Belial spoke to no one and everyone; his face was in the light but his mind was in shadow. He was thinking about children. The population was dwindling dangerously low. No one wanted children. Ten years ago the Population Draft was instated: men and women were chosen randomly to have children. It was every child-bearing-age woman's nightmare. No woman wanted a child. Even his harem hardly wanted his child. Most women who became mothers gave their children up to the state and those that kept them let them run wild. There were droves of teenage gangs in the streets where they harassed the women and stole from the men. Belial had heard in passing gossip that these gangs were involved in something darker as well. He did not know what.
In addition to the dwindling population, couples kept performing Selbukku, tandem ritual suicide. It was believed in Sidras that in the afterlife one faded into nature. Many people found this romantic and a fad had appeared of couples going off into the mountains around their city and committing ritual suicide. They even threw a party before they left; some people even turned their weddings into Selbukku, coming together to pass into the next life as one. Belial watched all this and thought that nature was wonderful, transcendent even, but why not enjoy it in this life? Why must the young people merge with nature in such a rash way? Belial did not understand and did not want to. All he knew was his younger generation was dying and not being replenished fast enough.
In the light his advisors were telling him about a possible centaur uprising. The interior centaurs were tired of being slaves in a house that could not run without them. The exterior centaurs were tired of being attacked by Dragonkind and working the vineyards in the harsh summer heat. Suddenly the advisor that had been speaking stood up and asked everyone to leave. The rest of his advisors looked at one another queerly but got up and left.
"What is it, Kyung?" Belial said.
"Your Majesty, we spoke of something. A while ago. About the centaurs..." said Kyung, his top advisor, shiftily.
"Yes?" Belial said lazily.
"Ah, yes, well, we went through with it. The Shin, sir. It was done."
"Then why is there all this talk of centaur rebellion?" Belial questioned.
"It's taking longer than expected." Kyung said, averting his eyes.
"But you are sure it will work?" Belial asked, brooding.
"Of course, Sire. It worked on the experiment group. And the one after that. It will work." But Kyung did not seem all that confident.
"Alright. Now leave me," Belial said.
Belial turned inward and wondered if he would ever live up to his ancestors. They had all been named Belial; he was the 56th Belial and it was a heavy crown. He was responsible for everything in Sidras: the economy, the politics, the military, the religion. It was all on his shoulders and he felt the weight of it every day. His subjects went about their business unaware of him and his struggle. He sighed and wondered what was for lunch. He brightened a bit when he thought he might call on Hypatia to dine with him. Suddenly he thought of Delita, his new bride. She would be furious. Better to let her cool off. He could do whatever he wanted anyhow: he did not owe Delita anything. He was, after all, the King.
------
Kyra just wanted to be like everyone else. But she was big, and curly haired and had a gap tooth. It was difficult for her because everyone else was thin with straight hair and teeth. Her mother was especially beautiful: thin and blonde with a marvelous smile. If only Kyra could be like her. But it was all she could do to get through her days. She woke up and hated brushing her teeth. Toothpaste was foul and she didn't like the way the bristles felt on her teeth. Then she had to shower. This was an aberration even worse than teeth-brushing. Kyra HATED to shower. She mostly hated getting wet and was very annoyed by wet hair. Then she would go downstairs where her mother plied her with biscuits, gravy, eggs and bacon. This morning her father had the Screen on, and it was yapping on about Prince Satus and his going to search for Princess Hypatia. Kyra barely cared about any of it. She was too young to engage in the sex rites and even if she were old enough, who would want her? It did not matter to her that the Princess had left the Prince or that all the sex rites had been canceled. But for Laodicea, it was all anyone could talk about.
"Kyra pass the syrup," Strinp, Kyra's brother, said. Kyra passed the syrup.
"We had no news of whether the Princess went anywhere at all. Perhaps her kidnappers took her somewhere hidden in Laodicea. Or perhaps she went to the seed skin women of the North. Maybe it's not just Satus, but all men she's running from," the woman on the Screen sneered. "We may never know what happened to Princess Hypatia, but Prince Satus has been charged with her return. We hear that he's planning a trip to Sidras, but those stone skins won't know anything about anything. We haven't ruled out the shadow skins from the south taking her either. Who knows? In other news, the Crown of Life is going to be awarded after these messages!" the Screen blared. "Do you need credits? Call us today at..." Kyra mentally shut out the Screen.
The Crown of Life. Whatever. Kyra was too young to enter but everyone was always so into it. Nearly everyone played. Well, everyone that didn't mind their body being broadcast to all Laodicea. It was a lottery and the winner go to have sex with the Prince or Princess on their next holiday. In the Clubs and Gyms, the winner and their prize were shown coupling on all the Screens in the city. Since the Summer Solstice had just passed without any sex, the people were dying to know who would be doing it next time. August 1st, the start of the harvest, was the next holiday. Today was June 22. Kyra sighed. None of this mattered to her. The only thing that interested Kyra was thread work. She loved to make clothes, stitch designs, and sew. It was her only passion. She was too big for normal size clothes, so she made her own. She secretly dreamed of starting an extra size clothing line. But hardly anyone was as large as she. But there were some and Kyra would love to make them feel just as beautiful as anyone else.
------
"We should find somewhere to stay. Somewhere with water, I want a bath," said Lux, looking around at the dusky desert.
"Yeah, we probably should," said Bair, wondering how they were going to get anywhere, especially somewhere with water.
"I can take us to the nearest oasis, but I'll need to recharge my birch powder."
Deciding to suspend his disbelief as well as ignore the words he didn't understand, Bair simply replied, "Sure" and watched as Lux pulled out a piece of wood with a crystal attached to the end. She also pulled out a leather pouch from a purse around her hips.
"I'm going to cast a circle to protect me while I charge the herbs. Just stay still," advised Lux, and Bair sat down on the ground and watched. Starting from north Lux pointed her wand at the ground, crystal out, and focused her magic down her arms and through her wand, amplified by the crystal and into the world. She began to walk in a circle around Bair. Fire followed her footsteps and instantly burned out while pure white salt fell from her wand. On her first lap, Lux created a ring of fire and earth. Upon her second time around the circle, smoke issued from her footsteps and water fell from her wand: she created a ring of water and air on her second lap. On her third lap she produced nothing but called out "I cast this circle to protect us from any positive or negative entities that may come to do us harm. I call into this circle only the most potent and beneficial energies for our work here today. So mote it be!"
Bair and Lux were confined inside a glowing ring.
"Now we charge the birch powder," said Lux as she pulled the herb out of the small leather pouch.
"Would you like to charge some with me?" Lux asked tentatively. Bair considered.
He didn't exactly know what "charge" meant but he had always been interested in new things and this woman was obviously important. Of course he wouldn't turn her down.
"I think so, but you'll have to explain what charge means," Bair answered.
"Oh!" Lux said in delight and laughed a bit. "Of course. We're going to put our energy into the herb to make it magic. To access its magical properties. Birch's element is air, and so when we put magic into, it will make us fly, accessing that flying/air property of the herb. I'll just sprinkle some charged birch powder into my pine sprig, and we'll be off."
"Got it," said Bair. "But how do we put magic in it?" he asked.
"First we have to go into Alpha so our brains and hearts make the most powerful waves. Once we are in Alpha we look into our interior terrain and view our magic. It looks like light. It will be a specific color. Then you imagine a bit of that light flowing down your arms into your hands. They may feel warm. Next you merge your magic with the aura of the plant. It will also look like colored light. You mix these lights like paint and create a new color of light, one in between the two colors. You take some of this new light back into yourself and let the rest fill the plant, or stone, or oil you are charging. This is how you charge something. It's pretty simple, but it requires a supple mind," Lux finished.
"I'm pretty sure I can do that. But how do we get into Alpha?" Biar asked.
"Yes, Alpha. In order to go into Alpha we have to align our Chakra. These are like spiritual organs in our bodies. There are seven of them, ranging from the red below us to the violet one at our crown, with a rainbow of organs in between. They look like spinning flowers. In order to go into Alpha we must imagine them awakening. Basically, just imagine them lighting up. Imagination is where magic happens; everything is based on intent. Your intent brings you what you intend. Intend to light up your Chakra by imagining it, and you do. The more detail and the longer you hold the image in your mind's eye the more likely it is to happen on the physical plain. We'll just be working with energy so it'll all just look like light, and it'll all be in our minds. Got it?"
"Yes. You cast a circle to protect us while we go into Alpha and charge the birch powder, right?" Bair iterated.
"Exactly! Good job. Ok well here we go! I'm going to count us down into Alpha..."
------
Hypatia wondered about Delita. She had not seen the woman since walking into her night with Belial. She imagined Delita would be awfully mad at her. In truth, she felt terrible about what had happened. But also baffled. The King and Queen had been making love alone. Not as a spectacle, like was done in her own kingdom. She wondered if all love making was done in privacy in Sidras. What a queer thought. In Laodicea people were members of Gyms and Clubs where they went to have intercourse in public on holidays. This was the only time sex was allowed by the Clarum. Hypatia was not certain but she was beginning to think that the people here had sex whenever they wanted and in private. While odd, it did appeal to Hypatia more than the orgies and sex rites she went through in Leodicea.
But Hypatia was confused. If these people had sex anytime, where were all the children? On her first day in Sidras she had seen only a few children in the streets, and they were all together and didn't seem to have a parent with them. No other person had had a child. There had been many women in the streets, but none with a child. The women themselves were of interest, however. They were all consumed by jewelry. Ropes of silver and gold, long, dangling earrings, huge gems in rings, and every woman seemed to wear, among the chains, a long phallic bar with gems embedded in it. Hypatia wondered if there was meaning in it.
Hypatia noticed that most of the young women also painted their faces white, with red around the eyes and on the lips. It was harsh and alluring at the same time. But to Hypatia, the face painting tended to homogenize everyone. They all looked quite alike. She had not spoken to any of the women with painted faces, but they had all looked on her with interest. Everywhere she had gone that day she was stared at. Her blonde hair and round, blue eyes stood out very much among the brown, folded eyes and dark hair. She had been wearing the same thing as them at least: an under robe and an outer robe tied at the middle by a sash. In Leodicea everyone tended to dress in white and gold. Here there was color everywhere! Rainbow hues accented each window with three different color curtains, the furniture was vibrant silks with colorful patterns, and each robe everyone wore was a piece of art. The women even wore colored ornaments in their hair. But no children. How queer.
------
Belial felt queer. His head hurt and his nose was running. He had been worrying all day. He seemed to do nothing else. But now it was time for dinner. He called on Hypatia. She came in good time and looked radiant. Robes of pale pink and blue with an orange-cream sash at the middle. They ate a dish with carrots, sausage, cranberries, pine nuts and thyme. As was custom they ate with their hands. At their first meal together Hypatia had asked for utensils but upon realizing this was not the custom, she became adept at her new country's means of consuming food. They ate in silence and washed their hands when they were done. After they had cleaned their hands Belial lead Hypatia up to a circular room with windows all around and pillows all over the floor. Making a pile of these, Belial leaned into it and pulled out his smoke stick. Hypatia sat on a single pillow and faced her new King.
Belial took a huge pull on his smoke stick and blew out an impressive number of smoke rings. "Let us speak of spirit. What is spirit like in your kingdom?" he asked with great interest.
Hypatia was taken aback. Hardly anyone in Leodicea talked about spirit. "Well," she began uncertainly, "We have Boj and his son Jesh. Boj is the all in all, the alpha and omega, the great I Am. Jesh his son is the all in one, the savior of mankind, the miracle worker, the Christ. He came to Earth to save us from ourselves, because we are born in sin. Our ancestors disobeyed the Clarum and so we are all sinners. But Jesh! Jesh came and mated with mortal women and created our Royal Bloodline and purified the Earth with his blood and now that blood reigns. I am a descendent of Jesh. I was meant to marry my brother and carry on the bloodline." Hypatia felt dirty inside when she spoke of Satus and then felt relief all over again that she had escaped.
"And this Clarum," Belial said. "What is that?"
"Oh the Clarum is wonderful. It takes care of the Royalty and interprets the will of Boj. They gave us all our laws, and run all the programs and take care of all the Screens. It is said that our ancestors disobeyed them once and we are all sinners because of it. But Boj saw our need and sent his one and only begotten son to bring his blood to Earth and save us."
"So it's a group of men and women?" Belial asked.
"Oh no. The Clarum is only men. Only men can interpret the will of Boj." Hypatia said, amused. Women in the Clarum! How absurd.
"I see," said Belial and smoked his smoke stick.
------
Bair and Lux were in the ring of light. They were seated facing each other, each holding a bit of Birch in their hands. "Ok, I'm going to count us down into Alpha. Close your eyes." Biar and Lux closed their eyes. "You are opening your Root Chakrum. Imagine a big red flower that you are sitting on. Now imagine that flower opening, and filling with light, and rotating in a circle." Biar concentrated and in his mind's eye saw a red flower below him. He imagined it lighting up and spinning. "Now see a ray of red light shoot from the Chakrum into the Earth. This is your Root Chakrum. It is located at the base of your spine and governs your genitals, your legs and your feet. It is concerned with security and survival. It's element is Earth, and it's friends are cinnamon, lead, cedar, myrrh and bloodstone," Lux said slowly and quietly. Bair continued to see his Root Chakrum light up and rotate.
"Next is your Sacral Chakrum. It is orange and it's located just below your navel. It governs sensuality and emotion. It covers your abdomen, kidneys and blood sugar. It's element is water and it's friends are tin, rose, saffron, coral, and carnelian. Imagine it opening and shining and spinning. See a ray of orange light issue from your stomach and go out into infinity." Lux said evenly. They both still had their eyes closed and yet each was seeing light. Bair imagined what Lux said.
"Now imagine your Solar Plexus Chakrum opening. It's color is yellow and it's located between your heart and your navel. It governs your digestive system, liver, and gall bladder." Bair did not know what these things were but listened with interest as he imagine a large yellow flower come to life on his lower chest. "It is concerned with energy and vitality, will power and authority. It's element is fire and it's friends are ginger, iron, blueberries, cedar, amber and citrine. Imagine a yellow light stream out from your Solar Plexus and go into infinity" Lux spoke softly, lulling Bair into Alpha.
"Your Heart Chakrum is green and located in the center of your chest. It governs your lungs, immune system, and blood pressure. It also governs love, connections and balance. It's element is air and it's friends are heliotrope, copper, chamomile, and kunzite. Imagine a green flower opening and becoming full of light on your chest." Lux said. "Imagine a ray of green light issuing from your Heart Chakrum and going into the universe." Bair saw it all just as Lux said.
"Now we come to the Throat Chakrum. It's color is blue and it's located on your throat. It governs your throat, neck, and respiratory system. It is concerned with communication and creativity. It's element is Ether and it's friends are eucalyptus, mercury, frankincense, sandalwood, and turquoise. Imagine a blue flower opening on your throat and glowing and spinning and sending a ray of blue light into the world."
"Next is the Third Eye Chakrum. It's color is indigo and it's located in the center of the forehead. It governs the eyes and the autonomic nervous system. It is concerned with intuition and understanding, and imagination. Imagine it opening and sending a ray of indigo light into the cosmos. The Third Eye Chakrum element is light and it's friends are lavender, silver, star anise, lapis, and amethyst." Bair imagined a small indigo flower on his forehead opening and vibrating and glowing. It began to spin and issue a ray of bluish light.
"Finally, we have the Crown Chakrum. Its color is violet, and it's located on the top of the head. It governs the central nervous system, the spine, the head and the hair. It is concerned with enlightenment and transcendence. It deals with divinity and higher values. Wisdom, inspiration, awareness. Love, compassion, peace. It's element is thought and it's friends are jasmine, gold, the lotus and peony, as well as quartz crystal."
"Now see all your Chakras glowing and blooming and rotating and you are in Alpha. It's time to charge the birch powder."
------
Belial smoked and thought and spoke with Hypatia. "We believe differently. We believe in the Rau and Lo and Aut and Chee."
"Oh, are those the names of your gods?" Hypatia inquired.
"No, we believe that if you follow the way of the Rau and align your Lo and Aut and invite Chee into your life, you will be a god." Belial took a drag on his smoke stick and stared at Hypatia. She looked down and wrinkled her forehead. Then her clear blue eyes looked into his.
"I have never heard of this. But I'm interested. Could you please explain?" she said earnestly.
"Sure," Belial said and stretched out his hand holding the smoke stick, lounging back on the purple and gold and crimson pillows.
"We believe there are two forces in the world, the soft, dark, negative, feminine force of Lo and the hard, light, positive, masculine force of Aut. They are opposites but compliments, with one arising from the other and simultaneously containing the other but remaining separate forces. The interplay of Lo and Aut gives rise to Chee, the live giving force in the world. It gives prosperity, good fortune, and health while keeping back sickness and difficulties. When you invite Chee into your life, you become closer to the Rau, or the Way. The Rau is the force of the universe, the dance of life keeping everything balanced and in order. It is the flow of nature and the divine in harmony. It is the no-thing that contains everything. If you practice Wuwe, or effortless doing, you will align your will with the universe and balance Lo and Aut and create Chee in your life and then you will achieve the Rau. This is what we believe."
Hypatia felt odd. She had never considered any god but Boj and Jesh and the Clarum and everything she knew. It seemed like sense, what Belial was talking about. She could understand. But it was new.
-------
Bair felt everything and nothing. He was reminded of just a few hours ago when he had been hallucinating and had first seen Lux in his mind's eye. All his senses were heightened but streamlined into one, eternal, infinite, sense of things.
"Now, look inside and see your magic," Lux almost whispered.
Bair looked inside himself for a while, only seeing darkness. And then! There was light! A pool of blue light sitting inside his imagination. He saw it glow.
"Take some of your magic, this light, and pull it into your hands. Will it to go," Lux said quietly.
Bair imagined his power flowing its blue flow down his arms and into his hands. There it grew and shined.
"The birch has its own magic. Look for it. It will also appear to be a color. It should be a blue green," Lux spoke evenly. Bair saw the turquoise energy of the birch in his mind. "Now mix your magic with the magic of the plant. Combine the colors. They should make a new color of light, a mixture of you and it. Pull some of this light back into your hands and down inside. Let the birch powder fill with the rest."
He saw it just like she said. His magic mixed with the birch's aura and created a more vibrant blue hue. His hands glowed blue. He willed some of the magic mixture into himself and let the rest fill the birch.
"Now, open your eyes. Put your hand over your head and bring it down in front of you and turn it over and push out and say 'I give myself total health and clearance'" Lux did as she said. Bair opened his eyes, performed the ritual but forgot to turn his hand outward. Lux reached over and took his hand and turned it outward. "Like this," she said gently. Bair felt warmth flow to him where she touched him, and she felt tingles in the hand that had corrected his.
The birch powder looked the same but they both knew if they were to close their eyes and look at it on the inner terrain, it would be glowing.
