Today I saw a theatre show. It wasn't anything unique or extraordinary, but it had the value of being entertaining while I ate. However, as I watched them perform, I was reminded of the one I did with an old friend of mine, Ovis, a long time ago. In fact, it's been so long since it happen that I've started to forget it, so I decided to take my feather to immortalize this day and this meeting that changed my life.

This story starts about seven years ago now. I was so young and ignorant at that time. I was afraid of everything that had a shadow and also of what did not. That day I had walked all night and hadn't eaten anything for several days. I needed to decompress even if it cost me my last coins. So I took a night at the tavern of the seaside, which is not by the sea ironically... I always wondered why the owner gave it that stupid name, but anyway I digress.

I didn't plan to do much in this tavern. I remember I awkwardly paid for my room for the day and night before rushing in to lock myself in until the next morning. Not talking to anyone, not looking at anyone. I just wanted to curl up on the bed and let time do its work, but my plan was interrupted when I heard a knock on my door. I remember the fear that came over me at that very moment. I was almost paralyzed, not daring to answer, so I remained silent. Staring intently at the door. At that moment I thought I would die, but now I know that it was a change for the better in my life.

From the other side of the door, I heard a voice with a gentleness I hadn't heard since I left my mother, but at the same time. This voice was authoritative, carrying every word with a surprising energy. The voice simply told me that it had seen me pass quickly through the tavern and wanted to know if I wanted to participate in the performance he was going to do in less than an hour. According to him, I had the ideal physique for the job and he would like that I join him. It took me a lot of courage at the time, but I managed to tell him that I couldn't participate. I had to rest and sleep. Now that I think about it, it was the worst lie I could have told him. It must have been a little before noon when all this happened. Nobody rests in the middle of the day like that. It's too sunny to close your eyes anyway. He obviously picked up on my lie, probably with great ease, and was a little more persistent, but I remember that he had no aggression in his voice. Only the conviction that this was what he really wanted. He finally convinced me by telling me that the participants in the performance were entitled to a meal of their choice provided by the owner. That's something that hasn't changed after all these years. The lure of food always wins out, so I finally agreed and reluctantly went to join him for the performance.

It was when I opened the door that I really saw h for the first time. It was also there, after I opened the door, that he introduced himself in a friendly manner, with a smile on his face. Ovis Pomarium. He is a ram who is a little older than me. I think he told me his age, but now I can't remember, but I know he was few years older than me.

It was after his introduction that he explained to me that the performance we were about to do was a rehearsal for the part he was going to play in the big end of the world festival. Now that I think about it, I find it funny that I was afraid of this event when I was younger. I didn't understand why everyone was talking about it as the event of the year. I found it strange, why celebrate the end of the world? It took me several months to realize that it wasn't a cult that wanted to destroy the world, but simply a celebration to bring the races together near the ruins of Etherum. Celebrating, not the death, but rather the survival of each species at the great loss our ancestors went through. At the same time, it's not my fault they got such a contradictory name... oh, like the tavern now that I think about it... But anyway...


So we went outside to join the rest of the team and to get ready for the show. The show was certainly a sketch about the fall of Etherum, but much more humorous. I was to play the king of the city while Ovis was to play Draven Ruff, a former commander and now hero of the old world. In perspective, I think the fact that the real Draven was a coyote and not a ram was intentional to his performance, because if I remember correctly, one of his colleagues was a coyote, but I think he wanted to make a contradiction. A sort of sheep in wolf's clothing if you like. The other were playing the city invaders. I remember I was very surprised that I got the part of the king, it was a very important role and considering that I had no training in the world of artistic performance, I was afraid of failing miserably and being ridiculed on stage, but Ovis convinced me, again. I still remember his words after all these years. He simply said: "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Is that what you really want? Nothing?". Those words, give me the courage to do it, so I participated. I gave it my best shot, improvising most of the lines, having been too stressed to retain anything of what he had given me, but I remember feeling, for the first time in over seven years, happiness. Real happiness, pure and simple. The laughter of the people, the applause and just the play. A team of people who are all together with the simple aim of having fun and laughing.
After the performance, we had our delicious meal. I had a whole rabbit, with a big jug of cider, Ovis just had a salad and some water. A meagre meal indeed, but it was not a simple salad with three or four leaves. He had herbs that I didn't know back then and have forgotten now.
The rest of the day was perfect, the spectators came to talk to us to encourage us and make their comments. The vast majority loved the performance and offered us drinks to reward us for the great show we gave them. I have never drunk more in my life than I did that night. Seeing the gifts from the spectators who were eager to see the rest of the festival. We spent the rest of the evening talking around the fire outside the tavern. I would have liked to write down more about what we talked about that night, but it's been too long and let's just say that all that alcohol didn't help me much remembering anything...

But all good things must come to an end and this beautiful day had to, so we had to go to bed to spend the night. The next day, I remember very well that I got up very very late. The sun was high and strong when I finally got out of my room and went to the community area, well restaured I remember that Ovis was there, talking with the rest of the client of the establishment. He was obviously happy to see me and even had a present for me. A short sword. From memory, he wanted to give it to me so that I could protect myself. He said he couldn't leave a member of the entertainment world unprotected like that, so he left me his sword. That was my first weapon and I used it for at least a year, maybe more. Then I changed. Preferring longer weapons for better combat distance, but I still kept it for quite a while, until it fell into a river and I lost it forever, a sad fate for this gift. Now I use a dagger as a second weapon. It's easier to hide and I can throw it if I need to, but anyway, back to the story.

Initially, I had refused the weapon. I felt bad taking it from him, not to mention that I had no experience with this kind of object, but he insisted and finally convinced me by giving me a short training on sword fighting before giving it to me.

That's when I could see that his armor was not for show, but his everyday clothes. He was an excellent fighter. Even today, I'm still not sure how he managed to do everything he did. He really had a talent with words and the sword, as quick with is weapon as he was with his word. One moment he was encouraging me and giving me the courage to hit harder without fear of hurting him, but the next moment he was telling me that I could not do it. Making me weaker and less secure of my talent. These words went through me like an arrow through the air. Of course, this was all a practice. He was not in any real danger and the whole thing ended without any problems, but I learned a lot from him. How to position myself to avoid the blows, how to analyse your opponent's movements to know when to strike, but most of all. Where to hit to hurt. Of course, it's not in a few hours that I became a professional, but thanks to him, I could at least know where I had to work to improve myself in combat and survive in this unforgiving world. I'm not sure I would have made it to Userpi if it wasn't for his sword and help.

However, when the sun finally set that day, he had to leave. He had to take the road to the Etherum. To get ready for the festival. I would have followed him, but I wanted to go to Userpi. My mother had told me that we had family there and I had thought that he could have taken me in, but now that the ashes have settled, I recoil. I really should have followed him, but what's done is done. The important thing is that one day I will go to the en opf the world festival. Maybe I could see him there again, we could do a performance and I could show him what I can do now, impress him a bit. Of course, that's if he remembers me, and he's still alive. People like us have a bad habit of disappearing, but at least we live freely and eagerly for the time we are given.