Waiting
Ulu’s inner senses had taught him that this lack of information was a part of his trials in the mission he was to fulfill; he simply had to continue waiting…
Warriors of Transcendence, Part 26
Ulu arose at the break of dawn and prepared to leave on his journey. Two fair-haired Transparent Ones, their golden capes billowing in the breeze, escorted him to the boat anchored on the island’s shore. In no time at all, they found themselves heading eastward down the tree-covered slopes of the Northern Forests. The fall foliage was at its peak and multitudes of yellow and orange leaves were visible from the mountain. Great piles of leaves were everywhere and the crunching sound created when the dry leaves were disturbed could be heard for miles.
The Transparent Ones carried food for Ulu and were naturally cheerful and happy. Because he was a solitary person, their constant presence made him slightly uncomfortable. But he knew that being alone was not necessarily beneficial to him. While in the company of these light- footed and gracious companions, his own movements seemed heavy and clumsy in contrast, and he experienced difficulty in speaking.
The Transparent Ones were in no hurry. In the evening hours they would slowly gather sticks in the forest, patiently laying them down individually, as if the placement of each and every one was of utmost importance. Later, when it became darker and the nocturnal animals began sounding their calls, the Transparent Ones would light the fire. Cross-legged by the fire, they gazed into the crimson flames which were reflected in their eyes. Their songs, almost childish, invaded Ulu’s mind and eventually brought a smile to his face.
These are the words to one of their songs:
Every tree and stone beholds a unique song
A single step launches a journey, so long
A clear sky instills tranquility in the hearts of all
And loneliness is not always painful to recall.
The wind swirled about them, listening to their song, wondering about their hope. Two Transparent Ones and one human on the way to Obliterator’s Peak- Would they be strong enough to fight the darkness spreading throughout the world?
As the days passed, the forest became less dense. A lone deer passed nearby every so often, and Ulu learned from the Transparent Ones that the deer’s presence was a sign that their destination was near. After the arduous trek of three weeks, the Transparent Ones finally pointed and said: “We have arrived!”
The noonday sun shone upon a large clearing in the forest, which was covered by low-lying, light green shrubbery. This was the deer’s home and they were not easily startled. This time, they did not flee from the newcomers as if they felt secure, knowing that no harm could come to them.
The Transparent Ones sat down comfortably on the grass, joined by the Man of Borders. Ulu was amazed that a place so beautiful could exist in the Kingdom of the Ancient Progeny. He gazed around him and realized that this was the highest point in the Land of the Northern Forests. On his left Ulu saw huge descending cliffs, and in the East loomed a fiery mountain range. Despite its great height, fire from the mountain tops was visible from time to time, and molten lava streamed like a crimson river down the distant slopes.
A gray and murky landscape lay to the right and Ulu despondently recognized it as the Shadow Valley. He chose to look away. The sight of the White Desert caught his attention, and he recalled his experiences there. He remembered sitting in the desert, motionless, for what seemed like eons, absorbing the desert’s stillness. In the heart of the valley lay the Towered City, reaching upward towards the heavens like a gigantic, overgrown weed, abundant with black stones, towers, citadels and countless levels. Those who gazed at the Tower were filled with fear, even before seeing the eternal white flame at its peak.
In the distant Land of the South, rugged mountains covered the horizon. During his first initiation training session in the Chamber of Changing Colors, when he was still a boy, Ulu had heard about the great cities, adorned in beauty, which existed during ancient times in the Land of the South. The Magnificent Kingdom of the Ancient Progeny… But the broad valleys between the mountains, once filled with people walking home from journeys to the Green Lowlands, now lay desolate, lifeless.
Will I, too, merit to cross through those distant valleys? Pondered Ulu, as he wondered about the meaning of his own thoughts.
Ulu felt compelled to look toward his homeland which lay far in the distance, to the west. As Ulu gazed at King’s Sea, which appeared as a blurry, blue stain, he suddenly recalled his last visit to the village. In his mind’s eye he could see how the apple trees were the first to transform into a light mauve hue. His daughter, Shaii, had told him so. He could picture the patch of grass that covered the ground by the entrance to his home, and the gentle orange- colored flowers blooming on either side of the door. Ulu remembered inspecting the new carrot patch and listening to Shaii speak excitedly. He remembered sitting with his wife on a great old tree trunk by the front wall, enjoying their children at play. The sun had spread its rays generously over the world. A light breeze had carried the scent of fresh fish from the dock, and Shaii and Dorianne sat on the old swing as Sage pushed them
“I mustn’t think of home!” Ulu reprimanded himself aloud. But the memory of his eldest son pierced his heart like a painful thorn, causing more and more pain with every thought, reminding him of the depth of his loss. An image forced itself into Ulu’s mind. It was the image of his son during their last moments together: Sage was gazing at the horizon, and saw the Towered City for the first time in his life. Would his innocent heart be saved from such profound evil?
Evening fell, coloring the sky in a crimson hue. A sudden chill entered Ulu’s body as the evening winds began to blow. The deer had vanished and the clearing on the cliffs was exposed to the wind. The Transparent Ones directed Ulu to take shelter among the tall trees of the forest. There, they lit a small fire and the Man of Borders, Ulu, calmed his thoughts as he listened to the voices of the Transparent Ones. To his surprise, he discovered that they were composing a song about his emotions.
“Loneliness is not always pain to recall” they sang with gentle voices.
The final words of their song led into another: “Sometimes one must listen deeply to the echoes of his own heartbeat, to the leaves cascading gently to the earth, to the voyage of the winds, to the struggle of the forces of nature: Sky and earth, chaos and light”…
Ulu found their words magical and heartwarming. He had a vivid sense that beyond the song, which portrayed autumnal loneliness at the summit of the world, there was a deeper meaning that related to his mission.
Just as before, details of his mission had not been fully disclosed to him and, instead, the Transparent Ones directed him to continue waiting in this place. For how long and why, he did not know. But his inner senses had taught him that this lack of information was a part of his trials in the mission he was to fulfill. He was well-equipped, and the Transparent Ones had pointed out the many trees which grew nearby, abundant with sweet fruit, even in the autumn.
The climate was warmer in the forest, and the Man of Borders hoped that he would be able to spend the night there safely. Completing their song, the Transparent Ones prepared to depart. Their illuminated faces and capes dimmed, as if they were aware of something casting a shadow upon their hearts. They did not share their fears with Ulu, and only said: “So says the Master of Transcendence: Be attentive to every moment in time. The voice of your heart shall guide the way. Have patience, and the Light of the Transcendor shall protect you. When all looks lost, remember and never forget: All waiting shall be fulfilled.”
“All waiting shall be fulfilled”…Ulu repeated their words, as the aura of the Transparent Ones disappeared beyond the mountain
Ulu turned towards the cliff that faced Fire Mountain, unhappy about having to part with his cheerful companions. For a few long moments, he gazed at the site of their departure. Observing the distant crimson lava, he turned his ears to the inner voice of his heart, and waited.
Deep in the belly of the earth, the Warriors of Transcendence continued their training. They sat in a circle, in close proximity to one another, and listened intently to the words of a senior trainer: “Lack of precision sustains sadness, and sadness sustains the Shadows. But a precise voice has the ability to melt all Shadows. A word that conveys the strength of its speaker’s spirit can overcome an Obliterator.”
The cave filled with several lone sounds uttered by the trainer, which circled like birds over the heads of the warriors. The sounds waned, becoming distant, almost impossible to hear, calming in a way, but still of great intensity.
“You,” the trainer pointed to one of the warriors, “Share your voice with us.”
To be continued.
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