Summary:
Veko gets ready for his voyage, not knowing if he will ever return back home.
I want to thank my brother, who proofread the whole thing
Chapter 4: Final Preparations
As dawn broke on the next morning, Veko got ready for the day. The graves of his mother and siblings still needed visiting, after all.
He left a note for Luka to inform him and his father where he was headed to. So, it came to be that Veko and Atesh left the house in the early hours of the next morning, on the way to the northernmost graveyard of Surumajinyvka. On the way there Veko gathered some fresh flowers to decorate the graves with.
Ever since he had woken up that morning, a queasy feeling had wormed itself into Veko's gut. Atesh, normally quick to fly and trill about, seemed to notice this as well. This morning, no light phoenix-song, not flutter of wings nor quiet humming accompanied the two companions on their way.
They both knew that Veko was about to visit to a place where he always felt nothing but sorrow, regret and pain.
They made their way through the city for about an hour, passing through quiet suburbs, the colorful city center and the numerous meadows and parks of Surumajinyvka.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries wafted through the air as they rattled by cafes and bakeries. The sky was a mix of gray and blue, with wisps of clouds floating lazily across the flaming, orange dawn.
As they neared the graveyard, the environment started to change more and more. The air grew colder, and a light mist covered the ground, making everything appear ethereal and mournful.
The tall, ornately crafted iron gates creaked open by themselves, just as if invisible ghosts were operating them. Behind the gates, the quiet graveyard revealed itself.
In the center of the graveyard stood a towering 8-meter-high statue of Morana, the Slavic goddess of death and of the underworld. Her guarded, yet soft expression seemed to watch over the countless graves of the deceased Slavic souls buried beneath her. In one hand, she held the pan-Slavic flag that fluttered softly in the early morning breeze, its blue, white, and red tricolor representing the unity of all Slavic peoples even in death, no matter where they came from.
Unity was extremely important to the non-mortal Slavs, who had learned very early that they had to stick together, and not constantly slaughter each other like their mortal counterparts often did. In her other hand, she held a shield, as if she was protecting and watching the deceased souls.
Veko gazed up to the sky, alongside the tall, dark gates. For him, the dark metal had always seemed like some sort of macabre gateway between the worlds of the living and the dead.
The grass inside the graveyard was lush and green, dotted with tombstones of all shapes and sizes - some old, some new; some simple slabs of marble, others adorned with small statues, flowers, or ornaments. Veko felt a chill in his bones as they stepped off the main path onto a quiet street, lined with maple trees whose leaves rustled softly in the morning breeze. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves before leading Atesh down a narrow pathway towards his family's plot.
The gravel crunched under his boots as he walked slowly under an orange sky that heralded the rising sun.
Finally, Veko stopped at his mother's grave. The old flowers had been replaced by new ones, just as if someone had visited this godsforsaken place just mere moments ago. Veko knelt down and placed his own flowers, yellow tulips, just how mother had liked them, on the grave, next to the hyacinths that were already there. He arranged them meticulously, until not one petal was out of place. Only then did he allow himself to look up at the words that were engraved in the polished, yet roughly hewn gravestone. His throat was tight, and a lone tear made its way down his cheek.
Олена Анастасія Федиченка
Народився 18 лютого 1973 року
Помер 23 червня 2009 р .
Слава слов'янам
Героям слава
Улюблена мама чотирьох дітей .
Olena Anastasija Fedychenka
Born on the 18th of February 1973
Died on the 23rd of June 2009
Glory to the Slavs
Glory to the Heroes
Beloved mother of four.
Slowly, very slowly, Veko's gaze turned to the right, stopping at the graves of his siblings.
Maksym, Nadia and Tymor.
4, 7, and 8 years old.
Only 4, 7 and 8…
Максим Гаррі Федиченко
Maksym Garri Fedychenko
Born on the 13th of February 2005
Died on the 23rd of June 2009
Glory to the Slavs
Glory to the Heroes
Надія Олена Федичанка
Nadia Olena Fedychenka
Born on the 22nd of June 2002
Died on the 23rd of June 2009
Glory to the Slavs
Glory to the Heroes
Тимор Богдан Федиченко
Tymor Bohdan Fedychenko
Born on the 30th of September 2000
Died on the 23rd of June 2009
Glory to the Slavs
Glory to the Heroes
Born from the water in the light, taken from this world too soon, they shall never be forgotten.
Veko stood at the graves for a long time, his mind occupied with the thoughts of his beloved family. Haunted by thoughts that he never had been able to get rid of in all this time.
If only I had been stronger, then you all would still be here with me. If only I had been faster, I could have stopped it all. If only I had been wiser, this all would never have happened.
I will become stronger. I have to become stronger. Better. For you. For me. For us all.
Veko was not a person who easily succumbed to tears, but the sight of his siblings' graves shattered his stoic façade. Like a paper boat caught in a flashflood, he crumbled, every time. A dam within him burst, causing an onslaught of tears that seemed to stream endlessly. Each drop seemed to carry with it a piece of his heart, as he mourned the loss of his family.
His world, his everything, here they lay, and it all was his fault. The weight of his grief and guilt was overwhelming, threatening to consume him in its all-encompassing sorrow. Despite the pain, Veko could not tear his gaze away from the stones before him, each one a reminder of those he loved and lost, those he had failed in the worst possible way.
He could not bear to leave the graves of his loved ones, even though he knew he should. A nagging voice in his head told him that his mother would not want him to waste his days mourning, but instead find happiness without her, but he couldn't just shake off the overwhelming sadness and pain. He knew he had a duty to fulfill, a task assigned to him by Lord Veles himself, but how could he find the strength to continue when all he wanted was to join his loved ones in death?
With more tears streaming down his face, he whispered apologies to the graves and begged in a prayer for Morana's protection. He loved them all, but now they were gone, savagely murdered, and he was left with nothing but an endless conflict between fulfilling his duty and succumbing to his grief.
"I'm so sorry", he finally whispered. "At least now you won't feel my pain. May Morana watch over you. I love you all, even if you are no longer roaming this world. But I know you are still watching me, as you will live forever in my soul and my heart".
Slowly, Veko stood up and took one last, desperate look at the graves, his heart aching.
With feet that felt like lead, and a heart that seemed to weigh even heavier, Veko and Atesh made their way out of the graveyard. A look on his watch told him it was noon. He hadn't even noticed how much time he had spent there, simply staring at these graves. Atesh, gods bless his loyal soul, hadn't even ruffled his feathers the entire time. The sun now stood high in the sky, glaring down at Surumajinyvka and shrouded the world in its summerly heat. Yet the temperature at the graveyard was always just above being chilly. It set the mood there quite well, truth be told.
As he neared the graveyard's exit, Veko spotted Luka and Jasna, who looked up from a book shared between them when Veko and Atesh arrived at their side.
"And? Did you, um? You know?" Jasna asked, visibly uncomfortable but still bravely soldiering on.
Veko looked up at the sky and sighed deeply. "Yeah, I did. Did what I wanted to. Now I just gotta do what I have to; let's go shopping".
Luka and Jasna exchanged a worried glance. This demeanor wasn't anything like Veko.
The tram ride to the next marketplace was mostly silent, with Veko stoically staring out of the window and Jasna nervously playing with her braid, while Luka caressed her back soothingly.
The city bustled around them, people going about their daily lives as if nothing had happened.
Veko's green eyes lingered on a mother pushing a pram down the sidewalk, her infant giggling as he tried to grab at pigeons fluttering past. A group of teenagers walked by, chatting loudly about music, sports and school.
A large dog barked at a passing ice cream truck, its bell jingling merrily as it drove down the street, the sweet scent of waffle cones and chocolate filling the air. A couple held hands under a tree, their laughter mingling with the chirping of birds. The wind rustled through the leaves overhead, creating a gentle symphony with the sound of the trams driving down the tracks. The sun gleamed off reflective surfaces, casting dazzling patterns on the ground.
Veko stepped off the tram, eyes fixed on his destination:
Pawalinas Potent Potions, the best, and most expensive potions store in the town.
The shops owner, Pawlina Peltrioska, was, even for Demigod standards, old.
Veko wasn't sure how old that crone was exactly. He was pretty sure no one in Surumajinyvka actually did, but most suspected that she was at least 220 years old.
She just looked old as hell. She was wrinkly and white of hair and her back was bowed and her nose was crooked. Her eyes and her mouth were as sharp as ever though. No doubt she had experienced a lot of things during her live. According to her own words she had witnessed both world wars and the reign of Napoleon. Matter of fact, she still grumbled about how this "dashing little upstart" had both cost and made her a fortune with his constant warmongering and politicking. Oh, and her age meant that she had lots of experience with brewing all kinds of tinctures and potions of course.
When Veko and his friends entered the shop, a thick mixture of smells assaulted their noses. Some were good, but the majority were most certainly not.
"Ah, Vjekoslav. I thought I would see you again, young man". she croaked out at him. Her eyes turned to his companions. "Greetings to you as well, Luka and Jasna".
"Hello Pawlina. I wanted to buy some potions."
"Good for you, as we happen to be in a Potions store. Now, what can I do for you?".
Veko handed her a list with all of the potions he wanted, her eyes quickly scanned it.
"And where are you going? You wouldn't buy this much if you stayed here."
"America, to the Greeks. Dad gave me a quest there".
Pawlina, now looking through one of her cupboards, perched up.
"America, isn't that where these Greeks ran off to? Cowards I call the lot of them! Just cowardly abandoning their homeland like this, leaving it to monsters and other mongrel! Cowards just like these Prussians back when Napoleon showed up and caused a lot of trouble for them. Caused me to have quite the success back in the day when everyone needed a lot of my potions. But all his annoying wars made it hard to look for certain ingredients, which also cost me quite a lot of money".
Now back with all the things on Veko's list, Veko paid up, took the bag and was about to leave, when Pawlina spoke again.
"My condolences, Vjekoslav, for the loss of your family. I am sure Morana watches well over them",
Veko turned around again, looking the old woman in the eyes.
"Thank you", he said quietly. "I'm sure you are correct. Farewell Pawlina".
"Farewell, Vjekoslav. Honor your name, and be glorious through the ages. Have and have a safe voyage, my boy".
The trio then exited the store, breathing fresh air again.
Veko's purchase included a mobile brewing stand, as well large quantities of ingredients and bottles. His potions included a large number of healing potions, but also an elixir that enhanced his endurance and speed, night vision and invisibility potions, a hearing enhancing potion, sleeping potions and more. But also throwing potions could slow an enemy down, acid that was able to disintegrate matter, pain amplifiers, over a dozen different types of poison, another potion containing a disease that attacked the lungs, and in one vial was a larva-sized worm. A type of parasite that could be planted in a person, and basically allow one to remotely control the victim, apparently very useful for espionage.
After that the friends also got Veko numerous spare materials to repair his gear, as well as food for the journey, a fishing rod, a pan and books on the Greek language, culture, and pantheon.
With their purchases in hand, the group made their way back to the house of Luka's father.
After entering and sitting down in the living room, Jasna broke the silence between them.
"So, how are you going to reach America, Veko? Flying would probably the fastest, don't you think?"
Veko and Luka grimaced at the mere thought of flying.
"Yeah, it probably would, but I hate flying so much, and you know it. It's just so godsdamned uncomfortable! Being stuck inside a metal tube for hours on end, blergh". Veko shuddered.
"And if you would fly, it could be very much possible you wouldn't even make it to America." Luka added thoughtfully "The Greek wind or sky deities could be extremely paranoid, and if they sense you in their territory and domain, then they are probably blast you out of the sky first and ask questions never".
"Good thinking, Luka", Veko responded. "But I already have a plan"
"Oh Gods", Jasna muttered theatrically, while Luka chuckled.
Veko mock scowled. "Very funny, you clowns. But, coming back to the topic, I planned on going to Lviv first, and from there I will take a train to Gdansk . Then I'll take a ship over the Atlantic to New York City. Apparently, their arrival center or something is there. When the ship has crossed a specific point in the ocean, I will enter Poseidon's domain, who invited me in the first place, and from there my journey should go relatively smoothly". Luka and Jasna both raised an impressed eyebrow at Veko.
"That's… actually quite a solid plan."
"Yeah, it doesn't seem like a lot of things can go wrong, but you will have to be careful, nevertheless. What's your backup-plan in case the ship sinks?" Jasna asked.
"Simple: If I'm near a landmass, I'll swim to the next Island and try my luck from there. If I'm in Greek territory already, I'm gonna try to establish contact with someone from the Greek pantheon, then explain the whole shebang, get hopefully not killed, and then I'll go on from there".
"Well, not the best of backups, but they will probably work out in case plan A goes south". Luka said.
Veko hummed in agreement, his thoughts already focused on the journey ahead of him. His stomach churned with a mix of both nervousness and excitement.
"I also checked the plans for trains and ships. I should be able to grab a train or a ship, provided I'm not completely inept".
"We should go through the checklist again, just to be sure you didn't forget anything, Veko", Jasna suggested.
"Oh yeah, that's a good idea", Luka clapped his hands as Veko picked up his backpack once again to go through it.
"All right, first: Weapons?", Luka grabbed Veko's travelling list and started to rattle off the items written upon it.
"Yep"
"Good. Your armor?"
"Here". Veko gestured to the belt around his waist, which was where his armor was hidden. One click and it would rapidly fold over his body.
"Emergency rations?"
"Yup"
"Your photo album"
"Always"
"Spare clothes?"
"Yup"
"Helmet and reserve helmet?"
"Here"
"Potions?"
"Sure"
"Brewing Stand and Ingredients?"
"Yep"
"Instruments for torture and interrogation?"
"When have I not?"
"Good. Spare materials for repairs?"
"Yes"
"Fishing rod?"
"You know I can force fish to-"
"I'll take that as a yes. What about all your books?"
"Yup, got them right here."
"You got all your cooking utensils?"
"Here"
"Shovel, axe, hammer and sickle?"
"Freshly crafted"
"Things you need for rituals?"
"Yep"
"Flashlight and batteries?"
"A shit ton of both"
"Mortal and non-mortal cash?"
"Enough of both"
"Your documents?"
"Yes"
"The map that leads you to the Greeks?"
"Sure"
"Entry permit?"
"Of course"
"Binoculars?"
"Riiight here"
"Sleeping bag?"
"Yes"
"Condoms?"
"Yea- wait, no, why would I-"
"Nice, that seems to be it, you got everything, it seems". Luka concluded happily. But, he was also a little bit tense, as both he and Jasna worried for Veko.
"Promise you will contact us regularly and tell us you're alright, Veko?" Jasna asked him, having had the same thoughts as Luka. "Or else we have tp come over, slaughter everyone who stands in our way and make you suffer for not writing!"
Veko smiled at his friends' enthusiasm, deeply touched by how much they cared for him. "Yes, of course I will".
As the sun slowly dipped below the horizon, Veko, Jasna, Luka and their group of friends spent the rest of the day together, immersed in a variety of activities. They battled it out on the virtual battlefield of videogames, engaged in intense competition over board games, and played lively games of football.
They also honed their combat skills through some training exercises. The hours flew by, filled with laughter, camaraderie, and a shared sense of happiness.
As night fell, Veko finally collapsed onto the mattress in Luka's room, his body exhausted but his mind buzzing with memories of this eventful day. He replayed the second half in his mind, savoring every moment of their productive and enjoyable time together.
All in all, he couldn't be happier about how his last day in Surumajinyvka had been spent. All of his friends had wished him good luck and all the blessings of the gods.
His afternoon and evening had been extremely funny and delightful, reminding him of all the happy times in his childhood, and taking his mind off a bit from the quest he would start the following day.
The quest he could, possibly, never return from.
In an attempt to calm his now active mind again, Veko started meditating again, trying to focus on his inner peace and the present, not the future.
Veko's eyelids fluttered closed, his mind slipping into a deep slumber. This time, however, there were no dreams to fill the void. When he finally stirred awake, his body felt tense, yet exhilarated, like a tightly wound spring ready to unravel at any moment. An overwhelming sensation, almost like butterflies in his stomach, made him feel simultaneously anxious and intrigued. It was as if a balloon of anticipation had been inflated inside him, ready to burst with excitement. Moreover, he had a feeling Atesh was feeling the same way.
Looking back, Veko could barely tell what had happened at the breakfast, not that he ate anything, he feared he would empty it instantly if he ate it from excitement.
"When will we leave for Lviv ?" Luka asked his father, Lovro Žragoc.
This caught Veko's attention, who had been busy feeding Atesh with bacon and scrambled eggs. "Sorry, we? "
Luka looked at Veko as if he had lost his mind, and Lovro raised an eyebrow while putting his cup of coffee back down.
"You really didn't think we would just say goodbye right here now, did you? Of course, we, as well as Jasna's family, will bring you to Gdansk, no need to travel over Lviv".
Veko was lost for words. Then finally, he beamed a smile full of happiness. "I, uh, thank you so much. But you really don't have to-"
"Oh, don't be silly, Veko. We're taking you to Gdansk and you're going to like it," Lovro declared with a mix of authority and amusement in his voice and expression.
The three left the cozy house and met up Jasna and her parents, Witek and Pola, who helped to load Veko's belongings into the small bus that Lovro had "acquired" through probably quite questionable means, and also turned up with a lot of useful stuff.
With their destination set, the group set off on their journey.
As the left town, Veko looked out of the back window, taking in every small detail of Surumajinyvka. Sadness swelled up in him as he gazed at his hometown, which became smaller and smaller in the distance. He tried to suppress the nagging thought in his head that told him that this could be the last time, he would ever see Surumajinyvka.
As they drove along the winding roads, passing by rolling fields and quaint villages, the anticipation and excitement grew. The sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky, casting warm rays of light onto their faces. Jasna and Luka noticed how tense Veko was, and tried to distract him by telling stupid jokes that were, for the most part, successful.
Finally, they arrived at their destination – the vibrant city of Gdansk on the coast of the Baltic sea. The bustling streets were lined with colorful buildings, adorned with intricate designs and patterns.
However, Veko was far too excited and nervous to notice how beautiful the city was as they made their way towards the port.
Finally, the six stood in front of a luxurious cruise ship that was docked in the port of Gdansk, soon scheduled to leave for New York City.
"So". Veko muttered, his voice finding a sound of finality. "This is it; it seems. The time to bid farewe-".
But Jasna and Luka didn't even let him finish and the two threw themselves at Veko, who stumbled in order to keep his balance. Glistening tears appeared in their eyes. They held onto each other tightly, as their scents filled his nose. Jasnas blonde hair tickled his cheek as she rested her head on his shoulder, and Luka's heart softly thumped against his chest in a steady rhythm.
The sound of seagulls cawing filled the air around them, their wings flapping wildly as they dove for scraps of food. A cool breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean towards Veko, making him shiver just slightly in delight. The waves crashed against the dock in a soothing symphony of white noise, and he could see glimpses of the ocean through the gaps in the buildings that lined the port.
As they pulled away from the hug, Jasna looked into Veko's eyes with tears welling up in hers. "We're going to miss you so much," she said, her voice breaking slightly. "Goodbye Veko", whispered Luka. "See you soon."
Lovro gave him a small hug; Witek shook his hand firmly, while Pola offered a comforting pat on his arm. "You take care of yourself over there, Veko." she said with a fond smile. "And remember to write us when you've arrived."
She reached into her pocket and gave him a blue and yellow striped book that didn't have a title. He looked up at Pola with a puzzled expression.
"This is a multi-way book; Jasna and Luka have the other two counterparts. Anything you write in the book will appear in theirs too and vice versa. This way you can communicate with each other."
"Wow, thank you so much!". This could prove to be very valuable in case he wanted to consult them on certain matters.
Veko glanced around one last time at the familiar faces before he finally turned around to board the ship. As he stepped onto the ships deck, with Atesh on his shoulder, he felt a mix of excitement and dread wash over him—this was it; this was really happening. The first thing he did was to go to the ship's back. He leaned on the railing and waved at the group that brought him here, and they waved back.
The ship's horn sounded, and it slowly left the port. Veko waved and Atesh trilled at them, his way of saying goodbye.
Veko did not stop waving until they were out of sight.
The lump in his chest was suddenly replaced with a feeling of fiery excitement of the future.
He was going to America.
He was going to see the Greeks.
Now the adventure of Vjekoslav had finally begun.
Next up:
Chapter 5: The first encounter