What lies Between the Shades of Blue and Red
When the wind blew on that hill, it would spread the subtle scent of the countless flowers covering it. This afternoon was nice and warm, the ocean was blue and so was the sky; while the faraway, fuzzy horizon made it hard to tell where the sea ended and where the sky began. Nothing but the wind's whistle and the quiet boy's respiration could be heard, really. For the little ones of the hill, it was a different story: The landscape was nothing else but a country, a battlefield. Armies of ants and termites defended their cities, ladybugs laid silent banquets and the lazy rainbows of butterflies were flying away from the busy bees buzzing around. But even if spiders and mantas eyed their prey with a gluttonous eye, none of the inhabitants of the flower country dared to touch the boy. His size had no link whatsoever with it, and many times had some of them climbed on humans before, but that creature evoked an absolute fear in their guts, thus why the boy could sleep peacefully in the flower field.
The time was ideal for a nap, the grass cozy, and the boy didn't care how long he would sleep, be it minutes, days, or even years. His hair was a gradient mix of red and black and formed like a damned halo around his peaceful sleeping face. His curved horns violently contrasted the hair, as they were blue-gray, but matched his crumpled gray and black clothes.
The boy wished to sleep forever somehow, but he knew he had to wake up at some point… and so he eventually did.
Once again, he had dreamed of the one person that had counted for him. But so matter how many times he dreamed of him, it didn't get rid of his loneliness.
The boy groaned, and look at the sky, leaning backwards and scattering terrified hordes of insects. A sudden pain in his heart, he closed his eyes again, appreciating the warmth of the sun- but he couldn't get rid of the scowl marring his face.
How is it possible to feel jealous of the sky? I guess I'm really going mad.
He moved again, effectively spreading terror among the insect legions as they fled under his gaze.
Petty things... Why did I chose this place to nap?
He let his head rest on his knees, arms wrapped around them. Insect refugees took shelter under a nearby rock.
A moment passed and he opened his eyes again. They were blue: like this ocean, this sky, these flowers.
He sighed. Maybe he really was going insane. Some other of his tribe already had. He had loved such views once; but right now he felt nothing but emptiness.
He wished it would rain somehow. Then living things would have another reason than him to run. He vaguely felt that the flowers were silently waiting for their death since he had arrived there, and it made him kind of sad.
Kind of.
He sighed again. The horned boy just wished something would talk to him. Anything.
A thought crossed his mind and he spoke aloud.
"Anything but Visnu, yeah."
He stopped, surprised. How long had it been since he had last heard his own voice? Since when had he had a proper conversation with anyone?
He couldn't even remember.
The boy stand up and walked downhill toward the beach. He would complete his sura-morph, but he'd rather not destroy the hill in the process- maybe it was a nice view, after all.
The insect population let out a sigh. They had survived the fearsome being.
He eyed the white beach. The sand was thin and soft, very nice… Ideal for a Gandharva sura to sunbathe on, or even a human...
But why was there no one here?
Was it because of him, too?
Something's off… Or am I overthinking this? I only arrived yesterday, and I was rather discreet… No one, or at most very few would have noticed me here, right?
Gandharvas might have noticed me, spread the word, and fled. And the humans… Maybe there's usually a lot of suras around here. Yes; this must be it.
Although, he wasn't completely satisfied… and slightly frustrated. No wonder he half forgot his own voice.
He smoothed his crumpled clothes and assumed a younger appearance- from a boy in his late teens to a child around ten.
His plans had changed, so he began running.
Running was definitely slower than flying, but even if his speed was way out of the ordinary, it was more discreet than taking out his wings.
He reached another hill and paused again on top of it, looking down.
A small village. A human village.
I guess I am that desperate…
Utpala the Azure Lotus Dragon slowly walked down toward the entrance.
OoOoOoO
A young man, sitting on a branch, looked at the child walking downhill.
His legs were hanging down leisurely, and bangs covered his eyes.
He was smiling.
My, my, he thought, it's been a while… Although I suppose you'd rather have me out of the way? That's okay.
You won't need my interference here, anyway. Take this as a treat...
And the next instant, Visnu was gone.
OoOoOoO
The guard eyed the Half boy suspiciously. He looked rather young; no more than forty years old.
He himself was barely twenty-five, but that didn't matter. He held his spear, although he doubted the boy meant any harm. Sure, he looked slightly pissed, but that might just be an impression. His clothes, however, were a little odd.
But in any case, he was coming slowly, both hands empty.
However, a doubt remained: Was it really a Half?
The guard hardly doubted an attacker would walk that slowly toward his target, but who knew what sura actually thought.
"Halt! Who are you?"
Visibly startled, the boy stopped. He recovered quickly however, and replied with a smile.
"I mean no harm. My name is Utpal-"
A loud noise was heard at the exact same time, and a second guard came out of a nearby building, panting.
His armor seemed very heavy- and so seemed his spear he had just dropped loudly.
"Halt! Who's that, Ronnie?"
"Calm down, Donnie", replied the first guard with a frown, "We just have a visitor. Your name was… Opal? Sorry, I couldn't hear.."
"Yes … Opal. I'm a Kinnara Half…"
Better not have them know my real name. I got lucky here… Gotta be more careful.
That, and Kinnara is definitely less scary. I bothered to come all the way, I'll stay among sentient beings for tonight at least.
Then I'll feel better, right..?
Wait… Since when did I feel…
"Boy! Opal! Come in, don't stay here. You can stay at the Squeaky Cauldron, if you have money…"
"Err, I don't. I kind of… I got attacked, and lost all of my things." answered Utpala after a quick thinking.
"My, really? You look fine… You got lucky. There's a fifth stage Upani living around here…"
"I just ran away." Said Utpala with a straight face.
"Hang on, Ronnie. We can't let a suspicious boy in like that!"
"Donnie, either he's saying the truth and is a Half, either he's a Nastika. We can handle a Half and well, even if he was a Nastika… It's not like that could stop him. We're a small village, there's no real protection against Superior Sura anyway… So, I don't see what the problem is."
"But if even if he's a Half, we can't-"
Utpala smiled. Watching the two bicker was the most interesting thing he'd seen in… Well, since… Let's just say a long time, he decided.
"Don't pay attention to my brother, boy. Come in. How long do you want to stay? I suppose you're not here for our legendary Rabbit Stew?"
Legendary..?
"No, I guess I'll stay for tonight..? Wait, no, I don't have money-"
"Don't worry, you can just… work a little at the inn, maybe? Dishes and stuff. I'm sure they can make you a discount. You're minor anyway- we're not going to let you sleep in the forest! Now come in."
"Ronnie-"
"Shut it, Donnie."
Utpala passed in between the two guards, and finally entered the village.
And then, he turned around, because he had no idea where the inn was…
"Straight from here, turn left at the second intersection- you can't miss it. Not that the village is that big anyway..."
He soon discovered the building. It didn't look very old, and seemed nice and clean- perfect. The bell rang when he came in.
"Hello! Are you a customer, kiddo?"
Utpala stopped, startled. Now that he thought of it, He hadn't met a female in… Long time, he thought.
"I had to run away from a sura, so I don't have money, but-"
The woman had brown hair and yellow eyes, and she was rather fat: This was new to Utpala, as well. She was wearing a dirty apron and a dark green dress.
She ran toward him at a speed he thought impossible for a human, and took him by the shoulders.
"What? Sura? Are you okay, sweetie? Of course you must be hungry. I'll make you rabbit stew! I'm Maria Rartia. Come sit here, near the fire. You're so thin! Eat as much as you like, just wait here. Of course you can stay here tonight. I can find you a small job, too, count on me. What's your name, sweetie?"
Utpala had to blink twice before recovering. He answered in a croaked voice.
"Opal. Th-Thank you…"
She dragged him on a chair and sit him near the fireplace.
Surprisingly… Welcoming…
"Oy! Come 'ere! We have a customer!"
He looked up- a girl with purple hair had just come in hurriedly. She was a quarter, he recognized, and looked about ten as well- she smiled shyly at him.
It was a pretty smile.
"What do you want to order?"
Humans… They are rather naive…
…
But I guess they are pretty nice...
Visnu glanced through the window from outside, and smiled.
End
