FOUR SEASONS
Summer (Part 7)

Once upon a time, deep behind the forest stood a small hidden village. The village was endowed with many beauties by the gods. The grass was so green, the sky was so blue, and the rivers were so clear. Not only that, the sun shines warmly and hundreds of types of flowers grow in this village every season without stopping.

According to the story of the elders, this village was built by a forest Nymph who married a human. Then their descendants, descendants, and descendants built houses in the same place. They are described as compassionate and far from greedy.

One night, a Griffin boy stops by the village, with the aim of finding a rare plant for his wounded mother. Griffin's son who had heard the news that the human inhabitants of this village were so friendly immediately met the villagers for help.

Not welcomed, not helped, the villagers chased after Griffin's son. Arrows were removed, spears were thrown, and swords were cut.

Griffin's son died that night covered in blood. His wounded mother far out there also died because she didn't get the cure.

The earth goddess, Gaia, became enraged.

The next day, the next, and the next day, the village was overturned by disaster. Earthquakes, landslides, flash floods, and long aftershocks followed relentlessly.

Later, they held a holy ritual. Wake up and insist many times asking the gods for help. Baby, the sky didn't answer.

Their pastures are yellowing. Their springs are dry. All the plants they were proud of died. The village turned into a land of death, its skies reddened describing suffering.

The elders and village shamans nodded. Disaster should not be allowed to last. Eventually the village shaman went wandering for weeks away to the south, to a hidden cave at the foot of a mountain. The place of the devil.

When the village shaman managed to get there, the thunderous laughter of the demons greeted him. He asked, 'em,

"What's your request?"

The village shaman replied steadily, "Stop all disasters in our village."

"Then what did you pay for it?" The devil asked again.

"We will give offerings of crops and livestock for five years."

Demons chuckling.

"No, no. I don't need your offerings." Said.

His fingers tapped on the dark throne. He thought for quite a while, until then licked his lips in delight.

"Just give Griffin's son blood. She's kind of rare, I kind of like her." Demon words.

The village shaman gasped. Didn't expect the demons to know about Griffin's son they killed last time.

"can't. That's mine."

The devil squinted his red eyes sharply. Skinning inch by inch with his terrifying gaze. The village shaman trembled from the tip of his foot to the tip of his head.

"Then what did you pay me?"

The shaman straightened his shoulders which had trembled.

"Every time you eliminate one disaster from our village, I'll let you take one villager."

Demons speechless. Counting one by one with his fingers. This agreement offers unlimited food supplies.

"I like little kids." He said while licking his lips, quite interested in the offer just now.

"No problem." The village shaman answered flatly.

The devil laughed loudly. His voice reached the mouth of the cave. He looked at the shaman and clucked,

"Basic unfaithful friend. Hades will burn you. We'll meet again in hell."

The village shaman looked at him straight. He answered, "No problem. I will live forever."

****

Lalita was still faithfully staring at the black bead that had remained reluctant to talk since.

"So?" The jade manic looked at him curiously. "What story did you mean? Poppy was born of blood?"

Kai nodded small.

"Is this like the Amaryllis story?"

The black bead was moving uneasily. How did he tell the story so clearly without being discovered?

It was already the law of the heavens that beings like them should not dismantle their disguises as humans for any reason, as it would greatly affect their esistency.

"This is not a love story." Kai sighed. This story is not as tragic as Amarilis. Is it more of a.. miscommunication?

"So?" Lalita tilted her head in confusion.

"Ah, that's it." Kai finally breathed out a riled breath.

What's he bringing this up anyway? Clarifying?

Lalita looked at the man not understanding. He feels Kai has a problem, but Kai doesn't want to tell him. No matter how much he wanted to, how could he help if he just didn't know what the problem was.

"So. wouldn't it be nice if you and I had each other on this?"

For a moment, Kai was stunned. His heart was perfectly pierced by the arrow of romance. Lalita's face looked so radiant with a slight pink hue there, and her caramel hair swayed gently in the wind.

"Lalita, I.."

"LADITH!"

A loud shout someone cut off Kai's speech.

The young man looked across the hill. That's Nolan, screaming. The boy always knew how to disrupt the atmosphere.

"Lalita, Tanana told me to pick you up!" Nolan shouted again, running around small towards them.

"Aah!" Lalita reflex standing up. "Sorry, Kai, I have to go. My mom's been overprotective lately." He said while welcoming Nolan who came to hit him.

"Lalita, come on, Tanana's gonna be pissed." Nolan began to tug at the girl's hand.

"Kai, we'll see you tomorrow. See you soon." Lalita grabs Nolan's small hand and takes him away.

Kai sighed again.

"Oh yeah, I'm lazy for the story, too." Said whispering.

***

Nolan ran around a little while offsetting Lalita's steps.

"Did my mom say anything?" asked the girl in such an anxious tone.

"Tanana told Seda to look for you." explains Nolan.

Lalita's surprised. Seda was his mother's right hand. The young man always obeyed the words of his mother, whatever it was. Nolan glanced at Lalita's anxious face. She then clasped Lalita's hand, trying to calm down so that the girl wouldn't panic too much.

"But I told Tanana that I was going to find Lalita to the flower hill."

"Good, Nolan!" Lalita stroked the cheek of the proud boy. "What would you say if I asked anyone you met on the hill?"

Nolan stopped, pointing his chest proudly.

"I'm loyal to Lalita. I'll tell Tanana that Lalita's alone there."

Lalita gave a small laugh and hugged the boy happily.

"Smart kid. Nolan is my best friend."

Nolan rubbed his nose on Lalita's arm happily. But then he remembered something.

"Lalita, who's that gloomy older brother?"

Those jade eyes were staring at Nolan gently.

"Nolan, that brother's name is Kai. He came from far away."

Nolan's lips pursed.

"Did Lalita like it?"

The girl nodded with a big smile.

"Therefore.. Nolan has to love it too."

Nolan ogah-ogahan. She didn't like it when the gloomy sister was near Lalita, but if Lalita did like her?

The afternoon sun is so warm. His beam shot through the trees, touching the steps of the two running human children.

In the warm embrace of the sun, Lalita smiled happily. Her cheeks were perfect too. He remembered what he said to Kai.

'Wouldn't you and I have each other?'

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First of all, the update took a while.

I just pulled out the back molars and it really made no mood whatsoever.

Second, thank you for reading. Please leave criticism and suggestions, like, vote, or rate hehe

Third, please leave the title of your work in the comments because I am in the mood to read.

See yes.