Chapter 1302: Chapter 1302

"In the beginning, the world was a vast sea, filled with salty water (Pa’pa), and there was nothing else..."

"The great Heavenly Divine and Sea God, were nurtured together in the sea, brothers from the same womb... They both had their eyes closed, floating above the sea. The Sea God opened his eyes, glanced once, and the saltwater blinded him, causing him to sink into the sea. The Heavenly Divine opened his eyes, glanced once, and the sky allowed him to see, so he ascended into the sky (Kukatem)..."

"Then, the Heavenly Divine created the red ants, and the ants, using their bodies, filled in the first land of red (Sújam) upon the sea. The Heavenly Divine also created flocks of black eagles (Qawi), but without light, they were lost, wandering the skies endlessly, unable to find a place to perch..."

"Pondering, the Heavenly Divine molded a disc with red, yellow, and black clay, and threw it far into the sky, becoming the moon (Kaa’ip), and thus there was light... But the moon was too dim, so he made another brighter one and threw it again, becoming the sun (Makwáy)... Before ascending to the sky, he crafted men and women from the remains of the sun and moon. These were the ancestors of the Kumeyaay (Tama’), the sun and moon in the Heavenly Divine’s hands!..."

On the red coast, at dusk when the sun and moon shone together, the Kumeyaay priests of the Yipar Tribe swayed wooden rattles, singing ancient, timeworn ballads. They wore black Eagle Feather Crowns, cloaked in red, yellow, and black robes, with sandals made from agave grass on their feet. Around their necks were shell and Pearl necklaces, and through the inner sides of their noses were ornaments made from buffalo Bone, pierced and worn, looking quite painful.

Eagle Feather, cotton cloth, agave, shell pearls, buffalo Bone... these are the cherished "Currency" of the Kumeyaay, hinting at their semi-nomadic, semi-agricultural lifestyle. The attire adorned with these decorations is the grandest priestly attire in the Tribes, symbolizing age-old tribal traditions!

"The Heavenly Divine bestowed generosity, turning the departed ancestors into wind, blowing towards distant worlds... from the Northern Land’s endless Mountains, to the barren deserts of the East, and to the boundless Wilderness of the South... and wherever the wind blows, there once shared ancestors!..."

Red Stone Chief Matutumbe, wearing an Eagle Feather Crown, danced the tribal War Dance. His robe flapped like wings, nimble like a mountain eagle flying over two fish. Then, he stopped, came before Scholar Mikki, tilted his head, and looked at the uninvited "shark" before him.

"Rowing a long Large Ship, tribes from the sea! The tempestuous Sea God sleeps in the depths, while the majestic Heavenly Divine watches over us. Could the winds of our ancestors have intertwined? Are you here following the wind’s footsteps, bringing goodwill?"

Before the Red Stone Chief’s inquiry, Scholar Mikki remained silent for a long time. He heard many vague Navajo terms within the other’s words, seemingly foretelling some common origin.

But as he observed the Kumeyaay, noted their unique tattoos, attire, and weapons, and listened to the tribe’s mythic songs, he clearly understood their differences. He still couldn’t understand them, but he could attempt to communicate...

"May the Chief Divine watch over us! Esteemed Tribe Chief, we are descendants of the Jiao People, your brothers from far in the South!... We’ve come with goodwill, bringing a new breeze never before felt in the South, to sow new vitality in the distant Northern Land!"

As he spoke, Scholar Mikki took out a cloth bag filled with gemstones and handed it to the Red Stone Chief.

"Friend, brother!... This is our gift!"

The Red Stone Chief took the bag, opened it, and his expression changed. After pondering for a moment, he placed the bag on the ground and said solemnly.

"You have given a gift. You are friends! But brothers... require blood and vows!"

With that, the Red Stone Chief drew a Flint Dagger and handed it to Scholar Mikki. His expression was solemn, speaking simple yet clear words.

"The Heavenly Divine and Sea God... are brothers... and a vow... is a bleeding eye!"

"A brother’s vow... a bleeding eye? Ah?!"

Hearing the Translator’s stuttering words, Scholar Mikki shivered all over. He trembled while taking the dagger, hesitating repeatedly in his heart before resolutely muttering the Chief Divine’s name, aiming the Dagger at his eye!

"Oh Chief Divine! For the glory of spreading your name in the Northern Land... to forge an alliance between the Kingdom and the Kumeyaay... I will devoutly offer you my left eye!"

Scholar Mikki trembled as he prayed, compelled by courage, finally about to act. The Red Stone Chief shouted just in time to interrupt.

"Brother’s vow, the eye of blood!"

Hearing this, Scholar Mikki looked up, seeing the Red Stone Chief already carving a bleeding eye on his arm with the Dagger. Then, the strong Chief, with a serious expression, extended his arm to Mikki, patiently waiting.

"Arm, eye! Place together!"

"Ah? Carve an eye on the arm?"

Scholar Mikki was momentarily stunned but suddenly realized. Overjoyed, he gave a fierce glare at the unreliable Translator, decisively wielded the Stone Dagger, and carved a similar bloody eye. Then, the two arms came together, and the blood eyes overlapped, mingling their blood! Read complete versıon only at noveⅼfire.net

Upon witnessing this, the surrounding Kumeyaay warriors erupted in a thunderous cheer! They raised their Stone Spears, stomped heavily, and leapt into a War Dance like stampeding buffalo. The Tribal Priest beat hand drums, singing celebratory songs, while the crowd onshore shouted in jubilation until their voices resounded thunderously!

"Salem (Silem)! Kupula (Ku’upla)! Salem! Kupula!"

This was the first meeting between the Kingdom’s exploration fleet and the Kumeyaay. From a near-miss skirmish to a meeting of two leaders, then to a blood-oath alliance, celebrated by a grand welcome feast!

Even after several months, Exploration Captain Zuwaro vividly remembered that scene, recalling the two shaking hands high on the beach! Of course, what was more unforgettable for him was the enthusiastic and passionate welcome of the Seaside Tribes after the feast...

The bonfire ignited, night songs resounded on the beach, akin to the intermittent chirping of summer insects. And there, on the nocturnal beach, he held a young Kumeyaay woman. He still remembered that heart-stirring cry, testingly saying to the woman.

The young woman was momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing. She shook her head, pointed at him, then at herself, and replied.

"Salem, no. Yukur, yes."

"Salem... man to man? Brother? Yukur... man to woman? Spouse?"

Exploration Captain Zuwaro pondered for a moment, seeming to comprehend. Then, he cautiously looked into the woman’s pure eyes and said.

This time, the woman understood. She smiled and leaned forward, like the tide engulfing Zuwaro. Then, Zuwaro understood too. "Kupula" meant "to meld".