Chapter 3: Slight Changes

"Where you live should not determine whether you live, or whether you die."

— Bono, lead singer of U2 and founder of (RED) and ONE

"Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change."

— Muhammad Ali

"In this increasingly interconnected world, we must understand that what happens to poor people is never divorced from the actions of the powerful. Certainly, people who define themselves as poor may control their own destinies to some extent. But control of lives is related to the control of land, systems of production, and the formal political and legal structures in which lives are enmeshed. With time, both wealth and control have become increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few. The opposite trend is desired by those working for social justice."

— Paul Farmer

***

Some of Xenia's questions were answered by his father, who looked pretty surprised since the Xenia he knew shows no liking for such knowledge. But, seeing that Xenia was at that age where a lot of things are going on in his mind, questions that suddenly pops into his mind, his father just brushed it off and thought nothing of it.

Caw, caw, caw. From a distance, a pair of ravens landed and rested on a tree about 10 meters away from where Xenia was. He was leisurely relaxing under the shade of a tree while whistling and throwing rocks at another rock.

"So, I have found out that this island is called 'The Forested City of Balmack' or 'Balmack Island' that has a population of over 2000 people."

As though they were curious, the pair of ravens on the tree were tilting their heads as they cawed and glanced in Xenia's direction.

Xenia let out an exasperated sigh. He woke up early in the morning to do his chores. He helped his father pick up and chop some wood. After doing so, they fetched water and filled their barrels. Fresh and drinkable water comes from the mountain. If they want to wash their clothes, they can always wash them in the river with its running water, uncontaminated and abundant.

When every chore he had to finish first before he could go out was done, Xenia finally went to the main town. He was hoping he would find a job with his age and help ease their family's burden. But their reputation among the Balmackian people just is not good. They have established a bad reputation that their sight makes the people in the town angry.

His plan of finding a job and waking up early was somehow just for naught. So, he just decided to stroll around the island where people don't usually go, and stumbled upon the entrance to the mountain. An unused entrance to the mountain. It was a trail made by humans.

However, there was a sign written on it not to use the path. And Xenia was a law-abiding citizen, so he chose not to disobey the sign and went back. Now, he was right there sitting under the shade with his back against the tree trunk.

"People from outside occasionally visit the island. That's what my father told me. And leaving the island is dangerous. That's what he also said. It has been a day and I still can't believe that I am sent back in time after dying. Right before Warriors and Radge emerge from the earth's surface."

One of the ravens flapped its wings and flew toward Xenia. It landed across him, doing little jumps and approaching Xenia.

"Do you want me to feed you?"

"Caw!"

"But I don't have anything except for these strange fruits I picked up earlier, hoping it is edible."

Hopping closer to Xenia and approaching a human proved that the raven was used to having interactions with humans.

Xenia put his hand out with strange nuts in it. The raven closed the gap and decided to feast on the fruits. Eventually, the other hesitant raven flew down and shared the fruits with the other.

"I don't remember seeing Xenia feeding a pair of ravens. Someone must be giving them food. Befriending them isn't so bad either. They are highly intelligent birds. I once read about a man who befriended a flock of crows and when he was attacked by strangers, the crows helped him."

As he was letting the pair of ravens feed on his palm, Xenia turned his vision towards the towering mountain.

"The sign did not state why people should not use the path. There is no telling what awaits further from that path."

It got Xenia curious. He wants to know more about the island since Balmack isn't in history books.

When the ravens had finished the fruits, they stared at Xenia for a moment before flying away. He took it as their sign of gratitude.

"I'm bored. There is nothing to do. I guess I'll ask Arlan and the others about that prohibited entrance."

Xenia stretched his arms in the arm and yawn deeply. He then got up, wiping his pants off the dust on them before making his way to their playground.

As usual, the other kids his age were playing tag and hide and seek. They never get bored of it and Xenia thought they never will until they grow up. It's not like they were in the modern world where gadgets and technologies are a thing.

"Hey, Xenia! Come and join us!" His friends called out to him, waving their sticks in the air as he continued approaching them.

The kids were currently playing with bark trees and sticks, fighting against each other like they were some kind of knights.

"Looks like you guys are enjoying yourselves."

Arlan threw a stick that resembles a pistol at him, and Xenia almost didn't catch it but he did.

Amazed at how good the stick was with a hole drilled where the bullets would supposedly come out and a trigger, Xenia pointed the stick at Arlan as though he was his enemy.

"Say, Arlan, do you know anything about that entrance into the mountain?"

Xenia did not beat around the bush and asked straightaway.

"Entrance? Do you mean that one that has a sign? Don't even think about going there. That path leads to the Sulten Tribe."

"Yes, that tribe is dangerous! They will kill outsiders. That's why some parts of the mountain remain unexplored!"

Zeb is the youngest of all the kids in their group. Unlike Arlan, who is talkative and somehow athletic, Zeb is often called lame for being so weak and a crybaby. However, out of them all, Zeb is the kindest.

There is Franzia, who is Zeb's older sister. She was about the same age as Xenia and Arlan. Franzia is a bit of a tomboy in their opinion, unafraid of boys and would fight them if they ever hurt her or Zeb.

Then a tall and skinny guy with a buzz cut was Ergas. He does not usually talk, and when he does, people who do not know him will be surprised at how slightly deep his voice is.

Lastly, there were the triplets, Jack, Mack, and Pack. And they have two boys and one girl with Pack being the lady of the three. Both of the boys were identical to each other with blond hair and brown eyes. Pack, on the other hand, was slightly short, had freckles on her face, and ocean-blue eyes.

Their friends have a way of telling Mack and Jack apart. By being bathed under the sunlight for a bit, Mack's hair color will change into black. And Xenia witnessed it in person but he could not believe it.

"I have never heard or seen a trait like that. Science would be so eager to study this case if they saw this."

The way every strand and fiber of Mack's hair color changes to black as his cheeks turn slightly pinkish from the heat amazed and baffled Xenia's mind.

"Ever since you got hit by that ball, you began spouting words we did not know, Xenia. It's like you've changed."

"You think so too? I think I have gotten smarter!"

"Not smarter than me dumbass."

Arlan, Xenia, and Jack began to act as though they were fighting and were in an action movie.

"Pew, pew, pew!"

"Hiya! You take this, coward!"

"I shall not let you defeat me!"

Franzia, Zeb, and Pack joined in on the fun. They weren't actually trying to harm each other, but when things heat up, someone's bound to get hurt, especially on the boys' side.

Under the shades of the trees with the sunlight barely peeking through the thick bushes of leaves that sprout all over the place, the kids were playfully enjoying themselves to their heart's content. They continued playing until one of them chose to rest first. And that fellow was Zeb, considering how unathletic he is but still plays with his friends not to be left out.

Xenia had been meaning to suggest something.

"Hey, guys, what do you say we go to the mountain explore a bit, and then go home?"

However, it seemed everyone was too afraid to go near the mountain, thus immediately rejecting his idea.

"Our parents would be mad. And did not say they did not have to know because they will. This place has eyes everywhere."

And Franzia and Pack seemed to be against it. They did not want to risk themselves just for some fun. It was because they knew how dangerous the Sulten Tribe was, based on the news and rumors they would always hear about them from their parents.

"The Sulten Tribe protects the mountain. The reason why some parts of the mountain are safe is that the tribesmen could not leave specific places."

"What do you mean?" Xenia curiously asked, invested in knowing more about the tribe and exploring the mountain. "They could not get out of the mountain?"

"Yes, and even they are afraid to approach the safe spots in the mountain, although the reason was unknown."

"This island is filled with mysteries."

The seriousness in the air was broken by an unfathomable scream that came from the direction of the forest. It was from a woman, and her cry was heard on the whole island.

~