Even the Blessed
Chapter 1
"Fate is a neutral goddess, neither compassionate nor cruel. The journey she
scribes is the Greatest Unknown. Do not become arrogant at the straight road or
angry at the unseen turns. Life's path will lead you where you least expect.
Sometimes even the blessed are lost."
-- Namek-jin teaching
A terrible gale blew over the plains, howling with the fury and sorrow of
a thousand lost souls, beating the tall blue grass to the ground. Amidst this
sea of land-locked waves stood a solitary figure. Legs braced, it leaned into
the wind's force, its long brown vest whipping back and the cloth of its dusk
purple gi fluttering violently. Green arms with pink-red patches crossed
protectively in front of its face to guard against the clouds of dirt ripped
from the ground. The arms slowly lowered to reveal two antennae, brow ridges and
somewhat large dark eyes. The being glared defiantly at the blood-red sky.
Sudden darkness, a black eternity, and all that existed was the crying of the
wind. A crying that became the keening of a child. No, not just a child, but an
infant...a newborn torn from its parent only seconds after birth. Terror laced
every wail, a desperate plea for mercy, for a return to a world just known. An
uncaring beam of light illuminated trembling hands that ignored the
supplications as the tear-streaked cherub's face was sealed away in nothingness.
Then, it was silent.....
"KATATSU!!"
"Aaahhh!" Katatsu yelped as a hand roughly pushed his head down and forward,
causing him to pitch forward. He flung out his hands and latched on to the edge
of the boulder he was sitting on. He had been meditating atop the rock, balanced
precariously on the edge to test his ability to stay absolutely still. The
unexpected shove had broken his concentration. It had also nearly caused his
heart to fly out of his chest. The idea of meeting the hard ground about five
feet below didn't appeal to him in the slightest. His knuckles turned an
unnatural chalky green as he kept a solid hold on his perch.
Scenes of his young life danced before his eyes. They were almost over before
they began, he noted ruefully. The rapid beating of his heart slowed as fear
gave way to anger and a bit of embarrassment. Satisfied now that he wasn't going
to be eating worm meat, Katatsu swung his head around and glared at the
offender.
"Mushi!" Katatsu yelled, baring his fangs. He recognized the older Namek-jin.
The intruder wore a garish orange vest without the usual neck ruffle, as well as
a huge grin. "What did you think you were doing?! I could've broken my neck!"
Mushi burst out laughing. He crossed his bare arms over his chest and choked
out, "Katatsu, I thought you could sense any ki approaching you, even if it was
an Aoi Beetle! I finally caught you off guard." He stopped chuckling and
grinned. "I'm never gonna let you forget this! Besides, what are you so angry
about? You know how to fly."
Katatsu's embarrassment deepened as that obvious fact was pointed out. He
scowled at Mushi. "I was deep in meditation...which is a very important skill,
you know. 'All Namek-jins must..."
"...learn to harness the winds of the self and future'. Yes, I know," Mushi
said while rolling his eyes. His grin became slightly incredulous. "Can't you
think of anything more original to do than quote old Kagyu?"
"Hmph." Katatsu didn't answer that. Instead, he broke his death-grip on the
boulder. He flexed his aching fingers, then straightened his brown short-vest.
He made a show of dusting off his gi as he tried to regain the spiritual and
physical balance he'd had before Mushi's interruption. Taking a deep breath he
settled back into the meditation position.
"Go away, Mushi," he murmured, closing his eyes. "It's important that I
complete my exercise for today. Elder Kagyu wants to gauge my progress. He
believes I'm close to achieving Second Enlightenment."
Mushi blinked a few times in confusion, then burst out, "Second
Enlightenment!?" He stepped nearer to Katatsu and knocked lightly on the other
Namek-jin's head. "Excuse me...but doesn't that require a few decades of
constant preparation and trials? You're only thirteen seasons!"
Katatsu opened one eye and, annoyed, retorted, "And you're eighteen...without
achieving First Enlightenment, is there a point?"
Mushi took a quick step away and looked a bit hurt at the query. "That's not
fair, Katatsu."
Katatsu sighed. A niggling guilt made itself known in his conscience. Even if
a certain failure of a certain Namek-jin was well-known in their village, he
hadn't needed to point it out. Especially since that certain Namek-jin was his
closest friend.
"No...I'm sorry, it isn't," admitted Katatsu softly, "As Elder Kagyu says,
'It is the state of the mind and soul, not the body, that signals readiness.'"
"I'm not sure that makes me feel better," Mushi said with a half-hearted
chuckle. The two lapsed into an uneasy silence. Then Mushi crossed his arms
again and continued, "Well...I won't bother you anymore. I know how important
your studies with the old man are. So, maybe we'll meet up later."
Katatsu closed his eyes again and nodded. Mushi watched him for a few
seconds, then started off toward the village that was their home.
~ ~ ~
Mushi strolled almost aimlessly through the Ajissa forest that grew around
the village. His feet instinctively found and followed a well-worn trail winding
around the lofty trunks. The plants were tall, with shimmering blue-green
leaves. Smaller shrubs and grasses gathered at their base, seeming to prefer the
shaded areas below the trees, leaving an avenue of bare ground. He knew these
paths well, having spent most of his childhood exploring them, so his thoughts
returned to the conversation he'd had with Katatsu.
"He believes I'm close to achieving Second Enlightenment."
If anyone can do it at such a young age, thought Mushi, it's Katatsu.
Wrapped up in that stocky little body was one of the strongest spirits he had
ever known. Katatsu had reached First Enlightenment over two seasons ago.
Something that was almost unheard of. First Enlightenment was generally reached
between fourteen and seventeen seasons. It was a moment when certain mysteries
about the universe became clear, like a veil lifting from before your eyes...or,
at least, that's how old Kagyu had described it.
Katatsu had put it more succinctly. He said it was moment when you
just...knew.
Second Enlightenment was supposedly an extension of that. The experience
granted an even deeper understanding of life and such. As a result, it was
difficult to obtain and usually took great determination.
Mushi chuckled softly. Knowing him, he'll reach Final Enlightenment before
he even has a wrinkle on his head.
An image of Katatsu wearing Elder's robes and carrying a grand wooden staff
twice his height popped into Mushi's mind. The young Namek-jin wore a properly
grave expression, frowning wisely. He waved his hand and opened his mouth to
give some proclamation or other.
"And you're eighteen...without achieving First Enlightenment…"
The echo of Katatsu's words ended the fantasy. Mushi sighed. There it was,
his grandest failure to date. I should be used to messing up, he thought,
it's not the first time I didn't do something right.
He stopped walking, then tilted his head up to watch the sunrays stream
through the tree tops. He wondered briefly if he should have joined his father
on the farming circuit. A nice, long, planet-wide journey during which he could
have left his troubles behind.
Well, no. He knew better than that. He knew no matter how much distance he
put between himself and the rest of the village, it wouldn't change who and what
he was.
Mushi blinked and lowered his gaze from the canopy. He had to wait a moment
for his vision to readjust to the darker realm of the forest. Talking with
Katatsu never failed to get his mind going in a whirl. Still occupied with his
thoughts he continued onward.
~ ~ ~
Not long after, Mushi reached the edge of the village. Shell-white domes
spread out in concentric rings before him, neatly spaced to allow everyone their
own piece of earth. He strolled on, passing between the rows. A couple of
villagers shot him disgruntled looks as he barely missed treading on some
freshly turned dirt. Another leaned out of a window when he walked by, shooing
him away from some plants with yellow blooms.
Mushi waved to the window dweller in a distracted manner and side-stepped the
flowers. He didn't quite catch what the other said after he went by, but thought
it might have been a greeting. He wasn't sure. He dismissed it in any case as he
stepped into the central commons.
"Mushi. Mushi!" a voice called urgently to him.
Mushi stopped and glanced off to the side. He saw Kagyu, dressed in his usual
white robe and turquoise vest, stride up to him. His wrinkled brows were pulled
into a frown.
"Old...er...Elder Kagyu, what can I do for you?" Mushi asked politely. The
older Namek-jin didn't seem pleased about something.
The Elder raised an eyeridge at Mushi's slip-up with his title but decided to
ignore it. "Mushi, how many times must you be reminded not to walk between the
houses? Many villagers keep a garden and you risk intruding into them."
"Ah..." Mushi put his arms behind his head and actually grimaced in
embarrassment. He'd done it again. "Sorry, Elder Kagyu...I was thinking
and....."
Kagyu sighed. Then his eyes narrowed and his gaze became fixed below Mushi's
chin. "Mushi," he began and pointed to the younger Namek-jin, "Where is your
nectu? You weren't working in the fields today."
"Huh?" Mushi put a hand to his naked throat. His eyes widened in surprise, he
honestly hadn't realize he had been walking around without.... He laughed
nervously. "Oh that...um...I guess I left it somewhere. I know I had it on this
morning....." He thought for a moment, then said. "I did go swimming. I must've
left it on the lake shore."
Kagyu's gaze and voice became stern. "Well, go and get it. You can't leave
pieces of clothing lying around. Especially not your nectu. You are well aware
that it must be worn. Only under certain circumstances are you allowed to remove
it."
Mushi dropped his arms to his sides and murmured, "I know."
Kagyu's expression softened at the tone of Mushi's statement. "I understand
these things slip your mind, Mushi. But you must try harder to remember. You're
an adult now and an example to the children."
Mushi thought he was referring to Katatsu more than any of the others.
Though, it was Katatsu who was more of an example than he was. "I will, Elder
Kagyu. I'll go get my nectu." He turned and started off but stopped when he
heard...
"Mushi!"
Mushi looked back at Elder Kagyu. The older Namek-jin merely pointed to the
central path of the village. Mushi chuckled as he realized he had almost left
the village the way he had entered, between the houses. Instead, he adjusted his
direction and took the main path out.
Elder Kagyu just shook his head.
+ + + + +
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