Ifraín Reventuroso and Mausimolú

Many years ago, there were two kings in some faraway lands, a king and a vice king. They were married to extremely beautiful women.

One day, they decided to go out for a short trip just to appreciate their treasures and lands. The king asked the vice king: “What are they going to do with all their treasures and money?” Firstly, they thought of their wives, but they agreed they wanted to have a family that could enjoy all their wealth.

A couple of days later, they decided to visit the Sage Salomón. On a Monday, they packed and said goodbye to their wives. Both kings commenced their journey in the challenging forests where many people said the sage lived.

On an extremely hot summer day, they saw a shadow near a seaport and followed it. They noted an old man entering a very small hut and asked him if he knew the Sage Salomón. The old man asked them: “Why do you want to speak with him?”

They told him their story, and he answered them he was that Sage, but he didn’t understand their reasons to ask for his help and asked them more questions: “Why do you want a family? Why do you need more? Is it not enough for you?”

However, no answer they delivered him was enough for him, and he told them:

“You are going to take this spear, and when the low tide happens, you will swim where it’s the highest stone on the beach of the Alligators. There you are going to wait until the sea starts rising one more time.

In a second fraction, you will see a special fish that looks like a snake (figure 1). You must fish, open it, and split the center of it. Your wives must eat that fish, and this is the sole way that you’re going to fulfill your wish.”

Figure 1. The magical snakefish. ¹

Both kings were surprised by the sage request, and then the sage said to the king “your son is going to be called Ifraín Reventuroso and will be born at 6 AM” and then to the vice king “your son is going to be called Mausimolú and will be born at 6 PM.”

The kings said to him good-bye, and when they were leaving, the sage approached the king and gave him a package and told him: “This is a gift for Ifraín Reventuroso. You should give it until he is old enough, you will know the right time.”

The next morning, they went to the beach and waited until they saw the fish. The fish was so colorful and impressive that they were afraid of fishing it, but their wishes of having a family were higher, and they caught it and followed all the Sage orders.

When they arrived at their palaces, they provided the fish meat to their wives and ate it, and miraculously they got pregnant. Their sons were born as the sage said, one at 6 AM – Ifraín Reventuroso and the other one at 6 PM – Mausimolú. These kids were raised as brothers by their parents.

Nineteen years passed, and the boys had had thousands of adventures. One day, the king considered that it was time to give his son the sage’s gift.

The boy was really delighted when he got it because he wanted to know what was inside the package. He was extremely surprised that it was the picture of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. At the bottom of the portrait, there was a name: “Maril Yurul.” Also, there was a letter that said: “Ifraían, this is going to be your wife. However, if you actually want to marry her, your journey is going to be extremely difficult. You might die. It will be up to you if you take the risk.”

It was love at first sight, and Ifraían was getting mad every night. He started to search each in every village, town, and nearby island, but he was not able to find such a beautiful girl anywhere. After many weeks, he was desperate and told his dad: “I’m going to new lands to find such unique and crazy love.”

His friend overhead the conversation and told him: “Ifraín, you are not going alone! You are my brother! Despite we don’t share the same blood, we have been together always, and I’m going to help you on your journey.”

The king was extremely sad because his only son was leaving them and might not come back. However, he did what he thought was the best. He ordered to build a ship for them to sail in the Pacific Ocean. The ship was full of goods, water, and everything that they needed; therefore, they wouldn’t need any support.

The citizens extremely loved their boys, and some of them agreed to join them in their adventure. After a month of preparations, they decided to sail and tried reaching new lands.

For many days, the waters were extremely calm, but one day, a tropical storm hit them, and their ship sank. Unfortunately, only Ifraín and Mausimolú survived. They swam to the nearest island. There, they met a man who was partially blind because he had a patch in one eye, he was herding his cattle when he saw them, he said: “Ifríancito, what are you doing here? I know your dad. He is an old friend of mine. You can rest at my house. I’ll be back in a moment.”

The boys were thankful and decided to rest in his house, as the man suggested. Some minutes later, Mausimolú heard a voice that said: “If he offers you milk, don’t drink it! You’re going to become blind!”

He heard the same words three times and wanted to warn Ifraín, but he couldn’t because, at that moment, the man was entering his house. They started to talk for a while when he offered them some milkshakes.

Mausimolú was aware that something odd was happening. When the man was distracted, he threw the milk in a flowerpot not so far. However, Ifraín didn’t know anything and drank all.

After he had finished, he discovered that he was blind and started to cry. Also, Mausimolú pretended he was blind too, and the man told them: “Now, you know what it means to chase love!”

He escorted them to a small room full of kids and adults of all ages.

In that place, they were living for a couple of days, and Mausimolú discovered that the man was a cannibal.

One day, the cannibal left his roaster closer to the room, then Mausimolú took a brochette and threw it to the good eye of the cannibal. The cannibal screamed in pain, but he was fully blind. When he was out of the room, he practically killed the man. Suddenly, he heard the same voice again and told him:

“Don’t kill him! First, get the information on how to remove the blindness of everyone.”

Mausimolú did as the voice told him and got the information from the cannibal who told him: “You need to get the milk from one of the cows in the next farm and spread it on their eyes.” He followed the steps, and the people got healed. Everyone thanked them and went to seek their families. The cannibal died because of his bad actions just a couple of days later.

Ifraín was extremely glad to be able to see one more time and asked Mausimolú if he had healed by himself and told him that he was never blind because a mystical voice warned him. However, he didn’t have time to let him know about it. Ifraín was confused, but he said that it was time to continue, they collected some fruits from the nearby trees and carried on their journey.

The boys walked for many days until they found a village ruled by the Moros’ Kings. The Royal Guard imprisoned them and said that their kings would come in the next days, and their destiny was their sole decision.

Three days later, one of the kings went to their jail and asked them: “Where are you going?”

Ifraían answered him: “I’m looking for my love!”

The king smiled and said: “In my kingdom, everyone pays for love. You are just poor guys who don’t have anything to offer me. I'm going to jail for the rest of your life.” The king left them in prison.

They spent weeks that looked like years in that prison until one-day, Mausimolú saw a coyol tree. In the highest part, some fruits looked like balls.

Mausimolú asked the guards if they had ever eaten those fruits because they ate them very often in their lands, and were extremely tasty and rare.

The king who overheard the conversation ordered to cut the tree to get the fruits, then, he commanded Mausimolú to prepare a good dish or drink with the fruits While he prepared it, he started to scratch the remains of the tree and built a canoe. Inside the canoe, he prepared a special drink that needed to be preserved for five days. After he was sure that the drink was ready, he used a huacal to collect the drink and gave it to the king. The king was extremely excited because he said: “This is a gods’ drink! What is its name?” Mausimolú answered: “Casusa.”

The king wanted more and shared it with his nobles. He ordered Mausimolú to prepare more. He said to the king that he needed one more tree-like the previous one, and it had to have a canoe form. “When I’ve all, and it’s ready, I’m going to add all that is needed to prepare the next drinks for you and your nobles,” Mausimolú said.

The King said: “Fine, we are going to do, as you say.”

Mausimolú went to jail and let Ifraín know that the next week, they were going to escape. The guards followed the king’s orders, and when the new canoe was ready, Mausimolú started to prepare an alcoholic drink called “Chicha.” He made it from mameys, corn, species, pineapples, and many tropical fruits. When it was ready, Mausimolú invited the king and warned Ifraín to don’t drink a single drop because it was extremely concentrated.

The king was very satisfied with the new beverage. After a couple of hours, all nobles, guards, and the king were sleeping like slots.

When they woke up, the king screamed: “Mausimolú, we need more! Come back!” However, they were already in the middle of the sea one more time.

They were lucky for the next few days. However, one more time, a storm hit them, and the canoe sank. They survived, but they split into two different paths. The secret of their constant survival was: “they were born by the meat of the snakefish.” They had a kind of superpower.

After many days, Ifraín found a new island that was the island of the Monkeys’ Queen. The monkeys looked at him and said: “Look! What a great surprise for our queen! Hu hu hu!”

The queen said: “Such a nice boy” then she approached him and asked: “Where are you going pretty?”

“I’m searching for my love,” answered Ifraín.

Then, the queen told him: “So, it’s time to get married! I’m going to be your beloved one!”

Ifraín was confused and said: “Why am I going to marry you? I’m looking for true love. I cannot get married to a monkey. We are not from the same kingdom. I’m a human, and you’re a monkey. Sorry, but we are incompatible.”

The Monkeys’ Queen offered Ifraín all that she had even the Earth and Heaven if it was needed. However, he refused all her gifts.

Ifraín frustrated told her: “Look, I don’t have any love for you. I am leaving.”

The Monkeys’ Queen told him: “Leave then, but when someone captures you, told them that you are one of my guards.”

A couple of days later, he was captured by the blues because he didn’t have any identification. Nevertheless, he said what the Queen told him and returned to her kingdom. When he was back, the queen told him: “You see, what happens because you don’t want to marry me. So, do we marry?”

“No!” Answered Ifraín.

“Really, don't you want to marry me?” asked the queen one more time impatiently.

“No!” Answered Ifraín again and continued “even if you wore the sun and the moon today, I don’t have any love for you. Even if you brought all-stars from the sky, I am never going to love you. Kill me if it’s what you want, but I don’t love you!”

The queen didn’t give up, continued, and told him: “Look, all this can be yours. I have all that you need.”

“No!” Answered Ifraín again and continued: “Even if you gave me the entire world, I am never going to love you. I’m leaving.”

The queen was frustrated with such an attitude and said: “Get out of my sight then, once and for all.”

Ifraín started to walk, and after a couple of days, he stopped in an old hut in the middle of nowhere. There, a spirit told him: “Give me some space Ifraíncito to sleep.”

Ifraín moved next to the wall and gave her some space. For the next three days, the spirit was coming back until one day, Ifraín captured mad and captured the spirit. He discovered it was a woman because of her long hair. The woman yelled Ifraín: “Free me!”

“Free you? Why should I do it? You have come for three days to scare me!” Said Ifraín.

“Light up a candle and look who you are capturing!” Yelled the woman.

“No, you are going to escape again.” Said Ifraín.

“No, I’m not going to leave this time.” Said the woman.

When Ifraín lighted up the candle, he screamed: “YOU ARE! YOU ARE! THE ONE I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR! I’VE SEARCHED YOU FOR MONTHS, AND I ALMOST DIED MANY TIMES!”

“Who are you looking for?” Asked the woman calmly. “I am looking for Maril Yurul, and you are Maril Yurul,” answered Ifraín.

“I am Maril Iren. I am Maril Yurul’s cousin. I’ve been looking for you. Someone who saved me from some evil spirits told me, I could meet you on this island. Let’s move. We can reach my cousin the next morning.” Said the woman.

They walked for many hours during the cold night until they reached a long bridge. There, Marin told Ifraín that he needed to continue his journey in that bridge at the end of it, there is going to be the palace of her aunt: Queen Saba.

Maril continued giving him more commands: “When you arrive at the palace, don’t enter abruptly and be careful because you’re going to find a pair of flip flops that you need to collect, bring them to the altar and knee in front of her. My aunt is going to explode because of your presence, and it’s going to be really mad, but don’t say a word, just allow her to finish.”

Ifraín followed all the orders, and the queen angrily told him: “How stupid is this man? How is it possible that you cross half of the sea only for a woman? What an idiot! You are good for nothing! You are coming here to take my right hand, my left hand. Don’t believe I don’t know your kind. Look what you have done! You almost died many times. That’s why you look like a pig. Say something! Don’t stay quiet!”

Ifraín kept quiet until he thought it was the right time and answered: “My queen, I’m here only for Maril Yurul.”

“Do you know her?” asked the queen incredulously.

“If I see her, I am sure I can recognize her in a blink of an eye. Also, with your authorization, I’d like to speak with you about my love. I almost lost my life many times in the sea, only because I wanted to find my eternal love.” Answered Ifraín.

The queen was surprised with that answer and told him: “Why didn’t you say it before? I’m going to bring her.”

When Maril Yurul reached the altar, she was surprised because of how dirty the man was. The queen told her that this man wanted to marry her and ordered the guards to bring two chairs; therefore, Ifraín and Maril would be able to speak.

“I’m here because I want to speak to you about my love for you,” said Ifraín.

“Have we ever met before? How do you know me?” asked Maril.

“We have never met in person, but my heart says that you’re the chosen one. In my heart, there is only space for one person, and it is yours. What I have carried all my journey is the only proof I have, and if it’s not enough, you can say I’m just a liar,” answered Ifraín.

Ifraín pulled out a small box from his chest and gave it to the queen and Maril Yurul.

The queen opened it and said “Dear! This is your portrait. The Sage Salomón had it before you were even born! He said he was going to give to Ifraín Reventuroso, and you’re him! Tomorrow, we are going to celebrate your wedding! Rejoice, my dears! Ifraín, come with me, you’re going to meet my sister Bayal Yamar.”

They started pacing to Bayal’s palace when they saw a huge crowd in the center of a park. They approached the place and heard someone screaming: “Seven times! Seven times! Seven times!” All the people were laughing at him. The crazy man continued screaming the same words without stopping, but when Ifraín looked carefully at him, he said: “Mausimolú! Brother! Where have you been? What is happening with you?”

Mausimolú heard his brother’s voice and stopped screaming. He approached Ifraín, looked at him, and that moment ceased his madness. Mausimolú told him all that happened and how he met Maril Iren. He was saving her when some wicked cursed him some time ago.

When the Queen heard that, she held them from their hands and picked them up at her sister’s palace. In the palace, she was holding a great man and a dirty one, and when her sister noticed her. She just thought her sister got mad and asked her: “What is going on with you?”

“This is my future son-in-law, he is going to marry tomorrow with Maril Yurul,” answered the queen.

After that, the queen explained to her sister about the portrait the sage had, and he was Ifraín. Also, this man saved Maril Iren. He had saved her from some evil spirits while he got cursed by them, and they found him lost in the park saying crazy things without sense because of his curse that just recently broke.

“Personally, you should allow him to meet your daughter one more time. Perhaps they could get married too, who knows? Maybe destiny put them on the same path for a reason.” Suggested the queen to her sister.

Bayal Yamar agreed, and her daughter and Mausimolú met each other again. They fell in love and got married some months after Ifraín and Maril Yurul, but that’s a story for another time.

The Royal Wedding happened as expected with the most luxurious dresses, and the shaman proclaimed the future king and queen of these kingdoms.  The queen was so excited that she tried reaching Ifraían’s dad and the vice king to talk more about their future as one kingdom.

During the party the kings arrived and blessed the new couple. The kings and queens had invited all citizens to this fantastic and majestic party. The event was full of tamales, chickens, tropical fruits, and many more impressive dishes.

On that night, from the top of a mountain, an old man was observing this massive event. This man was the Sage Salomón who just turned back and said: “Mission accomplished,” and he vanished, leaving a magnificent red rose that was born in that place.

As you can imagine, the lives of Ifraín and Mausimolú were full of love, happiness, and many new adventures. All thanks to the Sage Salomón and the snakefish.

Do you believe in true love as the Sage Salomón? Because love is the greatest mystery is full of challenges and crazy adventures that might be worth it in the end but are extremely difficult to reach.

Inspired by the book “Leyendas Cuentos y Adivinanzas de El Salvador, Bancasa, Banco de Construcción y Ahorro, S.A.” © All rights reserved 1995. The tale is an adaptation of the fairytale told by the storyteller Mr. José Luis Julio Reyes of Cantón Los Jiotes in La Unión, El Salvador.

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