Chapter 5 - The Realm of Security
“We live a very simple life here,” said Finn grimly. “That’s the way it has to be for us to survive in Bersia.”
“Otherwise, we may be taken away by the secret police,” said his wife, Katis, in almost a whisper. “It’s happening now more than ever! I went to the market the other day, and so many townsfolk are missing, it’s terrible!” She almost started crying.
Finn reassured his wife, “Now, now, dear. It will be OK. Look, the Goddess has sent us a Guru from Sylonia to help us.”
Braun looked at a picture of a woman on the mantelpiece. She was dressed in traditional clothing, but it must have been from some other realm in Udicia.
He was wearing what looked like a variation on a Japanese Kimono, with similar beautiful fabric. Instead of sandals, he wore slippers, and the belt around his waist was quite wide and stood out in contrast to the gown.
“You have nothing to fear, then. You’re still under Her protection. How many Gurus are there in this province?”
“Few,” said Finn. “Collectivity is getting harder and harder, but stronger, in a way.”
“You must all get together somewhere immediately,” said Braun, “regardless of the risk. It is almost time for Udicia’s judgement.”
***
“This way,” Finn advised. “We’ll go via the forest. Police patrol most of the main streets.”
Braun, Finn and Katis headed to the forest on the edge of the suburb. As they approached the forest, Braun noticed how eerily quiet it was.
“There’s something missing in this forest,” said Braun, sensing an impending darkness. “Where are the birds and crickets?”
“Well, we can’t go through the streets,” said Finn.
“Let’s keep moving,” suggested Braun, touching the two Gurus on the back at their heart centres. “Any fear that runs through these woods will be offset by our courage.”
They were not long in the forest when they heard an object shoot into the forest canopy and land with a tremendous crash. It sounded like a meteor!
“What was that?” cried Katis, alarmed.
A dark figure approached them at great speed, crashing its way through the forest. Braun saw red eyes, horns on a crude head, and bat-wings. It was a Shadow Angel.
Suddenly, a mandala appeared about the group and they were transported to another location.
Withers had swapped his position with Braun’s and held up the Oracle. He collided with the Angel and was thrown back several metres through the forest, landing at the edge of a large clearing.
Shaken, Withers stood up, summoning his Oracle, which had fallen from his grasp. It came flying back through the forest, and he caught it skilfully.
There was a lot of dark power coming from this creature. The Oracle indicated that it was one of the Shadow Master’s elite Centurions. This Shadow Angel made up one of the three opposing powers of the Guardians of the ways – the opposing power of the left, central and right ways.
At that moment, the Shadow Angel descended from the sky. Its form was eerily superimposed over two of the three moons of Udicia. It crashed into the grassy field, issuing a terrible roar.
Withers charged at it, the Oracle transforming into a sword. He struck the Angel with his sword. The Angel suddenly countered the blow with a long tail that had a barbed end.
"You die tonight, Guardian," it said in a deep, evil voice.
The darkness in its voice send a shiver down Withers’ spine. But his heart was flooded with strength, nonetheless. "Catch me if you can."
With that, Wither literally ran. He ran in a clockwise direction around the Shadow Angel, the long grass rooster-tailing behind him. The angel tried to flick him with his tail several times but missed.
"Keep still," roared the angel, frustrated. He began to shoot flames from his mouth, and the grass around them was set instantly ablaze.
After a while the fire started to turn into a fiery tornado. The Shadow angel flew from the vortex, singeing its tail on the way out.
Withers walked through the wall of flame and stood inside the fire. He checked his skin and clothing, but he was unaffected by the searing heat.
The Angel descended again and landed outside the fire tornado. It opened its jaws and began to blow a gale-force wind, in an attempt to destroy Withers in the fire.
The Shadow Angel’s breath began to slow the tornado’s spin, moving it in the other direction.
Withers reached out with the Oracle, which was instantly set alight. He directed it at the Angel, and the Oracle started raining fire balls on top of it. It roared, flying into the air. It flew above the vortex, as Withers redirected his fire.
The Shadow Angel suddenly came down, being singed on the way down and landing right next to Withers with a crash. It started wrapping its tail around Withers and lifted him up into the air.
“Well, isn’t this cosy?” said Withers.
The Shadow Angel laughed a sinister laughed and began crushing him.
Withers ignored the pain and took control of the fire. Using his attention, he began to narrow the vortex.
“I feel your life draining away, Guardian.”
Withers, close to losing consciousness, watched as the Angel’s wings caught fire.
The Shadow Angel roared in pain and dropped Withers to the ground. Using his will, Withers allowed the fire to cover them. The fire burned the Angel, while Withers was protected.
The Shadow Angel shot into the air, as the fire storm was suddenly extinguished.
***
Braun, Katis and Finn had been deposited right in front of their planned destination.
“My Goddess, those secret police are falling out of the sky,” said Finn, a little shaken.
“They must have jumped from one of those special chariots, but I’ve never seen them go up that high,” said Katis. “And the way he raced through the forest towards us!”
“How did we get here, anyway?” asked Finn, bewildered.
“I, um,” started Braun. People from the house were standing in the doorway watching them. “I think we’re being welcomed.”
Braun noticed the houses in Bersia were designed similar to houses in Japan. Even the gardens had a Zen look.
“Hello. Please come in,” said a man from the doorway.
“This is Christophe,” said Finn to the man. “Christophe, this is Larn.”
“This is my wife, Rosari,” said Larn, “and my two daughters, Penni and Sari.”
“Hello,” said Braun, walking into a wide-open living area. A large group of people who looked like they were having a get-together turned to smile at him.
Penni, who would have been in her early teens, noted Braun’s clothing.
“Sylonia?” she queried. “Your skin is too white for that country.”
Braun grinned. He couldn’t lie, because these people could read the vibrations through their central nervous systems. He knew that, because many Gurus on Earth could in their transformation time.
“Well, I must be an alien,” replied Braun.
“This must be true,” said Penni.
“Well, Penni, it’s good to see the future of Udicia,” replied Braun, looking at all the enlightened people around him again, “in amongst so much darkness.”
“What’s that ring on your right finger?” she asked, grabbing his hand.
“You don’t miss much, do you?”
“It’s the twelve-petalled centre of the heart,” she said. “The Great Goddess sometimes wore rings like this on her fingers and toes in our ceremonies, but normally Gurus don’t.” She touched the ring and enjoyed the cool breeze around her. “There are tremendous vibrations coming from it!”
“Well, it’s something that She must have touched,” said Braun, speaking as if it wasn’t anything special.
“Well, Penni,” said Larn, “I think you’ve interrogated your uncle enough.”
“No, she’s fine,” said Braun, beginning to realise who Penni might be, “but I will go and meet the others. Perhaps we can talk a little later, Penni.”
“Ice!” said Penni. “Ice” was the teenage equivalent of “cool” or “awesome” on Bersia.
Braun spent some time walking around meeting other people.
Soon, everyone had gathered in front of an altar and started singing beautiful songs. The altar was adorned with colourful fabrics, burning candles and fragrant flowers. The Goddess’s photograph was prominently placed in the centre of the altar.
Later, everyone sat around a large table eating a delicious banquet.
Braun noticed movement outside and jumped a little when he saw Withers cross-legged on the lawn out the front. He excused himself.
***
“Captain, good to see you,” said Braun, shaking Wither’s hand. “Thanks for getting us out of the way of that monster.”
“That’s my job,” said Withers, “and I’ve noticed you’re doing your job very well.”
“Thanks,” said Braun, “but you know we’re just the instruments of the Goddess.”
“I’m learning that fact more and more,” replied Withers.
“What are you learning, Uncle?” said a young female voice.
“Penni!” Braun exclaimed.
“Hello, young lady,” said Withers, noticing the vibrations from the Oracle on her arrival. “Sit down.”
Braun gave Withers a funny look when he lay the Oracle in Penni’s hand.
“Wow!” she said. “I can see everything with this.”
After a while, Withers took the Oracle back. “How old are you?”
“Thirteen,” she said, looking at the Oracle wistfully.
“Your time will come soon,” said Withers, “but at the moment, you must use your powers to keep everyone safe and together. You’re the most dynamic Guru, not only in this country but in the whole of Udicia!”
Withers reached into one of his pockets and handed a small pendant to Penni.
“It looks like yours,” she said excitedly.
“If something happens to me or my Oracle, this will help you find it,” said Withers.
Penni stared long and hard at the pendant. “I understand, Uncle.”