The Shadow of Eudaimonia

Chapter 21: Beginning of Something

The devilish sun poured out searing rays of light directly above their heads. Lazzi and Calvin were both drenched in sweat and their body was filled with grime, yet they haven't found a single trace of fresh potable water. Even the slightest sound of water rippling against rocks was rarer than a myth for them.

"I-could-use-some-water." Calvin slurred like a drunkard after he said it for hundred times now. His stomach was also punishing him for not eating as it clenched and churned after every step of the way. Lazzi had it worse though. He was dead tired from dragging Calvin for almost a day and the warm humid air felt like it would kill him first before his thirst and hunger. He tried to distract himself by thinking what he would have done if this was part of a challenge back when he was competing to be an Obelisk. At the same time, he wondered if Kepler had any part of it that was as hot and humid as this place.

Between the chirps of the wild birds and the sound of their footsteps, Calvin noticed Lazzi's long and heavy breathing. He felt guilty for making him work so hard. He wondered, how could he be so patient with him. If I were him, I would leave me, he thought. Calvin smiled and loosened his arm around Lazzi's shoulder. "Hey Laz, maybe we should stop here for a while, yeah?"

Lazzi didn't answer. He simply turned to Calvin and helped him sit on the wet muddy ground. "Wait a minute—"

"What?" Calvin asked.

"Look Cal!" he took a fresh heap of the soft moist soil. "Do you know what this means?"

Calvin shook his head sheepishly.

"Just dig and you'll find out!" Calvin was a bit surprised with Lazzi's sudden burst of energy but then he mindlessly dug away with him. The rich brown mud painted the pants Ophelia had given him which made him wonder if she was alright.

"What are we doing anyway?"

"Don't you get it Cal? You win! You're absolutely a genius! Look—"

Calvin peeked below the hole they were digging. At first it was just a lump of soil but after a few seconds, a murky chocolate brown water began to seep inside it. Calvin beamed and raised his muddy fists in the air! "I fucking did it, didn't I?"

"Yeah, you did!" Lazzi squeezed Calvin's triumphant face between his dirty palms. "I could kiss you right now Cal!"

Calvin giggled and pushed him away. Then he dug a fistful amount of mud and threw it at Lazzi's face. "Dude, you're so gay!"

"No, you are!" and they both laugh like mad men as they continue to make the hole deeper.

When the hole was about an arm's length, Lazzi had collected a bunch of stones and wood and he threw it in. He asked Calvin to make a wall from those around the hole to prevent it from caving in and sedimentation. He had also managed to gather tinder before the sun dipped down the horizon.

"I can't wait to drink." Calvin said as he peered at their water, now less murky as the dirt settled below.

"Here put some of it here." Lazzi handed him a hollowed trunk. "We need to purify it first."

Calvin smiled as he followed Lazzi's instruction. "You know Lazzi, I'm lucky to have you here by my side right now."

Lazzi grinned and threw some of the dry leaves he collected at Calvin. But it all fell like confetti swiveling away before it reached the ground. "You're just saying that."

"Really man, I wouldn't last a day without you. You know a bunch of survivalist techniques and shit like that."

Lazzi almost blushed. "Yeah, I was just trained so rigorously back when I was still competing to be the Obelisk. They taught me all kinds of lessons and survival skills. They even taught me about this planet. And quite frankly I thought it would all be useless. But look at us now." Lazzi mounded the tinder and a few more rocks into a small hill. "Do you know how to make a fire?" he asked Calvin.