SABA

-The Road-

1. Ptia

I missed my mother. I imagined her, grieving for me. And that broke my heart. But she knew that I had to do this. She forgave me and understood, I am sure of that.

I asked Menmi to look after her. Menmi was a neighbor, two houses away from ours. She often visited us, telling us all kinds of stories from the village. She loved going around the neighborhood, maintaining warm relationships with everyone. We loved her very much. She promised me that she would take care of my mother during this one Virteleonian cycle while I would be absent.

I had no idea what awaited me. The goal and the whole point of this journey of mine is to visit all the territories of Virteleon. Every village, every larger city, every settlement. Even a single house in the middle of nowhere if I come across one. And to help those in need. To get to know them, to offer them support in these difficult days. Because everyone has lost their loved ones. That is how it is.

I often dreamed of my father and my uncle. They looked just like in the pictures. Cheerful and full of love. In dreams, I would compete with the two of them and always lose. In the end, they would tease me and say that I needed to train more.

My village was located on the very edge of one of the three territories of Virteleon. Starting from my house, I had to go through all three up to the very far boundary, then turn the circle back on the return. Along the way I would pass through all kinds of terrain: flat, hilly, mountainous areas. There would also be forests, lakes, caves and who knows what else. I would skip nothing.

But I am not wandering blindly. I took a map from my mother’s library which describes each territory in quite detail. The time frame I will need from one marked point on the map to another I will have to estimate roughly. To the first destination, which is the forest we call Ptia, it will take me about three, four days. I will stay there for a while, contemplate in nature. Listen to the animals. Practice with my staff. Find hidden water sources. All in all, enjoy the freedom.

I spent several wonderful days staying in Ptia. I socialized with the animals. I learned their behavior patterns, slept beside their shelters, and woke up in the morning tucked among the fur of little animals that wished me a happy start to a new day.

I was sad when I finally had to leave that beautiful place and head further, toward the first settlement. The map was in some places a bit smudged, worn, damaged. I was not sure about the name of the settlement I was approaching. It said Ks..u, two letters were erased due to damage. But I am sure I will soon find out. I arrived at the edge of the settlement with the last rays of the Blazing sphere, nervously awaiting my first encounter with Virteleonians since leaving home.

2. Ksatu

Ksatu. That is the name of the settlement. It is written on a large sign at the very entrance.

Approaching the first houses, I could not help but notice the unusual energy of emptiness. The air was heavy, painting a gloomy picture of abandoned houses and empty streets. Is there anyone here? In the distance, barely noticeable, I made out voices.

Two women, hunched over, were tending a garden in front of one of the houses. Both were middle-aged, with long black hair. Beautiful, but with exhausted, tired faces.

“Hello.” – I said somewhat uncertainly.

One of the women turned, noticing me, only to return to her work.

“I am Saba. I came to see if you need any help.”

“Help?” – said the other, in a condescending voice. “There is no help for us, girl. You can go back from where you came.”

I did not give up.
“There must be something you need. I am here, whatever it is.”

“If you really want to help, there are things we lack. But you will not find those things anywhere nearby. We have searched everything. We lack water. All nearby sources have dried up.“

I approached them and showed the bowls I had filled with water (there was a source at the very exit of the forest).

Seeing the water, the women straightened up, tiredly putting down the tools they had in their hands. With my hands, I invited them to take the water. Somewhat timidly, as if they expected that I would somehow trick them, they extended their hands toward the bowls.

I waited for them to drink before asking the obvious question.

“Where are the others? Are there children?”

“Saba, is that what you said your name is? I am Bdira, this is Torna. We are the only ones left. The men died. We have no children. There were twenty-two more families. They all went to the big city, Pokleja. I guess they had no reason to stay here anymore.”

“Why did you stay?” – I asked, immediately realizing I was asking a somewhat foolish question. It slipped out. Surely they would not just leave their birthplace.

“We were born here, here we fell in love with our men. Here we lost them. Here we will die as well.” – said Torna, joining the conversation.

As the conversation continued, realizing that there was no way to make them come with me and go to Pokleja, I said goodbye to them, wishing them less pain and a peaceful continuation of life. I explained to them how to reach the source from which I filled the bowls.

In the end we hugged and kissed. As a sign of gratitude, they gave me a Hoh flower, which is rubbed on the face before sleep. It drives away bad dreams.

“I will come back one day to see you.” – I said, waving to them as we parted.

3. Pokleja

To the city of Pokleja it took several days of walking. Of course, with the help of a polku it would be immeasurably faster. Those wonderful animals were fast. But in our village we did not have them. They were rare and mostly served soldiers and officials who needed fast transport to their destination. Although it seems like exploitation of animals, that was not the case. Polkui were very sociable and eager to help Virteleonians. Of course, they were treated with respect. If a polku no longer wished to participate in transport, it was released into the wild.

My mother wandered through my thoughts again. I wondered what she was doing. I wanted to return home. But this journey I had to complete.

Along the way I picked medicinal plants and filled water from the sources I encountered. I had to be ready for immediate help before anyone asked me for anything. But entering the city, I realized that the inhabitants of Pokleja did not need water or medicinal plants. The city was very developed. The population consisted of women and children who were not so small. Many of my peers. Male children focused on learning, female on practical skills.

I went from house to house getting to know the very kind inhabitants. In the middle of the city there was a large clearing, which represented the center of events. There were also houses where guests were served various liquids. Songs were sung, people danced. I settled in an inn very close to the center itself. I decided to spend a bit more time here.

One morning, going down from my room into the main hall, I saw that it was not very crowded. That was also because I had gotten up much earlier than the usual time of morning gathering.

Drinking water from a large cup that kind Treona, the inn owner, had filled for me, I noticed a woman sitting in the very corner, head lowered, wiping tears. Treona told me that this woman had been appearing there for some time, not asking for anything, just a place where she could sit and rest from work.

“Hello, I am Saba. I am here to help, if help is needed.” – I introduced myself.

“Saba? That name sounds familiar somehow. Have we met before? Grela.” – she said, extending her hand, wet from wiped tears.

“I don’t think we have met, I would remember. Everyone here is quite cheerful, why are you sad?”

“That cheerfulness of theirs is only temporary. They all cry when they return home. The sadness catches up with them. But I am not only crying for my dear Jeol. I feel double sadness. My kutib is missing. My daughters are desperate. That little animal is their only comfort after their father’s death. If you are already offering help, I would ask you to find it, please.”

I had never seen a kutib in real life but from illustrations in books I knew exactly what they looked like. In the wild they could be found running through trees. Very fast, bright reddish-yellow color. They were common pets for Virteleonians.

Grela explained to me where she last saw her kutib, also telling me the location of her house, so I could inform her whether the search had borne fruit.

4. Kutib

The events that followed were a challenge and an obstacle that left a scar on my soul, unwanted, yet necessary on the path to the goal.

To find Grela’s kutib, I had to leave the city. She told me she last saw it running along the course of the river that flowed near the northern part of the city of Pokleja. Kutibs could not swim. So it must be on this side of the river, closer to the city. I followed the river, observing tracks on the ground along the way.

After some time the kutib’s tracks stopped. As if it had stopped and not moved further. I looked across the river and saw a torn piece of clothing. I took my staff, stuck it into the river and with a skillful jump crossed the water, finding myself on the other side. It was not a problem for me to get wet in the river. This way was simply faster.

For the first time in my life I saw a kutib. That small creature could fit in my palm. Red–yellow soft fur. The small four-legged animal lay calmly on the torn fabric. Sleeping. Approaching it, I gently nudged it to wake it up. I was ready to catch it if it got scared upon noticing me. No reaction. Another nudge. Again nothing. Carefully I took it in my hands. Its lifeless body hung from my palms which trembled in the realization that it was no longer among the living. It took me some time to process and connect the events that preceded that sad act.

The kutib sensed the death of its master Jeol. Given its extremely developed sense of smell, it did not take long to catch the scent. It ran, escaping from Grela’s house, first moving along the side of the river closer to the city. Realizing that a piece of its master’s clothing was on the other side of the river, without thinking it jumped into the water. It managed to reach the other side, swallowing water from the river. Reaching the piece of Jeol’s clothing, with its last atoms of strength, the kutib lay down and died due to the large amount of swallowed water.

***

I wrapped the kutib in the fabric and headed toward Grela, to tell her the sad news.

She noticed me from quite a distance. She waved cheerfully at me. But immediately after she noticed my facial expression and fell silent. Her daughters stood beside her, curiously observing me. With quick sharp movements of her hand she ordered them to go into the house. I saw them protest, but they obeyed their mother. Until then firm and strong, I suppressed my emotions. I did not want the inhabitants to see someone who helps them in these moments as vulnerable and emotional. They needed someone strong who would show them the way. Help them. But the dead animal wrapped in the clothing of its master and Grela who was breaking with each of my steps closer were too heavy for me.

Tears flowed down my cheeks. Blurring my vision. I did not wipe them. I did not want to accidentally drop Grela’s pet.

Grela met me on her knees. Arms outstretched. I handed her the bundle.

We sat for a long time, in silence. the Blazing Sphere, gave us its final farewell for that day.

-End of the Road-