’A mission’ Cury thought to himself

Staring at the man in front of him, Cury saw that the old man’s face was glowing, or radiating a colour like that of silver.

“Who…” Cury began but bit his tongue.

The man’s gaze sent shivers up and down his spine

Cury looked at his father, who was frozen in place. Pete had a surprised look on his face.

Then he took a step backwards.

“Am I?” The old man replied.

“You don’t need to know that" he said while pulling at his own beard, revealing a huge grin not fit for a man that old.

Cury took another step back and with his voice almost not making it out from his mouth he squealed “How are you doing this!? Let them go!”

The man simply waved with his hand in the air and said “This? This is but a trivial trick. Now, as I was saying…”

Cury interrupted, shouting in both anger and confusion “Are you a god? Are you here to take my father as well!?”

The old man was stunned. “A god? Who on earth told you about such things!? Moreover, I have no use of your father, why would I take him?”

Cury felt that there was a strong power behind that voice. It certainly did not fit with the appearance of this man in front of him.

Shaken by these questions, and by all that was going on around him, Cury let out a tear.

A single tear at first, slowly falling down his cheek.

Soon after, more followed. Cury went down on his knees, slamming the ground with his hands. “I don’t understand, what’s going on?” He yelled.

“Child, you are looking far too deep into meaningless things. I am merely here to give you a mission, not to listen to a child’s crying” The old man said with such a stern yet friendly manner that Cury could not help but to look up and meet his gaze.

There was a god-like figure in front of him, radiating blue light, and Cury was fearing for his life. This situation was confusing and intimidating but there was something in the back of his head that calmed him. A feeling, or a sound that felt adventurous, brave and untamed. A hymn to adventure. Whatever it was, it affected him.

A light of red and yellow began to play tag in his eyes, slowly pouring over the gray shade of confusion that had previously held the throne.

“So, this is Curiosity” The old man stated.

“I am curious!” Cury said, calming his breathing

He pushed himself up to a standing position and brushed dirt off his knees.

“I apologize for my rudeness, Sir” Cury continued, not sure if this newfound courage was his own.

“You picked yourself up faster than expected” the man said, smiling widely and meeting Cury’s eyes.

“You can call me Blue; you don’t need to know anything more than that.” He continued.

Cury felt his heart beat harder and faster and he felt akin to a bull, ready to charge.

“This mission, you can see it as a test. It is the beginning of a long journey.” Blue began.

“This world is not as simple as it may seem. You’ve grown up here in Poz, a small village of a small kingdom. Yet, not even the larger kingdoms can compare to the knowledge you’ll acquire.” He continued.

Cury looked at Sun, and then at his father. They were still frozen stiff, as if made of stone.

“What is it I need to do?” He asked.

“Right now, you are far too young. Luckily, your father has raised a clever boy of Corvus. You have surely realized that other children at your age are far more immature than you.” Blue said.

Cury nodded and smiled. It felt good to be praised by this person in front of him.

“But surely you can at least tell me what it is?” Cury asked.

Blue raised a hand and formed a small, crackling light in thin air. Out of the lightning he pulled a staff that was taller than Cury.

The staff was black as coal, with a red band wrapped at the middle where he held his hand. The tip of the staff was curved in a half circle, shielding an orb that was even darker than the staff itself. The orb seemed to swallow all light that reached it.

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Blue swung the staff in a half circle clockwise, and another half circle counterclockwise.

As he was done with the movement, a blue circle with letters Cury had never seen before emerged from the orb.

Cury was stunned in awe, whatever he was seeing, it was unheard of.

A blue, shimmering smoke poured out of the circle. As the shimmering was getting brighter, it seemed as if a structure was being formed.

The smoke was slowly disappearing being replaced by a floating painting that seemed so lifelike that Cury could mistake it for reality.

He could see books, upon books upon books, stacked inside wooden shelves. Wooden shelves next to other wooden shelves in well organized rows and all the shelves were engraved with gold. There were even chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, lighting up the entire area.

As Cury walked around the image he could look from more perspectives. He could see the ceiling, covered with art. Looking at the art, he could see the history of mankind. All the way from when they were living in the trees, to when Kingdoms emerged all around the continent. There were more, gray areas that allowed future generations to continue our legacy. In the middle of this structure, a circle was formed, by all the intersecting hallways. Each hallway was covering their own topics of literature.

That’s when Cury realized it.

“The Great Library” he said under his breath.

Blue nodded. “Indeed. This is where you must go, that is your mission.” He said.

“Why must I go there?” Cury asked.

“You will learn about a great disaster that struck our lands. It is something you must see for yourself” Blue answered.

"Well, you will know when you get there. It may not be tomorrow, or even this year. But now I've given you a task and I expect you to complete it. Let it take its time, but visit the Great Library." He added.

“Amazing! I can’t wait to bring Sun and father with me there!” Cury said with a very happy tone.

“Do not take this lightly boy, your journey is filled with hardship!” Blue cut down Cury’s mood as if his words was a sword.

“This is a warning; your future does not look too bright kid.” He continued.

Cury was taken aback by this, but he nodded. “I understand Sir. I am ready”

The seriousness in Blue’s tone fell, and a new smile appeared on his face. “Good kid, now I will be leaving. Oh, and don’t mention my visit, words must not get out what you've seen just now.” He said.

Slightly stunned from the sudden farewell, Cury opened his mouth to say goodbye, but

before Cury even got the chance to respond, he heard a ladle hit the ground.

“Seems like this pile of old bones has old shaky hands as well!” Pete laughed

All the smoke was gone, the picture of the library as well.

Cury was disoriented.

“Even with these shaky hands I can give you a good beating Pete, don’t try me!” Seer sneered.

“I was helping this dried out backyard getting the nutrition it needs. With a piece of my help, even your training grounds can show beautiful greenery!” She added.

“These mushrooms really taste great lady Seer!” Sun joyfully exclaimed.

A smile appeared on the old Seers wrinkly face.

“This recipe is a must; can you share it. Then I can send Mike to the forest to stock up on spices and herbs next month, when the leaves begin to fall.” Stella said.

The mood around the fire was at an all time high, there was laughter, playful attempts at starting a fight were swapped between the Seer and Cury’s father.

Mike pulled out a homemade beverage from his bag. Everyone had some, and Cury took a big gulp.

"It tastes both bitter and sweet at the same time; I love it!" He said.

Pete gently hit Mike with his elbow and said "Mixed with some spirits, this one could become a treasure of Poz"

The compliment was accepted with a gentle smile and a raised mug of the beverage, followed by a nod. Mike appreciated it.

After some time, Mike and Pete chased Cury and Sun around, Stella and the old Seer took a walk around the hill that Pete’s house stood upon.

The sun had set long ago, the moon had visited, stayed for a while and was preparing to leave.

The gathering of people was sitting around the remains of the fire. Sun was dozing off; Pete worked on a wooden figurine that he had been occupied with for some time. A hobby he had.

Mike and Stella were embracing each other, and the old Seer simply gazed into the burning wood.

As morning was nearing, Mike stood up.

“I believe we should head back home. We’ve stayed far longer than expected. Thank you for inviting us over!” He said.

Cury enjoyed this, he felt so at ease. His father’s eyes were glowing in a deep red. This meant that he was content, and if his father was happy, so was he.

Pete jumped up from a log he was sitting on, took Mike’s arm in his and said, “We need to do this more often, it truly helps my research to look at things with a rested heart.”

Stella took Sun’s hand walked towards the gate. Then she stopped and said to Cury, “You know that you are welcome to our home any day, any time Cury. Make sure to remember that!”

The sun was slowly rising, and they waved goodbye. Yet as they opened the gate, they all froze in place.

The sky lit up in a brilliant green light. The green light was reaching far and wide through the clouds.

They all turned their heads towards the desert, where a beam of light was piercing the sands of Roa.

Cury stared and felt his heart beating faster. This green light, it was intense. It was a strong force, pulling at him. Full of anger, full of hatred.

“Cury, cover your eyes!” the old Seer yelled.

Before he even had the chance to raise his hands, Pete was covering them for him. The force immediately disappeared, but he felt that something was very wrong with this light. It was not natural, but after today, he wasn’t as surprised as he should have been.

Sun stared at the light and said, “It’s so beautiful, what is causing it, Pete?”.

“I don’t know, it’s marvellous. But it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.” Pete answered.

“That thing is not natural; you don’t want anything to do with what’s happening over there.” The old woman said.

Then they heard it.

An ear-piercing scream. It was a loud and deafening voice shrieking in pure agony.

Pete and Stella both thought the same thing.

Whoever was making this sound was dying. It was in such pain that perhaps only feeling what this being felt could cause one to die of shock.

As the scream kept growing, becoming more painful and heart-breaking, they could only put their gaze at the skies above Roa. The sun was rising behind the green beam, radiating light and painting the sky along with its clouds with a slightly red, almost golden colours.

“A beast is on death’s doorstep over there, yet there is such a beautiful view. Only the most brilliant of beasts are worthy of such a breath-taking goodbye.” Mike said quietly and a string of tears was making its way down his rough, yet kind face.

The old Seer simply stared, not saying anything while showing no emotion.

“Such a pitiful ending” She said.