Short Story: A CHILD'S ODYSSEY
Written By Benjamin Morcos
Introduction:
So, being in lockdown I’ve been bored recently and I’ve gotten to witness so much amazing creative writing here on the LOTC forums recently. I’ve had Demetriyus as a character for about two months now, and I’ve never really been especially active on him- I came up with the excuse eventually that he was on some kind of sailing adventure and he’d be “back” when I wanted to play him again. However, I thought it would be a cool idea to do my own creative writing approach on his return, rather than just have him appear out of nowhere- I’m pretty happy with how this has turned out so yeah, thanks for reading! Oh by the way mina = money :D
- Ben.
(Eastfleet Docks, Artist Unknown.)
“Two mina, sire.”
“T’was a rough journey wasn’t it? I think it’s fair to say I have my sea legs now, hm?”
“Two mina, sire.”
“Ah, right. One moment, then.”
A young man at the docks of Eastfleet slung his various impedimenta across his frame, heaving a heavy breath and taking a long whiff of the intimate aroma that swelled the minute he touched the shore. He nodded in acknowledgement at the area as he was imbued with a fond recollection of that same place, several years ago before he departed on his own recent escapade.
It was then that he slammed the coin upon the wooden counter of the portly foreman with a wry smirk. “Well then, I suppose you’ll be the most glad to be rid of me, ey Sir?” The youthful fellow jested, though a glimmer of curiosity lingered in his orbs, hidden though as if he actually cared for that fellow's answer.
“You were a nuisance, Demetriyus. And a lot more trouble than you’re worth.” He shot back indignantly, though perhaps he realised the harshness of his tone.“To be fair, you were useful, at the best of times. Never lose that trait, or underestimate how much usefulness is worth and you’ll do just fine.” He concluded, rolling his eyes as he dipped his quill back into the inkpot and swiftly scribbled onto some parchment. “Keep well, alright?” Finished the foreman, waving a hand to shoo the youth away. “Next in line!”
Demetriyus strolled off as he was commanded, yet turned his neck back to the man, now regarding him with an altogether new brand of confusion. “Useful?” He mused, repeating the words yet again. “Useful, he said.” Frowned that youth, shaking his head. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about, I’m far more than that, surely.” The figure confirmed as he pressed on through the crowd of seafarers who toiled away unpacking the cargo of the vessel, trying to not get into any trouble as he made his way to the end of the dock.
As he moved swiftly through the crowded dock, he noticed the intricacies of emotions displayed upon the faces of his comrades. He’d had an entire journey to observe them, and initially thought them different to the gawking city folk he was raised around in his childhood. et even now he glimpsed these travellers partaking in the same vices that plagued his homeland. He saw their drunkenness get the better of them as a first mate and a sailor scuffled and fought as he made his way past. He saw the gluttony of others, greedily stuffing themselves full with food from the market the minute they’d gone ashore. He couldn’t help but feel partially foolish, for he’d left this land years ago because of people like them, and from that foolishness he felt a smidgeon of hatred for this throng before him.
______ { --- } _____
“Oy! Demetriyus! Come give us a hand, would ya?” Called out a voice from a rabble of fatigued sailors at the wooden cabins adjacent to the rickety pier he’d just emerged from. Demetriyus, usually careless as he was, made every attempt to dawdle and ignore the voice- yet once he’d made eye contact with the source of the call, with a heaving sigh he trudged over with a heavy sigh, belongings still slung over his shoulder.
As it happened, the source was that of another man he had become acquainted with on his travels, one he had not particularly grown to like given the character of such an associate. This one was too jolly for his liking, a tall broad-shouldered man with a great beard who was constantly peddling mirth and merriment to the crew for the length of the journey, much to Demetriyus’ chagrin. “What is it now?” Whined the youthful one, his arms resting on his hips in annoyance “I’ve got better things to do y’know- can’t order me around anymore like you did on ship, eh?”
The jovial man gave him a patronising chuckle and ruffled his hair. “Yer’ a firm one Demetriyus, I don’t think I could order ye to do anything ye don’t wanna anymore, lad.” He retorted, gesturing with a flick of his hand to a group of burly men behind him. They appeared to be exasperated, struggling in fact- trying to move a large group of trunks onto horse carriages to be taken off, “Oi’ know ye’ve got places te’ be, laddie - but we could use a couple more hands here and you’re just so-”
“Useful?” Finished the disgruntled youth, his face dripping with resentment. He then cast his gaze to the struggling workers and contorted his own visage into a familiar grimace “So even off a ship my character is nothing but useful? And once I run dry of such a trait, am I nothing?” He queried to the seaman, heaving a sigh as he set down his belongings and went to aid them.
“Well, not only that, lad.” The man responded, raising a hand to scratch at his unkempt facial hair. “Ye shouldn’t only associate yourself with being useful ‘cause you are useful,” He wheezed, stifling a chesty cough. “But ah - there’s notin’ wrong with helpin’ others now ‘n again.” He spoke, in that weathered sailors accent, clearly choosing his words delicately. “You’ll come to find that people‘ll grow to appreciate ye for it, like when ye helped the ship physician tend to folks on board when they were ill with somethin’ awful - we all appreciate ye for that ye know.”
“...” Demetriyus spoke not a word at first, pondering the response deeply as he continued with his labour. He looked over to the sun, which now was in its terminal stages of the day, fading on the horizon as its counterpart rose in the east. “Perhaps… perhaps I have been hasty in my conclusions. Forgive me, sir- I- ...” Letting out another gasp as he finished transporting the cargo upon that carriage. The other workers began to prepare for departure from the port. “I- understand that my curse for these early years of my life is the feelings of inadequacy one receives from those they love.” He confessed, now becoming gradually more emotional with his recollections “I have a great many siblings, you understand. Spawned with many fathers from my… uh, mother.”
“Oh?” Spoke the vast figure, now listening intently to the youth’s spiel, motioning for the carriage to stay the horses a moment longer so he might hear the rest. “So ye say? Was ‘tis the reason ye left them to go on the voyage?”
The scion tilted his head slightly, unsure of himself “I- thought so, initially? But now I find myself returning and wanting very badly to see them.” He stated rather dreamily, running a hand through his cornish locks “I only wanted attention, truly - perhaps I was too blind to see that they gave it.” Said he, now beginning to doubt even his own furthest memories, and trying desperately to recall “No… no, I can’t recall now - it would be too late anyways… At least perhaps they would regard me with warmth when I return, and I can continue being useful to them...”
“Or… '' Spoke the broad-shoulder man, a suggestion forming in his mind “Ye might find yourself travellin’ someplace new like voyagers tend to do, hm? Ye might take yer time returning, instead - see this world before goin’ on another odyssey like that again?” The mirthful titan suggested, shrugging his heavy shoulders and craning his neck to face the swiftly darkening skies dotted with stars emerging as fast as the last rays of sunlight subsided. “I’ve seen a fair bit of the world, lad. Still a fine place for someone to make sometin’ of themselves. Least try it before ye sail away from it, because ye can be a help to anyone anywhere if ye try.”
“It’s not a wholly unpleasant idea, I imagine.”
“Nay, ‘tisn't hard either.”
“But how does one begin such a metamorphosis of character?”
“Simple. Ye find somethin’ yer good at and ye pursue it.”
“Ah.” The youth frowned, considering the notion delicately “I suppose it’s a start along the path to fulfilment.” He quipped, turning over to look at the other men, supposedly growing impatient as they awaited their last associate to join them “It’s an idea nonetheless.”
The seaman bobbed his head wistfully, then glanced over to his company and began to trudge off towards them. A few moments of stillness ensue between the pair, Demetriyus still standing in that dirt path and staring skyward to the stars, appearing to still be in semblance of deep thought.
“Would we be heading yer way?” Suddenly the seaman spoke up, not having even turned back to the youth, as he still made his way down the path slowly.
Demetriyus considered this a moment, then swiftly produced a weathered map from his various ephemeral collections. He scanned over it with his eyes, his orbs tracing over to where he needed to be, and saw that where they headed was far out of his way. “No - actually, you’re nowhere near it.” He replied bluntly, pausing then to reflect on the man’s wisdom. “But then again, perhaps my way isn’t the path I need to venture on right now.” He finished, looking over to the fellow with a weak smile.
“Hah! There ye go lad, takin’ my advice already.” The merry old man laughed hoarsely, turning back and gesturing for his young friend to join his side as they boarded the already full carriage together. “Make room fer’ young Demetriyus!” He called out to the disorderly group, still clamouring for their own sitting spots. They acknowledged his orders and made room for him to sit on the back of the carriage, atop a mound of luggage.
“Alright, we’re ready to move!” Called out one amongst the gaggle to the coachman, who obliged with a resounding crack of his whip and a hearty hyah!,prompting the horses to begin with a slow trot down the long road ahead.
______ { --- } _____
As the night reached its peak, the stars had never been clearer for the young man, this brilliant dance of celestial magnitude filling Demetriyus with such a sense of wonder, the likes of which he did not find often in the day-to-day interactions he shared with those around him. Perhaps it took him a minute to realise it, but the wonder he felt sitting there was only partly due to the breathtaking expanse above him, and mostly drawn from the wisdom of the seaman.
This advice, though well-meaning and mostly passive in nature, had managed to touch him in a way that he’d never felt since his earliest years, not eventhe tales of her own life his mother had whispered to him as he lay in bed every night. He considered this a moment longer, resolving that it was this advice that was worth following in his life, so it may become a fulfilling one for himself.
And with this, the first odyssey of his lifetime was complete. The ending of his childhood, and the notion of a world larger than he initially thought. His infant flights of fancy would retreat to the further corners of his mind, immortalized only as memories, dreams and nightmares forevermore.
And so awaited a new path..
“Never lose that trait, or underestimate how much usefulness is worth and you’ll do just fine.”
_____ { --- } _____
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