The Strange Tale of Mr Valens; Part 4

Let us not lend our ears to every sorrow that breaks forth from the depths of our soul; such anguish can only be answered within the realms of crafted realities, where illusion takes the shape of truth. In Valens’s strange world, there is no longer any place for destructive anxiety. In this mysterious land where oddities roam freely, we shall no longer give credence to the wickedness that once dragged us into despair.

We shall never surrender to the poisonous vines that entwine our spirit, but declare war upon that feeble fear which pulls us toward the dark. Though we may stumble at times and falter in judgment, we shall not bow to weakness, but instead find strength in lifting one another by the hand. So then, hesitate not to offer your gratitude for it was I who summoned you, to join in this singular dance born upon the freest soil of my soul. I am content, truly, to share with you this journey into the depths of my being, and to open before you, with brave uncertainty, the vast inner world whose contents I cannot yet foresee.

Let us return to our journey, and now take the time to meet the other heroes of our tale besides Valens. For we must grant Valens a moment’s respite, that the storm of emotion and deep unease swelling within him like a restless sea might somewhat settle. I understand that fool well, and I do not blame him for his state. Still, I shall not allow these feelings however deep-rooted in his soul to prevent me from telling the story. I fear not the small troubles that may arise along the way. I shall whisper to you a few things about Darin, Telder, and Gabarin. Yet do not think I have forgotten Nole for thoughts of her have always drifted up from the mysterious corridors of Valens’s mind.

We won’t be joined by many companions on this journey, but we shall have more than enough time to become well acquainted with the four who dared to walk this path alongside Valens. With the course of events already so strange and bewildering, Valens would rather not let the confusion deepen by introducing too many characters at once. He had grown weary of the empty crowds that once surrounded him that’s why he set out on this strange journey to begin with.

Thus, he chose to show us only a few close companions beyond himself. Darin, whose every gesture is steeped in joy, sometimes speaks with a sorrow that rises quietly from the depths of his heart. Telder’s gaze is sharper than venom, and every move he makes invites suspicion. And Gabarin though his eyes are blind remains unhindered in sensing the strangest of dreams. As for Nole, she was far more than the lost little girl whose name is so rarely spoken.

There are times when, no matter what we do, certain feelings hold us back from dancing. We must pause for stillness brings calm. At times, a touch of sorrow is needed, if only to soothe and mature the soul. In such moments, let us not rebel, but lower the volume of the music, and listen instead to the darker melodies that rise from the depths of our spirit. Let us do so, that we may feel the joy to come with greater clarity and deeper fire as we walk toward the light.

When the soul yearns to purge itself of what it holds within, let us grant it time; let us not place obstacles before it or resist its need. And may we recognize what it is we seek to be free from. Let us reflect on the harm that needless resistance can cause, and at times do as Valens does: lean back, as though watching a scene unfold upon the screen, and simply observe what comes to pass.

Just like Darin, let us not fear shouldering the heaviest burdens, nor sacrifice our joy along the way. For every hardship we face in life may well be the price we pay for the joyful days that await us. And so, with an unyielding optimism, let us welcome all that life chooses to place before us.

Darin possessed a joy unlike any other so rare that not even dreams dared to contain it, a joy that sowed seeds of hope in the hearts of those he merely passed by. He seemed to exist not for himself, but as if he had been created for the sake of others. His kindness was given freely, without condition; he took no offense at the words of others and carried those who listened to him into a world untouched by drama or despair.

Yet for all the light he offered, he expected nothing in return. Though he appeared to live for others, the truth was quite the opposite for the hope and joy he spread were always, at their core, meant for his own heart. All of Darin’s cheerful ways and the gentle grace he showed were part of a quiet ritual, crafted to comfort himself more than anyone else. The songs he hummed reached not so much the ears of others, but the very depths of his own soul.

When Darin begins to offer his counsel, his voice shifts at once the tone deepens suddenly, taking on a rich and steady weight. Yet the echo that rises from within him brings not fear, but a strange and stirring excitement to those who hear it. One must wait, without haste, and listen without interruption for if you can truly hear this voice, then you were chosen by Darin long ago.

Lend your ear to his words of quiet wisdom, and let this journey be colored anew before Valens’s strange desires rise again. And if Darin should begin to hum a tune, even the insects deep within the forest will dance without hesitation. Every color around him sharpens into its most vivid hue. Every creature that heeds the melody feels its spirit lift, and forgets its burdens without even knowing why. And just like that, all those dark dreams vanish.

On this strange journey, Darin’s deepest motivation was the hope of reaching the Hollow of Palefor, for he had tucked all his cherished childhood memories into that sacred fold. The village where he had lived and grown, nestled in the heart of Bogascallough Vale just beyond the hills that concealed the Hollow, lay with its back against the Malahirol Mountains, and before it flowed the Mojori River clear as crystal, whispering with ancient light.

It was there he made his first friends; indeed, it was in that very place that he met Valens for the first time. And not only Valens, but Nole and Telder as well Darin had encountered them all in this enchanted corner of the world. It was a home unlike any other, where their earliest memories took root, and one that held immeasurable meaning for each of them.

Whenever one of these peculiar souls began to feel low, the others would take him to the edge of Lake Sebra, nestled just beyond the Malahirol Mountains. It was a place so hidden that no one but our eccentrics even knew it existed. Surrounded entirely by mountains, the lake lay within a mysterious hollow, and because it was not particularly large, none of the locals had ever bothered to seek it out. To reach the path leading to the lake, one had to pass through a narrow passageway on the river-facing side of the Malahirol range.

This was in fact the only path leading to Lake Sebra, and they had discovered it during a forest walk led by Darin. Of course it was usually Gabarin who acted as the true guide, and he was always the one to decide which route they would follow. But Darin could not bear to see anyone unhappy, especially if it was a friend; he simply could not accept it.

And so they discovered the hidden path to Sebra and with it lost that heavy cloud of fear and shadow that once hovered over them. Whenever they reached the lake and shared their sorrow with its clear waters, the lake would whisper something back to them, something that stirred hope in their hearts. For those who were willing to listen, the doors of reflection would open wide into the land of Valens, where strangeness roamed without end.

In truth, it wasn’t only Darin each of these companions longed to reach the very same place. For they all yearned, one final time, to feel those unspoiled emotions, those untainted desires, those unburdened feelings, those minds yet untouched by dullness, those dreams not worn thin, and the hopes that had not yet been lost.

Their true purpose was to feel, once more, that they were living life in its fullest depths. Four travelers who loved one another without condition, without motive or expectation, and a strange dog at their side to guide them toward Palefor Hollow that is the beginning of the curious tale of Mister Valens.