Solomonari:Fables/Tales/The Mind of the Flesh
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The youthful Ashigovasa sat attentively in the yurt, hearkening to the sayings of the wise elder, Karcist Ainoasva; the elevated mind spoke with a booming and deep voice, portraying authority which came from decades of wisdom, unleashing the vast ocean of knowledge and experience, discovered, gathered and refined through the ages of frenzying and mind breaking labour of countless physicians, sages and Karcists before. An unbroken chain of seekers, aiming to understand the teachings of Ion through the depths of the sound mind and understanding found within the flesh itself. Amidst the young Orin, lay a dead corpse, the wretched sign of the domination which the Old Gods held over the soul of the perished one, yet a necessary evil to preserve and pass on the generations of sacred knowledge. The Karcist thrust its clawed arm through the corpse’s chest, parting the being into two with the mighty blow. The terror spreading through the young Orin soon calmed, replaced by a profound fascination with the depths of the corpse, its anatomical structure. As if the very eyes of the young minds could pierce the tissue on a molecular level, observe that which the ordinary eye couldn’t hope to see. For many decades, the greatest minds of Vatula wondered of this deeply awe inspiring and dreadful trait, calling unto mind and unto the essence of the flesh to discover the answer to this mystery. In the end, the practitioners called it a curse, a familial curse of the Vatula, for no answer seemed to satisfy the all-devouring minds of the physicians. The teachings of the Karcist took a new tone, more anatomical, more clinical, more real, beating and breathing as if it were palpable enough to grasp. The voice of the Karcist boomed louder, inside the minds of the youthful apprentices, echoing through the very essence of their being, engulfing their minds in the flames of the depthless knowledge. Ashogovasa, being filled with curiosity, glanced through the mind-bending scenery of teaching and warping flesh, her eyes burning with curiosity:
“ What is the greatest of our teachings, Karcist Ainoasva? What has preserved our faith and practice for so long?”
The elevated mind glanced back at her, as though reality itself burned the young Orin with its gaze, puncturing her flesh and forming holes in her being. The Karcist stayed silent for a long time, observing, analyzing, and computing in his mind. It was unclear why or what he waited so long. Perhaps it was simply an act of simplification, a composition of a simpler explanation for the younger mind to be able to grasp the concept. Or perhaps it was a moment of assessment, an evaluation of worth. Regardless of the motives behind such a dramatic pause, the booming and burning voice slowly resumed its pace, gradually becoming louder and louder, until it made the ears deaf and the mind yielding, sharp and char-like, slicing any doubt or objection. The very being of those around fading away, replaced by a much ancient, more powerful entity which filled their empty corpses…Despite such intensity, an odd tranquility descended upon the youthful Orin, when it would finally reinstate its spot inside their consciousness, for a teaching was deeply engraved into the depths of their inner being, one seemingly born out of instinctive and primordial essence. One which opposed the scientific dogma of the Vatula, teaching perception through reason and rational thought. As though a reminder, a seal imputed deeply to signify one simple truth: Despite their desire to rationalise, their craving for an explanation for every aspect of Nalka and Li’hutitak, their longing to utilise reason at each instance…They will never ultimately be able to provide a thoughtful answer to every aspect of the Nalka. For the Grand Karcist himself never wondered about the source of his power. For it was the quintessence of the rebellion. Unrestrained, unyielding, free and pure from the corruption of the old Gods, able to break the very chains of death which generations tried so desperately to break…After the teaching of the Karcist had come to an end, all Orin were dismissed for the rest of the day, but young Ashigovasa remained. Her mind boggled with the extreme aftermath of the day’s revelations and teachings of the Karcist. Seeing the curious Ashigovasa staying behind, the Karcist only smiled, soon offering her an unknown liquid component to consume. With a skeptical glance, she consumed the component, immediately feeling its rejuvenating effects, her thoughts oozing and being calmed by the gentle substance. It wasn’t clear what the black, thick beverage was composed of, a blend of augmented fruit perhaps:
“I…Thank you, Karcist. I wanted to ask a question before I leave…Why can’t we explain everything through our rational mind and logic? Isn’t the world bound to said rules, and if so, can’t we explain the expressions of flesh in the material plane through the same means as we explain other phenomena?”
The voice carried, timid and humble, filled with the anticipation and curiosity of the youthful mind, as she awaited patiently for the Karcist to respond. Ainoasva pondered for a moment before patting the young girl on her shoulder, his smile wide and pleasant, as if filled with true recognition and fascination for the first time in decades….
“Your curiosity is astounding, Ashigovasa…There is a simple answer to the question troubling your heart. Some aspects of life, especially those which you consider ordinary, aren’t seen as ordinary through the lens of those who don’t understand Nalka. The source of our ways isn’t based on the foundation of this material plane, but the one which the Grand Karcist had formed and constructed through ways which still remain mysterious to us. Thus, our cause is to explore whatever can be explored, and understand whatever can be understood, for beyond that reason possesses no power of explanation…”
The youthful girl remained in the Karcist’s yurt for the rest of the day, overfilled with much wisdom and enlightened by receiving the Karcist’s knowledge…