In unison, the four floating leaves directed forward with their sharp apexes.
Looking closely, the leaves were in interesting tones, unlike what he had ever seen before. One was gold, the next was white, the next was a mix of a reddish-purple, and the final one was grey.
The vein of crimson waters were fervent, and looked far cleaner than the one Malik woke up to.
He stared in its ruby hue and the white foam across the bank. . It reminded him of a crushed velvet, then he remembered why.
Ah! I remember! I received cake was of red velvet with white frosting . . . how long ago was that? Ten, maybe eleven years ago, on December 31st. Yeah, eleven. I'd never forget that taste, one of the few luxuries I got from my father.
If I remember correctly, that's my birthday. You know, its pretty sad that I had to think twice about the day I was born.
Malik sighed, and grazed his palms across the barks of trees near the bank.
Warm sunlight pierced the canopy above. It unshackled the weights of promises and people that used to surround him. Now, it allowed him to stroll weightlessly.
It was a grand spectacle, as each glimmer of light formed a path to the leaves as a marker. They bounced on different leaves, and eventually landed on his face. It tickled his eye, and he let out a hoarse laugh.
Oh land, how playful you are!
His smile drifted upward, as he continued onward with his journey.
Pulling out the blade from his pocket, he aimed it forward, directing himself on the path of the river. He made sure the gold nuggets were still within his pockets as he patted it.
Eventually, the river made a slight curve, intending to lead elsewhere.
He maneuvered through countless ferns and trees, and heard a distant laughter. A laughter that belonged to a group of children, plump with joy.
Immediately after, a clamor of leaves fell from the nearby trees, from the lightest shades to the darkest tones, all fell behind the four that led.
Wonder what kind of leaf I would be . . .
Suddenly, something pulled at his shirt from behind. It was a delicate grip near his waist.
Malik turned and saw a familiar young boy.
"Hey, you're the hurt man from the court!" He cheered.
Malik gave a warm smile, tilting his head "That's me. Isn't this such a nice place?"
The boy nodded, "What's your name again, mister?"
"Call me Malik." He slightly bowed, with a more open stance.
"Mines Nodin. Nice to meet you!" The boy offered a small hand.
Nodin . . .
Malik released a genuine grin, "Ahh I remember now. You really helped me out there buddy!"
Nodin smiled with a gap in his teeth, "You don't like hurting people, right?"
Malik hesitated for a moment, looking around for the forest to give him a response.
Then, he sighed, "No, not at all. I never meant to hurt anybody . . ."
The boy tilted his head, mimicking him, "I could tell. You seem much happier out here, Malik."
"I am. I'm almost ashamed of it. Say Nodin, why are you alone out here?" Malik asked.
"I'm not. My friends are back there, and my mom told me to get used to this part, since we'll have to move to Penthos." Nodin responded in an innocent voice.
"Penthos?" Malik questioned. He had heard of that name before, but still wasn't sure.
"Yes, the tribe of 'gweif' or something" He lisped, "We had to go out of Marah since my papa passed away."
Malik suddenly remembered the ritual, envisioning that field in his mind. He remembered the man that stepped in, and how a small boy cried after he was stabbed.
Guan Sui . . .
He would never forget the conniving look of the once-crowned subordinate's face.
Malik kneeled down, allowing the leaves to drift away in the river, "I'm sorry for your loss, Nodin." He said with furrowed eyebrows.
"Its okay, Malik. I know you're scared of death because you live in Nawra, but you have to smile through it! Papa always wanted me to smile, and live happy!" Nodin cheered.
"Yeah, that's a good mindset to have. Listen to your papa, and treasure him. You lost a good one, but just know he's always there for you." Malik said calmly.
The leaves rustled, and the sky slightly dimmed.
Nodin looked up, "I have to go home soon. My new home is in Penthos. I heard many people from Marah are moving there today for some reason."
Malik got an idea, "Really? I have a friend I can't find. He's from Marah and he might just be there, would you mind leading me there?"
The young boy lifted a tiny finger to the river, "Go down the river. I thought you knew, because you walked down it."
Malik sneered, "I guess I got lucky. Well, I'll keep going, you stay safe and go back to your friends."
Patting the young boy's head, Malik turned, and went onward, following the current. The leaves were gone, but he knew they would meet again eventually.
He stepped on soft moss beneath his feet, as he used the trees as support for his body. On the brink of land and the river, he chose the in-between.
Surprisingly, he hadn't heard the boy's small steps leave. He turned, and saw that the figure was gone.
But when he turned to his right, he was silently following him.
Malik raised an eyebrow, "You're quite sneaky, Nodin."
He gleamed, "Sorry. I hid behind the trees hoping you wouldn't see me. I didn't want to leave you alone because you seemed scared."
Malik laughed, "What makes you think I'm scared?"
Nodin pouted, "You're from Nawra, that's how this works."
"You know people have other emotions than the namesakes of their tribes, right?" Malik questioned.
Nodin laid a knuckle on his chin, "Hmm, I don't know. I was born here, so that's all my mama taught me."
"And didn't your mother-" He paused, "Didn't anybody teach you not to be around strangers?"
"You're not a stranger. But I'm a stranger to you." Nodin said, flatly.
The forest tightly held its breath after.
Malik lightly muttered, ". . . That's how it always goes."
"Did you say something, Malik?" Nodin curiously asked.
He shook his head, staring at the foamy river bank.
Their conversation fell short, and they both listened to the gurgling stream.
Then-
"There it is!" Nodin pointed, he waved for Malik to follow him.
Nodin quickly jogged in quiet steps towards it.
Malik followed soon after, and saw it.
From afar, a wall of skulls could be seen. All in different shapes and sizes. They all laid on top of a polished granite barrier.
Inside the jawbones, there were platforms that held candles in them.
I'd expect Nawra to have these. Guess this tribe was first.
Traversing the endless arrays of craniums, Nodin waved his finger across each one, as if he knew their names.
"Mama said she was gonna put papa's skull here. But we couldn't find him. She was really sad the last time I saw her." Nodin stated.
"I don't know how you do it, Nodin." Malik uttered softly.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you not have anyone to blame? I mean, what happened to him was terrible, and you seem to not bare any resentment." Malik pondered, meeting the hollow-out eyes of the skulls.
Each abyss within the eyes stared back in a different story.
Then, Nodin turned around, and smiled brightly, "Papa always told me to never blame. He said the world can make you blame anyone, but what it can't do, is take your smile away!"
A heartwarming expression stitched on Malik's face. He held his heart as he felt a sudden pressure release at his words.
Malik gave a deep smile, "Nodin. Wherever you go in this life, never forget those words. They'll mean a lot more as you get older."
Nodin quickly nodded, and turned around, pointing to the skulls, not in blame, but in consideration. He didn't say their names, rather, he shed a tear of happiness.
If only I could smile like that. No, if only the realms could smile like that. Maybe one day, I can make the people on land smile, for they have never known its beauty.
One day, they won't have a need to be separated. Is that what I've always wanted?
As he thought, Malik saw a large open entrance, without a gate. The tribe itself was small, and the open doorway seemed to be a large portion of it.
Nodin entered, and Malik carefully investigated it.
Normally, I'd expect some spectacle. I suppose grief is quiet on the outside, but its true sentiment lies within. Penthos . . .
They met blue streetlights above, glaring far more azure than the skies.
Houses of different materials were closely aligned near the lights. The chimneys on the roofs resembled the valves of a heart.
The road beneath his feet didn't have ridges, instead it was cold, and flat.
Barely any people were outside, and they always carried a souvenir with them.
Urns filled with ashes, nostalgic family photos, two wedding rings stacked on one finger, and dark lockets that made them tear.
Each person that passed by wiped a red nose, as used the items they held to guide them to their destination.
Then, Nodin spoke, "Mama!"
Malik saw him jump into a woman's arms. She was tall, but her posture made her look frail. She appeared to have not slept for what looked like days.
The woman spoke, "Nodin. Mama's sorry she told you to get out of the house. She's very sad you see . . ."
Nodin smiled, "Its okay Mama, you don't have to say sorry. Don't be sad, everything's gonna be okay, I promise."
Malik felt a sudden melancholy pierce him with his words. He fought the burning of rising tears behind his eyes.
Then, Nodin pointed at him, "Look Mama, that scared man helped me get here!"
The woman looked up, she saw Malik's grey gaze, and his pale palm grasping something.
He held an obsidian bayonet, pointing its edge to the ground.
She spoke weakly, hugging Nodin closer, "You were exiled by the court weren't you?"
Malik stepped back, unable to respond.
"I was home, and my son told me all about a man who held a blade when he snuck in there. You lacerated half of that council, didn't you?" She asked.
Malik hung his head, he couldn't wipe the stained blood off his hands, "I'm sorry . . ."
Then, "No, you did a good thing."
She sniffed, "You gave what those vultures what they deserved. They let my husband die, and laughed at it. I and many others heard of your actions."
Continuing, "Many had enough of Marah, and decided to move because of you. You lifted the people who lost their loved ones to those monsters, and showed there was another way."
Malik didn't take pride in it, he held his blade tighter, "I never wanted to hurt anybody."
"Yet you did what we should've done long ago." She responded.
Her eyes slowly widened, staring at what he held, "I have a question."
Malik looked up.
"That blade. Did you lose somebody who used to hold it?" The woman asked.
He sighed, "I did. They had the same name as me."
. . .