Inside the mountain

A Night Unfinished by Fate: The Old Man’s House

Time: Night. The samovar boils, stars glitter in the sky.

Mood: Warm and slightly shy atmosphere.

Tired, Moris and Aurora arrive at the old man’s house. A dog sleeps near the door. On the table: simple village food and steaming tea. The soft bubbles of the samovar fill the room with a nostalgic warmth. The old man pours tea. Moris and Aurora sit across from each other. Their eyes meet from time to time — Aurora blushes and looks away, while Moris smiles faintly.

The old man gently breaks the silence:

Old Man: “So, children… how long have you been married?”

Aurora almost chokes on her tea. She blushes, nearly dropping her cup.

Aurora (to herself): “Married? Us…?”

Moris (calmly): “Sir, we… are not married.”

The old man blinks in surprise.

Old Man: “Eh?! But you walk around like newlyweds! When a young man travels with a girl, I, at least, assume something…” (he drifts into an old love tale).Aurora giggles and secretly pinches Moris under the table.

Aurora (whispering): “If we stay two more days, he’ll ask why we don’t have children yet.”

Moris: “Let’s leave before then.”

One Room – Two Pillows

After supper, the old man leads them to a small room. An old bed. Two pillows. One blanket.

Old Man: “Both of you are wounded. Rest here tonight. There’s no other free room.”

Aurora smiles:

Aurora: “One room, huh?”

The old man shrugs:

Old Man: “You may not be married, but in our time, people shared hay without complaint!”

Without another word, he leaves.

Awkward Silence

Inside the room, Moris stands by the window.

Moris: “I’ll sleep on the floor.”

Aurora: “No. If we share the bed, nothing will happen. A hard bed is better than a cold floor.”

They lie down on opposite sides of the bed, facing away from each other.

Nighttime Dialogue

Aurora (whispering): “Is this your first time in a room with a girl?”

Moris: “…No… I mean… yes.”

Aurora: “So even scientists have weak spots, right?”

Moris: “This… this is just another kind of experiment.”

They both fall silent.

Sleep

Outside, the dog barks. Stars twinkle overhead.

Aurora turns slightly toward him.

Aurora: “Thank you, Moris… for everything.”

Moris (whispering): “If we’re alive in the

 morning, then you can thank me.”And so, the night passes.In the morning, Moris and Aurora thanked the old man and asked what neighboring kingdom was nearby. The old man thought for a while, stroked his beard, and said:

— The closest land here is the Kingdom of Mendol. But one warning, children. Their language is different. If your path takes you there, you’d better know their tongue, right?

At that moment, something unexpected happened: Aurora simply smiled and said confidently:

— I know that language.

Moris raised his eyebrows in surprise.

— Really? You actually know the language of that kingdom?

Aurora sighed lightly.

— My father once traded in that land. Since childhood, I learned their tongue from him, — she explained.

Moris shook his head with a smile.

— Aurora… it seems I can expect anything from you.

The Old Man’s Warning

The old man offered them his old map and pointed to a section with his finger.

— Don’t let your road lead you to this forest. Elves live there. If you step into their territory, it will be difficult to come out alive, — he warned.

Moris asked in surprise:

— Elf?.. Who are elves, anyway?

The old man and Aurora both looked at him in disbelief.

— You really don’t know?! – they both exclaimed at once.

The old man began to explain:

— Elves are a race different from humans. Though they resemble us, their ears are long and pointed. They live in complete harmony with nature.

Scene Shift

The narration suddenly changed, showing a distant, dense forest. In the shadows of the trees, the silhouettes of elves appeared, bows drawn and ready.

Moris thought to himself:

“Before, it was hard to amaze me… But this world surprises me with something new every day.” 

Farewell

Moris sincerely thanked the old man. The old man smiled.

— Don’t mention it. If your path ever passes by again, be sure to visit.

Moris and Aurora stepped outside and got into the Monster Truck – Bison.

Aurora winked playfully.

— If you drive like yesterday again, I’ll be upset.

Moris placed a hand on his heart.

— At your service, Princess of Sweets, — he said, starting the engine.

Bison roared and rolled onto the road. Moris glanced at the map, set his course, and headed toward the Kingdom of Mendol.

Mendol Border

After traveling long through the forest, Moris and Aurora finally reached the border of the Mendol Kingdom. They parked Bison a little distance away and got out.

At the border stood armored knights lined up in formation. Their helmets covered their eyes, and in their hands gleamed long poleaxes. At first glance, their armor was clearly different from the Ostanian knights’ — heavier and more defensive.

A reception officer stepped forward and greeted them in a language similar to English. Aurora answered him in the same tongue.

The officer said:

— Papyres, preez. (Show your permit papers.)

Aurora hesitated, unsure what to say. She wore only a simple long white dress. After leaving the prison, she had no documents.

The officer repeated himself, demanding the permit again.

Moris asked uncertainly:

— What is he saying?

Aurora whispered anxiously:

— We can’t pass without a permit…

The officer’s brows furrowed, and his voice grew harsher.

— No papyres, no entri! (If you have no papers, you shall not enter!) — then turned to the knights: — Teyk dem! Take these two away!

The knights began to approach when suddenly a commanding voice rang out:

— Stop!

From a decorated carriage, a middle-aged man with blond hair, a fine beard, brown eyes, and rich clothing stepped down. He walked firmly toward the officer and said:

— Why are you being rude to my guests?!

Aurora looked at his face in surprise and recognized him immediately. It was Leonardo, the merchant who used to take chocolate directly from her.

The officer stammered and bowed.

— Forgive me, Master Leonardo, I didn’t notice…

Leonardo smiled and greeted Aurora.

— Madam, I never expected to meet you here. What brings you to this place?

Aurora replied a little sadly:

— I moved to this kingdom. I faced some hardships, my business collapsed. Now I want to begin a new life.

Leonardo’s face lit up.

— Miss Aurora, it is a great honor for our land to welcome someone like you. Today I wish to have you as my honored guest. If you need help, I will gladly extend my hand.

Meanwhile, Moris stood completely puzzled, not understanding a word, since the two of them were speaking in that English-like language.

Leonardo glanced at Moris.

— And who is this gentleman?

Aurora answered:

— This is my friend. He came to see me off.

Leonardo nodded appreciatively.

— That is good. Then he must be a close friend.

Aurora smiled.

— Of course.

Leonardo extended his hand and said in the foreign tongue:

— Pleased to meet you, sir!

Moris looked confusedly at Aurora. She laughed.

— He just said “Pleased to meet you.”

Moris shook his hand.

— My name is Moris. I’m pleased to meet you too. Please take care of Aurora. From the way you two talk, it seems you’ve known each other for a long time.

Aurora translated his words. Leonardo replied confidently:

— Don’t worry. I will personally look after Miss Aurora.

Aurora turned to Moris.

— Perhaps you should stay with us too?

Moris shook his head.

— No, I still have many unfinished tasks. I cannot stay here.

Aurora fell silent for a moment, her eyes welling with tears.

— Then I forbid you to die. Wherever you go, stay safe.

Moris smiled warmly.

— As you wish, Princess of Sweets.

Aurora got into Leonardo’s carriage. Before leaving, she waved her hand at Moris. He raised his hand and waved back.

And so, their paths diverged: Moris to Ostania, Aurora to Mendol.

Into the Forest

After parting with Aurora, Moris headed toward the forest. As night fell, he stopped near a thick grove and settled down. The silence of the dark woods was broken only by owls and other nocturnal birds.

Suddenly, through the dense bushes, the figure of a deer appeared. Moris drew his revolver, aimed carefully, and shot it down. After the deer fell, he skinned it, cut the meat, and roasted it over the fire. The warmth spread through the forest, mixing the smell of smoke and roasted meat.At that moment, near a cliff, he noticed something strange. A pale light flickered in the darkness. Looking closer, he saw — a glowing white tiger! Its eyes burned like fire, reflecting the moonlight. The tiger stared at Moris, crouching low, preparing to strike.

Sensing the danger, Moris calmly reloaded his revolver, lowering his arm. Suddenly, the tiger lunged from the bushes, charging at him. At that instant, Moris slid aside and fired two shots at its legs.

The tiger roared in pain and fell, unable to move. Moris approached cautiously. The beast bared its fangs, its eyes filled with hunger and rage.

Moris hesitated. He raised his gun to the tiger’s head and said softly:

— Forgive me… But such is the law. You searched for food, and I must protect my own.

But then, a strange feeling surged in his heart. The tiger’s glowing body, its unusual beauty and weakened state, stirred his curiosity. Moris smiled faintly, lowering his weapon.

— But sometimes… the law can be changed.

He bandaged the tiger’s wounds and tied them up. Then he cut a piece of deer meat and tossed it to the beast. The starving animal hesitated, then began to eat. Moris sat by the fire and ate the rest himself.

Thus, man and beast sat together by the same fire, sharing the meal.

When the food was gone, Moris sighed.

— We’ve eaten… Now let’s sleep.

At that moment, a strange voice echoed in his mind.

— Hey… human…

Moris flinched and looked around. But there was only the whispering forest, twinkling stars, and the faintly glowing tiger.

He muttered in astonishment:

— Where did that voice come from? I clearly heard “Hey, human,” but there’s no one here… Could I be going schizophrenic?

The voice came again:

— Hey, I’m talking to you. Look!

Moris turned sharply toward the tiger and whispered in shock:

— Was that you? Did you speak?

Though the tiger’s mouth didn’t move, the voice echoed clearly in his mind:

— Yes, me. But I can only communicate with humans through thought.

Moris paused.

— Telepathy? But why didn’t you speak earlier?

The tiger seemed to breathe deeply.

— I dislike humans. But you are different. In a hundred years, I’ve never met anyone like you. You healed me and even shared your food. For that, I am indebted to you. From now on, I will stay by your side as your companion.

Moris smiled faintly.

— There’s no need to feel indebted. It was just a simple act.

The tiger’s voice echoed again:

— No. I cannot live while owing someone. Allow me to remain by your side. I can be of help to you.

Moris shrugged with a smile.

— Alright, if that’s what your heart wants. An extra companion never hurts.

He thought for a moment and asked:

— Call me Moris. And what is your name?

The tiger’s eyes gleamed.

— Humans and other races call me the “Leviant Tiger.” But I have no personal name. If you give me one, I will accept it.

Without hesitation, Moris said:

— Then your name shall be Rocky.

The white tiger’s heart warmed.

— Thank you, Moris. From now on, you are my master. I will obey any command you give.

Moris chuckled.

— That’s enough. Come on, let’s sleep. We set out tomorrow.

The tiger lay down beside him, and together they closed their eyes in the stillness of the night forest.