In the rough sea, under thunders crying over their heads like dracaenas, all the pilots’ hallucinations are united in one flesh, of the King Ankel.
He is still alive, he is forty years old by now; The whole world follows him.
Through the storm, everybody dreams of that common vision, participating in the same act of what was Ankel’s swan song in Anima Key. At the council that declared him a King, at the events that followed, in a period ending in his exile from the place; absence and memories that still remain.
“You listen to me and yell for the seniors! You listen to me and yell for the big and old ones I tell you! If you do not pay attention to my warnings about these bad score pirates, it will be better to pray to Saint Christopher, I say, to take us to the isle, somewhere to be saved!
Because if you all do your duty and attend the call manifested by me for my evening open speech, then we will all be talking about the time we stood present and changed the course of history of Anima Key and its people, like genuine followers of the first and the old ones.
Daman and Grizzly, whether you see this as a personal appeal or as dramatic invitation, I especially address it to you! “
In the most critical point of the course of Anima Key in space time, everyone, in front of the impending disaster, put aside their differences and attended the big cave hearing of the ten year old little Ankel’s preamplified word.
“For the past few years, the two ramparts have been battling against the pirates without in between communication. I was ten when I came to this place, now I;m twelve and still nothing. You arrange only unorthodox warfare attacks without claim for something better. Besides the few fish that are quickly disappearing, we also have to worry about the wild goats that seem to have vanished as well. All pirates fault.
Already my presence has inspired confidence, strength and will in you. I can see that! You gather around me and eagerly wait for my speech and actions. You may laugh later, but this way I’m sure you are deeply listening.
The recent death, a loss beyond any morbid imagination, of the late Micho Last comes to prove that light derives from lantern! Shining on our small village, it warns us that we will be destroyed and we will randomly run helpless!
Our yarankas will be dissolved and empty and will turn into mice houses. But even then, these small beings will multiply that much to call for a king of their own!”
The elders, Daman and Grizzly, heard the cry for unity and decided to put Ankel to the test, show what it is that he is made of, so if he succeeds, they will submit to his commands for emergency survival methods.
Of course, what a small child can possible know about such sensitive and difficult matters, such as war, is in itself a big deal, but in the micro society of Anima Key, given the difficult moment, this is something that does not employ anyone. Micho Last’s death, that came from overdue drowning as all minimal findings indicated, required immediate reaction. The pirates’ arrival, shortly before breaking the bad news, could not have been random and coincidental. He wasn’t able to waste his life this way as they claimed. This, they all knew.
The wise elders, figuring the gravity of the moment, thought that an act of reconciliation would easily result in a fair judgment. Thus, they jointly narrated a touching teaching long story from the ancient Anima Key.
Then as now, all the first people of this place, the meteoric aerials, the nocturnal cavemen, the marginalized waterfallers, decided to meet and discuss an issue of utmost importance.
They wondered how their King, Kyon of the people of the roots, ended in sinking into loneliness; dealing only with himself, indifferent to the kingdom. Unfortunately not one of the tree people came to repel the charges, not even the King’s first son, Anima. So it would make sense if none of them remained king anymore. Then the first people started looking for a new one among them.
Looking anxiously at each other, suddenly all looks combined with relief into the people of the cave and their leader. Kyon’s adopted daughter, Beyond.
Her peculiar character, imprinted on her expressive grimaces, was her main, attractive yet repulsive, qualification feature. Although looking funny she was very strong and loud and mostly could hunt at night. So they all agreed on her proclamation as the new queen of the first people, whose coronation had to be done immediately.
As decided, they gathered one hundred and eight wild roots, water from the sacred falls and prepared an ornately decorated throne. They even laid wild goat leather on the ground in front of the throne. The musicians began to chant as percussionists provided the rhythm at which beautiful females blew horns and sang songs of joy.
Together with Beyond’s escort arrival, ready for the coronation, her tree half brother Anima arrived along, and curiously asked about the reason behind this grand gathering and awesome celebration. Known for his wit and ingenuity he forced the attendees to stop for an answer.
“Oh Anima, the king and your father Kyon has no time for ordinary first people like us in his kingdom anymore. So we decided in a council, in which you and all tree men were absent, to declare our new queen in the face of Beyond and our prominent people, his cave dwellers. However, smart as you are, it seems you are late.”
Anima smiled politely and replied that in his opinion a coronation of that candidate should not take place. “The cave dwellers are almost blind at day and look at her! Why have such bad looking kings and queens while the meteoric aerials for example are so pretty and elagant? They lack in other talents of course so look again! She is both cruel and obnoxious with her crooked nose, slanted eyes and grimaces! How would she look like if she was really angry and was not going to go to her coronation? I advise us all against this mistake!”
By putting the first doubts in the minds of the others he went on to say that they had nothing to gain from a change in the king status. Because only in the name of king Kyon, aspiring enemies are terrified and do not get close.
He did not find useful any idea of elections and in his words no one found any fault. They quickly realized that there was no longer any reason for celebration and dispelled the gathering, returning home. Even musicians and beautiful females left, while Anima watched hung upside down from a branch.
Beyond was unable to understand what had happened and asked his remaining counselors.
“What happened? Why hasn’t the coronation ceremony started? And where did all go?”
“If I understand correctly it is noon and Anima erected obstacles against your development and our emergence as rulers, our queen. He persuaded everyone and everybody fled!”
Furious the semi blind failed queen yelled at his semi brother.
“You are bad to the roots bro! I have not hurt you in any way and you grow thorns in my personal development! I put a dot in our relationship and from now on my kind and yours are to be forever enemies!”
Beyond and her people fled leaving behind the puzzled and wondering Anima, last man hanging.“Say, I had rather handle the whole matter otherwise. Maybe the others could soon understand their mistake by themselves. Now by my tips I have made my sister’s cavemen enemies of the kingdom. What trouble has my damn mouth entangled me again into?”
After a short but profound self-reflection paused applause, the elders announced their decision. The aspiring new king Ankel would have to prove his strength in a dueling test with an opponent of their choice.
The only people who seemed to resist this absurdity were Ido and Reese. With tough and robust voice, the former put aside Ankel and protested first. “But how can we sound the reunification of our race on a duel? How can we stand rivals to the little one?! If indeed a king will become after this, should we do whatever he comes up with? Things are simple. We say no more civil hatred! “
“Consider whether there is an alternative plan of action. We’re not saying not to organize in a military, weapon fashioned way and so on, but how could we really make our defense have a tactical orientation? We need to find a way to protect ourselves without weakening. Perhaps then and only then we may stay and help”.
The beach of Anima Key as beautiful as it is however is not recommended for extensive fortification. The ramparts can fortify unilaterally but security gaps between them are many. Never in history has anyone attempted to defend in any other way than retreating backwards to the big cave.
But in the first decade of the twenty first century, the condition of the cave was a bit dramatic up to tragic and certainly not reminiscent of the glorious past. Large rocks collapsed, blocking the entrance, leaving very narrow passages to an inner space equally dangerous for landslides and flooding.
“What do you say, that the dilemma we ought to be thinking of should not be about who will duel with me, but whether we stay and defend our land or flee ashamed and search elsewhere for our luck?” responded with audacity little Ankel.
“And if we want luck by our side, shouldn’t we have a capable and proven leader, as the elders dictate in their stories? So we come back to the search of my opponent and the emergence of the most capable leader!”
Reese was not convinced yet. “My friends, I would humbly say that my only talent is to predict danger. You can stay and try to fight, but for us is a thousand times better to go into exile in homeostasis A.TH.A.H.E. We do have better work to do there”.
Without any other words to add, Reese and Ido took to the road, without goodbyes and tidying up, back to the hinterland.
The last sounds they heard leaving, tragically ended up being the clang of swords of the gladiators, voices, screams and a sudden silence. And a huge Oh, an exclamation of horror was heard up to the top of the sacred path.
The last image they got to view while leaving, tragically turned out to be the new king, who was leaving as well, though supported and blooded. Ari put him to the canoe and pushed him away from the beach to the nearest hospital, several kilometers away and the King never came back.
The last smell they chose to take while leaving was from Crithmum.