by Aaron Oster
***
Consciousness rushed back, and Dabu came to in a hacking, coughing fit. He threw up, the meager contents of his last meal splattering to the ground as his lungs heaved. He was alive. How, he did not know, but somehow, his lungs had loosened their death-grip, allowing him to breathe once more.
His vision was hazy, but he could still see the dying embers of the fire, which meant that he couldn’t have been out for more than an hour.
Dabu slowly pushed himself to his feet, running the back of his hand across his lips and trying to rid himself of the acrid taste. The pain of failure burned him more than the taste of his vomit and more than the burning pain in his chest.
The Purus had struck once again, this time robbing his family of what little they had left. Dabu felt a mixture of anger and shame warring within him as he staggered back toward the house. He would have to wake his mother and tell her what had happened.
Perhaps she might be able to get some food from the neighbors, or maybe she’d even be able to barter for some seed to start over.
Dabu stopped at the intersecting paths, one of which would lead back to his house, and the other, which led to the mouth of the Basin.
His mother and sister might be able to get food, but the other villagers saw him as a worthless human being, a lay-about who was a drain on his poor mother’s limited resources. If he were here, they might refuse them aid. But if he were to leave, they might have more of a fighting chance.
Dabu looked down the path that would lead him right up to the mouth of the Basin. From there, he could sneak past the Purus, as they generally only made sure things didn’t get in, and make it to the Trial gate.
He looked back and forth, indecision keeping him rooted in place for nearly an hour. But as the first light of dawn began to light up the darkness, Dabu finally made his decision.
“I’ll be back in a month. Just wait for me until then,” he said.
He then turned and headed down the path that would take him out of the Basin.
Dabu fought back tears as he went, already knowing how much this was going to hurt his mother and sister. But for their sake, and for the sake of all their futures, Dabu knew that this was the right decision. He moved as quickly as he dared, pulling close to the tree line as he neared the exit of the Basin.
His eyes, already accustomed to the darkness, easily picked out the Puru standing guard. However, as Dabu looked closer, he could see that the guard was sleeping. Dabu let out a sound of disgust, feeling his hatred for this group increase just a little more. Getting past a sleeping guard was barely a challenge at all, and just a few moments later, Dabu was walking free of the Basin for the first time in his life.
He felt his heart rate increase as the walls fell away, revealing a world that was wide open as far as he could see. It was both terrifying and exhilarating, but the one thing that grounded him was the single beam of red and blue light standing out in the darkness.
From inside the Basin, it was completely blocked off, but out here, with nothing but short grass and low shrubbery to impede his vision, the pillar of twining light stood out like a beacon.
Feeling his resolve harden, Dabu took off at a fast walk, fighting not to look back at the only place he had ever called home. In his mind’s eye, he could see his mother and sister still lying in bed, sleeping soundly and completely unaware of what they would find missing once they awoke.
He hoped they both slept late, if only to keep them from feeling the pain for a few hours longer. Doing the right thing was never easy, and even though he knew that what he was doing was necessary, it didn’t make it any easier. That was why he refused to look back, forcing himself onward, despite the pain.
Dabu was barely aware of the passage of time, keeping his gaze locked squarely on the rotating pillar of color until it was all but blotting out the sky. It was only when he realized where he was standing that he came back to himself.
Before him stood an ancient and weathered stone gate, which the red and blue pillar rotated behind. To enter the Trials, all he’d need to do was walk through that gate. It would be a month before he’d be able to leave again — if he even survived that long.
He hesitated for just a moment, looking back toward the Basin, which was now clearly visible as a rising hill in the distance. Sunlight streaked across the open landscape, painting the tan and green leaves in differing shades of color. Once again, he felt sadness flare up, and for a moment, he debated simply turning back and going home.
Then he remembered what was waiting back there — a burned field and months of begging. With him gone, the neighbors would take pity. They would be more sympathetic to Aho and Kahi and would be more likely to take them in, offering sympathies while cursing him for the monster he was.
Letting out a shaky breath and wiping away the last of his tears, Dabu faced the gate.
He would not back down now, not when he’d come this far already. He squared his shoulders, steeled himself, then stepped through the gate and into the light.
Welcome to Trial #4431: Sandstone 290 - Trial of Ancients.
Initializing…
