Edwin and Pradip were sitting cross legged facing each other. It was the morning after his declaration of becoming the chosen hero of what these people called the Omnidei. God of All was certainly a heavy title and one Edwin was still puzzling out. “All” is such a broad term, it was difficult to understand. The Kuchteians were surprisingly tight lipped about this matter. When Edwin tried to ask about exactly what it was, despite being unable to see their faces, he could tell they were ashamed. Pradip explained the matter to him later explaining

  “We do not believe as the ones who follow the Communion of the Twelve. Whatever it is they believe, it is not unchanging. This has allowed the demons to become stronger and craftier. Our tradition has held stronger than the dream of the Twelve had been imagined. So, we do not add our interpretation to what we know. But because of our curse, we must be cautious.”

  That mystery, among others rolled through Edwin’s mind as he sat with Pradip. The pseudo immortal, despite his veil, Edwin could tell he was at peace with his meditation. The man’s withered yet strong hands were calmly sitting atop his knees and his breathing deep, steady and uninterrupted.

  ‘For a man over seven hundred years old, he’s in surprisingly decent shape’, Edwin pondered.

  “If you are done making observations about my health, it would make it easier to meditate.”

  Edwin’s face remained impassive with merely a raised eyebrow to denote his shock at the accuracy of Pradip’s comment. Choosing instead to ignore the old man’s apparent telepathy-

  “I am not reading your mind, Thatch”, Pradip interrupted another line of thought, “I merely can tell you aren’t following my instruction.”

  Edwin needed to shake the small twinge of annoyance and mild concern. Outside of the High Priests, he probably had more conversations with the Pontifex than anyone in Acolynia and yet the veiled man sitting before him seemed to be able to know things more readily than even him.

  Flexing his fingers, “I am doing as you said. My breathing is steady, my mind is still and my body is inactive.”

  “Yet, true peace of mind eludes you, Edwin.”

  Sighing in frustration, Edwin rested his forehead against his knuckles. For some reason, despite the lack of being treated like a science experiment and the absence of latent judgment from Pradip, Edwin somehow felt more easily upset by his lack of progress among the Kuchteians. That seeming lack of emotional control often surprised him. The training, if one could call it that, was quite different from his time back in the city. Perhaps it was because he wasn’t pawing around in the dark, with equally blind teachers who didn’t know if he was a fit for their teachings. This was supposed to be where everything came together. Edwin knew progress didn’t come overnight, quite literally in this case, but he still felt he had climbed over one stone wall to run right into another.

  Pradip pressed a bony fingertip against Edwin’s forehead, “You and I both know absence of thought is not peace. Your body may be still but looking at your limbs, they are coiled tighter than a rope. And your mind, it may be silent but aggressively emptying it of any presence does not mean you have stilled yourself and allowed what is needed to happen.”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Edwin kept his voice level, “And what needs to happen?”

  “You need to let go.”

  Edwin slowly closed his eyes to keep from rolling them, “Without being cryptic please?”

  “You need to let go of the illusion that you are the one who controls your life, your fate, all of it.”

  A quiet gasp shuddered through his mouth as something inside Edwin recoiled at the thought and yet simultaneously understood and capitulated. Pradip remained as motionless as ever but the rusty headed man knew he saw and somehow understood it.

  “You are perfectly free to act how you will, but that must also come with the understanding that everything contributes to each other. There is no such thing as an action without an impact. Whether you realize it or not, you will do what you are meant to by the Omnidei’s will.”

  To many people, the idea of having a destiny was an attractive ideal. After all, why wouldn’t it be? The idea of someone being meant for something far greater than they could achieve on their own. But all Edwin could do was stare at his lap and swallow as his mouth and throat suddenly felt so dry. Something within him felt afraid which only served to confuse him. He always felt a natural fear such as when the Acolynians attacked him, but this went far deeper. Edwin looked up when Pradip poked him in the chest.

  “Why are you so fearful of what you are meant to do?”

  Licking his dry lips, “I don’t know, but…”, he faltered as he searched for the words, “I don’t want to disappear.”

  Pradip didn’t say anything for a moment as he pondered what the young man before him.

  “You misunderstand. You are not going to be stripped of your identity. Rather, you need to realize your life isn’t your own. It is a gift and opportunity. But using it for purely selfish means is how the world came to be how it is now.”

  “I’ve already spent practically my entire time in this world being led by others. Even coming here was from that voice that’s been guiding me.”

  Edwin could almost feel Pradip smiling under his veil, “Was the Voice ever forceful with you?”

  “Not really, but it just comes at different times. It told me to wait and then eventually, I was told to come to you.”

  Pradip nodded, “Do you not think perhaps, if there was not a point in you experiencing what you have you would not have been led through all this to be here?”

  Edwin knit his eyebrows in confusion, “How do you mean?”

  Pradip interlaced his bony fingers, “The people of the Communion are known for many things, the Acolynians in particular are known for their devotion. Yet you, despite having none of their Patrons still managed to arrive here to meet us. I admit, I am confused why you were not brought to us from the beginning, but here you are, alive and ready to go. You have a purpose Thatch, one you are meant to do your way. But first, you need to be sure you are walking straight.”

  Tightening his fist, “But… What happens then? Who do I become?”

  Chuffing, Pradip placed his gnarled hand over Edwin’s heart, “You will still be yourself, but you will also be what you are intended. Now, let us learn what that is.”

  Though he still felt unsettled, Edwin closed his eyes and steadied his breathing. The instinct to forcefully quiet everything inside was there, but following the old man’s instruction, he let them settle on their own. An unusual sensation of his ears ringing, searching for any noise came and when he opened his eyes, Edwin found himself in the void once more.

  “Welcome. You have been patient, and now is the time for truth.”