Chapter 3 - The Voice
Across the ocean, on the continent which lies Medina. About ten miles away from the flourishing village of Medina, a small, newly-erected house stands quietly in the rolling hills. The house is purposely built near the woods, so that the trees serve as a windbreaker against the frequent north-westerly winds.
It is a good day. The weather has been good to animals and humans alike, and even on these solitary, quiet hills, if one listens closely, the prosperity of the Medina village can be heard.
A small wolf cub slowly comes into view. It walks clumsily as it limps; there is an apparent wound on its rear leg. However, the wound has been patched up. The small cub holds a set of fruits by the stem with its teeth, and slowly makes its way up the rolling hill, and to the little cabin.
The cub stops at the door to the cabin, hesitates for a moment. Then, carefully, it sets the fruits down by the front doorsteps. It glances at the door meaningfully, and then turns around and leaves.
Minutes later, the front door of the cabin swings open. A strikingly beautiful girl steps out of the front door, raises her head and breathes in the freshly scented air. She can't help but let out a dazzling smile when she sees the harmonious atmosphere of nature surrounding her.
She notices the fruits, lying by her doorsteps. Gently, she places her palm on the fruit. The images of the wolf cub, delivering the fruit to her door steps, relives before her eyes.
Girl: *smiles warmly and thankfully* You really don't have to...
The girl sees the image of the pup walking slowly but steadily down the hill, returning to the forest.
Girl: *feeling relieved* Looks like she's recovering well... just a few more days, she'll be jumping around like normal.
The girl takes the fruits inside her house. The sweet aroma of the fruits fill the entire cabin. The interior of the cabin is simply furnished, with a few self-built, rough furniture left in the textures of the raw materials. No paint, no decorations, nothing at all boisterous; everything is very basic. The girl stores the fruits away in a basket. She will bake them into a cake later.
Suddenly, a white dove lands gracefully on the window panel. The girl is delighted to see the bird.
Girl: Hello. *pets the bird gently* Do you have news for me?
The bird tilts its small head, and replies in a melodious voice, but in nothing the girl can understand. The girl, gently and carefully, wraps her palm around the bird. An image flashes before her eyes. She takes the bird's vision of minutes ago; its eyes became her eyes. She flew with the bird in its memories, soaring over the village of Medina, and over the stream that runs across the village, along the stream to path in between the rolling hills, and on to the path that eventually will lead to her cabin, then into the woods. The bird circled the area several times, and a figure became clear in its vision.
A man, dressed completely in black, slowly made his way up the rolling hills, a distance away but approaching her cabin.
Noticing this, the bird circled back and flew directly in the direction of the cabin. It aimed for the window, and made a graceful landing onto the window panel. The girl retrieves her hands, and the images end.
The girl is puzzled. She had never met the man before; why would he possibly visit her? Nevertheless she is confident.
Girl: *She smiles as she playfully taps the dove on its little head* Thank you.
The dove replies happily in a scale of musical squeaks, then flies away swiftly.
* * *
Elias has finally reach the cabin. It took days of journey and asking around to locate the exact location of the girl, but he has done it. He stops in front of the door of the cabin, breathing a sigh of relief.
Before he can knock, the door swing open. A stunningly beautiful girl stands at the front door. Elias's eyes show a flash of amazement and marvel, but only for a split second. Any young man would be allured by the girl's amazing charms, but Elias's heart is cold.
Girl: Hello. *smiles warmly* Come in.
Elias is surprised by the girl's directness. With a slight hesitation, he steps into the cabin.
Girl: Sorry for the poor furnishing. Please make yourself comfortable.
Elias sits down on a chair, near the table in the middle of the cabin.
Girl: *politely* Can I make you something to drink?
Elias: *he is a little worn out from the journey* Just water will be fine.
The girl smiles radiantly at Elias and disappears into the neighboring room. She soon returns with a cup of water.
Elias: Thank you *sips quietly*.
The girl waits patiently until Elias finishes with his drink.
Elias: *he drinks the cup half empty, and sets it down* You must be Medice.
Medice: Yes. And you are?
Elias: Elias.
Medice: *thoughtfully* Elias... I once knew someone name Elias. *smiles* You must have a reason to come to a place like this.
Elias: It's a beautiful place. A friend of mine always wanted to live in a place like this. *pauses, and takes another drink of water*
Medice: Thank you.
An awkward silence comes between the two.
Elias: *finally breaking the silence* I have a favor to ask.
Medice: *she can guess it* Go on.
Elias: I heard that you are a master at a particular form of magic... a rather special kind of magic, I'd say.
Medice: *laughs softly* I'm no wizard, Elias. I'm not a master of anything. Those are just rumors. I don't know any magic at all.
Elias: *surprised*...is that so?
Medice: *she nods, and continues* I do have a special skill, though... I don't call it magic, because it is a part of me. I'm borne with it, it is as naturally as breathing.
Elias: I see. *slightly uncertain* What kind of skill is it?
Medice: *smiles* I'll show you.
Medice takes the empty cup in front of Elias. She sets the cup on the table, and softly wraps both of her hands around the cup. When she pulls her hands away, the cup is once again full of water.
Elias: *bewildered* ...What is this?
Medice: *smiles* Go on, have a drink.
Doubtfully, Elias carefully raises the cup to his lips, and takes a small sip of water. He sees the cup emptying, but he tastes nothing but air. Confused, he puts his finger in the cup. He can see his fingers submerged in the water, but he doesn't feel it.
Elias: *confused* What is this?
Medice: *winks at Elias* It was water.
Elias: *slowly understanding* ...was water?
Medice: *nods* This is what I can do... I can recall the memories of things. What you are seeing is the memories of the cup, when it was full. There isn't really water in the cup. It looks like water, and behaves like water, but there's nothing there. Just memories.
Medice takes the cup, stands up, and pours it on her hand. The water rushes down in a stream and bounced off her hand as droplets, but her hand and her clothing remained dry.
Elias: *raises his eyebrows* Impressive... and you can do this to living creatures as well?
Medice: *nods* I can recall the memories of living creatures as well. Animals have the purest minds. Their memories don't lie. *pauses* But I cannot do this to a human being. Humans are too complicated... and I... *closes her eyes* ...I would never want to see the memories of a human being.
Elias: *he understands her words* I see. Well, what I heard was something to this effect.
Elias removes his hat and sets it on the table. He takes an item out of the hidden pouch - the wooden pendant.
Medice's eyes widens as she sees the pendant. She does not know what it is, but her instinct tells her it is not ordinary necklace.
Elias: This... is an item that is very important to me. *hesitates* Can you... show me its memories?
Medice gazes at the wooden pendant. The talisman has a unusually strong aura, a mysterious tint that only she can see. She can hear the sounds of the ocean tides, rushing against the beach. The voice of the seagulls, swimming in the skies above water.
.
..
...
....
Serge...
Medice closes her eyes. A voice speaks in her head.
...
are you Serge?
...
Medice shakes her head.
haha... of course, you're way too pretty to be Serge!
Medice smiles.
it's been a long time.
Medice: I'm sure it is.
but... too long...
Serge... i promised i will find ya... but now..
but now it seems... i have to break my promise...
i can't come to you anymore...
Medice: ...where are you?
will you... will you help me find Serge?
Medice: ...Serge?
Elias's eyes widened at the Medice's mention of that name.
i can't be there with him anymore...
please... will you?
will you...
will you...
....
...
..
.
...will you help me find Serge?