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(Morgan B)
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Episode 110 – Fallen Lights ‘Lin’s Thank‘
Last Chapter: The children began their circuit training and whistle test to improve their core strength. News arrived that the white-eyed tribe was attacked. Ario has passed away and that the children were summoned to the Royal Palace.
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Day 3 – Early morning at the Tribal community/ Whilst Eugene was getting electrocuted by a stone…
The summer sun brilliantly illuminated a small town located on the outskirts of the western capital. The sun signifies a new day as everyone begins to get up to feed their children and the elderly or get ready to go to the farm. Although this city did not seem prosperous, looking more like farmland than a city, the city was beautiful. Meadows and floral flowers were within reach of every step they walked. During the summer this city will smell like flowers, and during the winter this city will still smell like flowers. And this is because after the summer flowers die, winter flowers will bloom.
Though they didn’t have much money, they had happiness.
Already, a handful of mischievous children were running out of their little houses and gathering with neighboring children to play in the early morning. The children ran above stoned pavements and avoided protruding flowers that bloomed in between each pavement. Everyone here played with each other happily and never mingled with other children from other cities.
Why? Because they’d be bullied senseless due to their distinguished white eyes.
Touches of laughter of the children and elderly resounded throughout the peaceful city. Who would have known that their beautiful homes would be set on fire, leaving them with nothing, not even their ancestors’ graves by the end of the day. Who would have known that the country they lived in would stab them in their backs…
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A man in his 40’s ran and pushed open a stone door to a small rounded stone house. “Elder, elder! The children harvested corn for ye!” He grinned happily as he called out the owner of this small home with his tribal accent.
“Aiyaa! They didn’t haft ta!” The ‘Elder’ whom the man in his 40’s called out got up slowly as she used her wooden crane to steady herself.
The man noticed her intention and walked over to her quickly, “Let me help elder!” He said as he grabbed a hold of her arms.
The elder patted his arms to thank him and together they walked out of the rounded house. The man helped the elderly woman down once they reached a big stoned bench located just right outside her house.
“Aiyaa! I must be getting old, even walking hurts ah!” The elderly woman rubbed her back as her face showed a slight painful expression.
“Elder! Are you alright?” The man was about to reach out when he was skillfully slapped on the head by the elderly woman’s crane.
“AHH!” He screamed in pain as he clutched his forehead! Without even groping around, he knew that a bulge will be forming soon!
The elderly woman pointed at his face and started to angrily preach, “You tactless man! You should be denying my statement and not asking if I’m alright!!” she pouted in annoyance and began to hit the man with her crane again!
“AH!! Sorry- Sorry! ELDER!” The man grimaced in pain but dared not run away from her onslaught of attacks.
The elderly woman huffed but stopped. She crossed both her arms in annoyance and she rolled her eyes.
Before long, another woman came out from nowhere and rushed to the man and the elderly woman, “Ah elderly! My husband has done you wrong! Please forgive this tactless man!” she said as she pinched the man’s arms with quite some strength.
“Hmphh!” The elderly turned her head and chose to not look at the loving couple openly displaying their affections for one another. Did they think she didn’t know that couples these days flirt like this? Hmph!
“Haa. haa, my apologies, Elder!” The man winced in another set of pain; his wife was pinching, digging, and twisting real hard!
The elderly scoffed but nodded as a sign to indicate that she was going to let go of this matter. After acting in her mini-drama series early in the morning as per usual, she finally turned to look at the crowd gathered in front of her doorsteps.
As always, they were enjoying this play whilst munching on food!
“…..”
The elderly woman raised her brow at the sparkles shining her way from the right side. She couldn’t help but squint her eyes and back away from all the shines and sparkles.
“Aiya! Stop sparkling!” She yelped whilst shaking her head in pain! After a brief second of adjustment, she turned to the crowd again and sighed, “Ahh… Youths will be the death of me.”
The ‘youths’ she mentioned are a group of young children who shone as bright as the sun! They sparkled like illumination and are a danger to her old eyes.
The youths in unison answered the elderly calls, “GOOD MORNING ELDER!!” they greeted in their cheerful and loud voices!
The elderly woman flinched back, “Aiya! Aiya! Am I not here? Must you shout so loud?” she said as she rubbed her aching forehead. ‘This energy of the new generation is too much ah!’ She couldn’t help but think.
“But! Mother and father said that we must greet, love, and protect Elder with all our heart and soul!” A 3-year-old child said as she tilted her head to the side to stare at the elderly woman. Her face was full of innocence and confusion as if wondering why the elderly woman’s words and her parent’s words were so contradicting.
“….” The elderly woman blinked at the pretty 3-year-old child and pursed her lips.
She… She had no words to say! Their love is too strong? Their love power is too high? She couldn’t say that, so she coughed instead. “-Ahem-”
“Just tone it down one notch…Please.” she motioned with her hands before rubbing her hands together. Really, she wanted to beg the child!
The girl thought for a moment, “HMMM…” she rubbed her small chin with her index finger, looking as if she was seriously contemplating the elderly’s words. Finally, as if a light bulb was lit in her head she gave her conclusion, “I’ll think about it!” she said as she smiled widely!
The elderly woman pursed her lips before she nodded slowly. “… good,” she muttered quietly.
‘Safe! Today’s love is toned down… Just.’ she tilted her head as she thought quietly, ‘Must I really say this every day for this child to remember? Are they bullying me in secret?’ she tapped her crane.
“Elder! Elder!” Another child called out, bringing the elderly woman back to reality.
“Hm?”
“We! We went to the cornfield this morning and picked this for you! It’s real fresh!” the small child with a missing tooth said excitedly.
“Ah..” the elderly woman nodded and smiled “I give you my thanks! Have you picked some for you as well?” she smiled as she asked the child who loves going on an adventure every morning to find something to give her.
The child nodded with excitement, “YES! One for everyone and two for elder!”
The elderly woman laughed out loud, “Hahaha! Two for me? Do you want to fatten me up?” she teased the child. Are you saying you love me more than your birth parents?
“YESS! Elder is too thin! Elder must bulk up to live forever!!” The child said innocently!
The elderly woman’s eyes widened in shock, “I’m thin?” she asked speechlessly and lowered her eyes to look at her figure. ‘But… All I see is a bulging tummy?’ She tilted her head in confusion. Sure enough, the new generations have bad eyes! Where is this thin he mentioned!
“Yes! Look at my mother! Her stomach is so big! Elder must eat as well as my mom!” The child pointed to his mother and frowned! His meaning: My mother can’t eat better than my favorite elder!
“….” Everyone followed the child’s finger and turned to look at the child’s mother. Their eyes shook slightly from speechlessness as they stared blankly.
“….” The elderly woman almost fell off her stoned bench.
“…..” The mother who was pointed lifted the corner of her lips slowly and in an awkward motion.
“Ha… Ha..” She laughed awkwardly at the attention she was receiving. What her son said was right. The elderly should eat more. HOWEVER! She wasn’t fat!
Her eyes moved to the child and she wanted nothing more than to beat the child’s little butt up, ‘You smelly child! How often must I tell you that your sibling is in my belly!’ she shouted in her head whilst slowly patting her tummy.
The elderly woman’s lips shook slightly before she faked a laugher, “Ha… Ha..”
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Soon, the morning assembly ended. The group of children and parents dispersed to go on about their day.
The elderly woman glanced at the sunny sky and shook her head once again. The day is beautiful, the weather is great but there was one thing missing in her heart. And that was the child she conceived rather late in her age.
Her child was gone. Missing.
“Have you found Lise?” She whispered in a low-emotional voice as she looked at the sky in sadness.
“No trace has been found, Elder.” The man in his 40’s stayed behind and shook his head in regret.
Soon, 20 people dressed in dark navy Zene dresses appeared and kneeled in front of the elderly woman.
The elderly woman shut her eyes to recollect her emotions. ‘My child..’ She inhaled and loudly exhaled. Her blood veins bulge out of her tightly clenched fists from the anxiety and tension she felt in her heart.
“Elder…” The man in his 40’s too kneeled. He brought his hands out and caressed the hands of the elderly woman softly, “She will be found.” He soothed her.
The elderly woman could feel his intention and smiled lightly in reassurance, “I will be fine. I can still live for another 50 years.” her eyes slowly opened as stared at the sky.
Her child, Lise, was conceived by her and her husband at the age of 50. She and her husband are of the same age and have been together since they were children. As early as 5, they knew that they were meant for each other and are each other’s soulmates. But one day, at the age of 13, she was poisoned accidentally and that made her lose the ability to have a child. She became infertile from the poison.
And naturally, his family didn’t want their precious son to marry her because of her infertility. Although she was born to a family that ruled over their tribe and was the next head, they did everything to prevent her and her yet-to-be-husband from being together. At that time, she felt that that was the right thing to do. Years passed until both she and he reached 30. Still, he never looked at anyone else and was always by her side assisting her with everything. It was then that yet-to-be husband’s parents gave up and allowed him to marry her. After that, it took another 5 years for her yet-to-be-husband to convince her to agree to be with him.
Years passed again, but their efforts to conceive a child remained fruitless. But it was okay because they knew not to expect anything. Their love for each other remained very calm until they reached 50.
The day before her parents and his parents died, she found out she was pregnant. It was a miracle that God bestowed them. The child is a gift from heaven. And because their parents must’ve felt content, they left as early as the next morning.
From that year on, they raised their child with much care and with a lot of love. Everyone in the village loved Lise. Everyone adored her and called her the miracle child. Still one day, she had a huge argument with Lise which resulted in Lise running away at the age of 20. That day, she didn’t know what came to her but it was the first time she laid hands on Lise. It must’ve been shocking.
It was shocking. And the consequence was Lise missing for 5 years.
As soon as they found out that Lise left the city her husband went to look for Lise with a group of men. However, the results were fruitless. Their child was nowhere to be found. Nowhere at all. Whether their child was dead or alive, they didn’t know, however, with whatever resources they have and until the end of their life they will look for her and find her in whatever shape or form she will be in.
Because Lise is their child.
“Elder Lin,” The man in his 40’s noticed her sweat and shook her lightly.
The woman snapped out of her thoughts and reassured the man, “I’m fine, thank you Gie.” The elderly woman, Lin, shook her head and smiled lightly.
She then contemplated for a brief second before asking Gie, “And my husband?” How is he? She wanted to ask but she was afraid to. Towards her husband, she felt guilty. If only she didn’t do what she did that day, nothing would have happened.
Gie smiled, “Elder Gres is in good health and is still..” he hesitated towards the end as he looked at Elderly Lin guilty. He is still looking for Young Miss.
Elder Lin understood his hesitation and nodded, “Hn..” It has been 5 years since her husband left in search of Lise. But she knows her husband well and knew that he never blamed her. And that he will never give up on searching for their child.
Suddenly, a shuffle of footstep could be heard.
Alarmed, Gie stood up and shouted, “WHO’S THERE!” unhesitantly with 20 people dressed in a navy dress, they moved in front of Elder Lin and stood guard.
The man whom everyone was wary of appeared and kneeled, “Reporting!”
Gie breathed out in relief, “What’s wrong?” he asked.
The man who appeared lowered his head and in a panicky voice, he reported, “Reporting! A huge number of armed men are heading to our city!” his voice was filled with anxiousness and unease as he reported.
“WHAT?” Elder Lin shouted and stood up quickly.
Gie’s eyes widened as he angrily stared at the young man, “Repeat that!” he gritted his teeth as he said that.
“Countless armed men are heading to our city!” he repeated in anxiousness!
“What?!” Gie clutched his head as he stepped back, ‘What’s going on?’ his eyes wavered and blurred as he turned towards Elder Lin. His eyes and body were filled with worry and panic that was unconcealable.
Elder Lin noticed his look and shook her head. She turned to the young man and asked, “You said armed men and not armed knights. Does this mean that they are normal civilians?”
“…Yes.” sweat trickled down his forehead as he nodded.
Anger and resentment could be seen in Gie’s white eyes at this moment. Even though his pupils were white, anyone could see the deep rage hidden underneath his eyes.
Elder Lin understood the lying intent behind Gie’s eyes, and hurriedly said, “We can’t attack civilians.”
Gie stepped back and in an exasperating voice, he shouted, “ELDER!” his voice was full of disbelief and unwillingness.
Elder Lin shook her head and frowned, “You know we can’t! If we do, no one in the tribe will survive!” her voice was filled with emotions as she answered back!
Even before Elder Lin was born, back when their tribal men just arrived in Zene, the King of that year made them promise to never attack Zene’s civilian no matter what. If found guilty, all tribal men in that city will be executed! It has happened before, years ago when a tribal child accidentally hurt a child that wasn’t from their tribe! Everyone that lived in that village was then executed on spot! From then on, all tribal children from all over Zene were forbidden to leave to play with outsiders! Even adults had to be cautious at all times!
“But!” Gie’s voice filled with panic.
Elder Lin pursed her lips before ordering. “Issue orders for women and children to escape.”
“Where to?” the young man kneeling in front of her asked.
Elder Lin furrowed her brows, “Did they come from the capital?”
“Yes.” he nodded.
“Don’t escape in the direction to the capital. Have everyone go to the closest city in the north,” she instructed.
“Yes elder!” the young man bowed before quickly disappearing.
Elder sighed, “Men..” she turned towards the 20 men dressed in navy and Gie. She scrunched her eyebrows as she stared at them in sadness and pain.
The 20 men nodded at each other and kneeled in front of Elder Lin. “Elder Lin! We will delay those men as much as possible. We won’t attack but will only defend.” they knew what to do and said.
Elder Lin’s eyes wavered. She knew that if she sent these 20 men away, they wouldn’t be able to come back. This was a suicide task with no way to retreat. They can’t even attack and only defend.
If they attack, 2000 lives will be executed.
If they don’t go, everyone will still die.
Even so, as the head of this city, she had to send them to die. With great difficulties and great resolve, she spoke to the men, “I won’t apologize.”
“Yes Elder!”
“I will make sure your family gets taken care of for the rest of their lives. Also… if there is a next life… “ Elder Lin hesitated as towards the end. She sighed lightly before saying her next words in her head, ‘Let’s meet and fight alongside each other again…’
Elder Lin exhaled, “I will die for you.” she said resolutely and firmly.
The eyes of the 20 men widened. Their white eyes slightly turned red as they shook their heads in unison. How could they let the elder they regarded as their second mother die for them in their next life? That’s a sin!
With their fists clenched they said their final words,
“We owe you 1000 lives! We will meet again for another thousand lives!”
“Elder Lin, thank you for everything!”
“Thank you for taking care of me when I was a child!”
“Thank you!” Many words of gratitude were expressed as they all bowed to thank Elder Lin.
With her fists clenched, she shouted, “Go!”
On ‘Go’ everyone left, leaving Elder Lin and Gie behind. It was a parting without a proper goodbye.
Elder Lin glanced at the sky and sighed. ‘Child… Maybe I won’t live long to see you. Husband, I’m sorry… and’
“Thank you.” She muttered quietly.
Thank you for everything Husband.
Thank you for everything Lise.
Thank you for everything comrades.
Author’s Note: …… Did you cry? I was kinda emotional writing this but I didn’t know if I was able to get it through to you guys. 2nd part coming soon along with Ario’s death.
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