Lore Chapter 03: The Painter & The Musician

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqt3bBtPMZc)

A speck of light floated across the open fields as the night was approaching. With the sun setting, soft curtains of darkness fell on the beautiful canvas and coloured these open fields in glimmering ember. Soon all light had faded ... except that little speck of light, that was now floating across a little stream. It enjoyed listening to the calm flow of water making its way through the night. But then its peaceful meditation was interrupted by the sound of ... licking? A creature drinking? But this did not make any sense ... there were no physical qualities in this place. No bodies with organs ... just formless shadows and shapes. 

The little speck of light kept listening more closely: The calm flow of water ... a strange splashing noise reminiscent of a large animal drinking from a stream ... and ... a melody. So distant ... but distinct. It sounded familiar. Like the voice of an old friend. "It's him", the speck of light uttered in complete disbelief. "I need to find him".

He slowly moved into the direction of the melody. Each note became more clear as he continued moving forward. The key ... the phrasing ... it was all so familiar to him. But it was difficult to move forward through the darkness. The little speck of light knew he was moving closer to the source of the music, but also depressingly aware, that he was moving slower and slower as time went on ... until suddenly ...

Bump.

Solid.

For the first time since his arrival he bumped into something solid.

And it was soft. And fuzzy.

Like a pelt. 

But cold.

Completely taken aback the little speck of light moved back and directed his view against the moonlight to make out the shape of what appeared to be a very large, misshapen deer. Its neck was distended and elongated. He couldn't make out its eyes, but felt its gaze upon him. Attempting to move around it he once again found himself bumping into it. The deer appeared to move in sync with him, essentially blocking his path forward.

"Let me pass", the speck of light said.

The deer mustered him: "Where to?" she asked in an innocent almost childlike tone.

"I need to talk to an old friend", he replied.

The deer slowly began to move. One step at a time the arbiter moved circles around him like a predator gaining interest in its prey. 

"How do you know him?" 

The speck of light was unimpressed by this behaviour. After all, what could be worse than death?

"It is none of your business", he replied.

"Oh but maybe it is. Maybe he's my friend too", she countered.

"Fine", he replied. "In my life I was an artist, a famous painter. I was very successful. In my early years I met a musician. We were friends ... but also connected on a deeper level. It was like we had known each other for many lifetimes. During our travels we encountered incredible places and experienced unimaginable things. We slept in cold places and underneath the stars, talking about life and death and wonders of this world. One night we almost froze to death. There was only one blanket. He gave it to me, but when I saw that he was shivering I gave it back to him. But then we had a falling-out a couple of years later. I haven't seen him since then. But I know he's here, I can hear him."

"I can hear him too", the arbiter smiled. "It's pretty, isn't it? Would you say it's a happy tune?"

The speck of light was confused by this question.

"Well ... not really. It's melancholic in a sense. But all great music is at least a little sad, right?"

The arbiter moved slightly faster around him.

"Tell me. Why do you want to see him?" The tone in the arbiter's voice became more serious.

"I just want to catch up", the speck of light replied.

"Why do you want to catch up?" she barked back.

"Because he's an old friend and I miss him"

The arbiter's eyes lit up. "That's right. You miss him. So you act based on your emotions. That's understandable. That's perfectly acceptable. You act based upon your self interest."

The speck of light suddenly became frightened of the creature. "You make it sound so ... wrong? Egocentric even? What's wrong with wanting to see an old friend?"

"Wrong is a strong word", the arbiter replied. "What purpose does it serve? Is it ... worth it? For you it is I'm sure. But the value of this encounter should be considered for both parties equally. In the time you were gone, he watched beings die and draw their last breath. Beings that were very close to his heart. Worked himself to death for nothing. Fought with people he loved for nothing. Broke with people he loved for nothing. Cried until the sides of his eyes were bleeding, for nothing. Sacrificed his sanity for others, for nothing. Unveiled his past for nothing. He willingly and unwillingly explored the peaks of suffering. For nothing. Well, not entirely for nothing. He met me.

There are others like him here too. He's safe here. He joined a community. They all saw the world and all existence for what it truly is: A mistake. They all had a moment of ... clarity? I almost called it "Enlightenment". But that might have been a little confusing, right? With each cycle more beings will awaken to the error of existence. Right now their childish resistance is still ... palpable. But it won't be for long. Sooner or later even the most comfortable beings will see it too. Serpents will hiss it from the depths of the ocean and dragons will scream it from the tops of mountains. And when your time is up and they catch you, even the king will have intellectually evolved to a point where he can give it to you straight." 

The arbiter stopped in her tracks and bowed her long deformed neck before the little light-ball to look straight into its center: "My child. The light is a lie. And it always was."

"Who are you?" The speck of light asked.

"You'll meet me too one day. Maybe not like this or in this timeline. Maybe I'll look different to you. I might even take on human form if that's more to your liking. I'll come visit you ... when you're done. When you're truly done. When you've invested and hoped and fought and really, really tried across countless lifetimes. When you've grown tired of running around in circles of hope, sacrifice and disappointment. When you're spending your last remaining energy to learn "acceptance". When you've learned that neither death nor life will bring you true peace. When you're building your own beautifully adorned walls, brick by brick to protect the last beings that have any meaning to you. When you've closed the gates and mounted the eagle's nest with your weapon in hand. And when you rest in the sound of wind in the trees. I'll come by, when you're fully equipped, well armed, perfectly protected and ready for the night. And when that time comes, I know you'll let me in. I won't even have to ask for water."

The arbiter disappeared in the darkness and with it the last sound of the melody that was elegantly floating through the air just a second ago.