Msafiri/Story: Difference between revisions

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|s3_title = Special Coming-of-Age Gift

|s3_reward = 300

|s3_text =

|s3_text =On the 364th day of his fourteenth year, Msafiri became a “runaway” on the eve of his adulthood.

|s4_title =

He still remembered that phone call from Driftingale Travel Agency years ago, which wasn’t meant for him, but still…

It quietly planted the seed of a dream that hot summer afternoon, one of measuring every planet and every islet with his own eyes, ears, and feet. And where better to start than the very place he called home?

Msafiri chose the perfect day to set out, with the intention of making his very own special coming-of-age gift.

However, trials were afoot for these nascent dreams and their dreamer. And just like that, Msafiri lost his way.

The lack of experience and days of roughing it in the wilderness had taught Msafiri harsh lessons. He’d never felt this challenged back when he hunted with his parents and little brother. Only now did he realize that he wasn’t quite the skilled hunter he thought himself to be out here on the plains, let alone finding directions, plotting routes, or setting up camp… All that condensed theory and knowledge in textbooks proved painfully shallow when the time came for him to apply them.

But the scorching sun had no sympathy for those beneath its rays. Msafiri huddled in a patch of tree shade, too hungry to find rest.

He took out his notebook and began scribbling down everything he’d seen in the past few days.

Unbeknownst to him, the note he’d left under a cup before leaving had been whisked away by the wind. After fruitless searches around the territory, his friends and family, who were all there for his coming-of-age ceremony, soon mobilized to track down the rebellious young Msafiri. As night fell and the air cooled down, Msafiri set out once more to find proper sustenance. He wouldn’t allow himself to share meals with the vultures again.

As Msafiri twitched his ears and shook his head, trying to shake off unpleasant memories from yesterday, he heard the sound of flowing water from ahead.

Perhaps he could try his luck at catching fish? In the worst case, he could still drink his fill – Now was hardly the time to be concerned over catching a cold from getting wet.

His empty stomach had been growling all the way, and had there been any fish in the water, they’d all be startled and scattered by now.

Msafiri rested near the bank and peered closely at the water’s surface. Under the silvery moon, a small patch of odd scale patterns appeared before him. It almost looked like… a map?

It was the Guide Fish! The mythical fish that bore a map on their scales. It would guide the seeker toward treasure, which was determined by what the seeker desired most in the moment.

Suddenly, the hunger in his stomach dissolved, and all Msafiri wanted was to go home. The fish swam cheerfully in the water and responded to his wish by guiding the lost boy back home.

Finally, after passing three river forks, Msafiri spotted several worried figures in the distance. Thank goodness the legend of the Guide Fish holds true, he thought and collapsed from exhaustion before he could crack a smile. The last thing he heard might have been the sound of a fish leaping out of water, but for the first time in his life, Msafiri dismissed it as a mere hallucination of his keen, reliable ears.

The coming-of-age celebration finally commenced, and Msafiri received gifts from the Driftingale Travel Agency – a backpack full of travel supplies and a half-written road journal.

Someone still remembered that little boy who rushed to answer the phone call, it seemed.

Though Msafiri wondered… why did the fish soup at the bonfire party that night taste a bit too salty?

|s4_title = A Long, Long Time Ago

|s4_reward = 400

|s4_text =

|s4_text = It was an evening ten years ago.

"One, two, three..."

"One, two, three, four, five..."

Young Msafiri, who had just learned to count, was squatting on the ground and enthusiastically tracing the geometric patterns his mother had drawn around their camp. Three points, in groups of five — he shared the pattern he discovered with his little brother, who was still too young to speak. His brother tilted his head and twitched his ears, listening intently even if he didn't understand a word.

The tantalizing smell of roasted meat from the campfire teased young Msafiri's nose, and his empty stomach growled shamelessly in protest. ''Nope, no food until I learn this!'' he silently vowed.

...

Msafiri twitched his ears and wrinkled his nose as the memories came. The wild winds indiscriminately assaulted all in its path, chilling travelers to the bone. It had been three days and three nights, and Msafiri still hadn't tracked down any prey. The memories of roasted meat could no longer make him salivate. Forget about exploring the planet under these conditions — it was much more likely for him to end up a desiccated corpse and become one with this wilderness.

Msafiri could draw beautiful and elegant geometric patterns by hand now, but the question of his survival hung by a thread.

Could those patterns truly evoke ancient protection...? Msafiri wondered as he found a branch that could barely support his rest. He stared into the seemingly unchanging starry night and recalled another memory.

It was another day, ten years ago.

After finishing the night patrol, young Msafiri sneaked behind the tent again and, imitating his mother, picked up a stone and scratched a few wobbly triangles on the ground. His attempts almost seemed pitiful when compared to his mother's refined string of shapes, and that made him curious as to how exactly she managed to draw such straight lines.

As he carefully traced those lines with his stone, he caught a sudden "thud" from behind — his toddler brother had fallen. With a body that reacted faster than his mind, young Msafiri turned and rushed to scoop up his brother, not realizing that the beautiful triangles had been cut in half by a long, grave scratch.

"HISS!"

Caught in the moment, young Msafiri couldn't tell if his father was angry or simply concerned. Maybe it was his loud hisses, or maybe it was the hypnotic dance of the campfire... either way, Msafiri couldn't remember what exactly happened after. He vaguely recalled his mother telling him a story while pointing at the stars in the sky. A story about those geometric patterns.

Perhaps it was time to visit home after this expedition? It had been long since he last went back. But for now, Msafiri felt his eyelids grow heavy, and allowed the night to gently shut his eyes. Just a brief nap... a micro-nap that won't do any harm, he comforted himself. Frost began to form on top of his lashes as they quivered in the wind, but the bonfire in his dreams was simply so warm that he didn't want to wake up.

"Once upon a time, a long, long time ago..."

He could hear his mother's gentle voice again, but it jolted him awake instead.

Reflected in his bright pupils, several stars in the dark sky formed the shape he knew by heart and blinked to a pulse, as if responding to some query.

The stars were silent, but Msafiri felt as though he was under the watch of tender eyes. Beautiful memories weren't meant to be traps on his unwritten journey. They should be the strength that keeps him moving forward.

Msafiri finally climbed down the tree. ''This is not the end yet'', he thought to himself. And to his delight, another passing wind brought him the scent of prey.

}}