the stubborn

7 days of winter solstice: day 3: the elements (2)

at the fire sub-island, Alan spoke to an elder

"You do not choose the next element, it gets chosen based off the cycle: fire, air, water, earth.

You have first visited the earth element, which means your next visit has to be to the fire element, and that is why you're here, on the fire island

-could you teach me fireshifting first?

-you're a Yawthom spirit, figure it out

-please, being a Yawthom spirit doesn't mean I don't need any guidance or directing, I could really use some help.

-interesting, a Yawthom spirit that's not self absorbed, you're a first. Fine, I will teach you the manipulation of fire, from the superficial to the core.

...

-fire is the element of agility and havoc. If you leave a rock in its place it won't move, same goes with some water, and a small wind in the sky won't do much, but leave a flame in a place, and it will spread like blood in your veins, to every place it can lay itself on. Fire forces itself outwards, and once it does, it is out of your control. Quite frankly, it's always out of your control, you do not control fire as much as you just direct it. Do not get greedy with the element, do not think of yourself as its owner or master, but rather, its humble director."

Alan felt the heat of his core, and redirected it to the palm of his hand, there, the heat condensed into a singularity, and fire was birthed from it. Then he amplified it quickly, and threw it at a bush nearby. The whole bush went up in flames. Alan was able to contain it so that it doesn't spread, he shifted the fire back to a singularity, and made it perish from there on. What birthed from a point, died as a point.

"Very good. You seem to be feeling the fire, I recon you can go up to the fire elemental volcano now, but beware, going there is usually a one way ticket.

-how come?

-the element's test is the most severe of them all, it will really take you a lot to be able to get through it"

...

Alan decided to walk to the volcano so he can have some time for his thoughts.

"Are you proud of me Velta?

-very. You have freed me from the chains that used to bind me to your body, I missed floating and teleporting so much, happy I got them back

-missed? That implies that you've had them before, but I only freed you recently. Have you...have you existed before me?

-oh yes, I have embodied many bodies before you. The life of a spirit is far longer than that of a human. Each spirit embodies about one hundred creatures before the higher spirit takes them out.

-who is the higher spirit? Is it God? Is God real?

-I don't know, Alan, even we don't know. Each one of us has a unique version of what or who the higher sprit is, the only thing agreed upon is our end, the rest is hypothetical. Some spirits don't even believe in the higher spirit, they just think that we are a product of the universe, and that in some way, the universe is God.

-and what is the end?

-void.

-what do you mean?

-each one of us is put on this universe to convey a message, and once their time is up, they have done their job, and it is time for the void to take them.

-doesn't that make everything meaningless?

-do you remember my final monologue? I started it off with saying "existence is meaningless, and that is exactly why it is so wonderful" I see a beauty in the abyss. You know Alan, I look at you and I see myself, and I know you better than anyone else, I've seen your tears collide with mine, I've seen your smiles get drawn with mine, I know that you don't see a meaning in living, and I can't convince you otherwise, but oh do I wish that your vision collided with mine, do I wish.

-it's okay, Velta. I promise to remain here with you, no matter what happens.

-you better appreciate our time, once we return to earth, you will not only lose contact with me, but all of our memories together too

-what?? Since when? Are you kidding me?

-I wish I was Alan, your kind's materialism has gotten the spirit council to decide to cut connection off to all of you with little to no exceptions. Only a few are able to feel us, Gon and AZ are few of the planets that spirits are still respected in, which is why I was able to sprout and develop here, but once I'm back, it's all over. You might feel me inside of you from time to time, but it will be so faint, you'll think it's nothing but a mere make-up of your imagination.

-well, whatever happens, I hope the next body you embody is in a planet where spirits are free.

-I do so too, and trust me, I've loved my time with you lots, I hope my next body is as sensitive and empathetic

Alan then floated to the middle of the volcano and entered it so seamlessly, for the fire volcano doesn't throw any fit when you enter it, only when you're about to come out of it. Once he entered, the sky above the volcano and its perimeter turned an ugly grey color, with no rain coming out of the clouds yet small thunder strikes.

-the fire element's guardian, Shango

-Velta, and her temporary body, Alan, welcome.

-I believe you know why we're here

-I do, and I won't waste your time; fire is the element of power. Just like their element, the fireshifters are always fueled and ready to strive, fight, accomplish, for the sake of self satisfaction. They're a bit too greedy at times, but that keeps them motivated. If you want to be a fireshifter, you have to have a flame inside of you, one that wants greatness, and will not die or weaken no matter how harsh and discouraging times get. Most of all, you need to learn how to control your flames, you see, each one of us has a Yin inside of them, and a Yang, a dark and a light, you need to learn how to keep them separate, but make them work together, and with this last piece of advice I leave you to face the fire element's challenge, that will test how good you are at separation of energy"

The ceiling opened and walls extended from the volcano's perimeter then closed up, enclosing the clouds inside, leaving Alan trapped with them. Then thunderbolts started striking the area, he tried using fire to stop them but to no luck, and with each passing second, the bolts got more aggressive and numbered.