How Hot Springs Came to Be…

“Run before they catch you!” He shouts as footsteps march closer to the gates.

“How about you?” she asks.

“I’ll be fine… I’ll meet you at the city tower…”

11 o’clock in the evening she waits and he does not come. An hour has passed and a little boy approaches.

“The man from the castle asked me to give this to you”, as he hands a parchment tied in yellow lace.

She unrolls and reads,

‘My dear Hestia, forgive me I cannot appear before you tonight. The King has appointed me Governor of the Western State. We leave immediately at midnight.’

“What way are they taking?” she quickly asks the lad.

“Near the river, the road passing through the tunneled rocks”

“Thank you”, she says, hops on to her horse, and gallops to the forest.

She ties the horse to a tree and runs toward the voices of rolling caravans.

“Alright men, we camp here tonight. We leave at sunrise.” The General shouts as the soldiers set their tents.

She scouts for a familiar face and overhears a heated argument.

“What? You expect me to stay in that area for three years?”


“I apologize, but those are the King’s orders. It’s a small developing state and it needs the most delicate manning. The King believes in your command. Have a safe trip.” The admiral gives a salute, and the lass hiding behind a tree sneaks towards the tent.

“Cornelius”, she whispers.

“How’d you find us?” he asks as he quickly grabs her inside.

“I followed your tracks”, she answers as they embrace tightly, as if the sun would never rise upon them for long…

Dawn, and the sun has not yet risen, she ties her hair into a bundle, gathers her clothes, and dresses herself. She opens the flap and to her surprise,

“Who dares trespass the Governor’s dwelling?” The bearded guard asks as his sword points to the lass’ neck.

“William, put down your sword! She’s my fiancée” he voices hurrying to the tent.

“Ah! I see you’re the Wizard’s daughter! I apologize for my rudeness, madam.” He bows and puts back his sword.

The couple walks to the woods until they cite a tethered horse.

“Hestia, there’s something I want to tell you…”

“Yes, I’ve heard. Three years?” she affirms questioningly.

“Or maybe more…” he adds.

“Come with me, Hestia…”

Only cricket sounds holler as the conversation is filled with silence.

“You know I can’t… My father needs my help here.”

“Will you wait for me then?”

“Cornelius, my heart waits until you return…”

“And so is mine until I gaze upon your face again…”

They kiss & embrace tightly, soon after, Hestia gallops back to the village.

One year later,

Dearest Cornelius, it’s been seven months I haven’t received any news from you. Though I’m glad to know you’re the best Governor so far to have stayed in that area, as heard from your men who have returned home. Yet, I still wish you’d come home earlier… I was also delighted to meet your friend, William, at the market, and through him that I sent this letter.

With all my Love,Hestia

“Hestia, my sweet child, how can I ease the loneliness you feel?” The old man brushes his hand on her silky hair.

“Father, why can’t I be with him at this moment?”

“Sometimes, time sets the right point for two hearts to be together, and only the universe knows the reasons for such arrangement.”

Hestia stares blankly at the oil lamp burning all night…

“Come Hestia, I’ll show you something.” He leads her to the garden and stands at the circular pattern.

“Father, I know this is mother’s garden…”

“You don’t think this is simply a garden. Look around, see closely…”

She walks at a distance, stands on a rock and smiles.

“It’s a Mandala!” she exclaims.

“And at the center is where she sits when she simply wants to have time for herself or when she wishes to talk to me…”

“Talk to you? What do you mean, Father”

He stares in space and starts his reminiscence.

“I met your mother at an herb fare back in my country. She was with her mother then, a trader of rare herbs & potions from this country. My mother, who was still teaching me how to extract the magic in plants, sent me to the fare to pick up the potion for sleeping fever, and I was to trade a basket of slippery elm for a bottle of the potion. At that stall, I met this young lady looking for my potion. As she turned her back towards me to hand the bottle, it was magic!”

“And you were instantly under her spell.” Hestia inserts.

“So, I hid the basket of elms under their stall table, and told her mother that my mother wishes to pay her with the herbs, which I forgot at home. Thus, she sent Esther with me to pick up the payment. After I handed her another basket of elms, I offered to walk with her again, but she said no, since she’s going to meet a friend at a nearby place. Nonetheless, I insisted anyway. On our way to their stall, to my surprise, a young lad shouted her name and embraced her instantly and she said, ‘This is Zion, we were friends since we were children.’ Well, Zion looked a little upset when he saw me. The night they left after the fare, I promised to visit her at their home. It sounded impossible but before spring is over, I went with a family of wanderers who were heading this direction. Biltshire is a small town and I didn’t have a hard time looking for your mother. I found her, stayed in their household for a few weeks. Numerous things happened we got along well; hence, I stated my intentions, and asked her hand in marriage.”

“And she said, ‘yes’”.

“Not exactly… she said ‘yes after six moons’. Magdalene, her mother, gave us our own carriage back to my country, Anthuria. I introduced her to your grandmother, Avé, who welcomed her warmly. Yet after three moons, my mother became sick. She was coughing blood and had red blotches on her skin. Esther knew that disease, and the cure is made only by her mother. Hence, in seven nights, she reached her home. However, the potion had to be made in three days. In those three days, we conversed through this circle.”

After the long narration, she wonders, “Hmmm, could I also talk to him if meditated there?”

“I don’t know dear, but you could try… Maybe, it’s in your mother’s black book?” He gives the clue and leaves her alone in the garden.

She sits at the center cross-legged, brings out the embroidered book from her pocket, and starts to browse. She stops at a page, reads, puts aside the book, and closes her eyes. As she enters into deep trance, a voice hollers from inside the house.

“Hestia! Come quick, the palace guard just left and gave this letter.”

She opens the letter quickly and recognizes Cornelius’ handwriting.

My Dearest Hestia,

I’m writing this letter along the mountains of Piazza. We are currently searching for a logical explanation of a conspiracy plotted on sea. The town’s fishermen have not returned for months now. Several battered boats were simply abandoned at this mountain’s shore. Town’s people say this forest is enchanted. Yet, magical or not, my heart is certain, I am forever enchanted by your beauty.

I love you, as always,

Cornelius

P.S. I apologize greatly for my letter’s delay.

“Father, I almost didn’t notice the sun is already up.”

“And you’ve been in the garden for the whole night.” Her father affirmed.

“I wish to rest for tonight I shall try again.” Hestia softly voices as she proceeds to her room.

“Sleep tightly. Your body needs the energy for such travel.”

Gideon, still in his long robe takes a walk until he reaches a familiar hill. He lights a bundle of incense and places it beside the epitaph.

“Esther, our daughter has grown into a fine young woman and I’m afraid what might happen to her when he sees her…”

He wipes his tears and walks back to their abode.

On another side, an old man holding on to his staff talks by himself, “So Gideon, it’s a daughter… and I wonder how Esther is doing right now…” as he watches Gideon’s scene from his pond.

It’s almost Sunset when Gideon rushes inside the house, as he hears a scream.

“Hestia, what did you see?” He asks, as she wakes up sweating from a dream

“I saw Cornelius and a few other men drowning in a puddle of fire & mud. I must talk to him now.” She jumps out of bed and runs to the garden.

She sits again in lotus, quickly scatters herbs & a few other ingredients around her, and closes her eyes.

In her mind, she chants until the wind brings her soul to an unfamiliar place. The walls are dripping with water and only a torch illuminates the cove. She looks around and sees nothing, until she hears whispers coming from a dark tunnel.

“William, are you in here?” the voice asks.

Hestia’s heart pounds from hearing the familiar voice. She follows the echoing sounds and arrives at a chamber where several men are blindfolded, tied, and placed in hanging baskets.

“Cornelius…” she speaks in a wind-like tone.

The man is startled with the woman’s call. “Hestia? Is that you?” he asks.

“Yes, it is I…”

“Where are you?”

“Don’t’ talk too much. Only you can hear me. I can only hold this for a short time. Where is this place and who brought you here?”

“He calls himself Zion and we’re still in Piazza. I just don’t know how we got here. All I can remember is that we got trapped in ooze. I thought we were drowning but then we sank until we fell into this place.”

“Alright, I’ll ask help. Father might know about this.”

“Go Hestia, he’s coming. He might hear you…”

“Lad, who were you talking to? I know we haven’t eaten for days but I still got my sanity intact.” The man beside him remarks.

“Nothing… just my imagination… I guess this is simply the pangs of hunger…”

In a whirl, Hestia is back to the garden sweating and gasping for air. She hurriedly runs to the kitchen where his father is storing a few herbs in a cabinet.

“Father I talked to Cornelius and he said a man named Zion placed them in a cave! Father you know him.” She worriedly asks.

“Zion…” he whispers head down and pauses. A long silence fills the gap before he continues to talk.

“Hestia, it’s him… your mother’s friend…”

“Why would he do such thing to a community?”

“Mt. Piazza is in Anthuria…”

“Father, is there something you’re not telling me?” she asks in a confused tone.

“I’ll tell you on our way. For now, we must pack. I’ll set our things. Go get the horses.” He calmly states.

Hestia slowly complies, still wondering what her father has hid from her.

On the road, before Gideon could speak, an air of tension & uncertainty fills his voice.

“Back then, when Zion heard of Esther’s nearing marriage, he asked your mother not to marry me. Your mother declared to him that she will marry me and that she loved him as a brother.”

“He was jealous?”

“Most probably… With his anger towards me and with his obsession towards your mother, he tried to kill me. He imprisoned me in this dungeon-like cave for eight moons.”

“If Zion locked you for eight moons, you & mother did not wed after six moons. What happened?” Hestia speaks in a tone of speculation.

“I disappeared and your mother and everyone else couldn’t find me. Zion joined the search and after two moons, he showed Esther & my family a set of bloody & rotting clothes.” He narrates.

“And they all thought you were dead.” Hestia finishes the story.

“Well, after a moon, Zion courted your mother.”

“Did mother concede?”

“Not initially, but Zion was pursuant; hence, he finally convinced her after four moons of chase.”

Hestia raises both her brows, and Gideon continues, “And they were to be wed in a moon.”

The carriage suddenly halts as the ground shakes for a moment. From a distance, a volcano spews out smoke & ashes.

“It’s almost Sunset.” Gideon whispers.

“How are we going to reach Anthuria in time?”

“At midnight, Hestia…”

“You mean we’re near Anthuria?”

“Not exactly… were nearing Piazza.” As they stop on a beach overlooking a vast ocean.

“Where is Piazza?”

“There…” as he points to a dot-like isle.

“Father, I don’t know what you have in mind.” She voices as she spoons from her plate.

“As I told you, at midnight…”

Their camp is set and they slumber though the night, hearing only the coos of the owls, the howl of wolves, and the duet of crickets & cicadas.

“Hestia, we must start.”

She awakens from the crackling of firewood.

Hestia lights a torch before pouring saltwater over the fire. Gideon then calls her to his side.

“My father once told me a story about this sea. He said that every ‘All Hollows Eve’, a sea titan emerges from undersea to collect bananas.”

“Is that the reason for all the baskets of bananas you asked me prepare?”

“Yes.”

“Why only at New Year?”

“Because this is the night that the phenomenon of dancing lights occurs in these surrounding mountains. The titan is said to chase such colorful play of lights.”

They hid amongst the trees and wait for a giant to come out. After awhile, the sky starts to grumble and clouds begin to roll. In a flash, an array of rainbow lights bounce on land and travel to the mountain range in a creeping, wavy, leaf-like movement on a windy day. At that same time, the water on sea shakes until a humungous creature emerges. Its hair, a growth of sea weeds; its back, covered with shells, corals, and algae; and its eyes the stare of a dog. It can stand in human form; however, its skin is that of a glimmering hairless gorilla. The land quakes & the sand disperse on air at each step, and before it chases the play of lights, Gideon jumps out and waves to him the torch of fire. Hestia, on the other hand, opens a basket of bananas. The creature’s nose wiggles to the fruity aroma and heads to the direction of the two humans when the giant with its quick pounce is suddenly halted with Gideon’s torch.

“Banana…” the giant’s word hollers as he lowers its head towards the peony-sized humans.

“What is your name?” the old man shouts.

“A-ran…” he slowly answers with his cavernous voice.

“Ba-na-na…” he says again.

“You get the bananas if you bring us to the island across the sea.”

“Banana first, then Aran bring you to other island…” His deep voice echoes.

All three agree, and Hestia opens the baskets. Aran gobbles all bananas. After which, he stands, goes into the water, looks back, and lays its hand on sand.

“Come,” he instructs.

Hestia & Gideon pull the horse carriage to the platform of palm. Aran then places them on his head and starts to wade under water. His upper head with the humans on top can be seen moving swiftly on sea.

They reach shore in just a few seconds. Under sea, Aran swims to the bottom of the ocean, curls his limbs, and hibernates until the next cycle when he forages for bananas again on land.

Meanwhile, Hestia begins to hum a song, squats on her mat, and closes her eyes. The tune starts to blend with the sea waves, the rustling of trees, the wheezing of the wind, and altogether, its melody heavy but smooth and sweet like a song that resembles both a call and a cry.

On the other hand, Gideon raises his staff and whispers, ‘Follow thy tune of which my daughter’s song searches for a lad’s heart. If his name be Cornelius, let him hear her heart’s cry.’ Soon after, Gideon’s cane turns to a hundred of colorful & sparkling butterflies floating with the wind carrying the aria of Hestia’s Soul.

“Exactly Zion, what do you need us for?”

Zion simply stares and putts-off the torch.

“Cornelius, I can’t hold on any longer…”

“Andre, put your hand through the hole. I’ll swing myself to you. Just try to grab the rope on my hand.”

“We’ve already tried that…”

“I know, but it might work this time.”

“If that works, I’ll thank the heavens for putting that thought in your mind.” Another man in a corner yells.

The moist chamber now smells like death from the mixture of sweat & urine and from the screams of hunger & sickness; when suddenly, a clamor from outside echoes to the inside.

“Get-off you insects! Why the hell are you entering this cave?”

And at the same time, Cornelius ears pauses from the holler of a sweet song, and hope fills his heart.

The colorful butterflies transform into yellow & blue shades of light. Soon after, the winged ones have entered, the cave glows like a shower of sparklers. Everything they land on melts, except for the lime-stones and human flesh. In time, the prisoners’ arms were free and each human basket falls to the ground. The glaring light turns to glimmering dust as it flies out scattering on air, going back & forming into Gideon’s cane. Father & daughter then climb towards wherever the cane leads them to.

Inside the dark chamber, the prisoners are already free, finding their way out of the limestone tunnels. Outside, Zion still sits around his pond, watching the arrival of the most sought object of his anger.

“He’s there… what must we do?” the lad whispers trying to hush the man in pain on his back.

Zion hears the rustle behind his back.

“Men, keep still”, as they quickly hide behind the boulders at the entrance of the cave.

“Ugh…” the man accidentally utters lying on the ground in extreme pain.

“You think you could escape?” enraged Zion raises his cane and fires to the entrance. But before the lightning lands among the men, another cane breaks upon meeting the impact.

“Gideon… you have finally come.” Zion’s deep voice still hasn’t changed, as he bitterly utters Gideon’s name.

“Is there any good if you keep doing this?”

“What a fool! Absolutely! I have been getting men to draw your attention, and only when that lad (pointing to Cornelius) that you finally got my invitation.” He says with sarcasm.

“Now Zion, what is it that you want?”

“The last time we talked, you remember that, I know…”

Before Hestia reaches the entrance, Zion throws another lightning sealing the entire access with thick ice, at the same time Hestia heaves from a rolling rock that immobilized her feet.

“Of course, of which involves your daughter,” he continues as he smirks towards Hestia.

“We can settle this without including lives, Zion…”

“Lives? Lives?” his tone raises angrily in question, as the ground shakes with the hatred from his voice.

“Gideon, you took away my life! I had a life with Esther! But you took her from me…”

“Esther & I were in-love, and before we were to be wed, you tried to kill me. Is that a life, killing people to get what you want?”

“I loved her so much Gideon! But when you came, everything changed!”

“She loved you as her dearest brother, Zion…”

“And she loved you more than me and she wanted to marry you instead.”

“No… her feelings for each of us were different.”

“I don’t care! You stole her from me!” He horrendously shouts as he invisibly takes Gideon by the neck, lifting him up on air.

“Stop!” Hestia’s holler releases Zion’s grip on him.

Zion then waves his hand to Hestia, bangs her head, and fastens her to a tree.

“Yes, and I remember exactly what I said that night.” He reminds Gideon, who is struggling to catch his breath as he lies on the ground.

Gideon’s memories bring him back…

‘If it’s a son, you’ll die from his hands, and when it’s a daughter, she’ll die from your hands…’

“I guess you already remember. Anyhow, whatever child you have, suffering & death is still what you get.”

“Don’t do this Zion. You’re only adding more pain into your suffering, which you yourself have created.”

“Silence!” he declares. His hands begin to play with Gideon’s body, and like a mannequin, he stands. With little steps, he ambles towards Hestia.

“You didn’t really love my mother. You merely wanted to own her.” Hestia says trying to speak.

“You’re all wrong!” He raises Gideon’s arms. The more Zion plays with his hands, the closer Gideon walks to Hestia.

Gideon struggles to disarm Zion, and manages to lift a pile of rocks. But instead of hitting Zion, the rocks flew to Gideon bruising his head and beating his body.

“You can’t hurt me Gideon while you’re in this place. Whatever you do against me hurts you more. Try again brother.” He says, full of mockery. “I’ll even help you. Here’s a dagger, use it on me,” handing it to Gideon. But Gideon just threw the weapon to the ground.

“Come on Gideon, fight back! You’re a great wizard, right?” Zion coerces Gideon with a wide smirk on his face.

“Now, on her neck, Gideon… Watch your daughter’s life vanish on air…”

“Stop Zion! You don’t want to do this. You don’t want to kill her!” He desperately pronounces, as he hears Hestia suffocate from his grip.

“And why is that? I just wanted you to feel how someone you love so dearly would be snatched away from you…”

“She’s your daughter for goodness’ sake!”

Zion in instant drops his hands.

“No… you’re lying Gideon. You’re only saying that to save your daughter’s life.”

“She was already pregnant before we got married Zion. Esther told me she was with child – your child…”

“What?” he utters with confusion.

“If that was true, how come she never told me?”

“What difference would it make if you knew then that she was carrying your child?” Hestia tries to ask Zion with her constricted voice.

“I don’t know…”

The ice on the cave entrance starts to melt, freeing the men. Zion, still repeatedly whispers, ‘I don’t know…’ from his own confusion.

Gideon unties Hestia.

“Zion?” Gideon calls.

“You could come with us.” Hestia says, as he & Gideon assist the wounded men.

“Just go… leave me here…”

“You can’t live alone all your life…” Gideon remarks.

It’s Sunset, and everyone goes downhill. The monkeys’ howls mark the time before the mystique mountain releases its magic at night.

Zion simply stares at his pond, dips his index on the water and starts to chant a spell.

“I know that spell. Zion, don’t do it!” Gideon shouts trying to grab the man on his knees. Yet, before he could take a grip on his arms, Zion disappears as the pond swallows him whole.

--------------

“Did he seal himself?” a man behind the surrounding children asks the young storyteller.

“Yes, he sealed himself…” the young girl continues.

“And then what happened?” another child from the audience yells.

“No one knows what happens when people seal themselves in that place. So, Hestia & Cornelius returned to that mountain after three moons. The cave is still there, but the pond has disappeared. However, they found something different. Near the cave entrance was a steaming lake of water. The steam smelled like freshly cooked eggs, and the water was hot, but warm & soothing to the skin.”

“What does that mean?” a little boy in front of her queries.

“They say the steam and the hot water are the anger & hatred he is letting-out.”

“If that’s his anger & hatred, why do people like to soak in those hot waters?” a girl from the audience inquires.

“Though the source of those springs is Zion’s pent emotions, he wanted to make-up for his faults. So, the hot spring is not just water… It’s healing water. Since then, people who soak in those waters felt better afterwards.”

“Is that true? I know what you’re talking about. That’s the steaming lake up that mountain. My father said hot springs are volcanoes’ outlet of heat.” A boy in his early teens teasingly questions.

“Of course, it’s real. That’s how all hot springs started.”

Before the two kids argue further, “Alright children, time to go home. Come back tomorrow for another story.” says the man who carries the little story-teller inside their abode.

“Father, now even she believes your stories…”

“Hikari… come help me with these cookies.” calls the young girl’s mother from the kitchen.

Mother & child enter the dining area with freshly baked cookies.

“In Japan, we also have many hot springs…” she inserts, as she lays the plate of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and offers a bite to the man near the fridge.

“Well, son, you also believed me when I told you that when you were a child.” He says to the man, pouring cold Soya milk from the pitcher.

“That was then… any child would be fascinated by your story…”

“One thing’s for sure, your daughter is a great story-teller… just like my great grandmother.” The old man in his late 50’s simply beams & reads the paper.

“What’s the name of your great grandmother?” the woman with small bright eyes asks.

He answers with a smile, “My grandmother’s mother is Hestia...”

----------------End--------------

--- Kunay / November 5, 2007