From Night On: Pathways

Chapters 21-22

Chapter 21:

Familial Support

(Hessa)

March 11th

My eyes were dry and tired from reading and crying over Les' story, but, by the end of that last entry, I felt more at ease. "Who could Les be," I wondered, "who could WE be if we could be strong enough to kill Lucifer and send him into Bardo?" It also occurred to me that it had been far too long since I had visited my soul spring and decided that I would have to perform the exercise soon. His experience with Waa was magical and I couldn't wait to meet her. Of course, I might have a few choice words to share with the Being of Wood. Regarding John, I'm happy that Les has a companion who is so trusted, but I worry that John's motives are too rigid. Only time will tell. He was accepted and given the task of being Les' guide and protector by the Being of Wood, essentially a god, but these Beings were still new to me. I believe they were new to everyone, forgotten or hidden relics from a genesis not heard or spoken of long before man uttered his first word.

I closed the laptop, my eyes glimpsing the next entry, but fighting the urge to read on, knowing that I needed to take a break. I lied on my futon and stared at the ceiling, wondering about these Beings. Yael had obviously been visited by one, Alma Mater, whom I assumed was the Being of Water, but why did she come to me in the form of a woman instead of the chimera that approached Yael or how The Being of Wood approached Les in what was most definitely a hulking tree creature? If the Being of Water was able to pass on her gifts to Yael, could the Being of Wood have passed on its gift to Les? The particular flame that it possessed was described as being the same as the one Les and I obtained in Oaxaca, but what about some ability regarding plants?

The remaining insanity from my stint in Amy's prison coupled with this time of rest increased my imagination and curiosity as my mind was finally free to process. "What other Elementals are there?" I wondered aloud. "There's the Being of Water, The Being of Wood, The Being of Fire (who was apparently the sun), The Being of Earth (whom we haven't met yet), and, what else did the codex from Oaxaca say?"

A light knock on the door pulled me from my musing. "H-h-h-Hessa?" Hojei called to me. "Would you like to join us for morning meditations today?" This was my opportunity to accept the joined meditative energy of the others to help me return to my soul spring, so I rushed to my feet, calling back cheerfully, "I'm coming, I'm coming."

Hojei's excitement over my response couldn't be withheld. I could here his joyous giggle as he clapped his hands. When I opened the door, he was nearly dancing in the hallway, bobbing at his knees with raw energy sparked by my little recovery. "W-w-w-would you like to race?" he asked me with a big, childlike smile.

I squinted my eyes and readied myself, "Ready... set... GO!" We both went flying through the hallways along the path to the outside. He was portly and didn't run so often, but I could hear him laughing so freely as we crashed through the halls, making a spectacle in front of the other monks who were just coming out of their dormitories. "Excuse me!" I called out as I leaped over one monk who had just bent down to put on his shoes.

"P-p-pardon me (huff)," I heard Hojei call out.

I burst through the doors into the open air and went at a full sprint across the grounds. Hojei let out a loud cry of laughter as he came out to see me at stop speed. "G-g-g-go!!!" he cried in amazement and I felt an additional burst of energy. I was running so fast that it felt like my feet were barely touching the ground. When I noticed this, my own amazement put my mind out of sync with my body and I quickly lost focus as I went crashing, at full speed, into a bush near the entrance to the meditation hall. Monks, who were already there, rushed to my aid, concerned that I had been hurt, but were met with fits of laughter that they joined in with.