"A mere nomad he was, far away from the conflicts of the … Living in a corner very few know of, but Myrr had other plans for the boy. Who would have guessed the one born in the backyard of the galaxy would be responsible for the change?"
–Principles of the Myrrbound, Grand Priest Brahlima,
22,410 A.E. (After Exodus)
Aqski, 10,341 A.E. (After Exodus)
The music of Khumir, modre-roor, filled the town hall. Yuviel, like the other children, sat at a round table with some snacks lying before, especially baked for the festival. Sweet aroma of lugwerian bark and hufberries left him watering.
He was forcing himself to sit still since the grown-ups had scolded him just moments earlier. Today was a special day for him—the day of conception, the first day of the new year. For this special occasion, he wore a faded cotton tunic, dyed deep indigo and stitched at the cuffs with red thread—a sign of his mother's handiwork, tied with a leather belt holding a small utility knife and pouch. As his father once said, a knife should always be within hand's reach.
His trousers were tucked into scuffed leather boots, still holding the dust of yesterday's ride.
It marked the 12th day of conception for him, and as always, he would receive gifts today. But that's not what excited him the most, just three more years, and he would become a shepherd just like his father, a grown-up. Allowed to ride a Kharroc and lead a herd of nocsheeps.
He chuckled at the thought.
"What are you laughing at?" a small, delicate voice asked, snapping the boy out of his daydream.
"I am just happy for the gifts. What about you, Tasha? Are you not excited?"
Her big eyes rolled. She scratched her hair, then said, "I don't know. Mom says I should behave more like a woman now and not like a kid. I don't know what she means, but that sounds so BORING...".
"Oh, oh my father said something similar, that I would need to understand my respon...ty, respinsity, response….ugh.."
She giggled. "Responsibility! You fool."
A blush crept up on the young boy's face.
"Yeah, yeah, that one."
Tasha was the daughter of the elder of Caspuyl, their small village. She was wearing an ankle-length loose-fitted yellowish tunic, which was tightened around her waist by a sash. Her hair was untied today because of the occasion, probably. Her earrings and a necklace around her neck stood out. The boy had to admit that his friend was looking beautiful today.
He got startled when the musicians started to sing a folksong.
Before the stars had names or sounds,
We lit the flame and passed it 'round.
No sword was drawn, no blood was spilled,
The sky was wide, the silence filled.
We walked as one through night and glow,
A thousand voices, one shadow.
Hands not clenched, but open, wide—
All thrones were dust, yet none had died.
Yuviel bobbed his head to the song, not caring about the words. Most didn't. He remembered the elder telling him once that it was a song about our old home, and one must traverse the stars to understand it.
The chorus began with the soft voices of toddlers.
Ash to breath, and breath to light,
The fire sleeps, but not the right one.
When stars align and silence breaks,
The flame returns, the world awakes.
They say we ruled and let it fall,
Too proud to kneel, too deaf to call.
Yet even now, in child and stone,
The old fire waits to rise alone.
Yuviel remembered the lyrics of the chorus by heart and mumbled them under his breath, It was a tradition for every toddler should start learning it from the 5th day of conception till the eighth. Yuviel had grown up now, but still missed singing the "Flame and Ash."
He shot a glance at Tasha, who was doing the same, mumbling the lyrics in a hushed whisper.
"You actually dressed up today?" He asked.
Tasha, with a smile, glanced down, her cheeks flushed pink." Mom prepped me. " With a grin, she looked up, "Hey, Wanna go to the lake?"
Yuviel's jaw dropped, "But, what about the festival? It's about the start right"
"No, it's not. It will not start until 1 more hour, until the fourglow is over, and will continue up to midnight. Yuv, please!! It will be fun, let's go."
With a little reluctance, he finally nodded. He was disappointed; the mood in the town hall was getting jollier, and he had to leave.
They stood up from the table and headed out. Yuviel followed Tasha as she glided her feet toward the door. As soon as he gets out, his hand is yanked by someone. Tasha turned her head to see behind.
The pendant floating in the air was familiar to Yuv.
"M-Mom?" Yuviel's eyes go wide.
Tasha frantically bowed down, "M-May this Day of conception bring happiness and prosperity to you and your family, Aunt Janiel."
Janiel passed a glare to Yuv and then patted Tasha's head and stretched her cheeks. "Aw, my sweetheart, you learned the correct greeting! Such a lovely child, Yuv really could learn a lot from you, dear."
Yuviel winced; Tasha never left the opportunity to gather praise.
Tasha gave Yuviel a smug grin, which riled him up further. One could recognize at a glance that Yuv and Janiel were related, same Sapphire eyes, lips, and nose. She was the reason Yuv was even considered remotely good-looking. But his complexion and golden brown hair were his father's gift.
"Where are you two off to?"Janiel asked in a tone that was neither carefree nor serious.
"Um, I was taking him to the lake, aunty," Tasha answered, fidgeting with her fingers.
Janiel put a finger on her chin, acting like she was pondering, and finally said with a subtle smile.
"Be sure to take care of this dork, Tasha."
"MOM!"
Tasha's face lit up, she took Yuviel by the hand. Before leaving her son's hand, Janiel whispered with a smile.
"She is quite cute, don't you think?".
Yuviel gulped down and refused to meet eyes with his mother.
Yuv accompanied Tasha as they navigated through the buzzing crowd of Caspuyl.
"So, why are we going to the lake?" Yuviel asked.
She didn't reply and slapped his shoulder.
She was way swifter than he; if it wasn't for the hand, he would have been left behind.
Yuviel followed behind in silence. After some minutes, they came out of the village.
"What are you gonna get for a gift?" He asked.
She slowed her pace to match his.
"I dunno, papa said he is going to buy me a Kharroc"
"A KHARROC?! But you are 12! Nobody rides a Kharroc at 12."
Her smile turned into a smug smile.
"I can"
"No, you can't," Yuviel scowled. "You won't even know how to ride."
"Oh, I would know…I will take you out for a ride tomorrow, if you don't freak out. Deal?"
"Deal"
"Only if you behave," she added.
"Oh, shut up, I am not your pet hound."
"Aw, did my Yuv get angry~" She said in a toddler's voice.
As their banter continued, they finally reached the lake. It was enormous, so large that it would take a month or two just to walk around its perimeter.
The waters were green in color, thus giving it its infamous name of Emerald Lake.
The main water source for Caspuyl and several other surrounding villages. It was clean enough to see to the base inside, its magical cleanliness often astonished people.
A tree stood tall, and its roots dug into the base of the lake at the centre of the emerald lake, so large that even being several kilometers from them, Yuviel still had to strain his neck to look up at it. Branches of the tree spread out in a mushroom fashion. The closest one to them had been only 500 meters away.
The tree had grey bark and sparkling white flowers, with no visible leaves; it was covered in flowers only. It's most appealing quality. Yuviel tried to remember the name of the tree that his father had told him.
"Si-l pe-t ahh what was it?"
"Silver petal! You need to study Yuv." She giggled.
Embarrassed, Yuviel didn't respond and glanced at the sky, the blue sun, Kyn was dipping down on the horizon, and the three moons started to appear in the sky, painting the black canvas of dawn with a lovely gradient of colors, Vermillion from Nesepir, orange from Ayim, and pink from Hecan. And the emerald lake was reflecting it perfectly, almost blurring the horizon, and in the midst of it, Silver Petal stood tall, with its glowing flowers.
"A Fourglow," he murmured, mesmerised by the sight unfolding before him. So beautiful that couldn't be explained in words, but a doubt came into his mind.
"This is what I wanted to show you, it only happens on the day of conception when all the moons gather in the night sky. " She said without her eyes leaving the sky.
A little moment later, several people, most in pairs, appeared.
"Why does no one come from the village? I see very few people, and neither did my parents ever take me here on the day of conception."
Tasha's body fidgeted. Yuviel didn't understand her hesitation; it was hard to see clearly, but her face was probably red.
"Yuv…..only couples come here, to confess love."