Arika: The legend of the lost jewel

chapter 2

Later that night, long after dinner had ended and the house had grown quiet, I found myself unable to sleep. My mind was restless, buzzing with thoughts I couldn't quite shake, so I did what I always did when sleep evaded me-I made my way up to the mountains. It was my sanctuary, the one place where I could be alone with my thoughts, where the crisp mountain breeze would cool my head and the world felt open and free.

The path was familiar, and I moved quietly, the moonlight guiding me as I climbed higher and higher. Finally, I reached the cliff's edge, a spot I'd visited countless times before. From here, the sea stretched out endlessly below, shimmering like silver under the moon's soft glow. The water moved gently, its surface catching the light in waves of quiet beauty.

I sat down at the cliff's edge, pulling my knees to my chest as I watched the horizon. Moments like this always helped me think clearly, like the whole world was pausing just long enough for me to catch up. The sea was especially beautiful tonight, the kind of beauty that made you wonder about everything-about life, about the unknown, about what lay beyond.

I'd been sitting there for about fifteen minutes when I heard soft footsteps behind me. I didn't need to turn around to know it was Kyle. He always knew when something was on my mind.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, sitting down beside me.

I nodded with a sigh, my eyes still on the sea.

"You should try to, you know. After all that action today, your body needs rest," he said, stretching his arms.

"I know," I replied quietly, though my mind was far from rest. The sea seemed to pull my thoughts toward it, a magnetic force that I couldn't explain.

Kyle followed my gaze, and we sat in silence for a moment, watching the gentle rise and fall of the water below. "Well, would you look at that," he said, his voice softer now. "The sea looks amazing tonight, doesn't it?"

I nodded again, but my thoughts were elsewhere. After a long pause, I finally spoke, my voice barely above a whisper. "Brother... what do you think is on the other side?"

Kyle turned his head to look at me, concern flickering across his face. He knew what I was feeling-he always did.

"You feel it again, don't you?" he asked, his tone gentle.

I nodded, biting my lip. That strange pull, the curiosity, the yearning for something I couldn't quite name. It had been with me for as long as I could remember, and it always felt stronger when I was here, looking out at the endless sea.

Kyle sighed, glancing back at the horizon. "To be honest, I don't know what's over there. As it is, we can never know. Our people... they're not allowed to cross the sea. It's been that way for as long as anyone can remember."

"I wonder why," I murmured under my breath, lying back against the cool grass so I could face the sky. The stars were scattered above us like tiny diamonds, sparkling against the dark canvas of night. The mystery of the sea felt like those stars-close enough to see, yet forever out of reach.

Kyle lay back beside me, and I turned my head to look at him. He had a thoughtful smile on his face, like he was remembering something from long ago.

"Do you know the tale of Arika?" he asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

I frowned, shaking my head. "No. What's that about?"

Kyle closed his eyes for a moment, as if pulling the memory from somewhere deep inside. "It's an old tale, one I heard when I was younger. But... it's long, and right now, I'm tired." He let out a long yawn, stretching lazily. "I'll tell you all about it when I'm not so sleepy."