Present day Scye
The journey from the place to Scye was longer than I had expected, and Father's guardian spirit didn't make it any easier for me. He only bosses me around throughout the entire trip, constantly reminding me of my mother and her never-ending orders. 'Sit straight', 'no slouching', 'eat quietly'— just to mention a few of Torbe's torturous lectures; as if I hadn't heard enough from Mother. The taxi suddenly stopped and Father said we'd have to walk the rest of the way since vehicles couldn't move around the area we were headed.
The path to the Ancestor's forest was very narrow and steep too. One wrong move and you'd slide down an endless abyss—according to Torbe. The forest was just past the border between Omir and Scye. Father had told me a little about the Omir border when I was much younger, he said the place held so many memories for him. I patiently waited for Father until he had finished settling the driver and the three of us began walking towards the forest. I looked at the map I had bought at the Omir market; we still had a long way to go. Thankfully I wore a very comfortable pair of shoes and a much more comfortable outfit. Mother and Torbe had a lot to say about my outfit, but Father thought it was just right. Afterall we'd be walking through the woods, it wasn't a fancy party.
"Stop stomping your feet so loudly." Torbe said.
"It's a forest! What? You want me waltzing instead?"
"Walk properly." Was all he said.
Angry and frustrated with his bossy attitude throughout the trip, I pulled out a lighter from my pocket and began flickering it around his face and body, threatening to burn him. Lucky for me, Father was behind us so he couldn't see much of what was happening in front with his guardian spirit and I.
"Why do you even have that?!" He shrieked
"Because I knew you'd be an annoying bum! That's why."
"Improper—"
"Say one more word." I threatened, holding the lighter closer to his body.
Torbe was significantly taller than I was. Naturally, any other person would've been scared and intimidated by his height and size, but I was scared of his ability to speak. I wondered if the awakened spirits had to learn to speak like humans did, or if they just magically started speaking as soon as they awakened. It really was a mystery to me, but it was my first awakening, so I'd get to see how it actually happened that the Ancestors could speak.
Torbe quietly walked behind me as we made our way deeper into the woods. Ocsic didn't really have much vegetation since it was mostly occupied by technologists and engineers who already built companies and industries around the area, so naturally I was surprised by just how many trees there were in Scye. It was no doubt the most beautiful towns of the Topside. Sadly, I never would get the chance to visit as much as I would have wanted to because most of my administrative duties were done in Ocsic.
After walking for what seemed like forever, we finally got to the town where all of the Ancestors were being kept—more like protected. The town was rather small and there were little wooden houses built over a river. These houses were very tall; nearly as tall as the trees we'd seen in the forest earlier and I wondered how its residents even got up such a high place anyway. How do we even get up there? I asked no one in particular.
I moved closer to Torbe who was now in front of Father and I, standing on the edge of the river that divided Scye from this little town.
"So-S-skeo…" I struggled as I tried to pronounce the name of the town.
"Sceoyeu." Father said.
"That's a weird name for a town."
"The first Ancestors named it."
I looked at Father just standing proud as he admired the town. If he hadn't awoken his own Ancestor, one would've thought it was his first time visiting the place. I looked at the map in my hand and folded it neatly into my pockets. I still was in shock with how and why Ancestors existed. Father only gave me a briefing, but it wasn't enough to answer the millions of questions I had in my head. For starters, I wanted to know what form of sorcery it was that made the Ancestors able to possess an animals body and how they were able to speak. I wanted to know why it couldn't have been humans they possessed. So many whys and whats and hows needed to be asked. But those could wait for now.
"Well…how do we cross?" I asked
"Oh, by boat. Then Torbe would carry us all the way up to the houses." Father answered
"At least he gets to be useful once." I jeered at Torbe who simply paid me no mind and looked away.
Altogether we made our way towards the boats that were just by the edge of the river and Father paid one of the boatmen to help carry us across the river. The man smiled at me and slightly bowed his head as he helped me onto the boat. I smiled back at him, took his hand and gently got on the boat. After making sure all three of us had boarded safely, he began to gently paddle the boat towards the other side of the river. He hummed quietly as he rowed, smiling each time his gaze caught mine and then looking away almost immediately. Somehow, I felt very comfortable with him and he had no negative energy around him. I smiled back and turned my face in a different direction from him as I quietly enjoyed the ride and the beautiful blue river.
"We're here." The man announced.
Already? I said to myself, sad that this peaceful moment had ended too soon.
I climbed out of the boat with Father's help this time. While getting out, I noticed a strange scribble on the outer edge of the boat. I pretended to fall as I was getting out,causing Father to worry but, it was only because I wanted to read the inscription on the boat. My plan worked out well and I got a clear look at the inscription; 'LM' was what it read. They were clearly initials of two people's names and there was a heart in between the two initials.
Aww! This boat belonged to a couple. I thought to myself as I smiled and stood up from my fake fall. The inscription was a bit faded and it seemed they'd written it long time ago. Time and weather changes had probably caused the writing to fade. I wondered it the same happened to their love. Did the seasons make it fade? Or did the couple's love for each other only grow stronger as time passed? I wondered if they were faring well and I silently prayed for them.
"Let's head on." Father said as he and Torbe made their way to the tall houses.
"Wait!"
I ran back to the boat and called out to the kind boatman who had carried us across. I pulled my hairpin out of my hair and gave it to him, thanking him for the wonderful boat ride. He simply smiled at me, then looked away and said something that shocked me down to my bones. Quietly, I made my way back to Father and Torbe who had been waiting for me.
"That was a very lovely thing, what you did." Father said and smiled proudly.
"Keep that up and you'd have given out all your trinkets." Torbe simply said.
"What I do with my jewelry is my business." I snapped
"Hmph"
"Hmph!"
Father sighed and shook his head, wondering if the two of us would ever get along.
"Whenever you both are ready." He said.
Torbe understood and swiftly got in front of Father and I. He lowered himself to the ground and Father helped me get on his back and then he also climbed up. I'd never ridden a bird before, and it was worse because Torbe was a very annoying big bag of feathers.
"Don't we need reins?" I asked.
"I don't see any hooves on my feet." He said sarcastically.
"I'm worried if it's safe to fly like this."
"We'll be fine, Elise." Father said.
"But still…"
"Just hold on to my feathers if it gets rough."
Just great !
Torbe then took to the air, soaring even higher than the town's tall houses. Everytime he swooped down, I felt my soul leave my body. This was as fun as it was unsafe. I was completely freaking out about how high up we were but Father seemed very calm and he even smiled occasionally. It would seem this wasn't his first time; he had so much joy on his face. Poor me, I was the only one considering our safety. I only prayed this would end soon and we'd be on the ground again.
We flew deeper into town and got to the biggest house. I instantly figured this was where the head of the town lived, or where the awakening usually took place. Or was it where the village head lived? Would there be an old woman with long white hair and rotten teeth waiting for us as we landed? Or would she be a spirit whom we'd have to summon?
So many thoughts and questions flooded my head all at once.
As we landed, I noticed the house was very big with a garden right in the center. How could such a large building stand on only sticks above a river? And so high up, even?
This town was very strange. Just how strong were these buildings? Or even their supporting beams? There was a whole lot I really didn't know about Topside. As we made our way into the house, I began to wonder what kinds of adventures awaited us…especially me.