SABA

-Plir-

Chapter 1

Sacrifice is noble and pure if it is made for the benefit of others, and not for one’s own benefit. Then it becomes selfishness.

How many times I repeated that sentence to myself, immersed in historical books about the planet. It shaped me as a person, while I tirelessly researched, practiced, cried in bed alone.
I longed to see the monument to Virteleon where those words were carved into a marble slab. The monument was gigantic. My smallness, standing upright, reached the knee of the massive figure. Arms spread wide, as if greeting and wishing welcome to anyone who found themselves there. On the face, a friendly, almost divine smile.

Not far from there I made my small place for rest. A shelter made of fallen branches of trees and vegetation that protected the roof of my burrow from weather conditions that from time to time had a habit of arriving. I wanted to be as close as possible to that sacred place, where I would for the next ten or more days contemplate and gather energy for what comes next.

Previous events on this journey left scars, which although invisible, were present and painful, scratching from within, reminding me how life is fleeting. At the same time, they gave me strength and motivation to continue. Toward my goal. The light that was calling me. I knew that I would succeed. The very fact that I had made it this far gave me immeasurable strength. It pulled me toward a certain reward.

Not far from the monument there was a place, where those who are no more kept watch. I wondered whether my father or uncle spent their days and nights exactly there, at that place, observing the surrounding mountain ranges. Waiting for the first rays of the Blazing sphere to shine upon them. Or to return the gaze to the last ones of that day.

With each new day, new insights came to me. I had a pronounced imagination. Imagination really did all sorts of things in my mind. And there was plenty of time. Also, concern for the future. Not mine, but ours, of the Virteleonians. An idea, at first mild, shy, grew stronger and stronger each day. It was impossible to predict whether in the future we would be attacked by some other species of non-Virteleonians. And we are unprepared, vulnerable, almost nonexistent. I cannot, as an individual, defend the whole planet. I had to find a way to integrate others. The tendency and perspective were such that male children were more oriented toward learning and theoretical knowledge, while female were more skilled in physical activities, combat and practical knowledge. That was not anything bad, nor did I judge the wishes and affinities of others. But something had to be done.

The enormous desire to move forward was extinguished only for the reason that I had two more days left to spend here. I will not have that much opportunity for rest afterward. I valued and will value these moments, when again negative and heavy moments strike, which will certainly be plentiful in the future.

The last night, before the final continuation of the journey, I had a dream:
I find myself in a dilapidated little house, in the middle of nowhere. All around the house pitch darkness. It is impossible to assess where I am. If I were to step out of the house I would find myself in nothingness where every step could be potentially fatal. I sit on a chair, the only thing that exists inside. I am waiting for someone. I know that they are coming. I just don’t know who. I hear a sound, some crackling. Quiet footsteps, but not Virteleonian. Animal. A small elongated snout emerges from the darkness, illuminated by the light of the room. Two small, black eyes look at me curiously, almost surprised. And then the snout stretches into a wide smile.

Chapter 2

The second territory of Virteleon was sparsely populated. There were no settlements, cities or villages. But there were Virteleonians who, following their own path, would stop along the way to rest while heading toward one of the two remaining territories. Women with children my age or slightly older than me. I gave them water and medicinal plants that I had picked along the way. The gratitude in their eyes gave me additional strength not to give up.

Studying the map, I realized that there are several places that I must visit. The first of them was a hill at the top of which was located the famous shelter of the first Engineers, as the writers of the books I so tirelessly read called them. That shelter was the place of the greatest sacrifice of the first Engineer who landed on our planet. After him the planet Virteleon was named. That place was an absolute priority.

It took me three days to reach the destination.

A strong wind whipped my face as I approached the metal structure. Excitement and awe ran through my being as I approached. I noticed that the doors of the shelter were wide open. The place was available and accessible to everyone. Virteleonians visited it as a shrine, but I was quite sure that no one entered inside, precisely out of awe. I decided to enter, whatever happens.

My body vibrated with nervousness as I decisively stepped inside the shelter. The first room was illuminated by the rays of the Blazing sphere. It was empty, only bare walls. But on the walls there was text written that I did not understand. An unknown language. Was that the language of the Engineers? I am quite sure that it was. There was no chance to interpret it since not a single letter was even similar to the ones we use.

To pass through the next door I needed fire. Outside I found a larger branch which I lit and brought back inside, carefully protecting the fire from the strong winds.

The shelter, now I can say, consisted of a total of four rooms. The first, empty, whose walls were covered with some messages of the Engineers. The second room was obviously a sleeping area since I found one object that strongly resembles the headrest we use for sleeping. Only one. The others were apparently taken when leaving the shelter. In the third room there was a storage. Empty dusty shelves filled the space. On them, I assume, they placed items of importance for normal functioning within the shelter.

Entering the fourth room I had a strong feeling that I was on the threshold of something. Invisible, powerful. I had to hurry because the fire was slowly weakening, and I did not want to find myself in complete darkness if it burned out.

In the corners of the room there were books. Papers, notebooks. Again the same unknown language. I carefully picked everything up and started to go outside. Although I did not know the language, surely there is a way for the writings to be interpreted. There is probably at least someone in Samkar, the largest city of Virteleon, who can interpret the texts. It was located in the third and last inhabitable territory. There is still quite a distance to walk to get there.

Chapter 3

Another twelve days have passed. From time to time I opened the writings of the Engineers, trying to memorize different letters. I noticed a slight similarity with our letters, but I was not sure whether that similarity was intentional or a coincidence. I could hardly wait for the day when I would find someone who could help me interpret them.

I still had to pass through the forest Ultira and I would arrive near the third territory and the city of Samkar. Ultira was the largest known forest. Full of life, both plant and animal. A pleasant refreshment before continuing the journey. I loved animals. To spend time with them, to play. To breathe together the magical air that only a forest can produce.

According to the map and the position of the Blazing sphere I coordinated my next steps. Night was slowly falling, so it was necessary to find a place to spend the night. I decided on a place next to a small stream. On the map marked under the name Rug. I had read about it. According to some legends it is enough to drink only a few sips of water from the stream and you would have strength for all possible and impossible efforts for a period of one day. I will not do that now before night. But tomorrow when I wake up certainly.

I was awakened by a gentle poking on my right side. The elongated snout and the eyes I saw in the dream about the hut. It was a plir, a small animal with an elongated body and four legs. An elongated snout and large black eyes. Their natural habitat was the forest. But they could adapt to any habitat. Although I do not know about inhabited places. It was not recorded that they came into contact with Virteleonians, except those who studied animals. A plir was mostly completely white in color, but they were also seen with green patterns on white fur.

The plir was curious to see what was in the bundle that I carried with me.

“I cannot give you that to play with, those are very important records. The fate of the whole planet may depend on them.” – I said to it as if it would understand me.

The plir stood on its hind legs, raising its front ones above its head. I did not know what that meant or represented.

“Do you have a name?” – I asked, smiling perhaps louder than I should have.

The plir dropped to all fours, shaking its head left to right.

Does it understand me? In no possible source of information was there even the slightest indication that a plir could understand our language. There was also a possibility that no one had tried to talk to them among the researchers. But that would be a sign of irresponsibility. Everything should be attempted. How else can you say that you have researched something if you have not exhausted every possibility, every aspect.

“I will call you Trob. After the imaginary friend of my mother.” Trob jumped, giving the impression of a very happy being. I took it in my hands and placed it on my chest.

“Trob, let’s sleep a little more. I must be rested before I continue further.”

***

Trob did not want to separate from me. My refusal to take it with me did not stop it from expressing its dissatisfaction, with loud squeaking. I did not want to risk some difficulties that could happen to us and in that way risk its life. But it was so persistent that I eventually gave in. The company will be useful to me, a companion.

***

We were approaching the entrance to the third territory. At the very beginning, the border between the second and third territory, there was the famous forest, inside which proudly stood the Lake of Pebbles. I had never been here. And of course, there had been no need.

The lake will not have a function for some time yet. There were no guards since the guards were exclusively men. It seems that we will have to change that. But everything in its own time.

***

Samkar. The largest city. The most populated. Full of possibilities. Trob and I will stay here the longest. That is the end of the journey. After that comes the return home. Through all those places that I passed through to get here.

-End of Plir-