Chapter Four-The Town Of Believers

A Chapter by RainbowNinja

I followed the cobblestone road through the fields of prairie grass that was slowly tapering out as the small town approached. The gentle snowfall beginning to pile up. As I reached the town, a large arch spread over the entrance, a sign nailed onto the middle. Though it was hard to read because of the snow clinging to the edges, I was still able to make out the writing. “Welcome to the town of the believers,” I read, though it was not english the sign had written on it. I didn’t know what language it was, nor did I know how I was able to decipher it. I just...was.

I slowly passed the threshold of the arch and made my way into town. Men on foot and horses made their way about the streets, unfazed by the light snow. Some of them paused to look curiously at me, while others, the elder ones, only glanced half-heartedly; as if I walked these streets daily and was nothing new.

“You’ll freeze dressed like that, young lady,” said a man as he passed. Again, I knew not how I could understand what he said, for the language he spoke I didn’t recognize. He was right though. The white sleeveless dress I wore offered little protection against the ice and cold.

Observing for a moment, I followed a group of men into what turned out to me a bar. No matter, at least it was warm. I moved to the farthest corner of the room, sitting in a chair and trying my hardest to go unnoticed.

Alas, a strange girl in a bar does not often go unnoticed. Eyes were on me, and the muttering of confusion carried to my ears. An elder man slow made his way over to me, and the muttering died down as the room went back to its normal volume. He pulled out the chair to my right and sat down, not looking directly at me. He had a wise, kind face and his gray eyes glimmered with knowledge. “What is your name, young lady?” asked the man in a gentle tone. How was I supposed to reply. I didn’t know their language, yet I could understand it. Did that mean I could speak it as well? “My name is Ebony…,” I said, english rolling off my tongue. He studied me, but said nothing. I tapped deep into my brain and ran over all of the languages I knew. Unable to come across one that sounded the same, I dropped my shoulders and shook my head apologetically. “I’m sorry sir. I don’t think I can speak your language,” Shocked, I hesitantly touched my lips. What words had come from them? Surely not- I hadn’t even tried to tap a language.

The corners of the elder man’s lips tugged upward in a small smile. “You just did, child,” I thought for a moment, before answering, again in the unfamiliar foreign tongue, “My name is Ebony,” He was quiet. “You are not from around here, then. That name is foreign to us. But alas, something must have brought you to this town. Ebony...are you too, a believer?” He finally said. “A believer…? I’m afraid I do not understand, sir,” I replied, confused. “Please, my name is Ayumu. Surely you must know… For only believers remember the language our ancestors passed down to us. The angels came down and painted this town for us to live in harmony with them. Enchanting it so that only the believers, the pure-hearted, and god’s closest children may find it.” he concluded. I looked away, lost in the thought of the story. “I mean not be rude, Ayumu… But Death is my closest friend,”

The room went silent faster than a pin dropping. All eyes were focused directly on me. I looked down at my bare feet, not wanting to meet anyone’s gaze. “Surely not!” Cried someone from the crowd. “Shi could never set foot in this town! So how could someone close to him get in?” Shouts of agreement came from the gathered people. “I-I don’t know!” I cried, slipping back into english. “I just walked through the arch!” My foreign language seemed to anger them even further.

“Silence!!” Shouted Ayumu, and the room fell quiet. “Her relation to Shi matters not. If the angels allowed her through the arch then she must be one of us. They would never misjudge anyone,” Ayumu said. The room was quiet for a long time before slowly starting to grow in volume once more. people seemed to be agreeing, though somewhat reluctantly, with Ayumu.

Ayumu turned back to me. “Ebony, do you have a place to stay in this town? Why don’t you stay with me. My wife and son would be more than happy to have some company,” I thought for a moment. I had nowhere to stay, and it was nearing winter quickly, but I had only just met this man. Then again, he did not seem fazed by the fact that I was closely associated with death. I nodded, and he stood up, beckoning for me to do the same. I followed him out into the snowy streets, and we started up town.

“Ayumu, why do you refer to Death as ‘Shi’?” I voiced. He looked over at me, shocked. “Ebony… You are close to Death but you do not even know his name?” His name was Shi…? Why had he never told me that? I shook my head to clear my wandering thoughts. “Nevermind. I know now,”

It was silent the rest of the walk. Soon we arrived at an old cottage farm just off a side street. I could see wide fields and an old, worn out barn from behind the small house. Despite it being old. the small house looked quite warm and friendly.

“My son should be in the barn, if you wish to go meet him. I am going to let my wife know of your arrival. We’ll call you for dinner?” He said, and I nodded. I started walking over to the barn; taking in all there was to see. I slid open one of the red doors, noticing the paint chipping off, and slid it closed once more behind me. Lanterns hung from the walls and hay littered the ground. It was a wide, open space, the stalls lining the very back wall.

“Hello!” called a male voice, and I looked up to see a boy in the hayloft. From a distance it was hard to make out, but I noticed the distinct pale skin and dark auburn hair. I took a few steps forward, still looking up at him. “Hello. I’m Ebony. Ayumu brought me here,” I called back. The boy beckoned me up to the hayloft and I climbed up the latter. When I came to stand in front of him, I realised him not a boy, but a young man, several years older than myself. “Father almost never brings home anyone. There must be something different about you. Especially to have gotten through the arch,” he said. “I’m Saft, by the way,” I watched as his copper eyes studied me. Suddenly, he came uncomfortably close and put his mouth by my ear, whispering, “You have a relation to Shi? His aura lingers on you still. My guess would be that you were dead not even two days ago. He saved you, didn’t he?” I quickly stepped back, trying to stifle a gasp. Not only had he spoken in english, but he had known that I had a relation to Death, and a fatal experience. “How…?” I whispered, words failing me. Saft smirked. “Special ability I guess you could say. I can see auras, and read peoples’ pasts through them. Normally, I don’t tell anyone about this “ability”, but… you seemed different. Am I right?” I stood there, dumbfounded, unable to find my voice for this mysterious boy. His gaze softened slightly as he looked at me. “I apologize if I scared you, Ebony. Please don’t be alarmed. My entire family is gifted. I’m sure you’ll hear about that at dinner,” I relaxed slightly at his words and the steady tone of his voice. He reminded me of one of those people you didn’t want to like, but you couldn’t help but doing so. Saft held out his hand and smiled slightly. “A ride before dinner?” he asked. It took me a moment to register that he had spoken in english again, and it made me smile. “Sure,” I replied, taking his hand, and he lead me back down the latter.

~❋❋❋~

I sat behind Saft on a bay horse he called Zippo as we cantered by the edge of the wheat fields. He had shown me all the corners of their vast land; the barns, fields, sheds. It truly was a beautiful piece of land. He pulled Zippo back down to a alk as we neared the barn once more. He dismounted and held a hand out for me. I gratefully took it and slid gently off the horse.

“Mother will yell at us if we’re late to dinner,” said Saft, walking back towards his house. “Is your mother nice, Saft?” I voiced curiously. “Yes, very much so. I’m sure she’ll love you. She often complains about how Father and I act as if we were raised in a barn,” he finished with a laugh.

He pushed open the back door and held it open for me. Hesitantly I stepped inside and he followed. I could hear voices coming from another room and the scent of food wafting in from it. “We’re back!” called Saft, lazily walking into the room where the voices were coming from. I took a quick look at the room around me, all the paintings on the walls, before following him.

“You must be Ebony,” said a cheery voice, and I looked up to see a woman with dark auburn hair like Saft’s and grey eyes. She quickly moved over to me and offered her hand, which I took and she shook excitedly. “Please, call me Amaya,” Amaya released my hand and stepped back. “Come on, then! I’m hungry,” Saft said and everyone moved to sit down at the table, where dinner had already been served. I nibbled on my food, but felt awkward eating in front of them.

“Ebony,” Said Ayumu, and I looked up from my half-eaten plate of food. “Yes?” I asked. All eyes were on my once again, but not in an unpleasant way. It was more of a caring look. I was not used to such a thing. “You say you have a relation to Shi. Would you feel comfortable telling us about it?” I glanced over at Saft, remembering how he had been able to tell my past by just looking at me. “Death… I have a complicated relationship with him, to say the least. I’ve… never really talked face to face with him, but I’ve seen him before. Not so much nowadays. You see… It started when I died of illness. I had only been four at the time. When Death came to take me away, he said he’d grant my last dying wish because I was a child, and I would never grow up,” I paused, images from past memories flashing in my mind. “What was your wish?” voiced Saft, curiously. I looked at him and he winked. Of course, he already knew what it was, most likely. “I can remember what I told him as if it was yesterday. I said to him, ‘You know the place where the sun kisses the water? Or where the desert meets the sea? I want to live in that place’. In that moment something had changed in his eyes. I can still feel his hand when he had placed it over my forehead. It was ice cold and fiery hot at the same time. I can’t even describe it. In response to my wish, he said to me, ‘I wish fire and snow could touch sometimes without it melting. You know what melting snow is? Tears- the tears of the elements because they can’t be together’. That’s all I remember from that night. Next thing I know I was waking up on a bench in a place where the people swarmed. Two years later, I was almost hit by a train. Death had saved me. The chain of events kept happening. The past three times he saved me, I was already blacked out before he came. The time between my passing and when Death saves me is lengthening, and I believe that is because I am coming closer to that place,” I concluded. It was dead silent for what felt like centuries.

Ayumu didn’t look at me when he spoke. “You’re… You’re one of them...then,” “What?” I asked. No one answered. They didn’t even look at me. “What?!” I asked, slightly frantic. One of what?! What were they talking about? I quickly looked over at Saft, but he wasn’t watching me. Amaya was the first one to finally speak up. “You don’t know…? Shi didn’t tell you what you are?” I shifted my gaze downward. “It seems “Shi”, doesn’t tell me a lot of things,” I said bitterly, slipping back into english. Saft translated for me. A dull ache was welding up in my chest. I couldn’t figure out why. I slowly stood up. “Would you please excuse me…” I whispered. I started towards the door and heard Saft get up and follow me outside.

“He’s not going to talk to you,” He said from behind me. He always seemed more provocative when he spoke in english. “How do you know?!” I snapped, and then softened. “Sorry…” I muttered. “I know, because I know Shi. I know what he’s like, and I know this town. While you’re here he wouldn’t dare try and interfere. And that includes talking to you,” Saft said, seemingly unfazed by my attitude.

I stopped walking and looked down at my feet; a million thoughts rushing through my head. “Why won’t he talk to me here…?” I felt Saft place a hand on my shoulder. “Because this is the Town Of Believers. Only descendants of the angels who built this place can come through. Shi is the polar opposite of that. I’m sorry Ebony… I am forbidden to tell you why until you have spoken to the angels yourself,” He breathed. I sighed. “To me, Saft, it seems as if you know more about myself then I do…”

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