Chapter 11: A New Day

Empedocles walked closer to the bed while glaring at Polius. 

Polius, on the other hand, couldn’t muster up the courage to look Empedocles in the eyes and rather continued to stare at the window that encased the blue sky of the outside world. 

“If you had simply trusted the hunters then you could have protected the village without overexerting your body. Ramus Pomifer is not an Astral Spirit that you can assimilate by yourself,” Empedocles berated. 

Each of his words was said slowly yet they hit Polius’ heart and psyche hard. 

Empedocles continued, “You were fortunate to only be in a coma for three days. You could have been crippled for life or worse yet, never to wake up again.”

Polius’ eyes became heavy upon hearing Empedocles’ lecture. The old man was right and as such there was just no room for Polius to retort. 

On the other side of the room, Lydia gasped out loud upon hearing her newfound discovery. Previously, Empedocles hadn’t elaborated on what had occurred so she was left to her own imagination.

With her clearer view of the overall picture came a gut-wrenching and heart-piercing feeling. Her anxiety had manifested into two pairs of daggers that targeted both her stomach and her chest. 

At the same time, her mind was kidnapped away into an elaborate maze of her own-doing. Different scenarios and situations played out, each with the death of Polius which worsened her distraught. 

Empedocles continued to stare down at Polius who remained mute at his words. 

“You shouldn’t solely think of the result but also the aftermath. Currently, you are the only one that is fit to be the Chief.”

Polius’ lips twitched and an urge to speak rose up.

Yet Empedocles continued, “Don’t start talking about how there are me and Theo. I am too old. Regardless of what Theo may achieve, he is still an outsider and will always bring dissatisfaction within the village. Him teaching the Acolytes is the highest position he can hope for.” 

Empedocles’ reasoning had squashed down the words that Polius wanted to say and thus he continued to remain quiet. 

After a moment of silence, Empedocles turned around and walked towards the entrance. 

His sudden action brought Lydia back to reality and caused Polius to turn his sight on to the old man. 

Right before Empedocles went out of the room he said, “If and only if we are looking at the result then you did a good job protecting the village with what we had. But you must always do better.” 

And just like that, Empedocles left the room, leaving behind Polius and Lydia. 

“Lydia,” Polius called out.

“Y-yes, Chief?” 

“Thank you.”

“Chief, please don’t. It’s my honour and duty to take care of you.” 

Polius replied, “Even then, thank you.” 

Lydia nodded with reddened ears.  

Polius was then reminded of the morning of the attack or rather noon since he had overslept. His recalling of the event drenched his heart in shame and regret. 

“Chief…”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I must seek your forgiveness for.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“On the day of the attack… I came over to take care of the infant and then found out that you were still asleep. I didn’t know what to do and then the Elder appeared and told me to let you sleep so I followed his order.

“Empedocles?”

“Yes, Chief.”

A scenery flashed in Polius’ mind. Empedocles standing right before his bed, smirking at him for still sleeping in the morning. This only further flushed Polius with shame and embarrassment.  

Polius gritted his teeth and clenched his fist but the moment he tried to use his strength a wave of feebleness spread throughout his body from his toes to his head. 

His three-day coma had left him with very little strength. Polius looked down at his body and realised that his muscle had diminished. 

After the battle against the tide, he was drowned in preparation for the banquet and then came the fight against the swarm, followed by the coma. In the past week, he hadn’t worked out thus it was only a matter of logic that his body had severely weakened.

Polius felt a variety of emotions all at once, they were mixed together inside of him like a cauldron of poison.

He sighed. 

Lydia, seeing this, couldn’t help but worry. Her guilt hung down on her heart like an anchor, she felt that she should have been blamed for the situation developing to what it was. 

Another moment of silence passed by as the two individuals were swallowed up by their own guilt. Neither said a word, one was still obsessed by his own failures while the other one didn’t dare disturb the former. 

Seconds went by before Lydia finally spoke up, “Chief…”

Her words stopped the emotions stirring inside of Polius for a split second, bringing his mind back to reality.

“Ah, yes Lydia?”

“I will be taking my leave now so that you can relax in peace.”

Polius nodded, “Once again, thank you.”

Lydia bowed her head and turned around to leave the room. As she took her exit, she couldn’t help but felt the disconnection between her and Polius. There was a wall that stood between them, a wall made from their difference in status. 

***

Polius was now back to being alone in his own room yet it felt different. This wasn’t the first time he’s been alone but there was a peculiar sensation that overridden his senses.    

It was then he recalled the neverending darkness that appeared in his coma. He realised it had altered something deep within him, something that he couldn’t pinpoint exactly. 

Polius thought he had shaken the feeling away yet the sensation had simply bided its time till when he was alone.

It wasn’t a feeling that brought terror or sadness but one of loneliness. 

Polius rubbed his chest, trying to soothe his heart. 

In this moment of solitude, Polius ruminated over everything that had happened. Yet it didn’t take long before his train of thought was disrupted by a voice that echoed into the room. 

“I forgot to mention this but kiddo, two children wanted to get married. You’ll have to take care of it three days from now so rest up.”         

The surprise news made Polius speechless yet it took his mind away from his negative thoughts.

A marriage huh, Polius thought to himself. The edge of his lips perked up. 

Polius' sight returned to his window view where the sun was starting to descend, painting over the previously blue sky with a yellow tint. 

The bright warm colours lit up a fire within Polius as a warmth spread throughout his body. He continued to stare at the sky as the yellow, little by little, was altered into fiery orange. The splattered clouds moved away as the sun descended from the view, taking away the bright colours along with it. 

Soon after the sun disappeared, the night trailed behind its footsteps as a chill breeze blew past through the village. Peace and tranquillity were painted over Igysil as the villagers began to prepare for night time. 

Polius never left his sight on the small view from his bedside window. The spectacle eased his troubled heart. 

Then the lamps of the night arrived in the forms of the star’s bright lights. It was a painting that Polius could never seem to get bored of even if it was already a photograph etched into his memories. 

Although Polius had slept in a coma for three days, he was unable to resist his overwhelming fatigue. His consciousness was once again taken away into the realm of dreams.

And like a cycle that never ends, the uneventful night passed by and the day soon chased after.

*** 

Right in front of the room’s window, Polius could be found watching over the rise of the glorious fire beast that was the sun. 

He had woken up ahead of dawn and before the other villagers had left their bed.    

It was a serene morning yet one that lacked the lustre of life. The wildlife that used to infest the surrounding area with spirit and vigour had yet to return after the threat that was the beast tide. 

Soon after the sun had risen up, the villagers began to leave their house. The first batch of villagers that came out were the farmers that tended the crops. 

Without prey for the Hunters to hunt, the village’s crops became even more valuable than before. Thus, adding boulders of pressure onto the farmers’ shoulders yet they also felt a more keen sense of pride in what they do. 

The warriors had protected their village, now it was their duty to sustain the lives that had lived past the bloodshed. 

After the farmers came the elderly who stood outside their home to absorb in the golden rays that nourished their bodies. Even though they had been plagued by the illness that was known as time, they continued to enjoy their life to the fullest. 

Soon after the elderly was a wave of youthful energy that was the village’s warriors. They all gathered together in the centre of the village and basked in the morning sunlight.

In a uniformed order, they began to work out their body through a vigorous set of exercise. It didn’t take long before sweat started to pour out from their pores.

The sunlight reflected off tanned skin, giving the warriors a glistening sheen.  

Watching over the warriors gave Polius an itching urge to go out to exercise together with the warriors yet he remained at his spot. He was resolute to observe it all to the very end, to imprint everything he was seeing to his conscious.

It didn’t take long for the remaining villagers to come pouring out for their home. The children yelled and screamed as they continued to play around while a group of teenagers dressed in blue robe headed towards Theo’s house. 

Despite everything that had happened, the village still maintained their normal daily life. Out of everything that Polius had experienced, to him, this sight was the one that he truly cherished like a treasure. 

A knocking was heard against Polius’ door.

Polius didn’t turn his sight away from the window, “Yes?”

“I’ve come for my punishment, Chief.” A resolute yet soft voice rang out from behind the door. 

Polius shook his head, “Come in.”