TAMER, a middle-aged traveler, arrived at the Village one bright and sunny day. The village's unique way of life is well-known, and he was eager to experience it firsthand.
As he walked through the outskirts of Village, some of the villagers thought that he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder upon looking at his face. The lush green fields, the very peculiar houses, and the friendly faces of the villagers will make anyone feel welcome and happy. TAMER knew that he had stumbled upon a special place, and he couldn't wait to learn more about Village and its people.
As TAMER arrived in Village, he was dressed in a cool fantasy-like outfit that caught the eye of many villagers. He wore a long, flowing cloak that shimmered in the sunlight, with intricate patterns and designs woven into the fabric. His trousers were made of a durable material that looked like leather but was soft to the touch, and his boots were adorned with silver buckles and intricate lacing.
TAMER's shirt was a deep shade of blue, with gold buttons that glinted in the light, and a high collar that framed his face. His sleeves were loose and flowed in the breeze, adding to the dramatic effect of his attire. At his waist, he wore a wide belt with a silver buckle, and on his left wrist, he sported a sleek leather wristband.
TAMER's outfit gave off an air of mystery and adventure, and it was clear that he was no ordinary traveler.
He stumbled upon a cozy inn with a sign that read "Keep's Inn" above the door. Intrigued by the inviting establishment, he stepped inside where he met KEEP, the lady innkeeper.
"Good morning, traveler! The name's KEEP," she greets him warmly, "Welcome to our little village. Are you here to stay or just passing through?"
"Hi there, Miss KEEP. I'm just going to have a short vacation here at your lovely place." TAMER replied with a smile, "I'm fascinated by your village. It's so different from anything I've ever seen before."
KEEP smiles. "Quite right, Mr. Traveler, we're quite proud of our little slice of paradise here. We work hard to keep it that way."
"Please call me, TAMER, Miss KEEP." he introduced himself with a bow.
TAMER had a warm and friendly demeanor that made him approachable to anyone he met. He was not a particularly muscular man, but his kind personality and charming smile made up for any physical strength he may have lacked.
He had bright, twinkling eyes that shone with warmth and sincerity. His hair was a rich chestnut color, and it was cut short in a neat and tidy style. His face was open and inviting, with a warm and genuine smile that seemed to light up the room whenever he entered.
Despite his middle age, TAMER had a youthful energy about him that made him seem much younger than he really was. He carried himself with a relaxed and confident air as if he knew exactly where he was going and what he wanted out of life.
All in all, TAMER was a friendly and approachable person, with a kind face and a beautiful smile that could brighten up anyone's day.
"By the way, Miss KEEP, where can I find the well-known tree of the Village?" TAMER asked while unrolling his map of the World.
"Our good ol' Centree, you mean?" KEEP replied then pointed at TAMER's map, her hand covered with dirty white leather-like bands, "It's just around here at the center of the Village. It's always the very first stopover of all the tourists like you."
Let's take a look at the map of this World. In this realm, the map should not be drawn on a rectangular sheet. For the land is circular, where seas rule its circumference and channels of rivers at its chord. And Village is a small village located deep below the circular land of this World.
Fields of berries and sugar canes, rice and fruits abound her. She is surrounded by them, where the villagers tend and gather. If you know the Pinoy folk song, Bahay Kubo, not one of these vegetables can't be seen in the Village.
"Village is a wonderful place," KEEP added, "We have everything we need here, and we live in harmony with nature."
TAMER smiled widely, "That sounds amazing! I love being surrounded by nature."
KEEP chuckled, "I can tell by the look on your face. You have a very friendly and happy aura about you, TAMER."
He blushed slightly, "Thank you, Miss KEEP. I just can't help but feel excited to be here."
KEEP nodded, "I understand. Village has a way of bringing out the best in people. It's a place where you can truly connect with nature and with yourself."
KEEP, who's currently got nothing to do and obviously having a great time talking with the traveler, gave a quick guide to TAMER.
"Village is truly our Eden. At her bottom, trees and beasts lurk in that forest, where the villagers hunt. At the east, not so close and yet not so far, beholds another village where two active volcanoes seem to guard it. From the west afar, we can see a lake stretching over to the open seas of the north, where our eyes can have a glimpse of the other lands. Not everything you want is present here, but everything you need can be picked up everywhere. You just need to do some small deeds for her, like nurturing, foraging, and hunting." KEEP saw the glittering eyes of TAMER as she gave the quick guide.
Then TAMER looked around in awe at the beautiful stick and wood houses that surrounded Keep's Inn. "These houses are amazing," he exclaimed. "I've never seen anything like them before."
KEEP chuckled. "Yes, they're quite unique to our village," she said. "We've been building them this way for generations."
Village's houses were built out of sticks, woods, ropes, and leaves. Have you seen a chicken coop in a barrio? Those materials were formed like that; a large roof-looking triangular prism, with no doors and windows. But its true beauty and wonder are not really seen from the outside, rather let's go in and we shall see, that inside that prism is just like a spacious sala room. 'Cause the other rooms are in the deeps of their houses, underground, like bunkers. The villagers call this underground area as Sanctuary. Though Village is surrounded by waters in the north and in the west, her ground is high enough that floods can't enter when storms come.
TAMER was curious. "But why use sticks and wood? Why not use other materials like bricks or cement?"
KEEP smiled. "Well, for one, sticks and wood are readily available to us," she explained. "But they also have a natural insulation quality that keeps our homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. And they're more environmentally friendly than other building materials."
TAMER nodded, impressed by the practicality of the village's construction techniques. "That's amazing. And I noticed that the houses are all built close together. Why is that?"
KEEP smiled. "Perhaps, it's for security reasons," she said. "We have a strong sense of community here, and we look out for one another. By building our homes close together, we create a sense of safety and protection for our families."
TAMER nodded again, realizing the strong sense of community that the villagers had. "That's really something special," he said. "I can see why this village is such a wonderful place to live."
TAMER leaned in, "Tell me more about the Sanctuary. It sounds fascinating."
KEEP's face lit up, "Ah, yes! The Sanctuary is one of our most unique features. They are our rooms built beneath our houses. It's a great way to escape the heat and humidity. The underground rooms stay cool and dry, and we have everything we need down there to keep us comfortable."
TAMER nodded, "That's so clever."
Even though their Sanctuaries are underground, the humidity there keeps them well-ventilated, and their drainage is well-made so that rain will not fill it up. The villagers also have those shining light pellets collected from ores that can be found in caves in the west. Ever seen those glow-in-dark figures you attach to your ceiling and walls? Instead of green dim lights, the light pellets shine white lights so brightly when ignited, but they are disposables when the energy's consumed.
"And the light pellets, where do they come from?" TAMER asked.
KEEP gestured to the west, "The Collectors gather them from the caves over there. They provide bright white light that lasts a long time, and they're perfect for our needs."
TAMER grinned, "I can't wait to explore more of this village. It seems like there's so much to discover."
KEEP smiled, "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, TAMER. We'll make sure you have a wonderful stay here."
Every house in Village has its individuality of interior design (depending on the characteristic of the family that lives there), but the prism-form outside is just about the same in every block.
Mind you, the villagers are stylish when it comes to wearing clothes for everyday use, to dresses for parties and events. Stylish, but not fancy; they're such minimalist people. Each of them has its own simplistic trendy style, depending on their characteristics and attitude.
Those were the days when a village was fully alive. You see, in that civilization's age, there was no kingdom, no territories, and thus, no war. Everything lives in harmony with nature.
None, until FIRE came and brought destruction to this once peaceful and thriving village…
—~~~o~~~--- —~~~o~~~--- —~~~o~~~---
THE PSALMIST sings the first part of Village's theme song,
~~~
"As they gather on the fields, the land was healthy then
As they hunt for grubs, the land was ample then
They got everythin' they needed
Oh, she was their Eden
~~~
As I cast my fury to this fallen land
As I stole the bliss of that wretched ground
They got nothin' they needed
Oh, she has burned down
~~~
Yes, she is burnt
Oooh...
It is burnt
Oooh..."