Feedback is welcome at [email protected]

Part 1

A myth? I questioned the chief, "A myth, Chief? May I hear it?"

His voice slowly drew out, as he responded, "Sure, son. I'll tell you all about the Gods, and Goddesses of Magics." My interest perked up at those words, as it was evident on my face, as the Chief smiled at me.

At last, I thought, I'd find out the TRUE story behind those stones I held in my palm. Burning questions were at the back of my mind. I kept thinking, "What powers are contained in these stones, and why do I feel drawn to some, and not to others?"

My attention was caught by the Chief's first words. "A very, very long time ago, the Gods and Goddesses were unpleased with the way man kept using powers for the wrong reasons. Wars were waged, some bloody and ferecious, some brother against brother, over these powers. The Gods and Goddesses wept, and rained blood. The powers were locked away in stones, until mankind became peaceful."

I exclaimed in surprise, "You mean these stones?" I held out a palmful of stones toward the Chief. His eyes widen, and his finger slowly traced them, for a moment, with a smile on his face. "How lucky. You possess some of the great stones."

He pointed to one of the reddish colored ones, and remarked, "That's from the God of Fire. That of the Goddess of Water. Ooh! This one is of Healing. Very useful. I have one myself." He looked at me inquistively, "How did you acquire those stones?" I looked him into the eyes, and noticed he was implicitly trusting me. I said simply, "They were passed down from my family. I don't know who originally owned them, or where they came from." The Chief nodded knowingly at me, "Perhaps you had a mage in your family a long time ago, who knew the wise use of it. Too bad you don't know how to tap into it. I feel you are one of those rare individuals who knows what is right, or wrong. Listen to your instincts, my son."

I was taken back at this news. I looked at the Chief with a question in my eyes, and cradled the stones in my half closed palm. After hearing this, I had a feeling of prescience, almost. Like the future was almost revealed, but not quite. A feeling of something that would happen, and I was in the middle of it. My unoccupied hand flew to my forehead. I felt a little weird for a moment, but then time resumed, and it seemed like none of it had happened. I blinked for a few moments. The Chief simply stood there, and was seemingly waiting for me to say something. I smiled at him, in an assured smile.

"Is that all there is in this legend? Can you teach me to tap into these stones?" I asked him THE question. He looked at me, and his eyes seemed to bore into me so deeply, I felt exposed in his eyes. He seemed satisfied with something that only he saw. He smiled at me. "Yes. I can teach you. But. I only know basic stuff."

I smiled in understanding at the Chief. "Well. Basics is what I have to learn anyways!" That earned a deep belly laugh from the Chief, who had humor sparkling in his eyes. He slapped me on the shoulder and led me into a private antechamber of his, which turned out to be a meditative temple, of sorts. Dark curtains adorned the primitive window openings, and it was silent, except for our breathing.

The Chief broke the silence, which startled me for a moment, since I had been getting used to the hushed atmosphere. He cracked a smile, and said, "Here, my son. You will find out which stones seek you. Which are you drawn to most?"

I looked at him in surprise. Surprise at that he KNEW I was drawn to several stones in my palm. Surprise that the stones knew one of their own, or what he seemed to imply. I was rewarded by a small chuckle coming from the Chief. "Do you not know that I know what you feel? I have used one or two stones before. Not to a great degree, but enough for my own purposes.", was the Chief's comment. Before I had time to ponder his comment, he led me to a low bench, with a broad wooden platform, and small curved depressions that looked big enough to hold the stones I was holding in my palm. Seeking directions in his eyes, he motioned to put the stones into the depression. Although he didn't tell me which to put where, I somehow knew which stone fitted in which depression. To my amazement, each stone either glowed brightly, or grew dim. I looked up at the Chief, who was standing across from me, watching me. I asked, "What is this?" He smiled at me. "Oh. It's a table ....an altar. It tunes into your...ah...affinities, and causes the stones you have to glow, and knows which one you will prefer."

"Really?" I started to put the stones that glowed in my palm, onto the small indentations. The Chief looked at the specific stones, and nodded. "Yes. You have several affinities. But remember that the more you use one particular stone, another similiar stone, but opposiing, might not be able to glow that brightly."

I leaned backwards for a moment, tugging at my white-off colored tunic. I decided to ask what stones I had, that were glowing.

"So, what are these stones?" I pointed at the brightly glowing stones. The Chief smiled, "Well, Rajin, The blue glow is from the God of Water. The Green glow is from the Goddess of Healing. And this one, this purple glow, is the God of Spirit."

I memorized the ones he pointed out. I thought they would be very useful. I looked at the Chief with inquisitive eyes. "So...how do you tap into it?"

The Chief spread his arms wide, palms outward, and said, "That part is up to you."

I became annoyed a little with him. "What do you mean? Up to me? I thought you were going to teach me?" The Chief simply shrugged his massive shoulders, and laid his muscular and callused hand on my shoulder.

"As I said, son. It's up to you. Believe in it. It will know you. Just let it flow into you." The Chief said this, looking at me.

I muttered something under my breath, and nodded. Okay. I had to believe in it. I had to let it flow? I cupped the Spirit Stone in my palms, and relaxed. I tried to breath deeply, and let it flow. Apparently I had been doing it right. The Spirit Stone began to glow dimly, with a purple iridescent color, then brighter, and brighter, and began to glow and radiate a warmth into my soul. My mind was so focused into this task, I barely recognized what I would learn later to be 'insights' from the stones. My soul felt so buoyant and free, and I suddenly realized that my mind was expanding as well, to learn a new skill, and a new way of seeing things.

Images floated into my mind. Images of objects moving around on its own. Images of staring into a bowl of water, and seeing things across a country. Images of a purple glow emanating from my hands, to help an ailing man back to health. Images of possibilities I had never considered. My eyes snapped open immediately, and I dropped the stone abruptly, as if in pain. The stone landed onto the ground, and rolled to the altar base.

"Whoa! What was that?", I exclaimed to the Chief. He merely chuckled at my poleaxed expression, and said, "You've tapped into it. You're a natural. It took me much longer to do it."

I stared into his azure eyes with shock. His crinkly eyes were bemused with my response. I managed to only say, "What? If I have to go through that everytime I try to tap into it?"

The Chief patted his belly as if he were amused. "No, Rajin. That always happens. The first time. The other times, it's less of an shock, and usually you do 'learn' more, but not as profoundly."

I was relieved, but yet disappointed. The experience had been very illuminating, and very shocking, making my being wonder at the barest potential that I had. I wondered why the stone had been so responding, and so strong?

I inquired him about this. He grinned with an impish humor. "Well, this altar makes things stronger, probably because it is somewhat of a power source, although I don't really know, since it's been around for many of my generations ago."

I nodded absently. I leaned down to pick up the stone. It glowed briefly at my touch, then resumed its normal luminence. I wondered what this meant. If I could tap into these stones, then... what did it mean? Did it mean a war was coming? Was there trouble coming?

To be continued....