The Lost Scholar

CHAPTER: 03

THE HERMIT

Gabriel's eyes opened, observing the endless void. “This… this is hell…?” he whispered to himself. “Where is the fire? Where is the devil? Where is the souls of the damned?”

“You are not in hell, you are in space," a voice said from behind him. Gabriel looked back and saw a girl with wings covering his face and a raven rested on her shoulder. Her hair was wild and colored with rainbow hues. “You’re almost reaching the void. Never go into the void, you may never come back,” she spoke softly

“W-what…?” Gabriel was confused. He knew he died, well, he thinks he died and left the earth and burn in hell. “What's going on? Why are you here? Why am I here?”

The girl smiled. “I'm here to guide you…” she said, and turnover and walked.

“Guide me? Where?” Gabriel followed her. “You'll see…” she said. Gabriel glancing the stars above and below him. He understood nothing, nothing made any sense. “This is purgatory isn't…? Are we in limbo…?” he asked the girl. “No, we are outside of Earth…” she answered. They kept walking and Gabriel could see faint dots at the distance, the black tones were softening to red fumes, blue mist, purple haze, green moss and yellow glasses. The twinkling lights were plentiful, almost like a starry night in a clear sky. There were clouds in different sections and distances.

They walked through the fabric of space. They could see shooting stars, meteors, unfamiliar planets, things that Galileo, Aristarco, or Copernicus ever dreamed to see this close. He wondered how far his Earth and could he reach it by walking at this speed. Remarkably, he didn't imagine that the universe was this vast or beautiful. The bible makes it all look insignificantly little. Venturing through the star road, they reached a strange place. The floor was duo-tone chess tiles and glossy see-through glass; the galaxy serving as a pattern layer for the black sections and broken glass mirrors with matte translucent designs as if they were diamonds cut into a flat shape for the opposite tiles. There were also black feathers scattered around, along with pages and books laying on the ground in an organized mess. If this was the heaven, then the bible missed a few details, or it translated incorrectly.

Gabriel bended down and picked up one book. The title was hard to read; the letters were in a golden print, the book cover was some hard material and metallic. Inspecting the inside he noticed how the whole book is held in place, three metal rings were tying the pages together. The pages filled from top to bottom with notes, drawings, symbols and other things he wasn't sure about. They swiped the book from his hands. Startled, he looked up and saw it; Tall man, covered in feathers and hollowed dark eyes.

“Ah! I can see you like the fairy tale literature! But I don't think you will understand Kiarmehc soon,” it said, but his lips didn't move, it was stuck in a creepy sharp smile. “I’m…. I’m sorry… I...” Gabriel stammered and stared at him. “This cannot be real.”

“No need to be sorry, child!” It laughed, and it was picking up the mess of books, placing them in the right shelf. Most of the shelves were empty, row after row. “I forgot I invited you over to visit again, and I forgot to tidy up! Honestly, I am so silly!”

For what Gabriel could tell it, whatever it was, it was a male humanoid. It's voice, wherever it was coming from, was deep like a man. Feathers covered his long legs layer after layer. He had a long tail, too, but the feathers are curved and longer. His arms also had feathers but more subtle. He had wings on his head and they were shorter; he doubts they could provide flight with the impractical size and shape. He had runes going down his torso, along with black gems impregnated in his skin. He was a sight to see and charismatic, judging by how smooth his tone is. He walked closer to him, bending forward invading his personal space, he spoke “Welcome home, child. I am the um— umm…” His expression changed, worried and confused. “Ah yes, Crow, my name is Crow!” he shouted and placed his long wrinkly and pearly looking fingers on Gabriel’s shoulders. “I've been waiting for you to come over. You had a few questions you wanted answers to, did you not? Ask away and if I can't answer you, we can read a book and find out together!” Crow backed away and went back to the shelves with an arm full of books to put his collection away.

This was all rather strange. He did not understand if this was the real thing or not but it was rather real. He was questioning the entire day away, and he is still drowning in a sea of doubt.

“Um, well… There is so much to ask. I guess… Is there a god?”

“Yes.” That answer was too simple or too vague.

“... A-All right then where is he…?”

“Who?” Crow asked while changing things around in an altar.

“God… Angels… Souls… Heaven…?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You're not God… you know Jehovah… God of creation…?”

“Oh! You must mean… Yeah he goes by multiple names, Jehovah. YHVH…” he said in a serious tone. “No. I am not him. The heaven he speaks of is off limits to the likes of us.”

“W-what? W-why?” Gabriel shook at the horrible thought. “Is it because I am impure? I can fix that!”

“Because children with minds like yours are special,” Crow said, holding a book with bright pink ink on an old worn out leather. “Always open, always wondering, and always happy. He never liked it.”

“Why?”

“... I have absolutely no idea,” it laughed. It terrified Gabriel, whatever this monster was it was bursting a bubble too early for his liking. The boy wanted to go home, to wake up in his bed. The child shut his eyes tight as he could and if he concentrated hard he will wake up. He always woke up when the dream was out of control. He needed to wake up. He needed the warmth of his mother.

When he opened his eyes, Crow stood closely with concern in his expression. “Child…?” He reached out his long fingers to rub the tears off his cheeks.

Gabriel never realized he was crying. He fell to the ground covering his eyes. “I want to go home…” he said over and over like a mantra. “Father thou in heaven…” he started a prayer, maybe if he prayed God will come. “Please, forgive me for I have sinned. I am a bad child. I result from the original sin… Please, take me back home…” he sobbed uncontrollably.

Crow and the girl didn't know why or what to do. The girl held Gabriel to comfort him.

“‘From the outskirts of an unknown sector of the edge of the universe, in an empty library cluttered in black feathers lit by the stars surrounding in the vicinity, a child was praying for an almighty deity to take him home…’” Gabriel heard Crow narrate.

“‘The child was lonely, scared and betrayed. They told him lies since birth even if he knew deep down in his fragile soul that the lies were a clever illusion.’” Gabriel looked up wiping his tears and his runny nose with the back of his hands. Crow was writing in a brown leather book with a peculiar quill.

“‘The creature with a shattered mind stared at this poor unfortunate soul, wondering how he could mend his broken heart. When suddenly...” Crow stopped and looked up, a smile spread on his odd face. Gabriel looked up to see, but all he could see was bright twinkling stars. Till one tiny twinkle landed on his cheek. It was cold. It was snowing stardust. Gabriel forgot why he was in distress and soon the library covered in sparkling dust, himself.

‘Stardust, essence of a fading sun, mimics the splendor of frozen particles similar to earth's own snowflake. The magical dust surrounded the room. Cold to the touch, and warm afterwards depicts the fading life of a somewhat eternally radiating ball of flame, orbiting the gravity defying stellar road. With this picture before him of a facade winter wonderland, the child shed no more tears and was trembling, not with fear, not by the cold, but with excitement and wonder.’”

A purple robe draped over Gabriel’s shoulders. The robe was fluffy and luxurious, and way too big for him. “I am sorry for bursting your bubble, Gabriel. But I thought you wanted to know the truth.”

Gabriel learned that the truth was the hardest thing to accept. Perhaps fabricating an answer to solve the problems before could ease the soul, for a while. “You said I could ask you anything, correct…?” Gabriel asked to make sure.

“I won’t judge you.” He smiled brightly.

“What happened…? Why am I here?”

“How do I start…?” He took Grabriels hand and walked to a shelf picking out from the little collection he had. “You see…” he plucked a book from the shelf and walked over to some chairs made of plush red velvet cushions and black gold. Crow sat on one and placed the book on his lap. Gabriel sat on the ground using the snow as a fluffy carpet. Crow opened the book and narrated.

“‘... A human has more sensory receptors than any other animal. although not as heightened like most animals that depend on one receptor to survive, a human uses a receptor as pleasure. Humans are very interesting, the perfect creation. They have powers similar to ours, but smaller souls…’” Crow narrated. “Isn't that interesting little one?” he asked Gabriel.

“Yeah… but... what does that have to do with what I asked…?”

“Allow me to answer properly,” he said before he continued narrating, “‘ ... in the green province, a demon lived by himself where none would venture. He lived in his own little world surrounded by little creatures that could fly. He learned the secret of what keeps them alive, what animated them, the soul. The soul was an essence of a god, a fragment if you will. He wondered, if everything was a fragment of a god, that would mean that a god itself had the power to move time. He went on a search to find more evidence of this theory and so he found a human, a king. He was bright, cunning, smart, similar to the demon when he thought of it. A hood made of a wise howl's head draped over his body and held a sword made of glass metal.

‘What are you?’ he couldn’t help but ask,

‘I am Andras,’ he answered, ‘are you not afraid of me?’ the demon asked.

‘I have no reason to fear a human.’ The demon taken aback with his response and from there on, they became good friends.’”

Gabriel was deep in the story, he was waiting for the suspense to die with the next lines. “A-and what…?” he urged Crow to finish.

Crow showed him the book, and it had many ripped pages. “It… sadly ends here… But you see…” the child took the book and she carried it back to the shelf.

“Humans are a remarkable species. They are constantly changing and evolving, questioning and living the life beyond, till they took that freedom from them. I took the liberty to help you break away from your shell. You need to see the world for what it is, and it's in your right, it's in your blood.”

“So, to see the world differently… what must I do…?”

“The first step is done. I took away your barrier. You will see things differently each time. But this lifestyle is dangerous, I can bathe you in mud if you ever so wish to be blind once again. Will you accept this life of learning and finding the truth?” Crow asked.

“What... what are the consequences…?”

“Well, you must live your life as a secret. No one is ready to understand us. People will ridicule and you will be treated differently. You can only tell those who you trust with your own life. And most important of all, be humble with your gift of sight, or it will eat you alive.”

Gabriel thought it made sense, somewhat. He nodded and stood up. “I… Gabriel, swear to find the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I humbly take this gift with pride into my heart and swear partnership and loyalty to you, whom had opened my eyes and heart… I thank thee…” Gabriel spoke with honesty. He had a lot to learn and Crow was letting him learn at his own pace.

“Oh little one,” he chuckled and his, what he assumes, cheeks flushed a dark shade of red, “my heart swells with joy and pride. You show such respect towards an old bird like myself. Your mind is quite open for your age.”

“You’re scary and weird…” Crow’s face faltered. “But…! you're not evil weird! I… wondered how do you know so much about me…?”

“Oh! W-well… That's… that's a superb question…” Crow scratched the back of his head and it disturbed Gabriel. “RIGHT,” Crow suddenly shouted. “You would visit my room when you were a baby a few times actually, but this is the second time we interacted. Sometimes you would walk the galaxy till your soul soared back. Sometimes you would soar too far and I have to take you back. Since you were very curious, I left some of my children to watch over you.”

“I-... I have no memory of this, and this is the second time we interacted…?”

“Yes! You visit me one day when you were an infant. You yanked out one of my feathers and crawled away. You were so adorable!” He grinned. It was unnerving, and cute. It’s like if he was a senile old man with the heart of a child.

“Can I ask you one last thing…? I feel as if I only bombarded you with questions as soon as I got here…”

“Nonsense! The best philosophers questioned themselves. Go ahead.” His enthusiasm was indeed something.

“Where is my father…?” the room went silent. Maybe he shouldn't be thinking about something useless.

“Once you reach your vessel, I will aid you in every way to find him” Crow smiled brightly as he answered. “I think it's time you went back home. Come visit me when you need advise.” Crow ruffled his hair and stood up and guided him through the darkness. As he walked, he felt his body fall. And in an instant his eyes snapped open, staring at the ceiling of his room. He felt tired and heavy when he attempted to sit up his bed.

The door to his room opened, his mother and a woman in black walked in. The midwife froze, dropping a tray of soup, he believed. She looks like she has seen a ghost, her hair was a mess, and her face sagged lower than needed. In an instant she was holding him close to her bosom. “Gabriel…! My sweet Gabriel…!” she sobbed. “I am so happy you finally woke up!”

“I... I just collapsed for a nap mother…” Gabriel reasoned with his hysterical mother.

“No.” Grizelda shook her head and held him closer. “You were asleep for twenty-seven days… I thought you were…” she cried harder. Mostly out of relief.

“Twenty-seven…?” The child, flabbergasted at the revelation, remembered what Crow said and what everything felt like. It felt more as if he had a disorder, like the read a story book jumping back and forth to different pages.

The child pushed his mother away and stood up in front of his mirror, eyes widening. Gabriel saw none injuries from the incident or any similar marks. He also noticed something weird in his eyes, they were no longer dark blue like the skies in winter nights, now they had taken the hues of a lilac in a spring morning. The smaller Amesthyn also saw something different: a bright outline, green mixed with pink and gold and a thin black, a faint outline that blended with the rest. “This must be what crow meant…” Gabriel breathed quietly.

“... Gabriel.” His head snapped to his mother that stood idle beside him. “How are you feeling?”

“I am very jittery,” the little Amesthyn said. However, he felt strange, something dark and scary. When the boy looked to his opposite side if it weren't for the fact something attached his jaw to his skull it would be on the floor. The lady in black, she had no outline around her but he could feel that some black essence was seeping through under her dress. Her face was different. She had her normal face, but it feels like her face was out of order. Her eyes were red as blood and her hair was like a black as coal. She smiled. “I can see you don’t remember me… My name is Lillian Nightshade. You ran over my carriage the other day,” she chuckled.

Gabriel held his mother's dress and stood behind her as her toxic scent overwhelmed his sensitive nostrils. “Gabriel, don’t be rude to the Duchess,” his mother said. “She funded the maternity ward, and she's training more people so I can help more women in our town.”

“It’s all right. Lil Gabriel has a good sense of defence. We should leave him resting, we have others who need to train.” She smiled at Gabriel. The little boy didn’t like it and covered his face with his mother's skirt “G-go away…!”

“I… I am so sorry he rarely acts this way…” Midwife Grizelda apologized to Dutchess Lilian. “He must be delusional, Let's let him rest…” She subdued Gabriel and placed a kiss on the top of his head. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me… Are you hungry? I can get you more soup.”

Gabriel shook his head. “I want her out…” He refused to expose his face to her. The Duchess spoke, he could hear her further away. “I’ll be going… See you another day Gabriel,” she chuckled. The clack of her expensive heels against the dull worn out flooring grew distant. He took a peek to make sure she were missing.

“Gabriel, why are you so hostile with her…?” his mother asked. “She was very concerned about you…”

“She… I don’t like her… she smells...” He cringed at the memory. “A-and…” how could he explain to his catholic mother about the things he saw was the question on his mind. There was no way to ask if not for the fact he could well end up like the many witches hung from the gallows.

Grizelda sighed. “Sleep, Gabriel. I’ll be back to check on you… now and then…” She helps him on his bed and quickly picked up the mess she made when she dropped the tray earlier. “I’ll bring you more soup… in case you get hungry later…” She stood by the door frame and was hesitant for some odd reason. “I love you, Gabriel.” she smiled, she was happy her hostile child was awake.

“I love you, too, mommy.” Gabriel replied and smiled.

After sometime she was downstairs. He could hear the commotion. Screaming of multiple women squeezing lives out of their uterus. Seems like things haven't changed since a few days ago. He was overjoyed to be back in the comfort of his home. In the night, after his mother rests, he will search for him.