Chapter 26: The Tale of Nelson Addams

"The tale of Nelson Addams.

I met him through an old colleague. Lives in 9th street. Has a children of 3 and a wife. His sister, Mary told us his tale.

Nelson Addams is a retired cartographer. When he was 24, he was assigned by the town council to officially draw a map of Winterville. For the rest of year 1869, he traveled all over the town to pinpoint all the newest establishments and locations. The last place he had traveled was the forest which is at the edge of town. On the brink of the forest, he discovered an unknown cliff that no one has ever seen. Addams observed the entire place professionally and found a hidden staircase which was inconveniently covered with bushes and mosses. They were placed almost everywhere until the edge of the stairs as he walks down it. There was a valley underneath and he quickly wrote his discovery. Then he discovered the cave deeper through it. There were two statues on both sides, and he was astounded. He hears vocal melody from inside the cave and became allured. He set the papers aside and went inside. Addams has seen a young maiden with a glamorous purple dress. She appeared from behind a hidden spot of the cave.

'What are you doing inside this dark cave, young maiden?' Nelson asks.

'I am only visiting this place, sir.' The girl answered, 'And then I found this mysterious cave and wanted to see about it. And you, sir?'

As he replied, he was writing some information down. 'It is the same for me. I create maps, you see, and I must write every place about our Winterville, so I've stumbled upon here. This is a strange place for two strangers to meet, don't you think?' asked Nelson as he looks around the cave.

'It certainly is.' She answers, 'If you must write about every place of Winterville, would that mean that this cave will be exposed to all the people?'

'It would.'

'May I propose an idea, young sir?'

'What is it?'

'Can we both keep this area as a tiny secret to the people? I feel that this is a fated place for special individuals, and only can they come inside when their heart most needs it. I suppose it would be nice for a magical cave to remain magical. Isn't it exhilarating to have people only discover this with no expectations whatsoever?'

Addams was too engrossed of the young maiden's elegance as she talks that he stuttered, 'That is a perfect idea. We shall keep it this way, then.' He rips the paper off his journal, crumpled it and shuffled it in his pocket.

'Thank you. I am certain anyone who will come inside of this cave will feel the same as you and I.'

'I hope they do. For now, I must go, young maiden. But before so, may I ask your name? I am Addams. Nelson Addams.'

She smiled, 'I am called Malinda.'

Shortly thereafter, Addams leaves the cave. He looks back at his journal with a drawing of the edge of the forest, restraining to draw about the area as promised. Consequently, he drew a firm line at the end with the annotation of 'dead end'. He returns up the stairs and take one short look at the valley as he left.

Before Nelson continues to his work, he comes home and only told his sister, Mary, about his discovery. He trusted her and told about the little secret only to her and Mary thought he was fooling around but tried to believe him. Mary suggested that he should put a little clue to those that would see the cave.

Nelson, taking that in mind, arrives back at the cliff later that day. He bought with him a small wooden sign and carved an arrow of it pointing to the staircase. He remembers Malinda's plead to him and decided to cover the sign with bushes, like it was before. Before so, he went back to the cave to look at it the last time. He does not enter, for he believes that the young maiden will not be there anymore.

Years passed by, and Nelson and Mary grew apart and lived prosperous lives separately. One occasional day, Mary visited Nelson in Winterville again. She recalled what Nelson told him about the cave and reminded him of it. Nelson replied telling that he had no such adventure whatsoever. Mary thought he had only forgotten a little, or that he was fooling once more, so she would remind her every now and then about the tale. And in return, Nelson would still deny it. Mary finally realized that he had really completely forgotten.

She was puzzled of this and told no one for years. It is only then that I found their family through one of my friends and luckily has this story.

And the tale of Nelson Addams ended with that.

Thoughts: This is the earliest story I can gather about The Cave's Phenomenon from a different point of view. Will gather more research later."

By now, I already finished my tea, which kinda of sad because all the tea was just 'spilled'. God, I'm so lame. But I also blame Theo because of his default name in our group chat.

So, unlike the Jacob and Haku, this guy only visited once. And it was quite short, like there was no spark or special connection or anything. Nelson seems like a good guy. I wonder why the spell didn't work on him.

This is useful information, though. Now, I also figured out who made that sign. It's just a miracle that it's still here after so long. And this is, what, in 1869? I can't believe a story this old still made it so far today with such a strong proof.

Malinda in this perspective also seems much more elegant and kinder. Like, very much kinder. Oh, how easier times have been back then. Thankfully, Nelson listened to her and didn't put it in the map or else that place would be storming with strangers right now. I guess that's the good part.