Immediately opening his eyes as he felt his body rock and forth of Bruno's doing, holding his shoulders desperately before lightly tapping his cheek repeatedly, "Hey! Hey! Wake up!" Seth groaned in protest at having his peaceful slumber interrupted by this intrusion on behalf of his fellow companion.
"What is...?" He tiredly asked, not even daring to lift himself up as exhaustion continues to consume him along with his vision being slightly blurred out, "Shouldn't we be resting? It's still too early," squinting his head up to the starry sky, "We—"
"His awake? Finally!"
Woman's voice caught him completely off guard, forcing him to stand up from his seat and turn to the source where Genno was currently standing at her side, but this isn't where he is entirely focused. It was her overall appearance that made him express shock.
Robot? Android? He doesn't know either way, but how was this possible? Seth was keen enough to know this individual is futuristic by the look of it, which he finds weird when they are living in the Renaissance century. Although this world isn't exactly his home world,.
Staring at her in amazement, he didn't notice that Bruno's hand was waving over Seth's face to get his attention, which succeeded in snapping the holy man from his thoughts. The poet is wearing an expression that expresses both concern and understanding.
"Who is she?" Seth asked him, looking at his companion with confusion, "Are we still dreaming or not?" In all honesty, he is really confused about this. Is he imagining things, or maybe the fact that all three of them are simply part of his imagination?
Reality and fiction are overlapping with each other, creating this weird phenomenon. Yet, somehow, none of them seems to care that the robot decisively introduced herself to this flabbergasted and confused man, who is currently contemplating many things in this unexpected situation.
"Let's introduce each other first," she casually approached him before extending her hand. "My name is Nye," the automaton simply smiled at him while patiently waiting for his response, but he remains silent with his brain trying to process what is happening. "Hey now! I ain't going to bite!" Cutely pouting at him, she doesn't understand why it's so hard for him to introduce himself.
Regaining his composure, Seth finally calmed himself down as he grasped her metallic hand. "It's just that I haven't seen something like you," he said, trying to find the right words without being rude. "What are you if I must ask?" After withdrawing their hands, she happily laughed with no care for the world.
"Automaton," she said without much trouble, "is a long story, but I take it your Seth?" Nye questioned with a friendly smile, "Your friends told me quite a lot about you," respectfully bowing her head as a sign of appreciation for the strange.
Softening his feature, Seth nods, "Yes, my name is Seth; its nice to meet you, ma'am." Looking back to Bruno with Genno, they greeted him by waving their hands as if they were greeting their friend who returned from a trip or something.
Returning their greetings with a nod, he returns his attention to Nye. "You live here?" An easy question to answer since he is curious enough to know what she is doing here in all places is, "Or are you passing through?" Having a small chat to get a better understanding of the situation is something he has done often, especially when he was still in the church.
She scratched her chin and tilted her head. "Actually, I live in Cirencester," confusion spew on the men's faces in hearing this unfamiliar word that none of them understood or had heard of. "It's a village not from here; I can take you there if you like," offering them a place to live along with them.
Such generosity is rare for strangers they have never met or even known, and yet they can feel how welcoming she is despite only meeting her for a few hours. "Aren't you worried that we could be dangerous people to others?" Seth inquired about this detail but received a positive answer nonetheless.
"You three don't appear to be dangerous." Scoffing at the mere implication of it, she shook her head with a knowing smile. "There was no need to worry because the way you men appear tells me that neither of you are bandits," Nye replied with confidence.
Thinking carefully about this whole dilemma, Seth glances at Bruno, who appears to be nodding at him in agreement. "We wish to come with you," humbly bowing his head, grateful for accepting them in her home. Bruno then follows suit by agreeing to this.
"Wonderful! You are welcome to stay as long as you like!" She gleefully exclaims at them with joy at gaining new friends. This made them glad to hear it from her. However, not everything goes their way in matters like these. Nye's bright attitude changed into a frown as she gazed into the distance. "It's already late; the undead might be around soon," reminding them of what they were doing previously.
It was indeed true, for they are certain that a chance of encountering such an abomination is possible if they wander around during the night. "Is that so? I didn't notice it before," Seth sighs in dismay at letting time slip through their fingers. "Then we shall go; I pray the Lord protect us," muttering silently to himself while reaching out to his cross necklace attached to his neck.
"Great, follow me!"
Leading the three wise men, she happily hummed as the pleasant, blossoming cherry trees swayed in harmony with their leaves scattered across the forest's lush green grass and vibrant bushes. It is truly a sight worth remembering. Remind yourself of how beautiful nature is with its creatures thriving.
Silence filled the surrounding environment, alongside the calm wind blowing against them, but their focus on their destination made them blind to anything else that came across their path. Trees and bushes swayed gently while crickets chirped loudly as though they were trying to break the silence within the forest, adding to their enjoyment.
The stars shine brightly above the darkness that loomed over them, but this didn't deter them from following behind her. Walking closely by each other while being guided by her through this cherry forest was a great experience for them.
Genno felt a surge of nostalgia in being reminded of his birthplace, where his place was full of these pink trees. Even though he was a child who rarely traveled to other places, his father had always taught him lessons in nature and how important it was for people to live harmoniously among themselves rather than fight amongst one another because of trivial issues.
Seth noticed his friend's thoughtful expression as the monk quietly watched the scenery pass them by, the pink petals falling upon them every second they moved forward. "Is something wrong, Genno?" He quietly asked the other man while feeling concern for his friend's well-being.
Startled from being pulled out of his memories, he turns his gaze towards Seth and says, "I...this place reminds me of home," admitting to being homesick at seeing such a place that resembles his place of origin. It fills him with a sense of sadness that he has yet to overcome.
"Home, its a name that will always stick with us after being sent into this strange world," commented on this unusual experience after becoming accustomed to the world of spheroidal. Holding some of his emotions that can't seem to escape from his thoughts, he asks, "Do you miss it?" Seth inquired hopefully, wanting to know whether or not Genno was willing to return.
The monk stared down at the ground as they followed after her. He still missed his family and friends, but more importantly, his real home. Where his earlier childhood was spent before the brutal murder of his beloved father. Was it a good thing that he forcibly sent here rather than stay back at his place? It is unclear, yet he still wonders whether he wants to return or remain where he is now.
However, part of me felt satisfied with the man he became. He grew out of being a kid who couldn't speak or read words, only to become a powerful martial artist capable of defending those he held dear while using violence as his only last resort.
He is neither a pacifist like Seth nor does he desire to become one. But the Buddha respects all people and his goal of achieving enlightenment, regardless of who they are or where they come from. That doesn't mean he won't retaliate with force if pushed comes to shove.
For he himself hasn't achieved Nirvana yet. Only when he reaches his spiritual awakening can he attain freedom. He needs to discipline his mind in order to become more than human, but perhaps it was never meant for someone like him who merely saw visions and hallucinations on a daily basis.
Without training oneself for it, which Genno did throughout his entire life in order to reach this stage. It's no wonder he didn't achieve his ultimate goal of completely separating himself from otherworldly attachments. He is still human and cannot avoid feelings such as happiness or anger, let alone jealousy or love.
Hopefully, when the time comes, he will let go of all of the regrets, shame, and feelings that still boil inside of his heart so that he may become free. With his head held high, he closed his eyes to imagine what it would feel like to be completely released from this mortal coil.
But that day will soon come.
"I don't regret in becoming the man I am now." Speaking confidently in his words, Genno opened his eyes, revealing the fire of determination burning within them before turning his gaze to his anticipated friend. "Life constantly changes and moves without stopping, so should I feel so attached to them?" Gazing ahead as the trail started to brighten with the light of nearby civilization, he sighed tiredly. "One must learn to adapt and evolve as well, lest they find themselves losing themselves forever."
Seth understood clearly by listening to such a response, silently turning his attention away from him as he still remembered his past sins as well. They were all forgiven by the Father, yet they still lingered in the back of his mind, as though haunting him like ghosts that refused to be forgotten.
Price to pay for being human in the flesh, the young man solemnly mused in his thoughts. It will take awhile for them to understand such things as their journey through the land continues onward. Time will tell what they will find ahead, beyond the horizon.
The only thing he can do is continuously pray for the Lord to guide him and his companions throughout the way while also striving to fulfill his duty as the Son of God, to bring salvation to all those who seek guidance and healing in His light.
So with this distraction of sinful thoughts and the past still weighing heavily on him, Seth gave up everything to embrace oblivion itself. To make it end, to make it stop, and to let the burden finally be lifted away. The desire to give up is strong, as he often wanted to escape the pain of existence.
But he won't and will never do that. Seth loved everyone equally, and he humbled himself by thinking less to value others more through modest behavior, selflessness to graciously accepting the sacrifices in making others happy, and most of all, respectfulness by always treating others with kindness regardless of who they are or where they come from.
Bruno silently listened to the two carefully, his face solemn of their blight, but he understood what it was like to have the weight of the world on one's shoulders. He felt his stomach turn from the intense pressure he felt at times of problems he was forced to face. Sometimes, however, it is possible to bear them all at once.
