Noea (v.o: Tamil)

Inta ulakamē uṉatu corkkam, Baradar,

Nīṅkaḷ mikavum virumpi pātukākkum kāṭu uṅkaḷ ciṟai,

Kāṟṟiṉ vēkamum uyir mūccum uṉatu iraṭcippu,

Āṉāl paccai ilaikaḷ vaḻiyāka pāyum cīram uṅkaḷ āviyai iṟutiyil kollum viṣam, āṉāl uṅkaḷ āṉmāvai viṭuvikka uṅkaḷāl etuvum ceyya muṭiyātu.

(EN:)

„This world is your Paradise, Baradar; the forest that you love so much is your prison; the gusts of wind and the breath of life are your salvation, and the serum that flows through the green leaves of this forest is the venom which will kill your soul eventually and you can do nothing to save it," and those whispers of the magic wave were heard everywhere, spinning in the air and „running" through the forest as if being air horses which galloped toward the red horizon of the dusk, looking for salvation.

And the one who continued to wander throughout the forest, following those air horses and completely lost in the world of sufferance and memories, was Baradar, who kept tirelessly advancing through that dried forest, so known by him, but so feared by many, like the Forest of the Dead Ones.

„Where are you, my lady?” Baradar whispered the name of his Queen, in despair, but she wasn't seen anywhere even if he was following the voice of the air everywhere, looking for her. He was also following the breath of the wind and the flood of love that was floating in that lifeless woods, but nothing was seen around, nothing he was longing for so much, and this scared the poor minikin so much, who felt completely hopeless.

A wolf's howl has been heard suddenly behind Baradar and he stopped, but he didn't look back to see what was approaching him, for he wasn't that sure what was real and what wasn't in that forest of shadows.

„King wolf?” the minikin eventually said, but he heard no answer and he decided to wait for a few more instants, hearing the devilish breath of the trees. But… so suddenly, the silence took over the surroundings and this was really weird for, in that forest, only the darkness and the void lived, forcing the trees to keep silent by freezing their leaves. However, after a few moments of deep calmness, the small metallic bodies of the leaves, of dark green, started to move again, and only then did Baradar listen to some whispers of someone unseen:

„For how long did you wander this forest already, minikin? For how many sitting up nights or maybe days in a row did you wait for this?"

„I don't know,” whispered Baradar, staring at the ground under his feet, for he didn't dare to raise his glance and to look at the one who talked to him. That's why, he preferred to look everywhere in that forest, but not at the one who maybe wanted to be his friend if he finally decided to talk to him.

„2.475.637. I've counted it for you, for I've felt the power of your wandering deeply in my roots, that are deeply lodged in the depths of the soil, looking for life-giving water. But instead of the serum of life, I always found only sadness and painful memories that were born from your being, just like I've created you from the curse thrown over my body made from sins," the woods whispered again.

Only then did Baradar understand that who was talking to him was the forest, which was made from his own essence. And, he finally raised his glance and looked around. But he saw nothing until his eyes didn't get used to the darkness, till the frightened and restless bird from his chest didn't calm down, and his breath didn't regain its normal flow. After that, he saw, in the distance, something slowly advancing toward him. But what was approaching was something between an alive being and just an illusion, for it was made from wood mixed up with the serum of life, and it was talking to Baradar into an unknown language for the other trees.

„I'm Shiver Sun, the guardian of your curse and, as this forest, I've been created from the same curse I'm guarding now. Namely that dark power made me being this walking being, even if no heart is beating in my chest," said Shiver Sun, after he stopped in front of the minikin.

Baradar closed his eyes for a few moments. And, when he felt that he was calm already, opened them and looked at that walking and talking log of about 1 meter in size, which was standing only one step in front of him.

And he saw that Shiver Sun had thick roots, but dried while his arms were made from the same roots that seemed to lack water. Only a few layers with few leaves on them were seen on what was meant to be his head, instead of hair, and this made his loneliness and dryness be even more visible.

„I'm sorry,” the minikin said eventually while he kept looking at the log and a trace of sadness had been felt in that sigh that was heard coming out of his chest.

„What for?” Shiver Sun asked him.

„For creating you and allowing you to look like that," Baradar said and his eyes filled with tears. Then, an ocean of tears had been shed over his cheeks, and, very soon, a few tears touched the dried skin of the log. Namely, the power of the minikin's warm and alive tears, born in Baradar's chest, made the log become green, covered with dark green moss.

„And... what's wrong with me? I'm alive while breathing through you, for the serum of your life flows in my being too, and we are breathing at the same time, holding each other's hands in the dancing rhythm of life."

„But this forest … it's so dark here … so cold … so deserted,” the minikin said while staring around. „Does my inner world really look like this?"

„This is your cross, minikin. This is your punishment for having taken someone's life. That's why you must pay... for what you've done," and, for the first time, Baradar saw two lips and two eyes outlined on the log's bark, whose glance pierced the minikin's, making him shudder, feel that the entire world was collapsing over him, like holy water that was trying to wash him of sins. But this made Baradar feel even more lost, for he was completely hopeless.

***

The void around started to vibrate, and Baradar felt it so well, even if he didn't see how the space was moving around him, for the place where he was at that moment was completely swallowed by darkness.

„Now you can open your eyes,” Shiver Sun told the minikin when the vibrations stopped being felt on his skin and, when he finally opened his eyes, Baradar saw something absolutely fascinating and unseen before.

The space Baradar saw around was Magic and Scary at the same time: it was surrounded by the Dark Forest of Mortor, and only the place where Baradar and Shiver Sun were was illuminated as if they had been on a kind of island in the middle of a desert.

„It's so amazing,” whispered Baradar, looking at everything that was seen around as if the world from in front had spun around the sun, and he was standing right in the center of that circle of fire. „What place is this, Shiver Sun?"

„This is my world," the log answered. „What you see now, is my soul, and that brook that flows in the distance, crossing that dark forest, is the serum of my life. But even if it is something that's part of my being, I can't even touch it or drink from it."

Shiver Sun's words amazed the minikin so much, who kept staring at him while that one talked. But, suddenly, something scared Baradar and he looked around: somewhere, in the far away distance, drums were heard. 1…2, 1…2 and their rhythmical sound was approaching the place where he was standing more and more. At least, that was the feeling awoken in the minikin's soul, for nothing else around was moving, except the approaching noise in which he felt a frightening vibration, to later hear a deafening sound coming from the valley that was behind that forest.

„Crows? How can crows be here?" Baradar wondered, watching the crows'fly with his deep glance.

„Those black-like pitch birds, that you are seeing in the distance, are my thoughts," the log said eventually. „Look at their spiral movement: it's the symbol of Māṉsṭar Kēlaksi - its huge throat that swallows and devours everything around."

Hearing this, the minikin felt dizzy and staggered to his feet... then, he took two steps back while touching his forehead with his palm. Eventually, he closed his eyes as if the air he breathed had been poisoned by his cold breath.

Then... he heard Shiver Sun's voice talking to him again, but when he looked around, he couldn't see the log anymore: „you've been cursed, minikin, and you are the devil of these places," and this made Baradar wince and again look around, but again the log wasn't seen anywhere... only a wave of black magical air was seen dancing around the minikin, formed by those black crows that were gathered in one place, by their chaotical movement as if controlled by an unseen power. And… again the drums have been heard …approaching the minikin and making nature around vibrate in their rhythm, like the music of spears that are hit one by the other, making a deafening metallic noise around, a noise that deeply entered Baradar's being, through his skin, like thousands of sharp needles.

„Oh,” sighed the minikin while slowly kneeling down, touching his chest, where it wa s supposed to be the heart, with both hands.

Finally, he saw the log again, but Shiver Sun looked different now… he had a shape … a wooden one, but similar to the humans': a head, two arms, two legs, and, around his body, those black birds were madly spinning, in a kind of weird dance of the underworld.

„Shiver Sun?” the minikin's voice has been heard whispering, but the noise made by his voice was weird, barely heard.

„Shiver Sun is only in your imagination …he's the form of your fears of being destroyed and dispersed into nothingness as if being a light feather blown by the wind. But your destiny won't be that painful, minikin. The Hell you see here and now is the place where your soul reached after death and the place the humans are so afraid of," and the last part has been shouted by the log, and the noise of his voice made Baradar's ears rung, and he right away covered them with his palms.

And, with that shout, nature around had been covered by hot magma that was flowing in huge, boiling waves toward the minikin, scorching everything around and threatening him too to also destroy him eventually.

***

When that hot magma passed over him and he heard again Shiver Sun's voice telling him: „finally, you woke up," Baradar opened his eyes and realized that they were actually sitting down in the shadow of a big, rounded tree.

„What was that?” Baradar asked the log.

„Your fears and, as far as I could see, I'm part of them. But those fears aren't only yours: those are fears that threaten the entire world with destruction. And, this world, that you see now in front of you, destroyes itself with each breath you deeply inhale and it'll be worse from now on, for something cursed and evil is approaching these lands."

„These lands?” the minikin's foolish question could be heard while he looked around. But he suddenly kept silent, to only seconds later whisper again: „the Lands of the Setting Sun. My home!" and his eyes filled with tears, watching those lands in amazement, lands that he loved so much, whose beauty and splendor were something he longed for so much. But, so soon, the minikin realized that those places were actually deserted: the palace, the gardens, the woods. Even so, he dared to ask Shiver Sun: „how did you manage to bring them back to life again? No matter how hard I've tried, to at least see them, I couldn't, not even in my dreams."

„They are still dead …the surroundings …the people … the birds… even the music. What you see now, it's just a product of your imagination made with my power. Actually, I'm taking my power from you. So, you can also think that you've created this miracle. But… all these are possible while you still didn't cross the Gates of the Lands of the dead ones. If you cross it one day, then… everything will be lost, and you'll never be born again.

The minikin kept again silent, for he'd heard such words before, too: that when his soul will be lost, everything around him will be brought back to life again. And he felt sorrow when he should have felt joy, hearing that the places he loved and was longing for could be saved. But... how to be happy when you know that you'll be lost forever when everything will be brought back to life? And, in the minikin's soul, the joy and the sadness started to fight, making him feel worse than ever.

„Tell me, Shiver Sun, do you know the story of these lands?” the minikin tearfully asked the log.

„No, I still didn't have the honor to hear such stories. But yet… I hear the whisper of nature sometimes while it tells stories about a beautiful kingdom, that once existed, somewhere, in a fairy-like land, and, because I love to hear such stories, I'm ready to listen to yours too."

The minikin kept silent for a few instants, filling his chest with that pleasant aroma and, so soon, his melodious voice have been heard floating above those mystical places:

„The Kingdom of Mortor has been born about 3 thousand years ago, from savage people, who settled down here, after they had left the Forest of Mortor and, since then, only 3 kings have ruled over these surroundings: Mirianor - the Brighter, Ian Gyar - the King with watery eyes, and Noea - the Golden Queen.

But 3 has been just a number for the People of Noear, for they've been happy in those 3 thousand years of their existence and no danger was lurking for them, for they were protected by a huge power that was flowing in their kings'veins.

Mirianor, the first and the most known king of all times, had the power of flames and he could also control the gusts of wind, for he has been born from flames and his first breath has been taken from the breath of the sky bathed by the warm breeze of a spring wind and, as long as he has been on the throne, nobody ever dared to approach the Forest of Mortor or at least to think that they could be kneeled down.

But their fame and their power weren't only due to the magical power of Mirianor. No. It was also because Mirianor was a skillful and fearless king, and he knew to teach his people to be the same. Also, he taught his men the craft of hunting and fishing, and when the number of his people increased so much that living in those places started to be felt stuffy, he thought about finding new lands to settle down his kingdom. But Mirianor didn't want only a new place - he also wanted that land to be fertile, sunny, and safe, for having beautiful landscapes and food wasn't enough, it had to be also protected in case of eventual attacks from the vandals.

The night before their leaving, Mirianor had a dream and he saw Helyos in his dream, the titan of Sun, heading toward him in his golden cart, and, when Mirianor and Helyos were only a few meters from each other, the titan told him: „Mirianor, you, king of Mortor, wait for three more months before leaving. Then, go West, on a journey that will last for 40 nights and days and when this time will pass and the clock of time will stop, you should stop too and put the cornerstone of your kingdom in the sunniest place. But, when you'll put the cornerstone and you'll choose the place, you should call my name loudly three times and, every year, on the same date, you should honor me as the protector of your kingdom." After such words, Helyos, his golden cart, and his horses vanished and Mirianor woke up. And, the same night, he ordered his people to unpack their things for their journey was delayed for three more months.

But what Mirianor didn't know was that to give him the Western lands, Helyos slaughtered the people that was living in those realms. And Helyos did this for being avid of power and eager to hear his name whispered as being something saint, to be feared by the People of Mortor, the people that has never been afraid of anybody. And, to have all this, the titan of the sun sacrificed everything around on the western lands and he started to scorch everything around since he left the Forest of Mortor, for what Mirianor thought that it has been only a dream, it has been in fact a true fact: the titan of the sun used his power to bring Mirianor in front of him, during the night, but he didn't know that, for he walked in his sleep that night. Thus, after that night, the sky was all the time in flames, and the rain had forbidden to cool the earth. Thus, villages, lands, and valleys have been scorched to the ground, the soil dried and cracked, and the water entered deep-deep into the underground, and namely these natural disasters chased the humans from those lands. Eventually, Gaea, Helyos'mother, had pity for the poor land and untied the mouth of the sack of rains. So, those soil breathed again, recovered its alive green coat, and life turned back everywhere.

Three months later after his dream, Mirianor and his people went West, on a journey that lasted for 40 days and 40 nights. And, when they finally got to the promised lands, they built their golden palace as they had dreamt of. But the king didn't live for long to see the beauty of that new building, for he has been cursed by the people whose lands he had dreamt of and who he had chased away from their homes to bring his people there.

The second king who led the People of Mortor has been the son of the titanide of waters, Marea, and his name was Ian Gyar. He had power over everything that was surrounded by water, and he had that power for being the proud heir of his mother. However, he was greedy for power and dreamt about having more lands. That's why he started a bloody war with the neighbors and that's why he has been chased away from his throne and imprisoned in the far away Forest of Mortor, by the power of Noea, his niece, and the one who has been named Queen after him. And she has been the Queen who changed the name of the People from Mortor to Noear.

And she has also been a respectable queen - good and powerful, for she has been possessed of the power of richness and gold, and everything she was touching was turned into gold too. That's why, all the neighboring kingdoms respected her and established a good relationship with her, a relationship based on respect, peace, and trust.

But as darkness always lurks on good from the shadow, the same did the evil that lurked on Noea, and the name of that Evil was Ian Gyar - for even if he was still imprisoned in the Forest of Mortor, he still dreamt to turn back to his kingdom, on his throne, and he was ready of everything to reach his goals.

And he had that hope in his soul, for... soon after being imprisoned in that far away forest, Ian Gyar found the source of life of the People of Mortor - a spring with sweet water. So, to get revenge on Noea, he started to spy on her while watching those waters, which reflected the life of the People of Noear on their surface, and he also could start to plan his escape thus.

Actually, the birth of a second spring, similar to the one from the Forest of Mortor, was due to Mirianor, for while he lived in the forest, he loved that spring so much, and, when he decided to leave those places, he considered that it'll be a sign of luck to take that spring with them. But as changing the place of a natural spring isn't possible, he could only take a sample of that spring, and, once they reached their new home, he used his power and that sample to create a new spring. But what was meant to be a sign of luck, has been the weakness of his people in fact, for, being closely related, the two streams were also taking power from the soul of Noears.

But it could also be considered a sign of luck, for even if Ian Gyar could poison that stream and thus leave them without a source of water, he chose the long-lasting revenge instead of a strike one. So, he waited for so many years, preparing for his war in great secret while lurking the reflection of Noears in the mirror formed from the sweet water of the stream, hidden in the soul of the Mortor Forest. Thus, he was always one step in front of Noea, who couldn't understand why she was feeling that evil all the time blowing down her neck.

And that war took finally place: three hundred years later when the People of Noear didn't expect this, when they were so happy and when they didn't have the slightest idea of the cruel fate that was waiting for them. But, so soon, they felt on their own skin what cruelty means when they've been kneeled down, completely destroyed, for they've been taken by surprise and they didn't even have the chance to oppose to that, for...," and the minikin's voice was still heard telling that story, but further and further with each spoken word, as if his story had to be told in great secret. Yet, that story couldn't be kept secret for long, at least not from Baradar's heart, who was dreaming about a new era.