The Hanging Bridge

Lara rolled her eyes at the white-haired man; then she surveyed the narrow bridge before her. It stretched less than a meter in width, appearing almost fragile against the towering trees surrounding her. The bridge extended four meters long, swaying slightly with the whispering breeze. Sturdy ropes were anchored securely to two big trees on the slope of Ourea, their thick trunks providing stability. On the opposite side, two stakes, the size of an adult's waist, gripped the ground, standing as silent sentinels that held the bridge in place.

Without waiting any longer, Lara stepped onto the wooden planks of the narrow hanging bridge and crossed as if walking on a flat, sturdy surface.

Jethru watched Lara intently, and then he broke into a grin. He was right about that girl. Indeed, she has skills.

"Girl, it is your turn." He nudged Reya, who was in front of him.

Reya peered over the edge and saw the water in the canyon below shimmering ominously, a tantalizing mix of emerald green and dark blue. An unsettling sensation washed over her as if the roiling currents were beckoning her to leap into their embrace. The sheer drop made her heart race, and the rushing water echoed in her ears, filling her with terror.

She remained frozen in place, her legs trembling beneath her as if they might give way at any moment. Although her dark skin concealed her paleness, her eyes widened with fright, and she became breathless.

Jethru, who was standing beside her, waited and was getting impatient.

"Hey, You! What are you waiting for? Are you waiting for me to carry you?"

Reya's lips twitched. She looked back at the white-haired man with eyes that said, 'Please carry me.'

"What? You are already so old, and it is not like the bridge is long. It is just a few steps." Jethru understood the meaning behind those wide eyes.

Lara, impatiently waiting on the other side, put down the things she carried on her back and in her hands. Then, she traversed the hanging bridge with fluid and confident strides, she went to Sandoz, who was standing beside Reya.

"I'll guide Sandoz, then you can come after him, Reya."

Sandoz, his heart racing with nervousness, took a deep breath and steeled himself, determined to make a good impression on Lara. With his fingers tightly clasped around the rugged ropes that lined the bridge, he slowly shifted his weight and carefully lowered his foot onto the creaking wooden plank beneath him, its surface worn smooth by years of use. Each step was tentative, filled with anxiety and resolve, as he navigated the narrow bridge that swayed gently beneath him.

"Don't look down. Just look ahead." Lara instructed him, her voice calm but firm.

Sandoz was obedient, his eyes fixed on the majestic tree on the other side, its sprawling canopy spread wide, sheltering a small thatched house underneath. Battling the initial twinge of fear that clenched at his chest, he felt a surge of determination. His pace quickened, the rhythmic thud of his feet echoing against the wooden planks. Before he realized it, he had crossed the bridge.

"Well done, Sandoz. What a brave boy!" Just behind him, Lara ruffled his hair and praised him like she would do to her little brother.

"Reya, it's your turn," Lara called out.

Reya's breath hitched. No matter how much she willed her body to move, it wouldn't cooperate. She stood rooted in front of the bridge like a sculpted statue.

With a gentle nudge, Jethru urged her forward, but Reya instinctively reached out, her fingers wrapping tightly around a sturdy branch. Its rough bark dug into her palms, and she clung to it with desperation as if her very life depended on it.

"Girl, don't you feel a twitch of shame? That little boy bravely crossed the bridge without so much a whimper. He's so tiny; from his perspective, the bridge likely stretched endlessly, and the depths below must have appeared as a daunting abyss." Jethru said in a mocking tone.

"Gra...grand..pa. I.. really... can..not...do .. it. Scared .. of.. the.. height!" Reya started to mumble.

Jetrhu let out a heavy sigh. He knew he couldn't wait for her indefinitely. Determined, he pressed his thumb into a delicate acupuncture point at the nape of the girl's neck. Almost instantly, her fingers slipped from the sturdy branch. As she fell limp, the old man effortlessly scooped her up, hoisting her over his shoulder like a lifeless sack of grain. He traversed the creaking bridge with a few strides, the wood bending slightly under the combined weight.

The moment Reya was placed on the ground, she vomited. Lara and Jethru rolled their eyes. Only little Sandoz approached her and patted her back to offer a bit of comfort.

While Reyea was suffering, Lara observed the surroundings. In the center, a small thatched house was underneath a majestic tree that seemed out of place on the barren plateau. 

In the southeast, a breathtaking waterfall tumbled from the summit of Mount Roca. Its crystalline waters cascaded down the rugged cliffside, enveloping the rocky surface in a soft, ethereal mist. The plunge pool at the base was modest in size and could hold up to five adults standing in close proximity. As the pool spilled over its edges, the excess water flowed westward, disappearing into the depths of the canyon below.

In the northeast was a small shed with a bamboo pole sticking out of the roof. Lara thought it was a storage room.

"Grandpa, except for that big tree, why are there only a few bushes growing on this plateau? The soil seemed okay." Lara voiced her observation.

In the modern era, Galeya's Throne was nothing but rock with a few wild grasses that managed to take root on the cracks of the rocky plateau.

"Do not be deceived. The good soil is nothing but just a thin layer covering the solid rock below."

Lara's brows arched. Her gaze lingered on the tree at the heart of the plateau.

"Oh, that one. That's the wonder of nature. For some reason, there is a hole in the middle of this big piece of rock. Eventually, the hole filled with soil, and that tree sprouted. But I can tell you a more interesting version of how this place came to be."