The Antiqua Compendium: Pu Koh
My right hand rests on my lap, as my left holds The Antiqua Compendium aloft. The hard leather back cover brushes along my left palm, making me feel the rough smoothness of tanned hides. I take a seat in front of my village cottage, seating myself on the grass on the front lawn. A peaceful tranquility lines the golden afternoon skies. The sweet smell of wildflowers wafts through the billowing breeze. This wind pushes and pulls my lengthy brown hair in wild directions.
I take a deep breath. My eyes move towards the cover of The Antiqua Compendium. As I reach to open the book with my right hand, the sound of small hurried footsteps enter my ears.
“Koveeeee!“ A child’s voice echoes through the horizon.
I swivel my sight towards the voice, seeing two small children running towards me. The first is a small brown girl, clad in a clean red and white dress. Her father had tied her hair in cute pigtails. The second is an energetic, petite, pale boy wearing a brown shirt and blue overalls.
“Ah, Daniel!.“ I say as the two arrive, “And Ema?“ Looking at the little girl, making sure I show the confusion in my face.
“It’s Elle!“ The little girl shouts in an angry tone, stomping her foot on the ground. Her companion, Daniel, bursts out laughing. “He never gets its right!“
“Ah right, Elle.“ I say, chuckling alongside the children.
“Hmph!“ Elle holds her pigtails and looks away.
I chuckle under my breath.
It’s so fun to mess with them.
I place The Antiqua Compendium down onto the soft grass, watching as the grass bends to match the shape of the book. Then I move to hug Elle with both of my arms.
“I was joking Elle! I’ll never forget someone like you.“ My mouth shouts in an excited tone, eliciting the looks of the neighbouring villagers around us. I ruffle Elle’s hair with my hand and move back to sit on the grass.
“So, what are two youngsters out here visiting the village healer for? Anyone injured?” I ask, a soft smile etching across my face.
“No no, Kove, nothing like that.” Daniel says, motioning his little hands. “We just wondered if you could tell us a cool story.“
“Oh, is that right Elle?“ I say looking at Elle.
Her face beams into an energetic smile and says. “Yes, yes!“
“Alright, alright. Take a seat in front of me.“ I reply. My hands pick up the book and open it, my fingers trace along the surface of the pages. The old, worn-out pages had a rough, powdery texture. The brown text is still readable and clear as it sits on the pages. My eyes read along the table of contents, seeking for an interesting story or thing to talk about.
“Ah! Do you know of Pu Koh, the young god of misfortune?“ I ask both children, my eyes hovering over both of them.
“Me, me!“ Daniel shouts, raising his left hand up.
“Oh, really?“ I ask, raising my right eyebrow. My right hand cradles my chin as I slouch forward towards the children.
“Yeah, my uncle visited us a few weeks ago and told us all about the evil gods of our world.“ Daniel says.
“Ah, the priest, right? Well, why don’t you tell us your uncle’s version?“ I say.
“Alright!” Daniel exclaims with a child-like smile. “So…“
—
Once upon a time there was a dimming star, whose light couldn’t reach the surrounding space.
But the Moon had found this star and saw it fit for the pantheon.
And so with her sigh and her worries, The Moon had fostered another child, Pu Koh, born of a dimming star.
But Pu Koh had a gift. The dimming star’s light could be perceived through the tapestry of time.
As the moon and her new child returned, the pantheon welcomed Pu Koh home.
But it was all for naught. Like all the problematic stars, it had a dark disposition.
Pu Koh had seen far into the world’s future.
It had seen peace and tranquility, a world without misfortune and tragedy.
And so Pu Koh smiled a wry smile, and the youngest star sought to bring misfortune to the world.
Chased by the youngest child of the Sun Cliphoris, the god of War. Pu Koh brings sadness to the world.
And thus that is the story of Pu Koh, the young God of misfortune.
—
“So when you see Pu Koh, don’t forget to pray, as tragedies will beset your life.“ Daniel says in a spooky voice.
“I see.” I mutter, nodding as I continue to nestle my chin on my right hand. “Well, it’s quite different here in my book.“
“Really!” Both children exclaim. I open the book to the page containing the story of Pu Koh. An image lies on the page illustrating a tall, muscular figure draped in silver and cloths of embroidered starlight. This figure holds a long gilded silver spear with moonlike detailing on its shaft.
“Here, this is an illustration of how the ancients saw Pu Koh.” I say, holding the book upright so the children could see the drawing.
“Whoa that’s so cool!” Daniel says.
“Tell us the story, Kove!” Elle says holding her pigtails once more
I chuckle in amusement.
“Okay, let’s begin.” I say.
—
There was once a lonely shimmering star whose light could barely reach the edges of space. But one day, the moon had passed by the star, and with her grace gave it a second chance. Thus Pu Koh was born from a star whose light shone differently.
And with this light, he could see the far reaches of time where no light could reach.
Pu Koh saw all the different timelines and universes, but it all had ended the same, full of misfortune and pain.
As the moon and her new child returned, the pantheon welcomed them home.
But the peace of home was all for naught, as Pu Koh argued with the pantheon about the encroaching future.They had dismissed his worries, for they did not truly understand what was at stake. How could they? Their light couldn’t reach what he saw. And so, with the blessing of the moon, Pu Koh had gathered and caged up all the misfortunes in the world. Stowing all of them away under his chamber of stars.
But now and then, a misfortune could spring itself free from its bondage, with the help of a golden touch.
Pu Koh would rouse himself from his rest and hunt that misfortune down no matter where it ran.
And so when you see Pu Koh’s glittering lance pierce through the skies, and shut the darkness.
Pray for his rest and vigilance.
Thus that is the tale of Pu Koh, the young god of Misfortune, the protector of the down-trodden.
—
”So, how was it?” I ask the two children.
”It was so cool!” Daniel exclaims, standing himself up and clumsily miming a lance,
“It’s so different.“ Elle says. “But which one is true?”
”That is up to us.” I reply to Elle, moving closer to both children and pulling them into a tight hug. “Not all stories are honest, but what truly lies in the heart of a good story is a truth.” I finish, ending the embrace.
My eyes look up into the night sky, seeing as some time has passed while telling the story to the two children. The purple hue of the far reaches of the space, lit up by the scattered blinking of the stars and the lonely moon. A soft thump emanates as I close the book.
“Well then, it is dinner time for you little ones. Go back home and rest with your family.“ I say. My legs bring me up to my feet as the children do the same.
“Good bye Kove!” Both the children say, as they run back to their homes. I wave at the two children until they reach their houses.
I look up one more time, my eyes seeing a tiny shimmering star in the corner, its light barely blinking but alive.
-End-
___
I would like to say thanks to both Ravyne Hawke and Christine Graves of Promptly Written for both the space and the prompt “A fortune-teller who’s seen too much.” which inspired my writing. Which BTW you can find here!
