Little villagers Terik, Janik, and Marish have been tasked with additional responsibilities after the last incident that happened due to their lack of responsibility.
Terik and Janik both stood by the library and uncomfortably shifted, throwing searching looks toward the path leading up into the wheat fields on a small hill, which kept all but the top of the house standing hidden from view. Several oaks and many bushes further obscured the view. The straw roofs of village houses stood briefly painted golden in morning light and bright red poppies merrily opened its petals to another day, swaying along the brown earth village paths.
Some villagers already unhurriedly moved along their daily affairs and others just came out of their houses, still sleepily yawning and rubbing their eyes, but smiling as they greeted their neighbors and friends.
Just as the two villager children waited, one taller and thin and the other short and pudgy, another group of children walked by them, with several of the youngest running around them as they snooped from house to house to receive a friendly word, a nod, or even a small treat.
Librarian Fir appeared from his house as well, but did not seem in a hurry to get to his place of work as before, either. Carrying his new toddler in his hands, he first approached several other villagers, who stood watching over their babies as they crawled around the grassy patches next to their houses. After a moment of conversation, the formerly stern librarian suddenly smiled and put his child down with the others, watching the little fellow with a pleased look. Seeing this, Terik turned back to watching the hill.
"I don't see them. Maybe they are not coming?" Janik murmured timidly, his voice and face very unsure. Terik sighed a little, discouraged.
It's been nearly two weeks since the incident at the river, when the little Human nearly drowned. Fortunately for him, his magic first revealed itself in full force and saved him. That's what the elders of the village have determined after they carried out an investigation of what had happened. And they then told the whole village about that.
The little Human was lucky to have a magic like that. That's why he probably lived as a baby even though he had been left entirely alone. That, and some of the monsters didn't seem to hate him, as they did other Humans. His magic seemed to have a taming, calming effect on them. That's what his caretakers finally revealed to the elders. At least, that's what they claimed to have noticed so far, since what they said couldn't exactly be tested.
Elder Jahn wanted to do so, at least to learn if Hero really had healing magic, since none of the villagers wanted to go looking for monsters and how would they bring them to the village to see how they would react to the little Human? What if his relatives were wrong? They could check if he could heal faster than a normal Human, though, elder Jahn insisted. The other elders reproached him for even suggesting the idea, so he withdrew it.
Overall, everyone felt great relief that the little Human's magic turned out so mild. Maybe it was because of him that the monsters now stayed away from the village? Some of the villagers even came with wishing to get well gifts to his caretakers, even though almost none of them came to visit after the new-house invitation feast that they all attended when Beor finished building it and moved more than a year ago.
The little Human was doing well, even though the magic seemed to have made him so weak that for a while, he and his brothers stopped coming to the village meetings once more. Only yesterday, Janik heard his atta talking with little Jean's atta, and they said that today, Margol, Tnul, and the Human would start coming to the village again.
And that meant that it was time for Terik and Janik, as the oldest of the group when the entire terrible event took place, to start fulfilling their punishment terms. Only it wasn't just them. Where was?...
"Maybe he'll stay sick and… respawn. Then I won't have to do this stupid stuff." A gruff voice scoffed next to them. Turning around, Terik and Janik frowned at the other older child who had participated in their misadventure.
Marish stood leaning against the library building with his arms casually crossed across his chest. Right away, Terik noticed the now faint purple bruise that stood out on their friend's thin face and winced with guilt. Marish's atta was so mean and always found reasons to punish his children for something. This time it was because of Terik's mistake. He should have taken the little Human back instead of letting him tag along. That would have been the right thing to do. Why was it so easy to know what was the right thing to do after it already happened and nothing could be changed?
At Terik's look, Marish only humphed and lazily looked to the hill, too. How did he act like nothing ever hurt him? Terik knew that under his long sleeves, Marish's arms had more bruises like that. Their atta didn't even bother to use healing potions anymore, because he said that it made little villagers remember their lessons better. Terik was so glad that his atta and most of his friends' relatives didn't listen to that. Some other villagers did, though.
Marish suddenly grimaced with annoyance. "Ugh… Bad luck. Guess they're coming here today, after all."
Turning to the road leading to the wheat fields up on the hill, now Terik and Janik saw several figures coming their way. All three older villagers were coming, even old grandpa Grake, stooped as he shuffled along. And both little villagers walked next to the small figure between them, patiently stopping and watching him, waiting for him to make small steps. From this distance, the only thing that gave away the little Human was the dark brown blot of hair on his head. Otherwise, he looked like a small villager in his robe. Only he walked much slower than before.
Terik looked at the little figure guiltily and waited for them to approach.
It took another long while, since many of the villagers, seeing them, chose to go out of their way and came to greet them, tying them up with a few words of friendly conversation here and there. They were even looking down and smiling at the little Human, who blinked up at them in confusion, not used to so much friendly attention. Finally, the older villager, uncle Beor, nodded to his brother, and uncle Rangil took both little children by their hands and led them to the library, where librarian Fir already stood waiting together with elder Dar.
Uncle Rangil stopped to speak with the other grown-ups, while Margol lead his younger brother and the little Human to the library entrance. Immediately, Terik and Janik went to them, with Marish reluctantly following a bit later. Several other children curiously peeked out of the door but vanished when all of the children got closer.
"Margol? I'm Terik. And this is Janik and Marish." Terik spoke for everyone while the younger villager tensed, throwing up a mistrustful look. Recognizing their names, Margol frowned, sticking out his jaw.
"We are going to help you from now on." Terik offered, honestly wishing to help. The younger villager only scowled and stuck up his chin.
"I don't need your help!" He declared and walked past them, drawing his brother after him. Then, remembering the little Human, a little angrily came back and jerked him by his sleeve to follow, so the child stumbled a little. The spark of interest in his white eyes seemed to have dimmed as he tried to keep up, though with an obvious effort. His face seemed paler than Terik remembered, too.
A little put back by the younger villager's unfriendliness, Terik blinked at them in confusion.
"Well, if they don't want help, then we don't have to help them. Easier for us." Marish concluded with satisfaction and also went inside past Terik and Janik, who still stood, not knowing what to do now and how to follow the directions the adults gave them.
As punishment for their earlier lack of responsibility, they were now to help the new villagers to learn all the rulers and keep an eye on the little Human, too. That was the decision the elders made, along with directing their parents to give whatever punishment they deemed appropriate. Terik's atta and uncles and grandparents only scolded and now gave very disappointed looks. And Janik's atta, the baker, forbade Janik to eat sweets for nearly two weeks, so Janik horribly complained about that. And everyone could hear Marish' atta yelling, but then the next day he was complaining again about the Human and saying that they should have never allowed Grandpa Grake to bring him into the village and just left him in the woods. And he even pointedly told everyone that he punished Marish for lying and leaving the village without telling anyone, not because the Human nearly drowned.
"Do you really think its all right for him to come here so soon? Maybe he should stay home for a few more months." Terik heard librarian Fir say to the Human's caretakers, who finally reached the library.
"He is fine, Fir. He is well enough. Believe me, he'll get better faster if he moves around, not if he sleeps all day in his bed. His healing magic is very strong. He just doesn't like it, because it hurts him. That's why I was so surprised that he even left with them. He usually stays close to home."
"A healing magic that hurts? That's very strange. I never heard of that. I'll have to look what I can find about it in my books." Librarian Fir said with a puzzled tone. The Human's caretakers exchanged an uncomfortable look.
"He is very smart, though. Don't pay attention that he doesn't talk, yet. He now understands quite a few words." Uncle Beor encouraged the librarian.
"And he loves to listen to stories. I read to him almost every night." Grandpa Grake smiled a little. Librarian Fir gave him an interested glance.
"Does he react only to words? Or?..."
"No, he cannot see our memories. At least we don't think he can. He does not react to new books, only to those we read to him already. I think he just remembers what's on each page."
"Ah." Librarian nodded with understanding. "Well, don't worry. From now on, he'll be quite safe here. It was our mistake before for not paying enough attention to what our children were doing. It could very well have been one of the younger babies, and unlike your little one, they have no healing magic. It would have been tragic. From now on, everyone in the village will be keeping a much closer eye on every child here, and that includes your little Human. You can leave him here and be sure that he will be safe."
At the librarian's reassuring words, all three of the villagers who took care of the Human relaxed and started smiling. Terik meanwhile exchanged a sour look with Janik. What the grown-up villagers saw as becoming finally responsible, and the entire village suddenly decided to do that after all elders joined in an inspiring speech, even the always bickering elder Jahn, meant no more adventures and only more chores for the little villagers. Their future looked bleak with nothing but more work ahead.
And it was all because of that little Human. Maybe there really was something to what Kish's atta, Narid, told everyone. The Human brought bad luck and discord wherever he appeared. Maybe he was cursed?
Terik unwillingly remembered discovering the strange white eyes peering at him from the trail, when he happened to look back, and nearly shivered a little again. It was so eerie.
"Come on. Let's go wait inside." Terik told his friend in annoyance and led the way inside. Janik followed him a moment later, looking a bit confused as he often did.
Together, they made their way inside and briefly paused at the entrance, searching within the spacious room where numerous villager children already gathered, some cheerfully and loudly chatting, others whispering with secretive looks, and others yet running around with squeals while the stern adults were not looking and scolding.
To Terik's satisfaction, his usual spot was open, as his other friends kept the younger villagers away out of respect. Kash, Tish, Jnut, and Pappel waited for him there. Lirak, Myet and his brother Lyek, were probably helping with work as usual. Marish was already casually chilling with his cousins, Kish and Jiam. The younger villager was so obnoxiously loud, making some sort of nasty jokes, that Terik winced even from the entrance. Yet, all of the children in their group readily laughed. What was strange that shy Timmy, farmer Murry's son, now sat with them and seemed well accepted. Luk, Mirs, Tomas, and Deras were all grinning and playfully pushing him, then throwing their arms on small villager's shoulders as if he had always been their best friend. Terik knew for sure that he wasn't, because his father used to take him to the Human's farm, and they made terrible fun of him, then, for being friends with the Human's family.
Margol, Tnul, and their Human sat a little apart from everyone else. And Margol gloomily looked at all the other young villagers, who seemed to ignore him. Maybe he thought that they were very unfriendly. But Terik knew that many simply didn't notice him at all. They were too busy playing. Giving the place another look, he firmly headed toward the young villager instead of to his usual spot. After a slight delay, blinking with confusion, so did Janik. Terik ignored the surprised glances he received from his own group, waiting for him in their usual place.
Making his way to the row of shelves, where several spiderwebs once again hung, at which Terik unwillingly thought that it would be good when librarian's child would grow up and soon start helping him to keep up the place where no one else was allowed to help upkeep, the older child sat down next to the younger villager.
"Hey." He nodded casually to Margol, who now watched him with surprised, widened eyes, while his younger brother openly gaped. The little Human still sat there without interest like a lifeless doll, dull white eyes staring in space before him as if he was about to fall asleep. Deciding it would be impolite to stare, Terik turned away and pretended as if he didn't do anything unusual.
Just then, librarian Fir showed up in the doorway, and the children immediately calmed down. Those, who were running around, just plopped down on the wooden floor wherever, and expectantly turned. Numerous pairs of excited, green eyes followed the elder villager to his desk, where he stopped and gave everyone an absent-minded look.
His little child was not with him this time. Did he leave him with that other group of babies that were crawling around that fenced in grassy patch? The grown-ups of their village really did decide to make changes, Terik thought wonderingly.
"Good morning, little ones. I hope you've rested well. How is everything at home?" Appa Fir asked everyone and the children immediately jumped, smiling as they exclaimed something all at the same time. The older children didn't say anything. Terish didn't, though he felt a flash of good feeling at seeing everyone happy. Marish only made a small smirk, though not unkind. His eyes on the other children were also less gruff, but almost caring, not angry as usual. The librarian patiently smiled at them, his green eyes attentively looking over them, and pausing for a bit on the little Human before continuing to Terik, to whom he unexpectedly made a barely perceptible nod as if pleased.
"Today is free activity day. Since almost half of you are missing, helping your parents with chores as all good young villagers should, then it would be unfair to them to attempt learning any new skills or evoke memories. How about a few stories?"
The place nearly exploded with eager voices at the old villager's offer.
"Yes!"
"Yes, stories!"
"Yes, please!"
The librarian smiled again. "All right. I see that we agree. What should we see today? Far away places? Mysteries of the past? Great Creatures and Monsters? The adventures of Pillar, the mighty villager? Creation of all Worlds?"
"Um. Sanic, the fastest pig!" A small voice declared.
"Little Merchant with Red Hood!"
"Blue Creeper!"
"That's not a story, silly. That's real." Someone corrected the child.
"Oh."
"Human girl with long, long hair! Stuck in the tower!" Margol's little brother suddenly called out, earning himself confused looks. Seeing the reaction of the other children, his older brother visibly cringed and tried to shrink a little, his cheeks turning red. Terik blinked at him, then raised his eyebrows. He remembered that story.
"Rapunzel. He means Rapunzel." He said confidently and caught the young villager give him a surprised, yet infinitely grateful look. The little Human seemed to have woken up as well, white eyes looking around him with more interest, as doubtlessly familiar story caught his attention.
The other children looked with rising curiosity and some even looked about to ask more questions about it, when a scoffing voice interfered from the side.
"Humans… Let's have a real story about them, not this fairy tale stuff that they tell their own children… So, everyone knows the truth about them."
Everyone turned that way and Terik found Marish, looking at the old librarian with a challenge. The old man winced a little, about to argue, but the young villager lifted his chin. "My atta says that everyone should know how dangerous humans can be. Not only that they are heroes. Its because of them that our worlds are full of monsters, after all."
"That's only one of the very old myths, kari." Appa Fir grumbled, but sighed. Looking at all the children, and even at the white-eyed child, curiously looking at him, he sighed.
"All right. I suppose I could tell…"
"Death Mage of Manok!" One of Marish' group exclaimed as they exchanged excited looks.
"Burning of the Nam villages!"
"Iron Valley of Despair!"
"Tale of Karis and their Stolen Children!"
The children exclaimed titles that said nothing at all to Terik, nor to the other children judging by their confused looks, but the old librarian at first startled, opening his eyes wide, then frowned.
"Where did you hear all that? Young children should not hear such stories!" He complained, but Marish only huffed.
"Tell them about how they come to our villages and simply take what they want. And then put our people in cages, so they can use our Kin magic to get more." Marish said quietly, his voice angry and his hands clenching into fists. The librarian silently watched him a moment longer.
"Perhaps I should have a talk with your father. He told you of such things? That's going too far. I understand that he is a harsh one, to punish his children as he sees fit. We have no right to interfere. But one day you will grow up. Then you can leave and not look back. Then you won't have to abide by such stern rules."
"Why? My atta is right." Marish glared at the older villager, who then only sighed and glanced away. "Everyone here should know everything about the Humans! Not only the good things from Legends that you tell everyone, so we think he is good."
At the older child's angry look toward the little Human, all the other children turned to look there as well. And sitting there with their group, Terik felt just how uncomfortable it was. Glancing at the young villager next to him, he suddenly understood better the reason for the defiant, sullen expression that appeared on his face now as he stared back at everyone, tense and alert as if he was ready to start fighting again. His younger brother just blinked at everyone with big, unhappy eyes.
"He is good. He is still just a baby. Just a very little Human." Terik said firmly in their defense and also looked at everyone, keeping his face calm. Marish looked at him with surprise, as did everyone in his group.
"Well, yeah. But he'll grow up…" One of them mumbled their usual line.
"That's why the stories they tell him about Humans are all about good Humans." Terik raised his tone of voice and looked at all the children, who started whispering. Librarian Fir again looked at him with surprise, then smiled a little as he relaxed.
"And that's why the story that we are going to listen today will be about Rupumzel." Terik declared, giving all the children another certain look. His own friends immediately nodded, looking incredibly proud and giving Marish' group winning looks.
Marish remained quiet for a moment, then blew out a breath and relaxed.
"Rapunzel…" He quietly corrected and good-naturedly smiled. His eyes on Terik suddenly held agreement and warmth, just like in the old days, when they were little and best friends. A little disbelieving, Terik looked at his friend with wide eyes, but then couldn't help smiling, too. Marish understood!
"Very well. Then today we'll hear a story… about a young Human with long, long hair. And a wicked Witch, who trapped her in a tower. And a Human Hero, who came to her rescue." Librarian Fir concluded and went to the shelf to pick out the book.
One of the children in Marish' group stubbornly elbowed their newest member, shy Timmy, and mumbled. "See? The Humans are scary mean even to each other. Especially their Mages!"
They turned to give the little Human disgruntled looks as if expecting that he would jump up and start chasing them all with scary magic.
Little Hero didn't react to anything at all. With fascination and anticipation, his white eyes held on the librarian's figure as he returned, carrying a familiar enchanted volume in his hands.
All conversation quieted as the children held their breaths, preparing to see and hear as someone's vivid imagination, captured in a book, would take them to another place and time and show them an alien world full of scary feats and bravery.
"Long ago and far away, there lived two Humans and waited for the Blessing of their first child. They lived on a tiny farm, while right next to them lived a Mage, who used to help everyone and protected the Villagers living in their lands, too. But then a horrible Witch came and possessed the Mage, taking over her body. She must have been a truly powerful Witch and an outcast, even among her kind, for only one of such would be willing to forsake her own kind and lose her soul, for Humans do not respawn like all the other creatures in our worlds. They only live their lives here once, and then they leave, returning to the same mysterious Beyond from which their souls come. Neither do they carry Memories… But let's get back to our two young Humans. Yes, they were expecting a child… "
Bright, white eyes held on the librarian's slightly awkward words as he tried to merge with the flow of the rather unfamiliar to him story. Little Human didn't notice the curious looks the other children cast in his directions, nor the equally curious looks they gave Marish's group, doubtlessly intent on approaching them later and asking them to tell them the other stories about Humans – which the librarian Fir didn't want to tell in his presence.
Looking at Marish, who gave him another crooked smile, Terik suddenly knew that his friend also won in a way. Even he, Terik, now also wanted to know about those other, scary stories about Humans that they just mentioned. Where did they even learn about them? Probably elder Jahn telling other grown-ups…
Well, he would ask him later.
With a huff, Terik let go of those concerns and let the magic of the story pull him into a strange place, where a tall being dressed in a familiar dark-brown robe of a farmer, only with his face flat like Hero's and eyes smaller and deep dark brown, appeared to be hesitantly staring into a garden over the woven fence that he climbed. Beyond rose a tall building – taller than Terik had ever seen in real life.
That's right, that young Human farmer was thinking of climbing into that garden, because his Human half wanted some sort of special plant to eat from the Mage's Garden, with neither of them knowing that she was already possessed. That Human was foolish to think that he could steal something from a Witch, but he did so out of love, since Humans seemed to come as two halves of one whole before they could receive their Blessing. And this would lead to the Witch deciding that it would be fun to teach them a lesson and demanding their child as payment for this small transgression – a terrible thing to ask that proved how evil she now was, that even her own kind rejected her. A Witch willing to forsake rebirth for power? She had to be evil or maybe dumb? Maybe even Witches had Nitwits.
Terik was starting to remember the story. Putting away his other thoughts for later, he allowed himself to fully submerge into someone's imagined Memory of it, enjoying the vivid images and even smells as the story began to come to life.