Amoral Village Head

The day turned out to bring no difference than the previous. I continued to struggle in using my gift. The end of the session always left me feeling like someone put me through a grinder.

It become a routine to go through this every day. As the old head planned we moved to the first section of the Orchard. It wasn't without price as we lost two trees in the days before our group could move on to the seventh section from sixth bringing the tally to three.

I slept with Tulga in the orchard itself everyday and noticed that she was becoming increasingly tired and irritant. She said she is always having a headache now and would have to stop after the seventh section to take rest. It seemed to be the case with most of our group.

Ochi had to stop and rest for an entire day even while in the sixth section and told me he still doesn't feel good. I looked worriedly at our group as they continued to push themselves eventhough they promised the old head to take rest as soon as they got a headache.

Tulga consoled me saying they have been in similar situation before and they knew instinctually when continuing to use our gift will cause harm. I remembered the sick feeling, i get when i use my gift beyond a certain time and thought nobody would miss the warning.

The most suprising thing i learned during these days was about Sarnai. Ochi and Zhambul found it hard to work in the night as Zhambul had to drill holes in correct sections. Eventhough we had moonlight to vaguely feel the shape of the zukr vine which was enough for the others it wasn't for him.

The old man struggled to see clearly in the night and would drill his holes sideways into the trunk instead of straight down.Everytime after using his gift, he will feel the hole with his hands and redo it if it wasn't done correctly. More than the time wasted when this happened it is the waste of his gift that irked him.

He went to talk with the old head one day and came back looking pleased. I learned the reason for it that night. My old group consisting of Sarnai, Oyuun and Jargal continued to work with us everyday helping in picking fruits and cleaning the leaves. That day like usual they left when the sun set except Sarnai who stayed.

Sarnai brought her own Charpoy and slept in the Orchard. When the night came she activated her gift to help Zhambul. When she did it the first time, I was with Tulga and seeing a light suddenly shinning in the middle of the dark forest went to see it.

That's how i learned, she was literally a human torchlight and was flashing lights on the sections of the vine Zhambul was working on. She told me when asked that she can increase the intensity of her light but not the area it shines on. It sometimes fascinates me how many varieties of gifts the villagers have.