Beyond The Looking Glass - Words of the Unseen - Chapter 43
๐ฆ๐ธ๐ป๐ญ ๐ซ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐ช๐พ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ธ๐ป
Beyond The Looking Glass is the second book in the Unseen series, a story that came to me from the other side. A story where I thought I was just the narrator until I heard the Words of the Unseen.
This second story goes beyond time and place and mixes the long ago with the here and now. Because history keeps repeating, until we learn and do something about it.
Beyond The Looking Glass - Words of the Unseen - Chapter 43
Kareino brings back so many memories. I see both his grandmother and his father and I don't have enough time to take it all in.
Kyra and Numico, such special people in my life, and there were so many more. So many, who were so special and are gone now.
Could it be real that we meet again in another form? Numico seemed quite confident that he would be my son in that distant future.
But that would mean that Sei...because she has to be here, or? You see, the more you know, the less you understand.
"I'm coming," I shout as I startle from my thoughts and Kareino is already outside. Itยดs the first nice day of the year when the water is not too cold, and the boy can't wait to swim in the place his father always talks about.
"Don't expect too much from this boy, your father and I had nothing. We are simple mountain people, with a few skins and some wooden weapons. For us the river was the greatest source of pleasure, but you...you city brat, you know so much more about what is possible in the world."
"You must have forgotten that I have already been there, old man?"
Oh my gods, that is true too. Ugh, I hate getting older and now understand even less why the boy is so enthusiastic.
We are not the only ones who seek our entertainment at the water today, many familiar faces who were my students long ago, or not so long ago, have come up with the same idea.
The advantage of a village like this is that within a day everyone knows who the boy is and where he comes from, so Kareino has no shortage of attention. Which I don't mind at all because I really don't have the energy that this Numcio 2.0 has.
I do realize now what draws him to this place, here he can be himself more than anywhere else. The villagers have no idea about the city and are therefore quickly running out of questions, but they are only too happy to take the son of little Numico into their midst.
Towards the end of the afternoon, most of them leave but Kareino makes no move and since I have slept here in the shade, I am in no hurry.
"Sometimes I wish I never had to go back to the city Martio. I know that life here is not always fun, that the winters are long, cold, and hungry. But you are free."
I nod, "That may seem true, but no one is free boy. We are all bound wherever we are. Shackles of love, past, family, fear, everyone is chained in their own way. Freeing yourself from those chains is what truly sets you free, not the place you stay or the role you play."
I see the boy process the words and then stand up and run away. "Martio, come."
His voice does not sound playful at all, more anxious. The boy runs towards the water a little past the bend in the river where the current quickly becomes stronger.
From his position, he could see this bend but he runs further as if the earth behind him opens up. Then I think I see what he sees, something sticking out above the fast-flowing water that is not a branch.
"What is it," I call out panting.
"I'm not sure, but I think it's a girl."
Everything goes cold inside, I freeze as I try to keep running. "Not again" is all that goes through my head.
The boy manages to be faster than the current, from my perspective he has now passed the place where I probably just saw an arm.
Now I see a head, and yes he has passed it, but he also knows that he has to go even further if he wants to cut the water short because the boy keeps going while I try to suppress the pain in my lungs.
Then he is sprinting into the water a few hundred paces ahead of me, I estimate the distance and think he is right. Still I run a bit further to make up for my deficit.
I also sprint into the water. Due to the beautiful day, there is a lot of extra meltwater, causing the current to be stronger and many times colder than that at the water's edge where we spent the day.
My lungs burn as I try to reach the place where the child should be.
Then I see Kareino coming up with the girl in his arms. He fights the current but doesn't have the strength to break free now that he can barely use his arms.
With a few strong strokes, I reach him, he goes under for a moment but I manage to pull him up, and with an unprecedented force, I drag him out of the current bit by bit while he keeps the girl's head above water.
Then I feel a sharp stab in my chest and the left arm I was swimming with goes limp. With all the strength I have in my legs that I just ran to pieces I try to leave the rapids.
The current is pulling us back in. I swallow large gulps of cold water while I try to gasp for air. I feel Kareino free himself from my grip now that he has the strength again.
I see him swimming in front of me, I see the girl with blue lips snorting and gasping for air and only then do I realize that I have not been moving forward for a while.
I can no longer feel my arms and legs, the only thing I feel is that I have to close my eyes for a moment.
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