42 Inferis: The Land of Lumeans

"Salutari, Oameni", the elder spoke in his quiet but firm, echoing voice. All of a sudden, the noise of conversations in the amphitheater disappeared and everyone attention was given to the man in the middle of the platform in utter respect. The man simply placed his cane on top of his lap and smiled though he cannot see.

"Salutari, Mai Mare", everyone greeted back, even Obrecht and the other two. The children nearest to the platform all but shouted.

"It's been a while." He laughs jovially. "Judging by the voices, it looks like we have a full house this afternoon." He smiled but he suddenly went into a fit of coughs on his handkerchief.

"Mai Mare, if you are not well, we could always postpone the traditional storytelling. Your health comes first", one of the majority spoke.

(A/N: Salutari- greetings; Mai Mare- elder; Oameni - everyone)

"I am fine, child. 'Tis may seem like mere stories but this tradition is my duty and responsibility. 'Sides, I'm not that old."

A few sniggered.

"Now, what story shall I tell? Perhaps a tragedy? How about a love story for lovely afternoon? A story of adventure seems nice as well."

"Mai Mare!" A young boy's voice reverberated.

Videre could see and feel the waves of his voice bounce off his raised hand.

"Today's the first time my younger sister, Nalla, is to hear of your stories."

Despite the distance from the young boy, everyone could equally feel his excitement. Precious, they all thought together.

"I see. Then how about I tell you of the origin of Lumea, dear Nalla? I'm sure those older than you need reminded of the past as well so that we may continue with the present."

A meek silence followed.

"She's nodding", Obrecht reported to Videre, his lips grazing the latter's earlobe. Whether it was intentional or not, nobody but the person knew. Videre bit his tongue, and woodenly applied his attention elsewhere, else his body might react instinctively by kicking the other.

Seeming to know of the little girl's response without seeing, the Mai Mare continued his tale of the history of Lumea and the whole Inferis.

"All life that comes to pass bears knowledge for the life that comes after. We tell stories so that we, the inheritors of Inferis, may learn both our ancestor's mistakes and successes. We tell stories so that we may never forget both tales of peace and of tragedy.

"Lumea, as we see, well, I suppose all of you except I", he said curtly at the crowds conditioned laughter, "is our home under the Surface.

"Long ago—believe it or not—people like ourselves lived on the surface where there was sunlight and rain and lightning. The people adored the skies for they brought them fortune by reading the alignment of the stars. For day or for night, the sun or the moon would guide us on our quests. Life was bountiful. It was harmonious. But that peace could only last for so long."

Videre continued to ignore the lingering glances at him by the people around. Like a protective mother hiding her calf, Obrecht placed his hand on Videre's shoulder so the latter could shrink to hide himself from the sight of other people.

"God gifted humanity of different powers. Some can cast magic, some can become beasts, others like most Lumeans have great strength and strategic prowess. But because humans were separated by limitless boundaries such as kin, origin, even just by mere skin color, eye color, ancestry... power and authority, humanity eventually fell into chaos." Mai Mare waved a hand in front of his face. "The strong oppressed the weak, for the lack of equality brought about the sense of superiority to some and the feeling of inferiority to most. The weak got preyed on and so they would revolt just for their voice and their rights to be heard, but the seldom would the strong listen without violence. A bloodbath always followed."

This being his first time listening to the story-telling tradition, Videre was so assiduous to every word. He resonated the most with Mai Mare's 'the strong oppressed the weak'.

"War only breeds upon more war. Humans may start with a great goal in sight but soon enough they lose sight of that goal before they even reach the end of their war. All that loss of life can only be maddening to the people who were left behind to remember them", Mai Mare sadly sighed. "Never-ending was their sorrow. Soon enough, even women and children were forced to fight in battles they should not have been involved in, but along the while, the reason for that war was long forgotten.

"Senseless is a fight if you do not have anything to fight for. You young 'uns best remember that", Mai Mare preached. "We fight to improve ourselves, we argue to defend our beliefs, but we must always acquiesce when it is time for us to acquiesce. We must not push our beliefs and judgement upon others.

"Before, the Kupwa, Strzyga, Lycans, Hunters, Sorcerers, and all the other human-kinds were close enough to extinction, killing and slaughtering each other to no end. The Strzyga, being sensitive as they are to life, they vanished to hide and heal. The other weaker kinds hid. In amidst of this, one man stood out. In the eyes of the strong, he was weak, but in the eyes of the weak, he was strong, for what he lacked in strength, he had made up for with his courage and intellect.

"Him, along with the refugees of different human-kinds who sought shelter, hid below the surface as the war raged on. He found a series of passages that led to a large underground ruin of a city. The people brought with them what was left of their crops and their keep and they closed all the gates that led to that place. That, my friends, is Inferis."

Videre's heart was pounding. He wasn't sure if it was simple because of the atmosphere, the story and discovery of the truth itself, or the person holding his shoulder.

"Those survivors that longed merely for peace were our ancestors. And as you see, we have carried on their will, but that is not the full story." Mai Mare smiled kindly, taking a pause to swallow. "Nor I or the previous Mai Mare ever knew the origin of that man, nor of Aovialutre." Shaking, he pointed his finger upwards and Videre felt heads turn up to what I could only guess is the luminescent blue light that shone around the ceiling of the whole Inferis, including the city of Lumea that seated in the middle of Inferis' unbelievable woods.

"This light, we all know as Aovialutre's light, but who is Aovialutre? Some say she is a guardian spirit. Some say that she was a previous resident of Inferis, but truly, nobody really knows for sure but when the protector of our lands rose to protect us, our founder disappeared."