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In a small northern corner of the Antiqua Empire, months away from the messy politics or battles of the capital, was a village, high upon a hill and surrounded on all sides by forest. Being so far away meant we were insignificant to anyone, so we never had too many things to worry about. Just what to farm tomorrow, or what you would do with your friends. However, I was different.
As a kid I always liked to visit the forest. Even when everyone else was working or helping their parents, I snuck away to play. Mom and Dad always told me off by lecturing, "Justo Scripor! You never do anything but goof around all day. When you get older you won't know how to anything, and no one will help you."
The others might think me weird for being alone in the forest for so long, but the truth is there are lots of animals and a single weird person. He was kind of weird all around. He looks weird, talks weird. Even his name was weird, different from any I heard. It was Deus Silva, or Silva for short.
Speaking of, it was time to go see him! I have my own path to the forest, so I don't bother any animals or other people doing their work. In the distance I saw Silva standing there like normal. Wait, was that actually him? He looked different from normal, but no one else could even look close to Silva. It's probably fine. As I got nearer, he didn't look the same at all. Finally, I realized it wasn't him. Before I could do anything else, he was in front of me in the blink of an eye and.
I woke up. It's always that same weird nightmare. No time to dwell on it though, the plane has already landed. Now that I have gone through security, I get a taxi and head to my new home. I have been getting writers block and don't really like the city so the new house in a rural village should be a good change.
After a few hours of driving, I am finally in the city of Parva Civitas. I may have bought the house, but I bought it online. So, I'm still not used to the terrain or layout. Spotting a local, and not wanting to see rude, I make some small talk. I found out the local's name was Latus, he has lived here for his whole life and knows the town inside out. Eventually I ask if they've seen the house on a hill near the forest. His face turned sour. At the start of the conversation, he seemed pretty friendly, but now he looked at me in pity. Finding this very strange, I asked what was wrong.
After a while of silence, in an outburst Latus yelled, "Find a different house, now!"
I thought it was weird and uncalled for. Apparently, the people passing by thought so to. They all murmured with each other, shooting glances every now and then. Feeling nervous with all the attention, I pulled Latus into a nearby alleyway. A bunch of questions went through my head. What was going on? Why can't I live there? Why was he yelling. Deciding on one, I inquired, "What's wrong with my house?"
Looking at me as if I was crazy, "You didn't do any research did you Justo" he explained panicked, "The forest is inhabited by a wrathful god. Who ever goes in there doesn't come out or even looses all their memories. Though I just met you, I still want the best. Besides if you stay there for too long you might anger the god and bring destruction to the entirety of Parva Civitas."
I mean I knew that small towns had and believed in more superstitions, but this was on another level. I thanked the crazy man for the warning and quickly escaped the conversation. Still having no idea where my new house was, I wandered around aimlessly. While the whole town was weirdly into the legend, it did help find the forest. The nearer I got the less people there were.
After two hours of lugging around my three luggages I arrived at the new residence of Justo Scriptor. Opening the door, I looked inside. It looked horrible as if it hadn't been inhabited for a millennium. No wonder it had been so cheap, I should have known better. The house was really bad, but it had one redeeming quality, it felt like a home that I would be safe in for the rest of time.
Still, it would take so much effort to tidy up considering the two floors and five rooms for each. Why I would need so much space I don't know. Not wanting to deal with the enormous task right now I put my possessions down. Wanting to explore and see what all the superstitions were about, I strolled just a few feet into the forest. I know everybody avoids it but, I can't help but feel drawn to it. I can see how the locals avoid it even at noon the thick trees blocked a lot of the sunlight. They might not like it, but the spruce and other tree's leaves make nice shade and temperature.
"Crack," startled, I jump back. Turning around I saw a broken branch. Ha ha, for a second, I started to believe the story. Still, wanting to find the source of the noise I headed toward a huge oak, no matter how much I looked around I couldn't see anything. Even with the reassurance I still felt like someone was here. The branch must have just been too heavy. Wanting to ignore the ominous feeling, I climb up that very tree. Finding a branch suitable for holding my weight, I start to hang in it. No matter how hard people, writing, work, or moving gets, nature always helps me feel grounded like a second home.
Having my sufficient fill of the pine smell, colorful trees, green grass, and now darkening sky, I head home. The path was darkening quickly, luckily, I barely made it back in time. That little expedition was quite fun. If I go back there for a bit longer, I might finally be able to get a successful book. That was a job for tomorrow though. I get my bed ready, while thinking about my new life. I might have had changes before, my thoughts trailing off, but this is a lot more that I had planed…
"Knock, knock, knock," ugh what was that.
"Who is at my door at," looking at the clock I slowly register, "6:00!?" What kind of psychopath who was here so early. Oh yeah, jet lag, never mind. I call out "Who's there?" Hoping it wasn't another person telling me to move, for I had grow attached to the house in just this short amount of time.
The voice called out again, "I'm your neighbor Silva, I live down the street."
By now I had made my way downstairs, opening the door I see a strangely familiar man holding a basket of, what seemed to be bread?
Still cranky from being woken up I begrudgingly spat out a "Nice to meet you, my name is Justo Scriptor." Even though I was rude and had a frown, Silva just smiled back. He couldn't be human, no one can be this nice.
Unmoved Silva chirps, "I figured you didn't get any food yet, so here, some delicious fresh baked bread made by me." He definitely isn't human. Seeing him looking so friendly somehow convinced me to invite him in.
Stepping aside, "Glad to have you as my neighbor, come in and we can share it." He looked as if he'd won the lottery. I don't get why Silva is so happy, but whatever, as long as he’s smiling.
After talking for a while, I realize he is a pretty good guy. He knows a lot about the town too, I can ask any question about it and Silva answers like a tour guide. Somehow, we talked for the whole day. Once the sun began to set, he left, and I realized maybe not everybody here is weird or bad.
Now that it's been a few weeks since I moved here, I've become quite accustomed to strange stares. Latus still tries to convince me to move to no avail. I'm glad I have Silva as such a good friend, I might just have given into the pressure if not for him.
The village is quite dangerous though, I kept almost getting hit by flowerpots, getting lost, meeting sketchy people, or even just tripping. Which is strange because I'm usually alert or at least not so clumsy. I did was also really unlucky in the city, but at least that was more believable than being nearly ran over by one of the few cars in town. But good thing I'm always next to or saved by Silva.
He really is too kind, he seemed worried recently, probably because of me. So instead of being in the city we went to the forest.
"Justo. JusTO. JUSTO! Silva called, turning to me.
"Ah, huh. What's happening?"
"No wonder you keep getting into trouble, you keep spacing out." Silva seemed concerned, it's annoying not seeing him happy.
As I was thinking there was suddenly a steep drop off. I yelled, "Look out!"
I was too late, we fell.
By some miracle I was not dead, impaled by the sharp rocks, Silva padded the fall. Oh no, I was already hurt pretty badly, Silva might actually be dead. Wait, how is he ok? By all means he should be crying out in pain, but he looks unscathed. Maybe there are internal injuries. Concerned and confused I ask frantically, "Are you ok, why did you do that?"
Slightly wincing, Silva responds, "Yeah, I'm ok. What's more important, how about you?"
I can't believe he avoided my question, and so poorly at that. "Answer me! Why would you do that? And how are you ok?"
Silva now looking incredibly nervous, "I'm really sorry, I thought I could protect you, but I failed." What!? What does he mean ‘protect’ me, I am just as capable! How dare he belittle me. "I'm not exactly human. You see I'm what you humans would call a god. I'm the god of the forest. And our leader, Praetor, doesn't want us mingling with humans. He can't go after another god, so he is targeting you.
Ah. I mean he always seemed too good to be human. Now I see why he is always there when I'm in trouble. He has to, he doesn't have a choice. "I can't believe you kept me in the dark," I shouted angrily. "All this time you were just toying with me, pretending to be my friend or even care about me!" Overcome with emotions I limped away, not caring for what excuses Silva had or my injuries.
Just as I arrive home, someone was waiting for me. They looked a lot like Silva, just as tall and strange looking. Something was different though, this person felt dangerous, every fiber of my body was telling me to run. Still, I marched on, after all I still had to go home.
“Snap." Are you kidding me, a stick really. The figure's head snapped toward me. Uh oh. It ran towards me at an inhuman speed. Today really is the worst day, isn't it. First Silva and how I'm going to be killed by some monster.
Yup, he hit me hard in the head. I could feel blood, I knew I was dying. I always thought I would have fulfilled all my dreams, died old with a family surrounding me, with lots of riches, and somewhere with a nice view overlooking a city. I guess it isn't that bad, I don't have too many regrets. Though, maybe I should have stayed with Silva and listened to him.
I guess its true your life flashes before your eyes before it all ends. Hold on, should it be lasting this long? There are things I couldn't have possibly done, like fight in a war, surviving a flood, and my job being farming, I hate manual labor. But I know for sure that they are all me. Somehow, I see a third person view, again in somewhere I have never been. I'm too far away to see but it seemed like two figures are above... my body!?
"See this is what happens when you get to close to a human. Silva you'll only get hurt in the end." I can't believe whats happening, it's the person who killed me. And he's talking to Silva as if they were good friends!
"Are you kidding me Praetor! I know you've warned me, but you shouldn't have involved the human!" Silva seemed really mad… but why, I was just a chore he had to deal with.
"Don't Praetor me. You're the one who involved him in the first place." So, he was Silva's boss. I can't believe he had to work under someone like this and still be so happy. At least he's leaving now.
What is Silva doing to me? Why am I glowing!? Just loud enough for me to hear, he whispers, "Don't worry you're going to be okay. I won't let your soul die. You will live and be reborn for many more years. Thanks for being my friend. It was nice meeting you."
Oh. That's why I saw myself so many times in the flashbacks. Oh why did I have to be so mean to Silva. He's saved me twice now. Ugh, my head. It's pounding. Wait I died, where am I? Is this the afterlife, but Silva's here. I guess he is a god.
"Oh my me. You're finally alive. It worked!" Silva cheered.
"What. No, I'm dead and this is the afterlife," I stated matter of factly. "filled with… trees? And did you just say, 'oh my me’?"
"Haha, I am a god after all so why can't I say me instead of God. And no this is my house I told you I ruled over the forest didn't I. Anyways it was nice knowing you. You always did make me laugh and have a good time."
Wait, what. Why is he always so confusing and cryptic. It sounds like he's leaving. By now my eyes had adjusted to the weirdly bright light, and I realized he was bleeding and hurt really badly. Scared, I called, "Come on stop scaring me, wake up. You can't die on me, you can resurrect me, why can't you be okay?" Why did he always do this, saving me without a second thought.
Tiredly Silva smiled and muttered, "Ah, you finally remembered. I'm glad you got your memories back. Just so you know Justo, I still stand by what I said, I'm glad to have met you."
No, no, no! He can't just reserve himself to rot in the forest alone. I will nurse him back to health for the rest of my days if I have to. Luckily, he had some medical supplies in his house. Just what was he doing to need this much.
A week later he finally wakes up, conveniently with no idea how worried I was. Bewildered of why I was here by his bed side Silva inquired, "Shouldn't you be at home instead of here. With an angry but thankful tone I replied, "Are you kidding me, you idiot. Do you know how much time I spent on bringing you back to life."
Silva confused, "You know I didn't actually die right? I'm fine now you don't have to help me anymore.
Whacking him in the head I retorted, “You're joking. You really think I won't pay back my debts. Besides I spent all that time, it'd be a waste if you get hurt again."
"Haha, you have always been kindhearted" Silva smiled.
Seems like everything will be okay now that Praetor is gone. Wait what even happened to him? Whatever, I don't have time to worry about him, I only have time for Silva. He really is quite a handful, but no matter what he does I'm glad he's here.