Sol rose as he did every day over the horizon. But unlike every day, Luna still roamed the edges of the sky, refusing to go just yet. And there I stood, underneath one of the gates that lead in to the Living Orbit. With me were my family, my sister still mostly asleep on my dad’s back, and Bright Daphne. I was not the only one at this gate in terms of Pilgrims. In fact, all of us were here, each with our own entourage of friends and family, and even Luminous Tesoro showed up to bid us farewell and a safe journey.
“There is not much for me to say to you three, save for sounding repetitive from all I said yesterday. I am simply coming here to wish the brave few who dare to see the world outside of what they know. Be curious, be willing to try new things, but most of all, be safe. You only have the one life that Sol has blessed, try not to waste it. And if at any point you feel like you have gone as far as you needed to go, come home. Our door is always open, and your seat at the table will be ready for your return.” As he finished speaking, Tesoro came up to each of us and gave us a prayer. After he prayed over the last of us, he turned and left.
As each Bright is in charge of a small group of Ray’s, but will teach all of the Ray’s as they teach a specific subject to a certain degree more than others. So the other two Bright’s present I knew as Bright Olivia and Bright Davos. They were each in front of their respective Ray’s… I mean Beam’s. Still getting used to having grown up in an official capacity now, feels a bit surreal in all honesty. The two Brights were talking to their former students, most likely giving them some last minute words of wisdom. And in turn, my Bright approached me.
“So this is it, huh?” Daphne said. “You know, of all those I have had the pleasure of teaching, I hold the fact that teaching you has been among the most enjoyable. You were always curious, even if I could tell that giving you research work for all of your questions annoyed you. But you never gave up. You took everything I put in front of you, and you went after it. Did you ever notice how I never really gave you a time limit for turning in those extra assignments?”
I couldn’t help but smile at that. Sheepishly, I spoke, “You never did unless it was an assignment you gave to everyone. It took me a lot longer than I am willing to admit to figure that out, but by that point in time I had done those research assignments so many times I never saw a reason to stop.”
Chuckling at my response, Daphne continued. “That is so very much like you, Adamas. Realizing only after you started what the intent of the job was, but never stopping just because you figured it out. You see things through, even if they are on the tedious sides of things.” Stepping forward, she gave me a quick hug and then stepped back. “Of all the things you have learned under my watch, I want to always remember to finish whatever it is you started, no matter how tedious they may seem. If you ever stop half way on one thing, you’ll be tempted to stop half way on others. Never stop. Even if the final result is not what you started out for, make sure you see your objectives through.” Looking over at my family, Daphne backed off one more step, bowed slightly, and left.
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The good bye’s from my family were mostly curt, my mom did hang onto her hug for me a bit longer than I was expecting, but no words were said during the embrace. My father gave me an approving smile and pulled an object off of his back. Handing it to me, he said, “I figured you’d make better use out of one meant for actual combat versus the mutilated limb you call a staff currently at your side.” The object my father handed me wasn’t just any staff, but in fact the one I w=used during my hell camp with him. I could tell because I had to put blue powder on my hands every time I lost a practice match. Needless to say, I lost a lot and the middle of the staff was all light blue.
My sister didn’t say anything as she was still half asleep. With my mother back by my father’s side, I planted one end of the staff into the sand and held the top with my left hand. Bringing my right hand to my forehead where my bandana covered my ‘Moon’s Eye’, I placed my middle and pointer finger to my forehead. In one swift motion, I brought my hand down to my chest with the palm up, and then quickly brought it back up as if to wave at them. A standard motion used to say goodbye within the church during times of silence.
Turning away to face the wide-open expanse of sandy hills and sparce trees, as tears slowly filled my eyes. Finding hesitation in the fact that I was about to step out of the bounds of the Conclave. I felt a gentle hand on my back and comforting female voice in my ear. Fear not Adamas, for wherever you go, know that home is never far away.
Luna.
I quickly turned my head and saw that my family was where they were, waiting for me to go with tears in their eyes. I dropped my stuff, ran back, and gave them all one last hug. Closing my eyes as I wrapped my arms around them, I said “Thank you all for being my family, and for letting me do this.” Before they could react, I looked up at the fading moon and smiled. Turning as quickly as I arrived, I grabbed my staff and bag. And with a renewed vigor, I set off into the unknown, not waiting to see if the other two pilgrims were following me or not. I knew where I was going, and I knew what was being asked of me. Though I never asked for it, I found myself looking forward to the adventure that laid before me.
“One foot in front of the other Adamas,” I said to myself. “Just keep doing that, and this pilgrimage that Sol and Luna tasked me with will be over before you know it. Well, that’s what I’ll keep telling myself anyway.”