A Tale of Time: The Malice of Men

Chapter 13: Prophecies

Prophesies are obscure. Prophesies are true.

Prophesies are useful. Prophesies are dangerous.

Prophesies are unnerving. Prophesies are bravery-inspiring.

Prophesies may guide a man, but only as far as his virtue.

You see, Maestior, despite being a place of immense learning, was also religious. While they did not follow the customs that the rest of Ëra did, they were, nonetheless, believers. Their particular God, for they deviated from the faith of the rest, was Imhovar, the unknown.

The monks who followed this faith and were chief of their order dwelt at the Pyramid of Truth, so named for a reason you will know soon.

Our particular monk is named Balthazar. He was found by the Arsaan as a child and grew under his care. He learnt to pray, to read, to fight and most importantly, to communicate with the spirits, whose existance was unknown to most of Ëra.

You see, the faith(or cult as the case may be) didn't believe in needless worship. Their main job was to communicate with spirits who told them of all that was happening and all that happened. If there was a great urgency or need, they even told them future, but such occasions were rare.

The monks of the Pyramid lead a very disciplined life. They shave their hair when they become a monk. They take up a new name to symbolize the beginning of a new life. They are only expected to wear robes of yellow and are to never cut their had again. The Arsaan was so old his beard almost swept the ground, though his head was bare and spotted.

Balthazar started his day like he always did. He went out to the opens and prayed, thanking God for a new day. The priests of the Pyramid occupied the city square long before life got going. They would lay down a mat, face the east and bow in respect. Balthazar did the same. Then, closing his eyes and raising his palms to God, he showed that he had nothing and wanted nothing. He showed that he was content.

Then, he took a bath, washing himself off the dirt and dust he may have accumulated. Such was the order of the events they were required to follow. If life wasn't rules, it was nothing.

He put on his favourite yellow robe and began to walk towards the Hall of Silence.

It was in this room that the priests communicated with the spirits. Absolute silence was essential. That rule had been followed ever since the pyramid was built and reportedly, even before it.

Balthazar walked through the large hall, whose roof was a good twenty feet above him and was supported by large, stone pillars ever so often. There were no windows as this hall was in the very centre of this large pyramid, so large lanterns hung from above, their yellow, shadowed light gave the room a sacred, but decrepit look. No paintings decorated this hall, no images, nothing. The only thing this room was ever meant for was to communicate with the spirits of the other world where they dwelt in. Mats were laid.down on the hard floor to sit on. In front of every mat lay a large tray of sand. That was the only way spirits could communicate. The Arsaan told him this and much more when he was an apprentice.

"Spirits live in a mirrored world, my son. That is why they can tell us all that is happening so easily. All they have to do is look around them. No man may hide anything when he isn't there. All we must to is preserve the truth."

"Why do the spirits write backwards?" A younger Balthazar had a sled.

"Because they are in a mirrored world, what is normal to them is mirrored for us. Come, Balthazar, let me teach you."