Jonathan and Mary were leaving the town, making their way toward their destination, Candi Borobudur in Indonesia. After two hours of walking, a mysterious voice began to echo in Jonathan's ear once again. Though he attempted to ignore it and continued on his path, the voice persisted.
Frustration mounted as Jonathan endured the relentless repetitions of the voice. In a sudden burst of anger, he slapped his ear hard, startling Mary Carter, who was perplexed by Jonathan's unexpected action. Despite his attempts to silence the voice, its volume only intensified, prompting Jonathan to continue striking his ear. Concerned for his well-being, Mary glanced at him with a worried expression and inquired about his distress.
"Hello, Jonathan. Are you alright? I noticed you were slapping your ears—is something troubling you?" Jonathan paused and turned to her, offering a faint smile.
"I'm fine, really. There's just a minor issue with my ear, but it's nothing to worry about." Despite his reassurance, Mary remained concerned and continued to inquire further.
"Are you certain? Harming yourself like that won't help. What exactly is the issue with your ear? You can tell me—it's not something embarrassing, is it?" Jonathan let out a sigh, ultimately deciding to share the truth.
"Alright, the issue is that after my visit to the Ancient Door, I began hearing an unfamiliar voice in my ear. It keeps recurring, speaking in a language I don't comprehend." Mary listened, her confusion deepening as she tried to grasp the nature of the voice. The mystery surrounding it remained elusive to everyone involved.
"I see. However, you really shouldn't slap your ear so forcefully. Perhaps it would be best to ignore the voice; it might just be a product of your imagination or a hallucination," Mary suggested thoughtfully.
Jonathan expressed his disappointment with a sigh and a shake of his head as he continued his journey toward their destination. Meanwhile, Mary remained preoccupied with thoughts regarding the identity of the Voice, questioning why it communicated exclusively with Jonathan and what it meant by the phrase, "says something that he does not know or understand." Regrettably, Mary was unable to uncover any clues pertaining to the Voice. As they traversed the forest, the melodic sounds of birds reverberated through the trees, accompanied by the distant calls of other animals such as tigers, lions, and monkeys.
After some time, they observed a kingdom in the distance and decided to approach it for a necessary respite prior to continuing their journey. Upon reaching the kingdom's entrance, they encountered a significant contingent of knights who were diligently inspecting foreign backpacks and wagons to ensure that no illegal items were present. As Jonathan and Mary approached, one of the knights halted them and requested that they open their backpacks. After complying with the request and displaying their belongings, the knight nodded approvingly and allowed them entry into the kingdom.
Upon entering, Jonathan and Mary were greeted by a tranquil atmosphere; the air was warm, and the town was filled with civilians engaged in daily activities. Knights patrolled the streets to maintain order and prevent any unlawful behaviors.
The pair proceeded until they came upon a local inn. After deciding to rent a room for the night, Jonathan informed Mary of his intention to procure sustenance for their journey. She acquiesced and retired to her room to rest. Jonathan then exited the inn and made his way toward the center of the town, where numerous merchants were selling various items, including food, accessories, potions, swords, shields, and fresh produce.
Focusing solely on food supplies, Jonathan purchased four kilograms of fresh meat, which cost him two gold coins and ten silver coins. After completing his purchase, he returned to the inn and ascended to his room. Once inside, he placed his backpack on the floor beside the bed and reclined, gazing at the ceiling as he contemplated the next steps for their journey.
Jonathan experienced a profound sense of sleepiness, which prompted him to retire for the evening and plan for the following day. As he fell into a slumber, he was suddenly awakened to find himself in an infinite void. This expanse was entirely devoid of light or any signs of life, presenting an unsettling emptiness. To confirm the reality of his experience, he pinched his cheek and felt the pain, which heightened his sense of panic as he searched for an exit from this disconcerting environment.
Without warning, a Voice reverberated throughout the void, progressively increasing in volume until it drowned out all other sounds, including the sound of Jonathan's footsteps. This incessant proclamation caused him to spiral into distress as he traversed the void, desperately seeking an escape route that would return him to his world. Regrettably, he discovered that he was trapped, without any means of escape.
Eventually, the Voice articulated a profound statement: "Unity of Creation requires a sacrifice; those concepts are fundamentally flawed. Unity of Creation does not necessitate a sacrifice. You must discover the True Unity of Creation, at which point your inquiries will be addressed." Following this pronouncement, the Voice fell silent, and Jonathan found himself abruptly awakened, sitting on the edge of his bed. He reflected on the significance of the occurrence, contemplating whether it was a mere dream or a reality that transcended human comprehension. He wrestled with the implications of the Voice's enigmatic message: "What does the concept of True Unity of Creation entail? Why are those previous concepts considered erroneous? What precisely constitutes the Unity of Creation?"
Despite his efforts to make sense of the situation, Jonathan realized that his current knowledge was insufficient to unravel this mystery. He acknowledged the necessity of further exploration into the enigma of Creation, particularly through his ongoing journey with Mary Carter.
With a resigned sigh, Jonathan rose from his bed, exited his room, and proceeded to the dining area. Upon entering the vibrant space, he observed a diverse clientele, including adventurers, merchants, knights, and others. His attention was drawn to Mary Carter, who sat alone with her meal before her. Upon noticing his arrival, she waved and gestured for him to take a seat beside her.
Jonathan complied and ordered breakfast from the inn's waiter, who promptly acknowledged the request and went to relay it to the kitchen. As he awaited his meal, he observed Mary Carter enjoying a simple breakfast consisting of fresh bread, soup, beef, and a beverage. A few moments later, the waiter returned with his meal, placing it before him before departing.
As Jonathan began to consume his meal, his thoughts remained occupied with the unsettling incident he had recently experienced. He contemplated whether it had been a dream or a deeper revelation. The complexities of the encounter lingered in his mind, causing him to eat slowly and gaze vacantly at the wall. Despite the nourishment before him, the enigmas of existence continued to haunt his thoughts, fostering a strong desire for understanding.
Mary Carter glanced at Jonathan, questioning in her mind, "Why is Jonathan eating his meal so slowly? It seems as if he's lost in thoughts he can't quite grasp." Twelve minutes later, Mary finished her breakfast, but Jonathan continued to eat at a leisurely pace. Her curiosity grew, prompting her to finally ask him, "Hey Jonathan, are you alright? Is something on your mind?" Concern was evident on Mary's face, mixed with curiosity.
"Yeah, I'm alright," Jonathan replied, aware that Mary might not believe him if he shared his thoughts. "I was just reflecting on something strange that happened last night."
Mary's brow furrowed as questions swirled in her mind regarding Jonathan's predicament. After pouting slightly, she smiled and urged, "Can you explain what's bothering you? What was so bizarre about last night? Perhaps I can help solve your problem; after all, we are partners. We should trust each other's stories, right?" She giggled softly, her smile unwavering.
Jonathan hesitated, uncertain if he should disclose the incident. After a deep sigh, he recounted his experience. "Fine, I'll tell you what happened. While I was asleep, I dreamt of waking up in the middle of a void, with literally nothing around. A voice echoed in my ears, growing louder amidst the silence of the void—my footsteps were inaudible. I was almost driven to madness until the voice spoke in English, saying, 'Unity of Creation needs a sacrifice; those concepts are wrong. Unity of Creation doesn't require a sacrifice. You need to find the True Unity of Creation, and then your questions will be answered.' Honestly, I don't understand its meaning. I thought maybe you could shed some light on it. One more thing—I'm not sure that dream was just a dream."
Mary gasped, her eyes wide with confusion. "W-well, I'm not sure I have an answer for you. That message could lead to the ultimate Truth of Creation behind the lies we've been taught. Even my knowledge falls short in grasping it fully." Taking a deep breath, she continued, "You believe it wasn't a dream? That makes it even more perplexing; no one has reported standing in a void like that. It might be an extraordinary occurrence, perhaps you're the Chosen One meant to reveal the truth of Creation to everyone."
Jonathan shook his head, dismissing the notion. "No way am I the Chosen One; I'm just curious about Creation and its truths." He sighed, returning his focus to his meal.
Though Mary pouted in response, she felt a nagging belief that Jonathan might indeed be the Chosen One since the Voice had only interacted with him. Rising from her seat, she informed Jonathan that she would prepare something, and he nodded as he continued to eat. As she walked away to her room, she opened her backpack and retrieved some books, sitting at the edge of her bed to read.
Meanwhile, Jonathan finished his breakfast, looked around, and left the inn to explore the kingdom. Known as the Astrealist Kingdom, it was one of the largest and most prosperous nations in the world, boasting powerful armies and a reputation for peace. Jonathan wandered through the town, sampling various foods, but the hours passed without any notable excitement. As the sky darkened, signaling the approach of night, he suddenly realized he'd been wandering for nearly twelve hours.
In a hurry, he returned to the inn and headed to his room, feeling exhausted as he collapsed onto the bed. His tired eyes grew heavy, and he soon drifted into a peaceful sleep, unaware of the ominous disturbances brewing beneath the kingdom. A sense of destruction and distortion lurked in the depths below the Astrealist Kingdom, suggesting that tomorrow could bring unforeseen calamities for its inhabitants.
Who knows.....
-To be Continue