Until that day, this land where I was raised was my whole world, and I thought of nothing more than to accept the fate I'd be given.
It's been about ten years since the last baby was born in my village.
The youngest woman is Arina at thirty two years old. The only two girls born after her both died before their first birthdays.
Arina lost a husband, but she's far from the only one to suffer misfortune.
Death hangs over the heads of all who inhabit my village.
I lost my father at five and my mother at eight.
And then there's my childhood friend, Leneria...
She passed away only a month ago.
After Leneria's funeral, the adults gathered and decided that I was to marry Arina.
I'm the youngest boy in my village, just shy of sixteen years old.
My wedding to Arina was to be held on my sixteenth birthday.
I'd probably be marrying Leneria if she had lived, but it was not to be.
I told myself not to complain about this change, not to curse fate.",
Unless we're able to have children, this village will perish before long.
I'm well aware that the gift of a child from the youngest among us is our people's last hope.
It's just that I still grieve the loss of my beloved Leneria. She was like a sister to me...
It's been about ten years since the last baby was born in my village.
The youngest woman is Arina at thirty two years old. The only two girls born after her both died before their first birthdays.
Arina lost a husband, but she's far from the only one to suffer misfortune.
Death hangs over the heads of all who inhabit my village.
I lost my father at five and my mother at eight.
And then there's my childhood friend, Leneria...
She passed away only a month ago.
After Leneria's funeral, the adults gathered and decided that I was to marry Arina.
I'm the youngest boy in my village, just shy of sixteen years old.
My wedding to Arina was to be held on my sixteenth birthday.
I'd probably be marrying Leneria if she had lived, but it was not to be.
I told myself not to complain about this change, not to curse fate.",
Unless we're able to have children, this village will perish before long.
I'm well aware that the gift of a child from the youngest among us is our people's last hope.
It's just that I still grieve the loss of my beloved Leneria. She was like a sister to me...