Chapter 64: Experiencing a Normal Life

"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, myths, and dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?" —John Lennon

"When we feel betrayed by the vagaries of life, and our wet dreams turn out to be nightmares, let us keep eyes wide open and look for the sparks in the glance of the people. They not only can share a shard of oxytocin but also inspire us to appreciate the fragrance of the ordinary things we have ignored for so long. ("A handful of dust")" —Erik Pevernagie

"too many grown-ups tell kids to follow their dreams

like that's going to get them somewhere

Auntie Laurie says to follow your nightmares instead

cuz when you figure out what's eating you alive

you can slay it" —Laurie Halse Anderson, Shout

***

Surprisingly, Xenia was back on the Forested Island of Balmack, where his family was still alive. Not just them but also his friends. Everything was back to normal, to the way how it used to be, the town being filled with chatter and laughter whilst the forest remained unhinged and greenery was blooming.

Everywhere he looked, things were back to how it was before, which confused him. But he didn't think much of it when his mother, who was supposed to be sick, called him for lunch. Outside their yard, under the shades of the tall trees that reached a higher level, they were sitting in front of a table. Atop the rectangular wooden table were their favorite dishes and fruits, plus the healthy and nutritious vegetable meals on the side.

"Bandit and Mischief became accustomed to your teachings, Xenia," spoke his father, Volcom, while he was transferring rice to his plate. "Keep on teaching them, so they will serve their utilitarian purpose!"

"Utilitarian purpose? Oh, their function! Right! Well, they definitely do, Dad! Both of them can speak our language now! It's ridiculously smart!"

It was good. Even better than his new life because he was with his actual family. However, he was starting to like the Lagman family, though it will take him time to fully open up to the family. Still, Xenia is on his way to fully liking them.

"Big bro Xenia seemed to be enjoying his meal! But how was it exactly, huh, Xenia?!"

The switch-up in the mood and tone made Xenia look at his little sisters. Their faces were pale, dripping with dark blood goo with their cold-blooded gazes, and creepy wide grin.

All of a sudden, his food, the goat's meat he was eating, became an arm. He was chewing on someone's arm. Not just anyone's arm but Thaniel's. Then, his parents' faces became the same as his sisters'. Instantly, he stood up after the startling change of events.

"Are you liking the food, Xenia? Do we taste good? Come on, tell us! DO WE TASTE GOOD?! TELL US!"

All of the people whose flesh he had eaten were in front of him. But why was his family there when he didn't eat any of them?

"Is it my consciousness and conscience projecting this nightmare right now?"

Each pair of hands grabbed him and had him pinned down on the bottomless pit of void and darkness. They were falling endlessly and they were biting him everywhere they wanted, which naturally hurt more than when he got stabbed.

"My family is eating me! And so are my friends and every person that I ate! Ureshi! This makes me happy! By consuming them, they became a part of me and them consuming me means becoming a part of them! Ahh! Is this bliss? If so, then I want this forever!"

Later that morning, Xenia woke up to himself drenched in sweat and Lui confusedly stared at him upon getting out of bed.

"Is something the matter? I heard you scream in your sleep. Were you having nightmares?"

"Oh, uh, probably... not 'cause I was actually enjoying myself."

"Hmm, well, you do sound disappointed."

"It's because I really am..."

***

What a disastrous rainy day it was. Mr. Lagman was worried about not being able to fish whilst his kids were worrying about their crops.

"Even if a heavy gust of wind struck the wheat, it won't easily go down. But since it's a typhoon, our crops might turn to nothing. Our hard work and sweat poured in our field will be all for naught..."

Mr. Lagman comforted his son, Crowley, by rubbing his back and smiling through the disaster.

"In life, there will always be bad days such as this one, son. We can't control the weather or any natural phenomena that destroy our crops. What will life be if it's all good things we will experience? How will we grow and learn to overcome problems if all we ever receive are the pros of our actions or something? We must learn how to deal with problems and how to solve them. But this one, we just need to hope and pray that our crops survive the heavy rain."

"So, in the end, it all boils down to our wishful desire? Pray that our crops survive? Is dealing with natural phenomena all mental and not physical? Is there no way to stop the rain?"

"Honestly, I have no idea, son."

Hearing their conversation, Xenia wanted to tell a story but didn't feel the need, for it might just bring false hope to everyone since he himself does not know how exactly people manipulated the weather.

"It would be better to shut my mouth."

***

Just as they expected... When they rushed to the field, wherein the other villagers did, they were devastated to see that their crops had been destroyed by the heavy rain, which left nothing but disastrous work.

"None of this can be salvaged... Just when they are about to be ready to be harvested..."

Disheartened, the family just relied on whatever food stock they had to survive the incoming winter. Just when they should be storing food for the winter, they were struck by a destructive event. Unfortunately, they might not reach their target stock by the end of Spring.

"We will have to rely on fishing..."

***

As a country, Quesaint had been divided into five divisions. An empire, a large city, a ruling kingdom, a peaceful province, and a diverse land of the north.

A map of the country was placed atop a large table surrounded by men in fighting armor. They were currently in a war with pillagers, bounty hunters, and pirates wreaking havoc all across the country.

"Not only are we being attacked, our kingdom being ransacked, but also being terrorized by the Northmen! It is only a matter of time before a wide bloodbath occurs!"

***

Even after trying their best to grow and catch whatever they could, the Lagman family could not reach their target quota for winter. Another mouth had been added to their family, which means they ought to add more to their usual number of stocks to get by in their freezing daily lives.

"I hate winter! It has to be so cold here in our village!"

Even with gloves, thick coats, and pants on, they could still feel the cold as they plowed on the piling snow outside their house. Shoveling through that knee-deep snow and clearing it was harder than Xenia imagined it would be. Definitely, he had other ways of dealing with it but he was too tired to move and the cold weather had him feeling lazy.

"Nonetheless, I would still be shoveling the snow since every day we are forced to fish. That way, we would not easily run out of food."

Once the pathway to the shore had been frozen inexplicably, Xenia, Crowley, and Mr. Lagman went on their way to fish on the frozen sea.

"Wow!"

As far as their eyes go, the frozen seawater stretched so. To Xenia, this cold and inexplicable phenomenon baffled him to eternity. It looked as though he was in Antarctica or in an ice age era where goes as low as the temperature.

"Will it be safe to fish in this state?"

"Oh, it sure is safe, Xenia. We just have to be cautious when taking steps."

It worries Xenia that something terrible might happen while they are fishing. However, he is willing to take the risk since they are willing to do so too.

~