"You feel it, Alexander? A benevolent wave of happiness that washes over you."
Greg, the leader of the village hunters, was close to tears as he saw the newcomer kneel next to him.
Surprisingly, before he and the rest began their daily prayers, Arthur, or better say, Alexander, requested to join them.
Of course, all of them were delighted to welcome him into their midst. As someone slightly familiar with the 'traveler', Greg offered to explain things, including the ceremony and the specific things to do and say during the praying process.
Arthur listened with perked ears, a serious expression on his face. Soon, when it was time, he followed Greg and imitated everything, from the words to the subtle motions.
The reason Arthur opted to do this wasn't out of boredom but out of genuine interest. Basically, he wanted to make sure that their fanatical worship was, indeed, pointless and directed at a possibly non-existent celestial deity.
Truth be told, as it was his first time, Arthur was anticipating some sort of a reaction, either positive or negative, but, eventually, he felt literally nothing. No ethereal voice inside of his head, no magic, no response.
However, he did not let it show… instead, he beamed at Greg and nodded excitedly.
"Yes. I feel as if I've been blessed. So this is how it felt like…"
As he stood up, Arthur raised his head and looked at the altar with elation and anticipation as if he had already become a zealous devotee. Greg, Gary, and the usual party Arthur would hang out with were currently surrounding him.
"I told ye he's one of us! Welcome, Alex!" Gary slapped Arthur's back and cackled like a fool.
Even the usually quiet Adam was looking a bit eager and happy. Then again, after successfully ensnaring another person into their ridiculous and made-up religion, such a joyous reaction was to be expected, or so Arthur mockingly thought.
"I expect you'll be joining the hunt today too, right?"
Vanraz, the ex-soldier, inquired with a wide smile, to which Arthur enthusiastically nodded.
"I've got nothing to do. Moreover, it's fun to hunt with you guys."
"Ye damn right!" Thaman cracked his knuckles and agreed with his obnoxiously loud voice.
"People are still praying ye dumbass! Shut yer trap!"
Gary reproached his loud friend then proceeded to pull the rest of the group away from the altar, which still had a handful of villagers- mostly women- kowtowing and praying.
When their weapons and crude armors were worn and prepared, they met up at the exit of the village. However, another person decided to join them too.
The Village Chief, Dominus, was present; He wore slightly better armor than the rest and had an unfamiliar sharp polearm on his back.
"Good morning, Alexander! I'll be tagging along too!"
The elderly but stalwart man heartily laughed but did not deign to strike a conversation. Instead, he followed Greg's instructions and stayed at the back.
Soon, they departed and, as always, Arthur took the front along with the talkative Gary and Greg.
"Is the Chief a hunter too?"
"Ye bet! He trained all of us!"
"Is that so?"
Arthur sneakily glanced at Dominus then switched the subject.
"Gary, aren't you a trader? Why do I never seen you sell things or go to other villages to procure goods?"
As is his wont, the fat man, while dragging his tired feet and sometimes gasping for breath, replied in complete honesty.
"Ye think I'm a merchant or what? I own a small shop that sells miscellaneous stuff and whatnot."
"Bullshit!" Interrupted Greg as he chuckled mockingly, "You're too lazy to travel. If you weren't the only trader of our village, no one would buy from you."
"Ha! Say that again and I'll double the price of Ale when your wife visits!"
"Don't be that way, hahahah…"
Overall, it was a relaxing atmosphere and the hunting wasn't particularly dangerous. They did not dare to take on a strong monster or beast and were wholly satisfied with the meaty boars, which provided more than enough food for practically everyone.
Still, Arthur paid close attention to Dominus and saw how the old man fought. He did have the body of a fighter and his moves were swift and accurate, nonetheless, he wasn't at the level of a Knight. In fact, Arthur was almost certain that Evelyn was much stronger than Dominus.
If he had to pick the strongest of the hunters, then it was either Vanraz, the ex-soldier, or the silent Adam. Their blows were fatal and, once a battle started, their whole mood would drastically change, so much so that it was difficult for Arthur to match Vanraz's normally easy-going attitude with the one applied in battle.
Their daily hunt lasted for approximately three hours, but before they could return, Dominus wanted to check something. He took them to one of the nearby swamps and, in silence, inspected the water then looked around, seemingly looking for something.
The rest chatted and did not seem interested, but Arthur paid close attention. Alas, he did not notice anything, though he made sure to remember this spot.
It was one of the sixteen inter-connected swamps he had mapped: Nothing was of interest when he dove underwater and checked for any suspicious thing worthy of investigation, but the fact that Dominus had to personally come and check it proved that there must be something lurking here.
Actually, Arthur suspected that Dominus joining them today was merely a pretext to come here. Then again, the Village Chief was strong enough to come here alone yet he did not and preferred this company, which was strange, to say the least.
If he wanted to hide a secret, he wouldn't do this, no matter how 'friendly' and 'kind' he was to a newcomer like Arthur.
Either Dominus was onto him and was doing this to lead him into a pointless search or he did not feel threatened enough to warrant secretive measures.
It could be that Arthur was massively overthinking the whole matter, but he did not care. The glass bottle led him and he will not leave until the mystery has been uncovered.
*****
It was late at night yet her Master did not return. Instead of worrying, Evelyn spent her time stealthily following Ami, who had run off exactly at the same time as the previous days.
Like Arthur, the maid also found it strange and finally made a move. Since the village was poorly guarded, it wasn't a difficult feat to tail the girl to her small home and see the cause of her untimely anxiousness that rises every evening.
The sky had already darkened and most villagers had retreated to their homes. The hunters were drinking in the Tavern of the Gods and the housewives were preparing dinner.
The place was dominated by an eerie silence, the main road was dark and illuminated only by the light emitting from the dimly lit shallow building. Ami ran straight to her home and jumped on her bed, covering half of her body with an old blanket as she sobbed and sniffed.
Through the one and only window, a small one, Evelyn peeked inside and saw Ami on the bed, trying to cover her head. At some point, however, when she grew tired of crying, she revealed her face.
It was then, within that dark room, that Evelyn saw the girl's eyes show with a golden glow. It wasn't a blinding light, but it was still too eye-catching. However, even after this revelation, the maid was confused about Ami's actions and the need to hide.
Since she grew up in this village, the folks should know about her condition, or so assumed Evelyn.
Ami dazedly looked at the ground for an indeterminate amount of time then she lit up a torch and pulled her drawing notebook. With teary eyes and a sad expression, she drew for an hour before being interrupted by a knock.
At first, she flinched, then she hid her notebook and hesitantly walked to the door. When she opened it, Dominus was standing there, a frown plastered on his slightly wrinkled face.
"It's still happening?" He questioned with a strict and serious voice, to which Ami meekly nodded once and lowered her head in an attempt to hide her golden eyes.
"I… I…"
She tried to say something but eventually quietened down and stood still, looking afraid.
The Village Chief stared at her, seemingly frustrated. "The Lord has spared your life once but will not do so twice. Your foul existence cannot be tolerated any longer."
When he said his piece, he spared one last look at the girl then left as soundlessly as he arrived.
All of this was witnessed by Evelyn, who neither revealed herself nor opted to intervene. It was better to spectate and think things through along with her Master. Still, this was definitely a much-welcomed discovery after three days of boredom and inactivity.
By the time the maid returned to the inn, Arthur was already sitting on the bed. He had to sacrifice more time in order to thoroughly search the aforementioned swamp. Unfortunately, he found nothing, quite literally.
Apart from the local Hollow Alligator and the small fish lurking beneath the murky waters, the swamp was devoid of any clues.
Nevertheless, all that time spent was not for nothing as Arthur had completed the mapping of the inter-connected swamps. When he tried going farther, the swamps became more numerous but smaller in size. Furthermore, he did not want to get too close to the creek itself as it was infested with ungodly and unholy abominations, monsters that he neither had the motive nor the power to fight, especially with Mort missing and Evelyn absent.
"Master, I've discovered a few things…"
The maid proceeded to recount the strange occurrence with Ami and her brief conversation with Dominus. Arthur quietly listened as he laid down and looked at the ceiling, seemingly in a world of his own.
Only when she was done did he open his mouth,
"Golden and glowing eyes? Such unique particularities originate from special and presumably extinct tribes. Moving past that, the fact that Dominus personally visited her and uttered those words could only mean we were spot on from the beginning."
"Spot on? Please explain, Master."
The parasite sighed and turned his head so that he could look at the maid, "It's still unknown whether the villagers know of Ami's condition or not, but I'd like to think they don't… or they pretend not to. Why, you ask? Maybe it's what Dominus… no, what their Lord declared. She has been spared once, he said? Does that mean she met this 'God'? We need to probe more, I guess."
"I'm closer to her. I'll try asking her."
"I doubt you'll be afforded an honest answer. It wasn't really surprising to find out that, beneath her mask of joy, there is sadness and fear. After all, isn't everyone like that?"
"..."
"Alright!"
He sat up and clapped once, startling the maid.
"As for me, I'm done with the map. All that's left is finding that cave."
"What about Ami, Master? I suspect she won't have much time if this goes on."
Arthur furrowed his brows, looking a bit confused, "And what, pray tell, do you suggest we do? Only when all the pieces fall together can we do anything. Don't forget that our lives are the most important."
"..."-Evelyn
"Don't misunderstand me. I pity the girl… I do! But that doesn't mean I'm willing to risk my neck when half the truth is still buried. If we succeed, maybe she'll get to accompany us out of this shit hole."
"I hope so, Master."
"Just yesterday, you were a bit skeptical about Ami. Did her unfavorable circumstances resonate with you? Is that the origin of your worries?"
"I just think it's unfair." Retorted the maid as she walked to her own bed and sat right in front of the parasite.
"She is persecuted because of something she has no control over."-Evelyn
"Persecuted is too much of a word, my dear Evelyn. Feared, I would say. Anywho, let us sleep, tomorrow is also going to be a long day."
"What is the meaning of this, Chris?"
Arthur, looking extremely annoyed, glared at his friend. The person in question, Christopher, Arthur's childhood friend shrugged his shoulders.
"You refuse to get help and expect me to stand by and watch? Now, even your physical health is deteriorating. Therefore, I've brought you one of the best specialists."
With that said, Christopher opened the apartment door and revealed a young Asian woman with long black hair, hazy brown eyes, and round spectacles that did not really suit her.
She was hugging a book with one hand and, with Christopher's signal, she entered the room, her attention focused on the to-be patient.
"This is a friend of mine, Doctor Melina Aeri. She came from South Korea once I told her about you. Unlike Doctor James, whom you seem to detest a lot, Doctor Melina refused to be paid and was particularly interested in you."
"Is that so? Well, I'm hale and whole. Leave me be, Chris."
"Come on, man! Just this one last time, okay? Please."
Christopher repeatedly begged his friend until he reluctantly agreed. Soon, when Melina was welcomed into the messy living room and she was left alone with Arthur, the 'session, if it could even be called that, began.
"Nice to meet you, Arthur."
"..."
The man, wearing stained black pants and a half-buttoned white shirt, looked completely disinterested in the woman. He was absent-mindedly gazing at the spectacular view outside of the window, which had long since become boring.
"I know you don't want to do this." She said calmly as she made herself more comfortable. She did not behave like a therapist nor did it seem she was taking this seriously, though her narrowed eyes suggested otherwise.
"Why don't you take a shower first? That way, your mind will be clear."
Surprisingly, Arthur did not object. He silently stood up and headed to the bathroom, returning only after one whole hour.
He poured himself a coffee, changed into clean clothes, and lit up a cigarette. As per her suggestion, he was feeling slightly better, but still not in the mood to talk.
"Doctor James was kind enough to share his notes with me. Do you mind if I read them?"
"..."
Hearing nothing but silence, Doctor Melina softly smiled and opened the book in her hand.
"A nihilistic perspective of his own life. Detachment from reality. Vehement objection to any opinion that disagrees with his own." She sighed and shook her head, "And the list goes on…"
"Aren't those supposed to be private?"
"Indeed. Under no circumstances is it allowed to share such notes with the patient or any other living soul apart from their writer. However, I recited them to you so we could get on the same page, at least."
Arthur, again, returned to silence and enjoyed the cigarette, his eyes lingering on Melina for only a couple of breaths.
"What is it you want from me?"
"Oh, I just want to talk. Consider this a heart-to-heart conversation. We stand here, face to face, not as a doctor and a patient but as normal human beings."
"I must've heard those words ten times already. Do you think it will change anything? If you want to help then leave me alone."
"Why this adamant rejection, Arthur? It's not like either of us have anything important to do. Let us spend this evening talking-"
She suddenly paused and seductively crossed her legs, her smile widening, "Or… we can do something else."
Upon seeing this, Arthur chuckled, "I thought you were brought here to treat me."
"Exactly!" She clapped her hands and put down her book to the side.
"Just like you don't care about many things, I, too, don't put much importance into my body. If, by sexually pleasing you, I can help you open, then so be it."
"..."
"You look a bit disgusted…. hehehe, I'm not surprised. Still, I am confident in my skills, be it sex or in the medical field."
"All I have to say was written by Doctor James."
Melina frowned for a split second then returned to her smile as she asked,
"Are you perchance religious, Arthur?"
"I am not."
"And do you think it might be part of the reason for, I quote, 'emptiness in your heart'."
"It might and it might not."-Arthur
Arthur lit up another cigarette and even poured a bit of wine after finishing his coffee.
"Getting the answers of such banal questions will not avail you, Doctor Melina."
"I'd still like to try." She replied as she picked up the wine bottle and poured herself some too, not even minding to use an old glass that hasn't been touched in a while.
"Why haven't you tried believing or having faith? Is it because of your tragic childhood?"
Even when she mentioned his childhood, Arthur did not seem bothered or angered. He looked at her expressionlessly.
"Try? Try what? I can't force myself to believe in something I genuinely don't think exists. I respect all religions and have never belittled any. Plus, I don't think the lack of faith is the cause of my problem."
"Alright. What about monotony? You spent most of your time working and, as the chairman, perhaps the sense of unperturbed normality created an inerasable void within you."
"Still wrong, Doctor. You're jumping from one thing to the other and that, too, will lead you to nothing."
"Hmm…" While tapping her index on her thigh, she scrutinized the disinterested man, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not pierce through his never-changing expression. He was like a block of stone, an empty vessel that was barely sustaining itself.
"What about love? I've heard that your relationship with Madam Claudia wasn't so good. Have you considered another partner? Love can blossom anywhere, you know."
"Love? The way I see it, someone who loves you will be able to understand you. In my case, I don't think there are any."
"That's not how love works, Arthur."
"So? I've had feelings for a woman in the past. Was it love? I honestly don't know. Just like you can't force religion, you can't also force love. It doesn't work like that, Doctor."
"You know what I see when I hear you talk, Arthur?"
For the first time, he kept looking at her, his jet black pupils glued onto her.
"I see self-loathing and hate. It's not directed at your entourage but specifically at your life. It could be the result of choosing the wrong path in life."
"I don't agree with that. I wish to be happy."
"How can you say that when you won't even try?"
Arthur sat up straight and extinguished his half-finished cigarette, his expression changing ever-so-slightly.
"This is real life, Doctor. People-no, everyone has their problems, physical or mental. What do they do? Give up? Yes, perhaps. Yet, there are also those who continue living while bearing through the unspoken troubles. What do you expect me to do? Believe that I can be happy and it will happen? Quit my job and do something else? Seeks love in gods know where?"
"I can't answer that. Ironically, I'm a firm believer that only you can understand yourself and your thoughts."
"..."
"Since you're so apathetic, why didn't you try suicide?"
"Is that something a Therapist should say?"
The woman pulled a pack of cigarettes and lit up one as she let out a mocking chuckle.
"I'm regarding you as a person rather than a patient. So… did you?"
"I did not. Even though I don't have any aspirations or things that could motivate me or make me happy, I still think living is better than dying."
"That sounds contradicting, though. If you've got nothing left to do and each day is filled with overwhelming hollowness, then why not end it all? Is it only because you want to care for your company? By continuing to live, you are hoping that you'll find what you seek. After all, you said it yourself, you wish to be happy. That, alone, proves that you are hopeful rather than drowning in despair."
"..."
Arthur did not know how to respond, he just sat there and looked at the smiling Melina.
She did not continue talking and, instead, stood up and left.
Her words, though brief, had affected Arthur greatly. So much, in fact, that he called for her after a couple of day for a second session.
He wanted to talk again as their last meeting made him rethink a couple of things and cling onto a faint spark. He thought that maybe... just maybe, with her help, there would be a way to regain what he had lost.
Alas, fate was wont to be cruel; Doctor Melina died in an unfortunate accident shortly after their first meeting. Thus, with the last straw gone, Arthur truly tasted deepest despair. That day, when he learnt of her death, he decided to go get drunk to temporarily forget about everything, however, during that moment of helplessness, he got drugged and kidnapped…
También te puede interesar
Comentario de párrafo
¡La función de comentarios de párrafo ya está en la Web! Mueva el mouse sobre cualquier párrafo y haga clic en el icono para agregar su comentario.
Además, siempre puedes desactivarlo en Ajustes.
ENTIENDO