Misanthropic #AtoZChallenge 2025 fantasy

[Story scene post]

"Luthais!" I knock Jaildarn out of the way. "What have you done?"

I rub the suprasternal notch jewel. The Red has lost all luster, all illumination. His eyes are closed. There's no movement in his body.

"Rise. Please, we need you. Please, Luthais," tears roll down my cheeks as I clutch his body. There are murmurs all around as people gather. I feel large hands on my shoulders. Reyrigo pulls me to my feet, his hands being all that seems to keep me upright.

"Luthais is a level five now. His jewel is dark. His spirit is with his kind."

I turn to Reyrigo and cry against his chest, soaking his shirt. "No. We need him. He can't go."

"Belp," he rubs my chin, "Luthais has already gone. See the other Reds gathering? They've come to do for him what they do for any level five."

I shake my head and whisper to Reyrigo. "No. Not any level five. The Golds follow no such ritual. Jaildarn did this. Our Red passed to level five screaming in agony, warning about darkness and the end of days. Jaildarn took his hands while he was connected to the spirits. Instead of comfort, encouragement, or assurance, the spirits darkened his jewel. Why would that happen?"

Reyrigo leans his head on mine. "I have no idea. We will ask the Reds later. Come, Belp, we must leave them to it."

I do not want to go. But the level fours are leading everyone that isn't a Red away. The Purple stands at the entrance to the building of the Colorless. We are all meant to gather, to wait there. "Have food and drink. We will celebrate Luthais when the Reds are ready."

I don't want to eat or drink. Reyrigo sits me down, puts his arm around me, and holds a cup to my mouth. "Hydrate. We do not want the Blues to be summoned, do we?" 

The liquid is so cold. Maybe it will freeze in my throat? Freeze, freeze, freeze. Solid. Maybe my jewel will go dark too. I place my hand under his, tilting the cup further, gulping down the drink.

"Easy, easy there, Belp." He pulls the cup from me. 

There's an elongated sigh as someone joins our table. "It was my hands he clutched as his jewel went dark. Shouldn't I be the one being comforted?"

I growl. I've never made such a sound. But there it is, from deep within me. "You were the cause! Golds have no spirits to guide them. Why did you do that?"

Jaildarn examines his fingers. "You told me it was how to start the day, by taking turns with a Red. You had your turn. I was taking mine. Is that not the way in this Brown village? I only wanted to follow the cultural procedure like a proper guest."

Reyrigo grabs me as I start to leap over to Jaildarn. 

"If I knew it would cause a delay in cavern exploration, I would not have bothered. What is this meal? It tastes like sap and bark. I thought villages with the Colorless ate better than this. The Orange certainly do. Masters of the jungles and wetlands have excellent morning meals."

"How can you speak of such matters? Our Red is gone. What did you do?" Reyrigo pins my arms to my chest to prevent my wild air punching. 

"Jewels go out. Is this the first time you've experienced someone becoming a level five? It isn't rare among the Golds." Jaildarn eats his bowl of food. 

"Perhaps you want to sit elsewhere." Reyrigo says to Jaildarn. There's no question in his words.

He waves his hand. "It is very full in here. I see no reason to trouble myself looking for another seat."

"Then perhaps you will have your meal in silence. Your words displease my ears. A rockpile would muffle the sound."

Jaildarn pouts. It appears to be genuine sadness. The first sign he's shown of the emotion. 

Reyrigo leans against my ear. "Golds dislike society. They have no respect for customs because they lack any social graces. Misanthropic, the Purples call it. Ignore him if he speaks again. Eat something, Belp."

While we were never opposed to each other, Reyrigo and I were never close before, either. I realize his kindness is beyond what anyone should expect.

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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? 

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QUESTION -- How do you feel about Jaildarn now?

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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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