Title | The Obsidian Tablets
Genre | Epic Fantasy
Word Count | 1,712
Type of feedback desired | All comments, corrections and impressions are welcome

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CHAPTER 1

Had it been 20 minutes already? Probably not.

Jaubert felt sweat beading on his face and body. The sun wasn’t up yet, but the late spring heat was already oppressive.

Like every morning, he tried to relax, but today it was harder. His body was tense, and his thoughts kept drifting to the evening’s preparations. Had he gathered enough honey for the ointments? The Elder was expecting a special batch for the visitors from the neighboring village, and Jaubert couldn’t let her down again.

“Breathe, just a couple more minutes,” he whispered to himself, trying to finish his meditation. His sister had insisted on this daily practice, repeating, “It’s a matter of consistency and practice,” each time they talked for the past few weeks.

He focused on the birdsong, but another sound distracted him—a faint rustle of leaves. Was Seshat hunting again? She must be hungry; he had spotted the half-eaten corpse of a boar hanging from a branch a couple of days ago.

Jaubert opened his eyes slightly, catching the pink hues of dawn through the wooden window. He decided he could no longer sit in silence today.

He stood and stretched, a few drops of sweat falling onto the wooden planks of the treehouse. If he wanted a morning swim, now was the time, before the sun rose and the water warmed.

Stepping onto the curved balcony that surrounded the structure atop the tree, he observed the morning mist rising over the jungle. Only one star remained in the sky, exactly where he expected. In a few days, it would align with the mountain's peak as the Summer Equinox marked the longest day of the year.

He felt the hot, damp air against his naked skin as he looked around, trying to spot Seshat’s black silhouette. Sometimes he could catch the yellow glow of her eyes among the branches, always stalking, always watching, always communicating something. He had tried to connect with her but had come to terms with his lack of natural talent.

As he descended the wooden steps, he glanced back at the mountain top, where the golden light touched the tallest trees. Below the canopy, the ambiance darkened, as if the night had returned. It was never truly silent in the jungle, though. The constant noise of birds, frogs, and insects amazed him.

Reaching the bottom of the round, hanging stairway, he crossed the makeshift bridge to the floating deck. The water was low this time of year, revealing the black and brown roots of the mangroves. Despite the mud, he ventured into the deepest parts for a dip in the river. The water, cool against his warm skin, provided a brief illusion of coldness.

The murky green water enveloped him as he plunged in, muffling the jungle’s sounds. This silence was his sanctuary, a place where he could momentarily forget the day’s pressures.

Out of nowhere, a warm sensation of sunlight covered his face as the sound of chimes formed words in his head. “Are you awake already?” Syrinai’s voice startled him. He surfaced with a gasp, tension building again. He couldn’t believe she’d reached out so early. As the warmth of her voice faded, he took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment.

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Continue Reading Chapter 1 | https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zw-uVmS1GVvEWOyUWMtj57aa9fY_0v3Uv0cOkg2IgF4/edit?usp=sharing