Aurora’s World: Atecia: Opal: Talking to Margery (part 7)

[k_a_webb]

This entry is part 42 of 42 in the Aurora's World collection

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

This entry is part 42 of 42 in the Aurora's World collection

“They didn’t care about us, Opal,” Haidar said. “A long time ago that bothered me, but now… things have changed so much since then. Our little settlement grew. We thrived in a situation that I didn’t believe we would be able to survive for a year, because we worked together to make it happen, even though we did have disagreements. For a decade, as we grew, we managed to sort out those disagreements, although we knew that the time would come when it wouldn’t be possible to do that and our group would splinter. It was in the twelfth year that it happened the first time.

“I’m not certain exactly what happened, even now. There was an argument over what our next step should be and the elders couldn’t agree.” He smiled. “Of course our elders aren’t what you would think of as elders now, due to the age of the people who were left here, but they were the group we accepted as our leaders, in part because they were the eldest of the group. As I’m sure you can understand that sort of thing wasn’t unusual – three of the elders thought it was still most important for us to focus on survival, knowing that there might be a bad harvest at any point and it was something they wanted us to be ready for, while the other elder thought it was more important to explore, to learn more about the world we had been left on.

“Honestly I think we all wanted to know more, but in the end it was around sixty people who left, to travel, to explore, to learn about our world, taking with them the supplies we could spare, and we never saw them again. It wasn’t until I died that I found out what happened to them, as they were on the other side and willing to talk. Here we talk to learn, to understand, to work out why certain things happened, although most of the spirits here have chosen to live other lives. I’m the only one who is still the same person I was when I came here, because I knew the time would come when I was needed once again, to tell the stories I’ve told before. The problem, as it always has been, in that we aren’t comfortable with change or with people who are different, and this is something you’re dealing with yourself.

“Normally this wouldn’t be something you would learn so soon after your bloom, but the problem with being able to talk to the dead is that even the other magic users can become jealous of your ability, even though it isn’t something I would wish on my worst enemy. Being born on Sauin’s day gives you one of the most difficult abilities to learn to deal with, because it won’t be long before other spirits realise who you are and come to you, asking for favours, for you to talk to their loved ones, for you to pass on something you really shouldn’t, which can make people begin to hate you for something you never chose. Sadly, it’s jealousy that’s led to the death of the majority of magic users with your ability, including Sauin.”

Mirrored from K. A. Webb Writing.

Comments

Feedback

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

No typos found.