Part 1
The streets were bustling. In the prosperous Tlalocan, the constant murmurs of voices blended harmoniously with the sound of water flowing through small canals that crisscrossed the city. The buildings, constructed of stone and adorned wood, appeared ancient yet well-maintained, as if time had not touched this place. Above them, flowers of impossible colors hung from vines swaying in the wind.
In the distance, Alejandro spotted a train that, like a serpent, coiled around Tlalocan between the hills, connecting the great mountain to the outside world. Yet here, everything seemed detached from that modernity. The inhabitants' clothing—visibly handmade garments—stood out, particularly the women's beautiful huipiles, which shimmered under the sunlight. But there was something unsettling that troubled Alejandro.
He froze, his eyes scanning the crowd moving around him. A strange presence unsettled him—not an evil one, but something... magical! He had observed every corner of the city during his walk, and that's when he saw it, the source of his unease, at the city's center where everyone could see it.
There, a colossal figure rose above everything, stealing his breath. Its size rivaled the tallest building. A gigantic tree, its roots intertwining with the stone pavement, cast a protective shadow over much of the city. Its trunk—rugged and wide as a tower—grew even more imposing upon closer inspection. Around it formed a moss-covered circle dotted with small flowers growing in the cracks. Its strong, twisted branches reached skyward as if trying to touch it.
The word awe-inspiring instantly came to mind. It was nearly impossible to ignore; at any moment, it would command your full attention.
---"It's truly incredible!" Alejandro gazed upward for a better look. "Citlalli, can we sit for a moment?"
I can barely stand, he thought, his trembling hands barely visible.
Citlalli nodded with a faint smile. Worried he might collapse, she guided him to a nearby bench.
---"It's beautiful! Is this real?"
He stared at the tree from every angle, repeatedly doubting its reality. Maybe I'm dreaming, he thought. But if this was real, he couldn't—no, he simply lacked human words to describe it.
Citlalli approached with two drinks. Alejandro, lost in thought, didn't notice her. ---"Goodness, he looks like a child." She pressed one of the glasses against his cheek.
Still oblivious to her voice, the sudden cold on his cheek snapped him back to reality.
---"This is for you." She held out a glass of flavored water. "I didn't know which one you'd like, so I got you coconut horchata."
---"Thank you."
A momentary silence fell. Alejandro sipped his drink, fixated on the tree, until something else caught his eye.
Many inhabitants paused to leave offerings of respect. From what Alejandro could see, the offerings included fruits, unknown beverages, and local dishes like pozole, mole de olla, and tamales.
Citlalli watched him curiously, her pointed ears trembling faintly in the daylight. As she sat beside him, she too gazed at the tree.
Alejandro couldn't look away. There was something enchanting about its glow. He swallowed hard, trying to process the magnitude of what he was seeing.
---"Where did it come from?" he finally asked, still staring.
Citlalli smiled, following his gaze. ---"The symbol of Tlalocan? I've heard this tree appeared atop Tlaloc's ancient temple."
---"Atop?" Alejandro blinked, confused.
He raised the glass to his lips, but barely tasted the horchata. His mind fixated on the roots.
To her, Alejandro seemed like an eager child, thrilled by a parent's tale. She smiled faintly at his reaction.
---"Are you interested?" she asked, ruffling his hair.
He lowered his head, glancing at her in mild confusion, though her gesture didn't bother him.
---"I guess it's unavoidable."
---"Tell me, since you arrived, haven't you noticed something missing in the city?"
He scanned his surroundings before answering. The houses, though unusual, didn't seem out of place. The train? No—even if oversized, that wasn't it. Only one possibility remained.
---"There are only elves here. No humans."
Her expression turned nostalgic, as if he'd guessed correctly.
---"Exactly! You see, five hundred years ago, elves lived in the Great Forest," Citlalli began, her voice softening as if recounting a distant memory. "It was a place teeming with life. The trees were so tall they seemed to touch the sky, and the rivers never ceased singing. But one day, the forest began to die."
Alejandro stared at her, unwilling to interrupt.
---"Leaves fell, rivers dried, and the earth cracked as if the forest's heart had shattered. Slowly, our people began to perish. Each day, more of us died of hunger or thirst. We feared the worst—that the gods had abandoned us. But when all seemed lost, our leader had a dream."
Citlalli paused, her eyes reflecting a mix of reverence and sorrow.
---"In his dream, a man glowing like water under the sun appeared before him. It was Tlaloc. He said his temple had been abandoned by humans, who had looted and mocked his power. But he wasn't ready to surrender. He offered to save us in exchange for our worship and the temple's restoration as a sacred site."
A shiver ran down Alejandro's spine. So Tlaloc truly appeared? A god... I'd heard the gods had been dormant for over a thousand years, he thought.
---"What did you do?"
Citlalli placed a hand on her chest and gazed melancholically at the tree. After all that happened, Tlaloc had given them a home.
---"We accepted. We moved to this land and restored Tlalocan. We made offerings, worshipped him, and the rains returned." She pointed to the giant tree. "And when his temple was restored, this tree grew over it. Some say Tlaloc left it as an eternal reminder of our promise."
Part 2
Sunset slowly draped the city. A pleasant breeze drifted near the bench, accompanied by the train's soothing hum. Truly, this was a magical city. Alejandro sighed, staring into the distance.
---"A fine view, excellent breeze. And let's not forget the marvelous story—what more could an old man like me ask for?"
---"I think I understand how you feel."
Nightfall arrived, but this was no ordinary dusk. The city center now held everyone's attention with a strange, mysterious glow—brighter than the tree itself. If described in one word, it was a star illuminating the twilight.
The source was a beautiful woman. Her eyes—a single glance made one think of brown-green tea. It wasn't just their hue; those resolute, captivating brown eyes ensnared all who met them. Her green hair outshone the tree's leaves. It seemed unfair to the tree—no, not unfair. Her presence was a gift to this insignificant sapling.