The Red Lands

Oh! Curse the short life of humans!

Mrs. Thomas walked towards the lone tree behind the short hedge. With the sprawling branches stripped naked by winter, the short yet wide and knobby trunk testified to its stout perseverance.

Her footsteps left a trail over the thin snow as she paused beside the living relic. Resting a gloved hand on the gnarled trunk, her eyes then roamed the training field. It didn't take long to discover the object of her affection.

A couple of stragglers practiced archery at the far end while half a dozen dotted the open field, engaged in various training exercises. Her focus lay in the corner closest to her, which contained straw dummies used for close combat. A single fighter stood with matted hair and a glistening forehead while facing one such opponent.

With every yell laced with confidence, the single-hand brought the wooden sword crashing down. Not once did the firm strike waver, nor did it miss its intended target.

'When last did you appear like this? How long have I waited for the man I married to return? The children raised you from your depression, and now, they unlocked your zeal once more.'

Mrs. Thomas clutched her cloak tightly as she adjusted the fur-lined hood over a bun of golden hair. Since receiving the letter from the farm, her husband spent his mornings training or sparring.

Most of the guards from the Academy found the middle-aged man agreeable. Not only did he have a wealth of experience as a Military Captain in the North Pass, but he possessed the scars to prove his deeds.

"Elder Thomas, I see you've been out training hard again."

"Greetings, Scribe Moss, what brings you by again today?"

The greetings and reply from her husband drifted across the snow to her ears. The visitor appeared to be a lanky youth with a shallow, long face. A white ribbon tied his shoulder-length, black hair into a single ponytail.

Besides the thin frame hidden under the robes of a Scribe, stood a burly, bald man in full leather armor. The youth quickly returned a greeting while answering.

"Haha, need you to ask, Elder? When I returned home a few days ago, I narrated to my old man how you sparred with my guard at that time. I never expected your fame to reach the ears of my merchant family."

The teen raised his hand to contain a cough and then continued.

"I think soon your little sparrings will become known to most of the scribes with families from the city. Take me, for example. I just mentioned this over dinner, and my grandfather forced me to bring along the Captain of our guard."

The drops of perspiration fell from the groomed beard of the one-handed man. He knew Sakura participated in a high-profile meeting, but he didn't expect it to affect even the merchant community. No doubt, the headache from visiting suitors would only increase.

"Thanks for the information, Scribe Moss. I know some of the Scribes, Academy guards, and even Apprentices have come or sent men to aid my training because of my girls. I wasn't aware that the business Sakura planned stirred up the waters. Well, no use mussing on the details, let's begin."

"Sure. Well, you two have fun. If I don't meditate and increase my mana, then next month I might be kicked out of the Academy."

Mrs. Thomas looked on as her husband squared his thin but toned frame against his burly opponent. She had witnessed similar scenes ever since she secretly spied on him. Slowly, she watched her husband regain his commanding presence. The slumbering courage had been awoken by a few simple words from a letter.

Under the unyielding shouts and twacking of wooden swords, she turned to retrace the single trail of footsteps. Come midday, she needed to prepare an adequate lunch for the well-deserved hungry mouths gracing her small table.

***

"Chu, Shine sent across a bowl of steaming hot meat buns for us. She said since we can't come across for lunch, let her know if we feel hungry later, and she will whip us up something. I already placed a dinner order for Inyoni steak. Yum-yum."

Miki said while setting down the wooden bowl on the table. Lifting the lid, a salivating aroma greeted them along with the swirls of releasing steam. Shine wrapped each bun meticulously inside an oily paper to preserve their individuality. A silent consensus spread around the four participants circling the table.

Smacking the hand making its way towards a bun, Chu raised an eyebrow under the oil lamps.

"Go wash your hands in the kitchen. Don't think I didn't spot you from the open door, patting that furry loafer outside. I swear, they're the only animals that fatten up during winter."

Scrolling through his notes while munching on a meat bun, he voiced to no one in particular.

"So we all agree, Ishara is fifty-two years old. Fifty-two of our calendar years."

"Agreed."

The two girls replied in unison while politely covering their mouths. Catching a trickle of savory sauce leaking down one side of his lips with his thumb, Chu licked it before looking at Ishara.

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"Ishara fifty-two."

He commented using the language understood by the Hakkim. Like the girls, the scarlet figure nodded her head while covering her mouth. The blissful golden eyes indicated they were satisfied with this substitute meal. Nothing could beat the mixture of juicy meats and vegetables trapped inside a bun of softly cooked flour.

"We can see from this map... Lucy, can you move the bowl for me? Perfect. We can see from this sketch that the Sky Tribe village is located around here."

"Yes. Sky Tribe."

Ishara answered to his pointing finger. Chu marked an X and labeled it in both languages.

"Traveling from the North Mountains to the village requires around three months."

Chu switched his words to the ancient numbers.

"Eighty to ninety days."

"Eighty to ninety days. Yes."

Chu tapped his finger on the table while listening to the eager reply.

"How is Ishara sure the tribe will survive until we arrive?"

He asked as his eyes roamed north of the mountains to view landmarks such as forests, grasslands, and valleys. Ishara jotted them down from recalling her journey. Even as a sketch-map, Chu held information that lifted the fog of war from beyond the mountains. Miki searched her notes, pulled out a paper, and then handed it to Lucy to read.

"She reported that the Sky Tribe warriors would have fought with honor so as to allow the uninitiated to escape. Survivors will seek sanctuary in the hidden Edria valley. No one knows of it but members of the tribe. The valley has enough food to last the tribe for years."

"Mmm... don't forget Lucy. Ishara says the Sky Tribe is fearsome since they fight with honor. Never retreat from battle and fight to the death. The reason why demon beasts and Kurat stay far."

Miki mumbled after swallowing a mouthful. Chu continued tapping his finger as Lucy turned to Ishara and repeated the words in an ancient script for confirmation. The progress had been painfully slow despite his little translation dictionary. They open the door to a strange, unknown world beyond the mountains. What occupied his mind, however, came from Miki's last statement.

"Indeed. So why now? Why attack the Hakkim while knowing they fought tooth and nail?"

"Mmm... you've mistaken one thing, Chu. Sweet Cheeze! Shine really knows how to make a steamed bun. I just can't believe how juicy this is."

Seeing the twitching lips of the glaring boy, Miki hastily downed the tasty contents. Fisting her chest, she coughed slightly while casting a serious face. Raising a hand, she extended one finger.

"Ahem... You forgot the most important point, Chu. It's not the Hakkim who fight tooth and nail. It's the Sky Tribe."

Miki lowered her finger and then pointed it at her blue-eyed friend.

"Lucy heard this word twice. Once during your meetings with the Hakkim and the second during the conversation between Ishara and the Kurat. She has it scribbled down here after listening to the Kurat talk. It might have been some other word, but if Lucy says it sounded similar, then I believe her."

She placed her finger on top of the large black X before continuing.

"Sky Tribe. It's like how nobles live in Limerock. Not all noble houses or clans get along with each other..."

"..."

Chu stiffened on the chair before exhaling a long string of curses. Besides the Kurat, he needed to include a plan should he land smack dab in the middle of a tribal war.

"See, Lucy, I told you there was more to this. It's either that she doesn't want to say or that she isn't sure. Anyway, we'll deal with this some other time. Since she, herself, is not in too much of a rush, let's head down our road."

He turned to Ishara while conveniently omitting their brief discussion. Removing a sheet of paper, Chu began reciting.

"Hakkim requires human help?"

"Yes."

"Can a few humans fight and win with honor against Kurat?"

Ishara paused on hearing the question. Dropping her head, she spoke softly.

"No."

"If human train fighters in magic and Sersen, can they fight Kurat?"

"Yes."

Ishara raised her head while replying. Sure, the humans lacked the ability now, but given time, they will become a force of reckoning. Maybe it may take a few years, but she was certain that with her help, they would mature into a formidable group. Besides, the Elders sent her to request aid from the Alliance. While she searched and reestablished contact, humans should progress.

The lands beyond the northern mountains had enough resources and hiding places for her tribe. The approaching danger, after all, threatened to burn across all the races.

"Ishara thinks humans able to defeat Kurat?"

"Yes."

Chu smiled in response before taking a deep breath. Exhaling in an extended sigh, he shook his head. His eyes drooped while his mouth contorted into one of sadness. Standing up, he clasped his hands behind his back.

Pacing slowly along the width of the table, he gave a sympathetic look to the surprised Hakkim. Recalling the prepared script he memorized, the raven-haired boy continued.

"Ishara does not know, but humans do not live under many suns. Dead, life stops at fifty. Me, her, her, all live half-life already. Not live long. Want to help Hakkim but not live long."

Ishara sat bewildered on listening to the human. Watching him slump with fatigue on the chair proved he lived during the prime of his life. The glazed eyes and upturned lips indicated that although he wished to help her, the heavens decreed otherwise.

"Ten years for a Hakkim is like fifty to a human. I can gather and train a formidable force, but alas, by the time we head north, we might die along the way."

Chu spouted nonsense while blabbering about the shortcomings of human life.

"Even if we inform the entire human race, by the time you train them to defeat the Kurat, they will be old men."

"Short life of human not worthy of Hakkim training. Humans not strong and tough like powerful Hakkim."

"This clan of mine is already half-trained. Given sufficient suns, we alone could defeat Kurat. Ishara knows how strong we can become, but passing suns take a heavy toll."

Listening to the words of the boy, Ishara squeezed her fists. Understandably, humans did live up to their expectations as a weak race. From her brief chats, she figured that if she actually traveled into the human territory, she might find them much weaker and lacking intelligence than those on the farm.

Humans, however, far outnumbered the other races. They also posed a strategic problem in more ways than one when dealing with demon beasts. Her encounter with this group of humans opened her eyes to the true potential of the race. The short lifespan acted as an ax that cut their development.

Scrunching her eyebrows, Ishara recalled the friendships she developed over this fleeting time. Soon, Lucy, Miki, and even Dyna would disappear. What was shameful was the honor they would have brought to their clan. If only she could have helped prolong their life.

Then they would certainly be worth the attention of the Hakkim. Her mind suddenly clicked on, remembering something. If she didn't bring it up recently, she might not have recalled it.

"Wait! Maybe there is something we can use to extend the life of a human. We'll need to test it out first, but if a human can bear the pain, then they will live for at least twice as long."

Chu didn't need Lucy and Miki to begin translation. His questions since morning till now have only led to one path.

"Great! Lucy, have Dyna grab her books to help identify the herbs, and find Jim if necessary. Miki, find out more about this Mark of Initiation. I need to go find someone to deliver a message."

"Message?"

Lucy raised a brow and asked. She was not the only surprised girl in the room.

"Yes. Since this potion is for a Hakkim, we need guinea pigs. I have to find myself some bandits..."