THE GLIMMER
Amavas turned, touched the feet of the person, and joined his hands in salutation. Before him stood the sage Aghori, an enigma whose age was unknown.
Amavas always thought the sage must be at least 50,000 years old. The moonlight cast a silvery glow on Aghori's serene face, highlighting the deep lines etched by centuries of wisdom.Radiating a divine aura and always smiling, Aghori's presence seemed to make the very air shimmer with a mystical energy.
The sage said, "How are you, my son?" Amavas, still in salutation, replied, "I am good, Guruji. How are you? It has been 2,000 years since I last saw you." Aghori's eyes, filled with ancient knowledge, sparkled like stars in the dark forest. "I am well, Amavas. Time flows differently for me, but it is always a joy to see you. The world has changed much since our last meeting."
"It has definitely changed, Guruji, but you have not changed, I have not changed, and, of course, the curiosity of humans has not changed a bit," Amavas said humbly. In Aghori's presence, he always felt his wild, dark side vanish, replaced by a serene calmness.
The sage's eyes twinkled with a knowing smile. "Indeed, some things remain eternal, Amavas. The essence of who we are, and the unending quest for knowledge, are timeless." The moonlight filtered through the dense canopy above, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, carrying with it the faint scent of jasmine that always accompanied Aghori's presence. The ancient stones around them seemed to hum with an energy, a silent witness to their conversation.
"But with change comes new challenges and responsibilities," Aghori continued, his voice like a soothing balm in the night. "Are you ready to face them?" Amavas looked up at the sage, the silvery light reflecting in his eyes. "I am ready, Guruji. Whatever comes, I will face it with the strength and wisdom you have imparted to me."
Aghori nodded, his smile widening. "Good. The path ahead is fraught with danger, but also with great potential. Trust in yourself, Amavas, and remember the lessons of the past."As Aghori spoke, a sense of profound peace enveloped Amavas. The worries and fears of his immortal existence momentarily lifted, replaced by a deep resolve to protect and guide those under his care. The night air, sweetened by the floral scent, seemed to embrace him.
The sage lifted his hand in blessing and turned to leave. Then, with a knowing smile, he turned back and said, "And yes, Amavas, among all the dangers, something will come that will soothe your thousands of years of pain." With that, he vanished into the night, leaving a faint shimmer in the air where he had stood.
Amavas bowed in salutation, the scent of jasmine lingering in the air, making the forest feel like a garden full of flowers. He pondered the sage's words, "Something that will soothe my pain? What did Guruji mean by this?" he wondered, his mind racing with possibilities.
The words of the ancient sage flying around him seemed to whisper secrets of old, and the forest hummed with a mysterious chant. The promise of relief from his ancient burdens—"Is that even possible?" his heart questioned, the quiet rustling of leaves echoing his doubts. But in the next moment, his mind reassured him, "Guruji's words cannot be doubted." The night after so many centuries, for the first time, seemed to offer him a sliver of hope amidst the eternal darkness.
Amavas walked slowly towards his humble hut through the dense forest, the moonlight filtered by the huge trees casting long, eerie shadows that danced with the wind. Each step reminded him of the centuries he had lived. The darkness surrounding him was not merely the absence of light; it was a profound abyss interwoven with his very essence.
This darkness encompassed the eternal solitude that defined his immortal existence. Over several millennia, he had witnessed countless generations of friends and loved ones wither and perish, leaving him in a constant state of grief and loneliness.
The burden of immortality was a heavy cloak draped over his soul. Each century brought new losses and the relentless march of time, adding layers to his desolation. He had observed the rise and fall of civilizations, each epoch contributing to the depths of his inner darkness. The memories of ancient battles, betrayals, and the tragic loss of his tribe haunted him, resurfacing in his nightmares as reminders of his failures and enduring pain.
Pausing briefly, Amavas's glowing eyes scanned the forest. The internal struggle was ever-present, a ceaseless battle between his human and beastly natures. He had wrestled for many centuries to maintain control over his primal instincts. The secrets he harbored and the regrets that tormented him added weight to his existence.
His knowledge of ancient lore and the heavy truths he safeguarded only deepened his burden. Yet, this darkness also spoke of his endurance. Despite the overwhelming trials he faced, he had emerged stronger. However, the fear of vulnerability lingered in his heart.
The dread of forming new bonds, only to lose them again, erected an emotional barrier that kept him isolated. This fear amplified his sense of detachment, adding another layer to his inner shadow. Because of that, he had been living both alone and lonely for the last 5,000 years.
As he moved through the forest, thoughts of the students at Rosewood College filled his mind. They were oblivious to the ancient forces at work and the lurking dangers. He also knew that his darkness, his past, could intertwine with their futures if they weren't stopped.
The forest seemed to whisper his name, the rustling leaves echoing his contemplation. Amidst this darkness, Amavas found a glimmer of hope, a promise of relief from his ancient burdens. Guruji's words reverberated in his mind, "Among all the dangers, something will come that will soothe your thousands of years of pain."
Was such a thing possible? His heart questioned again. But his mind, ever faithful to Guruji, reassured him, "Guruji's words cannot be doubted." Amavas continued to walk, the darkness around him a constant, yet within it, a faint glimmer of light arose today.