Waning Crescent
(August 1964)
And here I am, lying awake on my bed in the middle of the night, not for the first time.
I feel blessed to have milder summers in Norway compared to other European countries. Conversely, even before I got sick that year, the summers in Alpine were hell. I remember going out for a picnic once—the only time I forgot to apply sunscreen—and getting sunburnt so severely I couldn't go outside for several days.
Ozin threw a fit—or precisely, an all-out brawl—at the council department. Looking at the newspaper back then—I was afraid for him. He risked his life multiple times for me, regardless of whether it was pointless or not. I admit some horrible people exist somewhere, but I was too young to realise how much they got the better of me. In that sense, as someone being surrounded by welcoming folks, that little girl's awareness couldn't be on guard at all times. And then some other things happened… that quickly pushed me into a deep pit, spiralling out of control. All because someone didn't notice the dangers creeping close, and played themselves into a puppetmaster's game. But that's a story for another day.
For now, counting up numbers is the only thing that can help me fall asleep.
***
(June 1935, a month after the Sorrow Mountain incident)
'Why is everything so dark?' mumbled June, blinking from her slumber.
'The nychthemeron's been messed up today,' urged Ozin outside the bedroom door. 'The Construct is failing. It's past six already.'
Opening the curtains, she understood what he meant—if you didn't know, you'd mistaken it for night. Quickly, she got dressed and went into the bathroom. The lights are on during the day, that's absurd. She glanced at the wall-hung clock. Quarter to seven—two hours 'til noon. It wasn't every day that you get to face the darkness, and unsure feelings are prominent.
One thing in the bathroom that intrigued her was the electric toothbrush. To put it simply, all the electricware was strange and novel. Electric lights we have, but electric toothbrushes? June wondered as the brush vibrated violently in her foamy mouth. Is this the work of magic as well?
Everyone was waiting in the living room—Ozin, Sammy, Benjamin and Elloise—each holding a coffee mug in their hands. 'Cheers,' said Ozin. 'We're going on a trip.'
'I know I already said this but…' grumbled Ellie. 'Are we seriously still continuing this trip? Look at how dark it is out there.'
'Grow up, Ellie,' sighed Ozin. 'It's partially the reason why we're going in the first place.'
'Don't act like you didn't know,' she retorted. 'I hate being in the dark.'
'But the moon!' cried Ozin. 'It's important that we -'
'Uncle,' said Ellie warningly. 'Don't get me started on your superstition. And that's why my mother is scared of you. Not everyone is a hermit, you know.'
'My bad.'
'Where are we going exactly?' asked June.
'The Northern Villages,' proclaimed Ozin. 'The lowest altitude in the Alpine Kingdom. It's also where the Equator is.'
'We're going to observe the formation of the stars?' asked Ellie hopefully.
'Yes—no. This is no joking matter. We are instead observing the lunar cycle,' said Ozin seriously. Ellie burst into uncontrollable laughter, followed by others.
'No but seriously, I'll pass,' giggled Ellie. 'Good one though. Think I found it hilarious? Sorry to disappoint you.'
'Then you can stay,' Ozin raised his voice, rather over the top. 'June, Sam, and Ben—you must come. If what everyone said was true, then we're in great trouble.'
'What could it be this time?' asked Ben. 'The council submitted to your requests, didn't they? You told us that the Talisman of Wisdom was stabilised.'
Ozin didn't answer, but Ben realised it was best not to question him further—he looked anxious.
'I guess I'll go,' Ellie rolled her eyes. 'Not much for me to do at me, by myself.'
'By yourself?'
'Momma and Papa are on holiday with my brother,' she scoffed. 'They're not returning for the entirety of school holidays. Rather unfair, don't you think?'
'Right,' replied June. 'Then you should definitely come with us. It's too dangerous to be alone.'
'Oh, you worry too much, sister,' said Ellie. 'I've gone for three months home alone before, mind you.'
'That's such a long time. I could never handle that.'
'Still, I would hope you'd come along,' said Ozin seriously. 'You might get to learn something. Perhaps Nomadrians.'
'O come on!'
***
Donton Valley was a rural town built in a group of grassy hills and valleys. Most of the older Alpinos preferred living here, as a retirement estate. Although it is only thirty miles from the megametropolis of Vastichæn, transportation wasn't as convenient as most people hoped. A monthly bus would serve as public transport, driving around the Western Triangle for 30 Wurtz per passenger. Quite a few people have cars as their preference of travel, and Ozin was one of them. During the trip, all but Ozin and June were asleep in the back. Unfortunately, they couldn't drive all the way to the Northern Villages, partly because cars weren't allowed through the customs along with many other things. Which was why they showed up at Shelby's for a pit stop in Heming. It was 18 o'clock when they finally reached the inn.
'It's been a few months, welcome back,' grinned Shelby, the bartender.
'I've been expecting you,' said Ozin. 'Franko. How's the big fella doing?'
'Oh absolutely wonderful. I cannot begin to describe how crazy the business has been for us recently.' He grabbed an armful of ales from the shelves. 'Ever since news of the first Talisman's recovery went public, everyone's been celebrating from dawn to dusk. All thanks to you.'
'No problems,' replied Ozin, his smile fading a little. 'I should probably put the kids to bed. Later.' He called Ellie and co. and sent them upstairs. 'Oh hold up! Now the fees…'
'Oh forget about the fees, Ozin! You always do this!' croaked Shelby. 'Every single time—this one's on me. Now that's settled, go have them sleep safe and sound.'
Ozin stopped on the third step. There was a strange expression written on his face, sort of a mix of bitterness and regret. It was only for a second. 'Thanks a bunch, old friend.' He said warmly, then disappeared out of view.
He's grown up so much. Shelby couldn't help but chuckle. No longer the kid that ran up my door every Wednesday. Although I'm fifteen centuries older than him, we shared those same long, unique childhood memories together. And look at 'im now. A family and everything. He always ranted to me about wanting one. It never stopped. He wiped a silent tear from the corner of his eye, beneath which laid the grey wrinkles—a blessing from ageing. He's finally found his place, seeing how he could go as far as holding his own against all the powerful hermits. His train of thought abruptly ended when the door to the staircase opened, revealing Ozin. 'Well, I'm here now.'
'Care to drink?' asked Shelby. 'I could wake up Franko.'
'Don't feel like it at the moment,' Ozin ran a hand through his green, leafy hair. 'This is looking quite dire.'
'Is the Construct unstabilised again?' asked Shelby again, lowering his voice. 'Did the Talisman exuviate? I'm just guessing here.'
'Thankfully not,' he sighed was partial relief. 'It's more the next Talisman I'm worried about.' Two other customers were still occupying a table, both too drunk to recognise anything out of their conversation.
'You must've come here again for a reason,' said Shelby, pouring himself a gin.
'Why, yes you're right,' clapped Ozin. 'We're going to Northern Villages on foot tomorrow—this morning. The truth is—' He lowered his voice,'—something is wrong with the moon cycle.'
'The moon cycle? Is it time for another Super Waxing Gibbous…?'
'I'm not sure. That's why I'm here—to confirm the issue with the council.'
'Ooo… But there out of all places?' Shelby cried in dismay. 'It snows all year long.'
'It's not that bad,' mused Ozin. 'I'm more worried about the distance.'
'So what has been the issue?' continued Shelby.
'The second Talisman has yet sent a signal,' answered Ozin gravely. 'It was supposed to happen more than a month ago, but there was simply—nothing.'
'Gotcha,' said Shelby. 'The moon cycle is hindering the Talisman's wayfinding progress.'
'Every night I stare out into the sky,' protested Ozin. 'And yet, when the full moon was meant to come, I couldn't find it. The second Talisman didn't send a signal because it couldn't. That's why I desperately need to find out what's going on before we waste another month of precious time!'
'Wait it out?' suggested Shelby. 'I mean, it could just be a centurial Super Waxing Gibbous, I forgot the date of the last one…'
'Funnily enough, you sound exactly like Alister,' said Ozin menacingly. Shelby flinched. 'But at least you understand what he doesn't—the regulation of the first Talisman is temporary. I tell you, the Construct won't take long before it gets unstable again… and that scares me.'
'What do you suggest I can do to help?' asked Shelby finally, before standing up.
Ozin hesitated on replying. 'There is one thing,' he said calmly. 'Help us get through the customs.'
'You're nuts,' Shelby's eyes bulged. 'Don't tell you me you're going to -'
'For the time being, yes.' said Ozin confidently. 'I'm going to have to borrow your passport.'
'Why do I always get dragged into these mad ideas of yours?' protested Shelby. 'I don't see this stakeout mission ending up with success.'
'I can make it work,' he winked with a glint of mischief. 'You'll just have to trust me. Like you always had.'
'Good grief,' yawned Shelby. 'These plans of yours are creating doubts in my mind as to whether you're a grown-up or not.'
'I can disguise myself pretty well,' reassured Ozin. 'The height of my magic can still at least work in the Northern Villages.'
'You know,' began Shelby. 'You probably… shouldn't be going undercover this hard… if you've already gained authorised entry from the coun—wait a minute—YOU DIDN'T EVEN TRY GETTING AN AUTHORISED VISA?'
'I admit, it's quite selfish of me, but hear me out—I don't wanna involve myself again with those half-wits as the lead council members.'
'True,' said Shelby bitterly. 'Zackari should definitely replace Alister to be honest. But more importantly, how would you sneak them in?'
'My pocket dimension.'
'Oh great,' Shelby rolled his eyes. The customers stood up and left, their shoes crunched on the gravel path. 'You safekeep everything in there without a care in the world. How irredeemable.'
'Everything will work out just fine, I assure you,' Ozin finished his full shot of gin in one go. 'When have I ever run into problems?'
'Glad to see that self-confidence,' finished Shelby, who opened the staircase door promptly.
'But… one last thing,' Ozin spoke reluctantly.
'Yes?'
'Did your Nomadrian Visa expire?'
***
Juno, Benjamin, Samuel, Elloise and Ozin sat around a round table. The escargot-induced breakfast was but an experience. Outside, someone finally remembered to turn the light back on, because yesterday's black-moon phenomenon was over. The sky was clearer than ever and the bright sunlight shone onto their skin.
'Right, boys and girls,' began Ozin, who pretended to be a primary school teacher. 'I have a few confessions to make, and I think now's the perfect time to do so.'
'Ooo, confessions,' toned Ellie. 'Let's start with the time you took my new sneakers.'
'First off, I forgot to bring warmer clothes,' he pressed on. 'If you didn't know already—the Northern Villages snows about two-thirds of the year—one of the coldest regions in Legendaria. Why is it so cold? Partially because the Nomadrian Desert draws out all the heat from the Equator—don't ask me about detailed geography—and cold ocean current constantly runs up the Barrier river. Verdict: We need someone who's fluent in Nomadrian and buy us some clothes there (I can't speak Nomadrian).'
'So that someone means me?' asked Ellie.
Ozin's face looked of guilt. 'I forgot. I'm sorry.'
'Guess I have no choice,' sighed Ellie. 'On a positive note, the Nomadrian courses could finally be of some use.'
'Moving on,' continued Ozin. 'Second confession—I'm legally disallowed to reach Northern Villages since I don't have a visa. They have a very restrictive policy against Alpino tourism, so the customs are a bit of a headache. Inconveniently, the immigrant office is closed this year and I didn't plan enough. Plus I'm grudging against my accomplices, so that's another issue.'
'Well, what are we going to do then? Go home?' Ellied asked unhappily.
'Heck no. We're borrowing You-Know-Who's. He wouldn't mind in the slightest. That soon-to-be old geezer, for some reason, had worked in the Refuge Permit Office, so naturally, he got permanent residence.'
'Would that work?' she scoffed. 'It probably does, which is what I'm most annoyed about. I'm so fed up with your cheating, Uncle.'
'Magic can go through any obstacle,' he replied proudly. 'Especially if you're at the peak of the hierarchy.'
'So,' began Ben. 'How long is the trip going to last?'
'Three or four days, I was planning. There was something else I wanted to do besides observing the moon.'
'What is it?' asked June.
'You'll see,' said Ozin. 'I think you'll like it.'
'But what is it?'
'A birthday present.'
'My… birthday? Wait… already?!' she exclaimed. 'Hold on. The date is - Ohhhhh right. It's going to be the twentieth.'
'Oh, and June—it's going to be your twelfth birthday in Alpine. Isn't that compelling?'
'Why's everyone so fixated on these birthdays?' frowned June. 'Is this of cultural significance?'
'The Three Races are not particularly preset-perfect with our ongoing birthdays. We live—as you know—long lives, compared to humans from Original Earth, and our birthday-celebrating intervals can vary from a few decades to centuries. So, on the contrary, we believe it is rather important to celebrate each year the valuable time in your lives, as we experience a year from a different time scale as yours.
'An average human lifespan is about seventy years, which can be passed in the blink of an eye. Comparably, a year is much more significant to you, and probably less overlooked. Serving your birthdays is like a reminder to me how little time I can really spend with you. Millennials later, you're yet just another passing memory that will be buried in the dust.' There was a touch of sadness in his voice. 'Alas, I want to keep this memory moving, after all, we did save the world together.
'So, I need to begin appreciating those around me, even if bit by bit. The journey that we are collectively going towards, will ultimately, well, end. Disregarding the outcome of this adventure, whether we laugh, cry, succeed, or fail—everything returns to nothingness unless those memories are kept alive. I want to remember what you sounded like—five thousand years later, long after you perish—and triumph deep in my heart from getting to know you—better. It's quite a wish to be fulfilled, especially for a middle-aged hermit who used to only care for himself.'
'Why you could… have just… said so,' said June, shaking. 'It's just a birthday—no need to m-make… make us… cry…' After that, they freely wept together, for a good three minutes, before calming down again and staring at each other awkwardly again.
'Sorry,' said Ozin.
'It's alright,' replied June.
'I swear I won't ever forget you,' Ellie picked up Sam's hand and said. He quickly looked away and blushed meekly.
A knock came from the door, as Shelby strolled in with a large crate sealed off from the top. 'You're departing at 5 o'clock?'
'Precisely. Thank you for buying the supplies that I forgot to bring,' answered Ozin nervously. 'Right, so that's here… and that… and that…' He fumbled clumsily through the pockets of his shorts.
'My pleasure,' smiled Shelby. 'After you finish this saving-the-world job, remember that your old pal is always here waiting.'
'Oh, Shelb,' cringed Ozin. 'But true, I might retire after this. Now… where is that winter coat?'
'Unfortunately, I couldn't find a store selling pullovers and puffers.' said Shelby dully. 'It's too out of season in this town. There were no clearance sales, either.'
'That's not good, but well—at least Ellie can put her talent up front -'
'Uncle!'
'Ok, no bragging,' said Ozin quickly.
'Hmph, I do not like the way things are going and I'm definitely not going to help at this rate,' Ellie sulked.
'Right, I understand,' sighed Ozin helplessly. 'Hop into the pocket dimension. We are leaving for the Northern Villages at once. June, Sammy, Ben—follow her through.' He gestured at them.
June was about to step into the dimension before hearing Shelby calling her name.
'My wonderful child—keep yourself safe, okay? They need you,' Shelby whispered to her, followed by her nodding. 'If we ever cross paths again—please—tell me about your stories… I love listening to a good story once in a while.'
'Okay, sure. Will do,' she gave him a large smile, then proceeded to jog back to Ozin, whilst waving. 'See you again!'
'Again,' croaked Shelby, whose voice is nearly inaudible now. He watched his friend disappear along the horizon line, and returned to the bar, once again feeling empty inside.
Meanwhile, a short exchange of words was happening within the pocket dimension.
'He replaced the old Checkers set!' cried Ellie in glee. 'I can finally play Checkers without a missing-piece substitute.'
'Your people play Checkers?' asked Ben shortly. Elloise gave him a confused stare. '... never mind.'
Awkward silence for a few seconds.
'Let's play Checkers now,' she said.