The Halls Of Illusions: Emergence of the Disciplined

18 Walk of Faith

The party stepped through the door, a large chasm stood in front of them. Marcus looked out across the chasm to the large door opening on the other side of the chasm. "Ahh, not again" he muttered. Meroes turned to him. "I take it you all have done something like this before?" "Yes" Sam replied with a sigh. "The last time we did this we were being chased by a demon and ended up being thrown in a fiery pit" she added.

Meroes stepped out and looked down into the chasm. A black void filled the chasm. "All right idea's anyone?" The group looked around at one another. The party stepped back and discussed the situation for a moment. Meroes turned and walked back to the edge. He looked down again and stared into the blackness. He raised his head and looked back at the door. He closed his eyes and laughed for a moment. Quil looked over to him. "What are you laughing about? I don't see this as a laughing matter Meroes." Meroes continued to look across the chasm. "Quil, Sam, everyone, think about where we are." Everyone looked back and forth at each other. "Guys, think about it we are in The Halls of Illusions; this is nothing more than an illusion." Sam walked to Meroes, grabbed him by the shoulders, and stared him in the face. "What you are trying to say is that this is nothing more than an illusion, and that there is really a bridge here?" "Yes, that is what I am saying Sam, but I think that there is more to this then just a mere illusion." "What do you mean?" asked Marcus. "Well Marcus I think that this is not only and illusion, but also a leap of faith." Makira leaned forward and popped her head around Marcus. "Please explain Meroes." "Ok Makira I will. It appears like there is no bridge here correct? That doesn't mean there isn't; in fact I believe just the opposite. Look back at everything everyone has been through while being here. How much strife have we all endured individually? I know it's been hard on Quil and myself; I expect the same holds true for all of you. How much of it was truly real and not some form of manifestation or manipulation?" "Very little" Sam replied. "Exactly Sam, that is my point, I'm telling you guys, this is nothing more than an illusion. All you have to do is know in your heart that there is a bridge here and it will be here." Quil and Sam looked at each other with questionable expressions. "This is madness Meroes it is a black abyss down there you will doom us all." Quil said trying to plead some sense into the man. "I will prove it. I will lead and once you all see then maybe you will follow." Meroes replied defiantly. They looked out over the chasm once again and hoped, hoped that he was correct.

Meroes stood at the edge of the cliff and took in a deep breath. He knew there was a walk way there, there had to be. He stepped forward. His body leaned out, and touched solid stone. He looked down beneath him. He could see a solid stone walk way under him. Meroes turned back to the group and smiled. "I told you so, all you have to do is have a little faith, and know it is there, and it will be." Meroes turned back around and walked across the walkway to the other side. Sam, Quil, Marcus, and Makira watched as he walked across the air to the other side. "How did you do that Meroes?" asked Quil. "Quil I told you, all you have to do is know that the walkway will be there, and it will, but you can't have any doubt in your heart. This is a test of the mind." "How do you know all this Meroes?" asked Sam. "I don't know Sam, I just somehow knew that if I believed in my heart it would be there, and it was. So guys who is up next?" the remaining four looked at each other. "Not me" yelled Marcus. Meroes looked at Makira. "Makira, you seem like a strong minded young woman." "I'm not so sure I'm that head strong." she said as she peered over the edge. "You can take care of yourself in a fight right, despite your size?" "What about my size?" "Well you're a smaller woman, but I bet you can take down people twice your size." "I'm not small!" "Is that so? Then come over here and prove it." Makira stomped to the edge of the ledge, and then she looked down. She placed her hand on her chin and rubbed it in thought for a moment. She understood what he was doing, maybe it would work, maybe it wouldn't but he would certainly keep her hot headed enough that she wouldn't care.