Renegade Rising

by J.C. Fiske

Chapter 15: Math… The Bane of Existence

  Almost overnight winter had descended upon Heaven’s Shelter. The entire place was now blanketed in a white fluffy snow. Following their band ceremony, the Renegas were rewarded a much-deserved week off. Gisbo and Rolce, not about to waste a spare moment of their break, spent the week building snow forts, having snowball fights, and partaking in an activity exclusive to Heaven’s Shelter known as ice skeeting. There was also a sport called “hockey” in which several ice skeeters would pass around and whack a rubber disc across the ice with curved sticks.

  Ernie Knowall began sharing with everyone purchasing their ice skeets and sticks from the mach shop that it was indeed he who had come up with the idea for hockey until Dave informed the boys that the Soarians had been playing it long before Ernie was even born. It was safe to say that hockey absorbed most of the boys and girls winter break as Renegades, Renegaras and Renegas played it constantly throughout the week. Gisbo found that Falcon was exceptionally good at this sport and he taught Gisbo all the ins and outs of the game. They had a blast in spontaneous pick up matches.

  When they weren’t playing hockey, everyone enjoyed warm cups of hot cocoa, apple cider and a variety of steaming soups from the various shops. These winter specialties hit the spot after a day out in the cold, especially snow skeeting, an invention of Shaved and Knob’s. One winter day when they were bored, the daredevils had attached two long boards to their feet and coasted down the snowy hills outside of Heaven’s Shelter. At first people thought they were crazy, but the sport caught on quickly.

  Winter break wasn’t all fun and games, however. Gisbo, Rolce, Shaved and Grandfield repeatedly shoveled snow in front of the shop and all around it to be rewarded with an early leave from their jobs to enjoy their break. Thanks to Shaved and Knob’s invention of snow skeets, the shop had their highest sales yet, causing Ernie to be the friendliest guy in Heaven’s Shelter, mostly due to the extra beer at the pubs he could now afford.

  Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. The glorious week finished out and Gisbo and Rolce found themselves trudging to their next class on a cold foggy morning, the frigid air biting at their faces. Gisbo constantly found himself staring at his forearm in deep pride as they walked. Roarie was right: every time he examined his new tattoo, he remembered all the hard work it took to earn it and he especially enjoyed the special design near the bottom of the band, knowing that he, Rolce and Grandfield were the only ones in their class to receive it. Gisbo rubbed at a welt on his head from Roarie's final beating and actually smiled. He was going to miss the old hag.

  Gisbo and Rolce finally arrived at their destination outside a building set across from the Courtyard of Strength. Upon seeing the building, Gisbo’s heart sank. Rolce’s, on the other hand, skipped a beat in excitement. There in front of them stood a schoolhouse and within it, a warm sputtering fire burned in front of neat wooden desks for each and every one of them. Rolce was nearly shaking with excitement as Gisbo shook from pure nausea. He hated school and all that went with it. Homework, raising his hand to speak, homework, trying to stay awake for things he hadn’t the slightest interest in, and of course, homework. Didn’t they do enough in class as it was? Didn’t anyone realize how hard it was just to stay awake? No, of course not, it was never enough; you had to take things home just to keep you busy. How dare you take your mind off math formulas for a single instant of your life! IAM knows you might go do something useful with your life instead! All of these thoughts crossed through Gisbo’s mind within seconds and what a few painful seconds they were as they walked inside the schoolhouse.

  Rolce strutted into the warmly lit classroom, his face beaming as Gisbo trudged along behind him and took his seat within his prison cell, also known as a desk. It wasn’t as bad as Gisbo had initially thought, but he dared not get optimistic, that was what they wanted him to do. There were maps adorning the wooden walls with holly draped over the corners and nearly a dozen or so cedar desks that filled the room with a comforting, woodsy smell.

  There was a stamping of boots behind them and Gisbo turned to see Knob, followed by Grandfield and Shaved. They looked just as happy to be there as he did. At least he wasn't the only miserable one. Upon further thought, Gisbo believed Rolce was the only happy student in the room until Kennis took to her seat with an equally oversized grin. Next, Rake came in and made his way to sit in the back corner with his two Synergy teammates, Crass Bastio and Whip Miley, who were grumbling aloud, while Rake simply rolled his eyes and stared off into the distance, indifferent.

  Gisbo felt sick to his stomach again seeing Kennis and Rolce smiling in anticipation until he heard a door slam behind them. Gisbo thought he heard a lock snap into place, but he knew he was only imagining it, wasn’t he? There was the sound of heavy boots falling swiftly across the floor as the instructor made his way to the front of the class. The man was tall and the small staging which his desk sat upon made him look even taller. He was completely bald except for a ridge of perfectly cut hair that rounded the back of his skull. He was dressed in Nazarite attire, with an arm fully decked out in unique, tattooed bands. It looked as if he must have gotten the top awards for every class he ever took for Gisbo had never seen such exquisite markings. He had dark eyes that almost appeared black and fine wrinkles that made him look wise, not necessarily old - as if they were cut into his face purposefully. For once Gisbo was thankful he and Rolce had arrived on time for this guy was a major leap away in the intimidation factor compared to Roarie…well, at least upon first impression. Gisbo rubbed his welt once more.

  When the man spoke, he sounded a bit like Moordin, except that his voice was much deeper. He was much more intense and a tad bit scary, as if everything he was about to say was absolute and could have no counter argument. His tone was emotionless and every sentence was direct and to the point.

  “Good to see you all this wintry morning and all on time no less. You may call me Instructor Perry,” Perry said, standing straight as he addressed his class, turning slightly as he made eye contact with every one of them giving him absolute attention. Gisbo couldn’t have fallen asleep even if he tried; he was too afraid of the ramifications.

  “I’d like to offer you congratulations upon receiving your first bands, no easy task. The same will be for this band. You have now strengthened your bodies, strengthened them well, but as everyone knows, it is useless without the mind,” Perry said as he tapped the side of his head with two fingers and continued his pacing.

  “If Roarie’s class put your body into fighting shape, then this class will most certainly thrust your MIND into fighting shape. You will learn mathematical battle strategies, philosophies . . .” The teacher rambled on, but all Gisbo heard was math. His absolute worst subject in the history of his schooling. Why? Why did there have to be math? He groaned under his breath and rolled his eyes, seeing Rolce grin again. How many times must his stomach lurch this morning? Good thing he never ate breakfast, making up for it with huge lunches and dinners, or else Rolce might be wearing it.

  The remainder of the day consisted of the usual rules of the road for Perry’s class and the handing out of several textbooks, about as thick as a log in some cases. The day finally ended as Gisbo and Rolce gathered all their books and began walking out into a now sunny afternoon, the light glistening on the icicles hanging from the rooftops. Gisbo sighed with relief that the first class was over. It was then Gisbo saw Rake exit the class by himself. He strutted off across the field alone as his two synergy mates came out, stared at him walking away and shook their heads.

  “I’ll never understand that guy and, ugh, damn it all!” Crass Bastio let out a wail of misery before continuing. “I’ll never understand why I need to attend school for the second time! It was bad enough in Candia!” Crass wailed again as he dropped his heavy stack of books into the snow, followed by a string of curses. Gisbo was highly amused by this. FINALLY! Somebody he could complain with! Gisbo dropped down to his knees and helped the boy g
ather his books.

  “Hey, let me help ya with those. Just be thankful you don’t have a synergy mate that practically wets himself in excitement at every other word Perry had to say,” Gisbo commented, without looking at Rolce. Gisbo expected to hear Rolce’s voice in retort, but instead he heard another.

  “The quest for knowledge is not something to degrade, Renega Gisbo,” said Perry, who stood over him. Gisbo grimaced, afraid to turn around. He didn’t have to because Perry walked round to stand before him. Boy, is he tall… was all Gisbo could think while on his knees in the snow.

  “Should you continue from this moment with such an attitude, I can promise that no band from me will ever grace your arm. Are we clear, Renega Gisbo?” Perry asked in an emotionless tone.

  “Yes, yes, sir.” Gisbo stammered.

  “And Renega Crass, books belong on a shelf, not in the snow. Do pick them up for, at 100 tarries a book, I’m sure you would not wish to replace them,” Perry said.

  “Why, yes, yes, sir,” Crass stammered as well.

  “Great insight today, Rolce, I look forward to spending this semester with you. ‘Til the morrow, gentlemen,” Perry said as he glided through the snow. Rolce looked at both Gisbo and Crass with a big grin.

  “Wipe that smirk off,” Gisbo said to Rolce with a snarl.

  “Scary guy! As for you, pal, I’d shake your hand, but I don’t feel like dropping these books again. One hundred tarries, can you believe that garbage? All for a diced up tree with ink on it! Gisbo, right?” Crass asked.

  “Yeah, and this here is my mate Rolce Moordin, the excitable school boy,” Gisbo said cocking his neck toward Rolce standing beside him, scowling once more at Gisbo's rude introduction. Crass laughed at this.

  “Well, I’m Crass Bastio and this here is Whip Miley,” Crass said, also cocking his neck backward to indicate Whip standing behind him. “You’re the synergy with the missing member, aren’t ya?” Crass said, a bit . . . crass, as they began to walk.

  “Yeah, unfortunately. We’re working on it though,” Rolce said, not really knowing what else to say on the topic.

  “Eh, I only ask because you guys aren’t the only ones. That little bastard Rake up ahead has barely said two words to me and Whip the entire time we’ve lived with him. Well, I guess I shouldn’t call him a bastard; I feel really bad about what happened with his dad and all, poor guy. Me and Whip actually tried being nice to him for a change,” Crass said with a shrug as he nearly toppled his books over once more.

  “My class master, Bastio, tells me some pretty bad times are ahead. Lokin’s turn was a total shocker, plus Purah’s death. He said if Purah could be killed that easily, then nobody's safe. Worst part is, we don’t have a stinkin’ clue what they are up to. I wish we could help in some way. Hey, random question, you guys into metal?” Crass asked out of the blue. Gisbo and Rolce both smiled at this.

  “Um, as in the music?” Gisbo asked.

  “Of course as in the music, dummy!” Crass said.

  “Oh, well, yeah! Phoenix Force is good stuff,” Gisbo said with a grin. Gisbo noticed that Whip grimaced at the name.

  “No kiddin'? I like you guys already! Whip hates Phoenix Force unfortunately, says all their rifts sound the same. I say screw you, man! Stuff is fast, fast, fast! Love it! Supposedly they're around touring right now, they're all Renegades, ya know. They actually keep their Renegade outfits on stage when they tour. Everyone thinks it's part of the act, not really knowing they're the real deal. It's pretty awesome! You ever been to their concerts?” Crass asked. Gisbo and Rolce both shook their heads.

  “Ah! Just you wait ‘til they come back to Heaven’s Shelter; I’ll show you guys the meaning of head banging and mosh pits. You’ll love it! I saw ‘em play back in my hometown once,” Crass said excitedly.

  “You guys have fun with that. If you want REAL metal, listen to Megallalite. Phoenix Force uses too much essential energy to make their music and it always sounds the same. I know my music, trust me, and that stuff is terrible,” Whip said in retort. Crass pursed his lips together in a grimace.

  “You think just because you got super human hearing and stuff you know sooo much about music! Music all sounds the same to any eardrums, buddy! No matter how it is made!” Crass argued. It was then Gisbo noticed that Whip’s headband was not over his forehead, but rather it was over his eyes!

  “Hey um, are you, well, I mean, are you . . .” Gisbo stammered.

  “Blind? No, I just hate my eye color,” Whip said.

  “Really?” Gisbo asked.

  “You’re a little slow on the uptake, eh guy? Yeah, I’m blind alright,” Whip said.

  “Well, sorry! I just, I dunno, it was an awkward thing to ask,” Gisbo said, rubbing the back of his head.

  “Don’t worry about it, I get it all the time. Your next question was probably how do you fight if you can’t see! Blah, blah, blah. Go ahead, take a swing, tough guy, at my face. Go ahead, do it, you won’t,” Whip said.

  “WHAT? I ain’t gonna hit a blind kid! Only thing worse is punching a baby or something,” Gisbo said. Whip only smiled.

  “Just do it, Whip loves this. Trust me, he’ll be fine,” Crass said.

  “You sure? I mean,” Gisbo stammered again.

  “Just hit me, spazz! Or do you gotta get on all fours to do it? Come on, mutt, throw me one!” Whip goaded. Gisbo had heard enough, he lashed out with a swing that Whip ducked, leaving Gisbo hitting air.

  “How’d you do that?” Gisbo asked with surprise.

  “I got to admit, your swing is a lot faster than most, but it doesn’t matter. As soon as I hear the air current change, I know when to step aside,” Whip explained with a big smile.

  “Amazing!” Rolce said.

  “Quit lookin’ at me like that, it’s freaky,” Whip said to Rolce.

  “How do you know I’m . . .” Rolce started, until Gisbo interrupted him.

  “Yeah, but how could you attack back?” Gisbo asked.

  “Easy! My Boon of course. I call him Stewie. Well, he calls himself Stewie actually. Hey! I know! Don’t tell me I didn’t hear you right! Psh,” Whip scolded the air.

  “So you’re a Naforian too? I didn’t hear your Boon speak,” Rolce wondered aloud.

  “No, no, I’m an Aquarian. Beach type, water skeeting, all that good stuff. I can just tell when Stewie’s giving me an attitude,” Whip said as he lifted up the back of his cloak to reveal a sleeping fruit bat, hanging upside down from his uniform.

  “But he’s sleeping,” Rolce argued.

  “Bah! He pretends! But yeah, this little guy can fly around and screech in the direction I need to attack, along with a variety of other tricks. I’ll show you sometime, so quit looking at me all weird like I’m handicapped. I’m actually better off than you, eyes only deceive you. I used to see once, saw all I needed to see before the accident. Now I can water skeet, or as I call it, skurfing, at night or day, don’t matter. I got all the waves I wanted back home, no crowds! Was awesome! I look forward to visiting good old Aquaria again. You should see the ladies there! Boy! At some places, beach clothing is just an option. I remember a time when . . .” Whip continued only to be cut off by Crass.

  “You done? Boy, do you just carry on sometimes, jeesh. As I was saying, you’ll have to come with me next time Phoenix Force plays,” Crass said.

  “Sweet! Hey, you guys up for lunch? You ever have sushi?” Gisbo asked hopefully.

  “Stuff tastes like watery gum,” Crass said.

  “Rather take a kick to my nuts,” Whip added.

  “No, you wouldn’t!” Gisbo fired back.

  “Try me,” Whip said, opening his legs.

  “Damn it…” Gisbo replied.

  “It’s all right, we’ll just eat something else. Meet you guys back in the commons, gonna go drop off these stupid books. See you guys in a bit!” Crass said as both he and Whip waved and trekked off in the opposite direction towards their dwelling.

  “That Whip guy was incredible, huh? I
heard when people lose their sight their other senses strengthen by a huge margin, but I thought it was only a rumor; guess I was wrong. Imagine what he could do if he got those senses backed by elemental essence! Pretty cool guys though. I’m down for some soup, what about you?” Rolce asked as they arrived at their dorm and added their books to their giant shelf.

  “I could go for some soup, its freakin' cold as hell outside,” Gisbo said as he ruffled Fao behind the ears.

  “You do know hell is supposed to be hot, not cold. You really NEED schooling. I don’t see how you're gonna pass,” Rolce gibed.

  “Don’t worry about me. I’m just gonna copy off you. It’s how I got through school before and it will work again,” Gisbo grinned rakishly. Rolce looked appalled by the notion.

  “Oh no, you're not! It's completely unethical!” Rolce said with obvious offense.

  “Bah! It’s not unethical if you don’t know what 'unethical' means! I’ll revel in my ignorance, thank you very much!” Gisbo fired back.

  “You're hopeless and you better be nice to me. I’ll gladly help you, but you are doing your own work! Understand?” Rolce said, pointing again.

  “Nope and point that thing somewhere else! Always with the pointing!” Gisbo said, whacking Rolce’s accusing finger aside as he got a running start and jumped from the porch balcony into the deep snow below with a loud, “WAHOO!” Rolce just sighed as he ran to follow suit, smiling as he landed next to his best friend.

  “Well, I know what we are doing when we are done with work today,” Rolce beamed happily.

  “Hell yeah! Come on, let's grab some food!” Gisbo said, patting his friend on the back as they went to meet Crass and Whip for lunch.

  The boys went to Renegade Joe’s Steakhouse for a good portion of sausage and spinach soup. It kept their bellies warm for the rest of the day as Gisbo and Rolce chatted with their new friends, then said their goodbyes and went to work at the mach shop. The shop was exceptionally busy today because people wanted the newest model of lightweight snow skeets and poles. Ernie, Dave and Shaved couldn’t make them quick enough as Grandfield attended to all the customers needs and Rolce totaled up the orders at a rapid pace. Gisbo just shoveled snow, cleaned and shoveled more snow with grunts of displeasure.

  The weeks went by uniformly as Gisbo and Rolce fell into yet another strict schedule of morning class, lunch, work, exercise, homework, then bed, only to get up and do it all over again. Gisbo at least got a break from homework every once in a while as he’d steal and copy Rolce’s work when he fell asleep. It wasn’t easy to pull off and a few times Harpie squawked in retort to wake Rolce. Only by slipping Harpie a few pieces of Falcon’s marinated raw steak did Harpie oblige. Gisbo always ended up leaving a few problems wrong anyways, just to avoid suspicion. There was no way he could pull off perfect scores like Rolce did.

  Gisbo found he really only needed to do this for “busy work” and always for math. He actually enjoyed learning about Thera’s real history and especially the various views of the ancient philosophers and the authors of stories that they influenced. He was waiting in anticipation for a certain class in which Perry said he would tell of theories of how Thera came to be and before he knew it, there he was, seated in Perry’s class as the wise instructor told the tale.

  “The mystery of how our planet, as well as the universe, started has been debated for countless centuries with many different theories and beliefs surfacing. None of us know for sure and every man inherently asks himself at least once in his life: where did I come from? What is my purpose? Is there a purpose? Did I arrive here just to work, die and become dirt, or is there something more? Is it wrong to dream of a perfect life after we die? Or right to accept where we are and live for the now, knowing nothing else? Should we simply ‘grow up,’ disband the fairy tale notions and accept that truth, as harsh as it is? Or, the counter argument goes, shall we ‘wake up’ and realize there are forces at work beyond our understanding and know this isn’t our true home? You have to understand that with philosophy, such questions often lead to more questions that become unanswerable, and there is a fine line between knowledge and insanity. Keep in mind also that the biggest book we as a people could ever write is the book of everything we DO NOT know. That should at least ease your mind,” Perry said. Most of the class muttered “not really” in unison. Perry continued.

  “Picture with me the sands on the beach. We as humans fully understand just maybe one kernel of sand. What we do not understand is the entire beach. The human brain is a very limited place and has a short time to learn only so much. For example, close your eyes and I will attempt to show you the limit of the mind. I will ask some questions and you will do all that is in your power to think of the answer when suddenly your mind will find it can’t go further. Don’t beat around the bush, don’t answer a question with a question. Try to find a simple answer for a simple question. Now close your eyes and observe,” Perry requested. The class did as they were told.

  “Colors are a wonderful thing. I can say the word 'red' or 'blue' and you can immediately picture it in your head, the things that concord with it, except, of course, for the blind or colorblind. Anyhow, you all know the color schemes of a rainbow and new colors can be formed by mixing them with other existing colors, so I want you to do this for me: imagine a color, a brand new color, in your mind to add to this rainbow without mixing any of the colors you know, including black and white. Black and white aren’t necessarily colors, but can certainly alter colors. I will immediately pass anybody who can,” Peary teased with a smile, watching his students struggle to picture something. Gisbo promptly gave up and opened his eyes, for it made his brain hurt. Rolce tried for a bit longer and opened his eyes in surrender as well.

  “Now I want you to envision with me what ‘nothing’ looks like in your brain. Close your eyes and do so, then tell me what you see,” Perry said as Kennis raised her hand.

  “I see blackness; that’s what nothing is,” Knob said aloud. Perry smiled.

  “Ah, but that cannot be true; blackness is something. But one can also argue that if you give something a name, does it necessarily make it something? If you call it 'nameless,' isn’t that still a name? If you picture 'nothing,' are you still picturing something in place of nothing? I could go on and on and you can give up now if you like. I know of a man who caused his brain to erupt, dwelling on such thoughts for days. Well, just kidding, but seriously, he did,” Perry said, causing Gisbo to grab his head.

  “Oh, don’t worry, you’ll be fine. What I’m trying to help you understand is that our minds our indeed limited, but why? Our biggest flaw as humans is our desire to become gods without the means to do so. We can imagine a better life, imagine what perfection may be because we make mistakes and therefore know the opposite of a mistake. But alas, we fail, day after day. Is this because a creator purposely made us reach a limit? Or simply that we just haven’t evolved fully to our potential yet? Either way, it's time for more questions. For something to appear, does there have to be ‘nothing’ before it? How did Thera get here? How did we get here as humans? One theory, backed by much scientific research, proposes that the elemental stones contained all the requirements of life and they birthed us into existence from a variety of sources and we evolved from the smallest of microorganisms over billions of years to what we are today. Life is simply a great accident, nothing more and nothing less, and somehow intelligent life came to be spontaneously. It certainly offers much to think about and several recent discoveries add much credibility to such a theory. This is the theory that Karm embraces,” Perry stated.

  “But a handy question to ask is where did the stones come from? Did proteins and organisms make the stones and if so, where did those come from as well? Where was the start to it all? Things can’t be birthed from nothing, there had to be a beginning, a source and center and start to these ingredients. Were atoms, the building blocks of life, always here and one day, on a whim, just decided to form proteins and organisms tha
t would eventually start intelligent life? Not only that, the atom in itself, following scientific law, isn’t even supposed to be allowed to exist! Positively charged electrons as well as negatively charged circulate the atom and somehow they do not repel each other. How can this be? What holds the atom, which in turn holds everything together?” Perry asked with a grin, enjoying the stupefied expressions on his student’s faces.

  “To stretch this a little bit further, ummm, Rolce, why don’t you come up to the front of the class for a moment,” Perry said, Rolce obeyed as he stood next to his teacher.

  “Good, good. Now, I want you to slam your fist, not too hard of course, against my desk,” Perry said. Rolce did as he was told and he slammed his fist against the wooden desk, then returned it to his side.

  “Very good, now what happened?” Perry asked.

  “Not much of anything,” Rolce answered.

  “Exactly! To our eyes, nothing, but something did indeed happen. Your fist, as your entire body to your bones, to your blood, to your brain tissue, are all made up of atoms. This wooden desk is all made up of atoms as well. Now, when you slammed your atoms against the atoms of the wooden desk somehow, they repelled each other. Fascinating, isn’t it? Now, as your brains are thinking, let’s think about how your brains are even thinking. Oh, and you may return to your seat, Rolce. Thank you,” Perry said. Rolce obeyed once again.

  “As I just told Rolce, your very brains are made up of atoms as well. How is it that simple brain tissue can emit a thought? Are the atoms telling you what to think also? If we combined brain tissue with this desk, will it think also? What about your personality? Do atoms make up those as well? Something tells me it can’t be possible. So why is it that we can even utter a thought? Is there something else inside us that we cannot see or comprehend that makes us, well, us? Why do we think? Why do we all think differently if we are made up of the same substance at the core? Many nowadays try to answer the question of ‘how’ something came to be rather than “why” something came to be and to ask such questions of what came before must be done beyond the realms of the scientific method. Which is why, my friends, philosophy is our friend and one of the best tools to find meaning within ourselves and the world around us - as long as we all stay sane and away from extremes, of course, for we cannot possibly know all the answers until it is our turn to die. However, should there be nothing after this life, we won’t ever know it,” Perry said with a smile, as he paced around the room, taking time to look into the eyes of every student in his class as he spoke.

  “Just know that whatever you choose to believe, do not ever break from the quest for truth, no matter how grim it may be. Never stay ignorant for the sake of comfort alone. As a great writer once said, ‘If you seek truth, you may find comfort in the end, but should you seek comfort alone, you will find neither truth nor comfort.’ So let us return to the debate and the dangers that are fast approaching with it,” Perry said as he lifted his head up in a grin, clearly enjoying himself.

  “A great danger is approaching at an accelerated rate within Karm’s realm and, as I mentioned earlier, Karm is doing all he can to demand that science produce absolute, factual law without philosophy to aid it. Therefore, these extremists still believe in an all-knowing entity; they just call it science instead of a God. On the counter argument, others believe entirely in a God, constantly ignoring the intelligence science has to offer, remaining absolutely ignorant, closed-minded and selfish to the world around them. They would rather force people to believe in IAM than let them decide for themselves. The Strifes stand very firmly in this category. It is pathetic. It does not have to be one or the other, Black or White, Strife or Renegade, God or Science. We as Renegades need to maintain the middle ground, pulling the best things from both sides and discarding the extremes to better ourselves and those around us. Extremes are a very dangerous and unstable position, for opinions need not be on a seesaw. I can attempt to show you what I know, but in the end it is you who will have to decide and who is to say I have it right?” Perry said rather clearly. Gisbo got an odd déjà vu of Falcon’s earlier lecture. It seemed to sink in much better hearing it twice.

  Maybe it was his authoritative voice or perhaps it was the content; either way Gisbo listened and applied what he learned. He found his brain did not hurt as badly upon this explanation, even though all it did was introduce new questions, as Perry had promised it would.

  “I’m sure you all have heard this story as children, but I believe it begs repetition for clarity. As the story goes, there was but one all powerful entity in this universe. No one really knows what this being’s name was or even if it was a being at all. It was just there, existing outside of reality itself, which begs the question once again. How could there be something without nothing? Possibly this rule applies only to this universe. If this force or being existed beyond it, the rule wouldn’t apply. No one knows for sure. To many, this is just a story, but to many more, it’s fact. Anyhow, most speak of this force as the ‘Nameless one.’ The universe was null and void; absolute nothingness. All that existed was this nameless one who I believed existed outside our very own reality until he created what we know. Because of this, his creations, the two deities, are bound by set laws as well as you will see. The nameless one birthed into existence two dieties known as the brothers, called IAM and Appolyon. It is here that the story is somewhat lost to us, but the nameless one, who the brothers called ‘Father,’ revealed to his sons that they were each given all the power that he himself had, other than the power to overthrow him or create other dieties. He told his sons he was off to create new realms with new worlds to fill the nothingness with life and beauty. He told his sons that they would be each in charge of a realm all their own and ordered that they should use their power to bring about the gift of life as they were in turn given and that one day he would return to them and reward the one whose creation best reflected beauty. So the brothers parted ways and began to enact their creations. What comes as follows is an account passed down through the generations of the creation of our planet, Thera. We do not understand much of Appolyon’s creation in the alternate realm from us as for the sheer fact none of us have ever been to the Reath and those that reside there now, well, we do not wish to hear their opinions. As we know, IAM’s first creation was a heavenly host of helpers known as Seraphs, winged spirits and absolute warrior servants. IAM then created the four elemental stars, each glowing their own color. He created water first, which pulsated a translucent blue color. In turn, IAM put forth his power through the star and concentrated water into a gigantic sphere, then filled the waters with every form of aquatic creature imaginable.

  “IAM then created the elemental star known as air that glowed a yellow color. IAM put forth his power through the star, creating the substance for all life and sealing the water in a layer of ozone. When water and air combined, they brought forth thunder and lightning to replenish the ozone and formed all flying beasts of the air.

  “IAM then created the elemental star known as earth, which pulsated a green color. In turn, IAM put forth his power through the star and formed masses of land to encompass the sphere of water. With this, all the beasts of the land were formed to occupy the landmasses. When earth and water combined, all plant life came to root, covering the brown terrain in a sea of green allowing for the creation of the amphibious creatures. IAM looked on all that he created and saw that it was good.

  “IAM then created the final elemental star known as fire and it glowed red. IAM put forth his power into the star and with it the sun and moon were formed, giving birth to night and day; the sun for the day and the moon for the night as Thera rotated on an axis. It was then that two, and only two, creatures of fire were created: a large bird of fire and a scaly winged lizard. Both dwelled in the planet in unknown places, constantly bickering and fighting one another throughout time.

  “Lastly, IAM put forth his power into all the elemental stars at once and their powers together created human l
ife in IAM's own image to give reign over the beasts, the skies, the waters, the lands and each other. It was then that IAM advised his Seraphs to look after the humans, giving each human a Seraph to watch over him or her for as long as he or she lived. IAM looked down upon all that he created, saw that it was good and rested.

  “It was during this time that Appolyon traveled from his realm over to his brother’s to investigate the odd new presence he felt and when he arrived, he witnessed all that his brother had created was far superior to anything of his own. In his rage, Appolyon lashed out upon the elemental stars, destroying them as the remains crashed to the planet Thera below. Appolyon then called to his aid multitudes of his own followers known as Maras, frightening looking creatures, and began to invade upon IAM’s unprotected creation.

  “It was then IAM awoke and, with his Seraphs, fought his brother to a standstill. In a last ditch effort to protect the creation he loved, IAM put forth all his power to conjure a barrier so powerful it would forever bar his brother from entering Thera again. The barrier indeed worked, but at a price, for IAM’s barrier barred himself from the planet as well. To this day, Serephs and Maras fight the brother’s unseen war for the souls of humankind and the possession of Thera.

  “As you all probably have reasoned, this is where we believe the elemental stones have come from. They are nothing more then broken pieces of the elemental stars of IAM. Your race was determined the day your great-great-great-great-great grandfather or grandmother picked up their first and only stone and absorbed it’s power, giving birth to their elemental essence that has been passed down to you generations later. With that said . . . have a nice day!” Perry dismissed the class with a rather friendly smile, but they lingered, grounded for a moment, letting their brains register all that Perry had said before slowly getting up out of their chairs and making their way outside to fresh snowflakes falling from the sky.

  “My brain hurts,” Gisbo said, rather puzzled by Perry’s tale.

  “Quite enlightening, nonetheless. I live for such dialogue,” Rolce said with a smile.

  “You would, but that last story was quite a stretch, don’t you think? Seraphs? Maras? Please. At least we can see science. Not believing in a God can be liberating too. So many people do it and find happiness, you know,” Gisbo said.

  “In a way I can understand what you are getting at, but I still stand by my initial argument long ago when I last talked to you of the subject,” Rolce asserted calmly as he and Gisbo walked across the open snowy field.

  “Still though, the story is pretty outrageous. It makes life far too simple when it really isn’t. I’ve never been one for reason, ever, but come on, that had to be a total fairy tale and I happen to like them,” Gisbo complained rather bleakly.

  “Once again, it's all a matter of opinion. Only closed-minded thinkers choose one side while insulting the other. Plus, they really limit themselves on knowledge in general or, if it isn’t knowledge, a very fascinating story,” Rolce said. Gisbo frowned.

  “I knew you’d say something like that. It’s still outrageous,” Gisbo whined.

  “You must understand that to understand a subject as broad as the start to life, one must think outrageously. Maybe all these fairy tales are just an echo of one huge, real story. Now that would be something if not a bit outrageous. Just not as outrageous as the concept of Man-Angel is all,” Rolce said with a smile.

  “Ok, now you’ve crossed the line, pal. No more talking for you!” Gisbo muttered.