THE FORETELLING – Part 2 – Viewpoint cont.

Chang Rui was inconsolable. He had no doubt whatsoever that what Shaylle had told him was Truth although her words made little sense to him. He had brought more than shame upon his clan, Dragon Clan; the consequences of his actions would lead to the annihilation of many of his fellow countrymen as well. Bowed in spirit and crushed by loss, Rui called together what remained of the clan’s council of elders; those who still believed and recognized him as Ryujing-reborn. He knelt before them and confessed his shame; begging the elders to task those who followed; their children, and their children’s children, to seek Shaylle’s next incarnation and assist her to fulfill her destiny, whether it be in this century or the next, through to the very end of the time and space.

Before anyone could perceive his intention, Rui plunged the point of the jeweled katana that he’d secreted in the folds of his coat, into his stomach, ripping it upwards to his breastbone, in the way of the samurai. Slumping forward as the ruby-red flower blossomed wetly through his shirt; Chang Rui breathed his last.

Though dismayed and sickened at Chang Rui’s drastic act - committing ritual suicide was a practice that had long fallen out of use - the shaken Elders debated at length; eventually concluding that although he had inadvertently brought peril to his people, Chang Rui had died with dignity. Because of who he was and had been in times gone by, Dragon Clan was honour-bound to grant his request.

Tatsuo, let me explain something to you”, the Seer said. “When a person kills themselves, they forfeit the opportunity to be born again. His disgrace was so great that there was no way to make amends. We can surmise in hindsight, Tatsuo, that the task assigned to Shaylle’s progeny was to thwart the establishment of the Manhattan Project. I do not need to tell you of the tragic outcome of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”

The Seer breathed in deeply, seeking to distract his wandering thoughts from bitter reflection and finding calm, continued.

“So, the burden fell to Dragon Clan to wait and watch for any sign of Shaylle’s presence, although the task seemed almost impossible to fulfill.”

“That must be why our clansmen live in so many different places in the world. They want to make sure that wherever and whenever Shaylle next manifests, there is at least some chance that one of our own will know her”, reflected the boy.

“Dragonkin calls to Dragonkin, Tatsuo. We have no choice but to hope that this will suffice”, said the Seer.