PART 6: LET US WALK OUR HIGHEST PATH

image [https://img.wattpad.com/0e3b031e362646e9974cf3b84d8bfa019e031ec7/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4e6d6d73347067325f4f706253513d3d2d313430363533363036352e313761323061643432633261393163613335373538373731393238302e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

"Are you truly walking on your highest path?" asks the mysterious stranger the Seeker.

The Seeker sighs tiredly.

"Well... Obviously not, as I am still sitting here on the bench with you... Still waiting for someone competent to arrive..."

The Seeker raises their head towards the sky as they feel a drop of rain falling on their skin.

"Why do you need someone else to guide you?" questions the mysterious stranger . "What hinders you from getting up and following your path?"

"For a start [https://img.wattpad.com/69bc1931f70ddaf1fbc7dea959f5600e064fb5ef/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4f6539794c466e6c715972365a413d3d2d313430363533363036352e313761323061653530323134653930313235323132313539323132372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

"For a start...," responds the Seeker, covering their head from the incoming rain. "I don't want to get lost in this dense forest. Someone experienced should go ahead."

The mysterious stranger smirks

"Tell me, my dear friend, can someone else ever lead you towards your highest path? No, only you alone can find your highest path. Only you can walk it. If you follow someone else, it's their path and not yours. No, your highest path is unique to you.

One may assist you, during your walk. One may walk with you, side by side. Searching and finding together. But as soon as there is power involved, authority of words, thoughts and ideas, you will always get lost. Dependency hinders all progress. Attachment slows you down. Be free and follow your own highest path. Be a light to..."

Suddenly the rain begins pouring down in streams.

Suddenly the rain begins pouring down in streams [https://img.wattpad.com/7edd3116caa11846d18b004c5683323f1917d9a6/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f3773595969784f663468367661673d3d2d313430363533363036352e313761323061656439353163393666653938313636333532323235372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

"Okay... wait a minute..." interrupts the Seeker. "Slow down! Before you go on with another long-winded monologue... Can you first of all explain, what exactly you mean by 'highest path'?"

The mysterious stranger, strokes his chin, whilst contemplating a metaphor.

"Hmm... Do you enjoy playing Video games?"

The surprised Seeker gasps:

"Uh... Perhaps...? I did not expect video games to be a topic here..."

Neither did the reader. The rain is slowing down.

image [https://img.wattpad.com/ef62743c4a1ea1d3ec00aca11d8bbec38400aebd/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f723877757a4b4f5033797a784f673d3d2d313430363533363036352e313761323061663235333833346335633731363339363338333532332e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

The mysterious stranger clears his throat:

"In some video games there are certain story-related decisions you can make, that will affect the ending of the game. Depending on your previous choices made throughout the game, you might get the best ending or the worst ending. Tell me Seeker, if Reality were a game wouldn't you prefer the best ending? Don't you want the coolest cutscene after you finished off the final boss?

This is what I refer to, by the 'highest path'. If life were a story, than the 'highest path' is the greatest story that you can experience in your individual lifetime."

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

The Seeker is shocked in disbelief.

"Are you... Are you telling me...?"

Suddenly the rain stops entirely.

Suddenly the rain stops entirely [https://img.wattpad.com/b4088090cc1bfa83302b581b5d9fd00714e5810e/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f7165764873582d505953635431673d3d2d313430363533363036352e313761323061663834386435313365633739383236363936393734322e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

"Yes," confirms the mysterious stranger with a grin on his face. His voice, full of exitement.

"We are going all in for the platinum trophy. Let us break the high-score. Let us end this game with 100 % completion. Let us achieve the best ending."

The dark clouds above are lifting up. As they vanish, the bright rays of the sun are shining through the sky, illuminating their park bench.

As they vanish, the bright rays of the sun are shining through the sky, illuminating their park bench [https://img.wattpad.com/445aa54dc3c900acf9901f6dc6e22e9647987474/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f502d5030784f756d3276316562673d3d2d313430363533363036352e313761323061666539613836633762333736323538333836343531332e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

For the first time, since the mad stranger sat himself on the bench next to them, the Seeker is speechless. They are overwhelmed by an emotion they haven't felt since childhood. A sense of innocent joy and wonder.

"You can't be serious. Do you... Do you actually believe, that this is possible?"

"Yes," smiles the Stranger , his voice full of determination.

"We will find a way. All of us. Not just You individually. No, as a species, we will go for the best ending. And together, we shall write the greatest of all stories. Our own story. We are humanity, my friend.

Listen closely: If the individual follows their own highest path, the direction of the path of humanity will change as well. And as more people find their truest path, experience their greatest story, the timeline of our reality will shift as well.

You say, we are indifferent to the cosmos? You say, everything we do here on earth is meaningless in the grand scheme of things? You say, humanity is a parasite and our extinction is unavoidable? Let the heavens be my witness, I will prove you wrong!

We are the authors of the story of humanity and together we shall write a story that will echo through the cosmos. The melody of our song will reach the furthest stars, never to be forgotten. We will show the universe, that we are not meaningless, that we do have a purpose. We will prove our right to existence. Prove, that we are more than these selfish, violent, power-hungry monkeys. Whoever says, this can't be achieved, we will prove them wrong!

Let us face the challenge head-on, without any regrets. If we fail, then not without trying. If we die, then with a smile on our face. Together we will find a path of joy and laughter. A path of love and wisdom. A path of unity and freedom. "

A rainbow appears in the sky, as the sun illuminates the forest, clearing all rain clouds.

A rainbow appears in the sky, as the sun illuminates the forest, clearing all rain clouds [https://img.wattpad.com/3535dbdec961f9929a279f6bdc0a9422e4e9afc2/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f3947556e49547745634f6a3133513d3d2d313430363533363036352e313761323062303536336535653336303931353238353835393132372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

"I- I don't believe you," stutters the Seeker . "What you are suggesting is impossible. You are just a crazy mad man."

"You are saying it's impossible, without even trying it," laughs the Stranger frantically.

"Can't you see, that this limiting belief slows you down? Why are you so afraid to make a simple step? Will you continue to sit on this bench for all of eternity, waiting for someone who will never come?

Listen closely: The highest path, is the path with the ALL. This is the path, where each of your decisions will have the greatest good for ALL in mind. For humanity, for nature, for the earth, the universe and for you as individual, because you as well, are part of the ALL.

Walking the highest path, won't be easy. Life will challenge you with trials. You will need to prove yourself worthy. But fear not, you won't be alone. We will walk this path together. Up here and down there. Side by Side, as old friends. Are you ready to embark with me on this journey?"

The Seeker breathes heavily: [https://img.wattpad.com/80050a06ac16cc50bf3d33ca09506dcc6d88fdf3/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6d4363734a6946784a46484f5a773d3d2d313430363533363036352e313761323062313566373530326631613134353030393032363031322e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

The Seeker breathes heavily:

"Honestly... what you are telling me sounds really nice. And for some reason... I can't explain how... But... I had been thinking about some of the stuff, that you were telling me, already before... However, it just seems so difficult, so unfathomable... Like an unreachable goal. Do you seriously believe, that we are capable of this? Do you seriously have that much faith in humanity?"

A sudden, strong gust of wind, reaches the Seeker and the mysterious stranger on their bench. With closed eyes, the Stranger enjoys the wind brushing over his face. He breathes in the fresh air. His face turns into a big smile, as he opens his eyes.

"We will find a way," thunders the voice of the mysterious stranger full of determination.

"No matter how, far off we have drifted off. No matter, how lost we are. No matter, how desperate our situation is. No matter how difficult, how painful, how frightening the path ahead may seem; remember this: We will always find a way. This is the strength of humanity, to always find the way. To face every challenge and emerge victorious. And if the path seems out of reach, if there's no way at all, we create our own way. We will do it. We will make it. For we are humanity."

image [https://img.wattpad.com/508681cee170703b32ae51f2b4595317fad3ee97/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f724269316f51335a49354d6b6d673d3d2d313430363533363036352e313761323062333731646534636464373832383038373733313733362e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

For a moment there is a uncomfortable silence between the two. The Seeker doesn't respond. Even the crickets are silent. Tumbleweed is being pushed by the wind, rolling in front of the bench.

The stranger takes a deep breath:

"Let me ask you a different question, dear Seeker... Do you remember the promise?"

TO BE CONTINUED