I have been working on a story, writing it out by hand in this little rough-edged journal, and when I have a little time I add to it. I am continuing to share some more chapters, as some have encouraged me to continue sharing. This will likely be the last chapter I post here to share. If you enjoy this story and are interested to read the rest, stay tuned for more details.
Read the Prelude HERE.
Read Chapter I HERE.
Read Chapter 2 HERE.
Read Chapter 3 HERE.
Read Chapter 4 HERE.
Read Chapter 5 HERE.
Read Chapter 6 HERE.
Read Chapter 7 HERE.
Read Chapter 8 HERE.
Chapter IX
Of differing opinions, they were. She shook her head and took a deep breath knowing it would not suffice. He would not believe her, being too set in his ancient ways, yet Nella tried to sway him.
She took a sip of steaming tea for courage, and tried her persuasion.
"You see, it's delightful if you add just a touch of milk. It adds the kind of sweetness that brightens a morning." She swirled her bowl of porridge, which she had just added a splash of almond milk into.
"I fear it will ruin it for me," Master Nolan pronounced, "who taught you to eat it like that?"
"I am not certain," mused Nella, "it's just a memory that has stuck to my soul, from my past I cannot recollect. Something about adding milk to my porridge makes me happy."
Nella looked up at Master Nolan, who met her gaze. He was pensive. His green eyes thinking.
As Nella had gotten to know him, she recognized that melancholy gaze as his deep thinking face. She knew he was wondering about her past and all that she had gone through. He wanted to discover the answers, as it was his gift to research. He wanted to know where these scattered memories were sourced.
Nella often wondered about Master Nolan, himself, born here in Selador; raised to be a researcher as he was. Is this what he would have chosen for himself? She knew him in the present day, but she didn't know much of his past. He, too, led a solitary life as she did, deeply entrenched in the papers of Selador's history and present. They were often company to each other by way of each of them reading old books in the same room, in silence.
How old was he, anyway? He kept all the looks and airs of a young man, but had wisdom beyond what she would expect of one in their 30's.
At last Master Nolan smiled, and grabbed the glass milk jug, "Okay, I'll give it a go," and he poured a bit into his hot porridge.
Every once in a while, Nella would invite someone over to her hut for a meal. She didn't mind eating alone most days, but sometimes she just wanted company. Miriam was always great to talk to, but she often busied herself with chores and hardly stayed to sit down with her.
Master Nolan took a bite, "Hmm, it is good. Just a touch of sweetness. Interesting."
Nella smile and scooped her last bite of porridge with her wooden spoon. She had won over another person.
Most days were quiet in Selador, at least to Nella's knowledge. She spent most of her time working in the library or enjoying nature during any respite from work. She was the writer of the realm, so she wrote the daily entries and infused her knowledge by reading all the books of histories, entries, and journals of the past. She wanted to learn more of the realm, since she only entered the place by accident, or was it purposeful, a few months ago. Or how long? It felt like years in many ways. She was not from Selador, and time seemed to pass at a different pace. As much as she read she couldn't find much about the tunnel from which she entered. It seemed to be a mystery. All that was known was that it was a way to enter other places, but no details beyond that.
While Nella worked each day, the realm of Selador proceeded at its pace. The beauty of their homes in the treetops swept across her each day as she walked along the walkways. The wooden walkways linked everything. The huts, shops, artisans all had a specific place that were set amongst the treetops. Each level was used to separate the different aspects of society. A residence level, a shop level, etc. Stairways spiraled gracefully up and down the trunks of ancient trees, hugging them, not harming them. It was more like an adorning. Nella learned that most people were raised to be some sort of artisan or to do a specific job. Perhaps by way of family history, or special skill that children were taught into a craft.
As Nella met people, she heard their stories and memories of her own past floated around in her head. She felt she had no real story to share. Just snippets of memory stick to her. Some good, some gruesome. Her past seemed to be steeped in the past of Selador, as she discovered more about the realm, she discovered more of herself. Deeper she went, down into the depths of the realm that felt more like her own history. The more she wrote, the more she became part of Selador, and she felt her purpose being fulfilled.
She had discovered the reason for the water phenomenon, many waters, which rushed through the woods every day, and since that discovery, her work has been to slowly correct it, word by word, day by day. What was done by ill intent by a native, was deepened in bad intent by a man called Tive. Nella worked to correct it, reverse it. It was a process that could not be unraveled at once. For each piece of negative wording added to a daily entry, she had to undo it. Every new entry was a step in the direction of opening up the realm of Selador to a whole universe. Once the repair is complete, the tunnel would be accessible, as well as the rest of the realm. Nella's purpose in arriving was to help fix it, and her work was almost complete. Her careful attention with words and each entry was about to alter Selador in some way. She did not know what that would look like.
One morning she arrived at the library early; the misty atmosphere was particularly thick. The fog seemed to encase all the trees and huts. Birdsong echoed but nothing could be seen beyond a close tree limb. On her walk to the library, she passed a few of the guardians, the protectors of Selador. The same men who had found her on the ground and saved her by getting her up to the village. Since the time was approaching that the realm would soon be opened, the guardians have had additional training and presence around as they prepare for the unknown.
Nella noticed they have all looked more diligent. Their jobs were about to get tougher. If Selador was suddenly swarmed with new people, how would it change? Or if natives leave? Will the village flourish? These were daunting questions that Master Louver was dealing with, along with Lady Cora and the board.
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