Sebastian,
The Mountain

TIME MOVED DIFFERENTLY ON SEBASTIAN'S ISLAND. He stood silently on the shore looking at the sea for what felt like an hour to him, but was perhaps a day or two for the rest of the world. It wasn't so much that time broke its bounds on his island home, but that time was slower in his mind. Mountains could put a minute's worth of effort into a task that takes a full day. They could blink their eyes twice, three times, and the month will have passed into a new season. For most Mountains, time was barely a factor in their minds, moving day to day free from anxieties of deadlines and rushed tasks.

     But for Sebastian, all the time in the world was not enough to answer the reeling questions in his brain. From here on the island—the only home he had ever known—the outside world beckoned. His mind stretched beyond his gaze past the mighty waves below the gray skies.

     What was it like out there?

Out there, amidst the dense forests and humid jungles. Walking upon the sand of the desert or within streams through the deep canyons. To lay your eyes on the brilliant white of snow upon the tallest peaks. And the animals! Here on the island there were flocks of gulls and crows, but how he longed to study the exotic creatures of all shapes and sizes. How he wished to hear the song of every bird in existence. And what of the sun? He couldn't remember the last time he had seen the sun. It was always an overcast of dark clouds here on his island. What did the warmth feel like?

     Lastly, but certainly not least, was the towering question mark hanging in his mind: People. Humans. Civilization.

     He wished to see their homes, towns and cities. How they travel, eat, speak, think. Sebastian had heard they were a people of all sorts of wondrous occupations—readers and teachers and learners and dreamers. A people filled with the drive to meet their aspirations.

     That's... how he felt. What would they think of him?

     Another moment of wild imaginings, then his thoughts quieted down, heart settling slowly, and he was back on the island. Back on the black sand of bare shores. There were lonely palms scattered among the beach, flanked by a tall cliffside of gray rock. The thick grass above led to the center of the island where his fellow Mountains resided.

     Unmoving. Solitary. Settled with an existence of quiet isolation. Their remote conversations were only tired remembrances of the "Days of Old." No ambition to offer for what lay ahead. This was all that Sebastian had known.

     He was a young Mountain compared to the others, with only a few centuries of life to claim as his. He recalled the early days, when the voices of the Elders were filled with vigor and joy, and the length of the island was green with pleasant breezes. His cares were light, and the world was untamed. But as the hopes of the Elders thinned, his wanderlust grew. The corners of the island could bear him no longer.

     Sebastian the Mountain scanned the horizon slowly, the two separate clusters of boulders upon his hillside shifting slightly and crumbling softly.

     His eyes.

     He breathed deeply and sighed with wonder. A mighty gust of wind emerged from the cavern in the center of the hill, breaching a tangle of brush and branches with a rustling that caused a colony of birds to retreat into the air.

     His mouth.

He stood as high as a young mountain could stand, his legs being two colossal trunks of black stone and earth. Tones of green, brown, and black spread across the length of his body, down his long arms to the jagged rocks forming his fingers. Like his fellow Mountains before him, Sebastian roamed as a titan of natural wonder, flocks of birds and mist following him wherever he went.

     Here on the shores of an island that was far from anything else, Sebastian was sure of two things. The first being that he would do anything to leave this place, anything to see the outside world. Despite any incessant scolding of the Elder Mountains, he would follow the first ocean current that carried him to anywhere but here.

     He had to.

     The second was something that he had been pondering for decades now. Her presence and beauty had surrounded him for all his years of existence. He had seen her resilience in the fiercest of storms, and witnessed her calming presence in quiet contemplation. Her strength was both harrowing and comforting, a beauty that was mesmerizing yet filled with mystery.

     Yes, Sebastian the Mountain had fallen for The Sea.

     He had questioned his feelings before, but at this moment, he was absolutely sure. In the quietest of nights, he could almost hear her soft voice carried through the wind above the surf. The crashing of waves would dissolve the words into the spray of the ocean until it was gone. The sound was intoxicating to Sebastian. Leaving this island meant that, perhaps, he could one day see her face. A conversation would ensue, and he could finally confess a century's worth of adoration.

     "What stones rattle your head, young one?" spoke a familiar, ancient voice from behind him.

     Sebastian waited, slightly startled, then shifted a bit to acknowledge his old friend. Kumatetsu had known Sebastian since his forming, and he was the only one on the island that was willing to entertain even his most far-fetched questions.

     Kumatetsu knew much about the mysteries of the world, having been adrift across the vast ocean in the Early Cycles. If there was anyone that could understand Sebastian's curiosity, it was him. Still, the thought of revealing these feelings for The Sea was nothing short of terrifying.

     Perhaps love is a notion best left unsaid, he thought. No Mountain had ever spoken of love. Camaraderie and fellowship, yes. But romance? Infatuation? These words were foreign to the island.

     Still, the waves roared on, the wind howled, and Sebastian felt it. Today would be different.

     He looked to Kumatetsu and posed the question. "Have you ever felt… love?"

     The question was met with silence, but Sebastian was sure that he had heard him. A mound of ancient stones turned and grounded slowly deep within Kumatetsu as he grumbled, then spoke, "Of course. I love my friends, my family. Everyone on this island, including you."

     Sebastian didn't respond to his deflection.

     "This is not the love you speak of, is it young one?" asked Kumatetsu.

     Above the black shore, Kumatetsu the Mountain sat completely still, arms and legs tucked into his hulking form, allowing him to blend seamlessly into the landscape. The limbs of a Mountain could only be seen in mobility, and even then, two steps could take several hours, making it quite impossible to notice them with the naked eye.

     Sebastian, though, stood tall with colossal log-like limbs protruding from the thick brush and rocks upon all his sides. A flock of birds danced in the mist hanging near his right eye. Passing ships, if any, could probably make out the humanoid form of this mass of earth staring out into the ocean. This was dangerous. Their existence could be exposed, giving life to the ancient legends and bringing untold exposure to the island. For the Mountains, this could spell out their doom.

     But young Sebastian did not care. The corners of his world were fit to burst, and if that would turn heads, then so be it. Would The Sea be curious enough to look?

     Kumatetsu took one giant step forward off the cliff side and settled calmly into the black sand next to Sebastian.

     "Tell me," said his ancient mentor.

     Silence. Then Sebastian found the words.

     "Breathtaking."

     Kumatetsu stared at the young Mountain, nodding slowly.

     "Ferocious, powerful... then calm, serene. There's no one like her. No one. She's beauty unmatched."

     His mentor followed Sebastian's gaze to the crashing waves and breathed out. 

     "Yes, she is," he agreed.

     Sebastian's longing turned to excitement at the old Mountain's understanding.

     "I've even heard her speak. I did! Her voice carried through the air. But it's a voice without a face. If only... I could..." Sebastian's voice trailed off in slight surrender to his proposition, but Kumatetsu was following every word, so he decided to finish his young friend's statement.

     "If only you could speak to her." 

     Sebastian looked at his mentor for the first time in their conversation, and the clarity of the moment made his eyes misty.

     "Yes," he breathed, almost helplessly.

Kumatetsu nodded again and looked away, breathing a sigh that made the ground shake slightly.

     "I've walked this world a thousand times over. From water to wind, and flame to crystal. I've seen civilizations rise and fall, their history turning from legend to myth altogether. Everything from the vile creatures of night to the slow crumbling of stardust. They even speak of us as part of their myths, believe it or not." He made a contemplative chewing sound with his mouth, accompanied by the grinding of wood, water, and stone. "But there are no legends of a voice from the sea."

     Sebastian's line of thought was disturbed for a moment. "So... she's not real?"

     "Perhaps," wondered Kumatetsu. "Or just elusive. You don't seem to be one for mad delusions."

     Sebastian appreciated his mentor's entertaining of the notion, but he felt quite serious about it. "Well, if we could fade into myth, she can too."

     Sebastian shifted his feet closer to the edge of the incoming tide, and Kumatetsu caught the movement at the corner of his eye.

     "You seem restless," observed the ancient Mountain.

     "I know, it's just..." said Sebastian, slightly embarrassed.

     "Can you even swim?" Kumatetsu asked.

     Sebastian couldn't help but smile at the question. Kumatetsu let out a booming laugh, and Sebastian joined in, his laughter a mixture of excitement and exasperation. His mentor had always found humorous ways to bring him crashing back to reality from whatever fantastical notion he was lost in. Their fits of laughter were lost in the crashing surf, and somewhere in the distance, thunder rang out.

     “Oh, what do I do Kumatetsu?" Sebastian pleaded.

     "I think you've already decided, young one."

     "But it's foolish, isn't it? Leaving home to find her."

     "This is love, Sebastian. Every move and every question will feel foolish. But only one person's answer will bring you peace now." Kumatetsu turned to The Sea, and the young Mountain followed his gaze.

     Sebastian let out a dreamy sigh, and his heartbeat picked up in pace once again. The anticipation of plunging into the unknown in search of the one he loved was revelatory. In all the years they knew each other, Kumatetsu had never seen him this way before. Sebastian's invigoration was infectious, and Kumatetsu would not squander such feelings now.

     "I should've known this young, wide-eyed Mountain from long ago would become such a romantic," chuckled Kumatetsu, then he grew serious. "The Elders will never approve of this."

     "You think that will stop me?" said Sebastian without hesitation.

     "I think that should concern you. This is your family Sebastian. They've known you since your forming and they only want what's best for you."

     Sebastian looked at his old friend straight in the eyes. "And what is best for me, Kumatetsu?"

     Before his mentor could answer, a giant footfall behind them shook the earth beneath their feet. Sebastian immediately realized who it was and reprimanded himself for not hearing his approach. His emotions had gotten the better of his caution.

     "What a disgraceful display," said Alrick, being sure to emphasize the condescension in his voice. Kumatetsu turned his head slightly from where he sat, muttering under his breath, "The classical wretch has found us."

     Sebastian looked down at the black sand and turned his body slowly. That was the third time this month that Alrick had caught him near the beach, and the first time he was caught standing at the shore. He knew he was in for yet another angry lecture, but certainly worse than any before it.

     Alrick loomed high above the pair of Mountains, his stone arms against his hips in a perfect posture of authority. The thicket of trees around his mouth completely covered the gaping cavity. Sebastian noticeably tensed up at the sound of him speak.

     Alrick continued, "Two Mountains amiss from their place, one standing on shore for any passing ships to see. You, little Sebastian, clearly pay no mind to the safety of our existence here."

     Sebastian's anger boiled forth slowly, his stone fingers curling tighter with every word, but he remained silent. Another crack of thunder rang from behind him, and drops of rain began to fall. Alrick kept on with the beratement.

     "And worse, you drag Kumatetsu down into your blatant mischief." He turned directly to Sebastian's mentor. "Miserable old fool. Your days of adventuring are over, so you find amusement in filling this one's head with worthless dreams."

     Sebastian looked up into Alrick's eyes, the roar of the sea behind him growing louder and louder with the coming storm.

     Today was different.

     "The last time a ship was even a speck on the horizon was over 300 years ago!" retaliated Sebastian.

     BOOM! Another terrible stomp from Alrick's giant foot.

     "Be silent!" he yelled.

     KA-ROOOM! Another crack of thunder, much closer than before, and more powerful by a hundredfold.

     It caught all their attention for a moment, before Alrick said, "We will continue this discussion back in The Valley." With that, he walked away.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Sebastian kicked up a cloud of sand and turned towards the sea. Kumatetsu shook his head and chuckled to himself. Sebastian was sure that he was about to make a cleverly snide remark about the Head Elder Mountain.

     "My apprentice, the romantic," he spoke instead, continuing to chuckle.

     Sebastian calmed down a bit and looked at him. Kumatetsu looked back and said, "You certainly didn't learn that from me."

     This brought a subtle smile upon Sebastian's face, rustling the trees around his cavernous mouth and causing a flock of birds to retreat off his hillside from the slight change of expression. Kumatetsu the Mountain rose on his legs slowly, a mighty groaning of rock and timber filling the air as he found his balance.

     "Let's see what they have to say about our 'mischief' this time." He gave Sebastian one last smile, patted his young friend's vast shoulder, and made his way up the cliff towards the center of the island. Sebastian took one last look at The Sea, hoping that somewhere beyond the lightning and rain, she looked back.

     The Valley awaited.

***

THE VALLEY, FOR ANY AVERAGE PERSON, was a day's journey on foot from one end to the other. For the sentient Mountain, about 20 steps. The rain and thunder were still sounding off in the distance, so the only moisture in The Valley was from the dewdrops that morning. The grass was gloriously green, bringing a sense of peace to a gray and stormy island. The boulders sprinkled across the landscape were but pebbles at the Mountains' feet. Here, they spent most of their days sitting in a near-oval formation, idly talking.

     And talking, and talking.

     Mountains have seen many things in the centuries of their lifetime, and by the time they were done reminiscing about ten separate events, they'd loop back to the first, interspersed with tangents and personal anecdotes—a process that Sebastian had grown completely sick of. When he had completed his forming, the other Mountains assumed he would follow suit of a peaceful life in isolation, and the stories of their past would be enough to fill his appetite of wonder. How wrong they were.

     As Sebastian gradually walked down the hill into The Valley, the Elders awaited him in a foreboding half-circle, and Kumatetsu went to join them. Alrick was in the center, Lloyd to his right, Ockht and Indreustis to his left, all watching the youngest Mountain trudge slowly over to them.

     Kumatetsu, being the oldest member, sat at the far right to complete the formation. He was clearly much more gray and entangled with brush than the others. The trees that made up the forest amongst his slope easily outnumbered everyone else's. But in counsels such as these, Kumatetsu barely held a say. The others, barely a voice, for Alrick had assumed the role of spokesperson. Thus, every counsel held for insolence or discord among the Mountains went along the lines of Alrick verbally listing one's errors, issuing a decisive punishment, and holding a meaningless vote of the other Elders that went in favor of Alrick's judgement—despite the occasional dispute from Kumatetsu. Unfortunately, his bountiful wisdom had become feeble delusions in the eyes of the others.

     Sebastian sat quietly, eyes to the floor, ready to tune out their angry scolding. He was startled when something quite different took place. Something unlike before.

     Lloyd the Mountain blinked once and said, "We've heard much about your frequent trips to the beach as of late, young Sebastian. Understandably, it has given us much cause for concern, but Alrick has insisted that we hear you speak your mind."

     Sebastian looked up in shock. “Alrick said that?"

     Alrick huffed through his nostrils and locked eyes with Sebastian. The presumptuous Head Mountain loomed higher than the rest of the counsel, even while seated, placing his eyes at a lofty inquisition above all in his presence.

     "Speak, child," he said firmly. His voice and posture made Sebastian nervous, so he exchanged glances between the ground and Lloyd, who always appeared and spoke with indifference. Lloyd the Mountain was once a great warrior, or so they say. Sebastian thought that perhaps he may still have a slight partiality for venturing to the unknown, but any hopeful thoughts were fleeting by the second.

     The other Elder Mountains stared at him blankly, so he brought his attention to Kumatetsu, whose eyes were full of encouragement. He gave a slow nod of reassurance to Sebastian, and the young Mountain pursed his rocky lips while looking down to gather his thoughts. The thunder and rain stormed on at the beach, uproarious and striking. Sebastian let the noise settle inside him.

     He declared the first words that came to his mind. "I've seen and heard The Sea..." 

     He looked up to their faces, awaiting a reaction, but still nothing. So he observed the grass, a mixture of courage and shame brewing within him, until he finished his statement with, "...and she's beautiful."

     From there, the words cascaded of their own accord in a glowing retelling of what he had told Kumatetsu on the beach. His love for The Sea, and the deep longing to meet her personally. He even spoke of his desire to see the corners of the world, being careful to leave out his dismay at the Elders' lack of curiosity.

     As he spoke, he mostly focused on Kumatetsu, whose assuring smile helped Sebastian forge on with his feelings. His occasional eye contact with Alrick and the Elders was met with furrowed eyebrows or blank expressions. Eventually, it didn't bother him. 

     Once he finished, Kumatetsu nodded once more with pride at Sebastian's fearless account. Ockht and Indreustis glanced at one another, not quite knowing what to say. Lloyd still wore his blank expression of indifference. He finally cleared his throat after what felt like an eternity of silence, and said, "I see," then turned to Alrick.

     Alrick let the silence sink in, then stood up and spoke. "It is as I've said to this Council before. This one—,” he gestured towards Sebastian, “—is worse than we thought."

     Sebastian's expression of hope dropped instantly in utter disbelief. He stared at the Elders in exasperation as they all—save Kumatetsu—slowly nodded in agreement. Another crack of thunder roared from the distance.

     "His curiosity and wanderlust," continued Alrick, "has gotten to the point of no return. It's only a matter of time until his next move will spell our doom."

     "My next move? Honestly!" exclaimed Sebastian. "I've only been as far as the sand twice now!"

     "But you're only one day away from stepping into that water and off this island for good, aren't you?" accused Alrick, the rage growing in his eyes. "And what then when the humans catch sight of you, giving chase until you're captured and forced to tell of where you came from? Did you ever think once of what that would do for us? For your family?!"

     Sebastian sank back, his eyebrows furrowing as he struggled with how to answer. He didn't want to bring harm to Kumatetsu nor anyone else.

     "And this love for The Sea? Utter foolishness! Do you not know that many have claimed to have heard her so-called 'voice,' but have never proven her sentience? These are only mere fantasies fueled by loneliness and desire, with no place in reality."

     Sebastian sat defeated, Alrick's words stinging deep within him. His heartfelt confession was met with cold dejection from the Elders. Kumatetsu looked upon his apprentice—his friend—with eyes of compassion, and pleaded, "My fellow Mountains, before punishment is passed, reconsider your standing. What he feels is only natu—"

     "YOU WILL BE SILENT!" yelled Alrick as another boom of thunder rang out. "You continue to feed this young Mountain's head with dreams without considering the consequences for our kind. Careless oaf!"

     "Silence your wretched tongue," snapped back Kumatetsu, and turned to Lloyd. "Please, my friend, give him a chance."

     Lloyd shook his head. "It's... for his own good, and the good of our home."

     Kumatetsu's face darkened and said, "This is no home anymore." Lloyd considered these words silently for a moment, then looked away. The rain and thunder grew louder and louder still, yet no drops had reached The Valley. Sebastian was desperate to say something to Kumatetsu, but Alrick spoke up once again.

     "We've deemed Sebastian the Mountain as a genuine danger to our existence, and unfit to be left to his own devices. Therefore, he will be dusted shortly after we adjourn." 

     "OUTRAGEOUS!" exclaimed Kumatetsu. Sebastian's mouthed dropped slightly at the word “dusted," unsure of what it meant, but knowing it did not bode well.

     "I'm to be... what?" questioned Sebastian.

     "Dusted," repeated Ockht and Indreustis in unison. It was the first time they spoke since the counsel began.

     "Legs ground up," explained Ockht.

     "To a pulp," continued Indreustis.

     "Quite messy."

     "Won't be walking much."

     "But for the better, right?"

     "Right. Most Mountains don't use legs much. Or at all."

     "Why do you think I stay put all day?"

     Alrick waved them off and said, "It's decided. Sebastian will be dusted before sunset."

     Two, three more cracks of thunder exploded across the sky, coupled with the gigantic steps of Kumatetsu standing up, the ground shaking at his feet. "You will not touch my apprentice."

     Alrick stretched to his full height, piles of rock and earth toppling from his knees. "Stand down, Kumatetsu." The authority in his voice stirred the other Elders to slowly stand and take their place behind him. "You face the majority vote and full might of this Council if you attempt to stop us."

     Alrick noted the shakiness in Kumatetsu’s stumpy legs, and the most-ancient Mountain noticed his roving eye. Kumatetsu was in no physical condition to hold them off and protect his young friend.

     Alrick stepped forward decisively and narrowed his gaze. "Don't make us dust you too."

     Sebastian marveled at Kumatetsu with deep gratitude, but was disturbed at his passing of punishment. He had held nothing back in expressing his most buried thoughts of love and discovery. He had trusted the Elders. Why would they turn on him so cruelly?

     He blurted out, ”At least tell me why! Why can I not journey beyond? I deserve to know!"

     "You lack the will to know!" retorted Alrick. "A Mountain your age cannot possibly understand the blight on this earth that is humans!" He turned towards Lloyd, clearly waiting for a further remark.

     Lloyd glanced towards Alrick, hesitant to speak, but then calmly told the young Mountain, "There's nothing out there for us." His blank expression shifted slightly, betraying his concern. "Nothing for you."

     The distant echo of rain and thunder had become a sharp howling in their ears. The trees among all their slopes waved wildly in the wind. The Elders drew closer to Sebastian, Kumatetsu standing right between them.

     "You run when I tell you," his mentor quietly murmured back to him.

     "No," said Sebastian. "I won't leave you here to be dusted instead of me." He wanted to protect Kumatetsu as much as Kumatetsu wanted to protect him, but now, Sebastian knew it was hopeless.

     "I'll only say it one more time," said Alrick, raising his voice. "Stand DOWN!"

     Just then, like a casting of shadow, the storm was instantly upon them. The howling of wind and thunder evolved into a merciless maelstrom within The Valley. Dark storm clouds quickly roved in above their peaks, accompanied by blinding flashes of lightning.

     Then, the rain. The drops of water pounded upon the ground like hammer to nail. Within seconds, the Mountains had landslides racing down their slopes that cascaded to the grass beneath their feet. The Valley was flooding right before their eyes, the water already at their ankles. Sebastian shielded his eyes and tried to observe the clouds above through the lightning and heavy rain. Just barely could he trail with his eyes a sort of path of water going in, out and through the dark clouds. Was it a stream... swirling weightlessly above?

     The Elder Mountains had difficulty staying upright while covering their slope-like faces with their arms. Kumatetsu had already taken to the floor to brace against the wind.

     "Hold your ground!" screamed Alrick to the Council.

     "I've never seen a storm like this!" Ockht yelled back.

     "It's no storm!" declared Kumatetsu over the wind. Sebastian turned to him, eyes wide, already forming the words his mentor was about to say.

     "The Rage of The Sea,” breathed Sebastian.

     Alrick refused to listen. "HOLD YOUR—!"

     The full might of The Sea was unleashed. A swift wave of blue ocean rushed into The Valley and instantly covered the Council. Around and around the surge of water went, hurling the Elder Mountains into the far end of The Valley. They cried in anguish as they were thrust against the slope, the swell barring their movements. The only safe circle of shallow surf was at the feet of Sebastian and Kumatetsu. Sebastian stared in amazement at the length of the once-green valley, now completely overtaken by The Sea. Kumatetsu gasped with astonishment as he looked up to fully take in the raging storm.

     Sebastian felt a wash of relief when he saw the Elders completely immobilized. Lloyd held an expression of fear for the first time, while Ockht and Indreustis clasped onto each other for dear life. Alrick was finally able to spit out enough water to holler, "Sebastian! Stay put! You'll spell our family's doom!!"

     The young Mountain thought of the decision to be dusted as his punishment and murmured, "Some family."

     The only Mountain who ever cared for him was the one right by his side—wise and warm Kumatetsu. He stretched out his hand, hoisting his mentor up to his feet. Arms locked, Sebastian placed their foreheads together.

     "Will you be alright without me, old friend?" said Sebastian.

     "These thorns in my side, I can handle," replied Kumatetsu, eyes gesturing towards the Elder Mountains. "It's just you that I can't handle any more."

     Sebastian pulled his head back and looked Kumatetsu face-to-face, eyes beginning to well with tears.

     "I suppose only The Sea can handle you now," said the most-ancient Mountain with a smile. "And she's waiting for you." Sebastian smiled back and gave a small gasp of anticipation as he embraced Kumatetsu once more. At that moment in time, everything went silent. Sebastian's eyes were wide open, watching the deluge of waves rush in, the trees upon Kumatetsu's back fluttering wildly, and the Elders shouting from afar. But all the young Mountain could hear was the slightest breeze of wind in his ears accompanied by tiny pecks of raindrops. His breath was caught away by this quiet serenity amidst the visible chaos, and flowing through that stream of wind in his ear was the whisper of a single word:

     Go.

     Words could not describe the beauty of her voice. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply to signify his acceptance, and somewhere far away, he imagined her smiling. The mental image dissolved as the raging storm around him became audible once again. Kumatetsu turned towards him and noticed the young Mountain's stare that stretched for miles.

     "You hear her, don't you?" he asked.

     Sebastian gave one nod, and began making his way to the edge of The Valley, the water subtly swirling towards the back of his legs to propel his steps. It remained shallow wherever he walked, as if her blue hand touch was helping him along every step of the way. Kumatetsu beamed with pride as he observed Sebastian trudge his way up, up, over the slope of The Valley, while the Elder Mountains watched helplessly behind the binding force of The Sea.

     As Sebastian slid down the opposite end of the slope, the storm didn't follow him. The pall of dark clouds remained above The Valley, the thunder and rain rumbling through the island itself. Sebastian looked back for a moment, but decided this was his only chance to escape. He hastened himself across the gray, bare beach, half-wondering how the Elders would've gone about dusting his stony legs. What a terrible fate it would've been.

     So he pressed on, down the beach and into the calm waters. She had brought the waves to a controllable current compared to the chaos that had rocked his former valley-home. One step after another, wading with his massive arms of wood and rock, he was brought closer to the unknown lying ahead, his heart pounding unlike ever before. Once the water was at waist level, he halted his feet.

     It was here that Kumatetsu's face came to his mind, a warm smile behind an ancient thicket of oak. He even thought of all the Elders in the Days of Old. Alrick smiling through a lively tale from Ockht and Indreustis about one of their rare exploits with some rare cryptid. He could remember Lloyd's calm demeanor, silently rearranging the boulders that sprinkled The Valley through the seasons.

     There was once a warmth here that Sebastian could recall from long ago. Though it was but a distant memory now, Sebastian would know forever that this was once his home, and that they were all still his family.

     Looking up towards the clouds above The Valley, he whispered into the air, "Please, let them be at peace."

     Almost instantly, with one last crack of thunder, the gloom began to dissipate. The falling rain turned to droplets, then ceased altogether, bringing the island back to the quiet gray sky like before. Sebastian felt satisfied, and the water around his hands and arms pushed with a purposeful force as if The Sea was embracing him. He uttered a thank you beneath his breath and turned towards the horizon once again.

     As the current gently drew him forward, he thought of the island behind him, and felt not contempt, but gratitude. Gratitude for the events of the day being set into motion, even if it was by the intended retribution of the Elder Mountains. Gratitude for Kumatetsu, who had shown him that he was meant for so much more than the solitary life upon a lone island.

     And gratitude for her. His love, his savior. Somewhere out there, she was waiting. A picture of strength and beauty that he longed to behold. The hope to know her face—and the hope to know himself—pushed him ever on. As his full form settled into the current, he had only one thought.

     Here I go.

///

By C.G. Urso

This is an entry from the Landscape Archive

Published August 22, 2025

Copyright © 2025 by C.G. Urso

All rights reserved.