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Story scene post]
The Purple held true to her word. After I got Jaildarn cleaned up and suitably dressed, we went to the building of the Colorless to get some stew. Seated at one of the hexagonal tables, usually reserved for special meetings, was the Purple, the level four Gold, Luthais, and Herlamin. They had a loaf of bread cut and divided between them and the two empty spots. The Purple waved us over.
"Herlamin, allow me to introduce you to Jaildarn, a level two Gold who is my new friend. Jaildarn, this is Herlamin, the primary instructor of the level twos in our village."
They nodded to each other.
"Well done, the lesson in introductions has stuck." Herlamin claps the table before addressing the others, "We so rarely entertain outsiders that the lesson is almost impractical. Almost."
Luthais raises his cup. "Here's to almost!" He takes a swig as I slide into my chair.
"Khryos, sorry for, uhh, this is Belp. You know that. I, umm," Jaildarn drops to the floor, covers his head with his hands, and whimpers.
"Rise, calm yourself, and be seated," the Purple insists. "Your Master Gold will not punish you during this meal."
The stare she gives could freeze a volcano. The elder Gold smiles, though it looks fake.
"I am Khryos. My mission is to acquire certain rocks needed for a small structure, and to accompany this young one as he gains a bit of worldly experience. Lacking survival skills. And grace, it seems. Sit up properly, put the napkin on your lap, and eat!" He aims the last words at Jaildarn, who shakes as he reaches for the napkin.
"I've not seen such shaking before. That would be dangerous on parts of the mountain. Could cause a collapse or a slide," Herlamin says before eating some warm bread.
The Purple raises her cup. "We are here to foster learning about important questions. Let us not mention the nervous condition afflicting the child."
"Which questions?" Herlamin asks.
The table falls silent as the Colorless approach. They serve us each a bowl of stew. We thank them for their work, except Khryos, who grumbles something under his breath, and Jaildarn, who stays silent.
"The subject of the Silvers came up. Has anyone here ever met one?" The Purple asks before taking a spoonful of stew.
"I didn't even know they exist. What do they do?" I ask. At this moment, I barely care. The bread is so warm it hurts a little to hold. The stew smells so wonderful. I see tiny carrots floating on top. Scooping one on my spoon, I ease it between my lips. The perfect level of softness, not so much as to be mushy, just enough not to make loud, crunching sounds. I roll it around my tongue and between my teeth, enjoying each flavorful moment. Maybe, when I'm a level four, I'll live in a house by a carrot patch. I know the Yellows do nearly all of the farming, so it isn't likely to happen. But just imagine if I could have carrots any time I wanted.
Khryos slurps from his bowl, forgoing the use of a spoon. "Yeah, I know some. That's what the rocks are for, a structure they're making. Portal to Xeata-Lidoffad. Bunch of us Golds are going with them to map it."
The other level fours exchange glances. It's very quiet. I can hear Jaildarn gnawing at his bread.
"Dip it in the stew. It makes it more delicious," I whisper to him.
After following my suggestion, he smiles wide at me. Juices from the stew drip from the corners of his mouth. It's still less messy than Khryos, who has a piece of carrot and half a potato caught in his beard, and more stew juices on his shirt than in his mouth. I look to Herlamin, who appears to be staring intently at his cup.
"What's a portal? And Xeata-Lidoffad?" I ask, hoping to restart the conversation. I hate listening as people eat. I'm glad I'm not a Colorless.
Herlamin taps the table. "A portal is a way to travel an impossible distance. Silvers exist to find and use them. Xeata-Lidoffad is the large planet you see in the sky, the one our world circles around. We haven't studied such concepts yet."
Luthais rubs his chin. "Haven't filled their heads with nonsense yet? And why would you? There's no reason to go Xeata-Lidoffad, even if there were a way, which there isn't."
"Reds aren't coming," Khryos states as he slams his empty bowl on the table.
"No Red would be willing to, not that it matters, since there are no portals. Silvers are liars."
"I'm getting our rocks!" Khryos knocks his chair over as he stands. "Do what you want with this one. I have a mission. Unlike you lot, I'm not staying on this pointless little world. There's a huge planet to explore and I'm going!"
He doesn't pick up his chair. Nor does he clear his spot at the table. Jaildarn grabs the uneaten bit of bread left behind and tucks it in his shirt. He checks that no one was watching, but I was. He presses his finger to his lips, silently begging me not to tell.
I have no reason to tell anyone. He's preventing food waste. That's the law. I have no idea why he wants to be secretive about being obedient. But I have more pressing questions to ask.
"Why would Silvers exist if there are no portals?"
Luthais slams his cup down. "I must go speak with the spirits."
Key dramatic question that will take whole story to answer:
Could Belp have prevented all this death, how, and if so-- why didn't he?
And what led Jaildarn to become the cause of such annihilation?
QUESTION -- Do you have a favorite stew?
My A to Z 2025 theme is a fantasy story. (And some of the process of writing it as well.) 🕮
- J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge
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