Sitting in and amongst a group of other Ray’s who were going to be steeping into the world of a Beam, I rubbed just below my left shoulder where I got pierced in my dream. A dream or not, the after effect of it felt real enough to leave me sore. That, and the fact that I managed to bring a dream object into the real world is also concerning. While Luna did say that the ‘Moon’s Eye’ gave me abilities and perks, she never actually told me what they were. I always assumed that those powers would be moon related or something, but yesterday gave me time to actually think about them, and how absolutely abstract they are.
I mean, swinging a weapon in a crescent arc gave me a feeling of increased power rather than in straight lines, sleeping seems to help me recover from physical and mental exhaustion rapidly, and now I can take things from dreams? And somehow intrude into the dreams of others? Though those last two points I’m still a bit reluctant on, it might have something to do with the shifting Divinity that Sol and Luna were talking about days before when they manifested within Tessoro’s office previously.
The body of white, yellow, and orange colors that I was a part of, consisting of about sixty odd people, were all staring anxiously at the podium where his Luminous would stand shortly.
We were seated within the inner ring of the Center, our families and friends located further out, watching in excitement as the many Ray’s in front of them prepare for the next steps in their journey of life. What felt like an hour, but was in reality closer to just a few minutes, had passed before his Luminous appeared at the top of the amphitheater and began his walk down to the podium.
Getting there, he turned to look at those who had gathered for a few moments. I was located almost in front of the podium, and after Tesoro looked over all of the Ray’s he turned his head to look forward again and made eye contact with me. At this, he smiled a knowing smile, and started speaking.
“Greetings young Ray’s. I stand before you today on the precipice of one of the many monumental moments of your lives. Looking out, I don’t just see sons and daughters of those of the Conclave. I see more. I see our defenders, I see our traders, I see producers. And most of all, I. See. Hope.”
“Not just hope for a good harvest or hope for a nice day. More than hope for small things, I see the hope for many great changes. I see advancement, I see change, and I see greatness. Within each of you, I see the possibility of greater things. The brights have done their best to light a spark within each of you, and from what I can see, they have done a fine job indeed.”
Murmurs and whispers ran through all those present, a small urge of excitement began to grow. With all eyes now more firmly on Tesoro, he continued to speak. “Hope comes in many forms, but to keep that list short, hope is the result of knowing things could be better and trying to make it better. To have hope in a better tomorrow is to have faith in yourself and those around you. To hope is to know your own shortcomings but not despairing at them. For every person’s hope makes them a unique piece, and those unique pieces might not make much by themselves. But start putting them next to each other, and you can start making a picture that, when finished, would look nothing like the individual pieces that it started out as.”
“Even if you can’t find where you belong right now, that does not mean that there is no spot for you at all. Rather, when that happens, you might need to search elsewhere for where you fit in. just because you don’t see it here does not mean that you don’t fit at all, it simply means that in the grand scheme of things that you fit elsewhere. Who knows, maybe those who have trouble finding their place on the edge might be in the middle of everything?”
“So don’t give up, keep searching, keep being curious, and find where you fit. And when you finally find where it is that you fit, look to those around you and ask yourself ‘What can I do?’ and start from there. If you see a need for change, then start the change.”
Looking off to his left, he moved his hand in a circular motion indicating for something to be brought to the stage. Moments later, several large pillars of wood were brought onto the stage, requiring 6 people to carry just one of them. It took more than just a few minutes for the pillars to make their way to the stage and be set up, and once they were, a concaved and circular metal bowl was brought in and set up just behind the podium. As everyone was wondering what was going on, one final set of objects was brought in. Those being five long dark metal objects, which I recognized to be stoker’s, were placed within the bowl in line with the five wooden pillars.
The last piece to be brought in was a giant piece of glass that seemed familiar, but I couldn’t quite place where I had seen it. The glass had an ornate multi legged base that, when placed over the metal bowl, sat above the metal bowl with just enough space for the stoker’s to be removed and put back in. taking his place behind the bowl as the podium was removed from the stage, Tesoro’s spoke again.
“For all the Beam’s in the audience, or those who have come to see these ceremonies before, at this point things will appear to be more than slightly different from those ceremonies that you have seen or experienced previously. Not that this will become the new standard from this point forward mind you, but last night I was given a unique vision. Looking out at all of you, I see a flock of birds. Among this flock, I see many wonderful shapes and sizes. And among those, I saw a few with an adventurous spirit. So this time, I am bringing out an old tradition that has long since been out dated since it a bit to linear for how Sol likes things to be currently.”
“Each of these pillars,” Tesoro said, turning and motioning to each of the five pillars. “Represent the major choices present for life decisions within the Conclave. The positions of each of the pillars represent the choices in a broad sense. In the middle, we have work with the church directly, leading to the path of a Bright and beyond. Off to the immediate sides, those pillars represent being a Producer and a Judiciary. While simple in statement, everyone here knows how much more these two roles consist of.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“These last two remaining pillars on the edges are a bit different. One represents the guardians and their wide range of influence, hence why it is on the edge. And finally,” Tesoro said as he approached the last remaining pillar and placed his hand upon it. “This pillar is special. It represents an aspect of the church that has not been made use of in a long time. A Pilgrimage. Made so the words of the church could be brought to those far away to help bolster our numbers back during the Era of the Great Crusades, they have most recently been used as a way for the young and curious alike to travel the world, gaining knowledge and experience to bring back and better help the Church. While no longer a primary aspect of a pilgrimage anymore, it is not uncommon for several other to be brought back to join the folds of whatever church the pilgrim is a part of.”
Removing his hand from the pillar, Tesoro took a position behind the metal and glass setup. Raising both arms above his head like he was getting ready to catch something falling and tilting his head back, he spoke. “Praise Sol, for here dawn’s a new day!”
At that, light began to gather within the glass and focus onto the metal. Within moments, the metal stokers began to glow red at their ends. After a moment, Tesoro looked over at one of his aids, an older Bright whom I rarely saw around the Conclave. This bright walked forward, took a place behind Tesoro, and unfurled a document. What followed were five names’ being called, those five people walking forward, each grabbing a stoker, and walking to the pillars they wanted to join in to. Two for judiciary, one for guardian, and two for producers. Sticking the stokers into the wooden pillars branded them, and after holding them in place for a moment until the red tip dimmed, they all put the stokers back where the stokers gained their red back once more.
Returning to their seats, five more names were called, and the process repeated itself. When it got to me in the last batch, my nerves had almost gotten the better of me. I had only managed to calm myself down after searching the crowd for my family. Finding them, I saw my mother’s face in tears as she had pieced together what it was that my father and I were keeping secret, but she looked proud at my decision and gave me a reaffirming nod. Off to her side with an arm draped around her shoulders stood my father in his ever stoic posture, with a black eye which I assumed came from a well-deserved, and apparently well thrown, punch from my mom. He gave me a nod and slight smile as he saw me look in their direction. Elaine was simply excited to see her brother growing up, unaware of the reason behind the events that occurred around her.
Walking up to the stokers in the bowl, I awaited the others to join me. When everyone took their positions, we all reached down and grabbed a stoker. Walking to out choice of pillars we prepared to brand our choice. Standing in front of the pilgrim pillar, I looked at the two other brands the marred its surface. Two others who had chosen to go out and see the world. Stabbing my stoker into the wood, a quick puff of smoke dashed out and up. Upon removal, I saw my choice. My decision was made final, I turned and smiled at Tesoro, at Bright Daphne, and at my family before returning the stoker to its place in the bowl, this time, not regaining its red tip.
Walking back to my seat, the final few groups were called up and followed the same steps as those before them, but no one else put their brand upon the pilgrim pillar. The final count was three to the pilgrim pillar, twenty-two to the producer pillar, thirteen to the Church pillar, fifteen to the judiciary pillar, and twelve to the guardian pillar.
“Choice is not always a simple decision to make, but we all must make them in our loves whether we want to or not. This is but the first of many life changing choices that you will make from here on out. Welcome to the your new lives as those of adults young Beams and Brights alike,” Tesoro said as the last of the groups took up their position back where they came from. “Let this coming celebration be not just the ending of your childhood, but the beginning of your next great journey. Let your emotions flow, let tears of joy and sorrow fall, and most importantly, remember to enjoy each moment knowing that not a single one of you made the same choices yet still ended up here at the same result. Yours’ is a unique experience to you and you alone, so share your thoughts, see the world through different eyes, and be the light that shines for others to see.”
The following hours were spent in celebration. Congratulations spilled forth for the newly appointed Beams and Brights, and food and drink was had in abundance. My family and I stayed long enough to not appear rude and ungrateful before we made our exit. The journey back was filled with laughter, tears, and a proper explanation to my mother as to why we did what we did; with the consent from Luna to do so. It appears she watched my graduation through my eyes a felt what I felt to a point. Knowing that, she didn’t want to leave my mother in the dark. Once that came to light, my mother took it far better than either my father or I were expecting her to.
Later that day as the celebration was coming to an end, we were greeted by the presence of Tesoro and Daphne. Tesoro’s excuse was that he was visiting those who had chosen pilgrimage over a path within the conclave, but upon seeing my mother’s face he smiled wide. “They’ve told you, haven’t they?”
“They have,” came the cold response.
“With permission I hope?” a curious gaze tossed in my direction.
“Yes, from my half anyway, my father has yet to speak.”
“Good, good. I am, in all honesty, visiting the families of the pilgrims, but you are the last. There was far more who chose pilgrimage than I anticipated, but at the same time it works out best for you in case anyone curious decides to pry into recent events from the outside. Now Adamas, I have no idea about the difficulties you will face on this journey, but I want you to know that you are not alone. And if you are lucky, you might even find companions to share in your journey. But to start, I suggest you find the nomadic Faithless. They will give you safety in numbers, and a good starting point for your journey.” Walking over to me and clasping my shoulders in his firm grip. “This is as far as I can help you, everything you are about to experience is unknown, and I wish you the best of luck in all you do. May Sol guide your path forward, and light your way back.” With those final words, he released me, hugged both my parents, and left.
Daphne walked over to me, reaching into her sleeve, she pulled out a book and gave it to me. “It’s not much, but there will be moments of loneliness and downtime while on your journey. I gift you this as much as it is a congratulations for graduating as much as it is to allow you to keep your thoughts and memories about you while on your journey.” Turning to follow her uncle, she paused as she got to the door. “Like his luminous said, no one knows what lays before you on the path you have chosen, but if you act out there like you have acted in here, you will be fine. Your pure hearted curiosity will give you as many life long friends as it will cause you to have rough relationships. Congratulations Adamas, and… be careful out there.” As she hurried after her uncle, I held the book to my chest as my family joined me in watching them go.
Time for rest, and tomorrow, my next adventure begins.