Axiom ~ 11!

~ Eleven ~

Ideas bloomed in the sproutling’s thoughts. The plan was straightforward: make it to the cave, get the secrets, get home before morning meals. The old man just watched them with a pleasant joy as they put things together. He’d given them pieces of the puzzle, and even without being exceptionally prompted he could tell they were solving the conundrum. They had wants just like any of the adults, using those to teach them sharp thinking was just good sense.

“Can we make it?” The oldest boy asked as he stole a look at the deep water. It looked awful dark even as the first rays of sunlight struck it. 

The old man nodded with certainty. “You lot? Certainly. Myself? Maybe a few more times before I can’t hold my breath long enough.”

Their Elder did some stretches. “Here’s what happens. Once you’re deep enough, the water is going to pull you. Specifically, it’s going to pull you down, and you’re going to get caught in a force of water that feels like you’re falling sideways. That stream spits you out into a cave. You’re going to feel like you’re going down, then up, then you’re going to hit the ground while water is rushing past you in a hurry. Steady yourself there. If you go further, you’re back in the stream and It will spit you back out over there.” 

He pointed further to the next hill, the salt stream cutting that one in half as well. “It’s only a tiny bank of space you’ll have to move on. A wall to the left, crawlspace to the right. Crawl to the light, and you’ll be in the cave.” 

A detail came to mind that he swiftly threw in. “Oh, don’t eat the stuff that glows. Tried that. Couldn’t tell what was real for a week. Do not recommend.” 

His voice trailed off and waited for follow up questions. The mousy voice called, “So... we just hold our breath?” 

“Just hold your breath. There’s no swimming against that current once you’re that deep, so take a big one and keep your hands over your mouth once you lose your swimming direction. I would say it takes about… hmm. Maybe half a minute? To…” 

He’d lost them. They had no idea what a minute was. “This long, I’ll count in seconds.” 

He raised both his palms and moved his fingers one at a time, until he’d moved every digit on both his hands three times. “Twenty to twenty-five fingers is normal, twenty if the pull is fast. However, so you’re not surprised in the future, I’ve known it to take thirty. Thirty seconds is half a minute. A ‘finger’ if referenced directly is one minute, and a ‘hand’ is five minutes; because that’s how many fingers you have.” 

The younger ones were afraid, but couldn’t stop the older ones who had eyes full of lust for adventure. The Elder noted their hesitation. “I’ll go first. Ditch your robe, just go in your pants. Extra cloth and weight really doesn’t help.” 

He motioned at a spot near the pail for all the things to be dumped, and dove right on into the darkness with a splash. The children could see him swim straight down for the first few lengths of a person, and then with a sudden movement, the Elder was pulled to the side and vanished into the black. 

The youngest girl shuddered, and was about to voice her concern as the oldest boy loudly plunged into the depths. Her words didn’t ever reach her tongue as the oldest girl followed the Elder. She turned in borderline panic to the younger boy, but he was filled with determination and taking deep, steadied breaths. He swallowed a big one and joined the other three. Now she was alone with the mousy boy. 

“Maybe we… should not… ” She almost whimpered the words as daring teeth were flashed back at her in a sizable grin. Oh no. He was going to go as well. No, she didn’t want to be alone. The mousy boy took her hand and squeezed it. 

“Together?” His expression one of confidence and excited wonder. Her hesitant hand squeezed in return. Fear melted away as something akin to butterflies in her stomach bloomed. She wasn’t so afraid if she wasn’t alone. 

“Y… yes. Together.” In unison they began taking deep breaths, and with a jump, they were gone in the stream as they swam to follow. The first gasp of air the youngest girl heaved as she broke the cavern’s surface was met by a strong grip on her arm. It pulled her to safety as she sputtered. Hearing another set of gasps right behind her, she saw the boy too was snatched to safety. Holding their breath had been mostly successful, but at least two of them were hacking up watery coughs. 

Support was ready for them. After a solid few breaths in the dim dark, they began crawling in the perhaps two foot and a half tall space in clear direction of some faint light. Once inside what looked to be a tall dome, they all pushed their backs to the wall. Breathing deep and looking to one another with proud smiles. They’d all made it. Every last one of them. A round of chuckles went around the circle as the Elder managed a few words. “I would like to welcome you all to my little secret place.” 

The Elder raised his hands, motioning at the luminous domed space. “It’s safe to touch that odd glowing moss. But again, don’t eat it.” 

Another series of half-laugh and chuckles did the rounds in memoriam to the courage it had taken to get here. The euphoria cut to pure silence as the Elder declared five names. “Lunella, Grimaldus, Tychus, Wuxius, and Astrea.” 

Everyone fell silent when the dome began to shudder, worriedly looking all around them as the walls thrummed and tremored. After what sounded like the thudding hooves of a stampeding herd passed above, the dome fell quiet. 

“Well.” The Elder’s voice rose with apprehension. “It doesn’t seem like the sky is falling on our heads. I’d say we’re clear.” 

The oldest girl snapped her head sharply at the flouting Elder as he’d spoken with such nonchalance. Her emerald eyes stabbed him with greater force than her words, but that’s one of the traits that made her such a delight. “You said all of that and just hoped the Fringe was going to let you get away with it?” 

“Yes, Lunella. I just believed.” He sounded certain. In reality he’d absolutely rolled the dice on that one and would never tell them so. 

The previously tense and miffed girl gasped as her hands went over her mouth. Was that her name? She adored it, and was now trying to keep it together as her swiftly overwhelming emotions bubbled and fluttered. She hadn’t expected to actually get a name for several seasons. This had been her gamble, and it paid off wonderfully! 

The old man crossed his legs and swatted at wet pants; blasted cloth always got unpleasantly cold when he lingered here long. He’d bear with it. Pressing back against the wall, he saw her heartfelt reaction and extended his warmth with a delighted expression. “Do you like it?” 

Lunella nodded through her crushing emotions, it was beautiful. The mousy boy chirped up and nodded as well, but was thinking about something else with some concern. 

“They all sound so strong. Does… does the Fringe have enough room for that many strong names?” 

The Elder *humph's* at the notion, arms crossing. “The Fringe can come complain if its dissatisfied at this point.” 

The retaliatory look in his eyes softened as it fell back on the poorly illuminated children. “I won’t be around for many more seasons. I have many fond memories of this village. It has some great places and sights, but they’re not what I love about it. The biggest secret I have, is that what I love the most is all of you.”

The kids felt fuzzy at the mention. “The joy you bring this old man with your clever little tricks and energetic playing around, is a life of fulfillment I cannot describe. Watching you all grow has kept my heart beating. I might be a touch lazy, but waking up to find what trouble you’re going to get into that day is a hoot. Your lives are what gave this old man the will to keep seeing just one more day.” 

He rubbed the sides of his arms to warm up a touch. “So I thought and I thought. If I was going to give the few minds who I treasure most in this world anything, it was going to be the best names I could grant. The lengths I wouldn’t go to see you all healthy, safe, and in good spirits...” He paused to let out another rebellious *Hmmpf*!

“Oh, the heavens would have to descend to rob me of my last breath before I would stop trying!” His hand softly laid on the head of the mousy boy next to him. 

“Yes, Tychus. Your names are strong. They are filled with a purpose for you to choose, and a depth of meaning that will likely take your entire life to uncover. With your names, I’ve granted you something special. Something only the five of you have in the Fringe. A reason to live that you can choose. That’s all I want you to do when I pass. Just live the way you want.” 

Tychus went wide-eyed. That had been the toughest sounding name! Why did he get it? He was small and unblossomed, an absolute acorn. 

“Tychus?” He tasted the name. 

“That’s you,” The Elder affirmed with a pat on his head, “and Astrea is next to you.” 

Tychus tensed as the girl next to him needed immediate support. Having been holding his hand this whole time, Astrea was firmly crushing his grip; equally unable to keep her emotions in check. For her, this was less because it was a social implication, and more because she now felt solidly included. The weight of the designation pressed invisible on her sternum, and the pressure made a cool shiver crackle over her skin. She was going to get through it. They were all here together, and that meant the world to her. Having Tychus’ hand to crush admittedly also helped with coping a little. 

The oldest and youngest boy were nervously exchanging glances. Voices trapped in their throats. The Elder motioned at the youngest first to dismiss their uncertainty. “Grimaldus.” 

Then the oldest. “Wuxius.”

“Do you like them?” The boys still had no words as the Elder returned palms to his knees, an eyebrow raising. The old man honestly wasn’t sure. They weren't making a sound, and that made it terribly difficult for him to get any details. 

“They love it.” Lunella replied as she was wiping wet cheeks with the back of her hand.” 

The boys then agreed in a hurry. 

“Oh, eh... Yes! I just don’t know what to say,” chirped Grimaldus.

“I just feel really heavy.” Wuxius was nodding in firm agreement as he found his voice. “I just… it’s so solid. I don’t know what it means. The name just sounds like it’s filled with more than I can get a hold of.” 

That statement was echoed by the others as well, and the Elder filled in. “Well, that’s part of the point, isn’t it? You’ll grow up with this, you’ll shape it, people will recognize your name based on what you’ve done and what you say. However, unlike a simple meaning, I’ve given you complicated ones.”

His hands drew visualizations of his words in the air. “Another secret for you. Certain things in life may look complicated, but really, they’re made from a large number of small things that are simple. Coming together, small things look like a big mess, as we’re only used to seeing the whole. When you have a good grasp of the small things, the big one will suddenly make sense too.” 

“I’ve given you this weighty, unknown thing that you’re probably not sure what is, or how to carry. However, little by little you’ll discover details that paint a bigger picture, and when you finally have all the pieces. You’ll find the truth hidden in a small hole in the ground. Surrounded by people you love.” The Elder’s voice faltered, and he cleared his throat. He tried not to dwell on how cold and hazy he was getting. The chilled Elder did the usual hand-clap to clear himself of his thoughts, and rubbed them together.

“Well I’m freezing and starting to shiver; shall we go home and go eat?” His facsimile of a smile didn’t get the expected reaction, the sproutlings had grown and were holding back sobs. 

They had been so happy about their names a few moments ago, why the somber air? He had to relent, and looked to Lunella since she was going to be the one to speak regardless. Sure enough, her tone was bleak as she asked with displeasure. “How long do you have?” 

If it hadn’t already been chilly, the old man would certainly have lost feeling in his fingers after this. They had assessed that the clock was ticking down, and he supposed it was better to give them time to come to terms with however long he had left. He maintained eye contact with Lunella and gave the dreaded knowledge with a clenched heart. “Maybe a season.” 

The kids winced and bit their tongues at this. He wasn’t sugar-coating the pain and just hit them with bleak truth. The anchor of knowing was an additional weight they didn’t want to carry, and it made them feel terrible. They didn’t want him to leave either, but that abyss-cursed serene expression on his face told them he was content with the impending end. 

Seeing them muck about had been a joy. These children were the alternate reality of a life he’d never been blessed with. What had been closest to this contentment had been ripped from him as a young adult. This world was cruel that way. Cruel and unrelenting in the wake of the eternal unknown. It was normal to fear and shy away from what you didn’t understand. He grasped this well as he found his voice. 

“I’ll begin my final lessons shortly. I suppose as a preamble, I’d like you to keep hold of this. It’s a bit of knowledge that I hold very close.” He cleared his throat again, but it throttled in significant need of some fresh air. “You’re going to make mistakes, and that’s okay. You’re going to fall, and that’s okay. Get up. You’re going to question yourself and wonder if you’re doing things right. That’s good. Keep asking! When you make a choice to go forwards, don’t waver. Only one choice is worth making, and that’s the one you should live by.” 

The Elder leaned in, hands strong on his knees, emphasis carried on the provided wisdom. “Everything is either a choice you can live with, or a choice you cannot. There is no reason to second guess, merely pour all your effort and being into the world you wish to see around you.” 

His back fell against the wall, eager to end it as he felt finished with the conversation. “I would have felt such regret if I didn’t grant your names. Though, one day you will find that the best names are the ones you’ve chosen and made for yourself. Regardless of how long I have, if you fall and stumble, I’ll come for you. I’ll always come for you.” 

With a push to the floor, he was up and ready to go. “Now let’s go get warm. All of you first.”