The cleric entered hurriedly into the chambers of High Cleric Pholein. “The examiners have completed their assignment and prepared their report, master” he stated gasping. “Timely” was the reply, “leave it and be gone.” The cleric, relieved, left the report and backed out the door, bowing. Eyeing his friend, Pholein picked up the document.
The manuscript read:

“Child, Water Genasi, approximate age two years. No visible physical damage. Nervous system and autonomic reflexes normal. Mental acuity slightly above average for his age. Apparent shock induced by psychological trauma. No birthmarks or scars. Full recovery anticipated within one week.”

“Seems normal enough, maybe just an abandoned child,” Emil said brushing his cloak. “Don’t pretend to be naïve, my friend. You and I both know that there are secrets… real secrets in the world. Just because the One doesn’t see fit to expose his plan to everyone doesn’t mean there is no plan” Replied Ryan. “Well then, my friend, there is but one way to find out. When can we see him?” High Cleric Pholein chuckled, “Rank doth have its privilege Emil. We may see him whenever we wish.”

The old pair cast an intimidating shadow as they walked toward the Examiners chambers. Halls which were only a moment ago filled with busy clerics, suddenly emptied. Arriving at the Examiners chambers, Pholien did not need to speak to empty the rooms, leaving them alone with the Genasi child.

The Genasi child lay sleeping on an examining table which had been converted into a bassinet. Gently raising the child’s left foot, High Cleric Pholein exclaimed with barely hushed enthusiasm, “Ha! There, you see! He does bear the mark!” Looking intently at the baby’s foot, Emil spoke, “The power of the One to mask his plans to those He wish not know still amazes me. To think the Examiners inspected every inch of him yet could not see this mark. And more awe inspiring is the fact that we could describe it to them and show them and still they could not see it. We must inform the others. Now that we are certain, there is no need for secrecy. The One will guard His work Himself.”

It is widely held as fact that there are no secrets, however, there are. The irony of this is that if anyone knew that there were secrets, there would not be. Since the beginning of time, the One has set in motion a machine to change the course of evolution in His creation. This machine is hidden by a secret. A perfect secret. The One chooses who may know of this plan and who may not. Those who know His secret are powerless to share this plan with those whom the One does not choose to know it. They cannot by any manner be made to understand even the simplest part. Therein lies the influence and power of the One. Since the beginning of time, time itself has been represented by a perfect circle. An endless cycle of repetition spanning eons. Only a select few know of another symbol for time. A broken circle. The mark of a new era when the cycle of time changes and all is made new. The mark of the machine of the One becoming active. The mark now borne on the foot of an infant Genasi…

Oricx’s Journey is © Jeff Bates

The transition from death to life was mimicked in the physical world by the hurried extraction of the child from the sea. A young cleric snatched up his catch and ran in a notably unclericlike fashion toward the bowels of the temple.

“Master, a child has emerged from the light,” gasped the cleric. A deep, booming and authoritative voice responded, “How many witnesses?” “Three possibly, certainly no more. I retrieved the child too quickly for anyone to have gotten a clear view”. “You have done well; deliver the child to the examiners. Tell them I await their full report within the hour”. “Yes, Master” he said bowing as he backed toward the door.

High Cleric Pholein stood pensively for several seconds before speaking, “There have been others”. “You do not yet know if he bears the mark, Ryan” replied a form emerging from the shadows behind him. The old cleric’s brow relaxed at the sound of his name and a smile pursed his lips, “How good it is to dispense with the formalities of title, my old friend. There are few here who know my given name and fewer still who would dare speak it. Thank you for coming so quickly”. “I don’t know why anyone would fear you, you old geezer. I recall once pulling your young screaming hide out of a janitor’s closet in the temple barracks” chided the voice. “Oh for the millionth time, it was dark and the way the mop was leaning looked like a head floating in midair”. Laughing, the two embraced in a bear hug that lasted a second longer than that of brothers. “It’s good to see you, Emil. I wish you could have come just to visit, but it appears we have work to do”. “How long have you known of the child, Ryan”. “You were here when the cleric arrived, I have known since then”. “How then did you know to summon me?” replied Emil. “Because the sea around the area where the child emerged has been glowing as if the sun were shining up from the sea floor for several days now”.

Oricx’s Journey is © Jeff Bates

The wispy ebb and flow of the great sea gently rocked the tiny Genasi baby as would a loving mother. This particular Genasi, however, had no loving mother. The infant floated on his back in utter silence. Days of lonely drifting with only the sound of the ocean and the occasional passing bird had long since exhausted the child of his screams. He now only cried on the inside for his throat was too sore to release even the slightest gasp. Breathing was possible, for now, but soon it too would cease.

Day turned to night in an instant. Through the darkness created not by the failing of the light but by the failing of the body, the newborn Genasi saw a small glowing pin point far off in the distance. The glow grew brighter as he experienced a sense of falling. He was not falling toward the light, but parallel to it. Nonetheless, the glow grew brighter. As he fell, he felt himself slow as if falling into a large pillow. All motion seemed to stop and a gentle yet stong deep voice sounded from all directions at once. “Not yet little one, I have much work for you to do.” The world suddenly became sound. A loud crashing sound like a million sounds blended together in a horrid symphony of the end of all things…

Oricx’s Journey is © Jeff Bates