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The Ijo Tree Part 1
“The sky is so pretty… it’s a great sight to see as you die.” In a lovely grass field sat two people. One held the other, who slouched limply in their arms, the bright blue sky let the strong shining sun to show all over the area. Red coated the grass blades around the bodies like morning dew. The figures were that of a girl and man. The girl was supporting the weight of the bloody man in her arms, cradling him close to her. The mans face showed that of almost nothing. His lifeless eyes looked up at the sky, a hand over his stomach hiding the large hole that the blood ran from.
“Please don’t die… don’t die and leave me alone!” The girl cried out clinging to the body of the dieing man, her cotton plain shirt becoming dyed in his blood, a crimson red. “Why did this have to happen?” She sobbed burying her head into his hair enough to smell the type of soap he used over the smell of the blood. “Kindir?” She was at a lost of breath when the body seemed to go still, “Kindir? Kindir? Please Kindir answer me!” She screamed helplessly.
“Ijo…” The man raised his hand up to the sky, “I want to fly, please let me go.” His lifeless look turned into that of a small happy smile.
“No!” the girl squealed her arms wrapping tighter around him, “I wont let you go! You said we’d be together forever, playing and, and” she was choking on her own words as the tears slipped down her face faster and larger then before. Of coarse she tried to help him but everything she attempted was pointless, her magic was pointless and did nothing but num the pain for him. He was doomed way before she ever found him, all she did do far was prolong his death.
Kindir hard hardly the strength to shake his head but forced to anyways, “its alright Ijo, you tried everything you could try. It makes me happy to know someone will miss someone like me when I’m gone. Thank you. You’ve grown so much since the day we met don’t you remember?”
“Of course, how could I forget.” she took his hand in hers holding it close to her face, “You were strange, different then the people we are use to seeing wonder into our isolated town, but yet it was a blessing on its own.”
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“Did you hear! There’s a young foreign man that wondered here all on his own! And he’s cute!” A young woman said excitedly.
“A young man?” Ijo stood up straight and blushed, she had heard of foreign men before from her father. She was only a little girl, no more then twelve or thirteen, dressing in proper clothing of the quiet out of the area town of Belport, known for its magic users. Dressed in a long pink flowing silk dress with white clean boots with a small heel she looked elegant with her long purple hair and bright lavender eyes. That of a high position.
“Like you could get a man anyways, your flat chest and personality are not what a foreign man would be interested in,” A girl her age laughed at Ijo, which she replied with sticking her tongue out.
A young woman rushed into the room, “He speaks our language and is meeting with Miss. Ijo’s father.” She said giddily. “I wonder if he came here to find someone to marry!”
“My father?” Ijo blinked, her father was the leader, not that that gave her any special treatment really, she would have left to go spy on her father and this stranger if it wasn’t for her teacher.
“Alright! Alright, enough of the gossiping, do you think magic is just learned threw sitting around and doing nothing? Now focus and if you speak of this man again you’ll be punished…” The older woman looked more then annoyed by this point and the girls called out their apologies and went back to their studies. Ijo sat staring at her book reading over the pages over and over not getting anything from it her mind still stuck on the strange foreigner who was meeting with her father.
As soon as the girls were released they all made a mad dash for the door hoping to catch a look of the stranger in the town. Ijo rushed home though, certain that’s where the man was. Coming to her home, she entered slowly, “Father?” she called softly.
“Oh Ijo,” Her fathers voice called, “Come here I have someone for you to meet! You’ll just love my daughter.” she heard him add softer making her grin.
She hurried into her fathers room, “Good afternoon father,” he smiled happily, “Would you like some tea?” She looked not at her father but the man who sat across from him. A strange man, tall and muscular. Dark blue hair matched with blue sparking eyes. His clothing was even different then she had normal saw, almost like a messenger from another kingdom, maybe a prince! “Hello sir,” Ijo greeted the man her face flushing.
“Please call me Kindir.” He said with a chuckle, even his voice was magical! “You didn’t tell me you had such a cute daughter.” He said to her father, “Better keep an eye on her I may just have to take her with me.” He ended it with a small wink, Ijo’s face turned pink fast.
She blinked and glared, “I’m not some piece of furniture!” She couldn’t help but stomp out, the nerve of a man who thinks he can just walk into her town and woo a woman with looks only, though a lot of girls would jump at the option, Ijo had a little pride then to just take orders like a dog.
“Ah little spunky isn’t she? I do like that.” He chuckled again looking at Ijo’s face grow brighter with embarrassment.
Ijo turned fast her face hot and embarrassed by this strangers words about her, “I’m going out to play father!” she declared and hurried out heading deep into the woods behind her home. With a sigh she sat under a tree that had large purple blossoms growing on it, the smell of them were just amazing, glad she was named after the tree she had a pact with. She sat under it eyes close just enjoying the feel of nature under her body, how peaceful. Or at least it was until heavy footsteps made their way clumsily up next to her and stopped, not moving at all. Minuets passed until Ijo sighed, “Can I help you with something?” she asked.
“Oh I thought you were sleeping, you looked so cute just sitting there not making a sound.” The foreigners words caused her to jump, eyes snapping open. “Oh were you expecting someone else?” He smiled sincerely holding a basket in his hands.
“What’s that?” Ijo sat up against the large trees trunk knees drawn to her chest looking up at the man who was sitting down in front of her. It kind of scared her, to have this strange man so close. She looked at the wonderful clothing he was in, it was so elegant and mysterious, “are you a Prince?” she asked softly blushing.
He laughed, “A Prince? No I’m not sorry to burst your bubble.” He said simply, sitting with a poise of someone who had been many places, “I’m nothing special really, just a traveler.”
“Oh…” She looked him over again, “You look… handsome… enough to be a Prince though…” her words soft as she hid her face behind her knees.
“Why thank you.” He smiled, “I haven’t been told that before. I brought you lunch, your father said you ran off so fast you probably haven’t eaten anything so I volunteered to bring you some.” he sat the basket in front of her.
“T…thank you.” she reached out with delicate hands and opened the basket. It was filled with treats and goodies and she smiled instantly, “oh everything I loves in here.” she held out a small pastry to the man, “Would you… like some?” She blushed.
He took the treat from her and smiled his thanks, Ijo went back to eating leaning against the tree. “Ijo, you’re a witch?” He asked taking a bite of the pastry.
She nodded fast, “Yes I am, I’m still learning so I’m not to good but I am a witch.” She smiled eating slowly.
Kindir nodded, “Can witches fly?” He asked suddenly. There was silence then suddenly Ijo burst out laughing, “W…what’s to funny?” He asked staring at the girl but smiling that she was finally feeling more comfortable around him.
“Witches cant fly! That’s nonsense…” she sighed looking up at the tee above her. “Witches power feed off of the force of nature. Each one is bound to a special living object which gives them their power. I’m bound to this tree, its name is the same as mine the Ijo Tree.” She smiled. “Magic isn’t used to harm whenever possible. Healing magic and passive magic is what I’ve been taught at least, and how to mix medicines to cure just about anything!” she was very proud to talk about her abilities.
“So your bound to and named after this tree, what happens if it dies?” He asked softly. Ijo’s smile turned to a frown almost instantly.
“I’ll die,” she said softly. “Maybe not right away but without magic in me I’ll slowly die, though its not the same with the tree, if I die it’ll still live and blossom here season after season.” She smiled slightly, “I have no fear of this tree dieing, we are a very peaceful area.” She took another bite of her pastry, “By the way, why did you ask if we could fly?”
“Because I’ve always wanted to fly.” He said simply, “To be weightless and soar high into the air like a bird. To look down at the beautiful world from the sky. Its so pretty you know, looking up from the ground. I can only imagine what it would be like to float in the same space as the clouds.”
She looked at Kindir and blushed, the way he looked into the sky with the same passion as she had with her magic abilities, she understood. “If there ever is a magic to make someone fly I’ll be sure to let you be to first to try it.” she smiled happily. The two sat together making light conversation back and forth until it was growing late.
“I think I made up my mind.” He said suddenly, “I think I may end my exploration early and stop here for a few years.” Kindir leaned back looking at the sky.
“H…Here?!” Ijo stared at him with intent, “But don’t you like to explore and go around places?”
“Yeah,” he admitted looking at her, “but I’m also very interested in your culture here, I’d like to stay and learn more from your people.”
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