by L. C. Maciel
-Cecilia, it's a lot easier for kids to understand... -Oh. They already know this power unconsciously, because they believe anything is possible. They are pure, innocent and have faith, unlike adults. In time, we lose these virtues and we lose the true sense of reality, which is surreal as you said.
-And what should I do, to be able to empty my mind?
-That, only you can find out. You need to concentrate, and try as hard as you can until you can.
-Okay... But it can take time and delay your training.
-I won't wait for you, I know we don't have time... -Oh... While you're trying to reach theta, I'll start my efforts.
Homero's hands were holding one of the papyruses, as he passed his eyes through the strange symbols, indecipherable to me.
For a moment I watched closely the brown of his irises illuminated by the sunbeam that timidly entered between the treetops.
- Can you understand that? - I asked.
-With some effort, yes.
- Do you know ancient Greek?
- Of course not, but you can understand any language after theta.
-But how?
-Cecilia, you'll have to learn to control your anxiety... I cannot answer your questions now. - He said serenely, showing that he needed concentration. -I'm sorry, I'll stop asking questions. -Oh.
I looked down and noticed that my old navy blue sneakers had come loose, undoing the loose knot made by my hands. After redoing it, this time firmer, I walked discreetly diagonally away from Homero.
While he analyzed the old text thoroughly, I closed my eyes looking for something I had never known in my life.
Was that possible?
I decisively ignored the question, trying again to forget the noisy silence in that place.
Trying to erase any trace of thoughts or shadows that could become living words in my mind, I realized that even the sound and movement of my breath made everything more difficult.
After countless attempts, frustrated, I lay down on the grass feeling a strange tiredness dominating my body. The woods, now flooded by the dim dim light, revealed to me that I had lost track of time.
The day was already saying goodbye.
I tried to get up, but I was stopped by the explosion of pain that flooded my head. The soft grass invited me to stand there, still, motionless.
The light was completely absent, bringing a cold, dark sky.
I closed my eyes.
-Hey, wake up, we need to go back to the woods.
-Where am I? -I asked with my eyes wide open.
-We're in the hut, it's morning. -Oh.
The abandoned place was curiously clean, something I noticed as soon as I opened my eyes completely. Two thick, soft mattresses filled the small space, each on one side. A small table full of biscuits, breads, and yogurt was located in the right corner.
- Where did all this come from?
- From an apportionment.
- How did I get out of the woods?
-I carried it. I didn't want to wake you, you looked exhausted. You spent four hours trying to reach theta.
- All that? I can't believe it, I don't think I felt time go by.
-I know, and that's an excellent sign. -Oh. You're already able to transport your mind into the timeless.
- Is that possible? - I asked after a yawn.
-It's not only possible, but necessary to reach theta. -Oh. You've certainly heard of people who can predict the future or know about the past of someone unknown.
-Clarificient.
-Yes... To achieve this, the mind has to be situated outside of time, in the timeless. It is as if it watches everything from above, from a perspective that allows it to see the space-time continuum completely. That's how I can monitor you, watching your present.
-It's hard to understand. - I said standing up.
-It'll be easier when you reach the frequency you're looking for. You'll understand everything, I'm sure. Now, feed. We need to get back to the woods as soon as possible.
-What did I miss for the four hours I didn't see it go by? -Oh, I'm sorry.
-I got some mentalisms I'd never tried before. -Yeah. In the scrolls you have practically everything I needed.
-What mentalisms? - I asked as I picked up a buttery cookie.
-You'll see in a moment. Finish eating, and we will.
- Yesterday, before I tried to concentrate in the woods, I was thinking about your father's death and I got confused...
-Why?
-Do you have grandparents?
-They're already dead.
-It was Aryon, who killed them?
-No. -I get why you're confused. My grandfather, my father's father, who was also a descendant, had no gifts, or possessed and did not exploit them. My father was the first of his lineage to discover and explore that inclination. Aryon never pursued any descendant before. My father believed that our older ancestors could have even inherited this special tendency to mentalism, but they did not know it because they never explored. They were no threat to Aryan.
- So your father was the first descendant to explore the gifts.
- Yes... He was a theoretical physicist who didn't rule out ideas considered mystical. One of his greatest goals was to unite physics and transcendence. His beliefs must have made it easier to discover his gifts.
-When you were a child, he instructed you. -Yes. Don't you think it would have been better if you didn't know about it? If he hadn't explored your gifts?
- My father, he already knew he would be murdered. After all, he could foresee future events. He just couldn't be better than Aryon to defeat him, so he told my mother everything and left the manuscripts so I could do it. He entrusted me with that task, so he did what he did while I was still a child. Cecilia, Aryon is more dangerous than you think... He can turn everything into chaos if he wants, and my father knew that too. Someone needs to stop him, and that someone is me.
-You never told me his name.
- It was Alphonso. Alphonso Labratti.
-Well, Italian. The choice of his name was deliberate.
- Yes. -He said it with the sad expression, making me feel guilty for bringing up such memories. -Now finish eating, we need to go back to the woods.
I quickly swallowed the cookie in my hand and drank the yogurt. A calm breeze from the north entered through the window reaching my face that morning so far from where I came from.
-What was it? Homero asked, noticing the change in my expression.
- Yes... I was just remembering Lorena.
-Don't worry. One day she'll understand.
Homero took my hand and we left the little Hut. The woods at that time looked even more beautiful with the morning light and the simple dewdrops that covered the dark green grass.
Homero closed his eyes and in a few minutes I could see several objects floating before my eyes, besides the stream sprouting strangely in the ground and the strong gale that only reached us.
- You are getting good. - I praised it enthusiastically.
-Maybe... But these mentalisms won't do me much good. I need to learn specific mentalisms for duels, but in my father's notebooks there are few things.
-And in the papyruses that come in? -Yes.
-In these they have a lot of information. But I'm not getting it right. Some things are very confusing.
-Homero, I'm gonna try to hit theta again. -Hmm. - The idea still sounded strange to me. -Okay. Remember, you came close yesterday. You're almost there. - He said encouraging me.
I sat under a tree that allowed the sun to pass through its canopy. I closed my eyes trying to ignore the sounds of birds, the presence of Homero and even my own existence.
This time it was easier. I quickly managed to transport myself to the timeless, as Homero had guided me.
Although I felt extremely comfortable and wanted to explore that state, I could not immediately notice anything surreal about being situated outside of time.
I remained contemplating the void for a fraction
of infinity until I understood everything.
I got scared.
I opened my eyes and was surprised to see that the sun was already setting.
-Homero! - I screamed.
-I'm here! -He answered from the other side.
I stood up impetuously, almost stumbling over the exposed roots of the huge tree.
-I did it! But I got scared and had to come back.
-It's normal... It's too fantastic, everyone gets scared the first time.
-Homero, it's so amazing. The essence of the universe is absolutely perfect, it's an immeasurable intelligence.
And you are an infinitesimal part of this intelligence that also possesses infinite power.
-Homero said showing me a transcendental knowledge.
-An intelligence capable of operating and creating anything. - I added.
-Yes. -Our consciousness exists independently of all or nothing. It is the being and the non-being and it created space-time to experience itself. That is existence. It is the uviversal consciousness experiencing itself in its various possibilities. We are capable of anything because our consciousness is the creator of everything around us. Absolutely everything is the fruit of consciousness. Can you understand that now?
-Yes, I can. And it is complete in meaning.
-You got Cecilia. - He said after a long hug. Now we need to go back to the Hut. I'm exhausted and so must you.
-Yes, although I didn't realize the day was passing. -Yes.
The clouds in the sky had an orange tone mixed with light pink that disappeared little by little as Homero and I made our way back.
When we arrived at the Hut, Homero used the rest of his energy to bring the food from that night. We ate packaged potatoes, industrialized juice, some salty stuffed potatoes and strawberry cake.
-I know this all comes from an input. -Oh. But where exactly do you come from? -I asked after the frustrated attempt to ignore the curiosity.
-From my house. My mother's prepared, made a stock exclusively for it. I wouldn't steal food even if I knew you'd never catch me. -He said laughing.
-Good. - I said laughing too.
The night came with a cold wind that invaded the hut.
Homero and I organized the mattresses and blankets to keep warm.
We lit a flashlight that was enough to light the small extension of the place.
I felt a strange fear when Homero approached me and hugged me.
-What was it?
-It's nothing. - I lied.
-Cecilia, I know exactly what you're thinking. -Oh!
-You know? -You read my thoughts too?
-No, I don't. But by your expression I can guess. Listen: don't worry, I won't try anything. We don't have to think about it now. It's still too early.
-All right. - I said hugging him.
I closed my eyes as I leaned my head on Homero's chest. We were lying down and covered in very soft woolen blankets. I tried to call sleep, but he wouldn't come.
-Homero, are you sleepy? -Yes. - I asked, opening my eyes again.
-Not yet why?
-Then tell me about the faun. You promised not to remember?
I remember... What do you want to know?
-All you know.
-Let's see... - He took a brief pause. - Fauns are non-human creatures that inhabit the woods of the middle ages.
-Why only in the middle ages?
-Because they were hunted and hunted from the 15th century on.
-Why isn't all this just a myth? -Why only in the middle ages? I always believed it was. I can't understand...
-Most of what's considered myth exists in reality. -Oh. What occurs is that these creatures have learned to fear humans and remain hidden. You've never seen a child claiming to have seen a leprechaun in the garden or a fairy?
-Yes... Giovanna always said she saw a little blue man as a child. I said remembering my childhood.
-Probably she wasn't lying. -Yes. They usually only appear to children because they know they're no threat.
-Do you mean all those child story beings really exist? -Yeah.
- Not all, because some of them are invention. But many of them do exist.
-And why did you ask me to be careful? Are fauns dangerous?
-Not exactly. They're magical beings who can hypnotize you by charm. I was just afraid you'd get too fascinated and get lost in the woods.
- You think I'd go after a faun?
-If I saw one, maybe... -Oh!
-I don't think so. - I said sure.
-Don't doubt it...
Homero silenced himself and I ended up falling asleep before I even lay on the mattress. I woke up at dawn with the sound of rain hitting the dark, almost rotten wooden window.
I slowly got up so I wouldn't wake up Homero. The flashlight was still on and I wandered around the room at half light, hearing the drops falling on the humble roof above me.
I realized that my faithful anxiety was returning when I realized that I was eating a piece of cake without feeling hungry.
When I decided to go to bed again I heard strong knocks on the door of the hut. It wasn't the wind. Someone was knocking.
I was paralyzed for a moment.
The knocks repeated themselves, giving me the creeps. It was three strong, rhythmic beats that echoed waking Homero up.
-Cecilia... - He said whispering. - What happened?
-Somebody's knocking on the door. -Oh! - I answered in a very low tone.
Are you sure?
-Absolutely.
The knocks sounded again. Now it was four lighter strokes.
-Have you heard? - I asked.
-Yes.
- What are we gonna do?
-I don't know, I think we should stay here. -Yes.
-Homero! Open up, please! -A young female voice shouted from the outside. -Oh!
I looked at Homero with a distinctly shaken expression. He stood up carefully and opened the door making me even more scared.
Two boys and two girls who appeared to be seventeen at most entered the tiny place. The four of them wore curious sand tunics and raw leather sandals. I didn't know if I was awake or if it was all a dream.
******
End of book I
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