I did a 180 and barfed this fluff piece
Chapter 1: prologue
Musutafu was a strange place.
Not strange in the sense that the people were weird, no. Not even strange in the sense that sketchy deals were made in darkened alleys, no.
It was something more profound.
When people came and went from Musutafu, they'd be in a sort of daze. Some would come filled with anger and leave with tension gone from their body. Some would come with red-rimmed eyes shining with tears and leave with wobbly smiles on their faces.
One could go on and on, on what happened to people from different walks of life who found themselves passing through the city.
And when these people are asked what they saw– what happened, they'd all react the same.
Their eyes would shine with mirth, a chuckle leaving their lips. The corners of their mouths would turn up, a secretive smile etched on their face.
"You'll see."
When asking the locals, those who had their roots deep in Musutafu, whispers were exchanged.
Whispers of gods and goddesses, of sprites and spirits, of miracles and calamities.
.
.
There would be children that giggle, singing an old song as they sang and played. At times, passing townsfolk paused in their hurried steps, humming along.
Wind comes along
The promise of spring
Of rain showers there
At the red lion's lair
And the kiss of the sun
Comes soft, cool, and warm
Green smile
Red eyes
This night
The song was like a prayer, everyone's eyes fluttering close as the wind passed, as droplets of rain fell, as the sun's rays fell on them.
"It is not just a prayer. It is remembering."
"Remembering who?"
The question was always left unanswered, a smile on an old woman's lips, a giggle from a child, a smirk from a young man. It was as if everyone knew the answer to the question– an answer passed down from parent to child, child to child, but no one was willing to share.
It was a secret of Musutafu, thrumming under the surface of the city.
.
.
Most visitors– those that had red-rimmed eyes, those that burned with anger, those that drowned in guilt– were met with clear, understanding eyes.
"There."
They would go to the shrine, strangely nestled deep in the city, as if obscured from everyone, but was set in the center, atop a small hill that looked out of place from the modernized buildings and complexes.
No one questioned it.
They would go late– when the sun had bid its goodbye to the mortals and passed the baton to its sister moon. When the explosion of colors would be seen on the horizon, enveloping Musutafu in a strange light.
And like everyone before and after them, they would leave the shrine as the sun breathed again, its rays caressing them.
There would be some that stayed, planting their roots. Some that stayed longer than intended but eventually left.
.
.
It was rare, but some ran. Ran as fast their legs could take them, faces stricken with fear, venomous words spilling from their rotten mouths.
"This place is cursed!"
During those times, the city was silent. Silent, but not quiet. Cold eyes would regard the runner, faces wiped clean of all emotion but one: burning anger.
"You are malevolent. Leave."
And the runner would.
Cold eyes would keep looking in the direction they ran. Until they were only a speck in the distance, and until they were no more.
During those times, the people of Musutafu would swarm the shrine. An occurrence they rarely did; for reasons, they refused to divulge. They would come, silently, bearing small trinkets reverently held between their hands.
A dead lover's ring, a beloved friend's letter, a father's gift, a sibling's promise.
"Apologies. Apologies. Apologies."
They would spend an eternity at the shrine. And outsiders would attempt to take a peek, but they would never get past the first few steps before they forwent their plans.
It was not their place to do so.
And the city would start to breathe again once the sun would bid its goodbye and stretch its arms from slumber.
.
.
.
There was a legend of two gods in Musutafu.
.
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The tune for the song is something unique for me so just sing it however you like haha
Just a prologue cuz I'm still working on the last chapter for Say I Do lol Updates for this one is gonna be quick, like every 3-5 days or something?
Hope I got you hooked ; Follow on Twitter ( _empressvika) for fun and updates