| Board : | |
| Author : | |
| Subject : | |
| Date : | |
|
As Velka took a break from her hard training, she found herself on a long walk through the woods. She wandered north of Kiung, into the Forest of Elders, brushing tulips and daffodils with her fingertips as she floated light-footedly across the forest floor taking in every breath of the natural world around her. The smell of damp bark and ever so distant smoke filled her nose. As she approached an odd, lonely stone bench in the middle of the woods, Velka wondered why it stood there at all. A stick snapping under a foot alarmed Velka as she was sure she was alone. Glancing towards the noise, she saw a small boy run to the north. Velka cried out for the boy to stop but they continued running deeper into the woods. Concerned, Velka pursued the boy as to her knowledge, there were no villages or homes here and the boy could be in trouble. She followed his trail and was surprised to find a small crafting community. "What is this place?" Velka squinted, scanning the smoke-threaded clearing as she pondered who these people could be. As she looked around there were a number of active people. They were all busy with their respective tasks but the boy now turned and was quite welcoming, explaining he likes when people stumble upon their little, forgotten village and he only ran because he thought she was a forest spirit! Velka giggled at the compliment but still in shock that such a community existed in the deep woods of Kiung. A community untouched by the Kingdoms and living in a blissful ignorance to the outside world. Before long, many more children surrounded Velka all admiring her unusual appearance to the village people. Most of the adults continued about their work, offering brief smiles before returning to loom, hammer and hearth, while the children were roaming around in freedom. One small child pointed at Velka's dark leather pouch and said "What is this? What do you keep in there?" "Oh, well" Velka replied "magic stones!" The children all gasped in unison. "What kind of magic?" one of them shouted. "They help me see what eyes miss." "Whaaaaaat no way!" One of the bigger kids said in disbelief "like into the future or something?" "Something like that," Velka giggled. "Tell me if we're going to win our game later in the village square!" The bigger kid blurted the question "Oh? You are going to have a game later?" "Yes, all of us are practicing, because when the last chore is done, the adults relax and watch us play" "Is there something on the line for this game?" "Yes! The winners get the first pick from the fresh baked treats!" "My, what a prize indeed! I can see why you want to know if you will win or not" Velka said with a kind smile, "Well, I may not be able to tell you who will win, but I can definitely try to see what kind of game it will be! Velka began to take out her crystals and a dark black cloth. Sitting on her knees, she laid the cloth out in front of the dozen or so children, who all sat in a semi-circle around her. "I need you all to close your eyes and think about playing your game later" Velka guided them. As they closed their eyes, Velka shook some crystals in a small container and rolled them onto the cloth. Vibrant colors contrasted against the dark cloth and a warmth radiated outward with a consistent pulse. The stones clustered neatly together. A tear filled Velka's eye as she felt the immense joy that these children create with their game, love from the adults who work hard and relax watching the youth compete, and long lasting memories that are created. ~~~Continues~~~ | |