So little remained where much had once been. A mound, hidden within a wall behind a modest marketplace; the last of the Village of Lyramph. Few knew of this collection of rock-even fewer understood its magic. None that frequented the market could fathom what occurred everyday, precisely at 3:07 in the afternoon. It would seem impossible to those who would not ever know its sight firsthand; how could a single ray of sunlight target a specific point on the rock mound with such consistency? Whether it be the cloudiest day of the year or not. Light always found a way through.
Jasooko had been up early. Thanks to his mother. She only feigned wanting his company. At least that much was in his favor. Getting away would be relatively easy, but he still had to be sly. Just because his presence was only worth the words spoken didn’t mean that the lie wasn’t being perpetuated and defended. He just needed a distraction and an easy way to separate himself before his mother managed to chain him to her leg.
Finding a pocket of people to merge into wasn’t hard; one was approaching now. A deep breathe and into the mass of people he went, his warden was busy eyeing some emerald necklaces handmade by the nuns who operated a small convent up the hill. Jasooko followed the mass until it reached the edge of the marketplace, at that point the mob had served its purpose. He left the strangers as he found them. Unaware of his existence.
He strolled around behind the concrete structure which housed offices belonging to those that oversaw the marketplaces operations. A beige building that blending in well with the mountains nearby. Hands in his pocket, ears tuned into all of the ambient noise he moved as far from sight as he could get-what he should have been doing was paying better attention to his untied shoelace. Whatever he did, it couldn’t draw any attention. He tried not to look over his shoulder. Not too often at least.
A gong, full of enough life to travel over ten miles in all directions, rang out from the town hall just up Market Street. One day Jasooko would have that honor. He’d have to become a man first though-he wasn’t in any hurry.
It was quiet back here, peaceful. Perfect. Little observable danger present, a quick glance over the shoulder confirmed that. Perhaps it would be wise not to let his guard down though, he wasn’t naïve like his little sister. How shameful that she still believed in the fairy king Neeulic. A story told from one generation to the next of an extinct group of creatures that once covered the land. Surely by six and a half one should be smart enough to understand the impossibility of such a creature.
Weary feet began to dictate the soon to be a man’s actions. No one would mind if he took a seat-no one was there to mind. It was just after 3:05 in the afternoon. By now he would have been caught had there been any chance of such a thing. Confidently Jasooko made his move. A collection of rocks, perhaps from an old city wall, had enough shape and design that one could certainly find comfort. Certainly the surface would be a bit more solid than preferred, but it was a surface he could sit on with relative ease. The rocks were cool yet he could feel a heat radiating from within. Quite uncomfortable.
Without warning his seat lit up as if there had been an eight hundred watt light bulb inside. An odd heat sensation on his butt forced him to take a few steps away from where he was trying to get comfortable. Too hot, in fact, to endure. Shocked and confused he stumbled. Fell. Should have paid more attention to his shoelace. Too late now.
No one was going to find him; not the thing to realize while your head is slamming against a mass as solid and as unforgiving as concrete. Even in broken form, his brain was no match for the surface. A moment before impact, proof his brain was mush, or at least soon to be. He saw it. Right where he had been seated, a small life form now stood, staring. It was a little unnerving, but it wouldn’t last long. Jasooko was unconscious upon final contact with the ground below.
When he awoke in the hospital nothing had ever surprised him more. Little memory of the preceding morning remained. The bowling alley actively operating inside his skull ensured that. There was something odd, a change that would carry with him for some time to come. He would never give a reason why, but Jasooko never picked on his sister for believing in king Neeulic. Not even late into their elderly years would he share why he was so adamant that she never forget. Never stop believing in the lost village.