104. Calm Before the Storm I

Clay was surprised when he turned on the light upon entering his grandparent’s house. The house looks similar to what he recalled twenty nine years ago and even the interior, though renovated, the decorations are the same. Dust accumulated through the window but the furnitures inside are dirt free indicating someone would occasionally clean the house.

It has been a day since he got to the village and while he was accommodated at his cousin’s house, he just cannot stand the suffocating atmosphere as if he is not welcomed inside their residence. When he tried to pacify his cousin’s crying two year old boy, her aunt looked at him like a useless trash and nothing but a waste leeching of their wealth. Under the pretense of not being able to sleep properly that his cousin agreed he lives by himself for now.

The other reason he wanted to seclude himself is that, he has this inexplicable premonition that everyone around him is going die. And if that is not serious enough, any moment after his thought drifts and wander, he would find himself thinking about the massacres he did back at Gar Wahger Planet. It should be fine if these flashbacks make him feel guilty and regretful yet it is actually causing him the opposite. It is like convincing him that killing is good and there is fun on it.

He decided to observe himself of this psychotic tendency and turn in himself into therapy once it gets worse. While waiting for his cousin, he heated a teapot and after five minutes, his cousin who was carrying a sack of rations arrived.

“Whoohaaa my waist.” Nuir exhaled loudly then asked, “So, do you think you can live here alone?”

“It’s not the shabby place I recall but I think I can manage. I can always run to your place if I have to.”

Nuir III turned off the boiling kettle and placed two ceramic cups on the table. Clay noticed his cousin placed a slice of what looks like a yellowish leaf of Aloe Vera, then half a tablespoon of sugar before pouring in hot water.

“They’re called Long Siit Leaves. In the past, this Grade of leaf won’t even sell a penny but today, even today after so many years, we would still encounter tourists who are willing to pay a hundred crones per leaf. If it’s not to your liking then I can order commercial ones tomorrow.”

Clay took a sip. The taste and smell is similar to black coffee only milder but stronger from the coffee that made him hospitalized. There is bit of mellow bitter sweet aftertaste but overall, there is this faint aroma so relaxing and comforting it’s making him want to take a deep breath, grow wings and float through the clouds and exhale all his worries. Add a nice hot sprig bath to that, no wonder how enticing this tea would be.

“Not bad.”

Nuir III took a map and placed it on the table.

“I really want you to rest at least a month but if you insist, I have marked our portion of lands. It is dad’s wish to not have any maids in the house and you’ve seen how busy we can be. I’ll visit when I have time and I will talk to our neighbors about your presence. For now, you can help feed the Scorpion River Prawns. Just don’t overwork yourself.”

After a few more words, Nuir III finally left. Meanwhile, Clay is still drowned on the magical soothing effects of the tea.

Four months later.

Clay took a box on his drawer and retrieved a small thin rectangular plastic that looks like a USB drive and placed it in his pocket. When he was cleaning the house a month ago, he chanced upon a metallic box hidden underneath his grandparent’s bed and it was labeled Nuir’s proposal. He wanted to watch the contents of the flash drive but the village just doesn’t have a computer or any device capable to reading it.

It is ironic that there is electricity in the village but devices like phones, televisions, computers and every other electronic gadgets are banned. There is a type of FM radio device that is allowed but he has yet to see one.

Some of these electronic devices are accessible to where it is needed like the school or amusement parks but Gitlangan Clan have their own version of Stagnation Laws that they had installed Formations all over the Conservatory that would detect and send signals to destroy these devices if found outside the restricted areas. At least devices that would help process and preserve food like refrigerators and electric cookers were allowed but only for a specific brand.

He is hoping there would be shops he could enter and see what is stored in the data drive.

Today’s month is a four week long Gitlangan Yearly Festival and to avoid the village from being emptied and to control the crowd attending the festival, the residents would take turns visiting the Central Valley. Clay wanted to be included on the first batch but his neighbors highly recommended he joined the second batch as there would be a special event for guys like him.

Clay agreed as to not disappoint their enthusiasm besides, part of him got excited when he heard the word “special event”. After preparing his backpack, he stepped out of the house and marched towards his first festival.

He had long adapted to the life in the village. Three days after he indulged in drinking Long Siit Tea his cousin gave him, this miracle beverage seemed to have cured him of his paranoia. Then later, his neighbors helped him settle and understand their ways as a farmer.

Life is simple and while he does have evenings where his meal is dried fish and plain vegetables, it is peaceful and enjoyable for the most part.

He laments that he lost 29 years of his life and although he could easily gain and extend his life through cultivation, he was worried that he may have another unlucky encounter. He does not even know if he is cured of that mysterious cold energy but one thing is for sure, cultivation is the reason he did not live long during his first reincarnation and the reason of his misfortune now. He even thought that if he just stayed a normal citizen years back, it may have had prevented her mother’s demise.

He originally aspired to become a scientist while pursuing cultivation but he was lost on what to do so he decided to give in to an ordinary life for the time being and see how it goes but days passed and this mundane life has thought him to be contented and concentrate on the present then later without him realizing, he began to accept that being an mortal is probably for the best.

Though it may seem too late, he decided to make the best of his life and maybe seek a partner who can join him in quest to settle for boring and un-extraordinary life.

Back on earth, while he entertained the idea of being in a relationship with another woman, he never really had the intention of marrying someone aside from Kirsten. As he began to accept his new life, he is now open to the idea of possibly being married this lifetime.

So when his neighbors mentioned especial event, Clay already understood their intent and hints about meeting women. He did not need to hear what his nosy neighbors are talking about but every time those old hags see him, one does not need to be a psychic to understand what they are thinking as their thoughts would literally manifest into thin air right above their heads saying, “He’s so old. Why is he not married? Do you need help seeking a suitable mate?”

After walking for almost fifteen minutes, Clay reached the transport pickup location on top of a hill and saw more than 200 people. Many are from nearby villages and some are guests the Government Military Schools however the two that stands out the most are the two Foundation Establishment Guards of Gitlangan as they have the highest cultivation level.

“Alright everyone! Place your luggage to your right. After I distribute your numbers, fall in line and enter the air in an orderly manner.”

One of the guards collected the passenger’s luggage and sacks of tradable items and stored it all in his spatial ring and in the mean time, the other guard summoned at a hundred meter long Airship from his ring. Like a magic trick, a humongous Airship materialized out of nowhere.

“Wow!”

Some of the kids were awestruck and could not contain their excitement by the magical display and immediately ran towards the entrance.

“I said orderly!” The guard shouted but seeing the uncontrollable kids like hounds unleashed for the first time, he just opened the entrance and let everyone in.

Airship travel is a special mode of transport during the festival as it would take two days for a normal carriage to get to the Central Valley of Gitlangan. Clay looked through the window as the Qi Crystal powered ship rose through the air. For the first time he has a proper view what the village look like from the sky.

“Seeing through the window like a little boy. You’re that old Nuir’s grandson, aren’t you?”

Clay looked to his right. There is two of them at the back seat and this elderly man in his mid fifties is smiling at him however he does not recall him.

“Yes I am and pardon my memory but I don’t think we’ve met before.” Clay embarrassedly replied.

“My sister was about to get married that time and you were only a kid. I could never forget that innocent face of yours. I heard you got sick?”

“I don’t remember most of it but I am fine now. Thanks for asking. I am quite sure I know everyone in the village, at least familiar with everyone.”

Mrhggggh

“They call me Baran. I used to frequent near your house but a year ago, I was forced to retire. Now I’m just a reserved teacher and on my way to meet some old friends.”

Now that Clay thinks about it, this old man has resemblance to his neighbor, Aunt Brina.

“So, I heard you are still single. You know, I think I’m old enough to be matchmaker. I prefer the women of our Big Tree Village to marry someone from a neighboring village rather than them moving out somewhere far away.”

“Ha ha ha. I appreciate the sentiment but believe it not, I already have a team of very supportive elders, . . . mhh rather ladies working on it since I got here four months ago.”

Clay smiled and took out the flash drive from his pocket after hearing this man is a teacher.

“On the other hand, I wonder if this senior could recommend me to a place so I could view the contents of this storage device?”

“Four months? You sure those old hags are not waiting for their husbands to die so they could marry you?”

Baran laughed as he took a closer look on the small rectangular plastic on Clay’s fingers.

“You could just go to the nearest school but they’re closed for the festival. Suppose I could try helping you out if you can meet me at Blue Roof say … afternoon. It’s on the east side of the valley. Just tell the guards F- wing room 205.”