Barbarians

Barbarian common sense says safety lies only in familiarity. Obviously, beyond the limits of the known world were indescribable troubles and pitfalls. This was proven many ages ago when a generation of weird and wild barbarians was born. Their souls were lit with a desire to wander. But all soon returned to the tribe covered in cuts and bruises. Pitfalls and traps abounded in unimaginable quantities in the unknown world.

Though barbarians scoffed at outsiders’ peculiar ways, they welcomed the mad wanderers who stumbled into their village. Barbarian hospitality was legendary; they offered food, shelter, and wild tales to any outsider foolish—or brave—enough to cross their paths, eager to help travelers on their mysterious journeys.

In time, one such outsider befriended a young barbarian girl, whose curiosity burned hotter than caution. The outsider extended an invitation: visit the neighboring town, a place spoken of only in whispers. To everyone’s astonishment, the young barbarian accepted—and returned not only unharmed, but sporting an odd contraption perched boldly upon her nose, as if it were a badge of honor.

With sparkling eyes, the young barbarian regaled the tribe with her tale. The moment she crossed into the unknown, misfortune seemed to stalk her—she stumbled, tripped, and bruised her shins at every step. Her friend, clever and observant, suggested her eyes might be to blame. Together, they explored a shop filled with strange and marvelous inventions. There, she discovered a magical device: when she placed it upon her nose, the world sharpened into breathtaking clarity. No longer was everything a blur of shapeless shadows—she saw crisp lines, dazzling colors, and a thousand tiny wonders she’d never imagined. The pitfalls and traps of the unknown became obvious, and the world itself seemed to open, bright and welcoming, as if inviting her to explore beyond every horizon.

The tribe listened, rapt, as she painted pictures of a world transformed. Yet when her story ended, skepticism returned. To them, her words were the ravings of a mind unmoored by the dangers of the unknown. They pitied her madness and refused to risk their own sanity with the bizarre device she wore. The world, they insisted, was exactly as they saw it—safe, simple, and unchanged, no matter what one foolish girl claimed.