Chapter 90: Curiosity
2186 Words
With each passing day, the wind comes from the north, softly stirring the surface of the blue lake water. Sun's light reflected off the ripples, transforming into complex and tiny flickers of colors.
Besides this wide like was a giant tree.
Grasping the ax.
Swinging upwards.
Striking down.
It might be just those actions, but if the mind was distracted even slightly, the reaction from the hard bark would bounce back relentlessly to both arms. Breathing, timing, speed, shifting of body weight, all of them must be perfectly controlled from the beginning, transmitting the hidden power from the heavy blade of the ax to the tree, producing a pleasant, clear, high-pitched sound.
While he could understand the theory well, actually doing it wasn't that simple.
Noah was given this task in spring when he was ten, and it would be the second coming of summer since then, yet he could only get that pleasant feedback once out of ten swings.
He was told by the fellow ax users that his predecessor, always hit the bull's eye, and even though he didn't show his fatigue after brandishing the heavy ax, but after merely fifty times Noah’s hands went numb, his shoulders became sore, and he could no longer lift his arms.
"Forty...... three! Forty...... four!"
He counted with his loudest voice to push himself while striking the ax on the great tree's trunk, the sweat gushing out caused his eyes to blur, his hands became slippery, and his accuracy continually decreased. Partly due to his desperation, he grasped the woodcutting ax tightly and brandished it over his body.
"Forty...... nine! Fif......t......y!!"
His last strike was a big deviation from his usual skill, it hit the bark a distance away from the deep cut on the trunk, producing an ear-splitting metallic sound.
Due to the reaction which was as if it could make a spark come out of his eyes.
Noah dropped the ax, staggered a few steps back, then sat down on the thick moss.
While he repeated his rough breathing, he heard a voice mixed with laughter from his right.
"The good sound came out three out of fifty times. So the total is forty-one. It seems today's water is your treat, Noah."
The owner of the voice who lay down slightly further away was a young boy of similar age.
Noah didn't reply immediately, but fumbled for the leather water canteen then picked it up.
He drank the water which had become completely warm greedily, and after he became comfortable, he closed it with the hard cork, then said,
"Hmn, yours is only forty-three, isn't it? I'll catch up soon anyway. Here, it's your turn...... Shun."
"Yeah yeah."
Shun was Noah's childhood friend and also his best friend, he was the partner of this melancholy task since spring last year, Shun wiped the sweat off his black forelock, stretched his legs straight, and raised his body.
But he didn't pick up the ax immediately, his hand was on his hip while he looked up above his head. Attracted by his action, Noah also looked up toward the sky.
The mid-summer sky of the seventh month was still ridiculously blue, stuck at the center was the sun god, which shone its overwhelming light from the sky.
However, the light was obstructed by the branches of the great tree outstretched in all directions, most of it didn't reach the roots where Noah and Shun were.
Noah sighed lightly as he looked back to the tree from the sky.
“I wonder if we can cut this tree?”
Shun wondered looking at the wedge-shaped damage they made to the tree trunk. They've been trying to cut this tree for a very long time, but they not making any meaningful progress on it.
The black-haired boy Shun. Take a peek at it and also wondered the same thing.
“Okay, if we didn’t manage to cut this tree in three days then let's give up for now. That means the giant tree is too much for us.”
“Three days? Not even the grown-up can cut this tree. The adventurers said that this tree is sacred. This giant tree is standing beside the lake for a very long time… If I’m correct, I guess 300 years. It's a living legend.”
“It's been 300 years and no one ever made this tree fall. That made it more exciting. That means when we take this down the city will renowned us like legends.”
Shun said with an optimistic tone. Noah turned his glance to the tree trunk. Noticing the little progress they made. He made a long deep sigh.
“Then let's take a look at its life.”
“Can you do it? Only people who know scare text are allowed to see it. Commoners like us can’t see the life of objects.”
Noah argues.
Like Noah said every object in this world has “Life”. It was represented in number in a bar shape. Shun pressed down his index finger to the tree trunk. In a few moments, a blue window appeared.
This window is called the “Status window”. The status window displayed the life of the object selected. It shows not just life but also a level. Even though it was shown in front of Shun and Noah. Knowledge of how level works is unknown to them.
No, in reality, no one knows what level means. When a person was born in this world they will start with level 1 reaching 10 years of age they became level 5. The Maximum was level 15 which was required by mostly old folks.
It's just a number that always appeared in their status window. So no one pays attention to it.
“345,897…”
“That’s still too high…”
Shun takes the ax and faces with fierce face to the tree trunk. he put his ax to his back and made a stance.
“I’ll swing the ax… Let's see how much I can decrease on its life.”
Shun was determined and then swing the ax with his full power. A metallic sound and spark appeared as the blade connects to the tree trunk.
“How about it?”
“Ummm... Nothing has changed.”
“Really… Then I have to continue swinging!”
Sun swings the ax over and over again. Each swing contains heavy strength. After the 50th swing, the number decreased.
“345,896… It goes down by one.”
After hearing that from Noah. Shun drops the ax and lets his body fall toward the thick moss on the ground.
“This is impossible… The number will go back tomorrow back to its original state.”
“I’ve been telling this to you for a long time… We should cut down the smaller trees instead… But cutting this legend was fun.”
Noah also lay down to the thick moss together with Shun. Looking up in the sky wondering what they can do for tomorrow.
“Where did you learn that technique earlier?”
“Yuna, teach me. It's pretty simple… I’ll teach you later.”
“Yuna and You are pretty close. I won’t be surprised if you and Yuna will end up marrying each other in the future. Yuna is very cute right?”
“Yuna? Sure she is cute, but she has this all and mighty attitude with her. She is noisy and stronger than me. I don’t want to marry someone like her… She’s interested n many boyish things like swords. The reason why she can attend school was only that she is an exceptional talent. She has talent in scared arts… Thinking she sure is amazing. After school, she will have a proper like in the capital and maybe marry a nobleman. Someone like me doesn’t suit her at all.”
“That’s true… We don’t have the talent, to begin with. Our parent is not wealthy. We can go to school. We’re going to grow up in this city… Maybe, die in this city.”
“I don’t like that, but I believe that we can make things better. Even we’re peasants or have nothing. We can still be amazing. When we’re at the right age we can become adventurers and become legends.”
“It's dangerous… But I like it. I want to fight life with my pride.”
“Maybe, if I became amazing… Yuna… and I…”
While Shun was looking up in the sky. A face looked down on him and with a smug face she said:
“What? You and I are what?”
“Y-Yuna?!”
Shun immediately gets up in shock. Accidentally bumped his head to Yuna’s forehead. Both kids held their foreheads in pain.
“What are you doing? Stupid shun?!”
“It's your fault for suddenly showing your face.”
“It's a good thing that I already put Yue down.”
Sitting on the moss with her back on the tree trunk. Was a girl having the same pitch-black colored hair and eyes like shun. Her hair was tied in twin tails. This girl was named Yue, she is the little sister of Shun. She’s 8 years old and suffering from a disability. From birth, she wasn’t able to move her legs. Because of that someone always needs to carry her to move around. She tried using crutches but her arms were not strong enough for the task. Being born seven months put a disadvantage on her body.
Having no parents, Shun was the only one on her side. Shun’s friends are all nice and kind. They all treated Yue nicely and became friends with her.
That was a relief in Shun’s heart.
“When did you come?”
“On the part… Yuna is cute… Supergenius… Super amazing part.”
“You heard that… I didn’t say anything like super cute.”
“My big brother was denying it.” Teased Yue. Yua from her hand presents a basket full of goods. “Here, the lunch you’re waiting for big brother.”
With Yue’s sweet voice and announcement. The two boys made a big smile that nearly reached their ears. Excitedly opened the basket of lunch. They saw several sandwiches filled with vegetables and ham.
Hungry from the work Shun immediately got one. Followed by his friends Yuna and Noah. Lastly, Yue gets her sandwich.
“Where did you get these ham? I know it's expensive.”
“The church gives it to us saying that the food will be spoiled in no time. It's expected because the weather is getting hotter and hotter. If it's cold like in winter the food will last longer… But thanks to this we have this food.”
“What are we waiting for let's dig in before it rots.”
“Shun is right.”
Looking at each other with delight. We all took a big bite on the sandwich. After taking a big bite. We are amazed at how great it was. The one sandwich didn’t last in their hand. The kids immediately eat the sandwich and then get another one. There are two for each of them. Inside the basket was a bottle full of water.
Shun who is first to finish his food gets the water bottle and drink. It was luke ward due to the heat given by the sun.
“I wish I can drink cold water in this weather.”
“That’s true if we can drink cold water in this weather. Our body will be refreshed and do lots of work… Yuna, in church they have techniques they're using to make cold water right?”
“It was scared art… I’m still a beginner I can’t do it. But priestesses can make ice from the water instantly. It was amazing when I learn that we can drink lots of ice-cold water not just in spring but also in the summer season.”
Yuna said and stood up. She puts her hands on her waist.
“We're counting on you.”
“Hail me.”
The three kids, Shun, Noah, and Yue bow their heads playing to Yuna.
“Great Yuna!”
“Great Yuna!”
Being called great Yuna have a nice ring to it and it made Yua feel special, but she know that it was just a prank. Of course, she doesn’t look down on her close friends. She looks at them with equality. Even though she is given the privilege to study. She doesn’t brag about it.
“Where is your little sister Yuna?”
“Alicia, She is back home. Helping mother, she was crying when I said that I going here. She wanted to play but she is on duty to help a mother in wheat fields.”
“I feel bad for her.”
Yuna's curiosity continuously whirls on her head. After thinking too much for a moment.
She then got an idea.
“Ice… I guess, there is a way to get some ice.”
- Writer
