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(3.4a) Awakenings
Awakenings
Lejár Az Idő Kerület
Eredet
“.............Ett tusen ord.......................” she let her voice drift over the last note perfectly as the music slowly finished its last notes after her word ended. During the final lines of her song she had slowly dropped to her knees as the wave of emotion washed over her guiding her voice and words. She carefully lifted her head and opened her eyes. She saw the audience within the central tavern watching her. Their eyes wide with surprise and wonder while some of them even had their mouths hanging open. She watched as one member of the audience slowly stood from his chair. The look on his face was hard for her to read. She feared he was going to walk out of the tavern, but instead he brought his hands together and started to clap. Within moments the entire tavern was in a roar of applauds that sounded like thunder. It was in that moment that she finally gave herself a chance to smile and feel happy over her song.
On Eredet, community was something that was most highly prized. Because of this sense of larger family within the community, each night at the end of the eight day cycle everyone gathers in the central tavern to enjoy the gifts that all can offer. Tonight, she was more forced by her mother than by desire of self to take the stage. She never felt completely accepted within the community for obvious reasons so she never really felt like taking part in these exchanging of gifts. However her mother, being the Ruler of her people and one hack of nosy mother, pushed her to stand tonight and offer up the gift of song. She was scared that like all other times where she tried to fit in, she would have failed. Sure she sang before for smaller groups but never for the entire village.
Mia stood there taking in their approval. Unlike others of her village, she was not touched by the Spirits in anyway. This alone set her apart from everyone else and while no one pointed it out. She knew that she was different, lesser then the others. However, it was her voice that made up for this critical fault which she hated so much. There were nights when she would cry because she was different than everyone else. But her mother had always been there to smile at her and give her the support she needed to pull through the night. Mia looked at her mother with loving eyes. Her mother smiled back applauding with the rest of their people. No matter how Mia was different from the rest, her mother always loved her just the way she was. She was always “a Lelek hangja” to her mother.
Despite wanting a son to carry on his legacy, her father loved her just as much if not more. She had always been Daddy's little girl. She had his deep brown hair with slight curls embedded in her locks. Her deep brown eyes and smile could melted any harden heart. Many of the elders of the village would tell her father that once Mia reaches age, he would have his hands full with callers. He would only laugh at them and be thankful that she was still too young for that. She was just enjoying her eleventh Cycle of Seasons. So she had many years before she had to worry about callers and her father could enjoy this fact. Mia at that moment was just happy being able to sing. It was something she felt she was born to do. It was something that made her feel, normal.
As she stared at her beloved mother and father with a smile. They looked back at her with such love in their eyes and smiles on their faces. Mia could feel their pride for her as she nodded her thanks to her mother. She slowly walked off the stage to allow someone else a chance to entertain the village. She made her way through the maze of back patting and words of gratitude. Finally she worked her way through the crowd to her mother and father's table, “D.......did you l.......like it mo......mother” she asked softly.
Her mother continued to smile as she answered, “Oh yes, my sweet. I loved your new song.” The Ruler of their people said with joy in her voice. Ilona, the Queen of Eredet, slid off of her chair, kneeling before her daughter and then hugged her tightly. “You are such a gift to me and our people.” She said in to her daughter's ear. “The Spirits blessed us with your coming” she added softly.
Laci walked up with a smile on his aged face, “Mia that was lovely.” He said as her mother released her from the hug. Mia turned to face the older man as he patted the youngster on the back. “Might I ask you something” he questioned as he took a knee to look the girl in the eyes. “Those words you sang.” He started to ask and paused to try to feel out his words, “They were lovely and at the same time filled with such sadness. But what do they mean” he asked a bit confused.
Laci was the village defender and one of the most gifted spirit talkers ever known. Many believe he was actually a old spirit brought back to live among them. She looked up to the man before her now. He was filled with such courage. She remembered when she ran away from home last season's cycle. It was him who found her. They spent the night near the metal house and he made a fire for her. He talked to her about his own family and how they were taken by the Spirits a long time ago. He talked to her about his daughter who she reminded him of. “I...” she said sadly, she so much wanted to answer his question but she couldn't, “I don't kn......know.” She struggled to get the words out as she spoke, “I just cl.....close my eyes a......and it just comes to m.......me.” She looked down in sadness, “I'm s.....sorry Véde..lmező” she added using his official title within the village.
Laci placed a soft hand on her chin to lift up her eyes to his smiling face, “Sometimes little one, the Spirits work in such ways we can not understand what they mean for us.” holding her chin he nodded to her, “We must learn to trust in them as they guide us through our lives.” He pulled his hand away and as his smile broaden, “Your voice is a gift from Them to us all. Never be sad by this.” Everyone in the village knew of her 'condition' and felt a horrible sense of pity for the young girl. Shortly after she was born, it was learned that she was not touched like the rest of them.
She was not gifted with the ability to hear the Spirits among them. Nor did she have the gifts to move the winds, shake the ground, raise the tides or fuel the flames. She was born with out any of these gifts at all. Despite this, no one ever thought less of the young girl who tried so hard to be like everyone else. Some have even learned to look up to her as she struggled to fit in within their tight community. It was only a few Season's Cycles ago that her voice broke through the walls of silence and brought forth such sounds that none of them ever dreamed of. She had the gift of being able to fill a room with feelings and sensations that no one dreamed. And yet, the mystery remained. What did her words which she sang mean.
Mai smiled back, “I....” she said trying to find the words that she wanted to say. “I kn....know. I do tr....trust Them” was all she was able to think to say. Singing was one thing for her. The words in her songs just came to mind as she felt and heard the music around her. Yet speaking was something completely different for her. She could never think of the right thing to say at the right time and her mind simply could not bring the words forward correctly. She looked back at her mother and smiled, “I have ba......been Gifted with pe.....people who love m.....m......me.” she said listening to her heart.
No one noticed as the large black cloaked figure slipped in to the tavern during the song. Not that anyone could have if it didn't want them to notice it. They have the ability to move without being seen or heard. It was a Judge, a respected and feared creature among the villagers for very good reasons. It upheld the laws of the Spirits and Commanded the respect of all on Eredet. Carefully it made its way through the crowded tavern to Mia. It was only as it made its final approach that anyone even noticed it. Everyone bowed and moved aside as it made its way towards the young girl.
Ilona bowed nervously as she watched the Judge approach her daughter. Slowly it brought its right scaly hand up and moved it closer to Mia's head. Mia bowed with respect but being so young, she held more fear for the creature cloaked in thick black robes. It stood nearly three meters tall and moved without making a sound. While it had a hood over its head, no one has ever seen the creature's face. There has never been any record of a Judge being seeing without its cloak on. No one had any idea what it looked like. As the hand closed on Mia's head she pulled away in fear. She tried to remain calm but her fears were running through her head.
It moved its hand back a bit and spoke, “Сепак ќе биде” in its deep alien like voice. Then it started to move its hand towards Mia once more.
Mia couldn't help her eyes as they slowly closed, she heard her mouth speak, “Still, I shall be” she said softly as her mind calmed and her body froze in place.
The hand rested on Mia's head and her body jerked as if it had been electrocuted. Deep within her mind, Mia saw many images that she could not understand. Faces, places, things that she never seen before. Over and over the images flooded her mind over whelming her senses. Within the images she saw this horrible thing that she could only describe as a living nightmare. She saw a strange temple under a red sky. Above the temple she saw that the sky had been torn by some great claw. She saw a powerful light coming from the temple. She knew what this light meant. She saw other people she would come to know. She would learn to trust and love them like her family here. She knew that her fate was tied with their's.
It spoke once more in its deep alien like voice, “Спиј твојот ум ќе биде подготвен до” as it pulled its hand from her head.
Mia's body slowly wobbled before collapsing under her own legs. It was Laci that caught her before she fell. He looked down at the girl to make sure she was alright before turning his attention back to the Judge. Everyone knew better then to protest a Judge's actions. It was a Judge and it had its own reasons for what it had done. They only answer to the Spirits directly and serve their needs above all else. Laci nodded to Ilona and Mia's father. There was a sigh of relief among the parents.
The creature turned its attention to Laci, “Земете Daz Murl до Планината на духовите. Ќе” It said with its hand pointing to the mountains across the great lake that boarded their village.
Laci nodded his understanding of the commandment. “Yes, Great Judge, as you wish it” he said plainly.
“Ќе му покажам, својата душа” it added pulling out a ornate short sword from its left sleeve and handing it to Laci, hilt first. There were ruins scribed down the entire length of the blade.
Laci turned to see the mountains once more then back to the weapon before him. He reached up with a feeble hand. He took the weapon and nodded, “Yes, Great Judge. As you wish.” He turned his gaze to the Queen and her husband with great distress in his eyes. Neither of them could offer any sense of comfort or aid. It was, after all, a Judge that commanded this deed to be done. No one dared refuse the commandment of a Judge. None envied Laci for what was taking place.
It turned to the Queen and motioned towards Laci, “Финален тест ќе ја докаже својата светло или темно срце.” Then it started to move away from them.
Ilona nodded then she checked her daughter before standing up quickly to face the creature as it moved away, “Great Judge, Does this mean they are bringing Nezial home” she asked. It had been so long since they had seen the only member of their village to live their world. She remembered that day so long ago and how the Judge had said that Nezial would be gone for five Seasonal Cycles. That day was arriving soon. “Great Judge, is our sister coming home?”
The creature stopped and turned to face the Queen of the world. “Песокот Рапторс имаа платено своите долгови” It said coldly in its toneless alien like voice. Then once it had finished it turned and left the tavern without any further interaction with the locals.
Ilona's hand shot up to her red covered lips and gently touched her white painted face. She looked down in sadness as the mood in the tavern changed to that of great sorrow. Ilona looked down in a feeble attempt to hide the tears dripping from her face. She knew that her friend Nezial had paid her families debt with her own life. She took in a deep breath trying to regain her inner strength. She turned to her people, “We must make things ready for our sister's return.” She turned to her husband, “Take twenty Spirit Talkers with you and go to the metal house. This is where they will return. Wait for them there.” Then she turned to the rest of her people, “The rest of us must be ready to honor our Sister's return in fashion.”
Ilona turned to her daughter, 'what does the Spirits have in plan for you my child?' she thought as she took a knee next to her child. She took the young girl from Laci's arms carefully, “Thank you, my friend” she said as she lifted up the girl. “I will take her home, make sure that all things get underway tonight. Their arrival must be soon” she said as she turned to leave the tavern with her daughter in her arms.
Laci nodded as he looked at the weapon in his hand “Yes my Queen.” It was his own task from the Judge was something he did not look forward to. He turned and look up to the mountains and nodded. He knew the place he had to go, he had been there before. It was a place where only dark deeds were done. He took a deep breath as he placed the weapon under his belt and started to walk over to the other villagers. There was much to be done in a short time.
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