Chapter 21 – A New Cycle

Winter passed relatively peaceful. The Orient Inn along the last days had three sets of mood. It’s either steamy or a gloom would surround the whole Inn. From the proprietress that always looks pissed. The waiter, who looks so depressed. And finally, the reaper himself that drinks near the window of the Inn.

It became a strange Inn at the last moments of winter. And as the last day of winter arrived, the new cycle then came into the horizon for the Kingdom of Lin. Marking the Tenth Year Reign of the Matriarch, Elizabeth the War Maiden. And as the New Year comes, the town of Tal celebrated her ladyship and praised the Sun God Auro for another year of prosperity.

Ramiel who is a newcomer to this town of Tal partake in the celebration. Although alone, Ramiel wasn’t going to feel even more downer that he already is at the moment. Instead, he just went into the tree near the river with a bottle of ale and a hemp cigar. Sitting on the tree, he relaxed his back and took a sip of the bottle of ale. Then he smoked the blunt he bought and stared at the clear crimson skies.

The first day of the new cycle came in with such a dazzling phenomenon. The rays of the sun, which turned the sky crimson, made the snow immediately, melt. The covered up flowers and the various vegetations slowly got fertilized by various colorful dots that fly through the sky like fireflies.

Ramiel who saw this spectacle didn’t know if this was the result of him smoking hemp, or a natural occurrence when the new cycle comes. It is natural and isn’t a result of him smoking hemp. It is simply the way the world comes into play. This is the result of the river of life that flows in this world.

The Town of Tal is where a big node of Leylines exists. Meaning to say, due to this ‘node’ existing in the town of Tal, the town would experience such grand spectacle at each new cycle. Hence, the reason this town is so prosperous is because of the node of Leylines. Not only that, it makes a good port due to the river of light flowing here. It makes the town’s weather more harmonious than the rest. Plus the soil is so rich and fatten, that every harvest is a great one.

This town is a miracle to this continent. That is why the barbarians in the north and the other Kingdoms would like to usurp it. But with the War Maiden guarding it, and the Reaper just behind her back. It is troublesome to try anything at the moment.

Of course, Ramiel wouldn’t know anything about this.

He is simply a clueless man that is currently passing his time under a tree, with a blunt and ale. Ramiel who could not read or write just looked upon the dots of light reflecting upon his eyes. He finds them beautiful and lovely. The various scenic scenes on his world wouldn’t even compare to what he is seeing.

That is why as he watches. He pulled his camera and took a picture of the spectacle of light. After taking a picture, he put his camera away and continued his relaxation under this tree. He had no work today since the Inn is taking a day off. He was informed through troublesome gestures, and when he left the Inn. Felli and Julian were going somewhere. He didn’t know where they are going nor can he ever ask. So he just forgot about it and went to this place.

He wasn’t wrong on doing so. His now enamored at the river of light that floats above him. He doesn’t want to leave this place until this spectacle is over. What he sees is more than dots of light. He sees differently shape insect-like lights that glow differently.

Each of the Leylines bugs, made from the river of life. Are various incarnation of beings or plants that would soon come into life. These beings would either be born into a vessel of an animal. Or became a ferocious monster that would be feared among the land or a beautiful blossom, but whatever they are after this. At the moment they are merely pure dots of light that floats in the sky. Their roles after this cycle are meaningless.

Right now they are free carefree souls. Like Ramiel, who got lost in this word, finally, have come to the realization that this is, his new home now. That video made him face reality, and the camera he holds is merely a tool.

“Take a picture of everything that you take a fancy there.”

Ramiel remembered the words of his cousin. He smiled, at the thought of his cousin and looked upon the sky filled with multi-colored bugs made of light.

Ramiel is sad. He is sad, he won’t lie that he isn’t. But he knows that there is nothing he can do about it. That is why despite the dark days that he will encounter. Ramiel promised himself to keep on living. It could be said that he somehow fooled himself that he arrived on the ‘island’ that he was supposed to go.

He can’t be sad forever. And that is why in this new cycle. Ramiel, who got transported into this other world, promised to live as best as he can.

He promised in his heart and to his family, which is in an other world. That he would take this ‘vacation’ trip lovingly. Not because he suddenly had his mind steeled. Not because he got some sort of resolution. But because he simply promised, and it is his own way of coping up with this world, a defense mechanism he set up for himself.

That is why near a river, on a leafless tree, under a sky with a river of light floating. Ramiel, the lost soul, the dumb mute, and the delusional made a despairing smile.

A toast to this damn world!

He raised the bottle of ale, towards the sun for a toast.

The River of Light then floated away as it finished it circling around the Town of Tal.

And with a drink, Ramiel is now born anew along with the New Cycle.