Blue Shards

This is a work of fiction, it does not reflect real events. Places, persons, and events are product of the authors imagination.

The name of village was Aria. A small village, located in the heart of the continent. I would say about one hundred habitants. Life at the village was hard, since it was difficult to grow food. The earth was arid and water was scarce. Sounds sad, but the Arians were indeed happy. That's what they say about poverty; 'It is sad and beautiful', 'My house has no windows, the door is a old rag. I am not afraid of thieves, come and break in, my wealth you would not find'. That was the Arians' motto; they were humble. This was 'their' dream land. How would the Arians survive? The mines. There was a mine. This company, Gi Eich Yu, came and took over, at least seventy percent of the land, since then, they hired the Arians to work at the mines. The Arians pay was a voucher. There was this big tent were the Arians would take their vouchers and exchange them for merchandize, food, clothing, essentials, but the most valuable reward was clean water, since the river supposed to be contaminated. The head of the family will get one jug of water every pay cycle.

***

There were three kids, playing with a homemade ball. A forth kid sat by a tree, observed as the other kids played. That kid's name was Koby, he waited for dad. As Koby waited, grabbed a stick and started drawing on the ground. Pretended to draw something from a story that grandma had told him. The kid drew the Blue Shard, as he imagined it; like grandma had described to him. Koby paused drawing, stood up and threw the stick to the side. "Dad!" There was dad, on his left hand carrying a big jug of water and on his right an old brown bag. "Dad!" Called the Koby as he went to meet his dad, then gave him a hug. The other kids paused playing and paid attention. "Dad, did you find any Shards?" The dad chuckled, "Yes, I did." "Wow, I wish I could see them. When I am old enough I find the biggest Shard, right dad?" "Sure you will, son-oh I almost forgot, look." Dad reached into the brown bag and pulled at an old-rusty toy car, then handed it to Koby. "Wow." The other kids stopped playing and approached, they were curious. "What is it?" asked one of them. "Its's called car," Said Koby's dad. The kids were amazed, "Kar?" "What does it do?" asked another kid. "It came from Purus, people of Purus use them to move around." Koby was not convinced, 'how could you fit in this...' "I know what you are thinking," Yes, dad had read Koby's mind, "But Dad, how do they fit, it is small." Dad laughed, "No, son, this is a just a toy. You can play with it. Koby hugged his dad, "thank you Dad." "You're welcome, son, now I would take the water to Mom, she needs it to make the soup, Koby nodded.

"Can we play with the car?", "What does it do?" curiosity had invaded the kids' minds. Koby admired the small car, noticed that the small wheels turned, then he ran up the hill, the other kids followed, "wait!", "where are you going?" Once on to of the hill Koby went to a big rock and climbed it, "wait there!" He told the other kids. The other kids had no idea of what Koby was up to. Koby placed the small car on the rock and the car started rolling, then it gained speed. It went all the way to the bottom of the rock. One of the kids went and grabbed the small car. "Wow," the kids were amazed, "do it again." "Can I try?"

"Koby!"

"Oh, no. Mom is calling me." Said Coby as he climbed down the rock. Once of the bottom he took the car from the kid. "Sorry, I have to go." "Aww." "Please, let's us try." Koby stared at the small car.

"Koby!!"

"Please, Koby, let us play, we promise we would not break it." Koby looked from the small car to his friends. "Okay, but don't break it." "We won't" "Okay," Koby handed the car to one of the kids then went to meet his mom. Koby ran to the small shack; as he ran he turned around to see what the other kids were doing with his toy car, 'I going to eat then come back, he thought, did not want to leave his car there.

When Koby got to the shack Mom was waiting with a handful of leaves, "here, clean your hands," Koby used the leaves and cleaned his hands. Those leaves were rough, Koby did not like them, but that was the only way to cleanse, and the smell was not that bad. When he walked inside the shack his oldest brother-Kuro, Dad, Grandma and his little sister, were sitting at the table. Mom grabbed a wooden bowl and filled it up with soup. Koby started eating his soup, it was hot, he scaled his tongue. "Don't eat to fast," said dad, "You already burned your tongue, didn't you?" As soon as Koby finished his soup, he ran to the door, "Koby?" That was Mom, "What do you say?" "Oh, thank you, Mom," Koby went back to Mom and gave her a hug, "I am going to play, I'll be back." "Be careful." "I will." Said Koby as he ran out the door.

Koby ran to meet the other kids and get his car-toy back. When he got there, noticed that the kids were quiet. "Where is my car?" asked Koby. The kids were quiet. "Where is it?" "Tell him!" Said one of the kids. "What happened, where is my car?" One of the kids reached in his pocket and took out the small car, "sorry," he said with remorse, "I didn't want to break it but..." Koby snatched the car from the kid's hand, saw the car was squashed and two of the wheels were missing, "what did you do to it?" "Im sorry Koby, I stepped on it." Koby started at the small car in his hand. "I'm sorry, Koby." Koby started crying. A woman called from the distance. "That's mom." Said one of the kids, then he went towards the woman, a second kid, followed him. The kid that broke the car left as well, Koby went and sat on the ground. He tried to fix the car, but didn't work. What am I going to tell Dad? He thought. Someone grabbed Koby's shoulder. Koby turned around, "Dad!" Said he as he hid the small car. "What's that?" Asked Dad. Koby didn't want Dad to see the broken car. Dad shook his head, "let me see." Yep, you can never lie to your parents. Koby handed him the car, "I'm sorry, Dad." Dad took the small car and looked at it. "well, it is not that bad, maybe I can fix it." Dad handed the car back to Koby. "I am sorry, dad," repeated Koby. "No, son, you did a good thing, you shared, and that's good." Koby smiled, that made him feel better. "Now go see Mom, she needs help." Koby nodded.

After Koby helped Mom, he went to see Grandma. "Oh, look who's here." Said Grandma, Grandma sat at her old chair, where she spent most of the time, from there she could look at the window. "Come here, son." Koby went and approached Grandma, "I got...What's the matter?" Koby shook his head, "nothin, Nana," he lied. "Son, let me tell you something that my dad used to tell me, 'matter does not matter'." "Ugh?" Koby was confused, "Someday you'll understand..." Grandma tried to get up, she grunted, Koby went and tried to help her, but Grandma waved her hand in a gesture, 'I got this'. Once Grandma stood up she went to the corner and tried to open a wooden box, she struggled, "Son, can you do me a favor?" Koby nodded. "can you open the box for me?" Koby looked at the corner and there was wooden chest. Koby saw old clothes, a mug, an old hat, and a belt. "Do you see a book?" Asked Grandma. Koby shook his head. "Dig around, might be a the bottom." A Koby obeyed. After moving the hat he found some boots, and under the boots there it was, the book. Koby pulled the book and handed it to Grandma, but Grandma refused, "no, no. It is yours now. It is your Birthday gift." "Grandma, but my birthday is not until two circles." Grandma sighed, "I know, son. I am getting old, and you never know." "But Grandma..." "Just don't let Dad know, you know what he said, that this book is the cause of Grandpa's death." Koby nodded, then opened the book, "Grandma, but I don't now how to read it." Grandma was quiet, "I know son, the only person that could was Grandpa." "Grandma, but you know the story, don't you?" Grandma nodded, "sort of. It went like this:

When the last shard was taken, the guardians woke up. They saw that there was no use in giving energy to this vast land. Akuos, the blue guardian, took the water. Igna the red guardian took the heat. Tella, the brown guardian sealed the earth. Aria, the white guardian, used her rage against the land. It was chaos, but not all hope was gone. From a remote village, there came a young warrior. The young warrior searched until he found the guardians, he proposed to return the last shard. The guardians ignored the warrior until they saw his strength, their thoughts reformed. The quest began, the young warrior traveled....

"Grandma!" That was Dad, "I told you not to tell him those stories...and what is--give that." Dad saw the book and was not happy about it. "No, Dad, please." Begged Koby. Dad took the book, "Dad." "I am going to get rid..." "Are you going to get rid of your father's book?" There was a pause, Dad took a deep breath. "I am going to hid it, but Koby would not have it. I dont want to put those ideas in his mind, do you remember how Grandpa died?" Grandma did not answer. "It was because of this book, chasing the Blue Shard, that was a myth, shards are only found in the mine." Koby and Grandma were quiet, the Koby started sobbing. Dad went and hugged him, "son, listen, I just want to protect you...I am leaving tomorrow and I want you to be strong. I want you to protect Mom, Grandma and your brother and sister..." Dad turned around and winked at Grandma. Grandma knew what this was about. "Well, I have to leave early, If you are asleep, here." Dad kissed Koby on the forehead, "be strong, okay?" Koby nodded. Dad walked towards the door. "Dad?" "No, you can't have the book." Dad left the room. "Oh well, we got caught." Said Grandma as she sat on her old chair. "What do we do now, Grandma?" Grandma stared at the window, "I guess, we look somewhere else."

The next Morning Koby woke up and went to see if Dad was still there, He only found Mom sitting by the table, she smiled. "Mom, where is dad, did he leave?" "Yes, son." "When is he coming back?" "Don't know, son." Mom stood up, "now, go wake up your brother, tell him that he need to go to Mr. Koo." Koby nodded. Koby went an tried to wake his brother. Koby's Brother didn't wake up, then Koby went back to mom and he ended up going to Mr. Koo. Koby went across the village until he stood at Mr. Koo's step, then knocked at the door. No answer. Koby went back home. When he go there, Mom was in talking to Grandma, they were arguing--sort of. "... He can have it, it was his grandfather's will. His grandfather wanted him to have the book." When Koby heard 'book', he got pulled into the conversation, but he did not go into the room. "I said he can have it, it was his grandfather's will," repeated Grandma. Mom sighed, "I guess, but I don't want to put any of those ideas in my son's head, he is a good boy. The room was quiet now. Koby thought it was now or never, he walked into the room. "Koby, did you see Mr. Koo." Koby shook his head, "No Mom, I went to..." Koby saw the book on the table. Grandma grabbed the book, "come here, son." Koby hesitated. "Here," Grandma handed the book to Koby, "Your dad said you can have it." Koby could not believe it, the book was his now, with dad's consent. "Thank you, Grandma." Koby flipped the pages, then closed the book, "Can I take it with me?" asked Koby. "Where to?" asked Mom. "Don't know, maybe near the big tree" Mom sighed, "Okay, but..." "Thank you Mom." Said Koby as he hugged mom, then ran out the door, "But be careful, don't..." Mom didn't finish what she had to say, "I don't know if this was a good Idea." Grandma cleared her throat, "he would be fine."

As Koby promised, he went near the big tree, sat there with his book flipping the pages. He wanted to read the book, but he couldn't all he could copy was the pictures, got an idea of what that was about, but it was useless since he could not read the book. Koby closed the book, 'What a waste, he thought, 'this book has the greatest story ever told in Aria, and I can understand a bit'. Koby thought of going back home, since it was getting late, He stood up, then he saw and strange old man. Koby had never seen this man, he was not an Arian, he dressed in a strange way. "Where did you get that book?" Asked the old man. Koby clutched the book against his chest, "It's mine," he said. "Kid, I just want to see it, please." Koby stepped back, then tripped and fell. The book fell off his hands. Koby got hurt. The old man went and grabbed the book. "No!" called Koby, "it's mine." The old man did not listen to Koby, he started at the book, then smiled, "thank you." "No, my book!" The old man turned around and started walking fast. Koby tried to get up, but his ankle was hurting, "No, my book!" The old man went up the hill, then out of sight. Koby cried, "my book," he whispered, then stood up, tried to walk, but the pain was worse. "What am I going to tell Grandma, and Mom." With pain, Koby went up the hill; it was useless, the old man was out of sight. No choice but to go back home.

Koby avoided Mom or Grandma. They might notice that the book was gone, for that he around the shack and decided to sneak is way in. He thought to use the window. Koby landed next to the table, his hurt ankle felt the pain. Koby grunted. "Who's there?" That was Mom, she heard the noise. "Koby stood up and shook the dust off his pants, "It is me, Mom." Mom walked into the kitchen, "What happened here?" "Nothing, Mom, I was just..." "Where is the book?" "I..." "Tell me, did you lose it?" Koby started crying, "I..." "Now, what are you going to tell your Grandma, that book belonged to your grandfather." "I know mom, this old man took it away from me." At that moment, Grandma walked in. "What's all this..." "Koby lost the book." Said Mom. "No, Grandma, I didn't, an old man took it away from me." "Old man?" Said Grandma, then a heavy load of silence filed the room, "Was he wearing a green bracelet?" Koby tried to remember, "yes, he was..." "That old fool, Cio." Said Grandma, then went to sit on a chair. "Cio, he always wanted the book, since your grandfather had it." "I am sorry, Grandma." "Don't be sorry, son." It was quiet. "Well, I am going to the chamber for some seeds." Said Mom, "you better behave." Koby could tell that Mom was glad about the book gone. "Yes, Mom." Sighed Koby. Grandma waited for Mom to leave. Koby was looking down, he was still concerned because of the book. "Psst." Called Grandma. "Yes, Grandma." "Do you want to get back the book?" Whispered Grandma. "Yes, I want to get the book back!" "shhh, be quiet, your mom is going to hear us. Come Close...I know where you can find Cio." Koby listened. "Cio's cave is behind the big hill, do you think you can climb it?" Koby was thoughtful, "yes, Grandma." Grandma nodded then stood up, "Follow me." Koby followed Grandma until she stopped at the kitchen. She started using her walking stick to hit the tiles on the floor. 'Click', 'click', 'clank', Grandma paused, "this one...Lift that tile, son." Koby ran and came back with a small knife, then used the tip to lift the tile. The surface underneath the tile was hollow. Koby used his hand to scrape the dirt and found a small box. "Take it." Said Grandma. Koby took the small box, then opened it. Inside that box he found a compass, a knife and a small jug. "That was Grandpa's exploring kit. Koby was mesmerized, "what am I supposed to do, Grandma?" He asked. "Go find that book." Koby nodded, then grabbed all the items from the box. "Remember, Cio lives on top the hill. Do let him see you. Wait until he leaves the cave, then sneak in and take the book. Can you do that?" Koby nodded. "Now go...oh, Koby." Koby halted and turned around. Grandma took something from her apron. A small pouch. "If you get caught by Cio, give him this...don't ever open it. "Koby took the small pouch then ran out the door.

When Koby was at the near the hill, the wind was still blowing, but he know that it was not going to get any better. Koby hiked it was not going to be an easy task; his legs felt heavy, it was hard to catch breath.

The night used its dark-blue sheet to cover the sky. Koby guessed he was half way to the top of the hill. he decided to rest. It was cold. Koby rolled his knees and rested on the floor. The next day the sun woke Koby up. He Looked up the hill, 'I can do this'. When he was almost at the top, his legs started feeling heavy, and his mouth felt dry. Koby felt like drinking the water from the jug, but he knew he had to use it wisely. He could see the top, not far, but it felt like miles away. Paused, took a deep breath, 'no, I should not stop,' thought Koby. From out of nowhere, some sort of energy filled Koby's body. He had no choice put to get the book back.

There was a cavity on the mountain, it looked small from where Koby was standing. As he approached Koby noticed it was a not just a small hole on the wall, it was a cave. That was it. Cio's cave. Koby saw a small light emerging from the cave, as he approached he saw a shadow. It was Cio, sitting by a bonfire. He was roasting what looked like a small chicken. 'I must be careful,' thought Koby. He stepped into the cave. The smell was not pleasant. It smelled of burned charcoal. Koby found a sharp rock on the floor, then picked it up. As a weapon. Koby sneaked behind Cio, step by step, without making a noise, then held the sharp rock about Cio's head. "Would you hurt an old man?" Asked Cio. Koby's hand shook as he held the rock, "give me my book back." The old man stood up and walked towards the wall where he hung lots of utensils and grabbed something that looked like a fork, then went back to the fire and sat down. Koby kept aiming the the sharp rock at the old man. "Where is my book?" Cio ignored Koby's words, kept eating out of the small chicken, "mmm, this is good, want some." "No." Replied Koby, "I just want my book back." Cio chuckled, "kid, this book belongs to me." "No, it does it." Cio stood up and went to the opposite wall. There, he opened a small cabinet and took out the book. "I have flipped those pages, thousands of times, here." he handed the book to Koby. "Open any page and tell me the symbol at the bottom." Koby hesitated, He threw the rock away and took the book from the old man. He opened it and saw a small drawing of what looked like a plant leaf . "It is a leaf." Said Koby. "Ah, that's the page with the picture of a big bird." Koby looked at the book then at Cio. "Am I right?" Coby nodded. "Why did you took the book from me?" Asked Koby. "It was all rigged." Koby did not reply, then he remembered, 'the pouch'. Coby reached and pulled the small pouch out of his pocket, "Here." Cio took the small pouch, opened it, then laughed. "Your grandma told me you were really interested in the book. So we had to find a way for you to find this cave." "This is not your cave?" Cio shook his head, "this cave belonged to the man who wrote that book you are holding." "Where is he now?" "Nobody knows, some say he died, some say he is hiding in a cave like this one." Koby kept looking at the book, "do you know how to read the book?" "No, my dad told me there was a way to read it, a small object that would help translate the book." There was a moment of silence. "...I think you should go home kid, your parents must be looking for you." Koby looked around, "what if that object is here?" "Trust me kid, I have searched for that 'object' all over. Don't even know what it looks like." The old man went and sat by the fire again, and started meditating, "You must go kid." Koby was about to place the book next to Cio. "Take it." Said Cio. Koby obeyed then climbed down the hill.

+++

Mom was sitting at the table, crying, Grandma stood next to her. "He will be back--" "This is your fault!" Said Mom to Grandma. Grandma did not reply, felt guilty because Koby was missing. Mom kept crying. Someone stepped into the house. It was Koby. "Koby!" Mom went and hugged him, "Where were you? We were worried." "Im sorry mom." "Please don't do that again." "I am sorry." Mom saw that Koby had the book, "give me that." No, Mom, please." Koby grasped the book tight, "No." "I think you should let him keep it, otherwise he is going to run away." Said Grandma, then winked at Koby. Mom agreed. Mom took Koby to the chamber and told him to cleanse with the leaves. After that Mom kissed Koby, "I am glad you are back, son." Koby went and grabbed his mat and cover and placed them by his corner, it was a long day. He was disappointed, he had found the book, but he also found out that is was an ineligible book. Koby went and laid on the mat when he felt something poke his upper back. It was the toy car that that dad had given him, 'Useless,' he thought, 'It is broken.' Kobe was about to throw the small toy car when he saw something. Something was shining from inside the small car, then the book started shinning as well. "Koby!" Mom walked into the room, the shinning went off. "Did you start a fire?" Koby shook his head. "Mmm." Grunted Mom, she was not convinced then kissed Koby, "go to sleep." "I will, Mom." Koby waited for Mom to leave, then went and placed the small car near the book. The room was fully illuminated.