In the Hem Naak valley, a young boy sat below a willow tree.
Laughter and noise of boys running and playing ball games filled the air. The wind carried a soft and earthy aroma from the willow tree, and the sun stood at the top of the sky, bringing warmth to all life beneath it.
The boy sitting under the tree seemed oblivious to all of this, as if he existed in a different world. He just sat there, contemplating.
He pondered about the sky. Why was the sky blue? Did the sky have an end? What lay beyond the sky?
He pondered about the clouds. Where did they come from? Why did they bring water?
He pondered about the sun. Why was there only one? Why did it always rise from the west only to leave them at night?
This boy had a stocky, muscular build. Although he was dressed in simple reed clothes, his eyes shone with intelligence.
As the boy sat contemplating, a rumble could be heard to the east. There was a commotion at the east gate of the city.
"Al Kanul, come to your mother," a beautiful woman called. Her round eyes and fine eyebrows resembled the boy closely.
The boy stood up and patted his clothes clean before running to his mother.
The boy and his mother walked to the east gate.
"Al Kanul, why are you always in the clouds? You should try to play with other boys your age," the mother said with a hint of worry. Her child always seemed a bit lonely on his own, his head seemingly in the clouds.
"Playing ball is boring. The other boys don't like me to play with them." The mother sighed after hearing this.
As they drew close, they could hear the ruckus. The east main street was blocked off to give way to a military parade.
The parade was the east army marching back into the city, returning from an expedition.
Kanul's father was a distinguished warrior in the east army, so naturally he would be in the parade, and Kanul and his mother would be there to receive him.
The mother and son duo sat on a ledge of a building facing the east main street.
Groups of men decked in black armor and carrying banners walked the streets.
Dozens of men carrying drums marched while beating a song of war and glory.
The parade continued throughout the whole afternoon.
What originally started as a joyful occasion began to turn into anxiety as the military parade went on.
The sky changed to an orange shade as the parade finished. However, there was no sign of Kanul's father.
Kanul's mother's face was pale as she stood up and walked hurriedly to the east army city barracks.
Kanul had an ominous feeling, like a storm approaching. After seeing his mother's face, he couldn't avoid feeling shaken.
The mother and son duo approached the east army barracks. Most of the army from the parade had already entered the barracks.
Two guards stood watch at the entrance. A large black wooden gate was adorned with a large symbol representing the word "East."
The guards recognized Kanul's mother and led them to the general's quarters.
Kanul and his mother arrived at a room. The room was dimly lit with torches. On the walls, fierce beasts were engraved, and rows of shelves held scrolls and tablets.
Kanul felt curious about the engravings and scrolls. He had never seen anything like that.
At the end sat a middle-aged man on a stone throne. His face, marked with scars, looked fierce without trying. He was dressed in fine clothes, and golden braces engraved with snakes covered his arms.
"Come on in," a raspy voice from the man called.
Kanul was startled. While he had looked at the whole room with curiosity, he had not noticed the man until he spoke.
The man's voice was calm. However, it felt like he had to obey. The voice had an overbearing quality that would not allow disobedience.
Kanul and his mother entered the room and stood in front of the man sitting on the throne.
The man made a sign, and a soldier arrived with a chest. He opened the chest, revealing a club.
The club had an aura of brutality. A smell of blood emanated from it. Black thorns covered the top of it, and the thorns had a purple hue near the tip from the blood it had spilled. The club gave a sense of violence from the endless slaughter it had gone through.
The man on the throne stood up and took the club solemnly. "Son of Chak Yax, this is your father's prized club. It is my duty to return it to your hands. It represents his honor and achievements. It is now your inheritance to keep." He gave it to Kanul, who took it with trembling hands.
The club was heavy, not only because of its weight, but because of what it meant. The fact that it was given to him meant that his father was dead.
This realization felt like a bucket of cold water.
Although Kanul's father was often away in the military, he had fond memories of him. Every time he came back, he brought fantastic stories about the places he had been.
"Al Kanul, did you know there is an endless pool of water at the end of the world? I've seen it with my own eyes." "Al Kanul, you are always pondering about the sun. When you grow up, I will take you to see a fallen star! I swear I have seen one on my trips!"
Kanul recalled the many stories his father told him. It felt like his life flashed before him as he held the club.
Droplets of tears fell onto the club as they streamed from Kanul's eyes. He looked at his mother, who was also crying. Her eyes were red, and blood dripped from her hand as she clenched it tightly.
The night seemed to pass quickly in this state. The man from the throne sighted as he sent Kanul and his mother back to their home in a black palanquin, escorted by several soldiers.
There is a saying: all things pass by like the wind. And as such, the years went by since the parting of Kanul's father.
On this day, a young man dressed in white cotton robes, his long black hair tied up in a bun and wide eyes that shone with intelligence, gave him a scholarly air, contrasting heavily with his muscular build.
This young man was Chak Kanul!
He was standing in front of a temple. This temple was adorned with circular stones with inscriptions. A stone gate was inscribed with the words "Astronomy Temple."
Kanul was one of the many disciples who wished to join the Astronomy Temple. This temple trained scholars. Today, the temple was looking to recruit a new cohort.