2.30 Tha Grand Illusion

        Zara felt overwhelmed sitting amongst Mina's friends already, this was information overload, it didn't help to learn they believed she was 'dark'. She ate her breakfast muffin in silence, sulking, noting the absence of any sort of morning worship to give her some hope. "Why don't you show an idol for Medel?" She dared ask, angry now. "How are we supposed to give Thanks or worship Him in here if there’s no idol?"

         "We don't worship Medel here" Mina replied, coldly.

         For a moment Zara assumed she hadn't heard right. "What?"

         "I said we don't worship Medel here."

         The confession explained everything. "So you’ll even admit it!"

         "Admit what?" Mina shrugged.

         "You’re risking everyone's lives by dishonoring the great Creator god!" She knew what was going on now. "Haven't you learned from the great destructions in the past?" Zara was doing the lecturing now. "Even I could tell your houses were brought to ruin!! Now I know why!!!"

         Mina put her arm around her, sympathetic of her distress. "The village of Anur was once destroyed in a cosmic battle, it wasn't Medel's doing" she explained.

         "But Medel created you! If you don't worship Him he will destroy you!"

         The walls were high. "We don't share the same beliefs as those in Atlan" Mina tried to explain the concept of their spiritual reality versus belief, gently, as she knew it wasn't so easy. Sometimes the refugees reacted in violent ways, sometimes they went crazy, she had to tread carefully. "Some of us believe there is a god of creation, some of us believe there are many gods of creation, but it's not Medel." She could tell Zara wasn't pleased, her clenched fists suggested she was the potentially volatile sort. She tried a new angle. "Have you ever heard of the Phoenix?"

         Zara frowned, confused by the reoccurring reference to the prophetic bird. "Please don't try and tell me it's a real bird!"

         Mina took the hint and didn't answer, instead she continued to put her on the spot with her shocking questions. "Do you know who Barduk was?"

         "Barduk?" Zara shrugged, never had she heard the name, he certainly wasn't anyone famous or of historical significance.

         Mina tried another. "Sapparu?"

         Angry that they could be deliberately upsetting her like this, Zara shook her head and bit into her muffin, emotions spinning so wild she could hardly swallow.

         "These were once great gods" Mina offered even more information. "Would you like to hear their stories too?" She got up from the bench. "Perhaps we can discover all this Knowledge with the help of the ancient Spirits outside?"

         "Excuse me?" Zara couldn't believe her ears, it was true, these people were bat-shit-crazy.

         But Mina was serious. "The ancient tree has seen it, the water remembers everything and the sun knows it all."

         The ancient tree has seen it? Mina's childish words only convinced Zara of the 'Lunies' very real mental instability, this was why they were a discontinued race, she understood now. She tried to reason, these Origians had to be desperate, they were just playing out old mythologies as if they were real? Lost in some Grand Illusion?

         Sensing the battle raging inside, Mina moved toward the altar, picked up her obsidian goblet and made her way outside, the group of friends in tow.

         Zara sat alone at the table now, watching them all disappear through the door into the sunshine, aching inside. Were they really going outside to consult Spirits beneath a tree? Mina seemed so genuine, so kind, surely it couldn't be a joke? She pondered her options, what if her journey to Hellias really was a journey to insanity? Where would she escape to from here?

         She scanned the temple hall anew, pondering the insanity of this illusory reality. If these people were insane, was insanity really so bad? They seemed to care about her more than anyone ever had, they were more loving and happier than any Gens she had met before...

         Caving to the unknown, she followed the friends outside. They had gathered beneath the ancient yew tree, around a ring of crystals sparkling on the ground, embedded into the earth like a large spiral, obviously leaving her a spot. She followed their lead and took her place on the ground in the spot at the end of the spiral.

         Mina began her strange ritual by raising her goblet of water up to the sky and lowered her head. Zara scanned the group one by one, they were all clasping their hands and closing their eyes... Were they praying? Who were they praying to if it wasn't Medel? If they were praying to the egg, why weren't they in front of the egg? Her gaze landed upon Mira. Suddenly it dawned upon her, Mira looked and behaved just like the Lemurians now... How vastly she had changed! Then a terrible thought! Would she end up changing like that if she stayed here too? She glanced down at her new clothes in horror! Were they transforming her already???

         Thoughts raced from one scary scenario to another. What terrible things had happened to Mata that she could not remember who she was? Had the Lemurians made her so insane she couldn't remember her name? Would that happen to her too?

         Mina finally lowered the goblet, the light reflecting from the sun danced across her face like a magical trick. Mesmerized by her beauty, Zara gradually forgot her troubles, suddenly captive to the serenity, peace and calm surrounding her.... Conscious now of the bird overhead, chirping in the tree...

         She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath, allowing the discomfort to melt away; now she wanted to know. What was this strange and beautiful place? What did the tree know? How could this ceremony free her from a darkness she could not even see?