Sure,the village people had different characteristics like some have tails,some have fur,some have long ears and fangs,some had sharp claws but it didn't matter to me. I didn't care what or who they were.
This was like a skill I had learnt over time. The ability to ignore certain aspects of reality as long as we share a common interest. To me,that interest is storytelling.
It was simple. I would just stay there around them. Just close enough to hear them speak.They gathered into separate small circles. Each one would take turns speaking out loud to the rest of the group finishing the story parts.
As I got close to one of them,they started.
"God loves the world. In the beginning he created rules that his people would abide by. These rules would come to be known as Laws of the World. "
"God loves the world. After he created the rules,he created the various lands we have today. He mixed them together and yet they did not affect the others. They were in harmony."
"God loves the world. After he created the various lands,he created us. From those with horns and tails on the ground to those with halos and wings in the sky. They all had different faces and skins but he saw them all beautiful. He split them into their own land to live and enjoy."
"God loves the world. After he created the various man,he created the things without form but purpose. They were intangible and could many things. These were the skills."
"God loves the world. After he created skills,he gave his creation something that it would run on. They were also without form like the many things in the world. Their purpose wasn't fixed but was given purpose depending on how it is utilised. It run through all forms of creation; living and non living,tangible and intangible,seen and unseen. These were what we call mana."
"Although different accounts exist from different origins,this was the most known one. This is the story of the One above coming down below to start all of life as we know it."
"Where is he now? We don't know. Maybe he decided to rest and watch as from above. Maybe he run out of power from all the creation and died. We simply don't know what happened. We only know followed after."
Various people kept telling different stories. Food on one hand and drinks on the other,they spent almost the whole night talking of the one thing that made them happy.
After the people finish their stories,they burn away the remaining food they had and looking up to the rising ashes,they form a big circle and they fold their hands together,to pray for their various need for the day.
"Well this is new. I never knew that even in this world,there was still a God to be worshipped to by people. I guess some things never really change much no matter where you end up to.
"People,no matter where they are from,end up wanting something different and hard to reach when life starts looking griem. This desire led to what is called religion. People of different origins coming together because they share a similar belief."
"This desire can born from many things. But if there is one in particular,it'd be despair. The desperate want for a dream to come true pushes people to hive themselves over to a power bigger than their own,I hopes that the power will accomplish all of their dreams for them."
At first glance,I thought that they were just empty but as it turns out,as well as the vast majority of people,they still have things to wish for to the point of praying everyday to someone. At least they still had a wish they wanted it to come true.
.....
The next day,however,things did not unfold as usual to their dull everyday life. From this point on was when their lives would take turns for the better or for the worst.
The sun was blazing. Everyone was gathered by their so called leader,who was the only one given something that could at least be used as a name,to address a precedented issue.
Although his figure was shrouded in light from the sun,everyone looked forward. His tone,calm and composed,as he cleared his throat readying to announce the issue.
He then spoke up.
"Everyone listen up because I'm only going to say this once. Our time has come. The soldiers of the neighbouring kingdom of Elasta will be stationed at the borders of the forest. They said that they'll give us half a day to arrive there," he then added,"we've been given a lot of time to enjoy this peace and quiet and now it is time to go back."
Everyone was quiet. They looked forward still,trembling slightly as they tried to stay calm.
I slowly looked around. I don't know why but I felt that this was something that deserved even a bit of reaction,like a shocked expression,but the same as usual they stood there with nothing but an expressionless face.
"It's almost like they knew about it beforehand considering their lack of shock,and had come to terms with it."
"Really! Even after hearing what I could only guess was an important announcement that obviously involved the whole village,they still didn't show anything"
The leader then continued his announcement.
"We will be departing in exactly a month's time from now so I expect everyone to have prepared themselves beforehand."
As he turned around to leave,as if remembering something,he looked back at the crowd and pointed at me saying," Hey newcomer! Don't forget to leave before they find out. We don't want a reason for them to kill us because we had an extra on board. They'll come in one month's time so you better leave beforehand."
With that,without question,everyone dispersed and returned to their daily lives.