Fixture to Sumemr

With fire they conquered the primal fear

With agriculture they doomed the first mother

Fixture to Summer

As the waves spilled seaweed on the shore, a ship set foot on the white sandy beach of the island nation of Gea.

The marine vessel carried a group of adventurers, whose ship had fallen victim to a deceiving coral riff.

Now, everyone was safe at the docks of the city of Niva, which was located in the far north-east side of the island, huddled between the rocky city of Brim in the north and the forest kingdom in the south and the west.

The rescued group was led by a tall, fit man in his twenties, with bronze skin, with hairs woven from the last stripes of the setting sun, called Ken. Eyes, filled with liquid glass, trapping every color. His chest was filled with warmth, because he knew that an adventure awaited him, another gamble with faith. The real problem was that he had close to no information about where he was.

Fortunately the things he could remember were that in the north the land was conquered by the green colossus jungle, whose greenish pythons had swollen everything. The only thing stopping the invasion of the green void were the granite guardians in the south, who separated the monster jungle and the mountain deserts, home to those living through the dead.

In the southern parts of this island nation, frost had spread across the curve, trying to conquer its way up north only to stop at the porch of the wooden tree behemoths.

But for now we don’t need to know every part of this land, right now, the most important question is where our newly arrived guests could feast.

A few steps away from the dock and into the city, a tavern showed itself, hugged between two stores, one was owned by the local butcher and the other was a family business of local fishermen.

As they came closer, the engraving over the main entrance spelled “The White Spider’’. At first glance, from the outside, the establishment looked quite small, but when the group entered the belly of the beast they were stunned by the sheer number of the folks that were inside. The heads of the many guests floated like leaves on the surface of a river.

At the far end of the room, in its full glory laid the bar. After a few minutes and many shoulder bumps, they finally reached the promised land.

The bar itself was constructed from stone, in case somebody tried to use it for solving a personal issue, of course this kind of an institution was a daily witness to philosophical debates and methods used to find the cardinal truth. For the bright minds of this establishment two things were available on the menu, but don’t be fooled, these delicacies contained everything needed for the prometheus fire to keep burning bright and strong. The first treasure of the local cuisine was fried dirt. The other, was the drink that falls from heaven, blessing for the mere mortals of this realm….

Beer.

After everyone from the group got their wish granted, Kan, the group leader, went to search for a place for his comrades.

As he was trying to adapt to the gloomy lighting, a few people caught his attention, who were going up and down through some stairs, maybe leading to an underground level floor. He made a sign to his people, to follow his lead.

After a few shoulder bumps, the group passed the last step of the stairs leading down. A new world bloomed before their eyes. The floor wasn’t bigger than the upper one. Big stone columns held everything on their shoulders. On the walls were hanging shields, axes, swords and skulls, belonging to since erst extinct creatures, their shadows danced under the light coming from the wall torches .

All kinds of people had conquered the tables, luckily for our friends, some fishers grabbed their glasses leaving a small portion of land unoccupied.

Ken’s group found themselves sitting right next to some pirates. One of the pirates, wearing a big red hat with feathers in every color, poking from it, told everyone that his name was ,,The Laughing Dragon Monkey’’ and another, big as a bear, with blonde vines coming from his head and face, with laughing, presented himself as the ‘‘False King of the Sea’’.

A few sips later the groups merged tables shaking the tavern with their laughter. Ken couldn’t stop smiling after seeing the joy on the faces of his comrades, but he needed some air, so he excused himself.

After many small steps he finally reached the exit. The day had given his playground to the stars, which danced over the small coastal town. The night was asleep, by the song of the moon.

As Ken took out his pipe different curves formed at the distance. After a few glances from Ken, the curves melded into the shape of a small girl.

After his eyes adapted to the darkness, he met the eyes of the girl, big as two moons and green as leaves, who had the glance of a woman, who had just entered womanhood.

Her dress that had lost its pinkish color in the night, hid her small ankles. Ken was not the only one that had been rooted, the girl's eyes were trapped by his charm. He slowly approached her leaning towards her and asked “May I ask, in a warm-less night like these, what a beautiful girl like you, does here?”

With a tremble in her voice, she answered “Nothing mister, I am going home.”

“ Why would such a beauty would take the risk to walk alone at night”

Looking at his eyes while blushing she answered ‘‘This city is very safe even during the night and I… I know my way”

‘‘But then’’ the young, charming man continued ‘‘Aren’t you afraid that some barbaric traveller would exploit this calm night” He added with a little tilt in his head and a hand on chest ‘‘Milady, would you honor me with the possibility to walk your eminence home?”

The little girl used her fingertips to lift her dress in a royal gesture, giving the anticipating man an answer ‘' Sir, I will be delighted”

Ken changed his posture to his normal, giving her assurance that everything will be okay ‘‘Well, shall we depart".

Not even a few meters away from the tavern, the traveler felt the warmth, emitted from the girl next to him. He looked at his new companion, the girl was blushing, trying to hide that she was too shy to talk, but tilting her head just a little to get a glimpse of the man that trapped her consciousness, leaving no space for other thoughts.

The girl knew that this new feeling that fluidized her nervous system was a part of her journey to womanhood. ‘‘Maybe he's the one for me” and then she felt a force on her shoulder.

As she trembled from this unexpected feeling, she turned her head at Ken, already accepting him as her saver, looking to be saved from this, newly materialized danger. She met Ken’s eyes, slowly gliding towards her.

The space between them becomes infinitely small. His hand landed on her shoulder, so also his lips on hers. The outside world didn’t exist. The girl felt every season, every step through the city, every fiber in her being.

Ken continued his advance on her.

As she tried to stop him, he let his primal instincts take control, the girl screamed, trying to break from his grip, but he couldn’t let opportunity to sleep away.

She screamed, started kicking and hitting him, but that only aggravated him more, he forced her on the ground, as he tried to open her legs, a loud bang echoed through the street.

The cadaver of the charming traveler fell right next to the pale girl.

“The girl said stop, you…”this savior was trying to find the right words while holding a wooden plank. ‘‘Are you okay?’’ he asked the little girl, who was shaking on the floor, trying to find the slightest will to stand up.

While helping the victim, her saver saw that Ken's group had already left the bar. He could recognize them, because he was one of the crewmates, who had helped them earlier that day.

As one member was looking for some late night rendezvous he noticed the crumbled body of his captain next to a man holding a plank. He charged at the newly born hero. Of course, following his instinct for self-preservation, the little girl’s rescuer ran as a bat from hell.

He had a whole cavalry trying to conquer his back parts, but these savage primates needed divine intervention to catch the shadow knight, who knew its way in this town.

Luckily for the girl, she was no more in danger, the only thing left for her was to find even the slightest bit of strength to overcome this experience.

As everyone ran, the boiling blood tried to free itself from the boundaries of the flesh, fear and anger filled the air.

A few breaths later, the town disappeared into the night, our hero slowly descended into the palms of forest, which had been sitting calmly, waiting west of this small sea society.

Another step into the night and the prey stopped to make sure that it was safe and everything had calmed down.

Now, under the moonlight that was jumping off the trees' branches, the characteristics of his body became more clear.

This man looked more like a boy who had just entered his early twenties. Slightly above the average height, he had dark hair, long enough to cover his ears. His eyebrows were like two sleeping caterpillars, which were followed by two small charcoal eyes. The face, sharp, lacking any unnecessary fat.

He wasn’t built like a warrior but was fit enough to run for his life.

After his heartbeat slowed a bit, a thought popped into his mind ‘‘That was close, I hope the girl is safe, but now, where am I?” He was local, but he had never ventured in those parts of the forest nor he ever wanted to go in the forest alone.

The feeling that something is following him with its eyes, always played in his head, that he was never truly alone. This feeling of fear led him to choose the sea as his employer.

The lost sailor began to think out loud “I can try to back track my way, but I may make the situation worse, I think I hear the scurrying of water. I am no mountain man but I know that rivers flow in the direction of the coast line, so I just need to find one.

Luckily it is still the middle of summer, so I don’t have to worry about getting cold.

Also I am quite sure that the sun should rise in an hour. I can take my time to make sure that the front is clear.”

***

The first sun spikes pierced the night.

Still looking for his way, our hero found himself in a small part of the forest, shaped like a circle, that was surrounded by stone debris, giving the impression that a long time ago people used to live here.

He wandered around the site, curious what this place was supposed to be.

While looking around, he hit his toe into something hard, like a small rock. Furious, he leaned towards this object and as he was prepared to shoot down the sun with it, he came to the conclusion that this object was quite hefty.

It was a steel cube, big as his hand, with engravings on it.

This new founding made him forget about the pain.

On the ground, close to where this cube had been sitting for years, another had been almost devoured by the mood.

As the young man was reaching for the other cube, noise broke the easiness of the night. His heart skipped a beat ,,It was them’’taught the young man, trying as fast as he could to escape. Second noise followed this sibyl of death.

Man, I am ugly, but so much to run at my sight, that’s too much’’.

Hearing the voice our hero turned around shouting "Damn you Han,” now at peace that the only danger here were his brother's stupid jokes.

“Mac’’ answered his brother, while walking towards him “I hadn’t seen you for three weeks and this is the way you greet me’’

‘‘Oh, I am sorry, it was my mistake that I didn't spread my butt for the predator that lurks in the night ”

“ Yes, I am the predator and one more word and I am gonna sell your white ass as a sex slave to the dwarfs’’ after a , while holding his breath, because he ran all the way here, looking for Mac, Han continued ‘‘Now, I heard you saved some girl, then you fled the crime scene’’

‘‘Yeah, that guy. As a token of gratitude from the crew, that we saved this morning, their ,,captain,, tried to force himself on some little girl.’’ replied Mac, with anger in his eyes.

The two of them were sitting in the centre of this forgotten place.

Han was taller, with strongly developed leg muscles, normal for a sailor as one as him. Under his sailor uniform, he had bronze tanned skin, broad shoulders and short curly hair. He had shaved two days ago, so his small beard underlined his strongly developed face bones, as if was carved out of marble.

‘‘So, my little brother had become the village hero’’

‘‘Oh, please, these people can’t act as if there are no consequences’’ answered Mac, while waving his hand with the metal cube in it.

His brother replied to the sudden movements ‘‘Hey man, easy, please don’t kill me with this’’

Han squinted his eyes, trying to focus on the object ,, Actually what is this, that you are holding?’’

Lifting his hand Ken replied "This? I have no idea’’ giving the strange cube to his brother. ‘‘To be more specific, I found it from there’’ showing his brother where the resting place of this relique was.

There, as was about to be freed moments ago from its mood grave, the other cube lied. Han picked it, brushed the dirt off and took a look.

Both cubes were virtually the same size, material and weight, the only difference were the combinations of the symbols on every side of each cube. On one side there were only straight lines making a cross, while on another side of the same cube the curved lines were forming complex figures, hard to find where one line ends and another starts.

‘‘You know what’’ said Han, "I think grandpa San would know something."

‘‘San, as the old crazy gizzard, muscle leg San’’ said Mac, while looking in disbelief at his brother to what had came out of his mouth said ,,the ,,shaman’’, he continued giggling ’’ the lonely preacher of wisdom’’

‘‘Hey ‘‘ interrupted Han ,,He can be a little crazy, that’s okay, after all he is in his eighties. Han continued with a bit of strictness in his voice’’ Also, don’t jump to conclusions what some one is like only based of what you had heard, he is still a historian and knows about things, long forgotten, that from which we can teach, capiche?’’

‘‘Yes. I am sorry, I will try not to judge a book by its cover’’ answered Mac while looking at his feet and slowly waving his head.

“Okay, let’s go’’ said Han, as he took out his compass, but then Mac asked "Why you didn’t tell me you had come home earlier.’’

‘‘Because, we docked in Nuve around nine and after a few drinks I thought I could just walk off alongside the beach, after all the distance is not that big.

As I entered the village, some folks told me what had happened. I followed the broken saplings and branches and now I am here.

I think the other guys stopped following you when you entered the forest.

Actually, I think that for the most part you had been running in a circle, so we are quite close to the village. Shall we go? ”

As they travelled north-east, headed for the village, Mac couldn’t stop asking his brother about what happened the last three weeks.

“So how many lawbreakers did you catch”

”Not so many, there were these guys…” while Han was scratching his head trying to dig something from his cabinet of memories, suddenly he stopped in his tracks looking excited ”Before that, listen!”

“Four days ago, a fuel powered bank ship, headed for the northern city, just few nenphines from us, was attacked by the ‘’𐀏Crossed Eye Pirates𐀏“ .

Mac couldn't believe his ears ”You mean the same ‘’Crossed Eye Pirates’’ that hijacked a small island and then rammed in to one of the marine’s islands jails”

“The same” replied Han while looking at the expressions his brother made

Mac continued fantasizing ‘’I wonder what kind of skill they have”.

Han hitted Mac slightly on the head ”Aren’t you gonna ask if we were in danger or something of that sort”, while the both of them continued walking

The little brother just brushed the question off ’’There is no need, these guys are good.’’

Han replied, holding his head in disbelief ”Sometimes I forget that you wanted to be a pirate. Yes, that marine ford was led by corrupted individuals , but still” continued with his serious tone ” after all these guys are vigilantes, outlaws. If we let everybody serve their own justice, society as whole will crumble”.

Mac, bored of his brother's speech, interrupted him ‘’Okay, okay, I get it. I just need some small adventure in a god-forgotten place. Like, why did some countries develop engines, electricity, science combined with magic, but…in our village we still use torches for light and fire to keep us warm, not even magic. Can’t we have a little change”

Han, stopped once more, now using his hand to proclaim his idea ”Listen, I understand you, but you need to keep in mind the following. There is change where it is needed.

As an example our village. It hasn’t changed at all because the only thing people do is they wake up with the sun, it doesn’t matter if you are a baker, a fisherman or a shopkeeper or a butcher, there is enough work to make up the following day. After their work is done everyone goes to their home before the sun goes down, eats and sleeps.

That’s it. Villagers know what happens in the outer world but they don’t need to change, because this is the type of life that makes them happy and comfortable.

Do you remember the bobo birds, the round ones with really long legs, that locals from Kobon use to traverse the jungle swamps? I don’t think a bicycle would be useful in this kind of terrain. They use nature itself to survive and adapt according to it, but don’t forget that thanks to the rain’s cycles their generators provide electricity to the whole city.

On the other hand you have the capital city of Himmel where they combine magic and technology. Had you seen the transport systems they use, the cars, the planes and don’t even make me mention that they had created different biomes.

Han became more energized ”If you want to change so badly why don't you go out. You know there is a train station in Loko, quite near from here. You had enough with this place, why you are still here?’’

With his head pointed at the ground Mac answered ‘’You know…, how I am gonna defend myself against some random magic user or even the wolves in…”

// “Ohh, for God sake.” If you wanted it so badly you would have done it. There are plenty of books about magic and the different techniques.

Also for how long I am asking you if you want to come with us when we are sent to do some job.

“But… I am not strong enough” replied Mac while still looking at the ground.

“You know what?” Han stopped for a moment ”get a lot of sleep today and tomorrow you will come with me.”

“But, why?’’ Mac finally lifted his head.

“Because I said so” replied the tanned sailor.

The sun had already shown up in its full glory. The two siblings renewed their walking, while continuing arguing. But in the end, maybe for the better, no matter how long Mac argues with his brother, he always ends up following his lead.

…

The sun was jumping from the rooftops on the nearby tree crowns. After the eastern breeze reassured itself, everyone had already woken up, preparing for their mundane work, the light from the tree leaves bumped into the brothers.

“I am telling you, It is known that mermaids are notorious for getting drunk from the sailor's rum and then starting fights with dolphins.” yelled Mac at his brother

“What do you mean it’s known, I have met mermaids and they all deny it” answered Han, while looking in disbelief at what kind of crap was coming out of his sibling’s mouth.

“Of course, they will deny it, because everyone will understand that they are nothing more than old, fishy old hags”. Mac didn’t back off from his accusations, while both of them entered a small narrow road leading to the village center.

Their shadows curved according to the structure of the houses that our two lunatics had been passing by.

At the end of the road a man, shouting about something, could be heard. “Where are you looking man, with your fake ahh jords and you, ask your baby daddy when he is coming back with the milk, cuse I want some for me tea”. The bench, on which he was seated, was on the back of an old post office and was facing the small road, from where Mac and Han popped up . “And you, don't be very smart and go get some bitches…” continued the crazy man.

“Hey San” Han greeted him ”How is it going?”

“As usual, despising this old body of mine and all crooked bones that inhabit it" said San with a voice almost empty of life.

‘’I am glad you can still talk and walk. Actually, can you help me with something? Have you seen something like this before?” Han showed him the steel cubes.

“Let me take a look. "After a brief moment he said” Unfortunately I don’t know what these things are supposed to be nor can I remember if the locals in these areas use steel cubes for rituals.” San scrubbed his beard, thinking, trying to find something, then he replied Actually can you show this one” pointing, that Mac was holding, while his brother, was trying to open the other, because he taught that maybe this cubes are some sort of puzzle box” Ah, yes, this symbol” pointing to lines forming a cross ”+”.

“What about?” asked the older brother

“Do you know the story about Oho the water spirit?”

“Not sure,” replied Han, lifting his hands “ you Mac, have you herded it?”

Mac did the same gesture as his brother.

“Damn” said the old man while his face wrinkled, because he realized that these two had empty jars for brains "Don't you read books or…you know what, never mind. As I was saying, with this cross in the text version of the story the name of the water spirit, Oho, is written. The story, in short, is about a water spirit that one day while wandering the 11 seas met a fire spirit, after some time a fog spirit was born.”

“Yeah, never heard it,” said Han with an empty expression.

“Same here” answered the younger brother

“Other than that, I cannot tell you anything else. Actually this piqued my interest, so i am gonna take a deep look

“Yeah, thank you for the help,” said Han while covering his yawn. "We are going home, because I need to take my beauty sleep.” added Han.

Have a nice day Mr San” said the both of them while waving at him, as they went further away.

“Keep your self safe, boys” shouted the old man one last time, before he fixed his whole body to face the rising sun, reminiscing about his past and the stories he had heard as a young boy, about worlds ,lost, forgotten and worlds born of forces which cannot be