by Ania Bo
Eventually, the path led them to a more spacious area with a small pond containing fish just as brightly colored as the Zaend people, and above the pool of water was an old man levitating in a seated position with his body relaxed and his eyes closed. His white hair had been gathered up behind his head, and his cleanshaven face made him look much younger than Zeorgan. He was obviously in deep meditation. They gathered around, in awe of his ability to levitate so easily. Hardly any Readers were capable of such a feat.
“Greetings, Rajeeh, Zeorgan,” he spoke, startling the new arrivals. His eyes opened slowly. “So, you have brought me the long-awaited Protector and Visionary Reader.”
Both Dwade and Shasta glanced at each other bashfully. Since the time Dwade had left his doorstep, the gravity of his title finally became real to him, and the weight of the responsibility was only increasing.
Shasta felt it too, even more so after her terrifying vision of the pregnant Creators.
Violen wondered if the Chancellor ever had a chance to meet the Zaend king in his lands. She was sure none of the Kings or leaders had. She smiled, knowing her Kama was recording a historical moment. She stood there with the Protector and Visionary Reader, right in front of the Zaend King.
The man unfolded his legs and stretched them as he remained floating above the water. He then gently touched the surface of the water with his toes and preceded to walk across the pond as if he were weightless. Dwade’s jaw dropped as he watched while the others gave slight bows in respect to this powerful leader.
Once he reached the water’s edge, Rajeeh and Zeorgan embraced him, and Rajeeh turned to the visitors to introduce his old friend. “Protector, Visionary Reader, and companions, I proudly introduce you to Lucidum, leader of the Zaend.” Lucidum bowed as was the customary greeting. He was about to start speaking when he looked around him in irritation. The chatter coming from the animals of the forest was quite noisy. It was a peaceful noise when one was trying to meditate but not while one was trying to greet guests. He put his hand up in the air to signal the animals to stop, and the sound died down immediately; even the small crickets stopped their chirping.
“Welcome, companions of the Balance. It is a pleasure to have you here with us. Please have a cup of tea with me. I would like us to have a chat before introducing you to our people.” Turning to the commander, he said, “Rajeeh, please inform our people of our visitors. Let us all dine together in the square tonight. This is a historic day, and it should be enjoyed by all.”
“It shall be done,” Rajeeh responded with a salute. He returned down the path and disappeared into the trees.
Lucidum continued walking further into the forest. “Follow me, please.” The forest gave way to limestone again, and they found themselves in what appeared to be a bedroom, but a very plain one. There was a cot to the far left, a collection of reading materials, and a woodstove for cooking small meals and keeping warm. Lucidum put a kettle filled with water on top of the stove and found a place on the floor. The others followed his lead and picked a place beside the woodstove to sit.
“It is growing dark out in the world,” Lucidum said quietly, “but I see that there is a darkness inside of you blacker than the world.” The visitors were surprised at the unexpected introduction. “Tell me, friends, why are you still in the dark now that you have reached us?”
“I think the twelve pregnant women caught us a little off guard,” Han muttered.
“That and knowing what will happen to the others when we figure out who is the Regenerator,” Shasta added quietly with a sad shake of her head.
Lucidum turned to Han. “There have always been twelve, but the others know so little of our land that it doesn’t surprise me you were ignorant of this fact.”
“But then how will we know which one will give birth?” Dwade asked.
Lucidum stood from his place on the floor to take the kettle off the stove. He fixed their cups of tea as he explained. “You won’t know, but she will,” he said, indicating Shasta. “The Visionary Reader will reveal the correct mother.”
Dwade’s curiosity began to take over, and he wished to gain answers to questions the Chancellor had neglected to answer. “Please enlighten me on one point, Lucidum. How does one Zaend woman and her baby recreate an entire race? I have a hard time understanding how this is possible. It makes me question my faith.”
Lucidum chuckled upon hearing Dwade’s question and handed out the tea. It amazed him how much knowledge was lost to the races after the initiation of the Founding Agreement. “Keep your faith, Protector. Never forget that no consciousness can create an idea from out of nothing. Everything you heard is at least a part of reality. Our race has an ability distinct from all others, Protector. Our building blocks, or genetic makeup, is significantly different compared to any of the other eleven races.”
“How do you mean?” Dwade asked, leaning forward eagerly to listen.
“To the Zaend people, women are sacred,” Lucidum explained. “They are gifts, precious flowers because they are our creative power. Every fertile female is a creator in her own right; she feeds off the universe and in return feeds it back. You should know that the Zaend people carry the qualities of all the other eleven races. Some of us can decode like the Readers and have two natures like the Kree. We are as clever as any human and long-lived like the Olym. We as people contain the genes of all races. Now you must be wondering what happens when our people procreate,” he said with a wink just as Dwade opened his mouth to probably ask more questions. “Because of the genetic makeup of our men, a child born of a male Zaend will always be a Zaend, and if one of our men were to copulate with a woman of another race, it would be his genetic makeup that would determine the race of the child. In short, the child will be Zaend. But if we are speaking about our women or a relationship between two Zaends, it is always the mother who determines that child’s secondary race. The genes of a female Zaend are always dominant, and they give birth to whichever race the Balance requires. Because our women draw their energy from the universe, their pregnancy is affected by any lack that exists. If the universe needs a human, then Zaend women will give birth to mankind. This is a very important distinction and explains why the Regenerator is always female, as is the child. Consequently, there are people of every race in our society, yet they are all Zaends. Is this clear to you?”
Dwade nodded slowly believing he understood. “But why does the universe need a Regenerator then?”
Lucidum smiled at his curiosity. “Because if one race was annihilated there would be too much energy missing to support the system of balance and it would collapse. There must be a foundation on which you could construct a race. The baby of a Regenerator is that foundation which has enough power to keep the balance till the race reaches its strength in numbers as a source.”
Dwade was impressed by the system of the universe all over again. It was just like a living organism and was doing its best to keep itself alive.
Violen and Han were listening Lucidum so carefully they forgot to breathe from time to time.
Shasta seemed to be chewing on a thought. “But are the Creators impregnated by Zaend men?”
Lucidum laughed even louder at this question and choked a little on his tea. “No, my dear. That is not how it works for the Creators. They are impregnated by the Balance itself. The child of the Regenerator is the offspring of the Balance. It is a very special creature, unique in every way. The physical system of Creators is not like us. They get pregnant and die as the Balance wishes. It’s not in our power. Our only power is to love and respect them for their sacrifices.”
Violen politely interrupted. Though she was fascinated by Lucidum’s explanation of the Zaend people and the Regenerator, like Han, she wanted to complete their mission as soon as possible. “When will we be able to see the Creators?” Her sharp question spoiled the flow of the conversation.
The old man answered succinctly, “Soon,” and gave no further information. It seemed he wasn’t inter
ested in answering their questions anymore so he turned to Zeorgan and asked, “Will you stay for the feast?”
“Of course, I will be here until sunrise. I couldn’t possibly pass up a celebration.” He rubbed his belly in anticipation.
“Then let us introduce our guests to the people and begin the feast before it becomes too late,” Lucidum said with a smile. They stood and Zeorgan led them outside, and the birds took to their chirping again once they exited the indoor forest.
Outside, a crowd of thousands awaited them. Word had spread fast that the Visionary Reader and her Protector had entered their tiny village. They took their places on a platform which wasn’t too high but enough to let the crowd see them clearly. Lucidum stepped out to address his people, hushing them with a simple raising of his hand.
“My dear Zaends, the universe has sent us the support we have long awaited. The Protector and the Visionary Reader are now among us!” Lucidum enthusiastically announced. The crowd broke into noisy applause, and parents even placed their children atop their shoulders so they could get a glimpse of the heroes. “The universe has blessed us once more and has asked us again to protect the Balance. May the Balance light our path.”
Everyone repeated Lucidum’s final words with the same excitement, “May the Balance light our path!”
Zeorgan pushed Dwade and Shasta to the top of the stairs. Not knowing what to do, they bowed to the crowd, and the people responded in kind. They had never felt this sense of stardom in Atlantis or Hikar land, and they wondered why they’d not been told the Zaends would greet them with such fanfare. It seemed as if Zaends were the only ones who truly believed in them and Dwade felt what such strong faith really meant for the first time.
“This place is miraculous,” Violen said. She looked enchanted. “I hope my energy finds itself in such a fairy-tale land once it leaves my body.”
“Absolutely,” Han agreed.
Lucidum addressed the crowd again. “Let us make our way to the square and begin the feast.” The whole crowd turned together and commenced to walk up the path back from where they came. Lucidum folded his arms in front of him, and he and Zeorgan followed behind the crowd.
“I guess we’re walking,” Dwade said with a smirk, and the four of them joined Zeorgan and Lucidum.
The people of Zaend race were welcoming with their smiles and shining eyes. The travelers saw their hope, their belief and it bolstered their spirits. The crowd spread so much positive and loving energy that the readers couldn’t help but be captivated by it. Tonight would be a good night indeed.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
By the time the sun had sunk just below the horizon, the whole village had congregated at its center where rows of long tables had been set up. People from every direction were bringing out an array of dishes and placing them on the tables. It was clear that whatever each household had made for supper, they brought it along to share. It was a strange custom to the Readers who were used to eating communal meals made for them by unidentified chefs. This idea of using meals to socialize was brand new.
The Zaend people were all smiles, even in the face of an impending war. They greeted each other and set the tables as if oblivious to the fact that the Dvay were preparing to take out an entire race of people. Dwade shook his head as he tried to wrap his head around the behavior of this strange group of people.
Several men approached a large fire pit in the middle of the square and started a bonfire. Some of the Zaend children rushed over to watch as the kindling ignited, and an orange glow emanated from the pit. They watched with bright eyes as their mothers tried to chase them back to the tables to eat.
“Over here, my friends,” Lucidum called. He sat at a long table that faced the rest of the people. All eyes focused on Dwade and Shasta as they took their places on each side of the Zaend leader. “Zaends, please eat this food provided by your fellows and always remember that we feast in the name of the twelve women who will serve to reinstate the Balance.”
“To the Creators!” everyone responded.
As the dinner proceeded happily, Shasta became entranced by the light of the fire as the flames danced in front of her. At times she felt she saw images within the flames, and she shook her head. I must have drunk too much wine, she thought while staring down at the red liquid filling her copper cup. This was her first time drinking. They never had wine in Atlantis, and when they offered it to her, she had no idea that a drink could make her feel tipsy. The feeling was very similar to the weird relief she felt after tense breathing exercises she did when she was a young Reader.
Shasta smiled for a moment, and she took another gulp. Her cheeks were turning rosy from the alcohol, and Violen gave her a questioning look while Shasta only smiled back.
Dwade sat back in his chair and put his hand on his stomach. He was stuffed. He must have eaten a whole chicken by himself and several sides that he had been unfamiliar with but were delicious. He looked out past the square and noticed that at the end of a line of small and simple houses, there appeared another structure that was visibly different from all the others. It was located about a mile away and sat on the slope of the only hill in this flat land. There was a long flight of stairs leading up to the building where it stood above the village like a watchful sentinel.
Shasta followed Dwade’s gaze toward the mysterious edifice, and she felt an urge to go there, as though being pulled by an unseen force.
“What is that structure?” Dwade asked.
Lucidum looked in the direction Dwade pointed and replied, “That is our temple.”
All four of them raised their brows in surprise.
“A temple? Like the one in the test of intentions?” Dwade didn’t even attempt to hide his fear. He never again wanted to enter that temple as long as he lived. In his culture temples were scary houses belonging to cruel and powerful leaders like Zeus. No human would ever want to enter one, and Dwade certainly was cautious about entering another after their latest venture.
“No, no. Nothing like that,” Lucidum replied.
“What is the temple for? Is it your house?” Violen asked on the other side of Shasta.
“No and yes. It is home of every being. It has several purposes. For one, it helps to remind us not to forget the Balance and the force surrounding us as we go about our daily lives. We must be moderate, keep our spirits bright, not complain of the frailty of our bodies, and we must always remember that our bodies are only our temporary homes. Most importantly, the temple reminds us not to see our abilities as a source of superiority or power. Because no matter how strong we are there is always something stronger than us: The Balance. We all only exist as long as everything is in balance. But creation, it is the source of the Balance. No creation, no Balance, no existence. There was creation before there was balance. We believe in creation, but we serve the Balance. It is a place for us to remember who we really are.”
Everything in the Zaend’s land was different than the rest of the world. People, customs, modesty even the Balance had purer meaning. It was impossible not to admire them. The way Lucidum described the meaning of the temple was enough to change someone’s mind and made him believe in the Balance.
Dwade looked at the temple thoughtfully. “I see your point. It’s a truth we’ve lost over time.”
“Otherwise you wouldn’t be so skeptical, Protector. I hope here you find the faith you lost,” Lucidum said sincerely.
For the Readers, this was a difficult perspective to understand. They were used to being clear and analytical and derived their powers from the clarity of the mind. Their way of thinking left no room for questioning. The truth was determined through the process of decoding. Over the years, the Readers had distanced themselves from the other races and become less speculative. It was surprising to see them asking so many questions on this journey.
Shasta observed the temple, her amber eyes seeming to glow. “It radiates very strong power. May we go there?”
“Not now. It is forbidden to
enter before sunrise. But tomorrow, we will go to see the twelve,” Lucidum said.
Dwade looked back up at the temple as the moon illuminated its steps. The Creators live in there? He assumed they would be normal Zaend woman living in her own homes, not locked away in a temple. He frowned as he stared at his plate of food. There was so much he didn’t know about his own world, and it disturbed him.
They returned their attention to the festivities once the music began to play. A group of children created a beat on the tambourines, and the crowd joined in, clapping their hands. A man pulled out a lute and played an upbeat song just as a boy approached the fire. He started first by bouncing to the beat, balancing on his tiptoes, then he began his dance. He leaped into the air, kicking and twirling to the music, a look of concentration on his face. The boy resembled more a soldier at war than an entertaining dancer. Two more boys joined him, and they continued to twirl and jump in sync with impressive uniformity.
The Readers and Dwade enjoyed the spectacle and clapped along with the audience until the music took on a different mood, and the boys crouched low to the ground. Shasta and Dwade leaned forward in their seats in anticipation. Light erupted from the boys’ palms even brighter than the roaring fire. The crowd gave enthusiastic cries, anticipating what was to come. With the electricity flowing between their palms, the boys resumed their dance. The light flowed between the three boys as they twirled together, almost as if it had a mind of its own. As they somersaulted and tumbled, the light engulfed them creating three balls of powerful energy. They juggled and threw their electricity into the air, and even formed it into long ropes they twirled in front of their audience.
They're Hikars, Dwade told Shasta. She nodded to him with a wide smile as she bobbed her head from left to right with the music. It was the happiest Dwade had seen her so far, and he couldn’t help but smile too.
The boys approached their audience, grabbing people’s hands as they pulled them out of the crowd and into the center. The rest of the Zaends joined the boys, all of them dancing in whatever way they pleased. One of the boys who had been part of the performance approached Shasta and reached for her hand. She retreated in embarrassment, shaking her head, but the Zaend insisted. Reluctantly, she took his hand, and he led her toward the fire.
