Duel with the Shadows

Warriors of Transcendence, Part 49
 
Ulu would have preferred to travel through the Tunnels of Time, but he would have encountered difficulties in traversing the unfamiliar paths without a map.   So, instead, he made his way through the lower parts of the Land of the Northern Forests, unaware of the terrible events transpiring in the world; not knowing the outcomes of the battles.
 
An eerie silence pervaded the valley. 
 
What is the reason for this silence? he worried.
 
Advancing swiftly, through the elongated crevices between the cliffs, heading towards the villages beyond, Ulu wondered if he would find empty fields and a strange silence there as well?
 
And the Shadows – where were they? Just then, he noticed dark clouds advancing over the earth- they were Cloud Shadows! He attempted to conceal himself by walking quietly through the trees on the slope, but his efforts were in vain.   A small flame appeared in his tracks, becoming a furiously dancing pillar of blue fire within seconds. Another flame rolled towards him, tentacles of fire reaching out menacingly. More and more flames approached and surrounded Ulu, setting dry grass on fire, sending embers through the air.
 
Ulu stretched out his hand and drew the shape of a coiled rope in the air. The Shadows attempted to nourish themselves from the foundation of Ulu’s inner heat, a result of the concentration of enormous force into a gentle movement. Spiraling flames, like ropes, appeared above the heads of the Shadows and began entrapping them painfully. Coil after coil, fire against fire. But the Shadows persisted, fighting off the coiling fire and managing to sever the red ropes threatening their existence.
 
Ulu decided to try a different tactic. He sat down and extended his hands forward, in a tugging motion, directed at the heart of the Shadows, as if he were extracting strings. His movement concentrated the strength of the Shadows themselves to one place.  Their inner flames became thin, blinding red threads, which emerged from the Shadows and suffocated their strength.
 
Piles of ash remained on the ground.  The Shadows were defeated, but Ulu was weary and continued to worry. He wondered what other threats awaited him as he reached the gate.  To his great relief, he saw Transparent Ones were stationed at the gate, protecting it. In a land filled with enemy Shadows, it was good to be in the company of friends again. He moved towards them joyfully.
 
“My friends!” he called. “I am a messenger of the Master of Transcendence.”
 
The Transparent Ones were taken aback and astonished to hear about Ulu’s mission to locate and defeat the counterfeit, imposter Master of Transcendence.  They offered him a place of refuge in the forest.
 
“You should rest and regain your strength before you continue on your way,” they said.
 
He accepted their offers of food and rest graciously. The long journey and the fears in his heart had exhausted him and he soon fell into a deep slumber.
 
When he awoke, he was astonished to find that his hands had been bound with chains, his feet shackled and his mouth taped. In shock and surprise, he scanned the area. The Transparent Ones, his companions, conversed with each other ignoring his presence.
 
“Indeed, we have a precious treasure in our hands,” said one of the Transparent Ones in a shrill voice. “It is a shame we are not permitted to amuse ourselves a little…”
 
Another Transparent One approached Ulu, reached out a long and bony hand and agreed: “Yes, if we could only saw him to pieces!”
 
“What is necessary,” offered a short Transparent One with shaggy hair “is to expose our true selves to him.”
 
They burst into squeals of laughter, and Ulu noticed how the shells of their luminous clothing began to melt, revealing Shadows as black as coal. Shadows of Illusion! They rolled through the air, turning themselves into clouds and strange beasts. They howled with carefree laughter, as though the world and all of its inhabitants were pieces in a game.
 
Ulu closed his eyes and attempted to enter within himself. How had he fallen into such a trap? In fear and in haste, without investigation and examination, he had trusted the imposter Transparent Ones.  His throat was dry, his body drenched in perspiration.
 
Unbeknownst to Ulu, Warriors of Transcendence were swiftly approaching. The Shadows, sensing the impending arrival of enemies, quickly hid Ulu in the bushes. Again, they took on the form of Transparent Ones.
 
“Welcome, brothers from the battles!” they blessed the warriors.
 
The warriors responded and Ulu strained to hear their voices. He thought he recognized the voice of Tzalaii, a village boy who had been captured on Green Isle. But how had the young villager escaped his captors?  How had he grown to adulthood and become a warrior, so confident and strong?
 
Ulu felt the strength and intensity of the warriors, and they too sensed his presence. “He is here, nearby,” they knew, and Ulu, unable to speak, called them repeatedly in his mind, sensing that his call had been heard.
 
“Who are you?” He could hear the mighty voice of a warrior.
 
One of the Shadows of Illusion, the one posing as a short, shaggy-haired Transparent One, looked shaken and afraid. The Warriors of Transcendence noticed the Shadow behind his transparency, and one of them immediately began performing Unification and asking for help. The clothes of the Transparent Ones melted and the gang of Shadows was revealed.
 
Tzalaii was shocked- this was the first time he had confronted the enemy, face to face.
 
“Tzalaii!” he pleaded to his inner, royal self, as he had pleaded in the Tunnels of Time. He then recalled his words in his mind: If you are precise, you are protected.
 
He gathered his thoughts and said, to himself, in deep concentration: “I am Tzalaii!”
 
The Warriors of Transcendence burst forwards, rushing towards the Shadows of Illusion, surrounding them. Their movements were like wheels of fire striking the creatures of darkness. The Shadows attempted to fight back and their shrieks reached the heavens, summoning heavy black clouds. Cloud Shadows rolled in quickly from the distance to aid their companions. Coils of fire appeared on the horizon, racing towards the battle scene.
 
“Purify and retreat!” ordered a Warrior of Transcendence.
 
They stretched their hands out in front of them and with a light movement signaled a simultaneous strike to the ground. The ground beneath the Shadows of Illusion split and they immediately vanished into the crevices. The Warriors of Transcendence found Ulu in the bushes, unbound his wrists and released him from his shackles.   Swiftly, they all ran toward the forest.  Under the protective covering of the forest, they soon stopped to rest in the shade of a hidden ditch at the foot of a tall cliff.
 
Ulu embraced Tzalaii, praising his courage and listening to his account of his experiences in the Tower. Tzalaii sadly informed Ulu that the King’s Cloak, containing a map of the Tunnels of Time, still remained in the hands of the Emperor.  Ulu resolved to complete his tasks at the southern cliffs, and then leave for the Towered City to search for his eldest son, Sage, and for the King’s Cloak.
 
There was no time to lose. The next day, Ulu parted from his companions and hurried to his task. He journeyed at night and during the day he hid in crevices. Beyond the Lowlands, the land was dry and rocky, and rose sharply towards the mountains, making the journey treacherous. Ulu had no choice but to opt for this difficult path, due to his fear of the Shadows swarming over King’s Valley. As he advanced, the vegetation became sparse.   His water supply was almost gone.
 
To be continued.
 

***
Purchase Warriors of Transcendence online at a special discount for Breslev Israel readers here.

With sincere gratitude to www.levhadvarim.com.