Avug's saga, chapter 4

A question lingers after truth has been spoken. Avug has learned why she is different — and what that difference costs. Now she tests the edges of it.

He speaks of portals and knowledge measured across thousands of lives. Avug listens. She understands more than he expects.

Chapter four of four, where knowledge is structured, futures are rationed, and a child measures herself against a system that has already decided her place — and answers it with quiet defiance.

Transcript

Presenter 0:02

You are listening to stories from Väruld. In this episode, Avug Saga Chapter 4, the final chapter.

Narrator 0:19

As she worked, Avug considered what Master Makt had told her. She crawled under the mechanical table and watched the cogwheel's slow movements. Were all groons except her stupid? Were they held that way deliberately? She felt a hand grab her ankle and she was pulled out.

Priest 0:44

What are you doing under there?

Narrator 0:47

She stared up into the face of a young priest. A bruni, of course. No grön could ever become a priest.

Avug 0:58

Thinking.

Priest 1:00

Thinking? I've never heard any grön saying bat before. What were you thinking about?

Narrator 1:08

The cogwheels, how they turn. The priest let go of her ankle.

Priest 1:14

Get to your feet, girl.

Narrator 1:16

She did. The priest pointed at the surface of the table.

Priest 1:22

Do you know what this is?

Narrator 1:24

She shook her head.

Priest 1:26

This?

Narrator 1:27

He pointed at the golden hemisphere bulging out in the middle.

Priest 1:31

This is Modhir, our sun. And this?

Narrator 1:34

He gestured towards the three oval tracks around it.

Priest 1:38

Are the orbits of Modhir's three planets? We are on this one.

Narrator 1:44

He said and put his finger on the middle one of the three small orbs, each on its track. He watched her. She watched the table. Nothing moved up here. It was far more interesting to watch the cogwheels underneath. She shrugged.

Avug 2:07

So?

Narrator 2:07

He looked shocked, but got his wits back after a moment.

Priest 2:12

The mechanics you enjoyed? Move these planets and tell us where we are. Tell us when autumn will come, for instance. Look here, it is even marked on the table when the seasons change.

Avug 2:23

Mom says she was born in the spring, so I'll probably live all my life in the summer.

Priest 2:30

You probably will, child, but the world and time are bigger than one life. And if we don't remember that, we will never learn.

Avug 2:39

Will we forget there are seasons without this?

Narrator 2:42

She pointed at the table. He smiled at a tone of irony.

Priest 2:48

Perhaps not. But something will happen during your lifetime that we know of because of this table. That no one without a table like this cannot possibly know. Because the last time it happened was thousands and thousands of lifetimes ago.

Avug 3:04

What?

Priest 3:05

The planets will be aligned, and when they do...

Avug 3:08

Are the portals for real?

Narrator 3:10

The young priest nodded.

Priest 3:12

Yes, you're standing next to one. It will open and take you to Ofsen.

Narrator 3:18

Avug placed her hand on the cold stone wall that was said to be a portal.

Avug 3:24

Me?

Priest 3:25

Well, not you exactly.

Narrator 3:28

Because I'm a grön, right? Avug stared at the portal and then at the table.

Avug 3:35

When?

Priest 3:36

You'll be a mother several times before the time comes.

Narrator 3:40

She nodded to this. Then she had to take the children with her and the father. She returned to her broom.

Avug 3:49

Excuse me, Master Priest. My break is over.

Presenter 4:00

Thank you for listening to Stories from Väruld. In the next episode, Prayer to Blomster and Brander.