Hi everyone, thanks for sticking with me this far! I am finally getting a sense of my characters and where I want them to go. I am hoping for consistent uploads and I look forward to hearing your thoughts! My stories can also be found on Wattpad and FanFiction.
-Lithalithari
Chapter 5- Finding My Footing
I had almost been at my new home for a week and it was all starting to feel like home. I had gotten to know all of the villagers and had even started dropping by Pierre's store to get more seeds and to sell my crops that seemed to grow at a faster rate than I had expected. I was still dodging calls from my dad, but I didn't really have anything to say to him and life kept me so busy that it was easy to blow off.
I needed to go to Robin's to see about putting a well on the farm to help make watering everything easier so I grabbed my backpack and started to make my way over there. I waved at Evelyn who gave me a friendly smile and rolled my eyes at Alex, who always seemed to just be playing catch with himself. I don't know how he expects to go pro if he never has anyone to actually play against. Alex and Haley seemed like the only villagers that you had nothing in common with, anything you said seemed to just go right over their heads. Alex just seemed a little ditzy but Haley was just outright rude about it. After talking to Sam it seemed like this was the norm for them even though he insisted that Haley does get more likable with time. We'll see. Sighing you made your way up the path next to Pierres to make the trek to Robin's beautiful mountain home. I loved spending time with Robin, I would even try to have lunch with her on days where I had time. She was so easy to talk to and never pushed me to talk more than I was comfortable.
Unexpectedly you see Mayor Lewis standing at an old run-down building that you had passed numerous times. He brightened when he saw you. "Maeve! Just the girl I was looking for. I wanted to show you something. You walk up to him and he holds the door open for you to enter the building. "This is the town's old Community Center. It used to be a great place for everyone to come by and spend time together, but over time it just started to fall apart and no one has been up to the task of repairing it." While he's talking you see something move behind him. It looks like a little green ball waving at you. What the hell? I can't be that tired. I squint harder and the Mayor notices. He turns around to see what I'm looking at but it disappears before he can."What was that?!" I squeak. "Hmmm, yeah I think this place might be rat-infested. Just one of the many things that needs to be fixed I guess." He chuckles. Once he looked back at me the little green thing reappeared, jumping up and down while waving frantically. "If you could take some time to see about making some repairs, the town and I would really appreciate it and it would stop those Joja men from trying to take it over. I'll leave the door unlocked for you from now on. I have to go now but good luck!" He waves and closes the door, leaving you with the mysterious green blob. I don't know what I can do about this place but I want to do whatever I can to stop those Joja bastards from getting it. Yoba knows that they've done enough. You think before going to explore the different dilapidated rooms. In the back you find a gold scroll with strange runes on it. Trying to decipher it makes your head hurt so you decide to leave it and worry about it some other time.
I finally make it to Robin's and you talk about constructing a new well, it should only take a few days and was a lot cheaper than I expected. "Would you like to stay for a cup of coffee Maeve?" She smiles at me kindly. "I would love one, thank you!" I smile back at her and follow her to the kitchen where I can smell the delicious accent of brewing coffee. Once we sit down with our hot mugs Robin looks over at me. "So, how has everything been? I haven't seen you for a few days." I take a sip before answering. "Oh you know, it's good. I'm finally getting a hang of this whole 'farm' thing and everyone has been really welcoming. I just saw the old Community Center today so I might start fixing that up if I find the time."
"Oh! I used to love that place when I was younger, it would be amazing if you could get it fixed up and running again. I know that everyone in town would really appreciate it." While she finished her sentence you could hear footsteps walking up to the kitchen, you figured it would be Maru or Demetrius since they always seemed busy doing something. Instead, in walked a sleepy looking Sebastian wearing pajama bottoms and a white eyebrows rose and he stopped in his tracks once he saw you. "What're you doing here?" He asked, sounding surprised and a little grouchy. "Maeve came by to see about constructing a new well on her farm so invited her in to have some coffee! Maeve have you met my Sebastain? He's about your age." Robin answered before I got a chance to. I was grateful for her, his eyes left me strangely tongue-tied. "Yeah, I actually went and hung out with him, Sam and Abigail last Friday, he totally kicked my butt at pool." Sebastian grunted. "You held your own, better than Sam anyday." He responded quietly, pouring his own cup of coffee. Robin beamed. "Well you guys seem like friends already!" He stiffened. "Whatever mom, I need to go get back to work. See ya." He shuffled past me and I could smell the trail of cigarettes and citrus that he left behind. It made your heart skip a beat.
Robin followed me home to start her plans for my new well and I began planting the new Cauliflower seeds and Bean Sprouts that I had just bought at Pierres. The beans were a good investment because they would keep growing after you harvested them. It made you feel good to start learning about new plants and how they grew best. Your grandpa would be proud. I think I'll try that new salad recipe thatRobin had given you before she left. I had always liked salad but never had enough fresh veggies to make it when I lived in the city. After eating a pretty tasty salad I head to bed to try and get some sleep before my next long day of work.
I wake up pretty well rested from a thankfully dreamless sleep. I can only handle those nightmares so much. When I step outside I notice that I have mail so I go to check the mailbox, expecting a new recipe or maybe a notice for a new town event. However, inside sits a strange purple envelope. "My sources tell me that you have been poking around inside the old community center. Why don't you pay me a visit? My chambers are west of the forest lake, in the stone tower. I may have some information concerning your 'rat problem'. Signed, , Wizard." Rat problem? Wizard? Could this be about that little green thing that was dancing at me? Maybe I'll go try and track him down once I finish my morning work on the farm. After a cup of coffee and watering my crops I get changed and put on my backpack, not knowing what I might be able to forage on my way to find the…wizard.
On my way I find some wild horseradish and some morels and I get to stop and say hi to Leah before she gets to work on her newest sculpture. I walk all the way around the lake and finally see an old tower made up of stone looming in the distance. Walking through the old wooden door I am greeted by a man with a purple beard wearing long robes. "Ah, come in," He says. "I am Rasmodius, seeker of the arcane truths. Mediary between the physical and ethereal. Master of the seven elementals. Keeper of the sacred cha- you get the point." Geez this guy is already too much, who even needs that many titles. I am in no mood to yap. "Rasmodius. Nice to meet you. I got your letter this morning, what can you tell me about the community center?"
"Yes, you are Maeve. The one whose arrival I have long foreseen. Here, I'd like to show you something." This guy is in his own world, did he even hear me? I sigh and get closer to him.
"Behold!" He points at an enchanted looking circle on his floor and in the center pops another one of those little green things! Okay, he might know something after all, maybe this wasn't a complete waste of time. "You've seen one before haven't you? They call themselves the 'Junimos'...Mysterious spirits these ones. For some reason they refuse to speak to me. I'm not sure why they moved into the community center, but you have no reason to fear them." Well that's good to know, they never gave me the feeling of something I needed to be afraid of but I want to know what they are. "Uh, yeah. I saw them in the community center, then I saw this scroll with runes on it that I couldn't make any sense of." I start rummaging in my backpack to see if I can find it. "Hmmm so you found a scroll did you, most interesting. Do you have the scroll with you?" I keep looking and eventually find it buried under some parsnips. I hand it over to the wizard uneasily. He studies it intently before saying,"The language is obscure but I have managed to decipher it: 'We the Junimo, are happy to aid you. In return we ask for gifts from the valley. If you are one with the forest you will see the true nature of this scroll.'" Hmph so I wasn't 'one with the forest' enough to read it? I guess that makes sense since I haven't been here very long. I wonder what these 'gifts' are that they want for their help. I could definitely use it. "Hmm 'one with the forest'. What do they mean? Ah hah!" He says, stirring his cauldron "Come here. My cauldron is bubbling with ingredients from the forest…can you smell it?" Uh hell yeah I could smell it, it smelled like the depths of a decaying bog in there. "Um, yes." I reply, looking into the bubbling green goop. "Here, drink up. Let the essence of the forest permeate your body." You wrinkle your nose as he laddles some of his concoction into a cup. I don't know if I really want to drink that considering the smell but if it'll help you understand what's going on around here a little better…why not? The worst it could do was send her on a trip to Harvey's. I take a big drink and immediately my head starts spinning. I can see swirling leaves and dancing trees, everything is swaying and…you black out.