The Abysmal Territory

[3] The Fulfillment of a Promise

The village chief brings the glowing key near the wall in the mountain.

SWOOSH!

A sound that seems like a very strong wind is hitting the trees in the forest was heard. Then suddenly, a portal that is very magical in appearance emerges in front of the villagers.

“This must be it,” the village chief proclaimed.

“Everyone, let’s go at once!” the village chief ordered.

One by one, the villagers pass through the portal. Only Teiko and Taiya hesitated on entering. After a while, only the two of them together with the village chief and Dalton were left to enter the portal.

Dalton carried both Teiko and Taiya in his arms as he was entering the portal. He said, “Village chief, I will enter now. Hurry up, the portal seems to be closing.” 

The village chief looks far away from where their original village was. He uttered, “I hope that this will be the right choice.”

As the village chief enters, the portal disappears.

A land where trees and beautiful flowers grow beside a sparkling river with a plentiful of fishes welcomed the villagers after they entered the portal.

“This lives up to its name. A sanctuary,” Dalton said. 

All of the villagers were amazed and praised how beautiful the place is.

“The feeling is surreal,” the village chief expressed.

“Yes, this is so magical but this is true. However, we need to build the village from scratch,” Dalton added.

Dalton looks at Teiko and Taiya and gets their attention. “Look at everything here, this is what Toya and Aica promised. The promise that in the future, the two of you will live in a beautiful place, free from monsters and evils. They never make a promise that they can’t keep.”

As Dalton talked to them, Teiko realized something. There was never a time that my dad broke his promise. Dad saying he will train me with all my blood, sweat and tears is not a promise. Why didn’t I notice that he was lying? 

Tears again, run down from their eyes.

The village chief hugs Teiko and Taiya as the other villagers watch them with tears in their eyes.

After the village chief comforts the twins, he gets the attention of everyone. He divided the villagers into three groups: those who will find a good location for their new village; those who will prepare their temporary housing; and those who will prepare food for everyone.

The village chief let the children play while the adults did the jobs. However, Teiko and Taiya and some other children didn’t manage to cheer themselves up and play because of what happened two days ago.

Days have passed and the new village is nearing its completion, but still some of the children are disheartened and wouldn’t have their proper meals.

The village chief together with the elders decided to hold a gathering before the completion of the new village. Everyone gathered in an area where they could hear what the village chief would say.

The village chief started speaking, “Alright everyone, we are already getting there to what we have envisioned. The individual houses for families are almost done, we will build other facilities after those. However, it seems that a number of people forgot why we came here.”

Everyone becomes puzzled and looks at each other seeking for an answer.

The village chief clapped as loud as he could to get the attention of all the villagers. “Listen, the reason that we are here is for us to have peaceful and happy lives. That’s what our hero, Toya, wanted us to have. I know that some of us became miserable because of what had happened. But, this is not the end, this is the new beginning, we should not let our emotions lead us to nothing. Be the person that the people who are not here wanted us to be. Cheer up, everyone.”

With the speech that the village chief had made, those people who are depressed started to realize the life they had.

“That’s right! I should not be like this anymore. Sorry, everyone. I should not have let my emotions control me,” one of the villagers said.

One after another, other villagers followed that person. 

Everyone became cheerful and it seemed like they were having a party.

Dalton came near Teiko and Taiya. “How about the two of you?” Dalton asked the twins.

Teiko glanced at Dalton. He said, “I realized, what my father really wants is for us to be happy. That was what he was doing every single time, making us happy. I think that I should become livelier and live according to his will.”

“I’ll make them happy by letting them know that I’m living my life,” Taiya added.

“That’s good to hear. Being happy right now doesn’t mean that you forget about them and what happened to them, it is more one being thankful to what they did for us, for the both of you,” Dalton assured them.

“So starting today, I will make their promise to be more and more accomplished. And to do that, I should enjoy my life here!” Teiko proclaimed.

Teiko looks again at the beauty of the sanctuary that their parents created for them. It was mesmerizing for him however he looks at it. The sunset made the view even more beautiful than before.

“If Mom and Dad can do something this beautiful, would I, someday, could make something as great as this?” Teiko asked himself loud enough for her sister to hear him.

Taiya sits closer to where Teiko is sitting. She said, “I don’t think you need to make something as pretty as this, we could live a hundred of years and this place could still accommodate three generations of this village.”

“No, I’m not saying that I would create another one for us. I’m thinking that other humans or other beings deserved to have a safe place to live in, just like what we have,” Teiko replied.

Taiya just listened and didn’t reply a single word.

“Well, maybe I could just give the whole world the freedom it needed. Anyway, let’s rest since we tire ourselves from crying and crying the entire time,” Teiko continued

The two of them prepare to sleep and bid goodnight to each other.