Although I would never admit it to little Spring, I am not as... youthful as I used to be. Stairs and long walks that I used to do every day now leave me panting for air, and a simple trip to the market takes me three times longer than it should. I even have to leave my firewood collecting to young Garth, last time I tried I threw my back out. The problem stems from the fact that, damn it, I am getting old, and that Larkos is mostly stairs and walkways. There are no shortcuts, no moving walkways, and no easy access to anywhere.
Excuse me, allow me to give myself some context. My name is Ven, and to understand me, you must first understand where I am from.
Larkos is a busy bridge town that connects the Lark holm to the mainland, It is not a town that is built upon a bridge, rather the town itself is the bridge. To get from one side to another you would have to navigate through several buildings; some apartment homes, some factories, but mostly just large hallways. It is a centre for scientific innovation, hosts a large port, and is birthplace of the airship. All in all, a very busy little town.
The whole complex is supported by four great pillars that rise from the sea, holding us above the ocean far below. Our food is farmed on vast tracts of land across the mountains, and our fires are fuelled by the abundant source of pine wood from the forest nearby. Our clean water is condensed from the purified vapour from the nearby waterfalls, and our power is generated from the many wind turbines that sit ever turning above our heads. Not one person is un-homed or un-fed, and from an architectural standpoint it is marvel of science and engineering. But everyday life in this busy town can become rather... difficult, especially for an aging man such as myself. I just cannot keep up as I used to.
I live at the very bottom of Larkos on one of the lowest hanging homes there is, so close to the sea in fact that I could throw a line from my balcony and fish, if I liked. This location is not due to social status or the lack of coin, but rather due to a sentimental attachment, a bond of nostalgia and memories; my mother lived here, and her father helped build the damn place, he kept the thing from falling right into the sea. I grew up here with my brother, and I chose to become an engineer here. I married my wife here and too soon after, I scattered my father's ashes from here. I had my first son here, and many years later he had his daughter here.
Nowadays, I live here with just my granddaughter, Spring, and my apprentice, Garth. I could move, I suppose, to the upper part of the village if I wished, I could even move to the holm itself, or even to the mainland, live an easy comfortable life! But with so many memories bound to this building, for me to just abandon it... it wouldn't just be wrong, it would be a betrayal to my heritage. But this village is for fit, young people, and I am simply not a young person anymore. Then again... it is still my home, and I cannot abandon it. It is a decision I cannot truly make indefinitely.
"Granddad!" a voice calls, knocking from my own head, "Are you awake? I know today is a big day for you, but Garth won't get up!" My room is on the very bottom floor, Spring doesn't know why I insist on living here because it is by far the coldest place in the house, but I'm adamant to remain. "Granddad?" She repeat the footsteps get louder.
"Come in," I call from my side of the heavy wooden door. She pushes it open and steps through. The cold air makes her shiver.
The wooden floor creaks under her feet, "you really should come in, Granddad, it's too cold for brooding."
"It's never too cold for brooding," I replied, "in fact, the colder the better." She steps up to me and grasps my arm to pull me inside, but instead I tuck her under it and lean rest on the railing. "Graaanddaaad, you're gonna get sick!"
I ruffle her bangs, "your concern is touching, Little one."
She shakes her head, "If you get sick you'll start spreading it around and then I'll get sick, and then I'll get the whole academy sick, and it will all be your fault! " I laugh more than I should have, and turn to head. The heavy door slid across its railings and clunked to a close.
I think, maybe I will stay here. Sometimes I forget that this house, and this town isn't just mine, but hers as well, and it will be her children's after her, and their childrens' after that. The walks may be getting longer, and the stairways may be getting harder, but an easy life has never been that desirable for me anyway, so I think for now I'll keep going. I have another busy day ahead.
__ Could do a lil more if anyone's interested, show a bit more of the actual town?