The camera flickered on at the sight of a blue cold hill. It got a nice view of its topside, a lush patch of land filled with all kinds of flora. It was still dawn and there was no sun rising from the horizon yet. Yet despite the early period, there were already crowds of young mares gathered on top of the hill. They were quietly chanting some sort of prayer, all in unison. They were wearing white ceremonial robes, a stark contrast to the soft lighting that the blue hill they were standing on projected. The screen turned to look at Lei, who was standing beside the camera the entire time. Like the other mares, she was also wearing a white robe. She, however, was not praying alongside them. She instead looked bored, like she doesn’t want to be there.
“Why did we have to continue the interview here?” Mark asked. His voice sounded groggy, clearly he just woke up a couple moments ago.
“Just bear with me on this one,” Lei said without looking at the camera. “I want you to keep me company until the mares here are done chanting.”
Marker let out a yawn before he could reply. “If you say so.”
“Thanks for showing up though. I hated doing the dawn prayers. I’m so glad that I won’t be doing them anymore because you know…”
Once more, there was a brief moment of silence.
“It’s just a joke!” Lei laughed as she looked at the camera. “I’m the one dying here but you look sadder than me!” All the mares near Lei quickly shushed her for interrupting the serene moment that they were building for quite some time now.
“Oops.” Lei said as she scratched the back of her head.
“It’d be best if we keep quiet for now.”
“Yes, yes.” Lei agreed.
After the dawn prayers were done. All the mares who participated in the ceremony descended towards the beach for breakfast. There were rows of tables that were filled to the brim with food just waiting for them. Some were so eager to have their first meal of the day that they skipped walking and opted to rush down the tables instead. As Lei and Marker arrived at the beach, the camera caught sight of the food that was being served to the participants.
The tables were filled with freshly cooked rice and assorted cooked vegetables that were placed down on banana leaves. They emanated a rather appetizing scent, perfect for those who just woke up with an empty stomach. The mares spared no time digging in. Everyone was enjoying their meal while having an idle chat here and there. It was a festive sight, a refreshing change of pace from the somber praying just moments before.
“Where are all the stallions?” Marker asked Lei. “I feel a bit out of place here.”
“They left after preparing breakfast,” Lei answered before shoving down a sizable portion in her mouth. “The dawn prayers are for young mares only, Heartfire’s future tributes.”
“And I’m an exception because…”
“Because you’re with me, simple as that.”
“Of course.”
Lei grabbed a thermos from the table a poured herself a cup of coffee. “Eat up. All the vegetables here are freshly picked. Ooh!” She pointed a finger at a large steamed potato that was barely touched yet. “Pick that! My father and brothers grew that one!”
The camera panned on the same beach that the mares from earlier had breakfast on, except it was now evening. The tables from earlier were no longer there, instead they were replaced with rows of torches that softly illuminate the beach with a warm orange glow. Unlike from hours ago which was filled with merry chatting mares, the beach was now mostly empty this time aside from the typical couple that took a leisurely stroll at night. The place was quieter too, with the only sounds breaking the silence being the sounds of the waves and nightly breeze. A figure of a picnic table at the corner of the screen caught Marker’s attention. He walked towards it and took a seat.
“Sorry I’m late!” The screen turned to look at the source of the voice. It was Lei, she was carrying a saddle bag stuffed with plastic containers.
“What took you so long?” Marker asked.
“I kinda slept in.” Lei flashed an apologetic smile. “It’s still four in the afternoon, right?”
“It’s already six.”
Lei laughed at Marker’s reply. “I know. I’m just kidding.” She placed her bag on top of the picnic table and sat at the seat adjacent to him.
“Let’s proceed with the interview.” Marker said. “I don’t want to be late for tonight’s feast.”
“Oh, I already brought our share here.” Lei said as she opened her bag and unloaded all the contents inside on the table. “I took as much deep-fried water spinach as I can carry. You liked its crispy leaves, right?” She opened a plastic box and revealed what was inside, nothing but chopped strips of the deep fried dish. “This right here is filled with nothing but water spinach!”
“You didn’t have to go through such trouble for me. But still, thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” Lei said. “It’s the least I could do for being late anyway.”
“Speaking of being late, we should start the interview now.”
“Oh sure, sure.” Lei paused before continuing. “Can I eat during the interview?”
“I don’t see why not.”
“Nice!” Lei said as she opened the remaining plastic containers and began to dig in.
“So how did you feel upon knowing that you’re this decade’s tribute?”
Once the question registered inside her head, Lei instantly stared at the camera with a dumbfounded look. She was halfway done from chewing her food when Marker sprung the question at her, which gave her a squirrel-like appearance with those stuffed cheeks of hers. She made the silent but also awkward gesture of gulping down her food as she continued to stare at the camera.
“Sorry.” Marker apologised. “I shouldn’t have started with a question that heavy.”
“No, it’s fine. I can answer it.” Lei reassured him. “I was sad when I heard about it, of course. Sad and scared. Sad that I won’t get to live as an old lady like I wanted to, and scared of whatever happens after I die.”
“Does your religion have an established afterlife of some sort?”
“For the tributes, there’s one. Legend has it that all sacrificed tributes are living inside the volcano, sitting with Kelayo at his table of gold in the banquet of eternity. As for Hearfire’s common citizen however, their souls will be laid on top of a table made of stone. Then one of Kelayo’s servants of fire will open up their chests with a knife and, rip out their hearts. If their heart glows bright, they’re allowed to join the banquet, but if their heart is darker than the night, then the servants will turn their souls into appetizers for Kelayo to feast on.”
“That sounds painful.”
Lei folded in her arms in contemplation. “I don’t believe in it though.”
“You don’t believe in it?”
“I think it’s nonsense.”
“But you said you were scared of it just now.”
“Oh I’m scared, just not with that.” Lei quickly answered. “The thing that scares me the most when I die is not that mumbo jumbo legend, but the cold dark nothingness that death itself brings. I’ll be all alone, in a completely black place, no one to talk to, can’t tell what day it is, imprisoned in a sea of total darkness….forever and ever.”
“I have to admit, that does sound scary.”
“I know right?” Lei said as she took another helping of her dinner.
“Let’s uh, move on to the next question.”
Lei hummed in agreement as she stuffed her cheeks with food once more.
“Has the thought of running away ever crossed your mind?”
Lei immediately gulped her food down to answer the question. “No. Why would I think of something like that when the lives of many are at stake?” A sly smirk formed on her face. “But if it were you though, do you want me to run away?” She rested her face on the back of her hands, eagerly awaiting Marker’s answer.
“I-uh…” John was a bit taken aback by Lei’s question. “Why are you asking me that question?”
Lei’s smirk grew wider. “I just want to know your thoughts about this entire matter, that’s all.”
“I-I see.”
“So do you want me to run away?”
“I really don’t want to answer that.”
“Oh come on.” Lei leaned in closer. “It will be just for the two us.” She whispered the last part to make it sound more intimate.
Marker let out a drawn-out sigh before he could reply. “Morally? No. Personally?” There was a pregnant pause before he could continue.
“Yes.”
“Aww.” Lei’s sly smirk was replaced with one of sincerity. “You do care for me.”
“Don’t tell anyone I said that. Ever.”
“I’ll take it to the grave.” It took a while before Lei realized what she just said. But when she did, her eyes went wide and her face made an expression like a bell has suddenly rung inside her head. She then erupted into laughter.
“Oh Celestia.” Marker said, all the while snorting. “I’m such a terrible person for laughing at that.” His words may have said one thing but his actions spoke another. He was trying his best not to laugh at Lei’s impromptu joke, but he was failing spectacularly.
“You’re loosening up.” Lei said, her smile never fading. “I like that.”
Marker cleared his throat in a half-baked attempt to ease out the building tension. “Next question…”
Lei let out a loud audible groan. “I’m so full!” She patted her belly with full hands to emphasize her point. I need a walk after that meal. Let’s continue the interview as we take a walk at the beach!
The camera panned its view back at the beach. The scenery was still quite the same save for the fact that it got dark now than it was several minutes ago. The sun was almost gone from the horizon but some of its light still lingered on the clouds at the far end. The salty night breeze caressed the skins of those outside with its cool tender touch. The flames from the rows of torches danced around it too. They looked like tiny fiery women dancing atop a slender stage made of bamboo. It was a hypnotizing sight, no wonder why moths have developed a fascination for their destructive beauty.
As the camera continued to scan the beach, several couples could be seen within the vicinity. Some of them were just taking a casual stroll, while those that kept out of the torches’ light were probably up to something indecent. Those people can’t be blamed of course, the atmosphere that this place created was bound to set the tone for situations like that.
“I think it’s getting late.” Marker said as he read the mood clearly and decided to bail out before things could escalate to the wrong direction. “We should continue the interview tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay.” Lei said, disappointment apparent in her tone.
Marker immediately packed up whatever few things he brought in that picnic table and rushed off, but not without looking back at Lei first.
“Thank you for the food.”