Visit In The Village

I will try do as Ouranos said – experience things myself. Hmm... How should I start?

Oh! I hear something! What was that sound again... B-birds? Yes, yes, birds. It’s very pleasant sound. When I’m trying to focus on it, it makes me calm as well. I feel smile appearing on my face, when I’m not even trying to smile by myself. Is that what he meant?

We were just few steps from his house.

„Ouranos?”

„Hm?” he turned his head.

„Does hearing things counts as an experience?”

„It does. It’s one of the five senses by which you can experience world. Others are sight, touch, taste and smell. Imagine an object, for example an apple that you’ve eaten earlier.”

„Apple?” I think I know it, but I can’t really remember what it is.

„The red one.”

Aaah! Now I remember. It was so tastyy...

„Ah, okay!”

He suddenly stopped and turned himself towards me.

„So, imagine having this apple in your hand-" something interrupted him; he was looking at something behind me.

„Ouranos?”

„Lower your voice and slowly turn around.” he said that with his voice already lowered, almost like half-whispering.

I did as he said and noticed something not so far from us. By looking at it closer, I’ve found out it was a deer. At least that was my first thought.

„Deer, right?”

„Correct.”

Watching it by my own eyes made me excited. I’ve had some information about deers, but seeing one in front of me...

How is it that it’s just minding its own business and here I am, standing and observing it, and having enjoyment from that? Well, by having look at Ouranos, seems like I’m not the only one.

This deer is really cute. I feel strong urge to touch it, but lightly.

Oh, it saw us and ran. Shame, but it was nice to see it.

„It ran...”

„It’s a wild animal after all, it sees potential danger and runs away.” he said that with his normal voice now. „What do you think?”

„Hm?” I turned to him.

„About your encounter with deer. It is also an experience, isn’t it?”

„Well, I could only observe it from distance... but it was nice.”

„Was it?”

„You were also looking, weren’t you?”

„I was, so what about it?”

I couldn’t find a good answer for that.

„I respect nature, that’s it.”

„Why?”

„... You won’t be able to understand it.” he answered and started moving in original direction.

„Why is that?” I followed him.

„Even if I would tell you, it wouldn’t change anything as you are still not knowing world.”

Again lack of knowledge.

„Everything comes in time, you need to be more patient. I could tell you everything, but that won’t help at all, and what’s more, it could cause damage instead.”

„Why would it?”

„All of the thoughts, feelings, beliefs that you would have, wouldn’t be yours, but mine, because I would share what I have experienced.”

It makes a lot of sense.

„Do you understand what am I trying to say?”

„I do, I do.”

„If I would share with you an experience that fills me with negative feelings and you will found this experience positive, most likely you will be confused, as you would not know what to think while those two feelings are mutually exclusive. That would cause the damage.”

„Ouranos?”

„Hm?”

„You know, you are very wise.”

He didn’t respond to that immediately. Did I say something wrong?

„Where did that come from?”

„Uuh, you know, you’re saying things that probably I wouldn’t normally think of that deeply, but everything what you have said so far has sense. When I think about it, it's logical to me. There are still things that I don’t understand, but the way you’re explaining them makes it more clear to me.”

He kept silent.

„That is what I think, at least...”

He deeply sighed. I started to have doubts if I did the right thing to say what was on my mind.

„Good that it's helping you.”

He doesn’t really like to say what’s on his mind.

As soon as we passed the forest, a familiar view appeared. We came back to village.

I remembered it differently, most likely because I didn’t care about the details as I haven’t been able to name them. Now I can tell, more or less, what’s around me. Same as Ouranos' earrings are not growing from his ears.

Hmm... Now that I think, I remember that he stood out from the others.

His face, body, even if covered by long cloak, clothes... Or behaviour. He was the only one interacting with me, others were keeping distance. To be honest, it doesn’t bother me at all. When I think about it, to my mind comes statement that it suits him, that’s the way he is. I don’t know why, but I’m fine with it.

„By the way, Gaia, don’t your feet feel cold?”

Huh? Now that he mentioned...

„A bit.”

I had nothing on my feet. I should have something, but I don’t have anything.

„We will take care of it.”

„Thank you.”

While walking through the village, we passed someone working. I wasn’t sure what exactly he was doing, but definitely was taking care of his garden. We exchanged glances. I felt... intimidated? I didn’t want to see it more. It made me feel anxious.

Do they really hate me?

From the corner something appeared. I’ve never seen a thing like that. It was horse-drawn, on this thing were sitting two man, behind them were boxes and sacks. Hard to say what was in them.

„Ooh, Mr Ouranos! Good to see you! Chief wants to talk with you.” said one of the man.

„I actually want to talk with him too. Do you know his whereabouts?”

„Probably at his place, but not sure.”

„I will check.” said Ouranos and right after added. „You are going to market with that?”

„Ahh, yeah. We hope to sell something at right price, so we can buy some supplies.”

Other man sighed. „I hope this will end soon.” He looked troubled.

„I am still trying to find a solution for that, but interference in nature by force is not always a good one.” responded Ouranos.

„Ah, Mr Ouranos, you’re more smart than all of us gathered. You’ll find something, for sure.” said first one.

They do have high hopes for Ouranos, but what is the problem they’re talking about?

„We will see.” Ouranos muttered.

„At any rate, we need to go. Take care!”

„And you.”

After that men moved forward. I feel like my presence was completely ignored. I don’t know what to think about that...

„Something bothers you?” he asked.

It’s not that it bothers me. They have some right to be angry at me, but to completely ignore me...

„Don’t bother yourself with them. It’s not worth it.” he lowered his voice to said that.

„Why?”

„I will explain it to you later.”

„If you say so.”

We moved forward as well. All around were plenty of farms, but they weren’t that much big as ones outside the village. Probably they used ones near houses for their own use. On some of them I could hear animals, but wasn’t sure which exactly.

We reached eventually the specific house we were looking for. Ouranos knocked to the door. We were waiting until a man opened them. At first glance I could tell he looked older than those two men Ouranos was talking to.

„Oh, Mr Ouranos-" he said; he didn’t sound happy to see him, then he noticed that I was there as well. „and our guest.” I felt that my presence here was very unwanted. „What brings you here?”

„I’ve heard you were looking for me.” Ouranos responded with same enthusiasm; it’s getting very awkward...

„Yes, indeed. I need to speak with you.” he went inside and we followed him.

„So I’m listening.”

„What exactly are you planning?”

„With what?”

„With her.”

„For now, I have decided to let her gain knowledge about the place, get used to situation and then we can think of trying.”

„So you’re doing it your way, huh?” he didn’t like it. „Besides, I don’t think any knowledge is needed for that.”

„The more she understands the situation, the better for us.”

„What guarantee do we have that she won’t change her mind?”

„She proposed it herself.”

Are they talking about my help with something?

„I mean the other thing.”

„I believe that if she would have changed her mind, we wouldn’t be standing here right now.”

I’m not sure what are they talking about now...

„You’re right. Do as you want, as long as I can see progress, it’s good.”

„We also do have a request to you.”

„A request?”

„I presume she will be here more than few days, therefore she needs a place to stay.”

„She can’t stay at yours?”

„She can’t. First, that house is not meant to be occupied by two people, second, it’s inappropriate.”

Man sighed. „Fine. I’ll see what I can do.”

„Thank you. Also, she will need shoes and clothes to change-"

„Ask Freya about them.”

„Fine, we will pay Freya a visit then.”

„Yeah, yeah... Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go back to work.”

„Of course, we won’t bother you, we will take a leave now.”

Ouranos went outside and I followed him.

Whole conversation between them was very weird, as they were talking like they had to, not wanted to.

„Ouranos?”

„Hm?”

„You don’t like each other with this man?”

„I would call it that we barely tolerate each other, but I have doubts even for that.”

„So, you don’t like each other?”

„Correct.”

He could say that from the start...

„Is there a reason for that?”

„It’s like that since the beginning, he didn’t like me, so I didn’t like him. I have no reason to be nice to him, but I need to mind my language to not make things worse.”

Mind language? To not say something bad? Hmm... Still, I could sense that tense atmosphere. It wasn’t pleasant.

„There will be always someone who will dislike you even if you did nothing to them. The best thing to do is just ignore them and don’t care. If you start care, it will only make you upset, while they will forget what did they tell you moment ago."

Right... It made me upset a bit. It’s not easy to not care while you’re working hard to prove that you’re not that bad as they’re thinking you are, but if they don’t care... then what’s the point?

„Fortunately, not all people are like him. The girl to which we are going, Freya, is one of the people I don’t dislike.”

„Oh, she’s nice?”

„She’s kind and respectful, that’s all I can say about her.”

There is still hope!

„Gaia, before we go there, please bear in mind that she may feel uncomfortable in your presence, so don’t take it to yourself. It was a shocking experience for them. They just don’t know how to behave in front of you.”

„What about man earlier?”

„He is not under that category.”

So simply, I should not care about him, right?

„What should I do, so they won’t be that scared of me?”

„Best thing to do is to show them that you’re not a bad person and you have good intentions. It won’t come straight away, such things needs time.”

„Seems like everything requires time.”

„Unfortunately.”

We got to her house. Ouranos, as earlier, knocked to the door. Guess you need to do that before you can enter someone’s house. A young girl opened the door.

„Oh, good afternoon Mr Ouranos,” she noticed me and did a slight back-up. „and to you.”

I think that was the first time someone noticed me. She seems very shy. I don’t know what am I supposed to say back... Uhh...

„Afternoon~” I said.

„Good afternoon Freya, are you busy right now?” Ouranos asked.

„Uhh, right now no, can I help you with something?”

„We need some clothes and shoes for her, as she will be staying with us for some time. Can we count you in this matter?”

She had a quick look on me. „I’m not sure if I have any spare clothes for her... but I’ll check, so if you can come in and I’ll have a look.”

„We would be thankful.”

As he said, she’s kind, and she’s got pretty, long hair. Very long, tied in braid.

„She is nice.”

„Told you.” Ouranos whispered.

„Sorry to make you wait!” Freya came back with items in her hands. „I’m not sure if they’ll be okay, especially shoes, but she can try them on.”

Try on? So I need to take off the cloth I have on myself and put the other one? Okaay. Here we-

„STOP, YOU IDIOT!” Ouranos shouted at me.

„Huh?” I looked at him confused.

He turned into different direction, Freya was standing and covering her mouth. I shouldn’t do it? I really don’t get it.

„Freya, can I ask you?” he asked.

„Uh?” she responded.

„You don’t need to be afraid of her, she’s harmless.”

Ouranos...

„Can you follow me, please?” she took items and started going; I followed her.

We went to different room. I was still wondering why they reacted like that.

„Did I do something wrong?”

„Uhh, I mean... Mr Ouranos is a man...”

„I know.”

„You shouldn’t... undress yourself in front of... man...”

I think that really shocked her.

„Why?”

„Well, you’re woman yourself, right?”

„... Yes?”

I still don’t get it. She was looking around the room and came near a wall.

„Can you come here, please?”

I did as she said. There was something on wall.

... What is it? I mean... Who is it? One person looks like Freya, second...

„!!!”

That is me?! My reflection?! I need to check it up... Right, left... Up, down... It’s even waving when I’m waving... It’s really me.

I look exactly as I imagined when I was changing myself. Blonde hair to shoulders, bangs, cute face, brown eyes, petite body... It's so weird to see myself...

„You’ve never seen yourself in mirror?”

„No.”

„I see... Umm, you don’t have to feel embarrassed as we’re both women and our bodies looks similar. If I can ask you to take off your clothes...”

Okay, no problem.

... It’s so weird to not have anything on.

„Umm... so... I just wanted to show you, what would Mr Ouranos see if you...”

Now I get it. I absolutely get it...

WHAT HAVE I WANTED TO DO?! OH MYY-

I’m such a fool! I’m so dumb!! And I was wondering what's wrong with that?! And he would see that?! It’s so embarrassing! It’s so embarrassing! AAAGHHH!!

„P-please don’t hit your head on the floor!”

I won’t be able to look in his face. It’s too embarrassing... AAAHH! Stop thinking! Stop thinking!

„P-please! You’ll hurt yourself!”

... I need to cool down.