generated with meta.ai
“Do they see our star as we see theirs, Abba? Do they know we exist?” Levaya looked at her great-grandfather’s eyes and then at a twinkling star as they sat beneath the moonlight.
“They see a bright twinkling star just as we see theirs. Perhaps they know we are here.”
“In their world, they fear death. Why would anyone not want to die? Do they not have Katana? If only they knew what a great gift they had.” Levaya added.
“Each world to their own Levaya. I need to rest so I can tend to the sick tomorrow.” Abba patted Levaya on the back before leaving.
“I'm Jenna Callahan. 1960-1990. I've been dead forever. Now you will be my subject.” One of the kids muttered waving at his opponent, Vera.
“And I am Mabel Dickinns. 1790-1840. I died even before you were born. See, you are no match. Now bow before me.” Vera announced. “Hi Levaya.” Her concentration wavered from her opponent.
“Hi, Vera.” Levaya smiled at Vera as she walked past the ancient cemetery that had become a playground for the children in the village since no one died anymore. The concepts of death had long become alien to the ones born after the shadow-eating era. She marveled at how at a very tender age, the children were familiar with the new life promised by the gods after death. She stood for a few minutes watching them repeat after several headstones as they clasped their sticks together.
Although she gaped at their sheer innocence, At thirty, Levaya was still considered very much a child in Naradia. However, she wasn't too young to share in the plight of the Naradians.
Naradia was a blooming population secluded from the rest of their world by tall mountains and valleys. Other than the occasional travelers and voyagers, Naradians had little interaction with their kind. They were sufficient with their resources and over time, they created a system of governance that catered to all. The youths went to farms and quarries while the elders tended to the young ones at home.
Then there were the Mators. These groups of people were beyond the age of 150. They spent their days and nights in the temple supplicating to gods for the gift of death and the promise of katana.
Levaya held her gaze some more before scurrying down to the sick yard. It was always a herculean task maneuvering through the ever-bustling market. She made her way brushing the arms and shoulders of strangers trying to protect the meal she was carrying to her great-grandfather. “I survived without spilling the soup today.”
“Levayy…what territories have you explored today?” Ketan, one of the builders breaking rocks beside the market, caught up to Levaya.
Every day, the Naradians were building homes and expanding their territories to accommodate their growing population. With everyone living, resources had become scarce.
Levaya and her friends tasked themselves with scouting neighboring grounds for new lands to build except for the forest beyond the mountains. They had been warned to keep out of the area where the shadow eaters came from.
Levaya waved her hands at Ketan and hurried down the yard.
“I’m sorry I'm late Abba.” She set the soup down and smiled at her great-grandfather. The man was a hundred and twenty years old but he still had the strength of his youths. He was one of the healers who tended to the sick and laboring ones.
Levaya followed Abba watching as he drenched coconut oil in a builder’s wound. “I need to go beyond the mountain Abba. We need more space for the people. There are no homes and the people are all packed in a corner now.” Levaya blurted.
“Hush Levay hush. You can't say things like this. It is forbidden to go there. Do you want to have your shadow eaten?” Abba dragged Levaya to a corner. “It is already happening to some of you. They are waiting there eagerly to feast on you but as long as you stay away, they will never get you. You young ones are our hope for Katana. You must never speak of this again.” He wrapped his wrinkled hands around her.
The Naradians except for the young seldom had shadows. Legend had it that once upon a time, creatures came crawling at night through the valleys. They came and feasted on the shadows of the people and ever since, death had no place in Naradia. They only hoped that one day, death would visit the young ones who still had their shadows.
Naradians used to look forward to death. They would celebrate and make sacrifices to the gods whenever one of them died. Months turned into years until Naradia was filled with the young and old, sick and healthy, people with dreams and strong desires to live, and the ones who were just tired of life. They would give anything to transcend to the great beyond.
The Naradians lived by a code of the afterlife-Katana, as the ultimate destination. They were promised a land of milk and honey devoid of pain and suffering. A place with lots of happiness and mansions of delight. Now the dreams of the afterlife had been shattered. Some of them no longer believed in the promised land. They just wanted to live their eternal lives in peace.
Levaya merely shrugged. She had made up her mind and when the sun disappeared, she ventured into the darkness. Levaya imagined big dark monstrous creatures swarming all over her but the moment Naradia was out of sight, she began to hear whispers that sounded like giggles. Her fear quickly gave way to curiosity.
A light passed quickly through the bushes and disappeared. She began playing the game of hide and seek with the light and giggles. Soon, a furry yellow fireball rolled across her feet. It began to giggle and pounce on the traces of her shadow.
“What are you?” Levaya jumped. “Is it trying to feed on my shadow?” she asked no one in particular, still jumping.
As she leaped the ball stayed still until her feet touched the ground. Suddenly more furry balls appeared and illuminated the entire forest with some of them rolling at her feet.
“Wait. Can you hear me? Why do you feed on shadows?”
“Huh” They all exclaimed in unison. They rolled off their furs to reveal a face and a pair of feet.
“We do not eat shadows. We take them and build homes in our world.” One of the creatures came forward. “You see, we are made of so much light that we thought some darkness would do us good.” His voice turned very meek and innocent. They all lowered their gazes.
“And just like that, you take our shadows without even showing your faces. Do you have any idea how much fear and agony you have put us through all these decades?”
The creatures remained quiet.
“I demand that you return every shadow you have ever taken from Naradia. Maybe if you asked politely, the ones who do not believe in Katana would give it to you.” Levaya commanded. Deep down, she was in rage yet astonished that these were the creatures that put them in a constant state of fear.
They all nodded in unison once again.
“Over there. The inhabitants of that star, I hear detest death and some of them would do anything to stay alive. Maybe if you go to them, they'll let you have their shadows.” She pointed at the human star in the sky.
The creatures’ silence suddenly turned into excitement. They began tossing and throwing themselves up in the air creating patterns of light.
Levaya watched in wonder. She admitted that these were little innocent yet foolish creatures. She smiled knowing that her people would now be able to transcend peacefully to Katana.
