Ajili Horo, the village chief in her 60's, her face was full of wrinkles because of growing age and her growing worry for the future of her people. In her village there were very few young and capable men, leaving their village vulnerable. They were protected by the guardians of the forest. But all these years her faith had dwindled. Where are those god's, those deities, they worship when they are in such dire situation.

"Trrrr….."

The sound coming from a small machine distracted Ajili's thought. A piece of paper rolled out from the machine. It had something written in an unknown language.

Seeing it, she clutches it and closes her eyes.

"People will hate me for this…. Whatever, for the future…", Ajili sighed and went outside.

As she went out her expression changed from that of worry and distress to an amicable one. One, a sweet grandmother gives.

Tamara saw her coming out. She had learnt a lot from this gentle old. She was strict while teaching her, was gentle as a mother when treating her illness. She had recovered a lot.

Earlier, she didn't have much time left, now she had hope.

She had mostly recovered her memories. She could remember her children. She remembers being married to Samuel, but she doesn't feel those feelings she should have.

"How are your studies going?", Ajili asked with her usual calming smile.

"It's difficult. There are too many languages here. Anyways, help me understand currency exchange once more. Please", Tamara asked for the umpteenth time embarrassed.

"Mom, we're leaving. Take care. And take your medicine on time and please REST", Ian called out Tamara while going out of the village with the rest of the men.

"Yeah. Go. Seriously who is the parent here"

"You're lucky to have such a filial son"

"Yeah", Tamara had a sad smile. She regretted even forgetting her children. She felt she was undeserving of such love.

. .

"Stop, where are we going? Can you at least tell me now", Asahi spoke panting.

He was inside the jungle. With him was a 10 year old. Asahi had befriended this boy. He couldn't speak, he would always follow Asahi wherever he went. Today, he pulled him and took him to the jungles.

Asahi had no idea what this little boy wanted to show him. He had no choice but to follow him.

After running about some distance, the boy stopped.

"What is it? Would you please tell me now?"

Suddenly, blue streaks of light enveloped Asahi all over.

"Wait… Are you doing this? Stop. What's going_"

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Before he could finish his sentence, the lights fully engulfed him and he disappeared.

That little boy transformed into a huge tortoise, as tall as the Alps mountain. Stretching its arms it said," I have done my part. Time to sleep".

Yawning, it disappeared from the scene.

In another part of the forest, the men from Sanka village and the Earth were hunting and gathering. The natives would only hunt animals for food or medicine. They would ask for its forgiveness while killing it and pray for its soul to rest in peace. A tradition, totally different from Earth. Samuel and others were used to this routine by now. They were forewarned that they won't be protected by the guardian if they disrespect this tradition.

Suho noticed something whizzed in the sky. It was too fast he couldn't see what it looked like.

"Guys, did you see that?"

"Looks like the time has come", Ajil Horo suddenly pulled out his spear and stood in the middle.

"You… You can speak English", Samuel said disbelievingly.

"Of course I know. It's one of the job requirements. You see. I have to work for many bureaucrats, aristocrats, rich, poor alike….

Well, the thing is….. my village has to pay an insane amount of tax. When we can't pay them, they take away our women and children. Now, some lost people from some planet come to our door. Isn't that a god-sent solution"

"What the hell are you talking about? What are you trying to do?", Samuel angrily rushed to him and tried grabbing his collars. He was pushed away by the blunt side of the spear.

Others were baffled by the sudden turn of events. The natives had their weapon unsheathed and many garuds had descended. The natives were fewer than them, but their fighting prowess was too good. They weren't a match.

"We're going to sell them away. Well, they at least will have a chance to get out of this planet. That thing in the sky was an airship. It will take your women and children to Yashul planet.

And about your wife, I have made it sure that she won't be sent to a brothel, at least".

Ajil moved towards his garud as Samuel was left on ground grumbling. Suho was red with anger, he rushed towards Ajil. He too got the taste of his spear. Others started also came to senses. They were being betrayed. They rushed to fight their opponents but were put back to their places.

"So annoying. You are too weak.

Oh, I will do a last favour for you guys. Earth, the planet you are talking about doesn't exist anywhere near or far of Elysium. Most probably it is in some other dimension. And currently, there's no knowledge or technology about dimension travel. So, your chances of going back are nil.

And one more thing, you won't be hearing any word from your companions who left earlier. They are mostly dead or on some researchers table. If not, they would soon as they speak about their origin. Be glad, we didn't report you to the authorities", Ajil turned and mounted his garud, his expressions were grim as he flew back to his village.

Back in the village, an airship landed outside the entrance. A man with a protruding belly assisted by a few tall and sturdy man entered the village.

"Nice goods. I agree with your demands", the man came towards the village chief as he eyed Julia and other air hostesses.

"200 years. Make it 200 years or you can get out of here", the chief replied.

"Old woman, you should retire. I only agreed for 100 years. No tax for 100 years. That's already too much. Don't be greedy."

"Then you can leave half of them behind", the chief tried not to make any eye contacts towards Tamara or any of their guests.

Tamara saw the commotion. She holds onto Ruth and Brad as she saw the situation was looking troublesome. She couldn't understand what was going on.

"Sly woman. Fine 200 years. For 200 years, we won't bother your village. We are taking them. All of them." The man laughed maniacally. He smacked his lips and ordered his men to move.

All the women and children from Earth from gathered and bounded. They were taken towards the airship.

"Aunty what's going on?", Tamara asked Ajili with frightened expressions.

"I'm sorry. My house was burning. So, I saved my people", Ajili said and turned around. Her face was ridden with guilt and grief.

Ajil and his group had returned by then. All of their heads were down.

Ajil went inside his home. He took off his clothes. His back was filled with marks of injuries. Scars that were very old.

Scars made from being whipped, burnt marks of cigarettes buds, covered all over his body.

He stood with his eyes closed and hands trembling. He clutched his hands tightly and said, "I did it for the good of my people. I did it for my people's future. I did it for my people….."

He kept repeating it. His throat choked because of his tears. He still kept repeating. Like he was hypnotising himself.