Travel Stories
The Price of Knowledge

I pensively myself. The food that Arborite left behind was still lying in an untouchable lethargy where she had placed it. The hunger that had appeared, disappeared as quickly as it came when it heard that, as it turned out, five days had passed since I started meditation. Though I felt, the time I spent in the vast field was very short.

Damn, what happens if I forced to stay there longer, my mind was confused.

Without being able to calm down the fear and various worries that lingered in my mind, I decided to momentarily move out of the cottage whose walls began to feel suppress feelings.

"It'd be better if you paused that wish, boy. Eat and rest, and continue until Supiah, your last brother, becomes your soul..."

The echo of Arborite's voice rang out loud in my mind.

"*Why?"

"No need to ask too many questions. If you still want to continue living as a human being, just follow my words. I'll make sure you won't regret it*."

The earnestness in those words that dampened my steps.

"You're not going to explain everything clearly, are you, Rite?"

Long moments passed in silence. That demon gondrong doesn't seem to make things any easier for me. But I think it would be more if he just obeyed his words.

Maybe I should just eat and sleep, I thought.

********************

That vast field immediately appeared in vision as soon as my eyes closed. But this place was different from the place I had been to before. Clumps of various types of flowers in a slick arrangement unfold like a natural tapestry in a variety of colors that blend perfectly, connecting with the soft blue background of the sky. The cool breeze that blew slowly shook the plants, as if to invite them to dance in the symphony of the composition of the world maestro, giving off an unspeakable fragrance.

For a moment, the beauty caught every sense I had, until without me noticing, my tears were dripping.

"You can and can stay here forever, Kay..."

The seraut of a face similar to mine was staring straight at me and smiling at me. But somehow, that face felt fake.

"The human world is always full of problems. Full of pain, pain, betrayal, loss and abandonment..."

"Don't you even miss them, Kay?"

My head turned quickly in the direction it pointed at, and those two figures waiting behind me were the ones that completely shook the feeling. My mom and dad, standing in front of a building I can't afford anymore, my house. Their smiles grew as they waved and seemed to be hoping that I would come to them. My heart is like being squeezed to see it. The tears flowed more and more without being able to hold.

"I don't know what you want, man, but you're outrageous" I said without being able to resist the shakes of feelings that arose amid a muffled sob.

The figure laughed, though I could not feel the joy in the laughter.

"You could've enjoyed this, Kay. With my power, I can make it a reality. As long as you want"

"Sorry, Dude... I will learn to live in my sorrow. False reality is not my favorite life." I replied scathingly although the longing for their smiles and hugs were both heartbreaking.

The figure smiled, and this time, sincerity appeared there.

"It's not the strength to endure the ultimate pain, but the compassion for accepting that taste is more important, Kay."

Unable to speak, understanding appeared in the form of acceptance of the various bad luck that plagued my life. Tears flowed more and more as a thought about why the spirits of my parents were unable to leave and continued to be attached to this world, flashed violently and struck my understanding. My issue developed into a strong cry when I realized why you always look at me with real sadness in your eyes, or Mother who is always angry when the whispers are not able to properly quantify.

"When you can accept it, the destiny you have to live with might be a little more bearable, Kay. Relieve them, what your heart says..."

"Mr, Mother, forgive Kay..."

I can no longer stand. My chest was tied with millions of steel threads that were getting tighter and tighter. A blade of wind started galloping in an ever increasing speed along with comprehension. But this sadness, guilt and desire to be angry at myself roiled fiercely in the chest paralyzing every inch of my being. My howl competed with the roar of the wind that grew more tempestuous as the figure approached and touched my shoulder.

"My name is Aluamah, Kay. Control your lust to gain my power."

I ignored the pressure of his hand on my shoulder, which slowly faded away along with the disappearance of the form he was using. The knowledge that Aluamah brought me was indeed driving me deep into the abyss of destruction. I still want to be alone here, a little reassuring my heart and mind over all this understanding.

I ignored the wind that seemed to want to help calm the turmoil of my sadness with the blow that slowed down again. I still want to survive here, in the dawn of understanding and knowledge that I must pay dearly.

I still want to grieve over all the stupidity I did that left my parents' spirits unable to return home to the Creator.