GODAN GEARLOCK: Godan & The Water Goddess Stone

Godan, Jomie, and Marta stepped cautiously into the ancient ruins. The air was thick with the scent of dust and damp earth, mingling with the coldness of the twilight. The fading sunlight filtered through cracks in the crumbling walls, casting shifting patterns of shadows across the fractured stone floor.

"This is truly a temple…" Marta murmured, her gaze lifting to the massive arch of what used to be the roof, now overrun with tree roots dangling like claws.

"I didn't expect it to be this large," Jomie added, his voice tinged with awe, though he tried to mask it.

He swept his eyes around the space, taking in the towering walls adorned with ancient carvings, many worn down by time.

Godan led the way, his focus set on the long corridor he had ventured through the previous night. Now, in the fading daylight, he could see details that had been hidden in the shadows before.

The carvings depicted robed figures, their hands outstretched toward a massive, gem-like stone that radiated blue light. Beneath it, rivers and streams flowed, encircling a grand city—Somara in its golden age.

"This… this is the history of Somara," Godan said, pausing to study the carvings more closely. "Look, water and trees were everywhere. This city was full of life."

Marta cautiously touched the wall, her fingers tracing the figure holding the giant stone.

"And this stone, the Water Goddess Stone, right? If these carvings are true, it looks like the stone was the source of all the water for the city."

"Yes, and now look at us…" Jomie muttered, his gaze falling to the hard, dusty ground—soil so barren even grass refused to grow.

"Let's keep moving," Godan said, shaking off the wave of melancholy threatening to consume him. He pressed onward down the corridor, with Marta and Jomie falling into step behind him.

* * * * *

The corridor eventually opened into a vast chamber. The roof had long since collapsed, allowing the polluted twilight to cast an orange-gray glow over the space.

In the center of the room stood a massive pillar. At its top was a circular indentation, like a cradle that once held something precious.

"That… must be it," Godan said, stepping forward. He pointed to the pillar, his face lighting up as though he had found exactly what he'd been searching for. "This is where the stone was placed."

He recalled touching it the previous night, just before the blue light vanished. The three of them drew closer, carefully examining the pillar. Around its base were more carvings, showing priests standing in a circle around the stone, while water flowed from beneath the pillar, spreading out to nourish the city.

"This is incredible," Marta said, her voice filled with wonder. "Imagine, in a city of trash, a single stone once brought water to everyone, giving life to everything. And now, there's only dust."

"But where is the stone now?" Jomie asked, inspecting the empty indentation atop the pillar. "It's gone. It's been missing for a very long time."

Godan approached the pillar, hoping to feel something—coldness, vibrations, or perhaps even the whispers he had heard the night before. But there was nothing. It felt completely empty.

"Wait," Marta suddenly said, her eyes fixed on one of the carvings near the base of the pillar. "There's something here."

She crouched down, brushing away the dust covering the carving. It revealed a rough map, with a symbol resembling the temple at its center. Radiating from the temple were lines connecting to three other points, as though marking other locations tied to the Water Goddess Stone.

"This could be a clue," Marta said excitedly. "If the stone isn't here anymore, maybe this shows where it is now."

Godan stared intently at the carving. "So, the stone… was hidden? Or moved?"

"Maybe," Jomie replied. "But who moved it? And why?"

"Or stolen?" Marta added.

Before they could discuss further, a faint rumble echoed from above. The three of them glanced up to see small chunks of stone falling from the chamber's upper walls.

"We need to move," Godan said. "This structure could collapse at any moment."

They quickly noted down the map's position in Godan's journal and hurried out of the chamber. But as they approached the corridor's entrance, Godan paused, turning back for one last look. Determination burned in his eyes. They would find the stone, no matter how difficult the journey.

By the time they emerged from the ruins, the sun had nearly disappeared, leaving the sky draped in darkness. A cold night wind blew through the air, carrying the familiar scent of dust and garbage from the distant city.

"So, what's our next step?" Jomie asked.

"We track down the locations on that map," Godan replied firmly. "And we find the Water Goddess Stone. It's the only way to save this city."

They walked home in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Despite their fear and doubts, they all understood that this journey was leading them toward something far greater than they had ever imagined. One by one, the secrets of the legend were beginning to unravel, and this time, they were the ones at the center of it all.

* * * * *

The next morning, as the pale sun began to rise on the horizon, Godan, Marta, and Jomie trudged along the narrow, cobblestone path, heading to Mrs. Lenna's tea house.

Along the way, they discussed what they had discovered in the ruins the previous day—carvings, the map, and the potential locations of the Water Goddess Stone.

"I still can't believe we actually found a clue about the stone," Jomie said, shoving his hands into his worn pockets to keep warm. "If the map is real, this could turn into a big adventure."

"A big adventure?" Marta squinted at him, skeptical. "We don't even know how to find the places on that map. Remember, we don't even have a proper map of this city."

Godan walked ahead in silence, lost in thought. He knew their journey wouldn't be easy, but the responsibility of saving Somara—and possibly securing a better life—kept him moving. For now, they had other matters to settle: paying rent for their home.

Mrs. Lenna's tea house was nestled in an alley off a busy street they often passed. The building was modest, its wooden walls weathered and worn, but the aroma of warm tea and soup always made the place feel like a small oasis in the harsh city of waste.

When they arrived, Mrs. Lenna was seated behind her creaky wooden counter, counting a few small coins with a furrowed brow. She looked up and smiled warmly when she saw them.

"Ah, you're here," she said in her gentle voice, though the exhaustion in her face was evident. "What brings you this early?"

"We've come to pay the rent, Mrs. Lenna." Marta replied, pulling out fifteen Delas coins they had painstakingly collected. She placed them carefully on the counter as though afraid the wind might blow them away.

Mrs. Lenna stared at the coins for a moment, her face somber. "Fifteen Delas…" she murmured softly. "I know it's hard for you, but you still make the effort to pay. That's more than enough."

Godan offered a small smile. "We don't want to fall behind, ma'am. Even though the house is falling apart, it's still a roof over our heads. Better than enduring the scorching heat and freezing nights in this city."

The old woman chuckled lightly, though there was a bitter undertone. "Falling apart, huh? Well, you're not wrong. That house has been standing since I was a child, and you know I can't afford to fix it. I'm not exactly rich."

The three nodded in understanding. They knew Mrs. Lenna's struggles weren't much different from theirs—just another fight to survive in this unforgiving city.

Mrs. Lenna studied them for a moment before sighing. "Have you eaten?"

Marta shook her head. "Not yet, ma'am. But it's fine, we'll manage later."

"Hah, don't be foolish," Mrs. Lenna grumbled, getting up from her seat. "Wait here. I'll make you some soup and tea. No charge. I know you need the strength."

The trio exchanged surprised yet grateful looks. "Thank you, ma'am." Godan said sincerely.

Mrs. Lenna disappeared into the small kitchen at the back, leaving them to sit at the old wooden table, scratched and scarred from years of use. A few minutes later, she returned with three bowls of steaming soup and a small pot of tea. The scent of spices filled the room.

"Here," she said, placing the bowls and cups in front of them. "Eat while it's hot."

They didn't waste a moment, diving into the soup with enthusiasm. The meal was simple—just vegetables and a bit of processed meat—but to them, it felt like a feast.

"Mrs.Lenna," Marta said, sipping her tea. "We wanted to ask you something."

"What is it?" Mrs. Lenna asked, watching them with curious eyes.

"Do you know anything about the Water Goddess Stone?" Marta asked directly.

Mrs. Lenna paused, her expression turning thoughtful as if she were trying to recall something from long ago.

"The Water Goddess Stone, huh?" she muttered. "That's an old legend. Back when Somara wasn't the waste city it is now, people believed the stone was the source of water that made the city flourish. But after the stone disappeared, Somara began to fall apart."

"Who took it?" Jomie asked, intrigued.

"No one knows for sure," Mrs. Lenna replied. "Some say it was stolen by outsiders. Others believe the priests themselves hid it because they thought humans no longer deserved it."

Godan listened intently. "So no one ever tried to find it?"

"Oh, plenty have tried," Mrs. Lenna said, stirring her tea. "But no one ever succeeded. Some say the stone is cursed. Those who seek it are doomed to misfortune."

The three exchanged glances. Mrs. Lenna's story not only deepened the mystery surrounding the stone, but it also strengthened their resolve to find it.

"Why are you so interested in the Water Goddess Stone?" Mrs. Lenna asked finally, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

Godan hesitated before answering. "We're just curious, ma'am. If the stone really can save this city, shouldn't someone try to find it?"

The heavyset woman nodded gently. "True… Ah, you're good kids. But be careful, alright? The world isn't always kind to people like us."

"…" Godan and his friends looked puzzled.

"We might have good intentions to restore Somara, but others may not share the same goal." Mrs. Lenna explained.

After finishing their tea and soup, the trio thanked Mrs. Lenna warmly. Marta even hugged the old woman, expressing her gratitude for her kindness. As they left the tea house, their determination to find the stone grew stronger.