Myne

four

He was an old man roaming the world in his later years. He didn’t hope to find much, let alone achieve more. He had lived a long and full life. A satisfying life. He had achieved a lot. Learned a lot. Taught a lot. Spread a lot of good. Earned a lot of money and fame and repute, and most of all renown. He had taught all he learned to his students, who were just as good as him, be it in moral character or talent. Now, he was just an ordinary old man enjoying the sights the world had to offer in his twilight years.

He had put in the effort to change his appearance, enough at least to remain anonymous in the more distant lands. And he was confident after a long time of anonymity. No one would recognise him. Even in the capital town of the East Wind province. Emerald Wind town.

The town borrowed its name from the Emerald hills to the north of the town, a two hour walk from the town ends. It wasn’t just the dense trees that lent the hill the emerald colour, but the soil itself. Algae had bloomed for centuries, and had become inseparably tied with the soil, and had then spread to cover the nine hills. Thus the name, Emerald hills. And because the hills were dear friends with strong winds that blowed all through the year, the town named itself Emerald Wind. The hills did make for a beautiful sight. And it was this that made the town be named as the capital of the province.

The old man had come to the town to enjoy this very sight. The Emerald hills in all of their glory. Under the sky burned red by the setting sun. The trees dancing wildly in the roaring winds. The birds and the animals singing in tune. And all of that making for a glorious sight from the town. He couldn’t get enough of it. In fact, he even considered calling this town home, until his end. He still had quite a bit to see. So, he would. See everything he had ever wanted, ever dreamed of. And then, come back to Emerald Wind town. Buy a house in the north side. A villa, at least three stories tall. So, he could sit every evening on the roof, and enjoy the hills. The more he pondered on it, the clearer the picture grew in his head, and the greater was his excitement. So much so, that he was tempted to drop the plans and buy a home right away.

He was still thinking this, and was a little lost in his head. Was probably why he didn’t notice his surroundings. He was in the central market. He’d been there before. He was familiar with the streets. And he was present enough to not crash into carts or other people. What he wasn’t prepared for, was a girl, no more than sixteen, running to him. Grabbing his arm. A glow in her eyes. A grin on her face. Recognition in her features. And asking him.

“You’re Mr Sky, are you not?”

He was too stunned to give a proper, or a legible, response. “Huh?” He asked, as much confusion in his voice as on his face.

“I know I’m right. I’ve seen your pictures. My father even had the blessing of meeting you in person. He told me so much about you. And I’ve heard even more. I’ve even read your books, and articles. I didn’t think I’d come out today, to the market, to stroll aimlessly, to wile away the time, and actually get to meet you. You must let me entertain you. Please.”

The old man was swept up in her exuberance. He let it happen willingly. There was something about the girl. Her smile. Her eyes. Her honesty. Her words. There was something familiar. And once the idea was born in his head, he couldn’t shake it off. He had to know. Not just what that seed of an idea was that planted itself in his head, but also who she was. He nodded. Gave himself up to her. Let her pull him along. To the biggest mansion in the central town, aside from the mayor’s. He recognised it. This was the mansion of the Green family, the number one family of the town.

“You’re Lester’s daughter?” He asked.

The girl nodded, beaming at having been recognised. He remembered Lester. When he met Lester, the man was around thirty. Lester had two sons, and had just been blessed with a daughter. Lester wanted him to bless the girl, read her fortune, if one day he found himself in or around Emerald Wind town. He had promised. He had forgotten the promise, until now. And he was pleased to be reminded of it, but the girl who the promise was for.

“You must be Rain,” he said.

The girl, Rain, smiled wider. Nodded vigorously. “Yes. I’m Rain. Oh my, no one would believe it. Even if I promised. Mr Sky knows my name. I’m so lucky.”

He laughed. “I made a promise to your father. I must apologise, for having let it slip my mind for so long. Even after I actually came to the town. And I must thank you, for recognising me, inviting me to your home, and reminding me. Little girl, do you know what your father had me promise?”

“Can I make a guess?” She asked, playfully.

“Of course,” he said, laughing loudly. “That’s why I asked, didn’t I? Go on then. Make your guess.”

“Can I get more than just one guess?”

“Sure. But I get the feeling you won’t be needing more than one. It sure does look like you already know. Tell me, do you?”

“I don’t know. Father didn’t tell me. Father only told me he met you. Not that he actually spoke with you. Certainly not that he had you make him a promise. Or I would be so much more excited. In fact, father should be blamed. If I had known about the promise, I would have gone to find you myself. Such a big thing, how could father be so careless about it? What if we didn’t happen to meet today? Wouldn’t it be such a big loss? And wouldn’t you be affected too? An unfulfilled promise is not good. A forgotten promise, worse.”

“You’re right. A very smart girl indeed. A promise must be fulfilled. And, it’s fated. You had to come to the market. I had to come too. That was how it was fated. Who are we to question the designs of fate? Let not be weighed down by such heavy thoughts. You are still little. Fly free, like a young bird. Let us hold up the sky for you, until you have grown big enough. Alright?”

“Okay. So, I’ll make my first guess then. Alright?”

“Go on.”

“Father asked you to read my fortune?”

He knew he was right. The girl was truly smart. He smiled. Nodded. And patted her on her head.

“That is exactly what your father had me promise. Didn’t I tell you, you wouldn’t need more than one guess?”

She was delirious from joy. She was truly guessing. She didn’t even consider the possibility that her guess might be correct. There was a skip in her step, as she welcomed Mr Sky into her home. He was an old man roaming the world in his later years. He didn’t hope to find much, let alone achieve more. He had lived a long and full life. A satisfying life. He had achieved a lot. Learned a lot. Taught a lot. Spread a lot of good. Earned a lot of money and fame and repute, and most of all renown. He had taught all he learned to his students, who were just as good as him, be it in moral character or talent. Now, he was just an ordinary old man enjoying the sights the world had to offer in his twilight years.

He had put in the effort to change his appearance, enough at least to remain anonymous in the more distant lands. And he was confident after a long time of anonymity. No one would recognise him. Even in the capital town of the East Wind province. Emerald Wind town.

The town borrowed its name from the Emerald hills to the north of the town, a two hour walk from the town ends. It wasn’t just the dense trees that lent the hill the emerald colour, but the soil itself. Algae had bloomed for centuries, and had become inseparably tied with the soil, and had then spread to cover the nine hills. Thus the name, Emerald hills. And because the hills were dear friends with strong winds that blowed all through the year, the town named itself Emerald Wind. The hills did make for a beautiful sight. And it was this that made the town be named as the capital of the province.

The old man had come to the town to enjoy this very sight. The Emerald hills in all of their glory. Under the sky burned red by the setting sun. The trees dancing wildly in the roaring winds. The birds and the animals singing in tune. And all of that making for a glorious sight from the town. He couldn’t get enough of it. In fact, he even considered calling this town home, until his end. He still had quite a bit to see. So, he would. See everything he had ever wanted, ever dreamed of. And then, come back to Emerald Wind town. Buy a house in the north side. A villa, at least three stories tall. So, he could sit every evening on the roof, and enjoy the hills. The more he pondered on it, the clearer the picture grew in his head, and the greater was his excitement. So much so, that he was tempted to drop the plans and buy a home right away.

He was still thinking this, and was a little lost in his head. Was probably why he didn’t notice his surroundings. He was in the central market. He’d been there before. He was familiar with the streets. And he was present enough to not crash into carts or other people. What he wasn’t prepared for, was a girl, no more than sixteen, running to him. Grabbing his arm. A glow in her eyes. A grin on her face. Recognition in her features. And asking him.

“You’re Mr Sky, are you not?”

He was too stunned to give a proper, or a legible, response. “Huh?” He asked, as much confusion in his voice as on his face.

“I know I’m right. I’ve seen your pictures. My father even had the blessing of meeting you in person. He told me so much about you. And I’ve heard even more. I’ve even read your books, and articles. I didn’t think I’d come out today, to the market, to stroll aimlessly, to wile away the time, and actually get to meet you. You must let me entertain you. Please.”

The old man was swept up in her exuberance. He let it happen willingly. There was something about the girl. Her smile. Her eyes. Her honesty. Her words. There was something familiar. And once the idea was born in his head, he couldn’t shake it off. He had to know. Not just what that seed of an idea was that planted itself in his head, but also who she was. He nodded. Gave himself up to her. Let her pull him along. To the biggest mansion in the central town, aside from the mayor’s. He recognised it. This was the mansion of the Green family, the number one family of the town.

“You’re Lester’s daughter?” He asked.

The girl nodded, beaming at having been recognised. He remembered Lester. When he met Lester, the man was around thirty. Lester had two sons, and had just been blessed with a daughter. Lester wanted him to bless the girl, read her fortune, if one day he found himself in or around Emerald Wind town. He had promised. He had forgotten the promise, until now. And he was pleased to be reminded of it, but the girl who the promise was for.

“You must be Rain,” he said.

The girl, Rain, smiled wider. Nodded vigorously. “Yes. I’m Rain. Oh my, no one would believe it. Even if I promised. Mr Sky knows my name. I’m so lucky.”

He laughed. “I made a promise to your father. I must apologise, for having let it slip my mind for so long. Even after I actually came to the town. And I must thank you, for recognising me, inviting me to your home, and reminding me. Little girl, do you know what your father had me promise?”

“Can I make a guess?” She asked, playfully.

“Of course,” he said, laughing loudly. “That’s why I asked, didn’t I? Go on then. Make your guess.”

“Can I get more than just one guess?”

“Sure. But I get the feeling you won’t be needing more than one. It sure does look like you already know. Tell me, do you?”

“I don’t know. Father didn’t tell me. Father only told me he met you. Not that he actually spoke with you. Certainly not that he had you make him a promise. Or I would be so much more excited. In fact, father should be blamed. If I had known about the promise, I would have gone to find you myself. Such a big thing, how could father be so careless about it? What if we didn’t happen to meet today? Wouldn’t it be such a big loss? And wouldn’t you be affected too? An unfulfilled promise is not good. A forgotten promise, worse.”

“You’re right. A very smart girl indeed. A promise must be fulfilled. And, it’s fated. You had to come to the market. I had to come too. That was how it was fated. Who are we to question the designs of fate? Let not be weighed down by such heavy thoughts. You are still little. Fly free, like a young bird. Let us hold up the sky for you, until you have grown big enough. Alright?”

“Okay. So, I’ll make my first guess then. Alright?”

“Go on.”

“Father asked you to read my fortune?”

He knew he was right. The girl was truly smart. He smiled. Nodded. And patted her on her head.

“That is exactly what your father had me promise. Didn’t I tell you, you wouldn’t need more than one guess?”

She was delirious from joy. She was truly guessing. She didn’t even consider the possibility that her guess might be correct. There was a skip in her step, as she welcomed Mr Sky into her home.