“Free”
When you mention ivy walls and blue waterfalls, many assume that you’re trapped in some shape or form: as a princess in a tower, or a kid trying to survive the many dangers hidden within a maze. When I think of ivy walls and blue waterfalls, I imagine something amazing, something magical: ancient ruins, a hiking expedition, or a relaxing day embraced by nature. I think ivy walls have many stories to tell and when you see the ivy, I imagine that each leaf is like a hidden memory; crawling across the ancient history that has been embedded into the wall by unknown hands.
The blue waterfalls are mystical. They are sometimes the epiphany of a wondrous landscape, a hidden door to worlds unknown. They sustain the life around them and are just a sight to behold, no matter how small or where they are discovered. Looking at them can make you feel free and unrestrained, relaxing your innermost thoughts, before you are then opened to the sounds of nature itself. Luckily for me, I got to experience both of these wondrous things.
The ivy walls I visited, were in the ruins of Alna. Surrounded by dense forest, it took several days for our small party of five to reach them. On our last day, as the sun was setting, the ivy that grew on the walls turned amber-gold. Each leaf emitting a soft glow in the dying rays of daylight. Daring, I reached out, taking one such leaf into the palm of my hand, caressing it. The leaf seemed to hum with energy then, the edges growing brighter before a burst of light blinded me and a flood of memories overwhelmed my sense of reality and fantasy: a father, dressed in a cloth-sack, teaching his son how to create mortar; a woman, bringing lunch to a soldier during the Bian War; a child wearing traditional garb, climbing the walls with his tribeskin. When the flood ceased and reality settled once more, I knew that this place was special and that it needed protection. I then formed an organization and after many years, I then moved on from the ruins of Alna to the waterfalls of Ceruan.
The waterfalls were equally as amazing. This time crossing the vast expanse of the Denu Desert, to the far reaches of its northeastern-most corner that borders Seruq; the oasis was well-hidden. After traveling for six months, our small group of five arrived with little to no coherence. The desert was known for its magical illusions, often leading many astray, but as a desert dweller myself, I treaded the hot sands with a fervor few could match...
It took us another day and a half to reach the waterfalls. The air, once hot and dry, suddenly cooled and filled with life. It sated our thirst and our bodies cries for comfort, and breathed new life into our small company. Many of us smiled, admiring the falls and their majestic, yet natural design. Others laughed and played in their shallow pools. I, on the other hand, stared at the biggest waterfall. With water that reflected the sky like a living mirage, the fall arched like an elegant dancer: the hands connecting the earth from above, the body letting the water flow freely as it traversed between earth and sky, and the feet disappearing into a watery shadow below at the base.
Holding a hand out, I whispered in the ancient tongue of the Ceruanian people. Slowly, the water parted, its’ blue current pulled apart like a curtain. Near the base, a small area of dark shale is revealed. Walking across the shallow pool, I passed the curtain and stood in front of the odd-looking rock. Touching its cool, slick surface, I accidentally cut myself. Biting back a curse, I watch as the layers peel-away and behind them, a door of exquisite make. Made with wood similar to black walnut, lined with silver filigree and inlaid with beautiful sapphires; the door inexplicably led to an unknown world. Grasping the polished, silver latch, I move the lock bolt and upon opening; brilliant light surrounded me and sounds of ancient words drifted through, gentle like the waves that hesitantly touch the sands of the shore. Smiling, I walk through and close the door, wondering what awaits me. Wondering if this new world is “free”.