Disclaimer-I don't own Kento of Hardrock or Dais of Illusion, they belong to their respective owners and producers. This is the second religious story in a series of three religious stories based on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Since all three stories are based on Catholic Traditions, this story will take Catholic views. If you do not want to read a story based on Catholic Traditions, then DO NOT READ THIS STORY. I WILL NOT FORCE MY RELIGION DOWN ANYONE ELSE'S THROAT.
On Good Friday
Isabel Night
As Hardrock walks with me inside the "church," he says that we are here to celebrate "Good Friday." I notice that the church is quiet, quieter than the "Ash Wednesday" Mass.
As we take our seats, I absently notice the statue of a man to the right side of the area where the "altar" is placed. The man looks familiar, but I don't know how I know that. "Hardrock," I whisper, "who is that man?"
"That's St. Francis Xavier," Hardrock replies, "he brought Catholicism to our country in the 1500's. You would have been about two or three years old when he made his last trip here. A short time after his last trip, he went back to Europe where he later died."
"He looks familiar," I whispered.
"Do you remember meeting him when you were little?" Hardrock questioned.
"All I remember is a man dressed like the priest at this church who came to my home region. He talked to the other children, but he told me something that I still don't understand."
"What did he tell you?" Hardrock asked, puzzled.
"He said I had an "angel" watching over me."
"Is that all?" Hardrock replied as he furrowed his eyebrows.
"He also told me that "angels" come to people in many shapes and forms. Do you think he knew about…?" I stop as memories of Anubis come flooding back into my mind. Did this saint know about the impact Anubis would have on me when I got older? Did he know that Anubis would become my "angel?"
I push these thoughts out of my head as the service begins. Today, according to the priest, is the day Jesus died on a cross to save everyone from his or her sins. The mood is very somber, and as the story is being read, I unconsciously shed tears. They say Jesus died unjustly, but so did Anubis. Why did Anubis have to die for our mistakes? Why did he have to suffer for our faults and failings? My mind screams these questions as the "priest" gives his "sermon."
I am very surprised at how the "priest" says that we will never know how Jesus' followers felt when he died, but the "priest" can't even begin to describe the pain Cale, Sekhmet, and I felt when Anubis died for us. This mortal says that giving up one's life for one's friends is considered the ultimate act of love, but this mortal doesn't even understand the emotional pain that a person's friend suffers when they die. Anubis opened us up to many things: he was our light, our reason to be social with other people, and our reason to become the family we became. And now, all three of us have shut down emotionally. We let no one in because we don't want to get hurt. We've shut everyone else out because we don't have a choice. Should something happen to Cale or Sekhmet, I would die inside, and I can't go through that again.
If Hardrock can sense these thoughts, then he would probably take me to what the mortals call a "psychiatrist," or a doctor that heals the mind.
Hardrock sees me crying and puts him arm around my shoulders. He smiles at me and says, "Where there is death and despair, there is also hope and life."
I missed the meaning of the service, but Hardrock understands. When we're leaving the "church," I ask him what he meant when he said, "Where there is death and despair, there is also hope and life." He smiles and says he'll take me to church on "Easter Sunday" for that answer.
THE END…Until Easter Sunday
On Good Friday
Isabel Night
As Hardrock walks with me inside the "church," he says that we are here to celebrate "Good Friday." I notice that the church is quiet, quieter than the "Ash Wednesday" Mass.
As we take our seats, I absently notice the statue of a man to the right side of the area where the "altar" is placed. The man looks familiar, but I don't know how I know that. "Hardrock," I whisper, "who is that man?"
"That's St. Francis Xavier," Hardrock replies, "he brought Catholicism to our country in the 1500's. You would have been about two or three years old when he made his last trip here. A short time after his last trip, he went back to Europe where he later died."
"He looks familiar," I whispered.
"Do you remember meeting him when you were little?" Hardrock questioned.
"All I remember is a man dressed like the priest at this church who came to my home region. He talked to the other children, but he told me something that I still don't understand."
"What did he tell you?" Hardrock asked, puzzled.
"He said I had an "angel" watching over me."
"Is that all?" Hardrock replied as he furrowed his eyebrows.
"He also told me that "angels" come to people in many shapes and forms. Do you think he knew about…?" I stop as memories of Anubis come flooding back into my mind. Did this saint know about the impact Anubis would have on me when I got older? Did he know that Anubis would become my "angel?"
I push these thoughts out of my head as the service begins. Today, according to the priest, is the day Jesus died on a cross to save everyone from his or her sins. The mood is very somber, and as the story is being read, I unconsciously shed tears. They say Jesus died unjustly, but so did Anubis. Why did Anubis have to die for our mistakes? Why did he have to suffer for our faults and failings? My mind screams these questions as the "priest" gives his "sermon."
I am very surprised at how the "priest" says that we will never know how Jesus' followers felt when he died, but the "priest" can't even begin to describe the pain Cale, Sekhmet, and I felt when Anubis died for us. This mortal says that giving up one's life for one's friends is considered the ultimate act of love, but this mortal doesn't even understand the emotional pain that a person's friend suffers when they die. Anubis opened us up to many things: he was our light, our reason to be social with other people, and our reason to become the family we became. And now, all three of us have shut down emotionally. We let no one in because we don't want to get hurt. We've shut everyone else out because we don't have a choice. Should something happen to Cale or Sekhmet, I would die inside, and I can't go through that again.
If Hardrock can sense these thoughts, then he would probably take me to what the mortals call a "psychiatrist," or a doctor that heals the mind.
Hardrock sees me crying and puts him arm around my shoulders. He smiles at me and says, "Where there is death and despair, there is also hope and life."
I missed the meaning of the service, but Hardrock understands. When we're leaving the "church," I ask him what he meant when he said, "Where there is death and despair, there is also hope and life." He smiles and says he'll take me to church on "Easter Sunday" for that answer.
THE END…Until Easter Sunday