Aldrich and His Dream Became Wordsmith

The poor young man aspires to be a forger of words: a writer. Wordsmith to be exact. The dream is quite odd in a hamlet, which is almost a paradise for blacksmiths.

Ferroshire is a hamlet that has 2 rituals of worship: every morning its 69 residents worship the 13-foot-high anvil—covered with gold—every night, circling a building; a large white cube in which there is a meteorite (a celestial body consisting of a combination of nickel and iron minerals) while drinking White Wine (a type of drink made from wine that can be intoxicating) until they were unconscious until morning.

Ferroshire, quite far from the town. Likewise with Aldrich, who is quite far from his ideals. He lives with his parents who are naive, religious and stupid. Every day Aldrich reads secondhand books, occasionally writing poetry, occasionally prose, occasionally short stories and various other literary works in the Loreshire library, which is about 4 miles away.

***

I have a full name that sounds very archaic: Aldrich Wildburn. I love reading. But my family never read that I love to read. My father was a devout and puritanical Shaman named James Archaicson. In fact, he was the only shaman in Ferroshire. Even though he always said, time and time again, he was a Cleric (religious leader) not a Shaman.

Meanwhile, my mother, whose name is Dorothy Swan, is a wine farmer who does not own a winery. My mother was only given the authority to manage the vineyard of Ferroshire resident. Because she is known to be reliable in fermenting grapes with the Seyval Blanc variety into White Wine for worship purposes.

My parents never agreed to the wishes of their only child, because they felt that being a Wordsmith was the stupidest thing a young man from Ferroshire could do. Plus, my father kept forcing his clumsy son—to become a blacksmith who cults precious metals and meteorites with Lingua Sacra (spells; liturgical language) for generations.

***

I understand. I really understand. I think I have lived in this holy hamlet for a very long time. In this world. I have a lot of life experiences. Even too much if I tell you. I know what is best for my child. I just want to see him grow up like any other ordinary kid. Become a Smith.

As it was destined. In the scriptures. Since this hamlet was founded, the Goddess Vulva the Almighty with the composition of metal, meteorite and wine. All of that is represented in our holy worship. Being a Cleric is certainly a sacred duty. Like all the boys in Ferroshire who aspire to be Smith. And become a skilled winemaker, like my wife, which every girl dreams of. I believe. Very confident.

I know, my son Aldrich, must feel alienated and even ostracized—by his peers. Everyone has learned to be a diligent and clever Smith. I'm actually embarrassed. Shame to admit. Accept the fact. If my only child becomes an absurd looking nerd. And act clumsy.

***

The reason is that Aldrich's actions are indeed avant-garde (unusual or often bumping into existing norms and cultural boundaries).

For example, in the hamlet, the men have clean-shaven hair—but Aldrich has absurd hair that looks more like the hair of a donkey in Shrek—named Donkey than human hair in Ferroshire. There's even a joke famous in the village of Ferroshire: "Suppose you were a foreigner who had a brain as bright as Isaac Newton when an apple fell on you—then you'd still never know the reason why this hamlet was named Ferroshire if you chose to sit down and chat with the donkey who introduced himself as Aldrich for more than 3 minutes.”

As time went by, Aldrich was fed up with everything: the circumstances, the family, the village and the beliefs held there. His dream of becoming a Wordsmith could not be held back anymore. When Aldrich Wildburn was growing up, he decided to go to the town: Illuminatown. It was a small town filled with philosophers who were renowned for their wisdom—as well as nobles who had a high regard for philosophy, art and literature.

"Perhaps by going to another town in the west, I can make my dreams come true and even change our destiny," said Aldrich Wildburn quietly to his parents.

Hearing this, James was furious, because it turned out that he and Dorothy had used up all their savings to enroll Aldrich into the best Blacksmith School in Ferroshire. In short, Aldrich got into an argument with his parents. He was even punched by his father until two of his incisors—dates with blood flowing from his gums.

Aldrich also received a heart-wrenching curse: A savage child! Look, how failed you are as a child. Disobedient... You are a failed child and will only become a failed human! Family disgrace! Family burden.

***

I was kicked out of the house exactly on the third of the night. I walked unsteadily. Then it came to the end of this damned hamlet: the place where all its ignorant inhabitants circled the white cube clockwise—drunk and half-trace. When the blindfold worship (closing the eyes for 300 seconds while reciting the Shaman's incantations) started, I quickly peed the cube and ran.

Early in the morning, before I actually left all this stupidity, before people worshiped the 13-foot-tall golden anvil—I covered it with my own feces. With a burning grudge, I planned to wander to Illuminatown which I would travel on foot for 27 days.

***

At daylight, the hamlet elders gathered all of its citizens. Ask. Who was the bastard who could pee and smear the holiest place in Ferroshire—with urine and feces. All silent. But one of Hamlet's elders realized one thing, there was one person who didn't come: Aldrich.

***

“Bastard child! Damn it!” I shouted involuntarily. Suddenly all eyes were on me. I was called by the hamlet elders. After I confer with them. After calming the abyss on the air in the head. The elders and I agreed to make a contest.

Yes contest. For anyone. Anyone who can bring the bridge of the nose of the idiot Aldrich to me and the elders of hamlet, will be awarded 1001 pieces of 24 carat gold and a ticket to access the 72 brothels that exist in Ferroshire for the rest of his life. A very tempting gift. Of course the gift will be given by Elder Hamlet. I don't have that much wealth and power. But I, I promise, to whoever wins the contest. I will give him an occult that is believed to be able to soften iron by hand. Like David's miracle.

***

Seconds turn to minutes. Minutes turn to hours. Hours turn to days. Days turn to weeks. Weeks turn to months. Months turn to years. Year after year. No one won the competition. After Aldrich's disappearance, James and Dorothy always thought about their son's condition. They both got sick.

After that incident James retired and was replaced by a new Shaman. Likewise with Dorothy who is too old to just work on Winery. The hamlets resident don't care about the two of them.

But not with Aldrich, who secretly sent them money and food under the pseudonym 'Servant of Vulva'.

***

"O my husband, all this time I have been wondering who is the person behind the Vulva Servant who every month always sends us a lot of money and food," I said confusedly to my husband.

"I do not know. One thing I know, of course it's not from that idiot Aldrich!” exclaimed my husband, James.

"Then if not our children, who else? Maybe you know that, after you and I retired... After that incident, the people of Ferroshire never cared about us anymore. So it seems impossible if the money and food came from their pockets and kitchens,” I replied, with the same intonation and tone.

"Up to you. If that's what you want to believe. I just believe. This food and money is the result of our sacred work. Devoting body and soul to Goddess Vulva. Now we just enjoy the fruit. Come on, it's too late. You better rest. Ok, it is finished? I'm hungry," concluded my husband then turned off the light, then went to the dining table for dinner, alone.

***

Father. Mother. If you know, now I'm successful. My dream has been achieved. They even called me Shakespeare's new name. Sometimes they label me as the reincarnation of Dante, my idol poet. The best part is that I'm always happy, have lots of money and wide connections.

Here, people really value my hobby, my writing—myself. Here, I met many great people. Too great for me to describe. Their heads are like libraries. They have so many eyes. Because they have so many points of view. Their mouths are so sexy when they say words I never knew. This town never tire of amazes me, perhaps because it is in stark contrast to Ferroshire, the place where I was born.

Father. Mother. I will never forget where I came from. But first, I'm sorry. The worst part is I'm not coming home. Until whenever. I'm comfortable here. But on the basis of love for both parents. I'll set aside half of my income and some food for both of you. Hope that helps.

I know, both of you don't even know I'm alive or dead. Moreover, believing that I am the person behind 'Servant of Vulva'. But believe me, a child's love for his father and mother will never fade like the love of a father and mother for their children. Trust me, I love you both, always.

***