Chapter 6: Yex

You smack into the ground only to immediately gasp for air the next second. Shrieking wails pierced the air and soon chants chimed into your very soul. Time seemed to be like a roller coaster, thrusting you in all sorts of directions and intense emotions. The whirlwind suddenly ends and you blink your eyes open, albeit a bit blurry, to see a dim light.

You try squinting, maybe understand what was happening, what the light is, what the chanting is, where you are. Unfortunately, you are only met with darkness with vague shapes and a sense of unease mixed with an underlying sense of freedom. Not in the sense that comes with liberalism, no, to you, this felt more like the freedom of open-air nature.

Your cries shrink into a murmur and a gargle. You didn’t even recognize the fact that your lungs are currently aching, instead, you try chasing that scent, that waft of freedom you so long for. A small giggle escapes your lips as a strange animalistic cry echoes over the chanting, giving you a sense of exhilaration. An adrenaline rush unlike you’ve ever felt.

But just as it came, your euphoria comes crashing down, giving way to an uncertain darkness. It is uncomfortable. You feel uncomfortable. Prickly, all consuming, unforgiving. A deep void either trying to break out or devour you from within.

Light filters through your eyelids and you blink your eyes open. A few years have passed, enough to the point where you’ve learned the language and you're just about to be taken out for the Trial. You’ve been excited about this ever since your parents excitedly told you all about their trials and how life changing it was, but the dream holds you back just a little. It was a dream you’ve had several times now, but just like before, you try your best to push it down. To keep it away from your life here and now.

“Aha! I greet you Yex of the Untrialed. Are you ready for the biggest day of your life?” Santil puts their arm around you in a friendly manner. Santil was older by just a few years, meaning they'd done the trial already and was given the role of Cultivator.

“Ehe…I greet you too, Santil of the Cultivators. I don’t know anymore. I was excited, but now it kind of hit me.” You say, almost anxiously. You chuckle awkwardly, feeling kind of self-conscious.

“Bah, you will do great. It’s really not that difficult, you’ll see. Keep to the Cycle, Untrialed!” Santil pushes you forwards towards the direction of the Trial before disappearing.

You limp forward, trying to regain that confidence you know you have, but that dream keeps you from ignoring life’s troubles. So instead, you stubbornly refuse to quit. To be in the moment, you reason, is a good way to get rid of the past.

You walk a well worn trail down past tall gnarled trees, each filled with their own personality and life. Nestled in the undergrowth lay the half dug, half built huts that they all lived in. That the Guardians of the Cycle live in. That Yex lived in.

It was quite unlike where you lived in your other life, where you lived half in the forest, but still a part of civilization. Here, civilization was in the forest. Everything coexisted with one another in a great harmonious Cycle. The very Cycle that the tribe you were born into swears to uphold and protect until you fulfill your own Cycle. It’s a fun idea, you muse, beneath the canopy. But there is no point in ruminating, you finally conclude.

“I greet you, Yex of the Untrialed.” You look up from your ponderings to see the tribe’s elder.

“I greet you, Ilonto of the Elders.” You dip your head in slight reverence that is in accordance with custom.

“Hmph.” Ilonto nods approvingly to your parents who are watching from the sidelines. They smile with pride. “Before the Trial, Yex of the Untrialed, a single question is asked of you. Are you ready?”

Heeding the warnings that you’ve heard, you reply with honesty. “I don’t know.”

“And thus the Cycle hears you. Step forth, Yex of the Untrialed.” You stepped forth to a line Ilonto had drawn into the dirt. “Past the crooked bough of the gin tree, a leaf holds seeds. Until you bring me a seed, the Cycle sees you, Yex of the Untrialed. You may begin.”

Slightly confused, but not questioning it, you dart forward. The ground seemed to fly underneath you as you hopped and bounded over branches and rocks. It was exhilarating, but you have a job to do.

It wasn’t too difficult to spot the gin tree with its strange looking branches. Easier still was to find an emptied clearing made by wild animals. In the middle of that clearing was a rock jutting out from the loosened soil, on top of which was the leaf with seeds in it.

You check the loose soil and conclude that it’s safe to step on, but you do it nevertheless with care and precision. Hastiness can lead to mistakes and mistakes can lead to injury.

Without much difficulty, you ease up to the rock. What surprises you though was the varied amount of seeds in the leaf. All sorts, ranging from small and colorful to large and quite bland to look at. Unsure of what to choose, you grab the largest before making your way out of the clearing.

Tracing your steps, albeit slower this time, you make your way back to the place where Ilonto and your parents are waiting. A sense of relief washed away all doubts at how absurdly easy the Trial turned out to be. A small laugh slipped past before you manage to stuff it back down and try to present yourself stoically in front of Ilonto.

“I greet you, Ilonto of the Elders. I present to you the seed I have chosen.” You dip your head again before extending both hands outward and flat upwards, in the middle, the seed you chose.

“I see you, Yex of the Hunters. I congratulate you on your performance and the Cycle’s Trial has deemed you worthy of a title.” Ilonto harrumphs again before shuffling off, leaving your arms extended with seed still in palm.

You feel a little foolish, but your parents ecstatic celebration distracts you almost immediately. They proclaim with sparkling eyes your new title and hug you and ruffle your hair. It’s nice, being hugged and comforted. You would have enjoyed it even more were it not for the dream.

“Come on, Yex of the Hunters.” Xin, your biological mother, pulls by your arm back to the main encirclement of huts. “Let us celebrate your new title!”

“Haha. Best not to fight it, Yex of the Hunters. You know how Xin of the Hunters gets when they’re like this.” Fallhij, your biological father, grins as they walk behind you and Xin.

It definitely took some time getting used to, how the tribe functioned and their ideals back when you first reincarnated. It still confuses you, but you’re trying. That’s all you can really do in a situation like this. Try. Try to make the best of the cards you’ve been dealt.

You try to keep the smile up, to forget about the bad things. You’re not sure how successful you are, but it didn’t matter, it turned out. When the three of you arrived back at the main encirclement, a large gathering of tribespeople, of all designations, were clustered near the middle. Confused, you look up at Xin. They looked excited too and pulled you in closer.

“It’s the king from the Kingdom! He has been considered a friend of the Guardians of the Cycle for many a Cycle. This is good tidings! Both my child’s Titlement and the king.” Xin giggled cheerfully and pulled you along with a strength and speed that only Hunters are known for. A far cry from Fallhij, whose soft hands and mannerisms reflected their Cultivator title.

As you get closer you start to make out conversation. “...good tidings this Cycle, Runsi of the Elders?”

“The predictions prove a long storm coming on the horizon, Kail of the Kings. But I have faith that we shall survive.”

“My deepest and sincerest hopes for the Guardians of the Cycle, please accept them.” You watch astonished as this supposed king deigned to bow to the tribespeople. You have no idea what the relationship is between this king and the tribe, but you definitely know that this would not have happened had you still been on Earth.

“Keep to the Cycle, Kail of the Kings. We accept your kindheart, we offer our deepest and sincerest hopes in kind. Please accept them.” Runsi then bowed to which the supposed king smiled warmly.

“Keep to the Cycle, Runsi of the Elders.” His echo brought great cheer to the other tribespeople, including Xin. You lightly shrug off her hand and slip away, unsure of what was happening. Luckily, you see that Fallhij was sitting by themself on a rock. They seemed content enough that you decided you could probably use that contentment.

“I greet you, Yex of the Hunters. Is something bothering you?” You had to smile at that. Fallhij had this comforting fatherly aura that you could just…be in. That both of you would accept each other as is without much backlash or unwanted questions.

“I greet you, Fallhij of the Cultivators.” You sigh, even after all this time, these greetings were getting kind of wearisome. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to start a conversation without such a greeting. “I don’t know. I’m tired I guess.”

“Just Titled tribespeople do get tired around this age. It is perfectly normal.” Fallhij smiled amicably.

“I guess.” You fall quiet for a bit, then pointed in the general direction of the king. “Is he really the king of the Kingdom?”

“Yes.” A small frown now graced his lips. I ran through my head what I said, then inwardly cringed at the word ‘he’. At least it was Fallhij, other tribespeople would’ve taken offense on his behalf.

“Oh.”

Silence. You start to feel awkward. Unsure of what to do, you start moving a rock around with your bare hardened feet. Just as you were about to make an imaginary goal, a shadow loomed over the ground. You look up and blink in surprise to see the king. Up close, he definitely looked quite handsome, but you could see the intelligence behind his eyes. You feel somewhat impressed, even if it is still somewhat confusing.

“I greet you, Yex of the Hunters. I hear from Xin of the Hunters that you are their child and you just got Titled. I offer my congratulations, please accept them.” The king then bowed again, sweeping you off your feet again. Luckily though, perhaps it was because you saw it earlier, but you recovered enough to reply.

“Ah…I greet you, Kail of the Kings. I…eh, I accept your congratulations. I offer my welcome in kind, please accept it.” You bow too, your brain running on autopilot, basically copying whatever Runsi had done earlier.

“I accept your welcome.” The king then chuckled warmheartedly. “I’ve had many pleasantries with Xin in the past. I was quite surprised to hear that they had a child.”

I gaped and looked up, incredibly confused and a little scared. I looked around but couldn’t find Fallhij anywhere. They probably took their chance and escaped. Dang, leaving me alone. What happened to that warm fatherly aura?

“I apologize if that made you anxious, it was not meant to be like that. In truth, I came over because I saw you looking deeper than anyone your age should be looking.” There was still a warmth in his voice, but there was also a firmness that indicated the king actually cared about you.

“What if…what if I can’t help it. That this darkness just lives on, forever.” You reply, sort of annoyed at this whole situation.

“Of course it will live on forever.” The king laughed a little at your shocked face. “I believe in manifesting the darkness within yourself and bringing it outside. To make your deepest point into your strongest one. I believe that you will understand what I mean one day. Until then, I think I’ll take my leave. I say fare thee well, Yex of the Hunters.” The king bowed again before walking away, slipping past the Tribespeople with practiced ease.

You watch his retreating figure and you contemplate what he said. To bring forth what lies inside. A very curious notion, you surmise. Very curious indeed.