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Chul's surge of brilliance. The problem with getting old is that your senses abandon you. Hearing decays, eyesight deteriorates - we know this. What they fail to fill you in is your taste. I'm not talking about food, I'm talking about adventure. It's been so long since I have tasted glory, tasted thrill; tasted anything other than what Time had left me when he robbed me of everything else. I miss life. I was sitting here in this creaking chair, in this straw hut of mine, a few days ago, spending my final days when the most peculiar character approached me. His clothes were ragged, his hair a ruffle of black tangles, and his eyes the only real discernable feature on his face because of the thick beard obscuring his mouth. Oh, I remember his eyes, even if my memory isn't what it was used to be. They were wild and crazed, and I knew he came here for a reason. "Hello, Sying," He said, letting himself through the door. I was only mildly surprised he knew my name. "My name is Chul, and I think we can help each other." I squinted at him and took a swig of root liquor. "What is it that you want, Mr. Chul?" "The question is; what is it that you want? How many years do you think you have Sying? You've been reduced to selling herb pipes and paper in a nobody town. Word is that you were the best carpenter in the world." I didn't reply, neither confirming it denying it, so he continued. "I've recently had a... surge of brilliance, if you will. You've surely heard about the catapult Haggard Witch is trying to build? I've had an epiphany; I will beat her to the punch. I've been trying to keep the snooping people away from the Ice dungeon, but why? If they seek the evil that lies in there that bad, then let's satisfy their curiosity. I want you to build a catapult that will destroy the barrier that separates this mortal world and the other one. In return? Mupa will graciously reward you with eternal youth." Youth - oh, how I yearned to feel it again. This wrinkled skin certainly wasn't me, nor the brittle bones beneath that. I bit my lip, briefly considering it. "Well, Sying, if you do not wa-" "Ok, you've got a deal," I said, cutting his sentence short. He smiled, satisfied with my answer. "I will be seeing you again then, old man." I rationalized the decision to myself over and over. If the people wanted to get to the Ice dungeon, I was only helping them... right? And getting youth in return, I couldn't possibly say no. But if I had known what evils would have been released, I would have thought twice making the dreaded contraption. So I set to work with more conviction than I thought possible. My hands were splintered, my back sore, and my skin drenched with sweat. But it wasn't long until my device came into fruition. It took a season, but the catapult was finished. Chul came back to my hut, and took the catapult. "What about my youth?" I asked, excited for the chance to live another life. He laughed a sinister laugh, turning his back. "What about it?" He said, and continued walking. Perhaps a part of me had known I would be used. But my obsession for youth had clouded my judgement, and I remembered the soft tears that fell down my crooked nose as I watched him go off into the sunset with my catapult. The next day, a crowd had formed in Kugnae. I walked up, nearing the Ice dungeon, to see Chul with the catapult, laughing maniacally. Everything seemed to go in slow motion, people frozen by awe and wonder as he loaded it up and fired away. The barrier broke, and suddenly it was as if the sun had been swallowed up, and the most haunting feeling crept over my body. Oh, god, what have I done? - Khaldun | |