Vol. 4 Prologue: Fountain of Life (Patreon)

Far to the south of the continent, beyond the shores of the Eventon Republic, is the Shinoroa archipelago. A place forsaken by the blessings of the gods, where the soil was dark and longed for the touch of gentle nature. Hardly healthy and beautiful plants grow in the four islands, with the exception of those that could live without needing much nourishments. Or perhaps, life just adapted after millennia of being left in this state.

Despite that, humans lived on the islands, but divided. One could think of abandoning and leaving this dead land, but not easily one could leave the land of their roots. Whether out of love, or fear of the land beyond. Still, they adapted to the hardships this environment provides. A land of savages, a land of tyrants, a land of a decent heart, a land of warriors. This archipelago was many things, with each island having their own values. Some may be in cooperation, and some may be in conflict. But they survived nonetheless, with their own livelihoods, jobs, and economy. Even a dead land cannot destroy humanity’s persistence.

However, somewhere in this archipelago of bleak and barren wilderness was a particular land, lush with green and healthy food. Fruits, vegetables, even meat. If people of the islands were to discover it, either they would wage an all out war for its milk and honey, or share it to inspire unity. But the latter would just be too ideal.

In any case, even this rich and nourished land was not without its inhabitants. And one of them was a girl in her mid teens, walking amidst the woods filled with bushes and kinds of plants that bear fruits. She wore a plain green cloak, covering her fair skin. Her hair was in the shade of pink, and eyes were colored in the beauty of emeralds.

She plucked several violet grapes from one plant and put them in her nature made basket. Apparent from her delighted smile, she was enjoying the chore.

Once there were no fruits left on one plant, she moved to another nearby. She wouldn’t need to worry about depleting all sources around here. These fruits would completely grow again in just about a week. In fact, it would be even more of a waste not to harvest them. Anyone else would be surprised to know the rapid growth of the fruits, for this was indeed not natural. And their tribe has too much supply of food than they could consume.

A while later, the basket was half-filled. She heard rustling nearby, so she paused and looked in the direction of the sound. There was a small fluffy orange creature running towards her, making small cute sounds, almost resembling a laugh. Its pair of fluffy tails wagged as it got closer to her.

The girl smiled widely at it. “Pip!”

The fox’s sound grew louder as she jumped up to her shoulder and rubbed his tails on the girl’s head. The girl chuckled.

“Stop, that tickles.” She put down her basket and grabbed the cute fox, rubbing the small creature’s head. She found holding him, especially with his fur, so pleasant. “Did you have a good stretch?”

The fox responded with a loud, short and adorable sound.

The girl giggled. “Good! I’m almost done with collecting the grapes. Behave for now, okay?”

With a ‘hih’ sound, the fox slipped from her hands and jumped back up to her shoulder.

“Alright, just don’t move around too much, okay?”

When the fox gave a seemingly positive response, the girl picked up her basket and continued plucking some more grapes. Gradually, her basket began to fill. As the fox, Pip, made some sounds, pointing at the grapes, the girl delightfully handed him a piece. The fox chewed on the fruit happily with a purr.

As the girl continued on collecting, the sounds of bushes shifting made her pause, and she casually looked in that direction. Typically, one would be wary in a forest like this, especially in this scenario, but she wasn’t. For there wasn’t typically anything threatening here in their land.

A moment later, the creature from within the bushes emerged.

“Oh, hello,” the girl greeted.

It was a floating creature with a transparent body, with lines of light inside them pulsing and forming like veins. All over its body had countless dots twinkling like the stars at night. It had multiple tendrils, shifting softly. It was akin to a jellyfish in the seas, but this one at the top of its head, was shaped like flower petals. It was completely harmless.

The girl approached it, putting her basket down, and gently grabbed the creature. It was soft and smooth, like a pillow. One could indeed hug it in delight, but it might not like it.

“Where are the rest of you?”

The creature, called a Feeroo, typically travels in groups. One could often see them in the drape of night from afar, lighting up brightly. Although, they mostly number in a dozen in every group. Rarely, though, one gets lost and gets separated from their group. If they can't reunite with their friends, they die. Solitude was terrible for these creatures.

“Let’s see. Are you here for the fountain, I wonder? To feel its grace?”

That was often the case for the creatures in this land. And feeroos often travels by their village, as if attracted by the fountain. And with that consideration, the girl recalled the usual path the feeroos take.

“Okay, let’s take you back to your friends.”

She picked and hung her basket on her arm and gently held the feeroo, then she walked into the forest. Pip, the cute fox, jumped down and followed beside her. The girl was a bit worried that she wouldn’t be able to find the feeroo’s group, she wouldn’t want such a harmless and adorable creature to die.

But she had good faith things will go well.

A few minutes passed, going through the thick forest, with paths constantly obstructed by small plants, Pip moved in front of the girl and glanced up at her. He made a short sound and pointed in a particular direction.

“That way? Good job, Pip!”

The girl followed Pip at a quicker pace. And a moment later, they had found more of the feeroos. The girl smiled widely in joy, as the feeroo in her hand glowed brighter, as if happy itself. She promptly released it and the feeroo quickly floated to join the group. The girl watched with contentment as the feeroos went on their way.

Pip jumped back on her shoulder, and the girl patted his head.

She let out a long exhale of relief before nodding. “Alright, guess it’s time to go back.”

Satisfied for the day, and helped a creature in need, the girl and the fox returned to the village. It took several minutes, but she sighed in relief when the village was finally in sight, not being late for the weekly prayer. As it would appear that everyone was still doing their chores. 

But it should begin shortly.

The girl headed for their home. On the way, one villager waved towards the girl.

“Good morning, Fleta. You were out early.”

The girl, Fleta, smiled at her. “Good thing I was, otherwise I would have been late.”

Pip ran before the villager, and the latter promptly patted his head.

“There, there.”

“Anyways, I should get going. See you later,” said Fleta.

“Alright!”

When they arrived back at their home, the moment Fleta opened the door, Pip the fox quickly ran inside.

“Mom, Dad! I’m back!”

Fleta placed the basket on the table as her father arrived with a fond smile.

“Fleta, how are the grapes?”

“They look good.”

“Of course… Are there still more?”

“Yeah, we should leave it to the others.”

Her father grabbed a couple of grapes and threw them into his mouth. “Mm, delicious.”

“Where’s Mom?”

“Changing. You should also go and get ready.”

“Okay.” She turned to Pip. “Stay here, Pip.”

Fleta headed straight to her room to change. She removed her cloak and drew out a white and red robe from her wooden closet. After making sure there was no noticeable wrinkle, she slipped into it, pulling and straightening it. She grabbed a nearby clean cloth to rub her face before using a wooden comb to fix her hair.

She took a deep breath and nodded, satisfied. As gently as possible, to avoid dirtying or wrinkling her robe, she returned to the living room.

“Done already?” her father asked.

“I’ve already bathed earlier, so I just have to wear my robe.”

“Alright. Then I’ll be going to change, too.”

“Can I go to grandpa’s?”

“Of course. Best to check on him, just to be safe. Take Pip with you.”

She nodded. “Let’s go, Pip.”

With a happy sound, Pip followed Fleta outside. They headed to the house nearby, the home of her grandfather. Upon arrival, Fleta knocked a few times on the door.

“Grandpa? It’s me, Fleta.”

A moment later came a response from a worn out voice. “Come in.”

With a smile, Fleta opened the door. Sitting on a chair was an old man with gray hair, eye color similar to hers. He was already wearing his robe of white and red.

Fleta’s grandfather, Garven, was the tribe chief. Although, he was not one to make the final decisions on how to run the village. He was to lead important events, or in particular, religious events. Also, he was one to give advice to the people in the village, help them in going the right path.

“Oh, you’re already dressed.”

“I’m still strong enough to dress myself, you know.” He smiled gently.

Fleta approached him. “I suppose…” She was relieved that he was still decently strong enough to handle himself. Otherwise, it would have hurt to see him struggle. The hurdle of old age. “Should we go?”

“Very well.” He stood up.

Seeing that he was struggling a bit, Fleta intended on helping him, but he raised his hand.

“I will be alright for now, Fleta. Don’t worry.”

He stared at him for a moment before mildly nodding. “... Okay.”

He was always like this, refusing help when he thought he could do it. Truth be told, she noticed this kind of behavior from some other old people in the tribe. Almost like they didn’t want to show weakness or anything. In any case, it was good that he was still kicking.

Pip walked beside him.

Garven smiled. “Hello, Pip. You’re as bright as ever. You should come and check on Temi.” 

Once they were outside, Garven placed his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly.

Next moment, a brown eagle came flying in and let out a fierce and powerful cry. Garven pulled back his sleeve, and the eagle landed on his bare arm.

“Hello, Temi.”

Pip the fox looked up at the eagle and let out a ‘hih’ sound, as if in greeting. And the eagle squawked back.

“Fleta. Can you please carry Temi with you? I’m afraid he’s too heavy for me now.”

Fleta giggled. “Of course, grandpa.” Fleta drew back her sleeve and whistled lightly. And Temi the eagle transferred to her arm.

With that done, they began making their way to one edge of the village. Fleta used her finger to pat Temi in the head.

“You’ve got a bit bigger, Temi. You’ve been hunting more lately, I see.”

“Fleta, once I’m gone. Will you please take him in? He’ll outlast me.”

Fleta turned to Garven with a sad look. “Grandpa…”

He chuckled. “Don’t look at me like that. Everything ends, eventually. At least, I’ll go in the goddess's grace.”

“Still…” That was still a very sad thing.

“I’ll get to reunite with your grandmother. And that is a cause to be happy. If I’m worthy enough, I may get to have a glimpse of our goddess.”

“I’m sure you’ll get to see her!”

The old man smiled. “All my life I have prayed to have even a glimpse of her. Even just her hair of white, that is enough for me.”

The goddess was said to have beautiful white hair, white skin, and crimson eyes. No one has personally seen her, as one would expect of gods. However, there was solid proof to her existence, or that she once walked the earth. Its influence can be seen all around at a single glance. With how healthy nature was.

When they reached the particular path, the villagers had arrived and gathered. There were more than a hundred of them. Garven along with Fleta stood at the front.

Garven held out his hand. “Settle. I see that everyone has gathered. Then let’s go to the fountain.”

Together, they marched up a stone-paved path leading to the fountain, the object of their worship. They all lined up neatly together, and they were all silent in respect. As they got closer to their destination, Fleta looked at the animals on her person.

“We’re approaching. You need to go, okay?”

Fleta raised her hand, and the eagle flew upward, while the fox went on his own way, into the trees. Both of them were going to the fountain as well.

A short while later, the villagers arrived at a wide clearing with the greenest grasses. Around it stood the healthiest trees. Animals of all kinds gathered, deers, birds, small critters, and they dispersed at the humans’ arrival.

In the center of the clearing was a fountain of stone. But it was no normal fountain. For what flowed within was not clear water, but it was a liquid of crimson. The color of what flows within all living creatures, one that keeps them alive.

It was a fountain of blood.

This fountain was proof that their goddess was real.

The villagers circled the fountain neatly. The one closest to it was the tribe chief. Fleta, beside her parents, watched the magnificent divine fountain with a radiant smile.

The Fountain of Life, they call it. With its presence, the Goddess of Life shares her grace to its surroundings. Nature was nourished, where every life benefited from its blessings. No hunger, no suffering. Fleta adored it so much, it was beautiful.

There were a couple of sayings about it shared throughout their tribe’s history. One was that it was a blessing left behind by the Goddess for her people. A gift for humanity. While there was a grim one. It was also said to be Her grave. And in her last moments here in the world, she left that final gift.

No one was sure of the particular truth. Perhaps both were true. However, there was one certain saying that was passed down since the tribe’s foundation. No, it was a promise.

The Goddess shall return to grace the lands once more.

Everyone in the tribe has been waiting and looking forward to the time. No one knows when that would happen or whether they could witness it in their lifetime. However, they have faith that it will come. 

And that will be a time for celebration.

The villagers clasped their hands together by their chest, and lowered their heads, starting their prayers.