Unification
Although he was planning to go beyond the borders of the Land of Green Lowlands, where Sage’s life would be in danger, they would at least be together…
Warriors of Transcendence, Part 6
The sun was setting on the water. Small waves gently touched the shore. Ulu and Sage sat quietly, watching the sea as it took on a turquoise hue. They felt a sense of closeness and tranquility and both were deep in thought. Sage’s widely-spaced eyes were large, always pondering the world, always curious. In contrast to his father, who was stocky and slow-moving, Sage was thin and his movements were rapid. He always seemed to be chasing after something. His mind, like his father’s, was inquisitive, demanding and alert. He, like his father, always sought a deep understanding of situations and events. But in contrast to his father, who was often silent, Sage’s speech was animated and excited and he preferred to share his thoughts with anyone who would listen.
Ulu did not know how to approach the topic of concern. Had a stranger influenced his son? For now, the mystery remained unsolved. Sage had made no mention of a stranger and he continued to speak of childish thoughts and events.
The world was tinted red-orange as the day came to an end. They arose from the sand and started towards their home. Ulu began to think that all was well, his fears unfounded, but just then Sage gazed at the reddening sky and smiled strangely.
“That is the same exact color as the flames”, he said. Ulu stopped walking, coming to a halt with a jolt.
“What did you say?” exclaimed Ulu loudly, mindlessly grasping his son’s hand very tightly.
“Father, you are hurting me!” said the boy.
Ulu regained control of his responses, and repeated his question in a calmer tone, “I’m sorry…what did you say?”
“All I said was that the flames were the same exact color. Such beautiful, gentle flames, and they were embroidered upon the shoulder of a man’s clothing. I alone noticed the flames,” he said with childish pride, triumphantly, “because he wore a blue cloak, like ours.”
Ulu chose his words wisely. He knew he had to maximize this opportunity without startling the child.
“Who is this man you saw, my beloved son?” he inquired calmly while sweat began to dampen the back of his neck.
“The funny, tall man who visited the village. He had a strange way of speaking.”
“Did he speak to you?” asked Ulu.
“Sure, he asked lots of questions.”
“What did he ask?” inquired Ulu, sensing that his suspicions were correct. His son had encountered an Obliterator. Now he was sure of it.
“Well, he asked what colors I am fond of, and which musical instruments I can play.” Ulu’s voice roughened, “Did he give you anything?”
The child, feeling a bit guilty, was offended by his father’s tone.
“Yes, he did. But what of it?” He removed a small wooden cube from his pocket, and showed it to his father. “The man told me this is a game used for expanding the mind.”
Ulu forced himself to handle the cube without betraying his anxiety. He noticed the engraved shapes and saw that each side contained a different image. Etched into one side were three warriors armed with swords. Various other warriors and animals were etched on the other sides, including an etching of a lone spider.
“Do you know how to use it?” asked Ulu, casually.
“It is very simple,” answered the boy, his eyes gleaming. “One must concentrate on a certain image. This spider, for instance,” he said, and pointed at the despised insect. “If it is done properly, the image ‘jumps’ into a different square. Each time an image enters a new part of the cube, there is a war between the images. Some ‘jump’ into other squares and some vanish.”
“And what is the ultimate goal?” inquired Ulu.
Sage explained, “When all of the images disappear and only the spider remains, the game is over”.
Ulu guessed that this game was similar to the Game of Forces played in the tower. He did not know the actual goals of the game, but was sure of one thing. The goals were not what his son mistakenly believed them to be…
“I will keep this for now,” Ulu said, and placed the cube in the pocket of his cape. The child began to object, but the stern look in his father’s eyes rendered him powerless to protest. Sage simply did not understand what all the fuss was about.
A distant memory suddenly flashed through Ulu’s mind. Why did this thought come to him now? He did not know. But this recollection served to further dishearten his spirits.
He recalled a childhood friend named Tyklah. The men from the Chamber of Changing Colors had chosen Tyklah and Ulu for initiation training as Warriors of Transcendence, but Tyklah was always overly satisfied with himself, pretending to learn more quickly than others, to understand more than he really did. Eventually, he abandoned his studies and disappeared. Rumors were spread about him, alluding to his misuse of the knowledge which had been entrusted to him. He was even suspected of sharing it with the enemy.
The thought of his enemies brought Ulu back to reality. His heart filled with somber fears. He knew, without a doubt, that someone had touched the heart of his firstborn son, and had planted in him the seeds of retribution. The stranger or another enemy agent could appear and cause more trouble in the future.
As they came closer to their home, a new thought came into Ulu’s mind. He realized that in light of this imminent possibility, he would have to take Sage with him on his next journey. Although he was planning to go beyond the borders of the Land of Green Lowlands, where Sage’s life would be in danger, they would at least be together, and Ulu would be able to protect him from harm.
I cannot allow myself, he thought, to leave Sage in the village, exposed and vulnerable to those damnable Obliterators.
That night, Ulu prepared himself for Unification. He wrapped himself in a warm cape and descended to the sea shore, walking on the sand towards the village border. The air was cool and the stars seemed to be very far away. A pale moon shed silver rays upon the earth. Ulu stopped, sat down upon the sand, rested his head between his knees and sighed.
“Should I take Sage or shouldn’t I?” He began with a question, with no prior introduction, “Do I take him or not?”A gust of wind blew in from the sea, causing his hair to become disheveled.
“I need guidance. I don’t know what to do. He is so young, but I am afraid I have no choice…” He noticed that his words were jumbled.
He placed his hands on his face in an attempt to concentrate his thoughts, and tried to sort out his words.
“The stranger who visited the village…” he said, and his voice weakened.”Sage is my son, my beloved! I have no other. They touched him, and I must protect him! He is my very own, my son. “Sage,” he said, “Sage…Sage…”
He arose from the sands and continued walking along the shore. More at ease now, he was able to find the proper words in his heart.
“Please help me! There is no one in the world but You who can help me! I feel compelled to take Sage with me. I feel I have no choice. I must protect him. Am I doing the right thing? Please give me a sign!”
A faint cloud covered the moonlight. Ulu shuddered.
“And what choice have I?” he asked, “To leave him behind in the village and wait for one of them to simply show up and take him away?’
It is riskier than you think, a thought arose in his mind.
He did not know whether this thought was his own or possibly an answer from the Transcendor.
He must be trained, his thoughts continued, and Ulu questioned himself. How can I take a young boy to the White Desert?
The Light of the Transcendor shall protect you Ulu felt in his heart, and he realized that these thoughts were his own and not from the Transcendor.
“Give me a sign!” he repeated his plea, refusing to accept the night’s obscurity as the answer to his question.
The night remained silent. Ulu understood that the sadness which pervaded his thoughts had prevented his proper Unification.
To be continued.
***
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