"But..." said Salas Elder, a bitter taste suddenly appearing on his face, "suddenly, Prophetic God Kagawus stopped contacting us. And though we could still use our power of prophecy, for so reason, it beca more blurred and obscure—as if it had weakened."
As Basel listened to Salas Elder’s story, his carving knife did not stop. He recorded the elder’s sadness on the plank of wood in his hands.
That night, Basel heard many things about the Three-eyed Ape People.
For instance, there are actually several tribes of the Three-eyed Ape People, each living in an oasis, and they communicate with each other, treating the tribe where Salas Elder lived as the most respected. Every year, they would offer a great amount of spices and coconut dates.
Another thing ntioned was that living in the desert with its arid climate and scarce large beasts, the primary diet of the Three-eyed Ape People consists of coconut dates and coconut date leaves, and they have written many poems praising the coconut date.
To the Three-eyed Ape People, these brown coconut dates were the source of life, the only source of sweetness in the barren desert. They beca associated with the Prophetic God Kagawus, even using the coconut date tree to represent him.
All this and more, Basel ticulously recorded, filling three large wood planks. Once back in the Logos Kingdom, he would present them to King Dovlo.
The eastern sky gradually showed the white belly of dawn, the night like a thin veil slowly fading to reveal another part of the sky.
"My friend, you have heard much about our stories," said the downtrodden poet, turning to see the kind and wise expression in Salas Elder’s eyes, "In the future, will you share the stories of the Logos people with us?
As an elder, I am curious to hear about your views on life, poetry, and the Divine."
Life, poetry, the Divine.
These were eternal motifs in every early civilization.
...
...
...
...
...
The next morning, having declined further hospitality from the Three-eyed Ape People, the group from Logos was ready to leave and return to their kingdom.
Basel carried the recorded wood planks on his back, the precious fruits of his journey.
These records contained not only the lifestyle, architecture, poetry, Divine worship, and legendary stories of the Three-eyed Ape People but also Basel’s own observations and comntary about this race.
Of course, they also included the prophetic power which had left Basel in amazent; he recollected all the myths and legends and found that no Logos had ever possessed such a peculiar ability.
A few from Logos set out on their journey ho, bearing spices gifted by the Three-eyed Ape People.
Little and big Three-eyed Apes gathered around, cheering and sending off the people from Logos, praising their looks and character, ever hopeful for the generous gifts the Logos people would bring in the future.
Three-eyed Ape children clustered together, using their best words to address the group from Logos.
"White-haired ape-people!"
"What are you saying, we should call them pointy-eared!"
"That’s not good either!"
The children’s innocent squabbling and noise added charm to the whole departure scene.
Then, a little girl gazed at the group of handso Logos people.
"The right word would be..."
She seed a bit srized, suddenly saying,
"Elves!"
"Elves? That’s really nice!"
"Let’s call them Elves!"
"Hey,
Elves!"
The children cheerfully shouted the na they had thought of for the Logos people, unrestrained and joyful.
The na was short and beautiful, unlike the more cumberso Logos.
In the tis to co, people wouldn’t know that the word "Elves" was originally a nickna given to the people from Logos by the innocent and kind-hearted children.
The figures of the Logos people gradually disappeared over the horizon amid the cheering crowd.
Previously, the Logos group had promised to bring wheat, cattle, sheep, and pottery to the Three-eyed Ape People...
They were going to declare friendship.
Every single Three-eyed Ape believed this unquestionably.
Without a doubt,
The Logos people would usher in happiness for generations to co.
However,
For the entire race’s future,
Would the friendship with the Logos people turn out to be a happiness that lasted for a thousand years,
Or a calamity unprecedented in history?
...
...
...
...
...
After the Logos vanguard returned to the Logos Kingdom, they were imdiately received by King Dovlo.
Within the stone-built Palace, Bandi gazed up at the figure seated upon the throne.
Beside this father who didn’t recognize him, stood his heir to the Kingdom—Rui Ying.
Rui Ying was tall and handso, with eyes that sparkled at all tis, and at this mont, he was looking down at the returning vanguard, just like his father.
Bandi knew that he, the illegitimate son, was also being looked down upon by this prince.
"My King, the Three-eyed Ape People have been most friendly towards us," Lan Boxi began, "They wish to declare friendship with us and share the wisdom we have always possessed."
Lan Boxi pushed forward a wooden chest that sat before him, then continued:
"These are the gifts from the Three-eyed Ape People."
King Dovlo waved his hand, commanding in his authoritative voice,
"Open it and let’s have a look."
Upon hearing the command, the Huntress Hiboli put down the lid, and instantly, the wooden chest revealed a kaleidoscope of spices in front of everyone present.
The Nobles in attendance, with their keen sense of sll, detected the exotic aroma coming from within, and could not help but stare in awe.
It was all spices!
Even the well-traveled King Dovlo took notice.
"Is this... truly a gift they have offered us?"
"My King, every person here can bear witness for ,"
said Lan Boxi.
After scanning the others and confirming their assenting looks, King Dovlo no longer held any doubts.
At this point, Bandi suddenly stepped forward, picked up a small wooden box from the chest, and presented it to King Dovlo.
Faced with Bandi’s unexpected action, Lan Boxi was caught off guard and didn’t manage to intervene,
for it should have been him, the leader of the group, to present these treasures to the King.
Bandi spoke with a reverent voice:
"My King,
this is the most precious gift from the Three-eyed Ape People, and it is the most prized spice here!"
King Dovlo cast a complex glance at his illegitimate son, maintaining his due dignity, commanded,
"Open it."
Bandi opened the wooden box, revealing the pale yellow, semi-transparent frankincense inside that shimred golden in the sunlight.
King Dovlo leaned forward, his attention captured by the spice before him,
The spices the Nobles of Logos were accustod to were mostly gloomy gray or black whale ambergris, and because of the craftsn’s unrefined skills, often emitted a faint odor of excrent upon initial burning.
However, the spice before King Dovlo was pale yellow, and he slled no stench, only a faint, delicate fragrance.
"What is this?"
King Dovlo couldn’t help asking.
"My King, this is frankincense, a special gift from Elder Salas intended specifically for you,"
Bandi then started to lavish praise upon the frankincense in his hands.
He drew upon all the poetry he had learned, just to ensure that the frankincense left a favorable impression on King Dovlo.
Of course, it was also to ensure that he, as the illegitimate son, left a favorable impression on King Dovlo.
One could hear King Dovlo gesture and say,
"Rui Ying, bring the frankincense to ."
As his words fell to the ground,
the illegitimate son Bandi froze for a mont.
One could then see Prince Rui Ying slowly descending the steps, looking contemptuously at his half-brother, before stretching out his hand.
Bandi bit his lip, forced out a smile, and then handed the box of frankincense into Rui Ying’s hands.
Rui Ying took the frankincense and turned to present it to his father, King Dovlo.
King Dovlo received the box, looking at the gold-like raisins of frankincense, repeatedly expressing his admiration.
Bandi watched King Dovlo intently, waiting for his next move.
His own royal father...
What would he do next?
Would he bestow a reward upon him?
Or would he offer so words of high praise?
Bandi watched King Dovlo with great anticipation, absorbing every nuance of his father’s expression.
From the exalted and grand King’s Throne,
one could only hear King Dovlo say:
"Rui Ying,
I shall bestow half of this frankincense to you and your mother."
Bandi listened dumbfounded to these words.
The words of King Dovlo, filled with affection and warmth towards his prince, pierced directly through the heart of the illegitimate son.
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