6| Waters of Wisdom

As Eryndor traversed the lush green landscape, the gentle rustle of leaves and the soft gurgle of the river Kunhar accompanying him, he chanced upon a breathtaking sight- a sight of an eye sore. A grove of sturdy oaks, their long branches intertwined, stretched towards the sky, beckoning him to rest awhile.

The village of Nestle, with its lush green fields and vigilant farmers, lay nestled within the embrace of the oaks, like a bird in its nest. The name seemed fitting, as if the village had grown organically from the land itself.

The farmers' industrious clatter and preoccupation and the sweet songs of birds filled the air with mystic touch, while the mesmerizing tickle of the waterwheel provided a soothing background symphony. Eryndor felt a deep sense of tranquility wash over him, a stark contrast to the rugged terrain he had traversed thus so far.

As Eryndor entered the silent village, he was met with a sea of appalled faces, their expressions shockingly hostile. He hadn't expected such a cold reception in the crowd. The villagers were quiet, their eyes fixed on him with a mix of fear and suspicion that he couldn't understand at first. Nobody dared to approach him, let alone speak. He ignored their gaze and headed towards the center of the village, his horse's hooves echoing through the stillness. Above, his eagle Aether flew overhead, screaming in alarm, as if sensing the tension in the air.

As he dismounted to refresh himself and his horse, the villagers struggled to place the stranger. His suspicious appearance sparked whispers, but he paid them no mind evasively. However, his attention was soon riveted on the two unchained big lions before him. Panic set in as he realized his horse had bolted, leaving him stranded.

"What's going on, Aether?" he blurted out, looking up at his eagle, which was still flying overhead. Frozen in shock, Eryndor wondered what to do next. "Should I run?" he thought savagely, but his legs wouldn't budge. The lions began to gesture, as if beckoning him towards some unknown destination. Eryndor was transfixed, unsure how to react.

After a few minutes of winding through walking, Eryndor entered a thick grove of Babylon trees, where a massive, ancient tree towered above the rest. This was the heart of the village, a sacred tree revered by the locals.

The area around it was immaculately clean and well-maintained. He didn't expect it at all. A narrow path led him to a grand building behind the sacred tree.

As he approached, the lions roared and lay down, as if instructing him to kneel down. Eryndor complied humbly, and shortly, a woman in her forties emerged from the grand building, flanked by six sturdy guards. The lions stood waiting for her command.

With a single word, 'move', spoken in her high-pitched voice, the lions departed, roaring as they left. "Is this real or am I dreaming, Aether?" Eryndor whispered to his eagle, which was still flying overhead. The woman's gaze narrowed slightly at the mention of the eagle's name.

"What's your name, gentleman?" she asked curtly.

"Eryndor Maxwell," he replied.

"What brings you here?" she asked, her tone sceptical.

"Just passing by, looking for some food and water," Eryndor said, trying to sound nonchalant.

The woman raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I see," she reacted curtly, clearly not believing his explanation. Eryndor sensed her scepticism and added, "I'm a traveller, passionate about photography and hunting. I'm just passing through, looking for resources."

The woman's eyes narrowed, suspicion etched on her face. She thought Eryndor was a spy, sent to gather intel before some nefarious invasion. Now, he had to prove his innocence to the village head, who supervised every aspect of the village with an iron fist.

Eryndor tried hard to convince her that he was merely a traveller, with no allegiance to any rival group or political party or anything else.

The woman's gaze remained sceptical, so Eryndor offered to answer any questions she had, determined to satisfy her doubts. After a series of probing questions, her reservations finally began to fade. Then, she presented him with a series of general knowledge questions, which Eryndor answered with ease:

"Why do the seasons change every year?" she asked, her eyes searching for any hint of deception.

"Due to the Earth's tilt and orbit around the Sun," Eryndor replied confidently.

"What are the primary colours?" she asked next.

"Red, blue, and yellow," he responded promptly.

The questioning continued, with Eryndor answering each question correctly:

"What is the speed of light?"

"Approximately 299,792 kilometers per second."

"Why is sea water salty?"

"Due to the high concentration of dissolved salts and minerals."

"What are the primary numbers?"

"2, 3, 5, and 7," he replied, his confidence growing with each correct answer.

As Eryndor finished answering the questions, the woman's expression transformed from scepticism to satisfaction. Her doubts had been assuaged and relieved, and she finally believed Eryndor's story. She welcomed him warmly, and later, Eryndor learned about the village's struggles against tycoon builders who wanted to construct a residential colony nearby.

The project would not only destroy the village but also harm the natural environment and threaten a massive, ancient tree that was a part of their heritage culture, standing tall for thousands of years.

The builders sought to occupy a large portion of the village to expand their project, but the villagers' resistance had halted their progress so far. Despite their efforts, the builders couldn't overcome the villagers' determination to protect their land. However, the villagers were aware that the builders wouldn't give up easily, and the people of Nestle lacked the resources to overcome the obstacles ahead.

That's why the lady was initially cautious when Eryndor arrived, unsure if he was a spy sent by the builders to college information, prior to invasion. But now, with her doubts dispelled, she was willing to trust Eryndor and even sought his help in their struggle against the builders.

Eryndor, intrigued by the village's plight, was willing to lend a hand, and together, they began to devise a plan to protect the village and its ancient heritage. Eryndor got all the necessary information and evaluated the outskirts of the village.

The lady, Kaira Nexus had already mobilized the villagers to resist the builders' plans and had even trained some volunteers to defend their land at any cost. When Eryndor learned about their struggles, he offered to help them. After some discussion, he proposed a plan to dig a link canal to irrigate their fields, which would render the builders' plans useless.

The villagers were initially sceptical, citing the enormous labour required for such a project. However, Eryndor convinced them, "Your collective effort will make it possible."

The villagers began to weigh the pros and cons of the project, and some were assigned to arrange the necessary equipment. They chalked out the layout of the plan and started digging the link canal, about 100 feet wide, starting from the main canal, which would flow through their fields, providing irrigation and thwarting the builders' plans.

By using their own land, they would avoid any legal hurdles, and the canal would serve as a barrier, protecting their village from the builders' encroachment initially.

Initially, they divided the labour work into two teams: one starting from the mouth of the main river and the other from the village's side. Under Eryndor's guidance, the villagers worked tirelessly, digging the canal day in and day out. As the canal began to take shape, the builders' plans were foiled, and the villagers' hard work paid off in the long run.

The work was being executed under the supervision of Eryndor. All the villagers were very enthusiastic and participated in the work simultaneously. The work remained in process day in and day out. New and fresh teams of labourers joined and took some rest alternatively. The builders also came to know about the movement, but they couldn't help watching them helplessly because the whole part of the link canal was the property of the victimized villagers.

As the canal neared completion, the villagers prepared for their annual festival, a joyous celebration of their heritage and the ancient tree, Babylon. Every year they gathered and made special prayers under the tree for the well wishes of their life. The special night arrived, and the villagers gathered, dressed in their finest attire, with homemade dishes to share. They danced and sang songs for the whole night.

Kaira Nexus took extra care in dressing up for the festival, her hands lingering on the intricate embroidery of her colourful attire. As she adorned herself with delicate ornaments, a flutter in her chest surprised her. She caught herself wondering what Eryndor would think if he saw her like this.

As Kaira wove through the village, her gaze drifted towards Eryndor unconsciously, their eyes meeting in a fleeting moment of connection. The spark within her, long dormant, flickered to life. She felt an unfamiliar lightness in her step, as if the weight of her responsibilities had temporarily lifted.

Kaira's hands, once solely devoted to village affairs, now began to weave a different kind of pattern - one of possibilities and promises. She started knitting a plan, her mind whispering tantalizing what-ifs about a future with Eryndor.

Finally, with every dawn and every shovel full of dirt, they were one step closer to securing their land and ensuring a sustainable future for their agriculture. The work remained in progress without any break, only the shift of teams of labourers worked wonders.

It took a hectic month or so to complete this arduous task. Villagers cheered and wept with unrestrained joy. Their faces lit up as they surveyed their hard handiwork. 'We did it!' someone exclaimed, pumping their fist in the air.

Everybody erupted in cheers and hugs, their exhaustion forgotten in the face of their triumph. The powerful torrents of water made everybody overjoyed when it passed by their fields. After weeks of backbreaking work, the canal was completed, and the villagers celebrated their victory with joy and gratitude.

They also thanked Eryndor for his ingenuity and in time support, which had made their triumph possible. Everybody was so jubilant.

Kaira was torn by expectations, unsure how to express her feelings to Eryndor and open her heart. But before she could muster up the courage, Eryndor declared his departure, leaving everyone stunned.

In the midst of their joy and celebration, they had forgotten that he would eventually leave. Kaira was overcome with sadness, her heart heavy with grief. Eryndor's departure left a void in their lives, but also a sense of satisfaction, knowing they had achieved their goal thanks to his guidance :"You're our inspiration!"