chapter Six: Hidden Darkness

Guard your heart thoughts

for they are the thoughts that control your life’s direction.

 Don’t buy into the lies,

keep your words true to my LOGOS.

Be careful what you do and why you do it.

Keep your motivation filled with the LIGHT GIVERS purity. Keep your eyes on the path of the LIGHT GIVER.

Don’t stray to the right or left

 or you will find yourself on the path of darkness. –

LOGOS from the Wall in Morning Star

 Chapter Six:

The Hidden Darkness

            In his private chamber Chief Illuminator, Hunapo paced like a caged lion, his thoughts over whelming him. He waited for some word about the lost scribe or his secret teacher.  Both Esmail and Ignatius knew he wasn’t a patient man. What could be taking them so long?  

He knew Esmail had half the Inquisitor’s sect and the entire confessors sect in the catacombs looking for that troublesome boy.  Why hadn’t they found him yet? What was he supposed to make of Ignatius telling him that the tracks disappeared into thin air between one step and the next?  

Not only that, but he’d received no word whatsoever from Ignatius. Why couldn’t the Chief Inquisitor find one lousy heretic? Surely, the man wasn’t losing his touch. He’d heard from some of his spies among the servants that Ignatius had already spoken to everyone the boy hung out or worked with.  One of them should have talked. Now his spies said that the Chief Inquisitor  had commandeered a bunch of guardians and had them watching both a copy room and an empty inquisition cell. Nothing tonight made sense.    

Hunapo left his bed chamber and entered his office. Before him on a slightly raised platform was the intricately carved desk, he had allowed the royal carpenter to make him. The man had done his finest work ever and when he was done Hunapo took great pleasure in informing him that it wasn’t good enough to erase his taint. After his beheading, Hunapo took his land as the first to be confiscated for the “chapel” in Luminous City.

Directly, in front of the platform were two very plain and uncomfortable chairs. These were reserved for those who had displeased him when he called them to his office.

Behind them were two leather couches facing each other made of the finest white leather to be found in the entire Kingdom. Between them on the floor was an expensive cashmere rug and a small serving table. This was where he sat with those who had found favor with him, as their reward.

Behind his desk was a wall composed completely of windows. They looked out over the central courtyard of the Temple. However, even the sight of his domain could not still his impatience this night. “Where are they?” He thought.  “How can this be happening? I’ve worked so hard. Forty years of searching and three years of work, and it was all about to be undone by a scrawny nobody of a scribe.”  As he waited his mind wandered to how it all started.

It was his tenth birthday. The party was set for later that night, and it was sure to be a huge affair. After all it would be the last one he celebrated here at Morningstar Castle. Hunapo was the second born, that meant tomorrow he would begin his slavery as a Keeper of the Light.  “It wasn’t fair. Who decided that the first born got to become King while the second was given into the LIGHT GIVERS service? He was better than Solaris. All their instructors had said so.

 Three years younger and he could ride better, use a sword better. He was even a natural at diplomacy. However, none of that mattered. Because tomorrow he will become a Keeper as was royal custom.  Anger filled him as he though about how unfair it was.

Solaris got to travel with father to meet foreign dignitaries. He got to travel with some smelly old Keeper to a far-off Temple. Solaris got to fight along side the men of the royal army. He got to learn from a bunch of old men about an old scroll. Solaris got to help dispense justice from the throne room to the inhabitants of the Kingdom. He got to read from some crumbly old scroll about a far away god.  Solaris got to write royal proclamations; he got to copy the stupid LOGOS over and over again. It wasn’t fair. Hunapo knew he would make a better king than Solaris, but that didn’t matter because Solaris was born first.”  Then and there Hunapo decided that if there was any way to take his brother's birthright, he would find it.  

For nineteen years, he diligently studied the LOGOS, looking for some loop hole that would give him the throne.  He listened to every story that the older Keepers told hoping for something that would be of help. To those over him and around him, it looked like he was going to be the most learned and honorable Keeper to have ever graced the Kingdom. There was talk of all the ways he would draw people to the LIGHT GIVER. They talked of the eloquence of his sermons as an Illuminator when it was his turn to instruct at devotions.

            Then on his thirtieth birthday he was summoned to Chief Illuminator Patience’s office. When he arrived all six of the Chief Keepers were there as well as the Chief Illuminator. Patience welcomed him and seated him in a comfortable chair before explaining why he was there. “Hunapo, I have spent time this past month with each of my Chiefs and all of your instructors. I wish you to know nephew that I am very pleased with what they have told me. As you know, I am the first of the royal bloodline sent here to the Keepers, who ascended to the highest rank one can achieve in the Keepers of the Light. I did it through hard work and diligent study. It seems that you and I are cut from the same cloth.”

 With a confused look, Hunapo replied. “Thank you Uncle, but I am not sure I understand. If I am doing so well why have I been brought before you tonight?’  

            Knelling down beside him Chief Illuminator Patience smiled. “You misunderstand. You are not in trouble quite the contrary. Because of your devotion to the LIGHT GIVER, we have decided to make you my apprentice and the heir to the post of Chief Illuminator. In the morning, you will be wearing the robes of a Master class Illuminator and will start reporting directly to my office to learn at my feet. When the time comes for me to step down from this office it will become yours.”  

           

            Each of the Chiefs offered their own congratulations to Hunapo. After a few celebratory drinks and a rare offering of cake both as a celebration of his promotion and birthday Hunapo took his leave.

         

            The very next morning at the end of devotions, Hunapo was presented with his Masters robe. Every Keeper was informed of his new position and understood that when he spoke now he spoke with the authority of the Chief Illuminator.  It was to no one's surprise then when a month later Hunapo was suggested to take charge of the excavation project in the catacombs beneath the temple.

            The catacombs were the oldest part of the temple. Deep underground they had been where the LIGHT GIVERS followers had lived and Studied for a thousand years after the War of World Fire. When the world was inhabitable again they had come up to the surface and built their temple right on top of the catacombs. Now the Chief Illuminator at the urging of the Chief Historian was authorizing them to literally dig up the history of their predecessors. Hunapo was secretly thrilled to be put in command. It meant that for the duration of the project, he wouldn’t have to look at or copy or study or talk about the LOGOS. If he had his way, they would play in the dirt down there until his uncle left the Keepers, and he was placed in command.

            It was because of that decision Hunapo’s never forgotten dream got its major boost.  Six months into the excavation they found a room where the walls had been rounded. No one knew what those ancient Keepers had used it for, but Hunapo had decided that he would work in it. He was trying to clear away debris and look for hidden treasures one day and having no luck. As dinner time drew near he called a halt to the day's work and checked off each keeper as they left heading up to the temple for the night. When he was alone he grabbed his lamp and started out of the room when he heard a noise behind him. Turning he saw behind him a man-like none he had ever seen before.

         

          The man was wearing a full suit of armor so red that it seemed covered in fresh blood. From under his helmet long blonde hair hung down past his shoulders. The skin of his exposed face and hands was the color of alabaster. His eyes were the palest shade of blue Hunapo had ever seen. Those eyes seemed to hold him in their depth. Though the man looked young the eyes looked ancient and wise beyond his years.

            Hunapo walking closer to the stranger inquired, “Who are you sir? How did you manage to get down here without me seeing you enter?”

            With a voice as rich as honey and as thick as molasses the answer came, “I am the prince and power of this realm, I go where I like no one is my master. As for a name I have had several over the years, Baal, Moloch, Beelzebub, Loki, Hades, Pluton but my favorite was the first Lucifer. Yes, I really liked being called Lucifer, it means morning star like the castle you grew up in. However those are all the past, the men of this temple simply call me the Darkness. They have no imagination. You may call me Visvesa.”    

            He smiled at Hunapo, “I have been watching you for a while. I’m here to help fulfill your dream of ruling this kingdom. Not only will I make your dream come true. I will help you increase your dream to be the ruler of this whole world. All you have to do is bow down and pledge your allegiance to me.”

         

          Hunapo looked at this being and began to quote from the LOGOS when he stopped. “Why should I remain faithful to a God who has never shown one ounce of interest in me?” With that thought still in his head, he bowed his knee and gave his pledge to serve Visvesa with all his might, all his soul, and all his heart. In exchange, Visvesa promised to help him become the ultimate ruler of the world.

Visvesa smiling all the while, reached out his right index finger and drove it into the forehead of Hunapo. As the finger penetrated Hunapo’s head he began to hear Visvesa’s voice in his mind.

“This makes it easier for me to communicate with you. From now on I will be able to speak directly into your mind and you will be able to hear and respond without anyone knowing that we are conversing. This way even when you are with your masters or fellow Keepers I will be able to direct you to our goal of making you ruler of this kingdom and then the world.”

“Yes, my Lord” How amazing, Hunapo thought, the LIGHT GIVER never spoke to me like this neither did his LOGOS. Visvesa truly is a powerful being to be serving. “What do you want me to do now my Lord?”

The answer to that question was the start of the plan.

Early the next morning Hunapo ran to his uncle’s room awaking Chief Illuminator Patience with his extraordinary tale.  “Uncle, I had a vision last night. I was approached by the LIGHT GIVER himself. He told me that there was an important piece of our faith down in the catacombs. Then he took me to a place we had not been before and scooped aside the earth and showed me a Jar sealed with wax.  When I asked him what was in it he told me it was his true LOGOS.”

 “I asked him what he meant by that and he went on to tell me that over the years the LOGOS had been changed from what he had given to mankind. What we were following was false text that was leading us from his true path and down one of darkness. He went on to tell me to come to you and tell you my vision this morning and to ask you and the Chief Historian to accompany me to the place he showed me so that you would know my vision was true.”

Patience took his nephew by the shoulder “I will send for the Chief Historian now. Let us pray that we don’t find this room or Jar that you dreamed of. Because if we do then we will have to accept your vision as a true vision sent by the LIGHT GIVER. Then all my life has been sending people away from HIS path instead of toward it.” 

 The two of them proceeded to the Chief Historians Chamber and awoke him. Then all three went straight to the Catacombs where Hunapo led them to a small grotto none of them had seen before. There he went to a very specific spot and dug in the wall uncovering a clay jar sealed with wax. Just as Visvesa had told him he would.

As they removed the wax seal it was obvious that they had found a scroll of text. Hunapo handed it to the Chief Illuminator who opened it with trembling hands. It looked to be a scroll of LOGOS.  The Chief Historian, noting the look on Patience face spoke. “Your Grace, while this may indeed be a scroll of LOGOS we don’t know if it is different from those we use now until it is examined.”

Hunapo seeing his chance agreed. “He is right Uncle, though my vision seems true enough. We would be amiss if we didn’t compare the two making sure there is a difference. Not only that, but we must run dating tests to make sure this is older than the oldest scroll here, which is in the care of the historians. May I suggest that I conduct the test with one historian master and one scribe master to assist me? Then we can be sure that the results of those tests are accurate and unbiased by those with a stake for one scroll or the other being true.”

The chief Illuminator and the Chief Historian agreed letting Hunapo take charge of proving or disproving his vision. They also provided him the help of a Master Historian to run dating tests and a Master scribe to run text comparisons.  At the end of two months Hunapo asked to meet with His uncle and the Chief Historian to share the results of his investigation.

He informed them that his vision had been proven a true vision and showed them the written reports of both Masters who had worked on the found scroll.  The shock of it all caused Chief Illuminator Patience to suffer a stroke. He instantly fell to the ground and began babbling nonsense. 

Putting all his other duties aside Hunapo became his Master’s sole nurse and caregiver.  Thus allowing him to slip a small amount of deadly nightshade into his uncle’s medicine cup, each dose bring the Chief Illuminator closer to death. Until two weeks after his stroke Apprentice Chief Hunapo with tears streaming down his face announced that Chief Illuminator Patience had expired in his sleep.

From that day on Hunapo had followed the plan outlined for him by his true Master. All had gone exactly as Visvesa had said it would. His fathers death, again by nightshade, his sister-in-law’s confession and execution. Even his brothers inability to do anything to stop it without playing right into Hunapo’s hand. 

Now it all seemed to have been brought to a halt by one insignificant scribe and an unknown heretic teacher. “Where were those Chief’s? If they would just do their jobs and find these two men then his plan would come to the proper conclusion in less that three years.”  Three years to finish the chapel in Luminous City and move the Temple there. Then arrange for his brother mysterious death at the hands of his Darkness tainted niece, allowing him to send her to the same fate as her mother. Then he would be able to claim the crown as the last of the Morningstar bloodline and become King and Chief Illuminator of the Kingdom of Light.”

With that thought running pleasantly in his head, his servant entered and informed him that Chief Inquisitor Ignatius, Chief Scribe Truman and Master Scribe Dankrad were wishing an audience with him. “Show them in now” Hunapo thought, “This might be the answer I have been waiting for.”

As the servant showed the men into Hunapo’s office the looks on their face told him that they had indeed discovered the traitor among them. Then Ignatius began to speak. It took a few moments for what he was saying to sink in to Hunapo’s head.
Then with pain building behind his eyes he heard the voice of his master: “You didn’t destroy those scrolls when they arrived here? Do it now and find that scribe and get that one back from him or you will suffer the consequences.”

Then pain unlike anything Hunapo had experienced tore through his whole body causing him to scream out loud. To cover it he turned his scream into a roar of anger. Turning to face Ignatius he pointed at him “YOU WILL HAVE THOSE SCROLLS BROUGHT TO ME AT ONCE!! WE WILL DESTROY THEM THIS NIGHT AS WE SHOULD HAVE TWEENTY YEARS AGO.”            Ignatius with a nod quickly left to get the steel box and return with it.

Hunapo turned on the two scribes in his office. “I don’t know how this scribe managed to fool both of you but I am highly disappointed. It was bad enough when I though he was being led astray by someone in this temple. To find however, that the very boy you both recommended to me as more than capable and reliable, has been reading and copying tainted LOGOS under your very noses for a year is ludicrous.” Both Scribe looked at their feet in disgrace. “I have no choice now but to declare him a heretic and send him to the testing.” 

Then moving to stand in front of Master Scribe Dankrad, Hunapo lifted his head to stare into his eyes. “I should have you join him there. However, I need a transcription scribe for the new chapel. Since the biggest fault here is yours then it is my decision that you will be reduced in rank to Transcription Scribe. You will procure for me a copy of the Authorized text and replace this heretic Tal at the chapel in Luminous City.”

“Yes my lord Hunapo.” Was all that Dankrad dared to say. With that he fell to his knees before the Chief Illuminator to show how grateful he was for not being labeled a heretic along side his student.

Hunapo moved on to Chief Scribe Truman. “You Chief also vouched for this heretic. I am sure you were doing so on the words of your underlings.  Let this be a reminder too you not to take anyone’s word but to conduct your own investigation before you recommend someone for early advancement. Now I need you to appoint another Master to this copy room and get us back on track.”

Truman was relieved at not being found out. He had been the one who placed the Morningstar scroll in Tal’s transcription chest, nodded his head. “Of course my lord Hunapo, I will take care of that right away.” With that the two scribes took their leave of the Chief Illuminator.

As they were leaving, Ignatius with four Temple Guardians carrying the steel chest entered the Chief Illuminators office. Hunapo went over to the fire place and removed a burning piece of fire wood. “Put that thing in the courtyard and open it up”

With out a word the four guardians did as they were told. “You are dismissed!” Ignatius told them. Then without another word Chief Illuminator Hunapo walked over and dropped the burning wood into the chest. As the Chief Illuminator and Chief Inquisitor stood watching the scrolls burn, Ignatius said “Well that is the end of that crisis.”

Hunapo with rage burning in his eyes rounded on his Chief Inquisitor. “It will not be over till we find that heretic scribe and destroy the scroll he has. Where is he? Why can’t anyone find him? Are you all incompetent? Must I do everything myself?”

Before Ignatius could respond there was a commotion from the door to the Chief Illuminator’s office.  Chief Confessor Esmail came barging in and on seeing the Chief Illuminator in the court yard came right toward him at a quick pace. “Your Grace, the Captain of the Temple Guardians says that Transcription Scribe Tal is at the Main Gate requesting entrance.”

“Have him brought here immediately.” Hunapo turned and looked at Ignatius. Slowly a smile crept up his face. “Now we will be able to put an end to this crisis once and for all.” He then motioned for the chiefs to reenter his office.  “Hurry you two and bring me that heretic.”

Chapter Five: Throne room Encounter

For one day in YOUR courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a worker in the house of the LIGHT GIVER

Than to dwell in the palace of the Darkness.

        For the LIGHT GIVER is a sun and shield

The CREATOR will give grace and glory

No good thing will HE withhold from his Champion.-

Logos from the wall at Morningside Castle that appeared the day the Champion walked in the LIGHT GIVERS throne room.

Chapter five:

_________________________________________________

 Throne Room Encounter

While all this was happening, Tal was in the Throne room of the Light Giver’s Kingdom. What Tal saw there was beautiful, breath taking, and overwhelming. The throne room was huge and the floor, for the most part, looked to be made of the brightest and most polished gold that Tal had ever seen. Right in the center of the room the floor went from gold to what looked like a small sea of clear crystal so pure that he could see through it. He could see into the room below, where a large fire burned. Heavenly messengers seemed to be carrying things from inside the fire to the center of the underside of the crystal sea.

 Then his attention was drawn to the throne that sat in the very center of the sea. On the throne there appeared to be a figure seated. The figure was human shaped but glowed with every color of the rainbow so brightly that HIS glow seemed to provide a rainbow-colored light to every corner of the room. It was such a bright light that Tal noticed there were no shadows anywhere in the room. It appeared that darkness could not find a spot to dwell here.

   From the throne flashes of the purest light shot out into the rest of the palace, like lightning. Whenever the figure on the throne opened HIS mouth, the sound was like thunder, a million times amplified, so strong that the entire throne room vibrated with the sound of HIS voice. Between Tal and the figure on the throne were seven lamps on golden stands. Even though there was so much light in the room it was easy to see each one burning with open flame. On each corner of the Throne were the most amazing creatures Tal had ever seen.

One creature looked like a lion, one like an ox, one like a human, and one like an eagle. All of them had six wings, and they hovered at every corner of the throne with them. The strangest thing about them was their whole bodies were covered with eyes. It was like they looked everywhere at once; even their wings had eyes on them. 

All around the outer wall of the throne room, evenly spaced were twenty-four smaller thrones. Each of the smaller thrones faced toward the larger throne.  Seated on each throne was an elderly man. Each elder was clothed like a Keeper of the Light, only all their Keeper Robes were the purest white that Tal and ever seen. They were so pure they seemed to reflect the light of the Figure back at HIM.  On the head of each elder was a crown. The basic design of each crown was the same, a circlet of golden leaves. However, each crown was as unique as the elder who wore it. They all had different gems and precious stones arranged in various patterns between the golden leaves.

As the LIGHT GIVER approached the central throne the four creatures began to sing in loud yet beautiful voices “Holy, Holy, Holy is The LIGHT GIVER and the CREATOR, who always has been, who always is, and who is still to come.”  As they sang the LIGHT GIVER began to merge with the figure on the throne until they were one and the same.  Suddenly it was the LIGHT GIVER, who was sitting on the central throne.

As the LIGHT GIVER was seated the twenty-four elders lowered themselves from their thrones and removed their crowns and bowed down to the LIGHT GIVER. Then laying their crowns as close to the throne as they could, they began to sing in a counter harmony to the four creatures. “Worthy are YOU oh LIGHT GIVER and our CREATOR to receive all the glory and all the honor and all the power. You created all things for your pleasure. All YOUR creations exist because of You.

As they continued to sing this over and over the light grew in intensity. The lightning flashed faster and faster from the throne. The voice grew louder and louder as the song grew louder and louder until Tal knew that he could stand it no longer. He fell flat on the floor with his head buried under his hands. Suddenly, he realized that from his mouth came the same song as the elders were singing. They all repeated the song over and over for what could have been an eternity. Even if it was an eternity that wouldn’t be  enough time to worship HIM as HE deserved.

The next thing Tal became aware of was the LIGHT GIVER stooping down and taking him in HIS arms. Then gently lifting Tal to stand before HIM said. “Tal, thank you for your worship, it was in spirit and truth. However, right now we need to get you ready to be my champion in the Kingdom of Light. So let us start with me giving you the gifts that I promised in the catacombs.”

“First I give you my armor. This will both protect you and give you your main weapons. Take the garment of my vengeance; but remember that your enemies are not flesh and blood. They are the principalities, powers and rulers of darkness in high places that are behind the humans. Your goal is to bring freedom to my creations that are under the influence of the Darkness.”

“Next take the cloak of zeal; with it, you will be able to act in the face of overwhelming odds and come out victorious.  You will know that the excitement and determination to do so are my excitement and determination flowing through you. You will be filled with my indignation at injustice and enslavement of my creations. You will be overcome with my desire to bring justice and freedom; tempered with mercy and compassion.”  

 “Then take the helmet of Salvation, which will allow you to renew your mind and take every thought captive with the truth of what I have done for you. With the helmet, you will know that I have purchased your freedom and that of every other creature on the face of the planet.  When the enemy and accuser of my people comes against you, he will whisper how unworthy you and they are. This helmet will allow you will know the truth and be set free from his influence.”    

“Next I give you the breast plate of my righteousness. It will protect your heart and emotions from the accuser. He will try to remind you of how you used to belong to those set against the task I have given you. He will try to make you feel ashamed and under equipped to lead others into my true light.  Know this Tal while that was true, it is not your worthiness that you act upon. Instead, it is my worthiness which I have covered you with. It is not your readiness that will lead others to my light but my readiness to have them in the light again that draws them back to me.”

“Next take the waist-belt of truth. Let the truth of my LOGOS, which is alive and active cover your stomach and fill you like food. Remember my every word is more nourishing than any food you eat. If you allow it to my LOGOS will satisfy you like no other food can. Take it in Tal and make it the sustenance that refreshes and energizes you. Allow it to make you grow and become stronger in your relationship with me.”

“Take the shoes of peace and know that everywhere your foot treads you will advance my Kingdom. You will take the principles that the Kingdom of the LIGHT GIVER is founded upon and introduce them anew to my people. The principles of my Kingdom which provides peace which denies understanding, will flow everywhere you walk. Those who choose to be my people will accept them as their own principles.”

 “Then take as your shield, faith in my faithfulness. Believe in my faithfulness Tal, and realize that I cannot be unfaithful. Even when things look as if I have abandoned you, even if things look like all hope is lost, I will never leave you nor renounce you. Know that I will always be with you until the end of time”

“Finally take as your primary weapon the sword of the Spirit.  My Spirit dwells in you Tal and in my LOGOS. As you spend time in my LOGOS, my Spirit grows stronger inside of you. It will become like a sharp double edge sword for the destruction of my enemies. With it, you are armed to defeat the lies of the enemy. To bring my Light to the darkest soul you meet, and to fulfill the task that I have given you as my Champion.”  

As HE had spoken of each piece of armor, it had appeared on Tal’s body. By the time he was finished Tal was no longer clothed as a Keeper. Instead, he wore the armor of the KING OF KINGS and looked every bit the Champion of the LIGHT GIVER.  As Tal looked down, he saw the Armor of the LIGHT GIVER glowing as it covered his body. It seemed to be made of a metal with a mother of pearl quality to it.

Right in the center of the breast plate appeared a single tongue of flame that moved and flickered as if alive. He drew the Sword of the Spirit and noticed it was made of a metal that glowed with the same type of fire as on the breast plate.  The Shield on his left arm was as long as his torso and twice as wide yet it had no weight. It seemed to glow also, but with the same light which came from the LIGHT GIVER himself. Placing the sword back in its sheath he noticed the glow from it was not hidden at all.    

Then the LIGHT GIVER place his hands upon Tal’s head and said, “Be filled with my Spirit” and breathed on him the breath of LIFE. Tal felt as if he was consumed with living fire which empowered and revitalized him. He was swept up with a boldness that all but overwhelmed him.  

Then the LIGHT GIVER took him by the hand placing a ring on his finger “The CREATOR has given me all authority over the earth and Heaven and the realm of the Darkness. With this signet ring, I give you all that has been given to me. I claim you as my Champion and representative to the Kingdom of Light.  Know that greater works than I have ever done you will do in my name and with all of my authority.”    

Then looking at one of the Twenty four elders the LIGHT GIVER said, “Agyei, it is time for you to give him the prophetic assignment just as you gave it to me when I walked his planet.”  With that the elder got up from his throne and walked to stand before Tal. The LIGHT GIVER took a step back “Kneel Tal”  

Tal knelt before the little old man, whose eyes were filled with the power of the LIGHT GIVER.

He placed hands on Tal and began; “The Spirit of the CREATOR is upon you for the LIGHT GIVER has appointed you to proclaim his KINGDOM.  You will proclaim healing for the sick and peace to the tormented. You will proclaim liberty for the captive of the spirit war and release for the prisoner of wrong doing. You will declare the time of the LIGHT GIVER’S favor and of the vengeance of the CREATOR on his enemies.”  With that the elder returned to his throne and rejoined the chorus of worship that had been ongoing since the arrival of the LIGHT GIVER in the throne room.    

           

            The LIGHT GIVER came up to Tal and held out HIS hand. “One more thing would I do for you my Champion, give me the scroll you took from the Temple.” Tal handed it to his Master. The LIGHT GIVER reached out and touched it to Tal’s lips. “My Logos is within you. It will warm you, like a fire in your bones, until you unleash it to my people.” With that Tal felt warmth begin to radiate throughout his being. He suddenly knew every word of the scroll, as if it had been branded on his heart.  

The LIGHT GIVER’S hand was now empty. Before Tal could even ask the question forming in his mind, the answer was being given. “The scroll is within you now Tal. When you need it then it shall come to your hand.   Know this, even among our enemies you will find those hungry for the truth of my LOGOS. As you speak my LOGOS, they will know the Truth which will free them from the Darkness.”

“When you have need of it my LIGHT will flow out of you like a mighty flood and overwhelm your enemies.  Now take from my servant Taraka this staff. With it perform my miracles and wonders as a testament of my love and power.”  

Another of the twenty four elders came forward and placed a staff in Tal’s hands and returned to his throne to rejoin the worship. “Tal I am sure that you have many questions, but I will not answer them now. Know that my Spirit will teach you everything you need to know as you go. You know my voice, follow it whenever you hear it.  

It is time for you to return to your Keep and face the first battle as my Champion. Be strong and courageous Tal, for I go with you even though you won’t see me.”  And with that Tal was translated to the main door of the Temple of the Keepers of Light.”