Each and every year’s end, Rymalan and Fiomel used to reunite with other fellow Mëentu that resided on the island of Teârqao, to celebrate.
The year in which this particular tale started was the end of the year 318. The celebration took place on ‘Mez Orore Alnne’, in the home of the couple of Zedlon and their seven offspring: Zaskhea, Efraz, Ynme, Mina, Lyngba, Do, and Olda.
The vast terrains that Rymalan and his family occupied bordered to the north with a great mangrove —that served as a ‘wall’ to keep the humans out of his lands—, and to the center and the south of the island, with a big forest (populated predominantly by oaks which Rymalan and Fiomel had helped grow during all those years they had been living on the island). Hundreds of garden beds of several fruits, vegetables, and cereals grew sporadically amongst the terrains. These plots provided the family with enough food to eat and to exchange on the different markets of the island.
The family’s house was located some 20 meters from the beach. It was built of stone, unlike the human dwellings, which were normally built of clay or wood. And had only one story, but all of themlived there comfortably (despite it wasn’t a manor).
These Mëentu lived their life similar to the humans because even though Rymalan’s children were descendants, none of them knew of their true origin. This was so because when the couple of Zedlon decided to settle down on Teârqao, they decided that each and every one of their offspring would have the liberty to choose if they wanted gifts and a long life (and all the responsibilities that come with having a gift, obviously), or if they wanted to live like humans.
So, despite all the time Rymalan’s children… and Follen’s children (Murdice and Mnanoz) spent amongst the Zedlon and Saizar, they all lived blissfully ignorant to an essential part of themselves.
Somewhat like you, ixane. I am ashamed to admit it, but it is too true.
Hmm.
Mhylan, a Saizar with blue eyes who lived in one of the mountains of the island arrived that particular year’s end to Mez Orore Alnne accompanied by a Zedlon with amber eyes, whose name was Dolan. Despite being a cousin to all of the residents of the village, this Zedlon did not know any of them.
Nonetheless, both Mëentu lodged with Follen and his wife, Dhyfe (a Saizar with purple eyes). Since the couple only had two children, they had enough space to offer to the newcomers.
I will start the tale of this specific story with one of the daughters of Rymalan, three days before the end of the year 318.46Please respect copyright.PENANAiO0HhHklho
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Zaskhea stretched herself. Her back was rigid due to the position she had fallen asleep in. She had gone to her secret hiding place to get some reading done. Something she had not been able to accomplish since the new book that her father had given her, on the occasion of her birthday, was a little boring. Very well, it was tedious. She had been trying to read it for almost three weeks to no avail.46Please respect copyright.PENANAzK2vdAbHkR
Ungrateful, the Ballos patted the trunk of the oak in which she was leaning. Her eyes were reluctant to open as if someone had sewn her eyes shut, preventing her from opening them.
With great effort she opened her eyelids, only to wish she had not done it, since the sunlight was directly shining upon her thick body.
But… her stomach was growling, letting her know she needed to eat soon. So, regardless of the pain she was feeling on her back and on her eyes, she reopened them and saw that the little clearing of oaks she loved was illuminated with orange light coming from the sun. This let her know that the moon would rise through the sky in just a few hours.
Zaskhea yawned noisily as she raised herself from the forest floor and picked up her book. She then walked between two oak trees that were growing too close to each other, going into the forest.
The young woman was already on a bad mood —due to the fact that the sun had decided to shine upon her so conspicuously, the fact that her involuntarily nap hadn’t produced any particular rest on her, and that longing that assailed her at the most improper moments—, so she decided to walk back to her house through the short path because if she opted for the longer one, through the forest, she would be delayed by thirty more minutes.
Located some 200 meters from Zaskhea’s hiding place was this little path, which incidentally was the border between Rymalan’s and Follen’s land. The Ballos walked towards it without giving much attention to her surroundings, thinking of what she would eat and considering taking another nap, this time on her bed. The young one stopped in her tracks when she heard a voice close to her.
“Are you listening to what I am saying?” Mnanoz asked.
“Excuse me?” replied a deep voice. A voice that Zaskhea did not know.
“Dolan! This is the third time I repeat myself. I better go if you can’t show me the least amount of interest and respect that I deserve” the shrill voice of Zaskhea’s cousin kept on rising.
That irritated the Ballos further. So, since she didn’t want to deal with her cousin and her tantrum, Zaskhea decided to take the long way back to the house. Hmpf! Anyway, I’ll take a banana on the way, she thought. So, she backed her step and walked towards the clearing of her hiding place, she would cross it and save some time on her way to the back of the forest.
About ten minutes later, she reached the banana plants, approached the nearest tree, and took one of the fruits. In one quick movement, she peeled it and put the whole thing in her mouth, swallowing it almost without chewing.
Now she was sure she could walk the rest of the long path in a lighter mood. So, she proceeded on her way and sometime later she found her younger sister, Mina, who was also in a bad mood.
“Mez, what are you doing?”
Mina lifted her head; her eyes were red from crying “Oh! It’s you” she said while cutting a branch of the plant “Your father sent me here to tend to the zone”
“Didn’t he tell you to tend to the mangoes on the cedar area?”
“Yes. I was over there for over six hours, tending to every single mango tree. Then, I went home and was planning on eating something before taking a bath; but your father informed me that before I ate, I needed to come here”
Zaskhea shook her head in disapproval “Do you have another machete?”
“No, Zaskhea, please, don’t help me” Mina’s voice and eyes implored her “I do not want to be punished, like that time Do burnt mother’s new sheets”
“You do not have to be punished. I will not say a word to anyone, will you rat yourself out?” Zaskhea smiled at her little sister “Besides, I couldn’t do anything for Do. If she hadn’t started crying, mom would have believed me”
Mina looked at her apprehensively “Still, she was grounded two months”
“Me too, Mina” Zaskhea nodded vigorously “Mom made me wash all the pots and pans. You know how I detest doing it”
The young Mina threw herself at her sister, dropping the machete she was carrying to the ground “Thank you” she said above a whisper.
Zaskhea patted her on the back “I know I am the greatest sister in the world, and I know you know this, so there is no need for this type of treatment” Mina backed a bit and her sister took that chance to brush away her tears; moments later, she continued “There is really no need for you to cry, mez. I only expect your eternal service and gratitude”
Mina smiled teary-eyed “All right, Rû”
“So, do you have another machete?” Zaskhea asked again.
Mina took the machete she had dropped to the forest floor and handed it to her sister, meanwhile, she took an ax she had brought along.
Both Ballos set to work and less than two hours later (half the time), all of Mina’s chores were finished. The girls returned to their house, having extra care not to be seen by their father so as to avoid him scolding and punishing Mina for having accepted her older sister’s help.
That night in her room, Zaskhea was trying to sleep, but something kept circling her mind. For one, she had realized that the bad mood she was in when she reached the banana plants that afternoon had all but disappeared as she kept helping her little sister with her chores; something she had noticed on other occasions. On the other hand, she noticed that as long as she kept herself busy, not only with her own chores or with some reading, that feeling of longing that she felt from time to time did not take her by surprise.
Sighing deeply, the young Ballos tucked herself into bed. Tomorrow would be a new cycle, and not only that, it would be a new year. Zaskhea let the slight stupor she felt take her completely, then closed her eyes and fell asleep.46Please respect copyright.PENANAAMZEwKcGQ2
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