Author Comment: This is the second version of this chapter, corrected by FollowerOfAnhamirak.
Chapter 29: Welsh and The Messenger
It had been a day since he'd met with Theb-Saar and Codemaster Crellun. Alexandre had decided to port into Al Mipedim and visit Gosh's village. Peyton had told him where the descendant of his friend lived and after much thought he decided to visit. After everything that had happened, he needed something to ground him and this seemed like just the thing. The only problem was that he only had a general idea of his destination. Pausing, Alexandre checked in his bag, "Got enough water to get lost for a little while." Hopefully it wouldn't come to that.
Taking time to adjust his belongings he grabbed his hood and covered his face with it. It might not hide who he was that well, but if he was right, they would need to focus on his face to see his scars. The four players had warned him about the M'arrillians going after Chaotic Players and he wouldn't take a risk of being recognized as the Messenger of the Cothica. Taking out his scanner he activated the compass mode of his scanner to orient himself. He needed to go north and not south, "Too bad it doesn't have a GPS function. There is nothing but space here." Mused Alexandre out loud, as he started walking.
He kept going forward, thinking about how things would play out when he arrived to the village. He had some apprehension about meeting the creatures and couldn't help but ask himself what they thought of him. Would they like him or not? They weren't Gosh.
Peyton had told him that they were excited to meet him, but that was a message from Theb-Saar. Not only that, but they had never met. Everything they knew about him was based on the tablets and how they perceived him.
Sighing Alexandre put one hand in his pocket and the other on his chest. His scar was itching a little. It happened sometimes when he got stressed. Yet, when he spoke with Tom and Kaz, he didn't feel that way. Maybe it was the apprehension that was slowly getting to him.
His journey through the desert was a long one, at least compared to his previous trips. He had never gone this deep into the deserts of Al Mipedim.
After a few hours Alexandre decided to take a short break under a rock, the shadow from the overhang allowing him to cool off a little. He rested for a while, taking a sip of water before he put his bottle back in his bag. As he sat there, he couldn't help but let out a small smile as he remembered the past, "Hey Gosh. Not sure if you can hear me… But I'll try anyway. I'm back and I'm going to meet your descendant. Not sure how many times I had to say grand with children." Said Alexandre out loud, chuckling at his own stupid sentence.
After taking a few more minutes to rest, he ended his short break and continued forward. He looked forward into the desert trying to see if he was any closer to the village. As he looked, his thoughts drifted. He tried to figure out if he had ever met the female Mipedian his friend might have loved. Gosh was the creature he had befriended and spent the most time with, but he had certainly met others during his time in Kaizeph. Sadly, his memories weren't helping at all. He had met only a few females of his tribe, but had never really interacted with them that much. It could be that it had been after he left that he had found his loved one. Maybe even because he left.
"I'll never know about that," Alexandre sighed as he kept going forward. Hoping it was the right direction.
The sun reached its peak and it was getting really hot. He still had some water left but he had ended up drinking more then he had planned earlier. If he couldn't find the village soon, he'd have to port back. He walked for a while longer and just as he was about to give up, he saw something only a small distance ahead. He wasn't sure if it was a mirage or not.
"Did I finally reach it?" Alexandre wondered. He kept walking forward and saw a few Mipedians talking together while a few others came into the village with the water they managed to obtain. It could be another village. There weren't any signs that told you, welcome to 'insert city or village' name. If it was the place, he would scan it.
He approached it and a few creatures immediately noticed him, the humanoid reptiles suspicious. He was an outsider and the village gave out the isolating vibe.
As he looked at the inhabitants Alexandre noticed one of the Mipedians and noted some similarity in the creature to Gosh. His crimson scales had a similar shape to Gosh and he also had a horn on his snout like him. It gave an obvious hint that he was in the right location. He was currently busy talking with a few other villagers.
As he began walking towards them the tall Mipedian noticed him. His amber eyes were locked on the outsider.
"Who are you stranger?" A short Mipedian standing next to the tall one asked the human, his tone suspicious but polite.
Alexandre took off his hood and simply said, "My name is Alexandre," looking at the creatures carefully to catch their reactions. They were carefully observing him now. Though he noted it was simply because of his scars.
The taller one approached him and observed the scars on the human's face, "You do look like him, but older," a small smile was on his face when he was certain. The scars were clearly those on the tablet, "Welcome Messenger of the Cothica to our village."
Hearing the tall Mipedians pronouncement, others, who had been paying attention, began whispering among themselves.
"Just call me Alexandre," He said, sighing with a small smile. He looked at the tall Mipedian.
"I haven't told you my name, but perhaps you have heard it already. I am Welsh, a descendant of our friend Gosh." the crimson creature said, a small smile on his face.
"You looked a lot like Gosh," Alexandre admitted sheepishly.
"I am honored to greet you in our humbled village, Messenger of the Cothica," Welsh said.
"Alexandre please." Alexandre insisted.
"We were all excited to meet you. Once we heard you might come back, we've been waiting for your return. Gosh would have been overjoyed, if he was still among us." The Mipedian extended his right hand and invited him to enter the village.
"He would have " Said Alexandre melancholically. Just seeing the creature made him miss his old friend. He couldn't stop himself to compare the two.
Welsh looked to be the same age as his ancestor when they had first met. He was an adult, but one with much more responsibilities on his shoulders then Gosh had. He had been a simple guard when he lost his home, but he had seen a lot beforehand. Gosh was also, despite being a mature Mipedian, someone who liked to goof off a little, as the atmosphere in Kaizeph had been constantly tense and heavy. Unlike him Welsh looked like he was much more serious with those responsibilities. The big thing that stood out though was that the current creature in front of him had a full tail and hadn't lost part of it.
"There are so many things we want to ask you Alexandre." Welsh said, pronouncing his name slowly, trying to understand it.
"You'll get it soon. It took a while for Gosh too." Commented Alexandre, smiling.
At Welsh's invitation the two sat in the center of the village, the other villagers milling around. They all wanted to see who the friend of their ancestor was.
Alexandre wondered if they were somewhat disappointed in him. He didn't see all the tablets the creatures had made of him and their memories were limited to his far-off past. Still, he wasn't expecting to get such attention and that made him nervous. Even when he was in Kaizeph and they spoke about him as the Messenger of the Cothica, he didn't reach that level of attention. At least, as far as he could remember, "Okay. What do you want to ask?"
After a few minutes of silence Welsh began asking questions about his life in Kaizeph. It seemed the tablets might not have been enough for them and it soon became obvious they wanted to know more about their ancestor.
As the time passed, Alexandre answered the best he could about Gosh and some of his misadventures with him that vaguely came back. As they talked, Alexandre let out a small smile as he continued answering their questions. The day was quickly passing, but he was relaxed enough to speak about his past to the descendant of his friend.
Soon he eventually asked one of his own, "Why do you want to know that much about Gosh?"
Welsh tail tapped the ground nervously before he explained, "Right. You didn't know what happened to him after you left. From what we have on the tablets, he contributed a lot in the war against the M'arrillians. Because he was close to you, he eventually was in command of a squad of elite Mipedians. From what Gosh left, he led the final battle against the M'arrillians before they were imprisoned behind those Doors of the Deep Mines. He could have been rewarded with access to nobility. He was the first creature to meet you and with everything he did, he deserved it but he refused and chose to return home."
Alexandre chuckled. "He wasn't that ambitious."
"He often commented that he missed you on the tablets we possess." Welsh added
"I thought the same." Alexandre replied sadly.
The villagers were slowly leaving the group to return to their occupations. Eventually, only Welsh and Alexandre were left talking.
Aware of the time Alexandre checked on his scanner and saw that it was getting late. The day was also slowly coming to an end. He had to scan this place before he left. He had one important thing left, "Welsh, I came here for another reason than meeting you."
"What is it?"
Alexandre wondered how he should say it but instead decided to go straight for it. "I was wondering where Gosh is resting. I'm not sure if he is at the village you left or here," he crossed his fingers on his lap, "I want to tell him that I'm back to Perim. I don't know what your tribe's do when a creature left the world, so-"
"Come with me Alex- andre," Said Welsh, stumbling on his name.
"Sure."
The two stood up and went north of the village, "It was 2000 solans ago. Most creatures cannot live that long," Welsh commented as he turned around, "I rejoice to meet you. I thought it was impossible until Theb-Saar came. He wanted someone who could read English and we could, and so we learned about you."
"Yeah. It's causing a mess in Chaotic," Alexandre admitted.
"Chaotic… Is it the place you came from?" the Mipedian asked.
"Yeah. I cannot say whatever I want anymore. So, I can't answer more than that. Sorry," he apologised. The man let a soft sigh.
"No problem Alexan- andre." It seemed Welsh found the name to be something of a mouthful, "Are human's names usually that complicated?"
"I'm sure some humans find your names complicated." He answered with a small smile.
They soon arrived at a spot with a large rock on it.
"Is this the place?" Alexandre asked.
"Yes. This is where our ancestors rest. There is usually nothing special when someone leaves the living world. The body is an empty shell and the spirit goes somewhere else. Some creatures thought they go to the Cothica," Welsh gaze went to the human, "But you come from the Cothica. Nevertheless, I'm certain there isn't any Mipedian spirit wandering around."
"It's not the Cothica," Alexandre sighed.
"Anyway, this is where we buried those who left Perim. His body isn't there. We brought the stone with us, but not the bodies. They aren't important. This stone is a contact point between their spirits and us. You know, he left in one of his last tablets that he sometimes dreamt of seeing you again."
"Yeah," Alexandre approached the stone "I have little time and many things to tell him," he gazed up and saw a scripture on it. It was the names of the creatures who left the world. After looking a bit, he found the name of Gosh on it. He crossed his fingers together and began to pray, "Hey Gosh. Don't know if you can hear me, but I'm back to Perim," he closed his eyes, "I've watched up close the desert and your old home."
Mindful of the private moment Welsh gave the Chaotic Player some space.
"It's as beautiful as you said. It's really hot though. Why did your tribe ended up living in a place where it's either really hot or really cold?" He lightly snickered, "I want to tell you that I'm fine. I'm older now. I can tell you that I have a nice girlfriend and a young boy now. He's still too young to talk. Even before I came back, I've still often thought of you and the others. If their there with you, tell them I said hi and that I'm back." Pausing he wondered how much more he should say. He knew he wouldn't get an answer but that wasn't important, "It's not only me, but many other humans who came to Perim. Not for the same reason as I. I can say that you have nice… I don't know how many times I have to say grand before finishing with children. Welsh looks a lot like you," Alexandre continued to talk a little about some details he could say, "Gosh. I'm glad to see you managed to return home. You missed the desert so much. I'm happy I somehow help you and the other tribes to go back to their homes. I still don't know how I managed to do that." He sighed, "It's getting late and I have to go now. I'll come back here another time. There are so many things I have to tell you." Alexandre let out a small smile, "I wish we could have talked face to face."
Alexandre took a deep breath and turned towards Welsh, "I've said what I have to say for now."
"I'm sure he's happy that you're back." Welsh replied sincerely.
Alexandre nodded and they both returned to the village, "Welsh. Is it okay if I scan the village? It will be way easier to return here."
"Of course! You are always welcome here." the Mipedian replied.
"Thanks." Alexandre did so and prepared to port out, "I better get going. It's getting late."
"Wait. Those scanners can also scan creatures, right?" nodding Welsh continued, "Then scan me."
"You know how we use it right? It's for battle in our matches." Warned Alexandre.
"I want you to scan me, because a little of me will be by your side in those battles," Welsh replied. He crossed his arms and added, "And because you are my friend. If you are fine with it."
Alexandre smiled and pointed his scanner at the creature, "Of course." Said Alexandre, scanning the creature.
They spoke a little more before Alexandre ported out.
The crimson Mipedian let out a small smile, "And a little of Gosh is with you now."
He turned around and went to make sure they got enough water. The dry season was slowly approaching and they had to be ready.
AC: This is the end of this chapter.
Next: Confronting The King.
Peyton and Sarah confront the Mipedian King on his intention of befriending Peyton and why he wants to reach the Earth.
Followed by: He Who Let His Tribe Behind.
Phelphor lived in secrecy, away from the eyes of the tribes and he crossed path with Reggie.
