Chapter IX, Reading 2

The ever-changing patterns then progressed to a time before her conscious memories.  Flindra now lived through the emotional agony of her parents’ tragic end and going further, she witnessed her own birth as seen through their memories.  She was more than a spectator watching the unfolding story of their lives, for she experienced the intensity of their thoughts and emotions.  Flindra knew them and felt the love they held for her and the passion they felt for each other.  They were no longer strangers to her.  She loved them. 

Her entire family history unfolded on the stage around her.  Generation after generation played out their lives.  She noticed that there was a tremendous variety in her ancestor's lifestyles.  The memories of their lives would provide much knowledge to draw upon if she needed it and she felt a deep and abiding kinship with them.  Her roots were deep and strong and would give her great strength.

The saga continued to unfold until Flindra realized she was witnessing the lives of King Meldh and Queen Kwenth.  She saw their valiant but futile struggle against the Ansu.  Their heroic courage was a source of inspiration and great pride.  Flindra drew the memory close to her heart for she knew it would give her strength against some future time when her own courage might fail her.

Back in time she went and her sense of kinship grew to include those far beyond the history she had known.  She shared life with them and felt a growing relationship with all humankind.

She saw the lives of the ones called the Ancients and she looked upon the history of their empire.  Flindra glimpsed their wisdom, which had disappeared from the world when the empire collapsed.  There was much good here, but there was a streak of black, of evil, discoloring their wisdom.  This was the clue she needed to understand the demise of their civilization.

The Ancients' thirst for knowledge had caused them to seek sources of power that brought them closer and closer to the Ansu and away from the benevolence of the Spirit.  They had not understood the gravity of their actions for the Darkness lied to them and seduced them into thinking they had discovered the source of life.  Their quest for everlasting life brought them to the realm of the Void.  The Darkness had consumed them and had brought about their destruction.

Nomads ruled the world before the time of the Ancients.  Extended family groups competed against each other for power and territory.  The chaos gave Flindra a better understanding of why a strong central government was a vast improvement over the tribal system, which wasted valuable life to the feud.

The review of history brought her ever closer to the beginning of her world and the glorious moment when the Spirit had breathed Order into the Chaos.  It was here that she finally brushed against the Presence of the Spirit.  The sensation was so overwhelming it was almost painful and she withdrew.

Flindra realized the pain wasn't hurtful in the sense of a wound.  It was a pain brought on from the magnitude, the overwhelming, awesome, closeness to the Spirit.  It was similar to looking at sunshine reflected on a snowy landscape, without protecting her eyes a person could end up snow-blind.  There was just too much sensation to cope with.