Falling

A Rhythm to be mastered.

One step at a time.

A sport greatly different from other outdoor sports in which nature alone provides the field of action. It not just tests the physical aspect, as it embodies the thrill produced by testing one’s courage, resourcefulness, cunning and ability to finely judge and act at any given time.

‘Mountaineering’

For most of us, it’s not just the conquest of the peak but the pleasure that comes from working as a team to accomplish the marvelous endeavors and ascend to the top.

As always, I was leading my group to scale a peak.

But it is different this time, as we are scaling the highest peak in Europe, Mount Blanc.

We were a group consisting of 4 members. We all had countless experiences together and were competent veterans in rock climbing and various snow and ice techniques.

It took me by surprise when my elder brother suggested to climb Mount Blanc. It was surprising because my brother had never commented on any of our endeavors. He was simply too busy taking care of the family affairs when I was negligent of those.

‘What made him say that?’

Unfortunately, at the moment I had no time for any of those worthless thoughts.

One misstep and everything fell down crumbling.

It was 4th day of our expedition and we were just half though the climb. Since 10 years ago, when it was conquered for the first time, not many had attempted to conquer Mt. Blanc. Difficult routes, extreme weather conditions during the winter and a myriad of other facts contributed to this.

As I was descending unreservedly, I could see the numerous anchors and carabiners failing as well. Those anchors were judiciously placed along the rock and by no means there were to come off so easily.

I was sad.

I saw tear drops ascending I was falling down.

I didn’t just fail myself but all my companions as well. All the safety measures taken and all the planning we did. Did it amount to anything at all?

Ultimately everything was futile.

But even if that were the case. I didn’t want that person to die so miserably.

As I was falling, she didn’t hesitate to launch herself towards me to save me as a last resort. As she hugged me tightly, I realized I couldn’t feel my arms. My eyes felt wet and what blurred my vision were not tears as I thought but was blood.

I don’t remember when and where I got hit but the pain certainly did affect me.

She was shouting something as she shed tears but I couldn’t help but cry in agony as I couldn’t hear a thing.

My vision was becoming blurry, not because of blood this time. I was gradually losing my consciousness as my eyelid closed half way.

She hugged me even so tightly and I felt the sensation this time. She was probably saying not to give up. As she held on to my right hand, I saw the ring on her finger through the corner of my closing eyes. It was not that long ago that we got engaged but I understood one thing for certain that day. As I couldn’t imagine a world without her, it was the same for her.

My eyes were completely closed but I couldn’t feel but feel helpless at what happened next. She lightly kissed me on the forehead and patted on my back. My shoulders which were stiff until a while ago suddenly felt a force from underneath.

‘Did she flip ourselves to reduce the impact on me?’

What felt like an eternity, had come to a close desperately.

I neither felt any pain nor did I feel the impact from crashing into the ground.

‘What happened?’

‘Am I already dead?’

‘Is this all just a dream?’

I just hoped it would be a disastrous nightmare but couldn’t help by cry in anguish at the sight of the reality.

As I was having such thoughts, I suddenly thought.

‘I wish if I could see her again’

‘I wished if we could grow old together like we promised’

‘If there was another life, we would still be mountaineering if nothing else’

Having been in a relationship for 5 years, I knew this would be case knowing her.

I still remember the first time when I saw her at one of the minor peaks of Alps. She was so beautiful trying to get into rock climbing even though it was not appropriate for a lady of her origin. When she glanced at me back then, I was caught by surprise. I couldn’t help but understand her pleas.

She was just like me.

She liked mountaineering more than anything else and would let go of her pride if it meant conquering the mountains. As I lent her a helping hand back then, she gave me the most beautiful smile of her life.

As I was reminiscing through my memories, I realized how much important she was to me. I bet she felt the same way and no one could convince me otherwise.

****

‘Ahhhhh’

After an immeasurable amount of time had passed.

I wailed in pain.

It was not just my arms and head but the entire body had a burning sensation.

I opened my eyes slowly.

I could hear someone reciting prayers in an unfamiliar language.

‘Did I end up in some other territory?’

An unfamiliar ceiling and it didn’t look like a hospital room either. A very old woman with wrinkles all along her arms, who had covered the upper half of her face, blinding herself with a green cloth of odd pattern was sitting beside me. Even though it was a different language, her posture definitely felt like of someone pleading to the gods.

‘Was she chanting for my well-being?’

I’m grateful, but that wasn’t my concern at all. I couldn’t help but try to speak. I wanted to ask where she is. I wanted to know what happened to her. There were bandages around my head and neck which restricted my movements to a great deal, but I tried opening my mouth regardless.

“W..where is.. shhe..?”

I asked in a very low and trembling voice.

I couldn’t help but feel worry. Instead of praying for me, instead of easing my condition, I wanted her to be alive and well.

But as soon as I asked, she stopped her prayers and glanced at me with odd expression. She looked at me confused and soon after, despite her old age, she stood up from her posture with haste and walked towards the entrance of the room. After exiting the room, I could hear her shouting from outside. She was still speaking in a language unknown to me.

I was still very much shaken to my core. I still didn’t know about her well -being.

‘Was she alright? Have they found her and treated her as well?’

I tried moving my body with all my might. But it didn’t bulge. Instead enormous pain leapt throughout my entire body.

‘Aaahhh’

Seeing me in pain, a different person entered the room this time. As soon as I saw someone enter, I started shouting “Where is…she” but stopped halfway.

This person didn’t have any mask over the face and I was startled at the sight. A middle aged man with very curious eyes. He wore a very strange attire and had a noble face. But what caught me off guard was his pointy ears.

‘I had never encountered anyone like him.’

Looking at him made me feel he was definitely not human. He looked like someone out of those fantasies.

“Where is she?”

Not knowing whether he would understand me, I asked.

“I’m Martin, Chief of the village Regshia”

He spoke first with an introduction.

“Who are you looking for? What happened?”

To my surprise, he responded back in English.

“She was with me… We were falling but… she saved me”

I was trembling and couldn’t calm myself while trying to explain. But as if he understood who I was referring to, he stopped me from speaking any further by taking out a parchment from his bosom. He then opened it and showed the contents to me, asking.

“Are you looking for her?”

Soon after seeing the portrait inside the parchment, a sense of happiness far beyond even climbing the highest peak, came over me. I was relieved and the guilt inside my heart started fading away. Something was off about the portrait but it certainly did resemble her.

“So… where is she now?”

“Before that”

He took out a small pouch from his bosom this time. After loosening the lace on its top, he gently pulled out a bead from it. It was glowing in green color. It certainly gave an otherworldly vibe.

“Pearl of Reinvigoration”

“This will rejuvenate your mind, body and soul”

“Travers Thurstan”

“…?”

I was surprised as soon as he called my name.

‘But how?’

As I looked perplexed without muttering a word, he started unravelling the mysteries in front of me one by one.