Excerpt
One of the many disciplinary tasks of a priest’s disciple is the reproduction and translation of the holy Gurnokrinom. Each student must copy each book of the Gurnokrinom in perfection in order to be ordained as a Cameronite Priest. Their completion representing the final right of passage.
Maria dipped her quill into her bottle of ink and finished another verse of the great Gurnokrinom, written decades past by blessed people who experienced Cameron’s short life firsthand, as well as the later books of Janet Waterdrop. Intent focus ensured no mistakes.
Perfection.
The excitement was building. Meticulously she decorated the cover and pages with holy symbols and floral designs, and wrote entirely in her own flowing cursive hand. Already it was a symbol of pride and only half created. An arduous task of patience that would ensure later success as a holy (disciplined) Priestess. Maria had always felt deep down inside that she would be very important to the Church. Like an itch that wouldn’t go away in the back of her mind, she would be an important Cameronite.
Even as a child, attending ceremonies and teachings was her favorite hobby. From a young age she knew that she was important; part of it was remembering the scripture with ease and diligence.
With every ending, there is only a new beginning.
As she read the line again, her mind visualized a wheel turning.
What did young Cameron mean by such a comment? That even death is a rebirth? That the wheel forever span?
It was dark in her studio. Because of her precision artistry and copying, she was behind on completing the task, but she knew that her mentor, Jacque, would be impressed by her dedication. There was a small fluorescent light on the other side of her large studio apartment (the church was rather accommodating); she had set it very dim, finding the candle light much more soothing to work with.
Maria hadn’t owned a clock in two years since beginning her training at the age of fifteen. Though, in that late hour she wondered what time it was. Perhaps time for sleep! She rubbed her eyes. It was difficult to concentrate when one was so tired and there was no room for error. She let her short black hair out of its tie and brushed her hands through, massaging the scalp with a sigh.
Maria carefully corked the bottle of ink and cleaned the quill before returning them to their rightful locations. She extinguished one candle and took the other one to the far side of the room to where her bed was. She lay down and glared with a soft focus at the book drying on the table in the dark.
Too many thoughts led to insomnia. A chaotic mind couldn’t rest. Quotes, stories, philosophy. Her young mind was being filled rapidly; luckily, she had a rather large capacity for retaining information with accuracy.
A yawn overwhelmed her and she rolled over onto her back staring up at the ceiling’s cracks.
We create our own destiny.
Surely Cameron had been correct. Maria had known her whole life she would become a Priestess. The thought had always filled her with joy, and so she did everything to make it happen. It was no mystery what she wanted from life and she was making it happen. Aspirations constantly seized her will and mind. Daydreaming of healing and mass speaking, and bizarrely enough, she even had daydreamed of martyrdom. How would she become so important? Hopefully it wouldn’t take too many years. Maybe if she remembered and applied all of Cameron’s teachings, then she would be wise enough to know what choices to make.
Power comes from the heart.
Just the thought made her feel full of energy. Her mind drifted and if she tried to focus, she may have lost her wandering of consciousness.
“Sometimes we get what we want sooner than we expect.”
Yes, that was true too? But that thought hadn’t sounded like her own voice. Maria opened her eyes to darkness and blurry candlelight. Her peripheral vision was indistinguishable. She rolled over onto her side. It took her several moments to realize what she saw.
Everything was very different. There were things from generations past decorating the room, but her table was still there in the dark, and sitting in the chair, overlooking the most recent page, was a little girl.
A chill shot up her spine but she quickly found herself to be in paralysis. A trick of the mind, she told herself, still unable to move. Taking a deep breath, she squeezed her eyes shut.
She opened one, two eyes, but the figure was still there; this time looking right at her.
Trembling, she noticed something different about the world. A buzzing sound somewhere…
“Do not be afraid Maria, you and I are friends.” The little girl stood up from the chair and walked silently through the darkness and sat on the floor in front of the bed. She was wearing a plain nightgown with a small necklace around her neck. Maria recognized her face.
The presence of the guru rendered her speechless.
“You have much work ahead of you brave spirit, tell them that I am coming back. Find me Maria.”
Her mind raced, replaying the words over and over in her head while those calm cool eyes stared relentlessly at her, burning a hole through her forehead. How did one respond to that even if they were capable? Finally she uttered some words with an unstable voice. “Am I dreaming?” Is that all she could come up with? What was that weird feeling in her head?
Cameron smiled. “Nope,” she responded simply.
Maria took another deep breath as the girl stood up and began to glow with light, slowly dissolving into nothingness. She shuttered and sat up from her bed, pushing herself into the wall, peering around the darkness in shock; fearing the still burning candles erratic shadows.
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