A Quest For Paradise (The Prophesy) | nftshowroom X alienarthive challenge for February: Theme: "Folklore" - No. 2

***In Search of Paradise***

It was the time of the second generation.

In the midst of warmth during the one hundred days drought, twenty-year-old Igor set sail one day. Optimism filled his soul. Ambition filled his spirit. And longing for riches, a different way of life, and hubris filled his body.

"Of all the gathering of lower men in our clan, I can do this," he boasted before the left. He cast off his parents' pleading. "Your way is ancient and no longer accepted. Let us carve out our own paths. We can do conquer where you have failed. I'm not asking for permission."

His mother cried. His father slapped him hard, then grabbed the Old History from the side table and held it close to Igor's face. "You'll be cursed for your blasphemy I say to you this day by the powers given me."

"What powers? Igor laughed, sneering, having refused to even read the manuscript. "You've no more power than I. And I've more foresight than you and strength to carry it forward."

"You know not what you speak of son," his father replied sadly, lowering his head. "At least read the Prophesy of The Ancients."

His father opened the book and pointed as his mother covered her face, dropped to the bamboo floor, and rocked back and forth praying while he read:

***It shall be in the second generation of the sand on the day the merfolk youth turn against their elders' teachings, that the gift of the Sea shall reject them; and they will be cast out of paradise, wither, and be no more.***

Igor jerked his head away, simultaneously grabbing the book from his father's hands, and tossing it on the floor nearby his mother. Instantly, she jumped up and ran outside their tent screaming.

He stood razor stiff, his eyes ablaze with superiority, and began.

I and numerous others don't believe in such nonsense. Our river beds are dry. The land is desolate. Scarce copper-tasting water insufficient for the entirety of our clan. Bitter taste of insects line our palates. Scorching heat by day. Freezing cold at night, with the deafening silence save distance screams of prey and predators.

I fail to see the beauty in this barren wasteland of twisted cactus and sagebrush. Blinding winds that throw dust to tear away our flesh. Afraid to close our eyes at night for fear the scorpions, snakes, and all unknown creatures will visit and take our breaths away. But it's the vast emptiness we feel each day. Suffering fatigue in this hotbed of nothingness that drains hope. I was born for something greater than moving through life in this sun-scorched body with blister-covered feet.

My thirst that will never be quenched. My hunger will never be satisfied. It's a cruel, vengeful place, where the wind whispers of forgotten bones our of ancestors.

If your Ancients are benevolent and all-powerful, then why would they allow this plague upon your people?

No. They aren't powerful, only vengeful because we have uncovered they are nothing more than weaklings hiding behind stone temples. I'm sick of feeling desperate; no future to plan. I won't take a wife or bring children into this forsaken place.

Silence fell between them for several long moments.

"But son, this was not always so. It's because we have failed our youth. You no longer worship as you should and ask for love, protection, and guidance. You quickly forget the beauty of our land. After the much-needed rains sent from the Sea to fill our oasis, vibrant desert blooms spring forth and surround us in their beauty. The Sea shares with all people sending food to sustain us. Our people experience a sense of deep, spiritual peace found nowhere else. Nightly breathtaking displays of the moon and stars casting long shadows on the pebbles of time."

"The Arid Merfolk residing in the region of Ashen is a small, nomadic tribe compared to other peoples across desert lands. Yes, our region's landscape is harsh. But the Ancients taught us ways to survive. We must rely upon their words!"

"Since their beginning, our people were content. They lived good lives with their limited knowledge in the hopes that better days are ahead. Words held importance to the elders. Spiritual, they prayed for their fortunes. They relied upon the words and trusted in them written by The Ancients and recorded in the Old History."

Igor waived his father off and pointed to the north.

"Over the mountain in the valley beyond, we will conquer those who dwell there and take possession of their plentiful resources. Unbeknownst to you, I have read the Old History. In it a place where one can venture and relinquish all troubles. They called this "PARADISE". My friends and I will find and conquer this place.

His father's shoulders heaved rapidly. How can I get through to my child, he wondered before he began.

"You are not the first nor will be the last. Many left to find this place of abundance. Only one returned. On death's bed, this young manlost his capacity to see, hear, and speak; and his appearance was that of an aged man, as if flesh and bone had melted from his limbs."

"No! Igor shouted repeatedly. Words meant to dissuade me are useless.

My travel begins tomorrow.

When Igor began his journey across the winding dunes of sand, not many knew where Paradise lay. He discovered his true friends. All declined to accompany him.

The clear blue inviting sky guided his steps. As the days stretched to seven, he staggered toward the burnt-orange night sunsets, that blue sky but a memory. Retreating wasn't an option. I'd rather vultures leave no memory of my flesh in the shifting sands than return humiliated by failure.

Finally, he reached the edge of the Sea. Magnificent was the the only word he could think of to describe what his eyes could never have imagined.

Cascading falls trickled down the snow-capped mountains. Clear, blue waters surrounded the shore. Verdant greenery dotted the landscape while exotic birds never before seen circled overhead. Curious, decorated marine creatures of all kind rushed to the surface. White sand that stretched for miles. Jasmine mixed with rose invaded his nostrils.

Immediately, the Sea opened up. Scythia rose, breaking the skin.

"Halt! You are about to enter Paradise. Who ventures into my waters without permission?" she roared fiercely.

"It is I, Igor; descendant of the Arid Merfolk of Ashen. I've come for what was promised me. Your riches I shall take back to my people for a better life in the desolate dunes."

"You shall take, you say?" No one takes from the Sea." She roared once again. This time large waves white with fury and deadly barbs rose up in front of Igor.

Stifling his fear, he spat back at the speckled-face spirit, "you're a horrid creature, not of this world. Hence, have no dominion over man." Still, he continued in a softer tone, "Besides, the elders told of Paradise and promised it to their generations. I see through your deception."

"You lie! Scythia yelled. The Ancient Ones would never break their word. You were warned, and you heeded not.

Inhale. My treasures are boundless. But no man takes from The Sea. Only I share that which is protected.

Where I come from, no man has ever ventured. The sanctuary I call Paradise hasn't been soiled since ancient times. Your motives are not to sustain, but to vilify with greed and corruption. No human will ever evade. I'll not permit it.

Leave your impurities on the other side of the waters. They're not permitted here. Only the pure of heart and spirit seeking knowledge of enrichment and sustenance may enter. I love my Paradise too much to surrender it up to mere mortals in their quest for perfection.

You discarded your old life for an unattainable quest. No one's life is perfect. Yet you sought perfection. You already had what you were searching for.

I'll allow you one respite so that others may witness. Return to your sand while you still can. Obey your elders. Look within yourself. And you may after all find your Paradise now that you are one hundred and one years old."

Igor shrank back, glancing furtively over his shoulders. Blood drained fro his face as he watched animals, reptiles, and huge birds advanced toward him, venom in their eyes.

Too overwhelmed with terror, he stood razor stiff waiting before making quiet sounds of helplessness. His heart hammered in his chest. Begging his trembling legs to run, he realized they had abandoned him, as had his friends.

Igor sank to the ground. Moisture all around as he'd envisioned. Coolness calmed his spirit as his skin began to tighten and turn ebony. He grabbed his head, now devoid of hair.

"What have I done? Father, please forgive me," he murmured, crawling away from Paradise praying he'd reach the sand dunes of home.

In the post, [nftshowroom X alienarthive challenge for March: nftshowroom X alienarthive challenge for March: Folklore, NFTShowroom has featured all the month's Folklore themed Art minted so far on the NFT Showroom's home page / twitter. Also, Alien Art Hive will be curating participants' blog posts. This challenge was intended for the full month of March. Participants are required to:

• make art incorporating the folklore theme;
• mint it on https://nftshowroom.com/;
• make a blog post about it in Alien Art Hive; and
• use #nftshowroom in your tags

Below are my steps I took to create my second design for this theme.

For creation of the "folklore" scene in this design, I discovered a free-sourced image of a female with stage makeup. It fit perfectly for my theme of a sea creature in paradise. All I needed was to surround her with flowers and an exotic scene that one would expect in an island setting. Locating the perfect male figure to represent her nemesis was a bit more difficult. I finally determined that a man already aged and withered would suffice. I discovered one with his head in his hands as though he'd been though a difficult period in his life.

I also included two beautiful pure fractals that fit with my island scene that I created in the advanced fractal rendering program, Apophysis 7X.

Since my design already contained enough color and elements, I decided only to enhance it with a small amount of animation for movement of the flowers. I took my still design to MoshPro and applied the SLICES filter for the slight movement.

Below is the animated design.

Thanks for taking the time to view my post. I hope you like my final mixed media project for the March Folklore challenge.