wings kept the angel above the town's littered roads. With only small movements of the mouth, the angel could bring all of the citizens of the town to their knees.
"For centuries, the land that The First One has given unto this people has been horribly desecrated. You drown your lives in pleasure and of the heart's wants yet you do not lay your lives for anyone else but your own selves. Those who were born here have been left in the outskirts of this place by their own mothers and have been raised by animals. This is my last plea for all who walk these roads, turn away from these selfish desires, and return to The One who had spared your lives when you were children." The angel spoke powerfully to the people as it rebuked their ways. Its voice could cover the entirety of Mightily Stand easily and could speak in every language created as if he was speaking in all tongues at once.
The people slowly stood up from the ground and looked at the angel with contempt rather than awe. Everyone outside took a moment to think until they had decided to pick up small stones from the street and throw them at the angel. The children watched from the house's window as the angel seemingly avoided every throw without even moving. The angel stood patiently and wore a miserable face as it witnessed everyone taunting and mocking the angel's message, saying that angels and the heavens have no purpose here. The angel shined its light once again to bring everyone back onto their knees again.
"We have heard the choices uttered from your mouths and souls. We know now that none who live here would want our presence to stay, and for that, the presence of The First One shall leave this place, and ownership of this land shall be transferred to the flora and fauna surrounding it." Said the angel one last time and disappeared from the town within an instant.
Shouts of joy were raised and so were curses against Heaven were heard. For a few glorious minutes, the people danced and celebrated once more until a band of trumpets was heard from the dark forest. All of their joy and laughter were flushed out by the divine sounds of the forest trumpets and what remained in their frail bodies were nothing but fear and anxiety. From every entrance of the town, there came groups of animals from all sorts of species that had come to devour the ones who occupied their rightfully owned land. There were bears that butchered people in two, birds that plucked out eyes, deer that thrusted their antlers towards people, creeping bugs that asserted dominance by venturing inside the people's bodies, and even squirrels were there to bite and chew out fingers and toes off of people.
Fortunately for the young trio, they remained inside the house and stayed silent throughout the whole slaughter. Though they may be safe from the wrath of nature, the terror of the genocide had struck them all down. Mary, on the other hand, soon answered the cries of the people and attempted to remove the barricade. Sylvia and Joseph restrained Mary by holding down her arms and throwing her against the floor. Mary pleaded with her two friends to help the people and prevent any more from dying at the hands of mother nature. However, Sylvia and Joseph were consumed by their own fears that they thought it to be correct to let the people outside die for if they only think about their own wellbeing, surely, they will be able to survive on their own.
As they argued, a head flew right through the window and rolled upon the wooden floors, staining it with blood. Mary broke into tears as soon as she laid eyes upon that head. As for Sylvia and Joseph, they also began to cry as the cursed and miserable face made them realize that they too, only cared about themselves. As the animals took their time slaying and killing humans, so did insanity strike down the three friends easily.
The conflict within Mightily Stand lasted the entire night and as soon as dawn arrived, the whole town had been ravaged by mother nature. Weeds grew from the cracks of the stone street, and flowers bloomed from the crevices of the torn buildings. Animals roamed freely and happily in their newfound land whilst the three children gazed in horror at what used to be a lively town.
Joseph slowly put away the barricade they put up and the two girls soon followed his actions. Once all the furniture had been put away, Joseph gathered the group together and whispered their getaway plan. The entirety of the plan simply involved running straight away to the horse wagon and riding off in an instant. Of course, it may not seem to be an intelligent option but these three were desperate for escape.
The three prepared themselves for anything that could happen and rushed out the house and onto the street amidst the numerous amounts of animals. Fortunately, there were no complications whatsoever as they ran yet weirdly enough, the forest creatures did not attack the children but rather, lay their eyes upon them with disgust. This strange phenomenon did not bother any of the three at first, but as they arrived by the wagon, were they able to notice the peculiar behavior.
In disappointment and shock, the three were surprised to see their wagon become broken and unusable. However, this was not the moment that had captured their attention the most. It was their horse that trod upon the path behind them and looked deeply into their eyes with the same disgust the other animals held.
"From here onwards, I cannot take you nor guide you to where the three of you desire to go." The horse named Ronald had spoken, bringing the children to a shock.
"Why must you leave us in this manner, Ronald?" Joseph felt heartbroken to know that his own quadruped companion decided to depart from him, "Please, I have fed you well and raised you well. If there is anything that I seem to lack, then please, tell me so that you may stay." Joseph attempted to approach his horse as he pleaded but the animal stepped backward in response.
"As the animals of the forest despised the people here for being consumed by their own pride, so will I turn away from you, for you are now in the turbulent tides of this world's many deceptions. If you wish for me to stay, then I beg of you, turn away from this adventure for I know that what your hearts may seek will bring misfortune and calamity upon you." Ronald the horse had spoken solemnly causing the three to think together of what they should do.
Sylvia was already stern on the decision that they should continue the journey even if it meant leaving Ronald while Mary grew hesitant with both options. Joseph, as miserable as he was to be separated by two choices, had finally chosen to continue the journey.
Once the decision had been made, Joseph bid his farewells to Ronald but the disappointed horse had turned away from the boy. Though the cost and trauma were great, the three continued to set out on their adventure on foot and walked with the same great confidence they held high in their hearts but in turn, their fears were also treated with high regard.
"How interesting, yet violent at the same time." Elizabeth stated as my story had finished.
"Were the described scenes quite graphic for your liking?" I asked.
"As grim and twisted as your imaginations may come, Alastair, you never fail to surprise me. Though on a serious note, I am quite fond of it and hope that you may write it as a book someday." Her kind words were as sweet as honey but unfortunately, it had come to a swift end, "Anyhow, being as that we have finished our meal, I thank you for letting me stay here again, Alastair." It hurt me slightly to see her leave so suddenly.
"Will you come to visit another time?" I asked, hoping that I may see her again.
"Come to think of it," She said as she paused in her movement, "I would like you to accompany me tomorrow, on a trip outside Greenberg, if that may be well with you." As soon as she finished her words, I instantly gave her my confirmation.
I then escorted Elizabeth outside and assisted her in mounting her horse. As we gave each other our goodbyes for the day, I retired back into my not-so-empty home for Richard had returned to accompany my loneliness.