Page 48 of I Married A Syllen

He pointed at the additional houses designed to resemble flowers. They floated on the river, a short distance from an island shaped like a massive hand. In its open palm, which faced the village, a large set of ornate doors indicated the entrance to what I presumed to be some sort of temple. The sun setting on the horizon hung just over the third finger, perfectly aligned with it. The fiery colors of the sky formed the perfect backdrop behind it, giving the hand a mythical aura as if drawn right out of a fantasy novel.

“And what is this?” I asked, waving at the hand.

“It is the temple where we hold official proceedings, like weddings, child naming, or farewells to the dead,” Taelen said. “But it’s also the healing temple. It is a resonance chamber designed specifically to heal any illness with the right frequencies.”

“I have heard of bioresonance healing,” I said, intrigued. “I look forward to learning more about it from the Syllen perspective. A few other species do wonders using sound and electromagnetic waves to cure many diseases.”

“Then you will want to speak with my sister. She’s a wonderful healer, and the resonance chambers have no secrets for her,” he said warmly.

“I look forward to it,” I replied with a grin.

He led me to an open area with a large pit in the middle that was covered by an ornate metallic plate.

“This is where we gather to chat and hang out by the fire pit. We also hold informal meetings here that concern the village as a whole, and this is where we serve our communal meals,” Taelen said.

“Communal meals?!” I repeated.

“The hunters and fishers usually gather enough for the entire village. As we prepare our meals based on the needs of the land, it is simpler that way,” he explained.

My brain froze at that comment.

“What do you mean by ‘based on the needs of the land’ for your meals?”

“Our wastes fertilize the land,” he said in the self-evident manner. “Therefore, we eat based on the nutrients the soil requires. Are you going to give me a horrified look like the Settlers did?” he added with a taunting glimmer in his eyes.

I shook my head. “We use animal manure to fertilize our crops. So no, I’m not traumatized. Seeing how your people are in close communion with the land, I trust you use the proper sanitization methods for it to be safe.”

“Yes, we have highly efficient composting systems,” he said reassuringly.

“But what happens if someone is really in the mood to eat something other than what the land needs?” I challenged.

“You still can eat it. But it is rare that we will crave something that doesn’t meet one of the needs of the land.”

“That’s good to hear for when I get my chocolate cravings,” I said sheepishly. “Oh God! Please tell me you have chocolate here or the equivalent!”

He burst out laughing.

“I see that 450 years have not dampened humans’ love of chocolate. We do not call it chocolate, but yes, we have its equivalent,” he said, amused.

“Thank heavens!” I said in an overly dramatic fashion that had him chuckling again.

“Important buildings are marked with statues or faces carved usually on the corner wall,” he said while pointing at such a building. “This one has the face of Helvani, the Goddess of learning. Within you will find all the educational books, recorded history, and the wisdom trees. That one, with the face of Etreya, has food available throughout the day for whoever needs it. But it is mainly meant for travelers to find sustenance and lodging during their journey or stay here. There are also counselors and advisors there for those in need of guidance.”

“This is so neat! I was wondering why you had all those big sculptures,” I said, my nerdy brain on the verge of having an orgasm from finally having so many questions answered.

He laughed.

“Contrary to what many off-worlders believe, they are not vanity projects. They serve a purpose. A visitor to our village knows exactly where to go for his specific needs. Unlike humans, we do not have those technological bracers to tell us where to go. The statues serve as travel landmarks and show the start and end of a territory. The healing temple is easily recognizable with the hand. Anyone flying seeking help will not waste time trying to figure out where they can get it. They also serve animals.”

I recoiled at that comment.

“How do they serve animals?” I asked.

“They serve as beacons during their migrations. We light them up during that season to let them know that there is food for them and that they can safely rest there. More importantly, it familiarizes them with our faces. They do not see us as a threat but as friendly neighbors.”

“You have no idea how excited I am right now,” I said sheepishly. “I spent so many years trying to understand how your people lived. This is the greatest gift ever!”

He chuckled. “How off were you in your assumptions?”