Chapter 35: A Gauche Turn Of Phase

The breeze swirled the leaves from the ground to the centre of the village. One leaf hit his hair while he rolled the water well with force. He was currently getting the lady Meryl water as she asked him for a favour. He had his face with fierce. The other hand was on the bricks and his other hand was gripping the roller to roll down the back and grab some water.

The bucket went down in, reaching the very deep to the water and it received. He gripped the roller and rolled it the opposite way now. When it reached back to them, he carried it and settled it down.

"Thank you so much, chief," Meryl said with her hands together.

He faced her and the wind came to pass by. "Do you wish for me to bring this to your house? It's heavy." He suggested.

He witness how her eyes widened even if she was facing down. She lifted her head and plastered a smile. This woman was happy to do such little doing. 'I rejected her and she still manages to like me? What will I do now?' he thought.

"Please, I would be so grateful if you would." She responded, nodding multiple times.

He went and carried the bucket; gripped the rope and lifted it up. The village was quiet. How the wind breeze blew through their village, it was the only thing heard. Windy weather broaching vast as an afternoon was spending, the clouds were grey and the son was covered by it. No droplets of rain.

It was yesterday when his father uncovered the long-awaited truth. His hunch was right after all. As he carried the bucket in his grasp, his head floated to his reverie.

"Son, the thing is, we're voyagers. We voyage away from our origins as it was cruel and unfair. This land, son, it is owned by the goddess that we heard hours ago, she granted us her kindness and we are alive because of it." He blurted out and sighed.

Ambroz still couldn't understand what was happening, all his father exclaimed, it was hazy and undecipherable. Voyagers? Is that where the 'crew' was originated? And a goddess? He couldn't believe what he heard from his father.

"If we're voyagers, then where did we come from?" He proceeded with another question to ask. Furrowed brows and furious eyes. There's no stopping him right now, the truth is slowly revealing and he is scared to admit it but he's not that brave to face it.

But what can he do? Better hear it before it's too late.

"We came from another world, son. This is what we concluded. In a world where you will face unfairness, if you are underprivileged, it will not take long before you'll see the end of your life. A world where cruelty and barbarity is a priority for those who disobey the. Freedom to talk is prohibited. This land, it's not in our map." He elaborated further.

Ambroz was speechless, he avoided his father's gaze. He guesses that they truly did escape from that ruthless land. However, he has to ask more.

"Son, I—"

"Why didn't you tell me this way before? This knowledge, why was it hidden?" He asked. The tint of dismay was traced in his voice. He looked at his father with brows curved and lips parted.

Logan cleared his throat and wandered his eyes around his crew. Ambroz was waiting for him to respond. He heaved a sigh before opening his mouth. "Telling you about this will only fill your head with anxiousness. No one has to know about it. We have already escaped that land, all we have to do now is focus on our land. Don't you ever want peace, son?" He responded now and gave him a look of concern.

'Peace?' A plague has occurred and he knows nothing about what's happening. A goddess he thought was all from a tale revealed themself.

"Peace, father? Is the trial all a facade? Will there be actual war? If you're telling me to just stay put, then I can not grant that to you. You escaped from your land this means that someone will be chasing after us, right?" He asked once more. If he wouldn't ask about this in every detail possible. Who would? Besides, now that he's the chief, surely his father will tell him all the things he has to know, right?

"That is not to your concern. No one is after us, we have been here for longer than I can remember. Did you not hear me? This land is on another world. You should weigh yourself with our problem at this time." His father exclaimed with a voice full of vigour.

"Your father is right, chief. The plague is more important right now." Zergee added and pointed his palm through the forest.

The other men nodded and agree. "Leaving this chaos off, the women could help us replant, chief. The past has nothing to do with this." One said.

They arrived at the village and the other men went separate ways after they tied their horses back to the bar. They all headed to their family and spread the news about what was happening in the forest. All of them were shocked and can not help but think what will be an essential solution to this havoc. They all were awake and discussing it all out, the plan.

Now, he and his father were left alone. They were heading home and was also about to tell his mother the news when it went to him. There are still things he has to ask.

His father was already off his mood. They were both silents when he opened his mouth. "The plague. Maybe it has got something to do with it." He muttered.

But his father heard it vividly. He was ahead of him for a few steps. Ambroz was behind him and they halted from walking.

"What do you mean?" His father asked and turned in his direction.

"Father, is there any more of these odd beings? Goddess or, I don't know, evil sorcerers? If you escape from your land and someone's holding a grudge against your freedom. They must be on their way." He reckoned with his furrowed brows.

This is upsetting him. The feeling of being told half the story is not as pleasant after all. His father is still hiding something from him. Without any of the information he should provide, it's holding him back from deciding what's best for their land.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" He asked back to him. "They can't follow us here. The reason I don't want you lingering in the sea is because of the border that separates us from that world. You are now the chief, think what is best for the land. Don't disappoint me with your hunch, The past has got nothing to do with this." He exclaimed with emphasis and turned his back to him. He continued walking back to their home.

Ambroz rushed through him. "What about mother?" Too persistent, even his father can not ignore that.

"Your mother? Now, what about your mother?" He asked still facing his back.

"Where did she come from? She has a different shade of pupils and I have heard your conversation long back when you forbid me to enter the sea." He resumed.

For a moment, Logan was silent but in a jiffy, he has spoken. "Your mother is just like any other woman here, son. What are you thinking about that it makes you flaw your own words? This conversation is done and gone. Tomorrow we'll plan on what to do with those trees and make a move the next day, you hear me? Be responsible for the rest." He uttered and left him outside to pause.

His father slammed the door closed and he was standing there. His feet brought him on their staircase. He sat there and places his hands on his forehead. Massage them and he sighed.

"Chief? Are you alright? You're now at our house." A woman's voice called out to him and he eluded away from his reverie.

That's right, he was carrying the bucket and headed to Meryl's household. "Oh, uh, then should I leave it here, then?" He inquired of her.

Meryl's complexion changes from jolly to sad. Somehow, it made him confused. What could have he said to this woman? What a complicated one.

She was about to answer when someone open the door in front of them. A woman wearing a white fitted dress, white cloth on its head over to the back and to her nape. Behind her was an old folk and. He looked at them and reckoned it was Meryl's folks.

"Oh, good dear. What brings our chief here?" The woman asked and went towards them, she gave her daughter a look and smiled.

This mam cleared his throat, was sheepish to his way of approach. "Good day, Miss Vilmab, I have come to carry this heavy bucket of your here. She just needed a helping hand." He answered and rubbed his on his thighs.

"Is that so, chief? Well, you should head in then, I have cooked some bread and mixed something to drink. Serves as thanks for helping my daughter here." She retorted with a grin.

Ambroz got uneasy. It was not his intention to stay for longer especially when he has things to do. However, unaware of how he could decline their kind offer. He said, "oh, uh, no. I didn't help much. That wasn't that heavy. It's alright, Ms Vilmab." He faked a laugh.

"Oh, but we insist, chief. Come on in there's no room for you out here. It's windy outside, better keep you warm or his former chief will throw us his agitation." She attempted to persuade him and even embrace his arm and guided him.

Meryl did nothing but part her lips and looks at them with widened eyes. Clearly, by how she looks, there was no stopping her mother.

"You should, chief. The loaves of bread are delicious." The old man suddenly talked.

"But I really shouldn't—"

"Nonsense, you'll be as think as a stick if you don't eat. The plague's spreading you need the energy." She added.

Meryl gripped her mother's shoulders and gaze at her with worry-filled in her eyes. "M-mother, he says he's fine. Chief is probably busy so let's not give him a hard time." It was a statement contradicting to her thoughts. Even after this came out of her mouth, she was glad that her mother was trying to help her.

Ambroz was about to give in when he saw Lucy inside the house drinking from a bottle as if there was beer in it. He widened his eyes and halted "On second thought, my father is probably calling me. There are a lot of matters to attend to and he needs my help. Former chief's orders, not mine." It was his usual words to escape situations such as this. Agreeing to it might make the wrong idea. He does not plan for that to happen.

He rejected this woman fair and square. Her parent is aware and if not, it would not be the case. For one thing, Lucy's inside. He does not want to anger her the most. This? It's straight-up trouble.

He was facing his back to the door, he was yet to surpass its border.

"Is that so? But it will be fine if you tell him we insisted, isn't that right?" Vilmab gave him the words of overwhelming tension to accept the offer.

Deep inside him. He wanted to bust out the offer. Lucy won't like this especially, when he discusses the matter that he fair and square rejected the woman and never reciprocate her feelings. But, he also didn't want to look rude to a kind samaritan.

He has decided. He's the chief and he's here as the chief of this village. Even Lucy won't get mad at him, right?

"Alright, Miss Vilmab." He accepted it with a smile.

But once he faced the door and appointed himself to proceed. Lucy, standing on the doorway, leaning her shoulder to the wall with her crossed arms, and her brow raised indicating that 'What's the fuss about' look.

"What's the chief doing here, mother, father?" She asked suspiciously and gazed at each of her folk's eyes.

He doesn't even know why his hands trembling a bit when he's the chief and all. Why is he scared of accepting an offer from the family of the woman he rejected? What's so scary about that? That is what his unaware of. He hid his shivering hands over his back and gave Lucy an awkward smile.

"Hello, Lucy. I've come to visit your house as your mother gave me a kind offer to eat and reside in your house for a short while, would you mind letting me in?" He spoke politely and formally.

"Yes, dear. You see, the chief helped your lovely and beautiful sister to carry this heavy bucket. The well is far from here so we reckoned that chief is tired from all that. Offering him goods won't be too hard." Vilmab, her mother chuckled to fill the void.

It's as if they were all feeling the tension around them. When was the last time he felt like this? Absurd, it is. They did a staring competition until Lucy chortled.

"Come in, then. Don't be so formal, chief. It's not like you to act this awkward around us." She heads over to the side and unblocks the way.

Their mother happily pushed him inside and welcome him into their home. He was immediately dropped off at the kitchen table, made him sit on the wooden chair and placed bread and berry drinks in front of him. He was being stared at and eating was not the best bet for this situation.

"Uh, wouldn't it be disrespectful if I eat first? Why don't you join me?" He suggested.

"Oh, don't worry chief. We're fine." The mother responded.

"Go and eat too, mother, father, and sister. It's making him uncomfortable." Lucy sat on the opposite side of the table while piling a banana.

"Very well, then."

They all decided to eat and while they did, he can feel the stare of someone, he knew it was Meryl but he disregarded it or it will only make a scene. Giving her hope is not inside his choices.

Lucy however was narrowing her eyes with Meryl who was having fun staring at the chief. 'This woman really, can't even accept the fact that she was rejected.'

They all ate and throughout that experience, Ambroz would never accept any offer that involves eating together from them. Not only that it made him feel uneasy, but he was also stared at by some woman who was petite and persistent. Love is not something to say and ride, it all takes time and he needs that time. Dwelling on his father's choices, he will regret it soon.

"Father, do we have other seed to plant? The woman from the west side wishes for more, they lack some already." He shouted to his father who was riding a horse and guiding the other women on what to do.

They were currently inside the forest, cutting the affected trees and planting another one. Because of the goddess orders to take care of it, they will make good use of the trees they've brought down.

Now, he worries, spending another day inside their village only makes the plague spread faster. They need to move as fast to catch up and recover the forest or who knows what fate will bring to their stance.

"Narnya! Give my son that excess seeds you have there." His father exclaimed to someone.

"On my way, former chief Logan." She replied and head over to Ambroz who was waiting for it.

He immediately heads over to his horse and rides it. They were on the east side, so it will take him some time to arrive there. They were doing their best to recover trees as much as possible, they regroup their people into four. North, South, West, and East side of the affected greens.

As his horse galloped, he can feel that sort of danger that was after his back, chasing him as if it hungers to destroy his life. What is this feeling? He has never come across it before.

He arrived at that said and he panted, chased for the air he lost. "Here, give this to the other women and do the planting we have no time to waste." He demanded and the women followed him as said.

They all were in a rush but all did their work carefully. The plague was a troubling phase for their humanity. Blatantly a danger and a warning. But, he opposed to believing that this happens naturally. Something is missing but he can not pinpoint what it is.

"What's happening in this forest?" He uttered as he massaged his head.

They all finish it in one day, they came home with their heads filled with sweat and lingering smell. They were very tired. He slumped his body on the bed and sighed in relief.

"With all of what we did, I'm sure that was all we had to do. The forest, I hope it can go back to what it was. Healthy and radiant just like before." He muttered before closing his eyes and heading to sleep.

The next day he woke up with a knock on his door. His eyes were heavy, t'was hard to blink it open. However, his feet brought him together and it gave rise to his body. He head over to open the door with his eyes closed. He pulled the door and rubbed his eyes.

"Chief, you have to see this. The forest, it's now filled with nothing but all black and decayed."

To be continued...

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ABYSSCESS