An old man is slowly walking uphill. Very few know his age, but everyone can understand, that he has an impressive lot of it. He himself is, naturally, one of those that know.
He knows much; people learn a lot in years and years he has had.
Purposefully he keeps moving higher up along the trail, closer to the peak.
From the peak of this hill you can see everything within dozens of miles. This man was going there for the view, but not to admire it. He had a purpose.
Within years even people learn a great deal.
The weather is slowly getting cloudy. It will rain in the evening.
The old man still keeps going. He had fulfilled his purpose every time.
There’s none left of those, that remember what he was like as a child. Those, who look at him now tend to think that the years haven’t been merciful to him. Some also say it, but the only, invariable answer that the old man gives goes like this: “If you knew what my eyes have seen you would call me young. “
People have tried to find out what he means by that, but he never tells.
He is called the man of the mountains. Only he himself knows, how ironic this name is.
At one time he used to have a name, but it passed away with the last people that knew him.
Sometimes It seemed, that they had been dead for half an eternity. Which wasn’t so wrong at all...
The old man passes past a village. Only thing that the villagers wonder over, is why he isn’t afraid of getting lost in the rain. However, rain is his friend, far more than any of the villagers could figure.
Man of the mountains has been at this very peak many times. Never taking anyone with him. Some have tried to follow him, but despite his sauntering gait he can quickly leave anyone far behind.
This man has lived for ages. He has seen an era, when this valley was not filled with forest, but with a city. So much time has passed, that there is nothing left of the city. However, man of the mountains remembers an even earlier time. The time when people first came to this part of the continent.
Man of the mountains does not consider himself a human, even though he descends from them. It is not known how he has managed to live so long, but he has been old for ages. He is older than the ages. The ages have formed him. Now he has no humane personality. He has a higher purpose now. A purpose that he fulfills despite any circumstances.
The clouds are very dense now. It is slowly getting darker, even though the sun is yet to set. The old man is close to the peak. He feels that it soon is the time.
Having reached the peak he looks around. It is dark, but he can still see the whole valley quite well. Far to the east there is a sea. Closer there is a forest, dotted with villages.
To the west there are enormous mountains, but none as high as this one. The old man closes his eyes.
It is time.
With a tremendous rustle it starts to rain. The drops are eyeball-sized. Almost immediately everything goes pitch black.
And then came the light. It is not sunlight, but something far worse.
Thunder strikes. The rustle of rain is no longer audible. The voice of thunder is suppressing it. The noise is deafening and doesn’t stop for even a single moment.
The rain keeps getting heavier, lightning illuminates the ground and keeps getting brighter.
In the distance a church tower is visible. It catches several lightning bolts, but soon, there’s a mighty flash. The whole valley is illuminated. Then it gets darker again and pieces of the tower are seen flying apart.
Lightning bolts are striking the whole valley. Constantly the forest starts to burn, just to be extinguished by rain.
Water has started to create mud. Entire villages are drowned by it.
Then, as suddenly as it all began, it’s over. The old man opens his eyes. If there was anyone left alive in the valley they would see deep sadness in his face. He, Man of the Mountains, whom even Time hasn’t touched for ages. The valley is now deserted. The forest can breath more freely and the mountains aren’t being dug.
Looking at the valley one can only see an endless forest, dotted with some plain, muddy areas. The old man has seen this view hundreds of times...
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