***
Chahzuu's body spasmed, being crushed, but still fixed in a standing position. The pressure held him upright.
I will die. Chahzuu felt his will caving.
Yes, you will die! You will cease to be!
But I can’t. My people.
They are lost. You’ve failed!
Anger stirred Chahzuu’s soul. The pressure was killing him, but it hadn’t killed him yet. There must be a way. The Guardians had said there was a chance.
There is no chance . . . the voice echoed in the bottom of his mind.
Chahzuu ignored the voice. Ignored the pain. He put out of his mind that he was soon to be crushed by the void that had somehow found him.
But it hadn’t found him. He’d simply stepped through the doorway into the chamber. He’d been transported to it. It hadn’t found him.
Then he remembered the test he’d had to pass in finding the first Article of Power. Is this another test? Something I can survive if I pass?
The thought brought hope back into Chahzuu’s mind. It has to be! And there’s a way out.
The pain was growing worse, and Chahzuu knew he had to find the solution fast or he’d black out and then it’d be too late.
Think back to the old records! They had to have the solution. These Articles are all tied with the older records.
Chahzuu grit his teeth, trying to blank his mind from the pain, the pressure, trying to recall the key to this . . .
Unless it really is the void. Maybe it has invaded even the place of the Guardians now.
It didn't matter! He had to find a way. Real or no, it would still kill him. And if there were no way, he would be just as dead whether he tried or not! He focused his mind until something brushed his consciousness.
Dark night, dark fright
Chased away all the light.
Make me scared
Make me fright
When the demon speaks
Again it’s a childrens’ rhyme! Chahzuu grasped hold of it in his mind and poured his heart into understanding it, making it show what he needed to do.
Dark night, dark fright
Chased away all the light
Don’t be scared
Don’t be fright
Light’s inside of you
Dark night, dark fright
Chased away all the light
Can’t be scared
Can’t be fright
Make the light shine through
Dark night, dark fright
Runs away from your light
Won’t be scared
Won’t be fright
Gone the demon creeps
Children’s nursery rhymes everyone would remember. The ancients wanted us to remember, to have them be part of us. What better way than to learn them as children – for when we would need them most!
Chahzuu began to focus. “Light’s inside of you . . . Runs away from your light . . . Gone the demon creeps.”
That’s the key! But how do I find the light inside? What is it?
Chahzuu shut his eyes, though with the darkness it didn’t make any difference. It helped him concentrate. He focused on the center of his breast, his heart, trying to picture a light flickering there, giving him purpose, courage, reassurance.
He did have a purpose after all. His people! They needed him. What more purpose could he have? Courage? Courage was irrelevant. He had to do this! There was no worrying about fear, no worrying about danger. He had to succeed for the sake of his people.
Chahzuu could picture just a flicker of light sparking from the purpose of his heart. In his mind, he fanned it, nurtured it, making it grow.
The dark crushing him seemed to recoil just an instant, then came back with a vengeance, but he wouldn’t let go, couldn’t let the spark be snuffed out. He focused his mind even more on his purpose, blotting out all else.
A warmth began to rise in Chahzuu’s breast. It’s still there. The crystal!
The light began to grow, to flame up inside. Then directly ahead he saw a faint spark of light, even through his closed eyes. Maybe he just saw it in his mind, but he was sure it was real. Chahzuu opened his eyes and saw it. He focused on it, as well as keeping the light fixed in his heart. It continued to grow, pushing back the dark. The pain and pressure was still there, but it was lifting, slowly, fighting every step of the way.
The light and warmth grew inside until he was burning, welcoming the return of the crystal’s comforting presence. He didn’t know which he had missed most, the inward calming of the crystal, or its light and warmth. Now he knew he’d never miss either of them as long as he could control his fears and keep his heart focused.
Such hard lessons! But he knew he’d need them all when he finally had to face Nemesis.
The darkness continued to fade as the scintillation of the point of light ahead and the light from within continued to grow. They seemed to pulse in unison, as if they were joined.
Chahzuu knew they were joined. The Articles of Power and the crystal. They were tied together. And he was tied with them now. For he knew it was none other than the Second Article of Power spreading the light, pushing the darkness back.
The pressure released him and the darkness fled with a final wailing sound in the back of his mind. Had it really been the void?
He collapsed to the floor gasping in deep breaths realizing his lungs were starved for air that had been pressed out. There was no hurry now. He needed to regain his strength before forcing himself to stand and gather the Second Article.
Light continued to grow along with the steady pulsing in Chahzuu’s breast. It was comforting, warming, and Chahzuu basked in the sense of peace it brought.
If only this could last, he thought, knowing this was just the beginning of what he needed to do. If there were some way to carry this peace with him, no matter the situation, then he’d be stronger, more able to do what he must.
Then he realized he could. Maybe not to the extent he felt it now, but he could keep that kernel of peace and comfort with him. It wouldn’t have to come from anywhere but from within. That's what the children's rhyme was teaching!
His purpose would provide the peace, calm and strength he needed. As long as he stayed focused on his purpose, he would be at peace . . . At least within himself. And that would be enough. The Power of Purpose: That's what this article magnifies.
Chahzuu struggled to his feet, seeing that the chamber was now fully lit, again from a source of light he couldn’t see other than the strange glow that seemed to float on the air.
Then there was the Article. It was sitting on a pedestal in the middle of the room. It wasn’t a large room and Chahzuu turned back and could see the entrance to the chamber just behind. Just a pace back.
The Second Article had a simple subdued glow now, but Chahzuu could sense the energy flaming inside. He moved up slowly, watching all around. He didn’t want to be surprised ever again. As if I have any control over it, he thought. A small grin formed on his face as he stared down at the Article.
It was shaped like an odd fruit. It had the same opaque crystalline shine, the glow coming from within, as did the crystal in his breast and the first Article inside his scrip pouch.
The Article was plump and rounded at the top then gradually narrowed as it neared the bottom where it seemed impossibly balanced on the pedestal. The shape reminded him of something he should know.
Then it hit him. A heart! The shape resembled that of a heart. As a hunter he’d seen many hearts in the animals that were his prey, and he also knew from his teachers the general shape of the heart he had within himself!
It made an odd sort of sense, especially as he remembered how he’d passed the test.
But how to use it? That would come later. For now, he had to gather it, then find the final Article.
Chahzuu stood over the article, looking down to see if there was
any reason he should not just reach out and pick it up. He walked around it, observing from all sides. On the back there was a small vertical indentation shaped as if something should fit inside it.
Then it struck him. The first Article was shaped like that! They were made to be joined. What would that do?
Chahzuu reached out a hand and gently took hold of the Article. He lifted it and held it up, turning it all around. Should he try to put them together?
He shuddered. It came of a sudden, and he had nothing to do with it. Joining the two creates incredible power. It will destroy any who joins them before they are ready.
That thought, Chahzuu was certain, came from the crystal. Surely the crystal and all the Articles were connected. He didn't need any further proof. Nor did he need any convincing to wait, to understand the Articles more before he tried to put them together. But he was certain that before this was all through, he might very well need to put them all together.
Another rush of apprehension almost overwhelmed him. He shook involuntarily and almost dropped the Second Article.
Maybe the Guardian who’d warned him was right. The power he'd felt would result from the joined Articles was incomprehensible. It was also seductive. What could a person do with control over that much power? If they fell into the wrong hands it was indescribable the damage that could be done. Especially if they fell to Nemesis! Another shudder made him stumble.
I should put them back! But that would never work. He didn't know how to put the protections back in place. And if he tried to hide them in new places, there was no guarantee they still wouldn't be found by the wrong person. Even someone who was ignorant as to what they were could destroy the world.
Focus! Remember the lesson you just learned!
Chahzuu took a deep breath and looked at the Article one last time before carefully placing it in his scrip, wrapping it with an old cloth to make sure it wouldn't join with the first, even by accident.
I've started the path. Now I must finish it.
Chahzuu turned and strode out of the ancient’s chamber into the light. The day was nearly past and he still had to figure what direction to go for the third and final Article.
He stood at the entrance, glancing around the small clearing, trying to sense any pull. There wasn't any. He breathed deeply, trying to calm his mind, forcing it to be open just as he'd done to find the second Article.
Still nothing.
What’s wrong?
Chahzuu tried again, this time breathing deeply, calming his mind as best he could. Again, there was nothing. No pull. No indication of a direction he needed to travel, no matter how slight.
Now what?
Chahzuu stood helpless as the mist shrouded Great Light hung bright overhead.