**Prologue**
Kufar is an archipelago in the South-eastern hemisphere of planet Retera. It had temperate weather and sometimes got cold but it was mostly known for its beautiful architecture. It wasn't anything futuristic or modern like most other settlements on this colony. Being there felt like being in a fantasy world. Especially the Silurix island which was the southern most island in the archipelago.
The only way to access it — is by the bridge. The local people called it 'Meelia' meaning the crossing. The entire island — was about 200 metres above sea level so sea transport wasn't viable and most people here relied in farming. It was technically very autonomous, only often receiving support from Kufar's capital — Aglarius.
It had a giant tree, about 500 meters tall and massively wide — it sort of resembled the bonsai tree but in a massive size. It layed on the cliff on the island. "Vaskyr" was what the people named it. They worshipped that tree that made them look so tiny. The place had many sea stacks, that was visible behind the tree. Standing majestic even when getting struck by the waves!
The land, mostly arable around the Vaskyr is where the people lived. People built elevated cottages, beautiful little cottages that had roofs with grass growing over them. The people believed that moss on your walls was a sign of prosperity.
The paths were a mess of embeded stones in random sizes and shapes — though, it contributed to the fantasical design. They had a furnace under the slightly elevated cottages, with a chimney connecting to it. Most houses had a pond too. They had round windows and even round doors! And the farms were behind the house, fenced by rocks that were stacked over one another. They weren't high enough though, a kid could easily climb over.
Upon reaching the age of 16, people could ask Vaskyr for any wish. Money or a certain superpower or a genetic modification. The only downside to the wish is you die upon reaching 25 years.
————
**Section 1~**
Nothing could ruin this beautiful morning for Leo. Absolutely nothing, except Elara of course. Leo groaned as she waved her hands from afar, inaudible. He had literally just opened the door and stepped outside. Leo takes a deep breath and walks down the stairs of his house.
"LEUUO!" Elara yelled from afar, running like a deer that's escaping a predator.
Leo sighed and waved his hands slowly with a straight face. He never liked Elara. No-one really did to be honest. And it wasn't because she was a bad person or because she was very talkative. People just disliked her because of her deformity. Her mouth was cut from the sides to the ears, she was a sacrifice to Vaskyr — but surprisingly she survived.
"Uh. What up?" Leo asked Elara briefly as she gasped her air while resting her palms on her knees upon reaching him.
"I ame giod". She looked back at Leo with a smile that seemed to extend all the way till her ears. "Ho-hwo ade yui" She stuttered. She couldn't speak properly either because the tip of her tongue too was cut, split in half by the middle.
"Yea-yea. I'm fine. I'm going to go meet Misa." Leo replied with a fake smile. Even though Leo wasn't on board with being around Elara...it was almost impossible to not feel sorry for her. Leo was soft hearted at times and it just so happened to be right now.
"Se id pdobabily sdill sliip" elara stuttered.
"Uh what?" Leo snapped accidentally.
That kind of discouraged Elara. She looked down and gulped. She always did that. When people couldn't understand her — her self esteem fell and she stopped. She looked back at Leo and gestured that Misa was sleeping with her hands.
"You are sleepy?" Leo asked as he moved a few steps ahead.
"MO!" Elara trailed behind.
"Ah, you're talking about Misa. Sleep. Yea. She Probably is." Leo smiled geniunely looking forward. "We'll drag her out of her house if she is." He turned back and smiled at Elara. They walked along the trail for a while, the stone path.
Elara was surprisingly quite on the path. Its not like it really bothered Leo but it was rare to see her like that. He glanced back and saw her walking right behind Leo, looking down and following his shadows. She was so close that if he stopped, she'd headbutt into his back. Leo looked to his sides and that's when he noticed — there were eyes on them. Everyone was looking at them like they were some sort of celebrity.
Most people stared and then looked away in fear and disgust as soon as Leo looked back at them. Now he was also being included into their snake eyes because he was walking with the freak behind. When children tried to look at Elara, the parents covered their eyes and even took them away. Leo glanced back at Elara once again. He wanted to make her feel better but it was clear that if he did, the community would not look at him right.
So he walked past the faces of horror, and could feel what elara would usually feel. They went past the tiny cottage's and there was a well, right in front of the Vaskyr.
The tree was magnificent as ever. Leo has never been in the other islands of Kufar but he was definitely sure there was nothing bigger than Vaskyr. There was definitely no competition. Elara bowed down to the Vaskyr and that's when Leo also remembered to do so. They bowed down and continued walking after paying their respects. Misa's house was all the way at the corner of the village, closer to the tree they worshipped. It took a while for them to get there but they eventually did.
Elara stretched her arm to Misa's door, gesturing Leo to go ahead.
"No-no, ladies first." Leo copied Elara.
"Mo, yuo" Elara pointed a finger at Leo.
"Alright" Leo stared. "I go" He stepped up the stairs and knocked on the door.
Misa's mom opened the door after a few seconds.
"Oh-ho. Leo, its you! How are you, son" Misa's mom smiled, welcoming them inside the house.
"I'm fine, Miss Lisa. Thank you for asking!" Leo smiled at her.
He looked back at Elara, who stood there as if she didn't understand the language they were speaking.
"Elara is with me." Leo gulped. "Anyways, is Misa awake?" He continued.
Miss Lisa stared at Elara for a while.
"Dear my?~ Elara." She called out. "You've grown so much since the last time I saw you."
"Yej" Elara replied, from the bottom of the stairs.
"Oh, come here. It'd be rude of you to stay down there and talk to an elderly person." Lisa joked.
Elara palms got sweaty. She's never been in anyone's deck except her own, which she built herself, closer to the forest. Her home wasn't a cottage or to be honest, it'd be an overstatement to call it a house. It was more of a makeshift shelter that only purposed for sleeping and protection from rain. The forest was quite boring so she always roamed around the village. Leo sometimes shared his food with her, otherwise, she'd usually be eating fruits or some worms from the trees.
Elara climbed up the stairs and smiled. Miss Lisa smiled back. It was impossible to ignore that innocent smile.
"How are you, Elara?" Lisa asked.
"Ime giud. Hov ade yuo" Elara replied.
"Ah. I'm good." Lisa frowned. "Are you really holding up with that slit? I can try to get you to a hospitable in the Ifaeyis island."
"Og, nu. I ame fime" Elara waved her hands in the air, gesturing a no.
"I mean. You should at least get it fixed" Leo snapped. "It's been years since that incident."
Elara just immediately frowned. Memories rushed back inside. A sort of anger and sadness filled her mind.
"Leo..." Lisa sighed. She looked back at Elara and put her hands on her shoulder.
"You were sacrificed to the tree but you still made it alive. That just means that Vaskyr is telling us that you serve a better purpose here than being sacrificed. That's never happened to anyone before you know? They'd all usually die from all that blood loss." Lisa tried encouraging her.
Elara looked up at her — her eyes were glimmering. And if you looked closely, you could see tears in her eyes. They didn't flow out but they were there.
"Od-od maibe, evin vaskyd did-mt wamt me" she stuttered. That got Lisa's attention. She was speechless at that point. It was terrible to see someone hate themselves.
"Vaskyr would never not want anyone, my child." Lisa smiled. She didn't want to continue the topic anymore, realising it made her uncomfortable. "Misa is at Akiyo's place. Check the Iqor Motel, beyond the forest. She left early morning."
Leo's face glowed up. "Alright then!" He yelled. "Let's go!" He turned around. Elara looked at him as he walked down the stairs. "Oop- And thank you, Miss Lisa!" He waved his hands at her. Lisa gestured Leo to take Elara with him, carefully. Her eyes had a sort of deathstare. It was quite intimidated so Leo slowly walked back and grabbed Elara's hand.
"Let's go." He said. Elara blushed, even though she was on the verge of tears, you could see her face glow red. Its not that every once in a while, someone touches her, even if they did, its probably in a harsh way. She was touch deprived in a way.
Elara didnt say anyhting as Leo dragged her down the stairs. She was a little stunned. Elara turned around and looked at Lisa with a smile. Miss Lisa waved her hands as they walked back towards the village well.
. . .
It's been about 3 minutes and they finally reached the well. And that's when Leo left her hand. Both of them had completely forgot that they were holding hands. It wasn't anything romantic but if it wasn't for their palms getting sweaty they would've probably continued holding hands.
Elara tugged Leo's shirt.
"What happened now?" Leo raised his eyebrows.
"Peeble"she stuttered.
"The people? What about them?" Leo tilted his head. "You don't want them to look at you?" He answered his own question.
Elara nodded her head.
"Alright fine then. How about we run through the fields." Leo said sarcastically.
