900AA, or years, before, humans ruled the world—inside and outside. Then exists moving talking box, flying metals, and moving houses faster than anyone can run.
Life back then is easy. Almost everything can be done inside the house. Cleaning is not a chore and food is delivered from house to house.
Nights are livelier than the day; there apparently no danger outside. People can go anywhere and back, including the moon. The moon. The light we see from it actually came from the sun, not that I know how it works though.
And speaking of the sun, it is said to be made of something called gas—a water-like thing that can make scraps of metals move.
I dreamt of going to the sun and getting some of those 'gas' and making our house move so we will never be in danger again.
I'm always silent and overjoyed when my mom read books about the world before us.
The book said that everything is lost when spiders bathed in green water made by us humans escaped. No humans can fight against spiders, even with their sharpest swords and instant-kill tools called 'guns'.
"The old and powerful civilization of humans disappeared because of their mistake. So always listen to what Mama says so you won't end up like them, 'kay?"
My mother has told this story to me more than I could count but it never fails to fascinate me.
Ever since I can remember, past humans have always been what my mother told me. Stories of past exploits and adventures fill my mind and even after turning 20 years old, she still follows through the same story, word for word.
"I won't, so don't worry Mom. I heard it a million times already."
"I know! But you must pass it on to your children when the time comes. It is the duty of my parents and their parent so I must and 'you' must do as well."
It is the mission passed ever since the ancient civilization of humans started to crumble. A warning to future people to never tinker with a life of any kind or the 'long-arms of karma will come and doom everything', or the story goes on and said.
"Right, yes."
"Hahaha! Azen, I know it's a handful but this is the tradition that must never die. If you do not abide, every single one of our ancestors will come and haunt you from the graves y'know?"
"What a chore. I don't even know if I can manage the first step. Y'know..? Finding a wife... Ha..." Only I, my little sister, my father, and my mother lived on this mountaintop.
They said that there are more than 30 of them lived here before but left in search of a better place to stay.
In the end, it's us who continued the stay, never heard from them, never dared to cross the river.
The place is huge. This is apparently an island surrounded by an artificial river that cannot be crossed by spiders including those of the aquatic types.
"Hahaha! Fret not, my son! Once your sister grows mature, you can start filling this place once again,"
"Tsk! She just turned 10, besides, aren't you the one who taught me the value of blood and its risks of inbreeding?! Geez..." My sister, Zairyen, is now fast asleep.
We were having a late-night talk. My mother apparently still cannot sleep despite her current pregnant status.
"Your dad might've told you that, but this village is now devoid of other families. If we do not take risks, the oath of passing the 'Ancient Stories' will die. And also... T-This safe haven created by our grandfathers must not end in vain! The bottomless river village must remain inhabited!" my mother is usually gentle and calm but when it comes to the 'Ancient Stories', she snaps out and burst.
"It's not like we know everyone that left the village died. They might've even found a better place to live than here. The tradition might even be passed to more people than us combined without our knowledge."
"Wha—!!"
"Azen, my son." my father stopped my mother from shouting to prevent Zairyen from waking up. "The world outside is harsh. Spiders would not spare a plead from our kind. Please stop making your mother from getting angrier,"
My father never gets mad at me and always speaks in a gentle manner, even in a situation like this.
My mom is more gentle than him but get's incredibly mad when I'm mocking the tradition. Thinking about it, it's my fault for angering her.
"I'm sorry. I promise I will do my utmost best to continue the tradition." I said, though sounded contemptuous and jeering, meaningfully. I made a mental promise to never let them down again.
My mom went back to her room, looking a little sad.
"I expect you to. In any case, it's getting late. Azen, go sleep early or else you'd still be asleep in your patrol later."
"Right, right..."
"Azen..." as I was walking back to sleep, my father called me. "Your mother doesn't care about this tradition or whatnot. She just cares about you and your sister, please understand that."
I was shocked by this revelation. I don't think she doesn't.
"What do you mean?"
"Your mother just wants you to live, as much as I do. We've seen countless villagers trying their hopes outside this village all because they do not care about this tradition. People without a goal tend to die early, and your mother doesn't want that."
"Then..."
"You must aim to continue this tradition, even if you lie to yourself! There's not much you can do in this village anyway. Even if you set a higher goal, you'd end up just like the others."
Tonight's conversation is fruitless, bad even. I only made my mother mad again. I should avoid raising the topic in the future.
With that, I decided to abide to this tradition and doze off almost immediately.