Rory prepared the blanket and other stuff she needed to prepare. She brought a bag full of books, watercolors, and papers. After everything was set, she let the kids sit alongside her.
 “We’re going to paint?” Revi asked.
Rory nodded. “Yes, so I’ll give each of you a paper and three watercolors. Your activity for today is to paint anything that comes into your mind using the colors I will give you. Isn’t that fun?” She gave them the supplies.
Heidi and Naya beamed after hearing what Rory said while Revi and Yner had no reactions and started immediately.
Renata got violet, black, and red. She didn’t know what to do with those colors so she just filled the whole paper without any context in her mind using those.
After filling the whole paper, she just sat and looked at Rory. “Teacher, I’m done.”
Heidi gazed at Renata. “You’re already done?”
Renata just nodded.
Rory took Renata’s paper and was silent for a minute. She nodded. “Darkness is indeed beautiful, isn’t it?”
The four kids frowned at her. “Huh?”
Yner spoke, “isn’t darkness bad, Teacher Rory?”
Rory chuckled. “That’s what they say but darkness isn’t bad all the time.”
She sighed.
“Look at this painting and visualize.” She showed the painting to them.
“I only see dark colors,” Heidi said.
“Me too,” Naya and Revi said.
Rory sighed. “Right, I’ll tell you a story.”
~*~
When angels used to fly with mortals, heavens bestowed a lonely mortal who hated darkness a blessing to ascend to the abode of deities. That mortal was granted immortality from the deities who gave the blessings.
Happiness started to light his soul and began to wander the world with the immortality he has. In his journey, he met a lot of mortals and some became his closest companions. He then started to explore the world with them.
Everything was peaceful yet when the time passed, his companions disappeared one by one. It may be because of death or betrayal.
After losing his friends, he started to feel lonely again yet he continued to wander the world. While wandering, he saw the endless miseries in every part of the world; how the living suffer in agony; and how perfidious the mortals are. At that moment, he knew that it’s the end for them.
He finally put an end to his journey and decided to go back to the abode of the deities. There, everyone greeted him yet the greetings of his former companions still hit differently.
For him, there was something missing. As days went by, he felt nothing but the same feeling inside him yet he never bothered to look for the absent piece he had.
Until . . . that absent piece in himself started to grow and conquer his soul. He was empty and exhausted.
He decided to keep his distance to the deities and lived in darkness. He was desolate and darkness was his only comfort.
As time passed, he learned to appreciate the beauty of darkness. He learned more about the darkness and finally stop hating it.
Later . . . as he dwelled in darkness, he found the absent piece: His rest.
He wanted to rest, he needed to rest, yet the immortality he received as a blessing ceased his desire. For the first time in his life, he cried tears of fear. He cried for his immortality . . . He cried for his rest . . .
He cried for himself.
As he continued to cry, his tears finally stained the painting. It was a portrait he made for his companions. They, who disappeared from the world.
The immortality he has is no blessing but a curse. A divine curse mothers give their sons so that he will forever be their child.
~*~
Everyone was silent as they listened to Rory’s story. Renata broke the silence, “I understand nothing, Teacher.”
Rory facepalmed after hearing what she said.
Yner spoke, “if deities gifted him immortality as a blessing, why would it be a curse? Aren’t deities good, Teacher?”
Rory smiled. “Who knows? We don’t know if deities are really looking after us. We don’t know if deities turned the tables, made the darkness bad, and changed the lore.” She sighed. “Kids, darkness is also beautiful and you’ll learn to appreciate it once you reach a certain point in life.”
The kids looked at each other, clueless about what she was saying.
Rory sighed again. “So let’s just have a picnic? Do you want that?”
“Yes!” Heidi and Naya answered enthusiastically.
And so, Renata spent hours being with them. During those moments, she almost lowered her guard. She felt like she’s at home. She remembered the family she left at Atolon. Yet despite all of that nostalgia, Renata’s wrath conquered her heart even more. She desired revenge.
“Father, I’m home.” Revi sighed as she removed her shoes before going inside her house.
She saw her father being busy writing something. Perhaps Felix was taking notes about Madreign, Renata doesn’t know.
She was on her way upstairs when Felix called her, “Renata, can you give me a moment please? You need to know something.”
Renata gazed at her father. “What is it?” She approached Felix, frowning.
“I will be able to obtain the books about our history . . . in secret. We’re lucky enough to find those who fled here in Madreign from Atolon.”
Renata was stunned for a bit. “You mean, those who didn’t come back?”
Felix nodded. “You’re right. They are too unfortunate to not be able to come back on the island. They couldn’t find any boats for them to ride to return. Well, what I just mentioned is a case for some. There are others who were caught and disappeared without leaving a trace. Perhaps the enemy caught them already, who knows.”
Revi crossed her arms. “I see. But you just mentioned the books. Aren’t those books burnt into ashes? How will you be able to obtain them, Father?”
Felix sighed. “I met someone. He is a Tatius, worshipper of the 12 titans. His ancestor was chosen to flee the island to be a spy, yet he wasn’t able to return.”
Revi lowered her gaze, thinking about the fate of those who were chosen to leave the island before them. She had quite understood their condition. It must’ve been really hard for them.
“However, his ancestor was able to gather important information.” Felix gazed at his daughter. “Renata, the books weren’t burnt. The victors burnt the copy of those books. The original ones are hidden somewhere else.”
 
To be continued . . .