Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 9
Chapter 18: The Last Medium
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
I was in my room as I was asleep, but I was also trying to flee from the grip of the interstice. Even though I was in the Men of Letters bunker, I was trying to wake up as I saw Azazel standing in front of me. I never forgot his evil smile as he was still adamant into goading me to drink his blood. I didn't want to have anything to do with him as I was feeling my body being controlled with my arms stretched out. I was scared to death as I was trying to fight it until I broke free. I was afraid of the yellow-eyed demon as he wasn't about to stop until I tasted his blood, for he wanted me to be a factor of an unwanted task.
"You can't resist me, Sam," he said to me. "I can be more of a father than the one who lost his life. I can be greater than Ippei Mitani. And yes, I can be greater than the new head honcho of the Grey Havens in which he even defied his own dark father just to side with the men who raised him to be decent. As for you, you're the key to my resurrection and you can't fight what is put in front of you, for I am waiting for you to set me free."
"Leave me alone!" I yelled as I fled.
I was running out into the hall of the bunker as I felt the ground turn into a tarpit. I was sinking fast until I woke up in a cold sweat. I was fearing the presence of Azazel even further as I was scared out of my mind the moment I got out of bed. When I put on my robe, I rushed outside towards the harbor as I saw the ocean waves crashing near the shore. I didn't want to be a part of anything as I was worried to the brink of insanity. I was losing it as I was also scared to death when it came to Azazel wanting me to drink his blood, for I also had to face him when it came to dreaming in the interstice. When I went back inside, I went into the sitting room as I sat down in one of the chairs. I couldn't think straight as I was also in Azazel's crosshairs. He was waiting for me to drink from him, for I didn't want to suffer from his cruel trickery any longer. I thought about Gyatso as he was a medium that senses all forms of evil in which he had a crucial job to do, for he would soon be vital in his duty to prevent Azazel's resurrection at any cost.
It wasn't long until I saw Sully rush into the room as he was concerned for my health. Even though he came and went, he was worried about me as he also had concerns about the presence of Azazel's aura. Even though he was a zanna, he couldn't let anything slide as he feared the yellow-eyed demon's presence, for he was a terror that manifested even after his demise in the Elder Days.
"There's no end to Azazel's trickery," I said as I felt my hands shaking.
"It's what he wants, Sam," said Sully.
"Every time I'm in the interstice, I see him with his finger pricked all because he wants me to drink his blood. He's watching my every move I make in which he'll stop at nothing to force me to the interstice just to do his bidding and then he'll be back to life and causing panic."
"Every humanoid, angel, demon, and monster fears Azazel, but we zanna also fear him. Ever since his demise, he's been gathering strength just to return to life, but our power to keep him away is getting weaker. The only way to get rid of him is to bring a medium who is strong enough to give him an eviction notice from the interstice."
"Gyatso… I know that he's still a boy, but he's also a medium that is qualified to prevent Azazel from resurfacing."
"And we can help you be stronger to stand against the bastard. We zanna may be the proverbial Sesame Street Mother Teresas, but we also have to defend the interstice from the likes of Azazel and what he stands for. In the Elder Days, I never knew that your past self drank the guy's blood until I heard from my other friends and how they saw Gyaki struggling to weaken the yellow-eyed monster. If Gyatso is strong enough, I hope that he has bigger balls to stand up to that chump."
"Let's hope so…"
I saw Sully leave without a trace as I was alone in which I was depending on Gyatso and his efforts to do his training as a medium. I had high hopes for him as he was someone who was once cared for, but he was now ready to protect me in return, for this was a hopeful endeavor that would soon be realized in the long run. When I returned to my room, I laid back down as I was trying to get back to sleep in which I can still sense Azazel's aura all over me as if an invisible thread was keeping me tethered, for he wouldn't stop tormenting me until he forced me to do what he wanted, for I was scared of it. He wanted me to drink his blood in which I would be the key to Azazel's resurrection, but I won't let myself become prey to him...
The next morning, Gyatso was in his room as he woke up and saw the northern wind still blowing from outside. It had been three days since the discovery of a training temple underneath the abandoned lighthouse as he left his room and went towards the sitting room where he sat in the chair where the Superman leg lamp was. He was worried about what was happening as he was more than likely to be undergoing some training to be a medium in which he was also staring at the bookshelf where the popular Supernatural and The Winchesters books were put at. When he got at the first book, he looked at the art of the two shirtless models as he started on the first page until he saw me coming into the sitting room, for I was also concerned about what was going on as well.
"You're up early," I said.
"I'm worried about what's under the lighthouse," said Gyatso. "I saw that picture of Grandpa in which he also helped to stop that yellow-eyed meanie."
"I don't know about Gyaki's involvement into stopping Azazel, but the demon met his end from a bullet that was fired by the Colt in All Hell Breaks Loose. I also know that he's in the interstice waiting to be resurrected and cause havoc again."
"I just wished that I was strong as Grandpa… I can't let that meanie hurt you like that."
"Training takes patience, strength, and discipline in which one can hone their skills to what is best for them. I remembered the training with Ippei in which I had to master my mental prowess. Once I did it, the—"
Gyatso saw the sitting room changing as he found himself in a familiar home from the Elder Days. It was the home where the Winchesters of Old stayed in as he saw a calendar with a horse on it. He saw the month of November, 1983, as he went upstairs to find out what was going on. He saw the Mary of Old as she rushed into a baby room in which she thought that it was her husband until it was too late when she lost her life. When he hid in a closet, he saw Azazel leaving with a smile on his face as he also saw John rushing to what was going on. He noticed Dean as a little boy getting up after using the bathroom as he later noticed smoke coming from the baby room. He rushed into the room afterwards as he saw the fate that the Mary of Old met with until he returned to reality. When he saw me standing in front of him, he was scared to death as I did my best to comfort him, for what he saw wasn't suitable for children to see.
"It was terrible, Sam," he said. "I saw the past self of Princess Mary dead at the hands of that meanie!"
"You saw Azazel, didn't you?" I said to him as he nodded.
"He left the house with a smile on his face after he did that horrible thing."
"You mean by feeding my past self some of his blood? I know of it too well in which he spent his years suffering from all of this mess."
"Gyatso!" cried Reiko as she entered into the sitting room. "Thank the gods that you didn't get ensnared in the interstice."
"I saw him, Reiko," he said. "I also know what he did in the Elder Days. I also don't want him to hurt Sam, either. As for what was found under the lighthouse, it's a temple to train mediums that sense evil everywhere. I have to live up to what Grandpa fought for and I won't stop until Sam's safe. We're family, right? I was in stasis when you found me and I can't fail in what was put in front of me."
It wasn't long until I saw Sybil enter into the room as she was concerned about what was happening so far. Even though it was three days since the northern wind grounded some of the mainlanders from returning home, the elderly psychic wasn't about to throw in the towel yet as she also had a gut feeling that Gyatso wasn't ready for such a trivial task. I noticed my young ward getting up and putting away the book back in the shelf as he saw Sybil there, for he wasn't afraid of her at all.
"Looks like you have the last survivor of mediums who fled to parts unknown," she said.
"There are no other mediums like me, is there?" said Gyatso.
"No, but they were also doing their best to protect you from those who fear your presence. Their deaths and sacrifice weren't in vain, young man, but you have a family who cares about you more than anything."
"And it's also time to have our breakfast," said Reiko. "Besides, we can't worry too much on an empty stomach anyway."
And so, we left the sitting room as we were in the dining hall the moment that the breakfast was made. Still, we had so much to do as we also had to worry about Gyatso in which he was someone that had to be protected, for he was also the last medium after all…
Akio was in his office at the Order's main headquarters on Valinor as he was looking into the further files that were on his desk. The continued sightings of the Zenith Vectors irked him to no end as he also noticed a newspaper the moment he picked it up. He saw an image of Jacob on the front page as he was still demanding humanity to be on top. When he put down the newspaper, he heard the door opening up as he noticed Reuben arriving in which he was reporting as usual, for he was also keeping up on any stray medical work that escaped him.
"This shit never ends, does it?" said Akio.
"And we're right in the middle of it," said Reuben.
"These days, the Zenith Vectors have been causing widespread terrorism in which the Alecrian Stewards are demanding their heads after the attack on one of the passenger trains in the capital, Isildur."
"There's been some good news in which the Zenith Vectors fled with their tails between their legs after their failed attempt to rob what was left of the Freleng. The locals said that a red-haired demoness went in and abducted Sam's old nemesis."
"So, Abaddon has Sylvana back in her possession, but that doesn't mean that she abandoned her habits of stealing innocent souls just to convert into her demon army. What we should also look out for is the resurrection of Azazel in which Sam will end up being forced to drink from him in the interstice. For the record, have you heard of a family of Draaza mediums?"
"No…"
"From what I know, most of the crew left some Winchester descendants on Alecrast, but the rest of them ended up dead after crashlanding in the Dabb Mountains on Shiganshina. From what I heard from the old lady and her pets, there's one sole survivor of that family and that is none other than that Draaza boy in Sam's care."
"Gyatso… I've seen him when he first came with us after we brought Sam and his family out of Shiganshina at the time..."
Reuben was stunned to hear about the news as he was more than likely to be making his visit to Skald Island. He was also concerned about the safety of Gyatso as the boy was the last of a group of mediums that sensed all forms of evil, for this was a revelation all in itself. By the time he left Akio's office, he was stopped by Beryl as she wanted to have an audience with him. Like most of the people who loathed being around her, the rest of high society hated Beryl as her reputation for being a fervent warhawk was something that irked everyone all over the galaxy, for she craved the carnage of war more than sex or drugs.
"You're pretty tense today," she said.
"You're in the way, Beryl," said Reuben as he saw her rub against him. "Don't even try to make me faithless towards my family, so I suggest that you back off."
"I'm a woman, Reuben! I have needs just as much as a man does."
"Then take your needs elsewhere!" Reuben steps away as he was repulsed by Beryl's actions. "Your plan to seduce me won't work because I have a wife and two daughters here and I won't be unfaithful to them!"
"Unfaithful, you say? In the Elder Days, most of the original Men of Letters took mistresses and lovers just to keep their bloodlines from drying up and this motley group still has to keep nice and stick with the old rusty model."
"Don't try my patience, Beryl! If I were you, I suggest that you go back home and bone your boring husband and leave me alone!"
"You'll be sorry for this, Reuben! See if you ain't!"
"You should return to your family in Mirhuin and not bother me again! Don't even try to seduce me or else you will have your reputation in high society ruined. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to return to my family and after that, I have to go to a medical conference."
Reuben left as he wasn't about to let Beryl have his way of him. Like other members of the Order, he was forbidden to be unfaithful to his family as he didn't want to associate himself with other affairs, for he had to focus on his medicine and position in the Medical Corps. Still, he had to keep to his work as he didn't want anyone else to disrupt it, for he had other things to do anyway...
Dirk was at the beach as he was ready to study for the next few days, but was barred due to the fact that he had to take time off before he ended up being exhausted. He was still ready to resume his work just to study in the Hunter Corps until he rushed towards the abandoned lighthouse. When he went inside, he went downstairs where the training temple was as he noticed the interior that was in it. When he went further in, he saw a spirit pool as it was unused for centuries. He never saw anything like it before when he was ready to touch at it until he heard some quick footsteps coming downstairs, for he was in for a big surprise.
"Boy, you can't just up and touch that water with dirty hands," said Missouri as she was standing from behind. "Sybil knows more about spiritual pools in which you have to cleanse yourself before diving into them."
"This must've been unused until now," said Dirk as he turned around.
"This place was supposed to be a temple to train mediums until the bulk of them ended up dead on Shiganshina."
"We lived on that planet for six months after Darbus forced us into exile at the time. That was when we found Gyatso and took him in. Sam and Reiko told me about how Gyatso was a medium, but were there anyone else like him?"
"No, but the mediums that were tasked to protect the universe from the threats of all evil are all dead in which they're labeled as extinct until that boy was found in stasis. From what Sybil told us was that the fear of Azazel's resurrection is nigh after the death of Gyaki and his kin after some of his crewmembers stayed on Alecrast. They were on their way to Vailnor until their ship ended up crashlanding on Shiganshina, but that wasn't all. With the Sol Project destroyed and the war over, it was a sign and omen that would soon bring Azazel back to life in which he'll even challenge Abaddon for Hell's throne and we all know that she doesn't like competition."
"And I thought Crowley was bad… I bet that he had more than just a hate boner for Abaddon…"
"And that girl has a destructive temper in which she spares no one, friend or foe. She even goes after renegade demons and those who were loyal to Milverton in which her rage knows no end."
"That's a real downer..."
Dirk noticed a sphere on the floor as he picked it up. He knew of it to be Draaza technology as it was far different than what he was used to. At that moment, he turned the on the moment he saw a holographic image of Gyaki as he was concerned about what was going down, for the message would be an alarming one.
"To anyone who is receiving this message, we've been hit by an asteroid," he said on screen. "We are doing everything in our power to get some of our people in stasis, including my grandson, Gyatso, who will be the last of my line if we don't make it. The remainder of our crew already placed our human stowaway, Ben, and my niece, Borta, in stasis already. Matriarch Mitratha also put her own children in stasis in which she's hoping that everyone survives. My daughter and son-in-law are already manning the controls so we don't die in space, for I will also do my part in seeing the Harryhausen out of harm's way. If there are any survivors, please let our message be answered, for this is our hour of need in the long run. This is Gyaki signing off… Goodnight, good luck, and goodbye…"
Dirk saw the holographic image turn off as he never expected to see Gyatso as more than just the proverbial little brother. He was a medium as he was also the last the moment he would soon come here to train in this temple, for it was also his duty to do so. Dirk also made it clear to protect Gyatso as he was also the last medium in his family, for he was also the catalyst to prevent Azazel's resurrection at any costs.
"So, most of Gyatso's family didn't make it except for the stragglers who were left to be unlocked," he said. "He must be a saving grace after all…"
"He's more than just a saving grace," said Sybil as she was making her way into the temple. "That boy was kept in stasis for centuries until he woke up. He's also part of a long line of mediums that sensed all evil threats in which his grandfather was known for helping into the downfall of Azazel in the Elder Days."
"I thought that the Winchesters of Old got rid of him at the end of All Hell Breaks Loose."
"Wrong! Azazel's aura is so strong that no one would ever take him out until Gyaki used his abilities to weaken it in which there was an opening to break into. It was Gyaki's medium abilities that broke through when the yellow-eyed bastard died the moment that a bullet from the Colt ended him once and for all. That was when Gyaki and his family fled to their home on Mars before abducting the Sam of Old and harvesting his seed before bringing him back to Earth. The rest is but a blur, but it will be revealed sooner or later."
Dirk had a gut feeling that Gyatso would soon be carrying a further burden as he also had to do his part to keep him safe. Even though he was the proverbial big brother, he also had to make sure that nothing bad happened on his watch, for he was also going to be a part of the Hunter Corps in the near future…
I was outside as I was on my way to the beach. With Gyatso in tow, we were walking on the shore as we saw the ocean waves crashing onto the wet sand. When we were on our way to the lighthouse, we noticed a familiar housecat swimming to shore as he finally landed to where we were. It wasn't long until I noticed a calico on a surfboard coming to the shore as she landed safely, for she was concerned about what was going on so far.
"You could've hopped on the surfboard, Grandpa," she said as she got off of it.
"I can't be like Garfield and lounge around eating lasagna right now," said the housecat.
"You're far from home, aren't you, Bobby?" I said.
"I've been out and about since the war ended, but Adelaide still pesters me when I go swimming."
"It's because you're not as young as you were. Even Mom and Dad wanted you to stay home anyway."
"If it concerns the resurgence of Azazel, I can't let it slide. I even sent Sybil here to help train that kid in which he's also the last of a line of mediums who had a knack for sensing possible threats to the innocent."
"I'll train in that temple downstairs," said Gyatso. "I'm only doing it because I don't want that meanie hurting Sam like he did in the interstice."
It wasn't long until we all went downstairs to the temple under the lighthouse as we were at the entrance. By the time we went inside, we noticed the spirit pool in all its glory as it remained untouched for centuries. What we didn't know was that Dirk was there with Missouri as they were waiting for us. Still, Gyatso was a little nervous as he never underwent training before as a medium as he also had to make it necessary in order to protect me, for he knew about what Azazel was and what he did.
"This place is old, but efficient," I said.
"About time you guys showed up," said Dirk. "Whoever built this place under the lighthouse was brilliant to hide it."
"I never saw a spirit pool before," said Gyatso as he saw it. "So, I'm more than likely to train in Grandpa's footsteps."
"This is your first step to your training," said Sybil. "Before you get shown the ropes, you're gonna have to have a guide that can be useful to you. Dipping your toes in the spirit pool isn't a walk in the park, but if you're about to go in, you're gonna have to clean yourself just to go into the spirit world, especially the interstice."
"I'll go with him," I said. "I'm no stranger into going into the spirit pool, but I can't let anything bad happen to Gyatso."
"As I recall, you're still weakened after you mopped the floor with Sawney Masbath three years ago, Sam. You can't just go rushing off with a sword while in a gunfight. Don't think that I forgot about your furlough, but I didn't because of the fact that you had a bun in the oven just to stay put after putting your ass on the line for everyone. And another thing, the interstice is also home to the zanna in which you might meet up with Sully as well. The zanna are also sacred to Elves here on Valinor in which if one is attacked, he or she will face a life sentence in the Rubrum Mines in the frozen north."
"Then we'll need all the help we can get," said Gyatso. "I may not know much about Sully, but Kanna does and so do Aora and Ghimru. I might get to meet him, but I hope that the yellow-eyed meanie doesn't get to him… He's really scary and he'll hurt Sam till no end in which I won't let him fall prey to that demon."
It wasn't long until Gyatso and I went towards a bathing area as we took off our clothes and cleaned ourselves at the wash basin. By the time we rinsed ourselves off, we were dressed in robes as we returned to the spirit pool the moment we laid down in it. Sybil knew what to do as she was ready to send us off to where we needed to get to, for it wouldn't be an easy task so far.
"This is one hell of a long day," she said as she was ready to recite the incantation. "Breath of life, beat the drum, movement of bones, voice of hum…" The pool glows as Gyatso and I closed our eyes. "Spirit of the past, guide this gateway well. Protect their lives, protect them well…"
And so, we were into the interstice as we found ourselves in the Men of Letters bunker. I was on edge as I was also concerned about the presence of Azazel in the distance. I had a gut feeling that he was watching us as we made our way towards the kitchen. The place was the same as it also didn't have the strange foods that were there earlier. What we also didn't expect was that there was we noticed a familiar sandwich that was on the table. It was the Pepperjack Turducken Slammer as it was on display as Gyatso noticed a note near it, for he had a suspicion about that infamous sandwich.
"'Don't eat that sandwich,'" he said as he read the note.
"It's a trap just like a cake being a lie," I said. "We should be careful where we tread or what we see because the interstice can also be dangerous."
Without warning, we noticed a sword sticking into the sandwich as we saw it turn to ashes and a greyish snot. What we didn't expect was there was a zanna standing in front of us as it turned out to be a man with brown skin and an afro while wearing a polka dot ensemble and a blue tutu. The man was serious as he was also someone who was more than just a zanna, for he was there on business here in the interstice.
"The sandwich was a lie," he said to us.
"Who are you?" asked Gyatso.
"My name's Meadowlark and Sully sent me here 'cause Azazel's presence has been stinking up the place."
"You know about Azazel?" I asked.
"Everyone knows about Azazel 'cause the bastard is bad news."
"So, the yellow-eyed bastard also terrorizes zanna..."
"Ever since his demise, he's been trying hard and fast to get back to life, but all he wants is to goad a certain god to drink blood from him and then—poof!—he'll be back among the living and the dead."
"And I'm right in the middle of it…"
"Before you say that history always repeats itself, you should also be aware that there are those who refuse to allow the golden age of the Ashizoka System to happen. The ones I'm talking about are Abaddon and her cronies along with the dick angels who are afraid of it. There's also the aura of Azazel in which he is contaminating the interstice and not allowing us zanna the freedom we have, for he is a tyrant who is far more worse than the other Royalists and he wants an army to do his bidding to put everything under his rule."
It wasn't long until I sensed a dark presence as I saw the lights flickering. I had a feeling that Azazel would come forward as I had to protect Gyatso and Meadowlark from further harm. It wasn't long until I saw Azazel standing in front of us as he was pointing his finger at me the moment I noticed it pricked with blood coming out of it. He was wanting me to have a taste of it as I felt my body coming closer towards him with my arms stretched out, for I wasn't in control of it.
"Don't fight me, Sam," he said as he saw me coming a little closer. "Taste my blood and embrace me like no other would do."
I was losing all hope until I saw Gyatso rushing to my aid. What I didn't expect was that there was an aura surrounding him as he stood by my side the moment I was freed from Azazel's grip. Anger flooded the yellow-eyed demon as he saw my young ward as a threat the moment he was ready to do his worst, for he wasn't about to throw in the towel yet. What we didn't expect was that Meadowlark was armed with his sword as he saw a thread that tethered me to Azazel the moment he severed it, for he wasn't having it after all that has happened.
"How dare you?!" he yelled as he glared at me. "How dare you defy me and allow that Sesame Street Mother Teresa sever the thread that connected us?!"
"You can thank the kid for coming here," said Meadowlark as he put his sword away.
"It had to be Gyaki's grandson!" Azazel was ready to attack as he felt himself not moving. "Your presence exposed the thread just for that Sesame Street reject to sever it from Sam! I will have you crushed for this, for—"
"Shut your mouth!" yelled Gyatso as he was standing firm. "I don't know what power I have, but I won't let you go near Sam!"
"Like grandfather, like grandson! You're just like him! I had a strong aura and even tethered myself to the Sam Winchester of Old, only for Gyaki to sever the thread when it led to my demise! I will repair the thread and—"
"Enough! A thread that is seen by a medium and cut by a zanna can't be fixed! I cut you away from Sam so you won't bother him anymore." Azazel feels the floor turn into tar as he was sinking quickly. "Grandpa was right about you when you're scary, but I won't let you force Sam to drink blood from you! You're done, you big meanie! You can't hurt anyone anymore, for I will protect Sam just as he protected me!"
It wasn't long until Azazel was finally sinking into the tar as the ordeal was over. I was glad that Gyatso stood his ground as he wasn't about to let the yellow-eyed monster get his way in which he was glad to do his duty, for he was more than likely to be training as a medium just like Dirk is training in the Hunter Corps.
"It's over," he said.
"Azazel may be gone, but he'll have a hard time trying to forge another thread to put on Sam," said Meadowlark. "As for the mess he's caused, his aura still contaminates this interstice in which us zanna need to fix it before it disintegrates."
It wasn't long until I used my raw power as I had a renewed boost the moment I destroyed the traces of Azazel's aura that was poisoning the interstice. Even though the thread that kept me tethered to Azazel was no more, I was at ease as I cleansed the interstice and purified it until I was ready to return to the real world.
"You purified the interstice," said Gyatso as he was glad that the worst was over.
"You aided me into stopping Azazel," I said.
"You should also thank Meadowlark for cutting the thread that kept you tethered to that meanie. Besides, you're safe and so are the zanna."
"I'm pleased as punch to cut the thread," he said. "Besides, the interstice is home to us zanna and don't you forget it."
It wasn't long until Gyatso and I were thrust into a void that was similar to an old motel room. What we didn't expect was that a Draaza albino was sitting on one of the beds as he was waiting for us to hear him out. What we also didn't expect was that a Draaza woman was there as she had the same kind disposition like Gyatso in which she was also glad that he had a thriving family, for he was safe and cared for after all.
"You've grown up a bit, sweetie," she said as she saw Gyatso in person. "It's good that your dad and I finally came to talk to you."
"Mom? Dad?" he said as he was stunned to see his parents.
"It may be a shock, but we're here at the behest of Jack," said the Draaza albino.
"You must be Gyatso's parents," I said.
"We may no longer be alive, but hear us out. You and our son helped to sever the thread that connected you to Azazel's aura in which it can only be cut by a zanna. As for what's about to happen next, there is the presence of the ones who chased our kind to no end until our ship crashed into the Dabb Mountains on Shiganshina. Some of us may have lived in stasis, but the rest of us didn't."
"We're also glad that you found our boy and took him in," said Gyatso's mother. "My father was a medium who severed Azazel's aura before in the Elder Days in which it gave the Winchesters of Old an opening to finish him off. Even though we're no longer alive, we thought that the zanna who live in the interstice would endure another bout of his tyranny in which he still obsesses over being resurrected in which he even wanted you to drink his blood like he forced on your past self when the Princess Mary of Old was killed and burned."
"I know of that too well…"
"I know that our boy is trying to train as a medium, but he must also be stronger if he wants to protect you in return," said Gyatso's father. "He is the last of our line, but I also know that he is still thriving after all that has happened." He fishes out small mirror with a handle as he gives it to me. "This is what your past self wanted us to bring to you. It's another treasure that is useful with the pocketwatch and compass that you have. My wife and I will be up there in the Grey Havens, for we have hope for Gyatso."
"Take care of our boy, Sam." said Gyatso's mother. "He is the last of our line in which he is vital to our future."
It wasn't long until we saw Gyatso's parents depart to the Grey Havens as we prayed for them. By the time we returned to the interstice, we found ourselves back in the Men of Letters bunker as we saw Meadowlark bringing out a casserole dish with something in it. The smell of it was something new as I never noticed it before, but Gyatso spotted it as he remembered the image of it far too well. He saw it to be a frito chili casserole as it was adorned with a garnish made from cheese and tater tots. He smelled it very well as he was starting to get hungry, for this training into the interstice was also an exhausting one.
"I remember this casserole," he said as he got out a plate and put some onto it.
"This is what Gyaki made," said Meadowlark. "While he was on Earth, he had a few pantry staples in which he made a casserole that had corn chips, chili, sliced smoked sausages, cheese, and tater tots."
"Grandpa used to make this…" Gyatso takes a bite from the casserole as he tasted it very well. "I always saw him at work with what we had with the canned chili and other things. He was good at cooking, which was fine until I got put into stasis."
"At least your grandpa's smiling up in the Grey Havens."
We spent our time in the kitchen until Gyatso and I returned to reality. What we didn't expect was that we were in the infirmary wing as we noticed Reiko coming in while drying Bobby with a towel before setting him down near a heater to get warm. We also noticed that we were given dinner that consisted of the casserole that we saw earlier, for it was fate that we got a hot meal for our troubles.
"It's good that the two of you were alright," said Reiko.
"How did we get here?" asked Gyatso.
"Reuben arrived and had you out of the spirit pool in that temple under the lighthouse," said Bobby as he was warming himself by the heater. "You two were lucky that you were put in here or else you would've been lost forever."
"That's good to hear," I said. "With the thread tethering me to Azazel severed, I haven't had any more nightmares from him."
"Just because you don't have nightmares of Ol' Yellow-Eyes, doesn't mean that you're not targeted by him. You and that kid may have healed the interstice and evicted that demon, but he's still at large and waiting to be in physical form. He's not stupid, but he's also afraid of a certain pint-sized medium laying in the other bed in this room."
"Well, let him be afraid," said Gyatso. "That meanie won't come near Sam now after Meadowlark severed the thread that tethered to him. I'm the last medium and I won't let Sam down after all that he's done for me."
"You can worry about that later," said Reiko. "For now, the two of you must eat your dinner. It's a yummy casserole that Drusus made earlier. He said that a group of zanna gave him a recipe for it before they returned to the interstice."
I took a bite of my dinner as I tasted the casserole that had chili, tater tots, cheese, corn chips, and sliced smoked sausages. It was a good dinner as I was also hungry after what I went through while travelling with Gyatso to the interstice. By the time I finished my dinner, I looked at the small mirror with the handle as I picked it up and looked into it. It was like the pocketwatch and compass as I also noticed a gemstone on the back of it, for it was another treasure that was given to me.
"You have a mirror," said Reiko as she saw me looking at it.
"It was given to me by Gyatso's parents," I said. "I saw them before they left for the Grey Havens in which they were also thankful that we gave him the care he has."
"That's no ordinary mirror, ya idjit!" yelled Bobby as he jumped on the bed. "That's one of the Divine Treasures that is given to you as you status as a god of the Ashizoka System. You already have the pocketwatch and compass. Now, there's a mirror for your troubles."
It wasn't long until I saw the window open as I noticed Adelaide jumping into the room with a scroll in her small satchel. When she pulled it out, she jumped on the bed as she rolled it out and showed me the images of the five divine beasts and the treasures that they have, for they were made for the future god of the Ashizoka System in advance.
"You should've closed the damn window!" yelled Bobby as he jumped on the sill and closed it.
"Sorry, but I had to show Sam this scroll that Missouri dug up," said Adelaide. "It's a blueprint of the five Divine Beasts and what they represent: the Northern Turtle, the Western Tiger, the Southern Phoenix, the Eastern Dragon, and the Central Qilin. Those five beasts represent the lore in this galaxy in which they are equal in so many ways than one and each of them have a Divine Treasure to give to the god of the Ashizoka System."
"Reiko should also have treasures of her own," I said. "It's not just me that gets them."
"Sammy," she said to me. "You were blessed by the gods and Matriarch for those treasures. The treasures that I will forever have are you, our friends, and our children. You're all priceless and nothing will ever change that."
Reiko had the last word as we were glad that she had us around her. Still, our divine journey to our golden age was just the beginning to give us one push, but there would be further enemies that would stop at nothing to ruin what we had, for we had the Destiny of Worlds after all…
To be continued...