The mist rolls upon itself for a moment, then quickly travels across the floor, under my feet and chair. Continuing across the room and out the opposite wall, as I kicked myself and the chair back out of the way, as if it was some rat, running through.

Whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know. But at that moment…I know that I am dead.

…

Self-realization that I am, was, dead. My face against the floor. I feel hands lifting and putting me back into the chair.

…

As I look at the man sitting across from me, I fall forward again. My face on the floor.

…

I feel hands lifting and putting me back into the chair.

As I look at the man sitting across from me, I fall forward again. His hand on my shoulder holds me steady.

…

“It’s okay. Take your time.” He says as He hands me a piece of bread.

“It’s okay. Take a bite. It will help hold you here.”

As I’m looking down, chewing on the bread. He gently let go of my shoulder he was holding, as I find the strength to keep myself sitting upright.

…

“Better?” He is asking, as I am taking in, trying to comprehend, what I am seeing.

Jenn, Lilly, Reyansh, the room, are all still and mostly transparent. Sitting here looking down at my hands, my legs, the bottom half of this man (not looking up), is more real to me than everything else. Not in my soul, but in my gut, all is better. Yes, much better.

“Good.” He says.

He’s smiling. I can tell He’s smiling, even though I’m not looking up at Him. I know when His gaze passes over me, I feel, exposed. I find myself looking at his shoes. He’s not wearing socks.

“ha” slips out of my mouth with a little slobber. I’m wiping my mouth off with my hand and forearm.

“Like that do ya?” He questions.

“ha” “haha” The absurdity of it all. It’s overwhelming me and I’m just not functioning right. It’s like I’ve got Tourette’s.

“You don’t have socks.” Oh God, I said it. It just came out. Why doesn’t God have socks? Should I put some socks in the offering plate with my tithe? Maybe I’ll get Him some for Christmas? Oh God, I’m going to burn… Master has given Dobby a sock? Dobby is free! Glancing between Reyansh and the shoes.

“Give to those in need and I will consider it as a gift unto myself”

I straighten up so fast with a sense of awareness of this man.

“Relax. It’s okay. You’re not in any trouble.” He says with a comforting hand on my shoulder as I realize I am looking into his eyes.

“I wanted to come to talk with you.” As He pulls His hand and sits back down.

I look at Him for a time. After a while, I feel myself relax and let out a deeper breath. “Hello” I manage to say. “How may I help you?” Dumb. Dumb. Idiot. Thinking to myself. STOP! No thinking!

Smiling at me again. “We are going to have such good times when I make up my treasured possession, you and I.”

“Wait? What?” I ask.

“Later. I wanted to talk to you about a few things and this is a good time.”

Scanning the room, from Lilly, Reyansh, over to Jenn not moving. “I can see that,” I reply as I process what I just said.

“First, I wanted to talk to you about Reyansh and the pine bedrail he’s holding. I would like for you to make sure that he understands that there are no Great Trees where you are from.”

Coming to myself more and focusing on His request. I’m not so awe-struck and questions are starting to run through my head.

“Better.” He comments. “You do not understand what you have done. You being here, we are going to talk about it next. You giving an Elf, especially this Elf, wood from your world is going to cause chaos.”

“Why are you asking me, requesting me?” The implication is there, even if quietly stated.

“Excellent. I have been waiting for you to question. Have you not read in my word and understood that I have always put before man choices. I have made man in my image. Part of that image is the freedom to choose and I will respect that decision even when he chooses death and destruction. I will never lead a man down that path. I will always at all times lead to life and abundance. I will always forgive and reconcile a man to myself. But I will not force. True, I will contend with a man, his choices, because I know his end. I have suffered the cross and paid the price in my blood to free man from the penalty of sin and death. I have come to you at this moment, this inflection point, because of the choices that have been made. Some that you have made. We will discuss this. I will answer questions, but not all. When we are finished, you will return. You will make choices. Your choices will have consequences for good or for bad. I didn’t feel like socks today, any other questions?” He smiles and I’m not sure if I can laugh or not.

He gives me a moment. I’m not so stressed anymore. I would compare how I feel right now to a job interview or job performance review that you don’t know how it’s going to go, good or bad.

No, it is like I’ve been invited into some high-powered boardroom with the CEO and other board members to discuss something that’s way over my head. I just need to keep my head down and get through the meeting without losing my job.

“Our first talking point is about this bedrail you have given Reyansh…”

“Please Stop.” I interrupt Him. “I can’t take this.” My eyes slowly fall until I’m looking at the floor.

…

“I’m pressing you and making you understand that this is very real. You will also understand that however you come to me, I will most likely respond in kind.”

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Gesturing with a nod of His head toward Reyansh and speaking in a lighter tone. “You’ve heard enough in your time here to know that the Elves have some Great Trees and a big part of their culture and beliefs revolve around those trees.”

I think a little and nod my head, yes.

“Vance.”

I look up at Him.

“Be of good cheer. I know that if I asked. Anything I asked. You would try and do whatever it took to complete it.”

The affirmation. It just makes me feel. Believe, that everything is good, Him and I.

“Do you know what else?”

I shake my head a little. No?

“I remember when you were a little boy. You were listening to a discussion of when I had told the Israelites the Centurion had great faith. I said that I had not found such great faith, not even in Israel. You were jealous. You wanted to have great faith too. I remember you asking me, wanting great faith.”

He pauses, letting His words sink in. I remember praying that.

“Look around you. Mighty man of faith, look around you. How are you here? You did this.”

My mind is blank. I'm not sure what to think. Not sure how or what I did.

"What?" I mouth. "When?" I ask.

“I think you could safely reason, when, you saved Jenn.”

I look over at her, sitting upright so proper, focused on her granddad.

“You wanted to help. I find it funny that you were worried about being sent off to some other starving county you saw in a commercial. Then you do this.”

He's laughing a bit while I'm looking at Jenn. Then over at Lilly.

“She isn't wrong, Catalyst.”

My head snaps back to look at Him.

“She would never have accessed her bloodline without your influence.”

I look back over at Jenn.

“What about Reyansh? What do you think he's going to do with that pine board?”

“Try to find where it came from? Make a staff or something out of it?” I reply.

“He’s going to enshrine it. Elven world religions and sects will be created. Divisions, heresies, blasphemies. He’ll use it as physical evidence that there is another Great Tree because there is no connection to the Great Trees that they know of. The Elves will come for the rest of your bed and when they find that there are different strains of wood, believing them not interconnected, it will fuel their frenzy even more into believing that there must be many Great Trees that must be found. Eventually, when they cannot find what they seek, in or on this planet, the Elves will turn their focus outward, at any cost, to find what they believe is lost.”

I’m looking back at Reyansh, trying to process what was said. All I can picture is the Pope standing over my bedrail in a glass case on the altar, blessing the people.

“You get the idea.”

“Can’t I just take it back from him? Can’t you just go back in time and prevent me from giving the bedrail to him or bringing the bed here?” I ask.

“Taking the bedrail back will not alter this path. I could go back, but that doesn’t teach you anything. I ordained seed, plant, harvest. If you uproot this now, while it is still a seed, it will be easy. The longer you wait, the more it grows, the more difficult it will become until one day it will take on a life of its own and you alone will not be able to kill it.”

“Will you help me?” I ask.

“Certainly. You and the bed are from an area so dark that there is no mana and no connections to a Great Tree. It is a truth that he cannot refute. Even better if he does not take anything from here, with him today. The harshness of the environment that you are from will shut down any further pursuit from him to go there.”

“Thank you,” I reply as I think through scenarios that I might say to Reyansh.

“Your absurd growth here.” He states.

Not sure what He is talking about, except that I know I’m running faster.

“How long, how hard, do individuals train to be at the pinnacle of their respective sport?”

“Years?” I answer.

“And longer.” He replies. “How do you think you would compare to those sports champions now that you are here?”

“I’m not sure, but I’m running pretty fast.” Thinking about when I was jogging around the lake.

“You run closer to the speed of a horse, than a man.” Pausing, to let it sink in. “Life here is designed and balanced to this environment. There is mana and a difference in some of the physical laws. You are designed and balanced with your environment. Progression and growth here are not the same.”

I understand what he is saying, but not the implications of it.

“Normally the way you would progress is as you age or you could say, with time, through different physical activity, you could grow stronger, develop more endurance. Through mental activities, progress in knowledge or understanding. Emotional growth through relationships. Spiritual growth through spending time with me in my Word. This is overly simplistic and I am not stating this as a guide or outline for what you should do. It is just for you to better understand the concept of seed, plant, harvest. Focused time and effort, will produce growth in that area of focus.”

I’m listening.

“For simplicity, to understand this world, we would add mana and some slightly different laws of physics. The most apparent difference to you right now is the lack of technology, as you understand it and the discernable steps of growth.”

Still listening. Thinking about the equipment in the weight room and Bart explaining the colors or levels, Wood, Iron, Bronze.

“I am asking you not to slaughter everything.”

He has my attention.

“There is a mechanic to this world where life may accelerate traits, aspects, and under certain conditions, evolve them through the use of mana and the natural laws that apply here. You have done this yourself and knowingly or not, when you increased your perception a few moments ago, you crossed a line into this world that you will not unconsciously forget. The natural laws here allow for added growth and development at an increasingly exponential cost. This is the balance here. Your growth is linear and is in balance with your home.”

“I’m…not sure I understand. I don’t see the point you’re trying to make.” Trying to understand.

“I told you that there are choices you are going to make, for good or for bad. There are paths that a man will deem right, that only lead to destruction. Your understanding of this world currently limits your understanding of what I am telling and asking of you. Do not worry, this is currently hidden from you. As long as you do not understand what I have just said to you, you need not be concerned. When you do understand, you will also have the wisdom to judge correctly.”

“Ok.” I try to smile a bit, confused.

“Destroy everything that you brought that is more technically advanced than a club.”

“No choices?” I ask.

“You have choices, but I will contend with you on this. Technology here is largely undeveloped because they make no effort towards it. In a broad sense, it is easier here for life to focus itself on accelerated growth, traits, aspects. The introduction of some basic technology would offset the balance in strength and power between races and against wildlife. Think of your crossbow endowed and enhanced with the magic of this world. A little overpowered. Clever use of some technology here and one could exterminate what they wanted easily.”

“Hm…” I think “I’m sure you’re right. You can have it.”

That was a test of compliance. “I accept. I’ll have it returned and the refunds put back on your card.”

“I didn’t know You could use a Visa.” Giving a slight jab with a smile.

“I create a lot of things.” Smiling.

…

“I know you have it in your heart and soon you would be telling your friends here the Good News and of Me. Eventually, you would be evangelizing the people and the different races here.”

I sit a little straighter and give an attentive nod, yes.

“I don’t want you to do that here. It is of no benefit to them.”

I don’t realize it, but my mouth is open as I stare at Him. “What?” I think I mouth.

“Think about it. Why would I say that?”

Confusion. My mouth is slightly open.

“What is the Good News? What is the gospel?”

…Confusion.

“Do you want your cell phone? I’ll let you look it up if you want.”

…Confusion. “no.” With a slight shake of my head, no. Is this really Jesus?

Leaning forward, elbows on His knees, hands up, He turns his palms towards me and, I see the holes. It’s distressing. Healed, but, like, a video where a large caliber round enters one side clean, exits violently.

A moment passes. He puts His hands down when I’m able to shift my gaze and look at Him.

More seriously. “You know. You just don’t realize it yet. Work Backwards. I’m not going to give this to you. What was the purpose of putting me on the cross? Why was my blood important?”

“Forgiveness of sin?” I whisper.

“Not a complete answer, it will serve for now. Who’s sin?”

“mine?” Whispering.

“And?”

“all our sins?” Still whispering.

“More.”

…Confused.

“Why are all under the penalty of sin and death?”

…Confused. “Adam?” I whisper.

“Why is he important?”

“He ate the apple? When he wasn’t supposed to?” I reply.

“Who is he, to you?”

Confused. “No one? I don’t know.”

“This is why I press you. The same question, phrased differently. Biblically, who is Adam? What relationship is he to you?”

“He is the first man? We are all his descendants?”

“Correct. What is the connection between his sin, the cross, and you?”

“He sinned. Then we are all born in sin. You came to save us.”

“We are going to work on your understanding later. Why is Me, dying on the cross, for the forgiveness of sin, Adam’s sin, of no benefit to the races here?”

“Because they are not descendants of Adam?”

“Correct. All that Adam lost, I have redeemed.” He continues. “I told you that I will respect your decision. Through one man, Adam, all are under the penalty of sin and death. Through one man, I have redeemed all and I freely give. Believe and accept this gift, the Father will consider the debt paid. If not, you will pay the penalty yourself.”

“I believe…”

“I want you to be listening and using your faith on purpose.”

I’m listening, “On purpose?” I ask.

“For what you were willing to give up, in the technology that you gave me. I am going to give you a gift and increase your understanding. Planting this seed, I expect you to watch over it so that it grows and produces results. Would you like it?”

Yes, I know it’s not a plant, “Yes…”

“Think back to when you accepted my gift and you were saved. You first believed in your heart, your inner man, that the Father raised Me from the dead. When that belief became great enough, you spoke, confessed, that I was your Lord and savior, then you were saved. This is using your faith.”

“What? Say again?”

“One process to using your faith is to conceive and believe in your heart, then verbally speak it out into existence.”

That’s sounding a little simplistic, I think?

“Faith is not something of the mind, it is of the spirit. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Your results are dependent on the amount of faith that you currently have for what you are believing and your level of conviction when you speak it out. Speak the desired end result. Do not use your faith against or manipulate another with it. I will hold you and anyone else accountable for those types of actions. I will hold the speaker accountable for any Idle or careless word. You will understand that faith-filled words are words of power and they will affect change.”

Not simplistic. It’s better when He makes it easier for me to understand.

“I would like for you to listen better. It hurts the Spirit’s feelings when you don’t believe Him.”

…Trying to think about what He is talking about.

“Seed, plant, harvest. The Spirit talks to you in all things so that you, like sheep, will know His voice. Start paying more attention to the little things. Take your keys. Lock the door. Go this way. He is leading you. There will be inner peace and a knowing, this is correct. Also, be aware when there is no peace. You grieve Him when He tells you something, then you say in your heart no, and do something else. He is also helping you differentiate between Himself, your thoughts, and other spirits. Remembering and looking back on what you knew to do, will help you learn.”

…

“Anything you would like to ask?”

“Not, that I can think of…” Thinking, tilting my head a little, my thoughts are blank. “Is my wife okay?”

“Your wife and family are fine. I’ve adjusted things so you’ll be back by morning. I’m going to end this here, you’re getting overwhelmed. Think about what was said. I’m going to move us back a few moments in time so it will flow easier for you. Ready?”

I nod my head, yes.