Welcome to my seemingly endless journey.
A trip that will take you to places I might have visited many moons ago.
It´s a tale that came back to me when I meditated on one of my past lives. A life I told you about in my unbelievable true story.
As promised in that story I will now share this story with you.
Chapter 23
"Numico, you put me in a very difficult position. I certainly want to discuss that with you," I try to sound serious to convince the boy that what he is doing is indeed dangerous. Let alone frightening those who remain in ignorance.
At the same time, I am well aware that he saves my life and that it is meant to be. I can't send him back and will have to start treating him as an equal.
Numico's words slowly sink in, this journey cannot succeed if only one of us undertakes it. But starting such a journey with this boy is going to be very different from what I envisioned. The strange thing is that the idea of continuing the journey together feels better than every step I have taken so far since starting this seemingly endless journey.
Just as sternly, I say: "We'll talk about it later, when we set up camp at the edge of the forest. That's still a bit from here, so we're leaving now."
I see a smile on his face, because he also realizes that if we move on it is almost certain that he will not have to go back. The smart eyes sparkle, and before I pick up my bags Numico is already walking towards the Darkwood.
Carefully I avoid the eating earth while I pick the two almost ripe Halicen flowers before I run after Numico.
On the way, we are silent. The boy probably because he doesn't know what awaits him. Me because my plans need to be completely revised. The realization that the way I treat Numico is not right is slowly starting to sink in. His appearance keeps me falling into the role of teacher/child. In my thoughts, I still consider myself superior.
Whether the great ones whisper it or whether the thoughts come from my heart I don't know, but gradually, I begin to realize that I have to change my attitude towards the boy. Not because he saved my life, for which I am very grateful, but because it is becoming clear to me that this boy has undertaken a journey without outside support or help, a journey that almost killed me.
Despite his appearance, he was able to deceive me and follow me unnoticed. He is also the initiator of this entire enterprise. The latter leads me to the conclusion that perhaps I should follow him, rather than the other way around.
This boy is not what he seems. When I walk next to him, I put my arm around his narrow shoulder. "Thank you Numico," the boy looks at the ground, blushing. "Don't worry, we will make this journey together, you have more than proven that you can handle it. But we cannot continue to treat each other in the way we are used to."
Big questioning eyes look at me in shock. "Smile boy, tonight it's time for your Terastata, your initiation into manhood. I know you have a little while to go in terms of years, but we can't go on without it being clear that you're as much a man as I am. So that we can continue this journey as companions, friends, yes, as equals. Before that, I can travel no further."
The boy beams with pride, "Thank you Master."
"Ugh," I cough. Now you can still call me that, but after tonight I'll just be Martio. The boy nods, and the mere thought of undergoing the initiation ritual makes him already seem more manly.
Camp is set up in no time since there are two of us, I dare to stay on the ground during the night. We agree to take turns keeping watch. Then I get up, the twilight has now given way to darkness. That means that the ritual can begin.
I walk four times around the fire, once for each direction. Then on the north, I place a bowl of water, on the south I light a candle, the east is formed by a small mound of soil, and the west remains empty. Although of course there is air there that represents the West.
I go behind Numico, who has unknowingly taken a seat at the northern tip. I take my knife from one of the pockets of my vest, and with one quick movement, I strip the boy of a few inches of his hair. I put this in a small bag, then I ask him to put his arms in the air, and I very carefully cut off the thumbnails. They also go in the bag.
The boy does not know what awaits him, this ritual is something that should not be discussed. Not because of possible fears or aversions, but because it must be done in complete ignorance. So that he who is initiated must give last heed to the requests of an elder, without wondering where it will lead or what the next step will be.
Then the tip of my curved blade slides past the boy's neck, I feel his breathing quicken, but he stays put. The tip drops to the boy's chest. When it lands there I look up, the stars shine in a dark clear sky. With a quick movement, I put the tip of the knife in the meat and pull it up a bit. The soft flesh splits, and blood seeps down his chest.
The boy has not moved and is still staring into the flames. Then I take a cloth that I have treated with a mixture of herbs, which prevent possible infections and help the wound heal quickly. I put it in the boy's hand, and press it against the fresh wound. He stays like that for a few minutes, then I take the cloth out of his hand. This is also put in the bag.
Once again, I walk past the cardinal directions and their elements and ask them to guide this boy into his upcoming adulthood. Back behind Numico I put the bag in his hand.
"Give the flames their due and let them consume your past so that you are ready for your future as a man," I whisper.
Numico throws the bag into the flames. We both watch how the flames have made the pouch disappear in no time. We see how the youth of the boy climbs up with the smoke to return among the stars, where our origins lie.
Then I take the water that represented the north. "You chose to protect this totem," I say, emptying the bowl over his head.
The boy starts to laugh, an infectious laugh that carries me along too. We both laugh, "if I had known that, I would have preferred to sit on a different point, although fire does not seem like a pleasant choice either."
This will help you remember your totem," I chuckle, as I start preparing dinner for tonight. "Drink this mug and then help me get some more wood, man."
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