Chapter 3: The Light at the End of the Tunnel
Zar woke an hour earlier than usual, 4 am to be exact and proceeded to his rock – he done so to ensure he would not be interrupted and would have the privacy to investigate the book. When Zar was younger, he always had questions for his now deceased Oldman, of which his Oldman told the legend of books, within a book was images and symbols which contained information that when understood, great power could be gleaned. The Oldman taught Zar that the information that would be transcribed into a book were delivered always by the Gods, or so the legend went. These books were called Major books, Minor books were addendums to Major books whereby an animal of some kind, usually human, would edit such a book in some way to add his own style.
The book once possessed by the Oldman looked to Zar to be a Minor by his instant speculations. This was why the book in the Oldman's bony hands could potentially be of such importance to Zar. Maybe the Oldman had not given up on his family, but nonetheless he had kept a selfish secret which angered Zar, “how could he hide such a thing from us in our time of need?!” Now however there was no time to muse on such small details. Zar opened the book to the first page. Oldman taught Zar, Tar, Pam and Lam how to read by use of sticks, the skill never came in use and was impractical, Oldwoman (their mother) always would say such things to Oldman:
“Teaching them those rubbish words, what use will that have in survival?”
“One must prepare for the future my Dear Wife.”
“Hmph!”
Zar thinking of this memory now and seeing the connection caused the memory to be pleasant, but there was now a task. Zar began reading.
“Zar my dear boy, I assume you found the book? If you found it before my death then you must return it to me otherwise, I will ensure the Gods curse you (a joke of course little Zar), your curiosity knows no bounds after all! Tar, Pam and Lam, if you find this book return it to me, this book is intended for Zar, he has the kind of mind that may be able to save our village, but his mind must undergo much growth and suffering therefore, it especially must witness my death before he is to read these scriptures.
Now Zar, you have been an angry boy since birth, always frustrated with the way of things – your Oldman has thought many times that you might be the incarnation of our Greatest Grand Elder, your mannerisms are a spitting image of that idiot. Yes, that means I am calling your past incarnation an idiot because you annoyed me a lot back then with your pompous attitude.
Now, I cannot be sure whether you are the past incarnation of that rotten scoundrel, but IF you are, you have the aptitude to save our village for you, in times long ago, were the one who helped raise it to the stature it attained with the help of a mysterious person. Within this book are the necessary tools, minimal albeit, to begin your Cultivation and Ascension. This Oldman's cultivation was crippled by what happened long ago that caused the destruction of our village, hence why I have not been able to maintain the health of our village.
Zar my boy, let me tell you what happened, all this knowledge I am about to share was gained from experience, learnt from our teacher. Me and your past-incarnation (assuming you are the man I once knew), learnt orally our ancestral traditions from that mysterious person I forementioned. I am weak and have spent many years constructing this book, I can only fit our story into these small pages and some of the most basic cultivation practices:
The Giath family is an old agricultural family, those thousands of years ago our ancestors were simple farmers who spent their days in the hot sun growing and reaping crops. We owned a large portion of land and contenders of our land could not stand our strength, we were strong, tall and healthy. Unlike now where there are perhaps 20 of us, in those times before there was 100’s. We were by no means a small family, nor were we necessarily a large family in contrast to the mega-sects throughout this body of land. We Grands maintained the health of our people.
Our most famous Ancestor known as the Forefather Giath, went out on an adventure during this early period. As the legends go, he ventured as far as he could manage to explore the mysteries beyond this continent. We live in a continent called The Lesser Lands.
As you might imagine little Zar, the Lesser Lands Continent whilst full of true powerhouse families which were significantly greater than ours at that time, although I must say when we reached our peak we became greater than them, in comparison to the mysterious Common Lands Continent, Greater Lands Continent and Grand Lands continent is absolutely nothing.
Our Forefather attempted to go beyond the boundaries of the Lesser Lands and his adventure lasted many years, leading our ancestors of the time to think our famous Forefather dead. Yet he returned and not only did he return, but he also returned with knowledge of things that would change and alter our family forever.
No one dared adventure beyond the Lesser Lands Continent, it was known to be dangerous to do such things for it was stated in tales that those who live in the Lesser Continent, adventuring beyond, would meet an instant death. Many larger families at the time had tried to no avail, dispatching large forces. Perhaps it was by sheer-luck that our Forefather survived, or perhaps it was for a reason we are yet to understand.
The story goes little Zar, that Forefather Giath did not return with any items, but instead he returned with abilities that were magical to us, I will save details, but it is said that Forefather done something to our most useful commodity, the insignificant cabbage, turning it into a healing, filling meal that could stave away a flu or retain fullness in one for several days without the need to eat again.
It is no wonder our Zar family rose to wealth – let alone on the backbone of mere food produce such as cabbage. All the powerhouses of the Lesser Continent wished to know the secrets, but they could never come to figure. We grew and rose in power to the great displeasement of the powerhouse families who ruled over the Lesser Continent kingdom as a whole. Some powerhouse families enjoyed our commodities, our mannerisms and we were liked by many and hated by few, and it was the few we were hated by little Zar that created the beginning of the conspiracy that would end our race and cause what you see now.
It was a normal day at this time with our Forefather still alive, with me and your predicted previous incarnation alive. We owned much land at this point, the shack I lay to die in was a wonderful megastructure which had many levels to it. On the horizon during this normal day were a large group of people spotted arriving, the layman Giaths noticing first, they were killed brutally.
The Forefather busy in the innards of the land had not noticed but luckily laymans were running into the innards to inform some of the pettys and commoners of the news. It was passed on with rapidity that an army was approaching, an army that we would challenge ensuing a great battle but also great destruction, we managed to survive yet only barely.
The Giath family was large and formidable, but the conspirators had been clearly preparing for many years to launch a grand attack to us, their intentions were evil and greedy, to steal and wipe out our wealth and growing power. The prepared and coordinated attack would become our peril, our family died in large amounts, the Forefather too passed but not without an incredible fight and we saw things emit from Forefather than were but fairy tales we would hear in the night. He protected us, he protected me and your past incarnation, his dying words were for us to carry the torch.
The result of the destruction was infertile lands, loss of knowledge, loss of all that we had built. Me and your past incarnation as well as some others, one of which would soon become my wife, hid until it was all over.
Gradually the Giath family went from big to small, and small to nothing with great speed, starvation and death, being brought out by other families, weakness and other such side-effects were the primary cause. Now we end up here and I am to pass a message to you, little Zar, the small things I learnt from the forefather that I so wish I could have practiced if my cultivation was not crippled during the catastrophe.
The Giath family will rise again little Zar, you must be the progenitor of it! I pass these secrets to you in hope that you will take what's left and follow in the Forefathers footsteps. I do not know what mysteries lie beyond our Lesser Continent, but if you can rise to power and gain revenge for our innocence and betrayal, then perhaps you can journey into the mysteries of our planet.”
“Brother! You looked weary and tired; did you really wake up so early as to catch the petty rays of the sun?” Zar hearing the approach of Tar quickly hid the book inconspicuously and instinctually to turn toward to his brother.
“Morning brother Tar.”
“I am going to need your strength, we need to ensure the potato harvest in the coming months is successful, with it we may be able to survive past the left-over grains, our but beloved father is now serving in a way that priceless to nourish our infertile soils.”
For such a weak people, something as simple as shovelling and breaking apart a body with reasonably strong tools was immensely straining. The nutrients of the dying body would be put into the gravel-like dirt, damaged by the fire and explosions of the past, to feed the flower such that nutrient dense tubers could grow.
After such gruelling activities were done, Tar went to rest and Zar found privacy away from the villagers, his brothers and sisters, etc. This was to continue reading.
End of Chapter 3
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