Chapter 4: Chapter 3: Thalassism

Chapter 3: Thalassism

The sun sets behind the silhouette of Redville’s northern mountains. Plants and animals bask in the receding sunlight, all while Francis, Maru, and Tianyu make their way back to the village.

At the gate, the villagers watch as the trio enters. Maru and Francis carried the torn and ragged wood that was left behind by the carriage, while Tianyu used his Magic to create a water bubble around the vegetables that followed him closely. He held the bread gently in his arms, like a parent cradling their newborn baby.

As they walked into the village, bystanders cheered and rejoiced. The trio would smile and wave back. A few villagers would run up to them and ask for food, but the group politely declined.

“No can-do,” Maru said, “we have to take them to the chieftain’s abode. He’ll distribute them to the village afterwards.”

After weaving through the village and climbing a moderately steep hill, the group arrives at the chieftain’s hut. It was nearly twice the size of the average hut in the village, crafted with stone that was carved from the northern mountains rather than wood. Attached to the side of the hut was a small fenced area for the chieftain’s horses. Redville’s national flag – a white insignia of a mountain surrounded by bird feathers – was scattered in a few places around the property. It was most notably attached to a wooden balcony that overlooked the village, which also doubled as a place where the chieftain could perform announcements.

Maru leans the wood against the house to free her hands. She walks up to the wooden door and knocks gently. Silence follows, leading her to knock again. Silence follows. She knocks one more time, albeit a bit harder.

“Is he even home?” Francis asked.

Tianyu leans to peek into the home through one of the windows. “The darkness stares back at me – no one seems to be home.”

“Chieftain Reoh?” Maru calls out, knocking one more time.

Tianyu closes his eyes briefly, a wave of Magic Energy washing over the area. Francis and Maru feel a chill run through their spine as Tianyu opens his eyes again. “Someone is inside,” he said, “though it doesn’t look like Mr. Reoh — not with a cloak that dense.”

Francis takes a few steps over to the side of the house, noticing a broken window. “Judging by this window here… I think somebody might’ve broken in.” He leans his pile of wood against the house, dusting his hands off afterwards.

“What are we waiting for then? Let’s go!” Maru said, quickly grasping the door handle.

Tianyu reaches out to grab her, “Maru wait–”

Maru swings the door wide open, taking a step inside as she is immediately met with a chilling breeze and darkness. The home was barely illuminated through the windows by the dim light from the setting sun. Dust would shroud the home like an eerie mist, causing the group to cough lightly as they all stepped inside. They all looked around the room in unison. Drawers were left open, furniture was ripped open and torn, and some wooden floorboards were lifted up and ripped in half. A candle was lit in the corner of the room, illuminating a square hole with a ladder that led down into its depths.

“I don’t see them,” Maru said, turning back to face Tianyu. “Are you sure there was someone in here?”

Tianyu nods, closing his eyes again as another wave of Magic Energy basks the area. “They’ve moved,” he said, opening his eyes slowly, “they are beneath us now.”

“Beneath..?” Francis muttered.

They all look at the square hole in the corner in unison. With wary steps, they all make their way over and peek down into the hole. They are met with mostly darkness, as the light from the candle was only enough to illuminate the ladder.

“Who’s first?” Francis asked.

Saying nothing, Maru grabbed the ladder gently and started to make her way down. Tianyu and Francis both followed closely behind her.

Reaching the bottom, they were met with a short and narrow corridor that led into a basement-like area. They could hear someone rummaging through the place.

Peeking around the corner, Maru sees someone crouched down. They had long, brown hair, tied neatly into a ponytail – but the rest of their body was shrouded in a large black cloak.

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They stop briefly, looking over their shoulder to catch a glance at Maru before they stand upright and turn around. Maru jumps back, startled as she raises her fists in a fighting stance. Francis jumps out in front of Maru, taking on a fighting stance of his own – but it quickly lowers.

“Chief?” He said, somewhat appalled. Reoh’s attire was a bit different than usual, he was never the type to wear hefty cloaks.

“Well, well, well, I didn’t expect to see you kids back here so soon!” Reoh turns to face them fully, revealing his oak brown eyes and caramel skin, with a bright smile appearing on his face as he speaks.

Maru sighs heavily, “you know somebody broke into your house, right? We were knocking on the door and you weren’t answering.”

“Really? I didn’t hear you knocking. I’ve been home all day too – I don’t recall anyone breaking in.”

“Are you sure?” Francis asked, with a bit of doubt in his voice, “the window was broken, the furniture was torn, the drawers and cabinets were open – somebody was going through your stuff.”

“Oh, uh,” the chieftain smiles innocently and chuckles to himself. “That was me – I was looking for the amulet for the ceremony. Couldn’t find the damn thing so I started tearing up the house to look for it. I found it though, it was down here!” He holds out the amulet that he found in a basket. It was a navy blue crystal surrounded by silver string – woven in the shape of a flower.

“...Well, at least somebody didn’t actually break into your house. We managed to take down the bandits that took the harvest. We also recovered the food and brought back some wood with us for building.” Maru points over towards Tianyu, who was still holding the vegetables.

“I recommend we use these for the ceremony,” Tianyu said, “these vegetables will only last a few more days.”

Reoh nods affirmatively, “Will do. I’m a little behind schedule today, so I need you kids to help me prepare for the ceremony. I haven’t even started decorating yet!”

He frantically gestures for them to follow him out of the basement area. Tianyu and Francis follow him, but Maru stands still for a moment, peering deeper into the basement. She notices a door with a dim purple light piercing through its cracks. Quietly, she makes her way over to the door with light, gentle steps. L:ooking up and down at the door, there was some sort of locking mechanism attached to it – but it was left unlocked. From the other side of the door, she hears faint whispering and subtle chatter. Grabbing the handle gently, Maru slowly pushes the door open, attempting to peer inside.

“Nuh-uh,” someone suddenly grabs the collar of her shirt, pulling her back and away from the door. “No snooping around,” Chieftain Reoh said as he pulled her away, stepping in front of Maru to close and lock the door.

Maru wanted to ask questions, but she figured now was not the time. She shouldn’t be snooping around in other people’s homes anyway.

A few hours pass, and the group manages to decorate most of the village in preparation for the Ceremony. The streets were lined with lanterns, illuminating the village with a blue glow reminiscent of the sea. Sea shells hung from lanterns and homes – attached by silver string. Most of the stores and other locations were closed, instead lighting dim candles inside their buildings as part of the ceremony. As the moon would slowly appear overhead, the villagers would rush out of their homes wearing stylish robes, engraved with all types of floral and aquatic designs in various shades of blue, purple, and green.

As everyone gathered in the courtyard in front of the chieftain’s hut, the area was basked with moonlight reflecting off of the ocean. Hushed chatter and banter filled the air until Chieftain Reoh approached the balcony, looking down at the crowd with a smile on his face as he waited for everyone to quiet down.

“Greetings, my people. I see we have quite the crowd today. Some young, others old; but today is not a day that we let age define who we are. Whether you were born yesterday or born ninety years ago – there is something that connects us all as Arcanian-kind.”

He reaches down and grabs something from his belt. Reoh holds a dreamcatcher high into the air, decorated with blue crystals and gray feathers; the strings woven into the shape of a flower.

“Dreams,” he cheered, “we are connected by our desire for a brighter future, solidarity, and prosperity for our kind. While our individual goals and dreams may differ, the desire to chase and achieve them brings unity and love to this land. It is for that very reason that we are gathered here today. A new year is not a tally on the countdown to your death – a new year is a step forward, a milestone in time towards your dream.”

Reoh looks up, dangling the dreamcatcher over the edge of the balcony. “Bring your hands together and empty your mind. As the moon graces us with its lunar presence tonight, then let your mind be filled with your grandest dreams and let them flow with the tides themselves and be strengthened by the sea. Envision yourself with all your goals accomplished. Show the sea who you want to be, and it will show you who you will become.”

Silence ensues as moonlight dawns over the courtyard. Everyone takes a deep breath, closing their eyes and clasping their hands together. Their deepest thoughts and desires would start to fill their minds. Many wished for obvious things, such as love, money, power, and knowledge. Some were generic or vague, others exotic and specific.

Maru closed her eyes, her mind blank for a bit longer than usual compared to past ceremonies. For most of her life, she struggled to create a semblance of a dream. Every ceremony, her thoughts were fragmented, but never whole. This time, however, she felt it finally coming together. A vision of who she wanted to be – not who others expected her to be. She may have been smart, curious, courageous, a little hard-headed; but there was something she wanted that nobody else could have predicted. The sea graces her with a vision.

A gentle, chilling breeze brushes against her cheek. She stood atop a mountain, overlooking the world.