The winds feel nice today. Where should I go for today? Why not go for another adventure…
I have walked few miles now. The sun is starting to set now, I didn’t really get anything today, I should just look for a place to sleep, otherwise I’d have to set up camp… “What’s that over there?”, asking myself.
“Woah, there’s an actual crop field here. Is there a village nearby?”, my stomach rumbles,” Now I’m hungry.” I’m just going take some grapes….
Wait… What’s happening?! Why are there vines grabbing my feet?
“Hey you! You’re trespassing!”, a farmer shouted.
“I’m sorry, I only wanted something to eat.”, I tried apologizing, but suddenly guards are already heading towards me and the vine’s grip is only getting stronger as I struggle.
“Take him to the dungeons!”, one of the guards ordered. As the guards restrain me, I tried to explain myself, “Please, I’m sorry for taking some food. I can pay for it, I can do anything, you don’t have to put me in your dungeon.”
“We do not tolerate trespassers; we have a barrier for a reason and we most certainly not let anyone get away with trespassing just by paying us. Take him away!”
As the moon shines through the dungeon window, I began to think. I’m now stuck in this dungeon and no one will listen to my testimony. What should I do?
Come to think of it, I’m the only one in here. It must be rare for people to trespass here.
What were those vines? Did they come to life because I took some grapes? That was scary, I actually thought the ground was going to eat me.
What did that guard say? A “barrier”? I didn’t see a barrier… It was just the crop fields. There wasn’t anything that I could consider as a barrier. What barrier was he talking about?
There have been unusual things that happened to me lately, but I haven’t encountered anything like that before. I should’ve just set-up camp somewhere in the woods.
I hear the guards outside, talking, “This is the first time this has happened, no one has ever gone through our barriers. What do you think this man has that we don’t know of?”, the first guard said.
“Maybe its one of the secrets “the order” won’t tell us. One thing is for sure, he’s a threat to our village.”, the second guard said.
As the nights passed, I grow more curious of what will happen to me. I hope something good happens today.
I hear chattered running outside, and uncertain panic. Then I hear the dungeon door opening and footsteps getting closer. It was that guard yesterday, but now he’s with an older man, obviously has a higher position than him.
“Look I can explain, please just listen to me I don’t have to stay in this dungeon. I didn’t eat anything.”, I exclaimed.
“Who are you and Why have you come here?”, the old man asked.
“I am Robert, I did not come here to harm anyone. I was only travelling and I came across the crop fields. I got a little hungry and thought, maybe I could get some grapes. I did not know that I was trespassing.”, I explained.
“What did you bring with you?”, the old man asked. “What do you mean? I only brought my things, some clothes, a tent, and some necessities.”, I said.
Suddenly, they’re dragging me. They dragged me outside to see the mess. The village… What happened here? This was not like this yesterday. No human could have done this.
“Explain this.”, the old man said. “I did not have anything to do with this.”, I claimed. “I suggest we take him to our quarters.”, a man similarly dressed like the old man showed up.
They kept dragging me to their quarters. Their quarters are like a cave. When we went inside, there were men similarly dressed as the old man and there was this glowing tree in the center of the cave.
“Robert, you have made a big mess to our village. Do you know why?”, one of the men said.
“I didn’t make that mess, I promise, I only took some grapes from the crop fields.”, I claimed.
“The mess no, but you did cause it.”, a man said, “This tree here is the heart of this village. For many years, it has given us our powers and protected our village.”
“Powers? You all have powers? Is that why there were vines grabbing my feet? Was that you?”, I asked in confusion.
“No, that was the tree. You see the tree has its own mind and has immortality. It has lived even before we have made this village around here. This tree is the tree of nature. It has given all of the residents here the power to produce healthy crops, thus the miles of crop fields you saw. It has put a barrier that makes the village invisible to the world. The trees surrounding the whole village are alive and they help when there are intruders or when we are at war.”
“So, all of you have powers and the tree helps your village. What does that have to do with me?”, I asked.
“You see, the villagers here do not have powers once we go out of our village because our powers are given by the tree. For you, you are born with them and you have made a connection to the tree, that is why you were able to see the village and enter. That is why you can help us.”, the man explained.
“How can I help?”, I asked.
“Since all our powers are only limited, you are our village’s only chance. When you made a connection with the tree it opened the barrier and will not close up anymore. The creatures that lurk outside the barrier have already attacked last night and made the mess outside. We may have a solution to this, if you can connect with the tree again you may bring back the barrier that protects us and we’ll handle the rehabilitation of our resources.”, a man said.
“How do I connect with the tree? I did not even know that I connected with it.”, I asked in confusion.
“We do not know as well but we want you to try doing this.”, the man suggested. “Wha-“, I was cut-off because the man pulled my hand to touch the tree.
--------------------------
Where is this? Why am I here? This looks like the woods.
“Earth? Is that you?”, a girls voice asked. “It is you.”
“I’m sorry, my name is Robert. Where am I?”, I asked. “You’re in my realm.”, she claimed.
“What? Who are you? What do you mean your realm? What are you?”, confused.
“I’m sorry, you must have forgotten from all these years. I’m Nature your old friend. One of your friends.”, she said. ”We are two of the different magical elements of this world. There is Air, she travels a lot. Fire, he’s only present when something is burning, but he visits here sometimes. Water, she’s the ocean or any other aquatic form. Nature, me, I am actually everywhere, but this tree is my realm. You are Earth, or what you where. Earth reincarnates every 50 years; you Robert is one of his reincarnations. All of the elements are in spirit form trapped in their realms but contribute to your realm.”
“Yes, your realm. You’re trapped in this planet because you are this planet and this is your realm. The other elements are just factors that help you maintain this planet. You have given your friends duties as elements of this world. But you wanted to explore the planet; so, you died and reincarnated yourself into another form, one of the mortals. This form only gives you a limited time to explore, that is why you reincarnate every 50 years.”
“Since you are one of the elements, I detected you and let you in the village barrier. This village has protected me throughout these years. It only fits if I give them the protection they need.”
“That is a lot to take in.”, I said. “Is that the reason why I have powers?”
“Yes. Although, Earth is dead his powers are not.”, she said. “I know why you are here; I will bring back the barrier. You can just leave, there is no point in reminiscing the old days if you don’t remember anything.”
“Can I give people powers?”, I asked.
“Maybe, I am not entirely sure if all of Earth’s powers are given to you; but you might be able to teach the mortals some magic. Why?”, she asked.
“I want to stay here and maybe learn more about myself, Earth perhaps. Is that okay for you?”, I suggested.
“Yes! I can tell all the other elements that you are here.”, she said excitingly.
--------------------------------
Years have passed now. I have traveled so far already. But the time has come.
See you in my next reincarnation.
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