《Four Days》


 First Chapter

    On the third of March, at eleven o¡¯clock in the morning, Amare Amayemi, at the age of sixty-two, died of old age and starvation.


    He was an orphan and a negro of poor origins. Bought at the age of eleven near the ivory coast from the Tribal Chief Masegao, he came under the hands of his first master after a year of waiting in the eastern shore of North America. His initial price was eight dollars; with consideration of how finely built he was in both upper and lower body, and of his seclusive nature that curbed any and all attempts at building a relationship with other negroes, he was well valued by his first and second masters.


    He worked in cotton plantations for many a year, and changed owners many times. He traveled through half of North America and Mexico, and when he hit the age of sixty; unable to lift, pull, or slash as he did before, his master of that time, which made him the eighth, sold him to his last owner- To me.


    Priest Jackson stopped writing at the mention of himself and put the quill on his hand aside. His body stiff and heavy from long hours of writing, and his hands trembling from the still-cold nights of the early-spring, he decided to stop here and stood up.


    He stomped on the ground twice to hear it rattle- he sighed and leaned his back forward. Like old Amare, he was old too, and it came natural to his body to bend towards the earth. He walked, hunched, to the outside to take a fresh breath of air; the door swung before him and the night¡¯s darkness rushed over to the candles lighting up his humble cottage.


    Moonlight scarce, and the field he and Amare worked together too blurry to see with his bleak eyes, Priest Jackson couldn¡¯t perceive the world past a few feet in front of him. Even then, though, by the miracle of the god and almighty, and by his connection to the last negro he freed from labour, his eyes captured that one grey stone delving into the earth.


    It stood far from the cottage and near to the field, and there were several, silver-white flowers blooming beside a lump of dirt in front of the stone. Though moonlight was scarce, they still gleamed off of their petals with no end, and though his eyes were bleak, Priest Jackson could very-well see all of nature cloaking the grave.


    He took two more breaths. The darkness turned brazen enough to flicker his candles, Priest Jackson noticed, and so went back in with the door open.


    He came beside the table and grabbed his quill; he dipped its tip to the half-fresh ink, gathered every single piece of paper on the table, stuffed them under his cold armpits. He turned around and grasped one of the candles from their metal handle- with both hands full, he didn¡¯t bother closing the door.


    He went through the dirt road leading to a three-way branch, climbed uphill from the leftmost one and after a minute of walking, strayed to the left.


    Swaying grass laid plenty in front of him, some as long as his knees, others as short as his sandals. Careful to not stomp too much, he followed the hard-imprinted footprints of his from the few days back and kept going for several minutes. After a revealing of pine trees bent themselves to greet his incoming, they disappeared to reveal an opening; the sight of a dark world going down and down until it reached a flat zone.


    At the top of this sight, two steps to his right, was the lump of dirt, near its silver-ish flowers a grey stone.


    Priest Jackson sneaked beside the grave and settled down on empty earth. Cold soil bothered his bottom more than he liked it; it sent a chill through his spine and shoulders. That, however, passed as fast as it appeared.


    With the cold seeping in, he put the candle on the flat top of the stone, placed all the papers, blank or filled, on the dirt in his front, and laid his pen upon the page he had been trying to write this whole day.


    ¡®¡¯Amare,¡¯¡¯ Said Jackson, ¡®¡¯I can¡¯t seem to get this part right, dear friend.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I wrote everything past that point; how we met and worked, how we pounded those fields and harvested a good amount. I believe, and god wills it if I didn¡¯t, I wrote well and detailed as well. I put everything I remember, and the rest you helped me finish. But you know I am determined-¡¯¡¯


    Jackson raised the half-filled page and raised it to the sky. ¡®¡¯I do want to tell your story myself; with my own hands and with my own words. That is the least I could do to honor a man like you, can¡¯t I?¡¯¡¯


    He lowered it again and put it next to the candle¡¯s flickering flame. With how it swayed back and forth, Jackson knew it could burn the edge of the paper.


    He didn¡¯t seem to mind it.


    For a few seconds he let the paper rest there and listened around. There was no voice; Amare didn¡¯t speak, the earth didn¡¯t speak, heaven didn¡¯t speak. The owls were the sole owners of the reverberations echoing inside his ears.


    ¡®¡¯Now that I realize...I didn¡¯t write about myself, did I?¡¯¡¯ Priest Jackson smiled. Candle felt much warmer, hotter to his left palm. ¡®¡¯Should I write about both of us, then?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That should do it,¡¯¡¯ Jackson took the paper away from the candle and laid it on the dirt bump. His hand crossed all the lines above and around the top of the page, and once they all turned into unrecognizable lines of black, he tore the page from half.


    The blackened part he rolled into a ball and threw to his back, sending it descending to the earth below. The white part, now half-brown from the soil, he pressed on to straighten it and wrote.


    On the sixth of March, at eleven o¡¯clock in the night, Amare Amayemi and Jackson Goldsmith, at the ages of sixty-two and sixty-three, passed away.


    After he let go of the quill and his power, Priest Jackson dropped hard beside the grave of his dear friend and fell into sleep.


    Two days later, grandson of Jackson Goldsmith would report his grandfather and his slave as missing to the Colonial Bureau Of Security. He received an inheritance of twenty dollars that would later be donated to an orphanage.


    *********


    ¡®¡¯And here you are at last, dear friend!¡¯¡¯


    Those were the first words spoken to Amare when he opened his eyes after meeting God.


    The owner of this greeting was an old white man; almost as ancient as the years boulder presented on its texture, and with a pale, blue robe in coalition with its weariness. He settled on that exact yellow-ish boulder, which he forsook as soon as Amare laid his eyes on him.


    ¡®¡¯Welcome Amare,¡¯¡¯ He smiled and gave him a nod, his long beard shook with the motion. ¡®¡¯I know why you are here, and what you wished for.¡¯¡¯


    Was he the man he wished for, Amare thought, and from his appearance and the initial treatment of his self, indeed this person could be no other than what he asked from God.


    ¡®¡¯Thank you, sir,¡¯ He said, ¡®¡¯I will be in your service in this lifetime.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Are you sure about that?¡¯¡¯


    Though he phrased it like a question, Amare did not answer those words. He gave a silent bow, paired his both hands together, then gave a bow again.


    ¡®¡¯Then let me ask this,¡¯¡¯ the old white said. ¡®¡¯What if I were to free you here- right now?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I...I- I don¡¯t know, sir.¡¯¡¯ Amare fell silent right after. While he had not many thoughts about this master of his who seemed to not want him in service, from the initial glance he deemed the old white as the kind of man he wished for from God; A friendly, kind master who had a nostalgic smile. These kinds of masters weren¡¯t a rarity in his past life, and probably here as well; they were that one in a million chance of any black slave like him.


    He didn¡¯t have the opportunity to show him his labour even before being cast aside, and knowing the fate of many who were granted freedom, he knew he wouldn¡¯t last beyond a few days before being sold to another master- and in no way he could find another man like him and this old white.


    ¡®¡¯Amare- you are the same old wheathead, aren¡¯t you?¡¯¡¯ The old white, faced with the oppressive silence, at last spoke; and he did with a laughter that sent tremors through Amare.


    He slightly rose from his bow, raised his head, and stared right at the old white covering half his face with a veiled hat. That nostalgic smile, now Amare noticed, wasn¡¯t that dissimilar from his last master.


    ¡®¡¯Sir...sir? Mister priest!?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Hahah! I thought you would be much slower to recognize me.¡¯¡¯


    The old white passed his staff to his left hand and took off his hat. With the veil out of the way, Amare saw two black eyes circled by many layers of wrinkles- his scalp turned cold, for there was the familiar birth-mark of a hammer on the glabella.


    ¡®¡¯How is my new attire...Amare?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Thank god almighty!¡¯¡¯ Amare shouted and threw himself to Priest Jackson¡¯s feet. ¡®¡¯My God, thank you- thank you!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Amare, old friend, please get up!¡¯¡¯ Priest Jackson kneeled in shock. He caught Amare from his shaking, tiny shoulders and raised up to meet his eyes. ¡®¡¯Calm down, don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t shed your tears for this-¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I am- I am,¡¯¡¯ Amare¡¯s voice came choked and unrecognizable, and he kept shaking his head to touch the earth. ¡®¡¯Jhust gratefuhl! Thank God almigh-!¡¯ His tears didn¡¯t seem to stop.


    ¡®¡¯It is fine, it is all fine right now...¡¯¡¯ Priest Jackson patted his head with a smile.


    *********


    A few minutes later, Amare calmed down and apologized to Priest Jackson for the outburst. The old Jackson dismissed it with an unperturbed smile and raised Amare to his feet.


    ¡®¡¯Mister priest,¡¯¡¯ He asked whilst caressing his red ears, ¡®¡¯Have...have you died as well?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Would I be standing here had I not died? I might have,¡¯¡¯ Jackson asked and answered himself. ¡®¡¯But yes, I did.¡¯¡¯


    Amare gave a slight nod and looked down at his attire, and he found nothing but a ripped trouser of poor quality flashing his scrawny legs- the same as always. In comparison, his upper tunic remained in good shape, albeit dusted.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Amare patted the dirt and dust off its surface, and there he noticed a problem. There were no callouses nor wrinkles on his palms. His both brows rose in surprise, and he looked towards Jackson in search of an answer that he might provide, for he was unwilling to bother the man himself.


    He, however, explained nothing involved and instead straightened his own robe. He put his hat on, tapped the gem-ebbed tip of his wooden staff, and let out a deep breath.


    ¡®¡¯Shall we return?¡¯¡¯


    To where? He didn¡¯t ask. He nodded, lowered his head, and followed behind Jackson as he pried open the path ridden with weeds, pushing and pulling any green barring their way. His feet stumbled on roots of some trees along the way and tripped, but the end of Jackson¡¯s staff always came when it was needed, saving him from tasting the earth.


    For dozens of minutes they traveled with the sound of shuffling of grass and whirling of a vitalizing wind- but Amare, blaming it on his old age, felt a stifling weight in his lungs accumulating with each step. He indeed did not possess the most capable body in his later years, and while the case was the same for Priest Jackson, he didn¡¯t show any signs of a break even until now. This confused him to a great extent, but he didn¡¯t inquire about it.


    When the lush green forest grew dimmer and the Sun above fell from its place bit by bit, he was panting from exhaustion. How long had they been walking? A few hours or more? He didn¡¯t know much about counting and calculating, but estimation should have been close.


    Then why was Jackson still fine?


    Amare didn¡¯t ask. He kept following and trailing behind the old white as their path cleared up- the sun peered at them from the peak of a gray-ish mountain far away and blinked through a river in their front. Past the gurgling body of flowing water, at the other side of the bank, was a stone paved road winding to their left.


    Right after the first glance, the sound of the river boomed in his ears with the help of his body. He was thirsty, too thirsty.


    ¡®¡¯Are you hungry?¡¯¡¯ Priest Jackson turned back and asked. There was no trace of a sweat on his forehead.


    ¡®¡¯...a little bit,¡¯¡¯ Amare said. His stomach argued otherwise.


    ¡®¡¯Good, because I am hungry as well! Beside the river seems good, doesn¡¯t it?¡¯¡¯ Jackson trod towards the river and settled on a patch of grass a few steps away from the water. ¡®¡¯Come, settle down, relax yourself. We have a long way ahead.¡¯¡¯


    Amare gave a slight bow, noticed the slight frown of Jackson that went as fast as it came, and sat across him; with a leg long barren earth between them, instead of looking at the man, Amare glanced towards the road.


    It is well-made...I¡¯ve never seen a road made of stone. Back then it was all mud and dirt...


    ¡®¡¯Here, have some-¡¯¡¯ Amare looked back to see Jackson holding four triangular pastries, two in each hand, bigger than his palm. Wondering where he took them, Amare raised his arms, opened his palm, and waited.


    ¡®¡¯Why don¡¯t you take it?¡¯¡¯ Jackson asked with a raised brow.


    Amare¡¯s gaze froze for a second. Ah, I forgot,


    He plucked two and put them on his bare knees, lowering his head.


    ¡®¡¯I¡¯m sorry,¡¯¡¯


    Jackson didn¡¯t utter a word for a few seconds.


    ¡®¡¯You shouldn¡¯t be- my mistake,¡¯¡¯ he said. ¡®¡¯But, Amare, look at me here for a second-¡¯¡¯


    Amare raised his gaze to match the black eyes.


    ¡®¡¯You need to think for yourself. For both of our sakes...¡¯¡¯ Jackson fell silent, then shook his head.


    ¡®¡¯No, no, sorry my friend, forget what I said. Just, try to be more active, alright? Can you promise me that?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I¡¯ll he-...I promise.¡¯¡¯ Amare nodded and bit down on one of the pastries.


    ¡®¡¯Thank you-¡¯¡¯


    *********


    After finishing their meal, Jackson and Amare straightened their garments and tip toed at the edge of the river.


    Jackson leaned forward to rinse his teeth and wash his mouth, but Amare, his legs straight and his back hunched, made no other move. His brows and pupils trembled on their own at the reflection in the red dyed river.


    The image of his palms came back and forth in his mind, so he raised his two small arms up high and set his eyes on their surface.


    No wrinkles, no calluses, no white and red lines of past wounds remained on the surface of his chocolate skin. As if he had no contact with even the word of labour, let alone doing the deed, any and all traces of his past disappeared. When? He asked, and thought of the moment he noticed his hands.


    When I died? He thought, but in the presence of god, when he wished for a kind and merciful master, his clasped palms were still of ¡®his¡¯ old flesh.


    He forgot about drinking or rinsing or cleaning; he turned around, cast his disturbed gaze to the Jackson inspecting his state. The man had questioning eyes- ¡®Why aren¡¯t you asking me yet?¡¯ might have been what he had in mind there. But Amare did not inquire.


    It might have been from the shock of his childish, once-again youthful appearance, or it might have been from scars buried deep within his body, but he had not even a shred of will to ask about the matter. He contemplated, if standing frozen could be counted as one, and once the feelings overflowing in him dried up, he turned back and leaned towards the river.


    From the corner of his eye, he saw Jackson shaking his head.


    He grasped handfuls of clean, cold water and splashed his face. In succession he struck again and again, and after his countenance relaxed from the frosty sensation he started drinking.


    A moment later he was done and straight again, looking at Jackson tapping at the gem at the tip of his staff.


    ¡®¡¯Let¡¯s get going- night time is not peaceful around here.¡¯¡¯


    Amare nodded and followed behind Jackson¡¯s steps. They walked beside the wide river¡¯s bank for a few hundred meters until it changed its course towards the forest- at that point it had turned shallow enough to pass, with few rocks stuck in the riverbed to step over.


    Jackson passed with ease, and so did he, hopping over the stones to the other side. There they climbed up a small green slope for a dozen or so seconds and reached the hard paved road; the Sun blinked away into darkness under the shade of the far away mountain.


    While they proceeded over the road for another dozen minutes, their path, alike the river, slithered into another patch of the forest. Though the sky remained visible above the road- the tree branches swayed left and right, yet refused to get into the periphery of the it- the forest alone provided a numbing dread with its sheer darkness.


    But with the road remaining clear on their front, they kept going.


    For some time they continued at the same pace, but along the way something irked Amare- it came from the forest.


    A shiver went down his spine, and his scalp turned cold. At some point he had slowed down his steps and came to a halt; Jackson in front of him had done so as well, looking back at him.


    ¡®¡¯Amare, are you tired?¡¯¡¯ He asked, retaining that unperturbed smile.


    ¡®¡¯I am fine, let¡¯s continue.¡¯¡¯ He collected his calm and looked back. Yet, Jackson did not move.


    They stared at each other for a while, black against brown eyes. The same shiver and cold returned, and seeing him tense up, or so Amare assumed, Jackson sighed.


    ¡®¡¯Come to my side-¡¯¡¯ He said, waving his hand. ¡®¡¯Walk beside me.¡¯¡¯


    Amare did not utter a sound as he nodded and trodded to Jackson¡¯s left. They resumed walking again, but that cold dread didn¡¯t seem to disappear from his back.


    Not aware of his actions, his steps slowed down once more; the end of the staff slithered like a snake to his back and stopped him from falling back.


    ¡®¡¯That is a bad habit, old friend...¡¯¡¯ Jackson seemed tired for a moment. He sighed, passed his staff to his right hand, and held out his left one.


    Amare cast his gaze up- there, he realized for the first time, Jackson¡¯s figure was twice his size. He seemed like a giant, yet human, but in that smile, in that feeling of safety and mercy, he was both.


    He reached out and grasped the hand- he held it tight. Jackson let out a soft smirk and muttered.


    ¡®¡¯Lighten up our path, O¡¯Tsetse.¡¯¡¯


    Amare watched, his eyes wide and his mouth agape, as a round, merry-yellow glow rose from the staff¡¯s tip- it came out from the gem. Its color was of the lightning, blue and gold, and it released a deep hum reminiscent of a thunder awaiting to sound.


    The path in front of them revealed its deep gray and many eyes hiding in the darkness of the forest; at the first sight of light, they all scurried away into the woods with shrieks.


    Amare held onto the calloused hand tighter then before and let out a deep breath. He looked up at Jackson, his veiled face lit-up and healthy. Jackson nodded at him and looked to their front, and so did Amare.


    Together, they took a step and descended into the road.


    *********


    For a reason unknown to him, the lightning-colored glow gave him a sense of security. Amare felt warm in his back and scalp and chest; in his feet and legs and hips he found a fresh strength rising, aiding his attempts at keeping up with Jackson¡¯s long steps; in his arms and hands he felt less heavy, and feeling as such his grasp on Jackson weakened.


    ¡®¡¯Don¡¯t let go-¡¯¡¯ said Jackson. ¡®¡¯There are more than wolves and bears in the forest.¡¯¡¯


    Amare wondered for a moment, there of course would be, wouldn¡¯t there? There would be venomous snakes and bugs and birds, and there would be many poisonous plants and similar trees. He had an inkling as to which of the few names he thought that Jackson considered dangerous, but he had no idea on which- or how many- of those were the cause of his nervous trembling.


    They walked and walked with no end in sight, and with no conversation between them Amare turned his gaze towards the glowing ball floating above them. Had he piled up two or three trees together, perhaps he could reach and touch it. Would it still be warm? Would it be like fire, burning when touched?


    ¡®¡¯Does it interest you?¡¯¡¯ Jackson asked.


    Amare leaned his head right and looked at the smiling Jackson. He hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded.


    ¡®¡¯Tell me what you wonder about it.¡¯¡¯


    Amare did not respond for a moment. His gaze fell from the glowing ball to the staff Jackson held.


    ¡®¡¯Does...is that stone also warm?¡¯¡¯ Right after he asked, Amare shook his head. ¡®¡¯Is it as warm as the ¡®glow¡¯?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Oh, the stone isn¡¯t hot- it is quite cold to even touch, here.¡¯¡¯ Jackson bent the staff to the left, the gem-embedded tip came right before Amare¡¯s eyes. ¡®¡¯Try it yourself.¡¯¡¯


    Amare gazed at the multi-colored gemstone. Apart from the blue, yellow, red, and green quarters on its surface, he saw a fifth, blank socket gleaming with moonlight. His head shot up and darted around the sky, but neither moon nor the stars were visible. In confusion he looked down again and raised his left hand; he tapped with his finger.


    It indeed felt cold; too cold. In the instant he made contact, Amare pulled his palm back with his fingers. A sharp pain traveled through his left index finger and shocked his brain; his eyes opened wide and he let out a loud gasp. In his vision, he saw the mark of a pair of half-moons appear on his knuckles.


    ¡®¡¯Ah!?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Her highness...how good for you!¡¯¡¯ Jackson smiled and pulled his staff back. ¡®¡¯Does it still hurt?¡¯¡¯


    Amare glanced at his empty hand, shook it twice; with no feeling, he shook his head. His curiosity to know what this implied had no discernible effect on his unwillingness to ask after, even after the shock.


    ¡®¡¯Good, good,¡¯¡¯ Jackson nodded and pointed up to the glow following them from above. ¡®¡¯For the ¡®Glow¡¯, it is quite hot, much hotter than the gem- you should not touch one with bare hands.¡¯¡¯


    Amare nodded and turned his attention back to the path.


    They continued in silence for a few more minutes.


    ¡®¡¯You know, I can actually hold it without burning myself,¡¯¡¯ Jackson said. ¡®¡¯I can even make dozens of them fly around like birds!¡¯¡¯


    Amare nodded in wonder, and instead of answering, inquired for the first time.


    ¡®¡¯Won¡¯t they hurt you for using magic?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Hurt?¡¯¡¯ Jackson tilted his head and raised a brow. ¡®¡¯They wouldn¡¯t, of course.¡¯¡¯


    He took a breath, cast him a smiling gaze, then drew a cross on his chest.


    ¡®¡¯Son of God almighty, his name reverberates even here, had declared so on earth that magic was evil- in any kind and form. But evil here is of a different kind, Amare. These people had no man or divine to shoulder their unholy desires; their sins and their acts went unpunished longer and...no-¡¯¡¯ Jackson suddenly stopped, then laughed.


    ¡®¡¯No, forget that,¡¯¡¯ He said. ¡®¡¯They won¡¯t punish me or hurt me, or you, because we are not evil.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That is all there is to it.¡¯¡¯


    Amare felt a slight discomfort from his master, one that he also felt in his grasp; his palm had trembled when he renounced his own words. Was he feeling contradictory to himself, or did he have no belief in God anymore?


    Amare suddenly went stiff at the blasphemous thought and prayed for forgiveness in his heart.


    In darkness, an uncomfortable silence followed them behind. This time, neither the ¡®Glow¡¯ nor the palm of Jackson helped Amare calm down the terrifying gloom striking at his heart. His bare feet stomped against the ground and he looked back.


    There, from the boundary between the forest and the road, a gray leg popped out with tremors.


    Its length alone towered above them both.

 Second Chapter

    ¡®¡¯J-jac¡ª!¡¯¡¯ Amare blurted out right after the trees gave way to the giant leg.


    Jackson slammed his staff down, revolved around, and pointed its tip towards the creature; his eyes had neither fear nor nervousness, and the lack of both helped Amare straighten his back to some extent.


    The second leg popped out, another tremor spread beneath the ground¡ª the sheer weight of the creature in front of them terrified even the gazes following them in the forest. A series of wails and shrieks rose from their back, then a rough, crashing that sent chills down Amare¡¯s spine. Something splattered and Jackson raised his staff.


    ¡®¡¯Son, of which king do you hail from? Answer, or I won¡¯t allow you to take a step forward.¡¯¡¯


    Although he seemed cautious, and the twinkling of the gem indicated his willingness to cast a spell with no hesitation, Amare couldn¡¯t find a shred of fear from his master. Just as he gained another burst of courage, the boorish, deep sound of the creature drilled a hole in his mental state.


    ¡®¡¯Master J?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Oh? Whom might you be, son?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It is I, master! Son of Kelbor and Balbal, Kelkut.¡¯¡¯


    Master? Another slave? Amare looked at Jackson, who in turn smiled at him. He lowered his staff and gave a soft pat on his head.


    ¡®¡¯Look at that coincidence, come, come.¡¯¡¯


    The gray, humanoid creature pushed away the dark branches in its way with little strength and revealed himself. Amare¡¯s head rose and rose until the back of his head touched his nape.


    The creature was no different from a man except his gray skin, singular eye, and his body and pants that might very well be ten times their size. Subconsciously, Amare let go of Jackson¡¯s hand, took a step forward and blocked his path.


    ¡®¡¯He is a friend, Amare, don¡¯t worry.¡¯¡¯ Jackson kept his smile and gave a thump on his shoulder. ¡®¡¯Do you want to know who he is? Well, he said it.¡¯¡¯


    Amare looked back and forth between the man and the creature. After a moment of hesitation he lowered his head and took two steps back. He noticed traces of blood under the feet of it.


    ¡®¡¯Is he...is he your child, Master J?¡¯¡¯ The creature said. It showed Amare a terrifying smile and let out a laugh. ¡®¡¯No need to be shy, friend, I am a normal giant!¡¯¡¯


    Amare took another step forward and slightly raised his gaze, trying to match it with the horizontal blue pupil.


    ¡®¡¯I am Amare...nice to meet you.¡¯¡¯ He gave a slight bow and returned to Jackson¡¯s back; he stood with his hands clasped in front of his belly.


    ¡®¡¯My disciple is a little shy, do not be upset.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I wouldn¡¯t dare, Master J. Though now I know why you couldn¡¯t answer our letters.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Eh, nothing I can do about that, son. How come you are¡ª oh, one moment please,¡¯¡¯ Jackson excused himself and slammed his staff down, the tip facing the sky. From the multicolored gem, several thunder-colored ¡®Glows¡¯ popped out and shot upwards, illuminating the surrounding road to full extent. ¡®¡¯May we borrow your shoulder?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Anytime, Master.¡¯¡¯


    Amare shivered for a moment when he saw the giant palm reaching for them but, believing in the confidence of Jackson, he made no attempt to stop it. The giant, Kelkut, Grasped them both and put them on his half-bare right shoulder. It was quite wide, so much that he and Jackson could sit with an empty space between them.


    ¡®¡¯Sit down, relax¡ª also hold onto my vest, it should be shaky, hehe.¡¯¡¯


    Amare, after receiving a nod from Jackson, did exactly so. He took a hold of the straps going over the shoulder and sat close to Jackson, who remained on his legs. Once Kelkut affirmed their security, he started walking down the road with somewhat familiar steps. In the meantime, Amare kept silent as they started chatting.


    ¡®¡¯How is your father?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯He¡¯s old as always, no better than you, Master J. His voice has turned hoarse and crude from an infection, so he speaks more than a few words now; most for scolding me.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Heh, he was ridiculing me before, wasn¡¯t he? Now we are brothers of the same fate.¡¯¡¯


    His voice is the same, isn¡¯t it? Amare cast a glance, then turned it away to the forest. When did it become healthy, or turned back to being hoarse?


    ¡®¡¯Indeed, Master J.¡¯¡¯ Kelkut gave a loud chuckle.


    ¡®¡¯So, son, what about the letters you mentioned before? It has been months since I left Southern Sea, I hope nothing bad happened?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯One was for my mother¡¯s sending ritual, but my father guessed you wouldn¡¯t be able to join.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯My apologies, son. If you won¡¯t chase us away, I¡¯ll pray in front of her tomb.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I wouldn¡¯t dare,¡¯¡¯ Kelkut said. ¡®¡¯You will stay overnight, then?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Perhaps longer. My disciple needs some rest, and me too¡ª my feet have horrendous wounds, I tell you. I¡¯ll buy some medicine for it if you have any left.¡¯¡¯ Jackson twirled his staff to tap his feet.


    ¡®¡¯We do, Master J.¡¯¡¯ Kelkut then changed the topic back to the letters. ¡®¡¯As for the other three letters¡ª they were the sightings of Felaqt.¡¯¡¯


    Amare felt his back turn cold while Jackson dropped his unperturbed smile for the first time.


    He gave Amare a small pat of somesorts to ease his confused expression. ¡¯¡¯Where?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯First on the border between Aeon and Wilderness, for second near the frontier settlement of Gozse, and the third in Kingdom¡¯s capital Kilan.¡¯¡¯ Here, Kelkut stopped and took a right, delving into the forest. The ¡®Glows¡¯ followed after them, some from above some from below.


    While the conversation between Jackson delved into matters and names he knew nothing about, Amare¡¯s focus disappeared. Instead he looked around, slightly curious about the origin of those eyes that followed them in the darkness.


    While shuffling between leaves and branches of the dark, long trees, faint footsteps emerged in Amare¡¯s ears, almost inaudible from the heavy tremors giant spread. In a second there were two, another second later they were four, and ten seconds later, it came to a point that he couldn¡¯t count. All the sounds mixed between the whispering wind, ruffling leaves, and hurried, faint steps.


    Amare emptied one of his hands and pushed himself to turn sideways; he sat down again, grasped the strap, and cast his gaze down.


    In darkness, there were countless eyes watching him.


    Amare¡¯s mouth gaped open; his hands lost their strength and his head froze in that position.


    The collection of eyes showed a smiling intent, then en-masse, they blinked in sync.


    Amare wanted to scream in horror but something clogged up his throat. There was not even a grunt. His eyes widened as his grasp loosened.


    His body leaned back, his leg slipped, and his body started falling back from the shoulder.


    In that instant, the hundreds of eyes all showed yellowed sets of sharp teeth, bloodied and dirtied by who knew what.


    No!


    Right there, when he almost tumbled down from the Kelkut¡¯s shoulder, he heard countless screams rising to his side. A storm of dizziness struck Amare¡¯s mind and passed in an instant, and when the ringing beside his ears calmed down he saw himself still holding onto the strap of Kelkut¡¯s vest, albeit half-heartedly.


    ¡®¡¯Amare?¡¯¡¯ In his back, he felt a palm supporting him.


    ¡®¡¯They- demons? Evil spirits? They dragged me- the- they¡¯ll drag you-¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯They won¡¯t, Amare, don¡¯t panic. Calm down, take it easy.¡¯¡¯ Jackson gave him a simple rub on the back and raised his staff. He made the motion of slamming it down, then pointed the tip to the sky.


    ¡®¡¯O¡¯Tsetse, bathe us in light.¡¯¡¯ An ethereal voice came out of his lips as the multi-colored gem shone in the forest¡¯s darkness. Contrary to the past instances, dozens of thunder-colored ¡®Glows¡¯ emerged from the gem in a frenzy, showering them and the surrounding area in a somewhat blue and gold-ish light.


    The ¡®Glows¡¯ spread out in the shape of a whirlwind; Amare heard another series of screeches and shrieks from the eyes following them. The stench of ash wafted over. When the multitude of ¡®Glows¡¯ returned in numbers less than a few handful, Amare realized it was over.


    His gaze went left and right between Jackson and the darkness, and when his fear settled down as well, he gave a small nod and turned to face their front. Jackson shook his head again, Kelkut made no comments.


    For hours they traveled deep into the woods with no visible destination and break. Amare¡¯s grasp on the straps were always tight and whatever sound he heard, he paid no heed. The danger he faced had imprinted a deep sense of horror that, while soothed for now, remained as a kind of anxiety. Each foreign sound caused him to shiver and tremble, but with Jackson and Kelkut always discussing matters of many kinds, most didn¡¯t go beyond that.


    Amare had no understanding of what they talked, of course, but the name Felaqt rang frequent enough for him to memorize. Calamity, death, disease, corruption¡ª anything foul seemed to point to this...existence, whom while they called a ¡®He¡¯, with a real flesh and blood giant carrying him, Amare made no quick conclusion with him being of man.


    There is not just man walking on these lands...where am I? In the past, his elders had always told him of times when gods ruled them with mythical beings under their servitude- but those days were long gone, they had also said. Thousands of years later, they produced no divine king or queen. Everyone there, in his homeland, in the land of whites, and in America, was mortal.


    Here, and he did not know where here was, man and nature didn¡¯t seem to be the sole owners of the land.


    For not so long, Amare found himself thinking upon the words still passing between Kelkut and Jackson, trying to guess what they were, where they were, who they were...this process was too unfamiliar to his weary, old self. It might have been curiousness that made him follow their words and lines of thoughts, or it also might have been the free time he had in his tiny, smooth hands; it was a kind of luxury that a slave did not have, one that he couldn¡¯t afford to give himself even when he worked for¡ª with Jackson.


    The act of thinking was an act that required immense quantities of time, after all.


    His scattered train of thought focused itself on this particular man for a moment. Ever since his death, his short audience with God, and his coming to this lands in a body much younger and healthier, he had not once thought about what Jackson was doing, had done, or would do? Had he came here like him, in a body not of his own, or had he arrived with his real flesh? Why did he seek him and not his, perhaps, child and grandchild, or his wife and parents? The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    As a devout believer of God and Christ, and as a man whose filial piety went above the highest amount expected from a priest, no doubt he would attempt to first find his relatives than a slave he tried to set free.


    Amare¡¯s thoughts stopped there and his head rose slightly up, his eyes looking at the figure not aware of his gaze, still talking with the giant Kelkut while bearing an unperturbed smile.


    Why would he come for me...my wish?


    With a sense of guilt, Amare lowered his head and no longer thought of the matter; with his eyelids heavy and his limbs tired from the constant tremors and trembling, he decided to rest until they arrived the so-called home of the Giant Duke Kelbor; husband of Balbal, father of Kelkut and Balfol, and another old friend of Master ¡®J¡¯, Priest Jackson.


    *********


    Their journey lasted two more hours, in which Amare found it hard to keep himself awake and aware. He was not much hungry, for he had lived through times with no food for days¡ª they were the most ordinary of the times as well. But sitting on the shoulder of a giant was by no means easy; walking might have been better for his body in comparison.


    Jackson didn¡¯t seem to be much troubled by the same thing, and when Amare remembered his constant pace he kept in the forest, he didn¡¯t muddle much over it, except Jackson complained about his feet every now and then. And while doing so, at one point, he had taken him into his right arm and held up with his staff, his left hand holding onto the giant¡¯s curly mustache.


    He realized this point when they stopped at the lights of dawn, standing near the foot of a wide, small mountain facing the first sunshine. They came from an opening, a ravine carved from the middle of the mountain, and none of the lights coming from afar managed to light up the depths of the eerie darkness. What they touched , however, remained not far from that; it was a humongous farm house with glistening wood doors, taller than Kelkut by two heads-Kelkut heads- and several windows from which a shadow moved past.


    ¡®¡¯Father! I brought you a gift!¡¯¡¯ Kelkut shouted and took them off his shoulders, holding them in his right palm beside his face. Jackson put Amare down and grasped his staff with both hands, pointing it down. While the gem at the tip started twinkling, the rotating door slammed open and another shout arose.


    ¡®¡¯Have you brought Red Ember!?¡¯¡¯ A giant rushed out, and behind him a long trail of dry gray hair followed. Grizzled, cracked skin of his had something unpleasant awaken in Amare.


    ¡®¡¯No, but-¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Then what are...you...waiting...?¡¯¡¯ The giant who confirmed himself to be Kelbor, father of Kelkut, slowed his pace until he stopped right in front of his son, a hand ready to slap down remained in the air. ¡®¡¯J?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Heh, you sound grizzled, old friend.¡¯¡¯ Jackson let go of a hand from the staff, took off his veiled hat, and put it over his chest. ¡®¡¯Nice to see you again.¡¯¡¯


    Kelbor made no sound or move¡ª as if the time had stopped for him, his horizontal eye remained on Jackson and Amare, staring daggers at the former. Amare himself wasn¡¯t sure if he was also a target of the glare.


    ¡®¡¯Ha...haha...hahaha...hahahaHAHA!¡¯ After an uncomfortable period of silence, Kelbor started roaring; laughing was too dangerous of a word to use for Amare, as experiencing more than a few terrifying events in succession had him imagine what a roar would be in advance. The sound that only existed in his mind jolted his ears.


    ¡®¡¯Idiot, welcome!¡¯¡¯ The slap above descended into a claw that dug into Kelbor¡¯s lengthy beard, scratching, perhaps, his chin hidden under them. ¡®¡¯It seems you brought back a disciple?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Indeed, a fine one,¡¯¡¯ Jackson smiled and straightened his posture as well as his staff, which had lost its luster. Amare saw the last handful of ¡®Glows¡¯ popping out of existence.


    ¡®¡¯...He seems not fine at the moment¡ª though I doubt you¡¯ll leave him in this state,¡¯¡¯ there he looked at Amare¡¯s forearms, where two half-moons resided. ¡®¡¯That is not important now; let me get you two some pillows and beddings. We¡¯ll talk right after you rest and eat a meal.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Father, what about me?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You will go back and get us some Red Ember, moron,¡¯¡¯ Kelbor snorted at Kelkut and took Amare and Jackson from the latter¡¯s palm. ¡®¡¯Now my throat hurts! Go, don¡¯t force me to raise my voice!¡¯¡¯


    Kelkut let out a whimper and ran out towards the wild forest again, and in a moment he was gone deep into it. It took a few more seconds for the tremors of his steps to disappear.


    *********


    Inside of the house accommodated no item that could be considered luxury; there were three beds, each carrying piles of leaves upon a stone surface, leaning to the edge of the walls. There also laid a long table of polished wood circled by humongous chairs and across it, at the end corner where two of the beds met, stood a square iron furniture reminiscent of a fireplace, but Amare saw no chimney or a special hole to expel the smoke.


    Kelbor put them over one of the soft beds and ran to one of the side-doors that led to some kind of compartment. After a moment of shuffling and scratching something, the old giant came out with a pair of human-sized mattresses, also carrying red pillows. He laid them at the edge of the bed a few steps apart and motioned for them to rest.


    After receiving an affirming nod from Jackson, Amare picked the right one and put his head down to sleep. The exhaustion surged with a ferocity enough to have him all asleep in a matter of seconds.


    When he woke up, he saw the sunlight gushing into the farmhouse from the glasses facing outside; that meant it was past-noon.


    He stood up and looked around. Jackson was gone but his bedding remained in its place, messy and filled with tendrils of white hair. His staff, however, remained beside his pillow.


    Amare raised his gaze up high and surveyed the room. Apart from what he had noted before, there were also shelves nailed to the left-wing of the house, and Amare found it reasonable to assume them as rations and alike from the sealed mouths of the pots and vases, as well as how close they were to the table itself.


    Oh¡ª there was also the giant, Kelkut sleeping on the bed across him.


    With no idea of what to do, Amare walked to the edge of the bed to see whether he would be able to climb down. Of course not. There were more than a few meters between ground and him and any attempt to descend would leave him with broken bones. Many of them.


    Amare sat down at the edge and looked around once more. Kelkut had turned to face the wall, presumably while he was looking down, and continued to snort and snore in his sleep. He turned around once more, and he seemed in no way comfortable¡ª but Amare couldn¡¯t pinpoint why.


    He waited while watching the sunlight leaning more and more to the ground. With each passing minute it edged closer to the eyelid of Kelkut, who at that point started scratching his face. A few more minutes passed and now the pillar of light shone right onto his eye.


    ¡®¡¯Aaah- let me sleep father...huh-¡¯¡¯ Right after he spoke, his eye opened wide.


    He shot up and revolved onto his feet, looking around. ¡®¡¯No, father, I was only rest...ing?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...they don¡¯t seem to be here.¡¯¡¯ Amare said.


    ¡®¡¯Oh, they¡¯ve not returned yet!¡¯¡¯ Kelkut let out a sigh and collapsed back onto the bed. He his eyelid fell down and rose up more than a few times when he shot right up again, this time still seated on the bed. ¡®¡¯Ah, sweet sun, you are awake?¡¯¡¯


    Sweet son? Amare cast a glance with faint tinges of red on his cheeks. ¡®¡¯I...I am...¡¯¡¯ He paused for a moment, not sure of what to call himself.¡¯¡¯...his disciple. Not son.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Son? I said Sun, the Sun, sweet Sun!¡¯¡¯ Kelkut patted his own chest. ¡®¡¯Ah- don¡¯t mind, Master J. said my tongue is a little bit rotten. I hope you can understand me.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...I do...but¡ª¡¯¡¯ Amare stopped there and cast his gaze to the huge door. ¡®¡¯Is Sun sweet?¡¯¡¯


    Kelkut put his right elbow on his knee and supported his chin with a fist. ¡®¡¯Not in taste...but they are indeed a sweet God.¡¯''


    ¡®¡¯God?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...um, yeah?¡¯¡¯


    Amare looked straight at the giant¡¯s horizontal pupil, then lowered it to its limit. Blasphemy- God is God, he is not the Sun, he is not...


    ¡®¡¯Little friend, where are you from?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Iv...America¡¯¡¯ Amare said.


    ¡®¡¯Oh...¡¯¡¯ Kelkut stopped, then laughed. ¡®¡¯Indeed I¡¯ve never heard of it!¡¯¡¯


    He didn¡¯t? His thoughts were interrupted by Kelkut¡¯s arise; the giant stood up and came before him, lowering his palm open.


    ¡®¡¯I¡¯m sorry, Master J. had said to not ask you about where you lived, but I was just too curious-¡¯¡¯ He urged with his head. ¡®¡¯While they are out looking for herbs, would you like to take a bath?¡¯¡¯


    Amare straightened himself and looked down at the palm. ¡®¡¯Bath?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯There is a spring to the east, not far from here,¡¯¡¯ Kelkut said. ¡®¡¯It is cool and clear- and it is perfect for a routine cleansing.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...¡¯¡¯ While he did not respond in the first moment, for the fear against the giant still lingered inside his heart, Jackson showed more than enough trust and familiarity with Kelkut, if not Kelbor as well. His judgment was then his judgment, and so it wouldn¡¯t trouble him to act...on his own.


    ¡®¡¯If you want...that is alright.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Hm?¡¯¡¯ Kelkut stopped for a moment, then gave a laugh. ¡®¡¯Alright, hop on!¡¯¡¯


    Amare took a deep breath and leaped a meter forward to the palm of the giant. He found himself on his both feet, though one stood lower inside a crevice of the hard skin, and looked up.


    ¡®¡¯Are you steady?¡¯¡¯


    Amare gave a nod and took his right foot out of the gap-like line, and seeing him done, Kelkut moved towards the door. He peered the entrance a bit and stepped through without making any large sound. He looked to the left. There were faint mutters and chatters of unknown birds echoing towards them.


    ¡®¡¯Lovely sound, isn¡¯t it?¡¯¡¯ While he entered the forest and strolled through a myriad of trees in Kelkut¡¯s palm, Amare kept his attention sharp and focused on the surroundings. Of course, he saw nothing but greeny green leaves and bright brown trunks and branches; and he heard, now louder, of the birds and sometimes bugs shrugging and flapping their wings.


    With a lack of any danger, he took a deep breath¡ª it tasted sweet.


    Kelkut advanced with heavy steps as he pushed a series of vines dangling from the trees. ¡®¡¯No comment?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...they are good,¡¯¡¯ Amare replied. ¡®¡¯But...where are they?¡¯¡¯


    Pondering for a moment, Kelkut made a surprised face under Amare¡¯s gaze. ¡®¡¯The ghosts? They only come under dark, no need to worry about them¡ª actually, they don¡¯t even always come out.¡¯¡¯


    While he received an answer to his question that lasted from yesterday to today, Amare¡¯s mind did not recognize the latter portion of the sentence. He only heard ¡®ghosts¡¯ and when he regained the mental faculty to think, he felt a shudder pass through his feet and back.


    Ghosts...giants...What had happened here to incur the wrath of so many ghosts, pitiful souls? That, he did not ask.


    ¡®¡¯Sweet Sun is quite bright today, so the pond must be warmer than usual,¡¯¡¯ Kelkut said. ¡®¡¯Say, friend, would you prefer warm or cold?¡¯¡¯


    Amare turned to look at their front where he saw a light-blue twinkle, then he gazed up to the giant Kelkut. ¡®¡¯Whichever you like.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It doesn¡¯t matter? It should be¡ª Oh, I understand!¡¯¡¯ He let out another laugh. ¡®¡¯You are the guest, don¡¯t be that considerate, I¡¯ll arrange the temperature for you.¡¯¡¯


    How? While he thought about the means the giant had, he remembered the ¡®Glows¡¯ of Jackson; Magic...is it the same?


    Amare gave no definite answer and instead gave a modest bow, then continued looking forward. In no time, at most three more minutes later, he saw the twinkling blue enlarge into his whole field of view, flooding to the limits of the horizon and stop at the foot of a series of green-topped mountains, rising to the farthest east.


    This was no pond.


    This was a lake.


    Surrounding this lake was a brown-ish earth declining into it, and at each side there were, surprisingly, herbivore animals of all kinds. While passing through the forest with Jackson, he had not seen any, yet here they were abundant.


    Of the deers at the right bank, some looked at them, their beady eyes shone for a second, then they returned to drinking. However, one took its way towards the giant. It leaped over a series of boulders with movements quite erratic, not in line with its physique. Kelkut lowered him to the ground in response and sat at their side, gazing at the newcomer.


    Amare turned sideways to face the unfolding greeting: The deer shook its head back and forth, and in response Kelkut nodded and let out sounds not much different from an animal cry. He pointed to the right, grumbled, then pointed to the left bank where wild horses, monkeys, chipmunks, foxes, and a pair of black bears seemed to bicker among themselves. The deer gave another shake, licked the giant¡¯s palm, and sprinted back to its herd.


    He could, of course, make no sense from the interaction between the giant and animal, or how there were dozens of foxes snickering and ridiculing other animals without getting eaten¡ª or eating.


    ¡®¡¯They hunt at night and relax in the day,¡¯¡¯ Kelkut said and stepped past him. Step by step, he dove into the lake until only his torso and head remained visible.


    ¡®¡¯What...are they doing?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Discussing the losses. There are much more evil than the past¡ª but that does not matter to us,¡¯¡¯ Smiling, Kelkut raised his arms and looked at him. ¡®¡¯See if the water is fine for you. If not, I will adjust the temperature.¡¯¡¯


    Amare nodded and took off his dirty tunic, still holding onto the ripped pants. He moved forward and brushed his right foot on the surface; The water was comfortable, slightly cold. Amare moved his body in, a chill spread over his body, but in a matter of moments it was gone as everything beside his head delved into the lake.


    He did not dare go much forward. The last time he swam remained decades away, and he wasn¡¯t sure of how much he remembered, or his body remembered, how to keep himself above water.


    Accompanied by the roars of the bears at the left bank, Amare gave a small bow, causing his chin to submerge as well. ¡®¡¯It is comfortable, thank you.¡¯¡¯


    Kelkut lowered his arms and nodded. ¡®¡¯All is fine, then. Try not to go further¡ª it becomes quite deep there.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Alright.¡¯¡¯


    After he fell silent, Kelkut started humming a song. They bathed and rested for some more time until animals around the lake retreated into the woods. With their departure, Kelkut and Amare also decided to return back.


    After picking up his tunic, which he swooped into the water to clean before leaving, Amare got onto Kelkut¡¯s palm and together returned to the gigantic house at the base of the mountain away from the ravine. Even in the day, except the entrance where several red-leaved thin trees stood rooted, nothing beyond could be seen.


    When they stepped inside, Amare saw Jackson sitting on the edge of the long table, his legs dangling to the side.


    At the base of his two foot bloomed blisters and ripped skin, full of blood.

 Third Chapter

    ¡®¡¯Well, walking over mountains was harsher than I thought, though it is not that bad.¡¯¡¯


    When Jackson noticed Amare calmed down a little bit, he kept his smile and looked at the Kelbor fiddling with the fire furnace at the end of the house. He held a clay bowl bigger than both his hands, filled to the brim with a sick green liquid. He pushed it into the flames blazing under a charred, half-gray grill. The crackling and buzzing of the flames turned faint with the closure of its lid.


    ¡®¡¯Father, is there anything I should help with?¡¯¡¯


    Kelbor walked over to his side, plucked Amare, and put him next to Jackson. ¡®¡¯Get food from the cellar.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Yes,¡¯¡¯ Kelkut ran off to the side door where Kelbor hid the furniture for guests. The door squeaked open and he disappeared from the sight, then another click and squeak came. The latter came from the second compartment¡¯s door, which led to the freezing cold basement of Kelbor.


    What does he still eat? Cheese and milk pastry? Or the same old olive bread? He didn¡¯t know how this old friend of his stuffed himself with those everyday. Or he knew. This boorish giant was, after all, a bona-fide glutton and a good example of his kind. Back in the day they traveled, his rations surpassed the overall supplies of the party by twenty times.


    While some rufflings and clanks accompanied the crackling fire, Jackson ceased his thoughts and gazed at Amare. ¡®¡¯You went to the lake?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...to the pond,¡¯¡¯ Amare replied. His gaze lingered on his open feet, covered in bloody blisters of exaggerated size.


    Jackson shook his two wrinkled legs to show he was fine for now and let out a laugh. ¡®¡¯Their sense of scale is ridiculous, don¡¯t count on them when it comes to size!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯This guy is the same as his son,¡¯¡¯ Jackson pointed at Kelbor taking out several pots from the shelves. ¡®¡¯But his son shows the friendly side better, so it is easier to fall into that trap.¡¯¡¯


    Kelbor cast a sidelong glance. ¡®¡¯You know it will be me who¡¯ll bandage that feet, right?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Ah, it must be old age, I forgot.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Don¡¯t blame your age, it is you who is stupid.¡¯¡¯


    While he smirked at that, Kelbor walked over to the furnace and opened the metallic lid again. It squealed and the flames inside blazed, the crackling louder than before, but Kelbor didn¡¯t seem to mind the change. He reached for the clay bowl and took it out, not even a mark on his fingers. He closed it, then came back.


    ¡®¡¯Damn it, I forgot the bandage,¡¯¡¯ He put the bowl of liquid, now half-red half-green onto the table and went back to the shelves. From one of the pots he took out a roll of bandage, retrieved his staff from the bed, then put them all next to him as well.


    ¡®¡¯Pray for some resilience, because that is going to hurt¡ª and boy, you hold onto his shoulders.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It is quite painful, so you need to hold me steady.¡¯¡¯


    Amare looked up at his friend, then at him. ¡®¡¯Okay,¡¯¡¯


    Following that Kelbor reached out for the front pocket of his leather vest and took out a miniature set of instruments. There were tiny and narrow blades, a pincer that looked like a tooth-remover, a pair of magical shards that would, if he remembered correct, turn into a shape of his choice, and a few small nail-like razors.


    He crouched and took the bandages. He cut two long sheets like cutting silk cloth and laid them beside his feet, ready to cover them.


    While watching, Jackson prayed to the God Of Earth and Medicine, Ogun, slammed the end of his staff to the table and applied his authority. From the birthmark on his glabella, something drained.


    ¡®¡¯O¡¯Ogun, grant me a cloak.¡¯¡¯ Jackson felt a hidden veil of some sorts lay over his whole body, and for a moment he felt the pain in his feet turn faint. In the meantime, Amare had come behind him and grasped both of his shoulders with strength belying his childish appearance.


    After every preparation was done, Kelbor dipped the blade in his hand to the bowl and, still higher than him, looked down.


    ¡®¡¯Are you ready?¡¯¡¯


    *********


    When he felt the searing pain disappear from the heels of his feet, Jackson raised his sweat-ridden eyelids to gaze below. Below his knee, sets of colorful bandages wrapped around every skin and hair. Blood dripped from the tips of his toes.


    He let out one last grunt and sighed. ¡®¡¯It...it is done?¡¯¡¯


    Kelbor gave a nod and collected his instruments of tortu?re¡ª he also picked up the now-empty clay bowl and disappeared to the sideroom. Sound of running water gushed out.


    ¡®¡¯Can you walk?¡¯¡¯ Amare asked. He was still latching onto his shoulders.


    He only thinks when he is considerate...bad habits, bad habits... Wiping the sweat on his forehead with the sleeves of the blue robe, Jackson gave a slight smile and laid his back to the Amare. His legs still remained half-dangling from the edge of the wooden furniture. ¡®¡¯I¡¯ll be able to in a while, come on, sit.¡¯¡¯


    Amare sat down and supported his back with his tiny arms, and Jackson felt them tremble under his shallow weight; he counted at most forty or forty-five kilograms at most, he shouldn¡¯t have proved this much difficulty in such a small span of time, right?


    Oh, but he is small, Letting out an audible laugh, he raised his back and patted his side. ¡®¡¯Not there, come here, tell me what you did at the lake.¡¯¡¯


    Without seeing Amare¡¯s answer, which he assumed to be a curt nod or a slight bow, Jackson moved his legs up and down to feel their state. It was fine and dandy, but a faint ache still lingered.


    ¡®¡¯What are you waiting for? Go on,¡¯¡¯


    Amare gave a nod and crossed his legs. ¡®¡¯The path was short. I waited on...his arm and he carried me all the way.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Anything interesting along the way?¡¯¡¯


    Amare seemed to be in thought for a moment¡ª Jackson¡¯s eyes had a slight glint of marvel at that. ¡®¡¯He told...he said they were ghosts, those in the forest. I was surprised.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Indeed,¡¯¡¯ Jackson nodded. ¡®¡¯And did you learn why?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Uh, no...I didn¡¯t ask.¡¯¡¯


    Jackson looked at Amare¡¯s childish face for a moment, and at his down-trodden, insecure expression. How do you still make that face this young...¡¯¡¯And why is that?¡¯¡¯


    No answer came. Amare clutched the hems of his ripped pants, his purplish-white nails slightly pierced the thin cloth through.


    At last, he let out a sigh. He threw his left arm over Amare¡¯s shoulder and pulled him close to himself, and gave a small tap with his staff.


    Jackson thought of what he would say in the following moment. It might not have the effect he intended, he could guess that. But seeing this scarred friend of his did not do justice to his conscience.


    When that line crossed his mind, he felt disgust towards his identity; as a believer of God and Christ, as a priest of the Catholic Church and a mage of the Temple Of Ogun, and as an individual who lived two lives in two different worlds, he found himself deep in a hypocrisy that viewed Amare as nothing but a tool to placate his own guilt.


    ¡®¡¯You are already a free man, old friend, there is no need to hide yourself.¡¯¡¯


    Another bout of silence came. Jackson felt Amare¡¯s heartbeat gain a dangerous pace as it pumped and pumped, and soon it became audible. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Keeping his arm around the shoulder, Jackson touched the edge of the table with the end of his staff and gave another tap to Amare¡¯s head. ¡®¡¯O¡¯Ogun, give us a peace of mind.¡¯¡¯


    A soft light twinkled at the tip of his staff and gleamed in their eyes. Soon, Amare¡¯s heartbeats slowed and stopped at an acceptable range, thumping faint and heavy.


    ¡®¡¯Kelbor, too, was once a slave,¡¯¡¯ Jackson said after a while. He did not add anything, nor did he give any advice. He wanted Amare to be curious on his own, to wonder how such a creature would be enslaved and escape from forces that could restrain him.  He wanted him to question by himself, interact by himself, and interpret whatever transpired around him by himself alone.


    A free man did not become free when he was told or released, Jackson understood this point, to his regret, long after Amare¡¯s death and his current life. It took experience and feedback, it required him to be able to think and act upon what he thought without interference, if not with guidance.


    After all, in accordance with what he learned, a slave¡¯s experiences did exclude everything but laboring away. To overcome that lifetime of experience would take more than words.


    When Jackson noticed the running water fall silent, he stretched a little and put his staff beside him. ¡®¡¯Are you hungry?¡¯¡¯


    Amare froze for a moment, then took a deep breath. He put away Jackson¡¯s arm over his shoulder and attempted to bow¡ª he ceased it right away.


    ¡®¡¯Like a wolf.¡¯¡¯


    *********


    Kelbor and Kelkut returned together to the kitchen, bearing large pieces of bread, olives, olive breads; vegetables like corn, tomatoes, cabbages ; and dried meat from feathered birds like giant swans and ducks. In addition, a large handbag swayed beside Kelkut¡¯s waist. Before they laid the meal on the table, Kelkut took out bowls and round plates to eat from, at which Amare couldn¡¯t hide his confusion.


    In accordance with their scales the bag might be, the sheer amount of kitchenware leaving it belied the common sense. But when he thought of it, with so many things challenging his common sense at every corner, Amare reluctantly chose to accept. He also felt like asking for a moment. Jackson¡¯s words had lit a flame inside his heart¡ª it gave him a little bit of courage to go forth with whatever bothered him.


    But when it came to acting out that will, he made no motion nor sound. He watched them set up the table around them, carrying them to the end, near the shelves where father and son sat on ¡®small¡¯ half-circle chairs. Further down the line, with the host of the house telling them to eat, he no longer bothered about that question.


    They ate many of the food; each and every one of them carried flavours Amare had never tasted before. It was too good, even. At the first bite of each piece, he sat there, stunned, and only when Kelkut laughed did he continue.


    At the pace the giant father and son duo devoured their food, it was quite hilarious for Jackson when he noticed Amare swallow down his share faster than them. He and Kelkut spent a good half-a-minute laughing, then another five minutes to finish it all. Kelbor was the last to put down his stained hands on the table.


    He let out a giant burp and tapped on the wooden layer atop. ¡®¡¯Get water bowls and clean these,¡¯¡¯


    Kelkut nodded and started working on it¡ª he returned after a period of silence with four gigantic bowls filled with, as the name said, water.


    Following the suit of Jackson, Kelkut, and Kelbor, Amare too scrubbed his hands clean and filtered the inside of his nails. Kelkut took them away again, followed by a few minutes of calm serenity.


    Suddenly, Kelbor breathed through his nostrils and exhaled. ¡®¡¯The house is stuffy, let¡¯s get outside.¡¯¡¯


    *********


    After Kelbor carried Amare and Jackson outside, Kelkut took out an old-wood chair for his father. He put it down, pulled out its armrests, then laid over a soft blanket across its surface. ¡®¡¯I¡¯ll get your medicine ready, father, so refrain from talking much.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That is poor hospitality¡ª and don¡¯t tell me what to do.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Of course, of course,¡¯¡¯ Kelkut nodded and left inside; footsteps of him descending to the storage sounded clear like the whispering breeze before them.


    Whispering indeed. Unlike the blaring hurricanes and whistling gales of the shores, this sweet wind came soft and cozy. Especially after a cozy meal. Amare remembered the image of the coast he lived before, the beach overlapped with yellow and green, and with Dutch and their boats.


    Their boats boasted two qualities above their rowing dinghies; one was magnitude of their size, and the other was the craftsmanship. They seemed hundreds of times bigger, enough to hold dozens of their small ships¡ªand indeed, they held men, women, and children captive, many times the capacity of a dinghy.


    For what reason he remembered this, Amare found it clear: This calm breeze was the same in nature with the river of his hometown; it was the same with the ocean gale that shushed him under the deck of those ships for months. It always swept away the rotting stench of the dead, vomit of the diseased, and the blood of the wounded.


    It was the last line of his insanity for a long time.


    For that reason, Amare realized that knowing the reason alone didn¡¯t provide him an answer to why he would now. If this little of a sign vitalized his memory, why did it not happen before? Why did the forests they traversed, the stream they drank, the path they walked not awaken some semblance of melancholy in him?


    Were the memories of him plowing the wild lands, digging the tough earth not that strong? But he had lived his whole life that way.


    Faced with such a dilemma, as he must have made it obvious, Kelbor seemed to notice his distress. The giant shrugged his shoulder to awaken him. Amare shook awake; he looked left to the giant¡¯s nape, then to his right to find Jackson. He did not.


    ¡®¡¯Ma¡ªJackson?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯He is sleeping here-¡¯¡¯ said Kelbor. On top of his left palm laid a snoring Jackson, his staff stuck in a wrinkle and his hat over his face. ¡®¡¯Want me to wake him up?¡¯¡¯


    Amare shook his head in a hurry. ¡®¡¯No...no. No, there is no need to disturb...¡¯¡¯


    Kelbor cast a doubtful gaze and took a sweet breath around the air. ¡®¡¯Then if you¡¯d like, tell me what you were thinking about.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...No, no need to bother you. It was unimportant...not something worthwhile. Thank you.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Hm?¡¯¡¯ Kelbor lowered his brows into a hard frown. ¡®¡¯What are you thanking me for? Have I done something to gain your gratitude?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯No, I mean, yes...but no, uh¡ª¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯¡¯Which one?¡¯¡¯


    Against the upset giant, Amare found himself with no words or a sound. Of course, what he had thought were unimportant; These mess of a mass memories were no longer his, they existed as...dreams, if he thought of the right word. Why would he bother others with his worthless dreams? Especially when the one asking this was a giant...


    Thinking of the giant, Amare remembered the past title of him. He calmed down, took a deep breath. Feeling the breeze pat his cheeks, he started speaking.


    ¡®¡¯I was...dreaming of this wind.¡¯¡¯ He said, and Kelbor gave him an amused snicker.


    ¡®¡¯Stop jumping from one topic to another! Tell, have I done anything to gain your gratitude?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Ah, no, I mean yes. Thank you for asking...was what I wanted to say. After all, it wasn¡¯t anything important.¡¯¡¯


    Kelbor¡¯s snicker turned into a sneer. He pointed at the still-snoring Jackson on his palm. ¡®¡¯Even if you are half-as-stupid as he is, anything you think won¡¯t be anything unimportant.¡¯¡¯ After his hand rose to what looked like a slap, Kelbor stopped and lowered his arm.


    ¡®¡¯Well, then? You said wind?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Ah, breeze, actually...¡¯¡¯ Amare corrected. ¡®¡¯Or something...a little bit weaker...um.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯HEH!¡¯¡¯ Amare flinched for a moment. ¡®¡¯Aren¡¯t you also an idiot? Hehehehe!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Ahh, bad manners. Go on, don¡¯t mind me.¡¯¡¯


    Amare found the giant rather warm than a mocking man...person. This other old friend of Jackson carried quite a calming smile when he had the chance, and an air around him that felt safe to approach. While it might have been delusional, Amare thought, he had a hunch that they knew more about each other down the surface.


    ¡®¡¯At my old home¡ª¡¯¡¯ Amare stared at the scenery. ¡®¡¯These types of breezes, winds, were quite common. Especially near our farm. My father would carry me through our crops at the morning to the riverbed of our village. I wouldn¡¯t help much, my mother would do, and when she was pregnant to my sibling she retired for some time.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Then, after plowing for a few minutes, I would escape to my friends¡¯ side¡ª they would do the same as well...but that was not much of an escape. I¡¯m sure our parents allowed it, else we wouldn¡¯t be able to act that free.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Were you all also farmers like ours?¡¯¡¯


    Amare nodded. ¡®¡¯Everyone was; my family wasn¡¯t an exception.¡¯¡¯ He stopped for a moment, scratching his head to remember where he left off.


    ¡®¡¯River, um...¡¯¡¯ Amare took another deep breath. ¡®¡¯We liked to swim after running away, but most of the day we slept at the wet slope declining to the river. The smell was sweet like here...and, well, when the first person woke up, they would get others up as well. We would wash our dizziness and the mud, fold our clothes on top of a stone, then leap into the water to have fun.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I used to swim well then, but it has been too long...¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯What is there to it? You can relearn anytime.¡¯¡¯ said Kelbor. He also seemed to have no concerns for startling Jackson up. ¡®¡¯But if you don¡¯t know now...what did you guys do at the spring?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I just stood on my feet.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯On your feet?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I...I tried to brave through...but, I couldn¡¯t. And I feel weaker as well.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Then,¡¯¡¯ Kelbor smiled. ¡®¡¯Let¡¯s teach you how to swim until Jackson¡¯s feet get better. You¡¯ll be here for a while after all.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Ah, no¡ª¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯No? What no? You, here, aren¡¯t you free?¡¯¡¯


    Amare froze in the face of the question. As if to escape, he looked left and right, and he gazed up and down. He glanced at the cleaved up middle of the mountain, to the bizarre wind flowing through it, to the shaking branches of the tree, and to the green leaves rustling on them.


    It all made his eyes weary and hot, so he had to cover them for a moment.


    ¡®¡¯Yeah, I am...¡¯¡¯

 Fourth Chapter

    ¡®¡¯Is everything ready?¡¯¡¯


    Kelkut tipped the straw hat off his head and looked down. He held giant-sized farm equipment¡ªa pair of hoes, one large and two smaller shovels¡ª and on his shoulders hung bags of seeds, At his back, where Amare could see from the corner of his eyes quite fine, he carried a plough. The blades of it trembled in the wind, yet did not even leave white marks on his skin.


    ¡®¡¯Yeah! Oh, wait¡ª their bags!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I¡¯ve got them, son, you need not worry.¡¯¡¯ Jackson chuckled.


    Kelbor gave a glare to his son, then a glance to Amare and Jackson on his either shoulders. ¡®¡¯Then let¡¯s go.¡¯¡¯


    Riding on the shoulders of a giant, together with tools that indicated for what intention they departed, Amare watched his surroundings. It seemed that the giant father and son duo had no intention to look at their farm these past few days; so what spurred them forth to take a quick look became apparent to him.


    While he felt embarrassed about it, there also bloomed a seed of happiness in his heart. After coming into this world, after years of...that, this would be the second thing he awaited with anticipation.


    First was, of course, meeting with Jackson.


    Unlike the other paths they took, Kelbor led them down the slope to the ravine between the cleaved mountain. A pair of red-leaved trees waved their branches back and forth at the entrance; the same sweet breeze washed over them.


    Passing by the smooth curves around the entrance, Amare gazed at the darkness swirling inside. From the first moment they arrived here, he felt there was something ominous about this...place, this darkness. From afar, it seemed to be the foulest of things he saw until now, but when stepped in¡ªover the shoulders of Kelkut¡ª he realized it was nothing alike.


    One step outside, it was the blackest of everything; one step inside was a brilliance.


    Like a steep cliff,  a road blinded by blue and silver glows declined to the ground, snaking through boulders and moss and mushrooms of both colors. The path climbed up, then, and rose and twirled to a half-visible gold light.


    The breeze also came from there.


    Kelbor and Kelkut slid down some slippy parts and climbed up some rocky hills. Inside of the mountain proved a most dangerous environment despite its mesmerizing outlook, but not being the one to brave through them, Amare continued to enjoy the scenery.


    With some shakes and stumbles, the father/son duo walked up to one last layer of the path, and now laid before them the exit. Right next to the gold light seeping inside the darkness, Amare heard a sound.


    Gurgling.


    ¡®¡¯Oh, I can hear the river.¡¯¡¯ Jackson said.


    Amare looked left, saw the neck of Kelkut obstructing his view, and nodded to himself. ¡®¡¯Me...too.¡¯¡¯


    Kelkut nodded as well, Kelbor gave a soft snort. He led them again and walked through the wide gap between.


    The scene from here was, Amare had noticed right away, acutely similar to the front of their house. There was another wooden hut, a long dirt road pushing forward to fields of vegetables and wheat, and at its end were sparse trees shadowing a place.


    There was a gravestone, and beside it stood piles of red roses.


    *********


    ¡®¡¯That¡¯s my mother,¡¯¡¯ said Kelkut. His father had taken up everything and told them to sit in the shade of the trees, next to the grave of the deceased giant, while he tended the garden. Though Kelkut still had a shovel with him laying in his arms.


    ¡®¡¯...mm,¡¯¡¯ Amare nodded. He had no intention to ask anything about her. It felt...a little disturbing to do.


    ¡®¡¯Y¡¯know, she was quite angry,¡¯¡¯ Kelkut continued. ¡®¡¯Think of my father, but like a dozen times angrier. She always beat and berated me, and she did the same to my father.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Don¡¯t think he is a pushover, though, it''s just that my mother was the best when it came to putting people down.¡¯''


    ¡®¡¯Putting down?¡¯¡¯ Jackson laughed. ¡®¡¯She was burying them, I tell you. The first beating I had here was from her.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Well, master J, she would not hit someone who shouldn¡¯t be done so. You must have deserved it.¡¯¡¯ Kelkut then stopped, then laughed towards Amare. ¡®¡¯Did master J give you any beatings as well? I heard mages his age like to hit their disciples for fun.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯For fun?¡¯¡¯ Amare gave a quick glance to Jackson, then to Kelkut, then to Kelbor picking off weeds from the edge of the farm. ¡®¡¯...once, in the past...uh, I told him I...I would work and not eat.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Ooh,¡¯¡¯ Jackson waved his staff up and down. ¡®¡¯That time? He totally deserved it.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...maybe,¡¯¡¯ Amare nodded. ¡®¡¯He knocked...knocked me in the head with his staff. When it started bleeding...I think he cried?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯BWAWHAHAHAHAH¡¯¡¯ Kelkut started slapping his thighs¡ªthe shockwaves sent their hair fluttering in the air.


    ¡®¡¯Master J, Master J, you cried? You hit, then cried? BWAWHAHAHA; My bad, I am so sorry! But- you need to expect that, you know? You must have expected that!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Well, how would I know? I was old¡ª¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You are old, master J.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...and he suddenly moved forward. What can I do?¡¯¡¯


    Amare looked away for a moment.¡®¡¯...but...you almost fell...¡¯¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯HE FELL!?¡¯¡¯


    Kelkut roared more, then some more again. Amare had no idea what he found so funny, but, for that instance, he felt amused as well. He curved a thin smile, then made it disappear when Jackson coughed twice.


    ¡®¡¯Nothing I can say about that, He always had been a good company, and who am I to give him a beating? He is too precious for that.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Precious, indeed.¡¯¡¯


    Kelkut pressed on Amare¡¯s head with his index finger and gave a pat. ¡®¡¯My mother would not hit him, had they met.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯She bloodies her own child, you expect her to have mercy on mine? She would laugh at you, son.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Just to go against you, she wouldn¡¯t then.¡¯¡¯ Kelkut raised his hand and cast his gaze to the roses at their feet.


    ¡®¡¯But you know, master J, her fists were soft.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...of course.¡¯¡¯


    Jackson gave a pat to the giant with the tip of his staff.  ¡®¡¯You better be as good as her when it comes to swimming.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Ah, I am, but I won¡¯t be teaching him¡ªfather said he would do.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Oh? Since when he is so thoughtful, that old monster.¡¯¡¯


    There was a moment of silence. Then Kelkut laughed again. He looked down at Amare looking away, his ears a tinge of red. ¡®¡¯Master J wasn¡¯t rude, don¡¯t worry about it. Though he really is a shameless guy.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯A mere shameless is not enough,¡¯¡¯ Kelbor arrived beside them at that moment; he laid several pairs of roses on the grave and turned towards them. ¡®¡¯But at least, this guy is not much of an idiot.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Talk no more, you want to hurt your throat?¡¯¡¯


    Kelbor averted his gaze to his son. ¡®¡¯Your sight hurts me alone, now get up!¡¯¡¯ Kelkut took Jackson upon his palm and Kelbor raised Amare to his shoulders. The shade of the straw hats protected them well enough from the sun.


    ¡®¡¯Leave the shovel, we¡¯ll pick it up on the way.¡¯¡¯


    So Kelkut put it next to the grave and started following his father.


    While they moved, Kelbor spoke again.


    ¡®¡¯The river here is quite long; and it tastes queer. Before, we would get our water from here, but thanks to that idiot now we can supply it from our home.¡¯¡¯The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡®¡¯That...that well like thing in the back room?¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It is connected to a well, and that well is connected to the source of this river.¡¯¡¯ Seven pairs of giant steps later, all the while listening to Kelbor, Amare realized they were standing right next to the flowing body of water.


    He looked down at the shimmering blue reflecting the two giants, him and Jackson too blurry to see, and felt a tad bit more aware of his heartbeat. He took a deep breath.


    He released the air in his lungs, and as he did so Father and son duo settled the two men on the ground. They descended, and as they did so the giants started taking their clothes off.


    ¡®¡¯...?¡¯¡¯


    Jackson patted Amare¡¯s back with his staff. ¡®¡¯Pay no mind to them. Look, there.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...but there isn¡¯t anything?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯How come?¡¯¡¯ Jackson raised a brow, looked across the riverbed to the open fields of wild grass and flowers, then once more gazed at Amare. ¡®¡¯You don¡¯t see it?¡¯¡¯


    Amare shook his head and focused on the horizon. Past the sparkling water and the dull yellow laid another set of hills curving into a gate of somesorts, and beyond them a patch of blurry dark and green. His eyes narrowed. He bent over his shoulders, gazing with all his might, but indeed nothing changed.


    Once his moment of silence passed, Jackson sighed.¡®¡¯Oh, we should have your eyes checked back at home.¡¯¡¯ He tilted his neck and looked back to Kelbor. ¡®¡¯What kind of glasses would fit him?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Before deciding that,¡¯¡¯ A milder voice replied, ¡®¡¯What did you even want to show him?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Uh?¡¯¡¯


    Amare took a step back, but it landed on one of those wet, muddy patches of rock near any body of water. He slipped, his lower back jolted in pain, but he let out no yelp.


    ¡®¡¯Don¡¯t be too hasty!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯He is confused, fool, do not scare him further.¡¯¡¯ The manner of speaking, the flowing grey almost as long as his body, and the cracks all over his body indicated that this man, not giant, was Kelbor. The naked one beside him, the exact replica of the man except the hair, then would be Kelkut. But their monstrous height and singular eyes were no longer on display. Now, they had three, all on their forehead, and it seemed they also reached around three meters.


    ¡®¡¯Well, process itself is more grotesque, so good job not looking.¡¯¡¯ Kelkut gave a thumbs up. Kelbor slapped him at his nape, the young ¡®giant¡¯ toppled and rolled on the ground. Dust and his grunts rose at the same time, then ended with a splash.


    ¡®¡¯He...fell?¡¯¡¯


    Jackson shrugged. ¡®¡¯Nothing surprising,¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯We follow after him,¡¯¡¯ Kelbor said and grasped him from the shoulders.


    Amare lost the touch of earth, then his sense of weight. World spu?n around him, and then he realized he had been thrown as well. ¡®¡¯Huh? Whaaaaaaaaa-¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯He is fragile, you know,¡¯¡¯ said Jackson after him.


    Kelbor gave a smirk. ¡®¡¯You help him move anyway.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯That is also nothing surprising, is it not?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Hmph.¡¯¡¯


    *********


    Amare went up and down through the water for a while. Panic gripped him for a moment, then his body moved on its own to stabilize him on the surface. His legs wavering under the calm flow of the river, Amare swirled around to look at Kelkut smiling at him.


    ¡®¡¯I was about to rescue you,¡¯¡¯ said Kelkut, ¡®¡¯But you got used much quicker.¡¯¡¯


    Amare gave a short nod. ¡®¡¯The flow...makes it easier to stay up. It feels nice.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯It is, though being thrown into it does not feel that nice.¡¯¡¯


    While getting used to keeping himself up, Amare saw Kelbor slide down the small slope into the river. Jackson smiled at his back.


    He dove into the water, a splash followed. His shadow trailed under them and went further to the other shore where grew sets of wild flowers and grass. Right as he reached, he lunged out and landed on both feet without any tremble. Droplets fed the nature next to him.


    ¡®¡¯The shores,¡¯¡¯ he said and pointed down, ¡®¡¯¡ªare quite slippery. If you flip and tumble down to hit the rocks, it would be the worst.¡¯¡¯ His three eyes glanced at Kelbor; the recipient turned around and lowered his head to look into the river. ¡®¡¯So it is better to land in the middle.¡¯¡¯


    Amare gave another nod and looked around. Where he floated seemed neither too shallow nor deep, and when he attempted to strike out, his feet touched the hard ground after two steps. The river was quite safe. So he no longer hesitated. He took a glance at Jackson, then at Kelbor who jumped into the waters again, and once he saw no kind of objection started swimming up against the flow.


    The best and worst thing about going against the stream was the fact that he couldn¡¯t move. It helped Amare get used to the movements; how his feet rose and down with wooden sandals, how his arms spat out their strength after several pushes against the water, or how much he held his breath before requiring another one. After all, even if the water was shallow and there were capable people to help him at a moment of danger, if he acted prudent enough he wouldn¡¯t see such possibility.


    Yet, not being able to go further, to feel that sense of advancing across forces opposing him brought a little dissatisfaction. It troubled him, as if he couldn¡¯t breathe fine enough to not burden his lungs.


    But cautiousness came first.


    So he spent a few minutes practicing and testing his young body, and strangely enough felt no exhaustion. As he got used to the strength of the river, he even managed to push a little further. He moved and moved, and then he realized something held him up from his stomach.


    Someone.


    Amare tilted his head to his left to see Kelbor; he held his belly under the water and showed him an uninterested expression.


    ¡®¡¯Practice,¡¯¡¯ Kelbor said.


    Amare knitted his brows for a moment, then relaxed them back in fear of being rude. He shook, shot his head straight to avert eye contact. Then with all his might started advancing. In a moment, he felt nothing under his body, and lo and behold he swam through dozens of meters in a matter of seconds.


    Kelbor, however, caught up with him in a smaller timespan and flashed a smile. ¡®¡¯Being angry helps, too, I suppose?¡¯¡¯


    *********


    For the remainder of the daylight, Amare continued swimming with Kelbor and Kelkut. They raced and dove under to compete in their breathing, and they warred against each other with wide splashes of water; Jackson became an unfortunate victim of one such attack.


    When sun started to set, they readied and left, and Kelbor worked on the fields with his son till the last light extinguished. With their work done and their time none remaining, the group prayed in front of the deceased giant¡¯s grave and departed.


    On the way back, Amare struggled to keep himself awake. His head wobbled up and down. His state wasn¡¯t quite enough to hold himself, so Kelkut carried him in one of his palms, where he succumbed to sleep.


    When he awoke next day, everything seemed blurry in his eyes.


    He stood up from his bedding and gazed at the morning sky outside the giant window. There lingered the shadow of someone obstructing the Sun. He looked around and saw Jackson snoring. He smiled for a moment, and when he turned to face the outside a loud knock shook the glass. Amare dropped his lips.


    He saw Kelkut¡¯s gigantic singular eye¡ªthey had transformed back, it seemed. With giant fingers he gave a wave, then disappeared from his sight with a yelp. But considering the distance, the yelp might as well have been a roar of its own.


    When another smile lit up on his face, Amare felt...blank.


    He felt different. There was something inside him, a thing he had no familiarity with¡ªor something someone ripped out a long time ago.


    He had expectations towards who would come through that door right now; what they would say, what they would do, and what they might bring into his life.


    Was he...hopeful?


    If he could guess without restrictions or minding a man, then he was. He felt hopeful. He felt cheery.


    Like the last months of his former life.


    There, he turned to look back at the snoring old man, shuffling in his blanket under the warm sunlight. His body had always been sensitive to the slightest cold, and it seemed to remain the same.


    The small smile on Amare¡¯s face grew wider when Jackson started picking his nose.


    In the two instances of his life that he felt happy, this man was there to bring it. So no matter what, he would do the same. Whether through danger, through despair, or through pain; all of which he braved through, he would do again for this man.


    That was what his heart told him so.


    ¡®¡¯I will...I will pay it back.¡¯¡¯


    When the half-moons on his knuckles started shining silver, the door to the outside creaked open. In stepped two giants, one cheerful and other boorish¡ªJust like their names.


    ¡®¡¯Amare, look, I brought this...¡¯¡¯


    *********


    Like the past two days they had their meals, relaxed outside the house, and slept through the night under the watch of many ghosts and wild owls. On the morning of his fifth day in this new life, Amare and Jackson gathered their very little belongings and a rather sizable amount of gifts from the giant father and son.


    Parcels of fluffy white clouds spread out in the blue sky towards the horizon when Kelbor gave him a pat on the head.


    ¡®¡¯Listen to him frequent,¡¯¡¯ said Kelbor. ¡®¡¯He might be a fool and an idiot, and also too selfless for his interest, but he knows the best for you and himself still.¡¯¡¯


    Jackson adjusted his hat and dangled its veil in front of his face. ¡®¡¯You flatter me now?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I know you like I know my son,¡¯¡¯ He snorted. ¡®¡¯And you know that is no praise at all. But...¡¯¡¯


    His gaze slid to his left, and his arm followed with a thud. His left arm wrapped around the shoulder of his son and forced him onto his chest. ¡®¡¯You are both the same. You will do good, and under you he will do good.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯I believe in your judgment and conscience well enough after all these years, I assume. All the acts you did and words you said with us...a quarter of those alone suffices to make him a great man like you.¡¯¡¯


    Kelbor released his son and this time patted both of them in the head.


    Jackson showed a smile and grasped his staff tight. ¡®¡¯I¡¯ve learned from the best, of course I will make him into a great man.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Then,¡¯¡¯ Here Kelbor, with Kelkut, gazed at Amare. ¡®¡¯You are free to come back here anytime. I doubt you will outlive me and my son. So there is a spot here for you¡ªbut you will need to work.¡¯¡¯


    Amare gave a strong nod. He clutched onto the handles of the satchels at his back, then looked at Kelkut in the eye.


    ¡®¡¯I¡ªwe will visit again.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You better do,¡¯¡¯ Kelkut smiled.


    ¡®¡¯Then,¡¯¡¯ Jackson waved his staff, and a long stretch of green light enveloped both of them. ¡®¡¯Farewell, old friend, son.¡¯¡¯


    Amare saw Kelbor open his mouth, stop, then smile at them with a glare accompanying along the way. Then his vision expanded onto an endless sea of blue and white. The sound echoed a second later, and it boomed so loud in his ear that he felt like vomiting from the shock. A deep cold hit his face.


    Shivering and trembling for a moment, He looked to his left. Jackson¡¯s hand wrapped around his shoulder, and his staff on the other hand cloaked by whirlwinds of green, they stood above the ground thousands of meters in the sky.


    The chill, the tremble, and the nauseous feelings all went away with another flash of green.


    All left in his vision was the soothing light of the half sphere at the horizon and the blue sky stretching to touch its brilliance.


    And he, like the clouds scattered all around, could now begin to float towards his new life under the light of hope.


    ¡®¡¯Welcome back, old friend.¡¯¡¯

 Epilogue-1

    In the flourishing streets of the Lore Kingdom¡¯s capital Kilan, the breeze from the sea came quite salty today.


    Leonardo, fit into a black suit and a grey jacket over his shoulders, came before a shouting paper boy.


    ¡®¡¯Oh, mister Leo! Fancy to see you around again, you are back from the frontier?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Indeed,¡¯¡¯ Leonardo said. His hair had only grown a fair bit after shaving it in the frontier division, so anyone that saw him could guess when he came back. ¡®¡¯Armistice news should be in the latest issue as well, I assume?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯No, this is a special one!¡¯¡¯ Paper boy presented the paper in his hands, stopped, then took out a fresh one from his large brown satchel. The texture retained some of its heat.


    ¡®¡¯Oh? Why so?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Look! Look! It is at the first page¡ªActually, the whole issue was reserved for this event!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Then excuse me for a moment, I¡¯ll find myself somewhere to rest.¡¯¡¯ Leonardo took out a silver denar from the front pocket of his suit and put in the hand of the paper boy.


    ¡®¡¯See you later Mister Leo!¡¯¡¯


    Leonardo gave a backhanded wave and walked across the plaza, clutching the newspaper tight between his fingers. The title he saw from the corner already gave him an idea about what it was.


    ¡®¡¯Two years of mourning ends!¡¯¡¯


    Shuffling between the crowd of well-looking nobles alike him and merchants from the guild bank up the Golden Hill, he reached to the Fountain Square where, as it was named, a huge fountain stood at the center. He gazed at the golden color of the water for a moment, then approached an old lady reading the paper sitting on a bench.


    ¡®¡¯May I sit, madam?¡¯¡¯


    The lady slid a little to the corner and gestured. ¡®¡¯Of course, don¡¯t mind me.¡¯¡¯


    Giving an appreciative smile Leonardo settled down, crossed his legs, and leaned his back to the cold wood.


    He took a deep breath, then rolled open the front page.


    ¡®¡¯Two years of mourning ends!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯After the death of his mentor, the Archmage J Goldsmith, Amare A. Goldsmith climbs up the highest peak of the world!¡¯¡¯Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡®¡¯Accompanied by our group from the Association Of History, the disciple of the Martyr Archmage Saint J. Goldsmith started his pilgrimage to the King¡¯s Jaw two years ago after the battle of Four Saints. He carried the ashes of his mentor from the eastern tip of the Elven Forest Of Serenity, through the Islands Of Exiles, and the barren wilderness of the Aeon Empire. The painstaking journey, filled with many hardships and setbacks, is now complete!¡¯¡¯


    A realistic image of the Amare holding a golden urn was drawn onto the rest of the page. The lights of the sun licked his back and his gigantic shadow seemed to cover the members of the association gathered around him. There was the Vice-president Jonathan Chasterunner, who had been long friends with the Saint, the Main Consultant of the association Jeanne Drywood, an Elven historian who raised the Saint from his childhood like her own child, and there...


    When he identified everyone in the group, Leonardo continued to read. List of the names, professions, and the personal history between each individual and Saint Archmage continued to fill the pages at the back. There were words from them, heartfelt and humorous memories, as well as lessons the Saint left them with.


    But at the front of the last page, there was one single line.


    ¡®¡¯For another warm welcome¡ªAmare A. Goldsmith.¡¯¡¯


    Leonardo stared at the line for a long time; those who knew what he meant numbered only four, and now that the Saint was gone, it had been reduced to three.


    He sighed and swiped a tear from the corner of his eye.


    ¡®¡¯Finally over, isn¡¯t it?¡¯¡¯ The old lady sighed as well. ¡®¡¯May he rest with all gods above and below.¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯...Yes, madam, may he rest with all gods above and below.¡¯¡¯


    Leonardo gazed at the sky. He had a weird gleam in his eyes, but it showed no sign of awareness. After some time, when he heard the old lady yelp, his attention returned.


    ¡®¡¯What happened, madam?¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯The back page says they are on the way. Where to though? I can¡¯t help but be curious.¡¯¡¯


    He also flipped the page and looked at the last part.


    ¡®¡¯The whole entourage is now back on track, and many await their return; especially our fuming president...¡¯¡¯


    After skimming through the usual president demeaning jokes section Leonardo stood up. He gave a polite farewell with his hand on his chest to the old lady and left towards his house at the top of the three-layered city.


    When he came near, he saw a man standing right in front of his gates. He looked all dusty and battered, clothes ripped and torn, and so was naturally being told off by his estate¡¯s guards.


    But when he turned back, in contrast to the sorry sight his appearance gave, he carried a huge, beaming smile. His eyes sparkled like stars. Their gazes met at that moment.


    They looked at each other for a second, then ran towards each other in a mad sprint.


    ¡®¡¯Ame!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯Leo!¡¯¡¯


    ¡®¡¯You two big idiots!¡¯¡¯


    A woman descended between them from the balcony of the estate right before their collision.


    ¡®¡¯My lady!¡¯¡¯


    Their sudden fight truly was an act unbecoming of nobles like themselves.


    But it was only appropriate for friends from the same earth.