The World of The Winged

Lil' Ol' Man in a Cottage

Chapter 22:

We've been riding towards the Undercave Mountain since early this morning. I can't stop thinking about how mad I am at Luke's sister's boyfriend.

Well that was complicated. I should've asked for a name.

Abuse is such a horrible thing. In every sense of the word, and the act. In fact, I can't stand any sort of injustice. I would give and do anything to stop it. It may sound crazy or weird to some of you. But I wouldn't mind being tortured or murdered or anything, just so injustice could stop.

Innocent people hurting and dying, just because others are greedy for money, power, fame. I never understood that. I never wanted money or power or fame. I just want happiness and I have never believed that any of those things would make me truly happy.

But then again, what does make someone truly, honestly happy, grateful, satisfied? I guess that's the question in life, isn't it? Some may say it is one of the three things I mentioned earlier. Others might say beauty. Another could say it would be the satisfaction of bodily needs. No matter with who.

But when is it enough? When will someone have enough money, power, fame? When will someone be able to call themselves beautiful and one hundred percent perfect without doubting themselves and without lying the slightest bit? And won't fulfilling just bodily needs be lonely, without a lot of purpose?

I can give an honest answer to all of these questions. It will never be enough. Humans always want more. We never feel fulfilled. You're the richest person on the planet? Not enough. You've achieved world domination? Not enough. You've risen to the top of all? Not enough. You are what others would say is perfect? Not enough. You have fulfilled every single need since birth to death? Not enough.

It will never be enough.

I get more and more discouraged, the longer I think about it and I force myself to think of other things. Happier things. But my mind keeps going back to this particular topic. I have no clue why, until I look around us.

It's dark and quiet. Everyone is silent and they all sit in their saddles the same way I do. They sit in their saddles feeling defeated, discouraged and beaten. I snap out of it and clap my hands once. They all jump and Luke nearly falls off his horse. I chuckle at him and he gives me a short, playful glare.

"I suppose everyone's thinking about bad things?" I ask, already knowing the answer. Everyone slowly nods and I continue: "Well, stop. Let's talk about happy things!" I say with a cheerful smile but Zero gives me a belittling look. "Like what? I suppose you're thinking about negative things as well, so how would you be able to find a positive, happy or light topic?"

I frown and think for a couple of seconds before finding something to talk about. "Let's talk about what we will all do after this prophecy has been fulfilled. After we've beaten 'The Evil.'" I say, mocking the evil by giving it a spooky voice and wiggling my fingers. Lucien holds back a laugh as Zilanna snorts and I smile.

"See? It worked!" I say happily and my smile grows.

We go on about that topic until I see Luke straining his eyes and looking in the distance. "What's wrong, Luke?" I ask him and he turns around to me, frowning. "Is that a house, over there?" He asks us, pointing in the direction he was looking. I narrow my eyes and zero in on the house Luke was talking about. "Yeah," I drawl, "I think so."

I look up ahead to see part of Undercave Mountain in the distance, it's already starting to get dark and getting there at night probably isn't a great idea. "We should go check out if we may be able to stay there." I say and Lucien moves in his saddle uncomfortably.