Divine Apostasy Book 12 - Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Ruwen shocked Pine again when he’d perfectly replicated Pine’s cleansing form after seeing it one time. The chants and humming from Pine’s daughter also came naturally to him. Only the visualization portion gave him problems. He’d used Harmonic Sight and Knowledge when watching Pine demonstrate his techniques and Harmony had revealed the misalignment of Pine’s Heart chakra. The man’s Solar Plexus had also been affected but not as severely.

Pine’s loss of his daughter had caused this catastrophic misalignment and while Ruwen had a suspicion the woman hadn’t died, that wouldn’t help Pine. Thankfully, Ruwen thought he might have something that would.

"Thank you for this knowledge,” Ruwen said. “I made a mistake with that leprechaun magic, and I'm grateful you helped me fix it."

"Mistakes are opportunities," Pine replied. "What’s important is that you recognized it and took steps to fix it." He studied Ruwen's face visible in the moonlight. "You carry immense responsibility for someone so young. Don’t forget your own wellbeing or it will be for naught."

The kindness and honesty in Pine’s voice made Ruwen's Throat and Heart chakras thrum in response. "I'll try."

Pine turned toward the house, but Ruwen held up a hand. “Just a second. I want to check something.”

Ruwen opened his Notifications. The one he wanted had just completed, so he cycled through all the previous ones quickly. He’d look at the rewards later.

Ting!

You have completed the quest…

Radiant Eight

Locate and harvest an appropriate crystal for each chakra (8 of 8).

Reward: Radiant Meditation Mat.

Ting!

You have completed the quest…

Hidden Vaults

Discover and enter the remaining seven Ceardai Vaults hidden across this region (8 of 8)

Reward: Set bonus increasing crystal effectiveness based on crystal quality.

Ting!

You have completed the quest…

Leprechaun Purge

- Eliminate Desiccated Leprechaun Scouts (25/25)

- Destroy the Ceardai Throne (1/1)

- Defeat Silhean, the Withered King of the Leprechauns (0/1)

Reward (Completing 1 of 3): Removal of Ceardai tracking magic

Reward (Completing 2 of 3): Gem of the Withered King (quality based on performance)

Reward (Completing 3 of 3): Fortune of the Leprechauns (quality based on performance)

Ting!

You have completed the quest…

Eight Vaults of Enlightenment

The pristine black tourmaline has resonated with your Activated Root chakra, revealing the locations of the remaining Ceardai Vaults. Each vault contains crystals grown to awaken and empower dormant chakras. Collect all eight gems (8 of 8).

Reward: Ceardai clan chakra manipulation knowledge (2/8).

Ting!

You have completed the quest…

First Steps - Activation

Activate your chakras (8 of 8).

Reward: Displacement Bell.

Ting!

You have completed a hidden quest…

Seeking Transcendence

Awaken your chakras (8 of 8).

Reward: Mantra of Transcendence

Ting!

You have completed a hidden quest…

All That Glitters Isn’t Gold

- Cleanse your Root Chakra (1 of 1)

- Cleanse your Sacral Chakra (1 of 1)

Reward: Gem of Alignment

The Gem of Alignment is what Ruwen needed and he dropped it out of his Void Band and into his right palm. He glanced at the description and handed it to Pine with a smile.

“What’s this?” Pine asked.

“A small thank you for all you’ve done. Focus on it intensely and tell me if you get any information about it.”

Ruwen suppressed a laugh as Pine squinted his eyes and glared at the gem. His gasp three seconds later confirmed some form of basic Identify had triggered. Ruwen projected the details he’d gathered so that Pine knew the full effects of the gem.

Name: Gem of Alignment

Description: A crystalline dodecahedron that shifts through eight distinct colors, each corresponding to a different chakra. When all eight chakras are aligned, the gem becomes perfectly transparent and warm to the touch. The gem resonates with the bearer's spiritual energy and grows brighter as their understanding deepens.

Quality: Legendary

Type: Chakra Enhancement Stone

Effect (Passive): Unity Resonance - When held during meditation this gem speeds chakra alignment by 90%.

Effect (Passive): Circular Resonance - Enhances energy flow between aligned chakras by 200%. Awakened chakras provide 25% additional benefits to adjacent chakras.

Effect (Active): Perfect Balance - Once per day, align all chakras for 1 hour. During this time, chakra abilities are enhanced by 50% and new chakra insights are three times more likely to occur.

Restriction: Bearer must meditate with the gem for 10 minutes daily to maintain its effects.

“I can’t take this,” Pine said, trying to hand the gem back.

Ruwen turned serious. “The future is uncertain, and your skills and knowledge may prove crucial. This gift is in part out of thanks and appreciation and part selfishness. The universe is changing, and many will discover new powers. Opportunity brings danger and I want you to be a force for good. You just explained how power is tied to chakra alignment.” He gently closed Pine’s hand over the gem.

Pine’s eyes glistened in the moonlight, and he gently brought the gem to his chest, over his misaligned Heart chakra.

“A month ago, my thoughts circled a rapidly approaching death. Now, I almost believe my life has just begun.”

“Back home we have a ritual called Ascendancy. It’s supposed to herald the beginning of a glorious life, but when it finished, I wanted nothing more than a way to end my misery. Sometimes death finds you, sometimes it signals an impending visit, and sometimes it screams, curses, and cries as you hold it tightly. I’ve experienced all three, and each taught me an important lesson.”

Pine stood transfixed by Ruwen’s words. A chorus of laughter from the house drew Ruwen like a magnet and he started the walk back. Pine joined him but remained silent.

Ruwen entered the grove, and the trees blocked the moonlight creating a thick darkness. He resisted the urge to shift into his Saraph form and embrace the shadows that peered at them from the Destruction Realm.

Ruwen finished his earlier thought. “Here is what I’ve learned from death. Endings aren't failures, they're conclusions to stories that needed to be told. That courage isn't the absence of fear, it's finding something else that matters more than that fear.” His throat constricted and his chest ached as memories of Lalquinrial and the sacrifice he’d made for Echo surfaced. “And finally, that love sometimes means choosing to let go, even when Death itself begs you to live.”

Ruwen’s Heart chakra burned, and his vision blurred.

Pine spoke quietly. “I can feel your Heart, child, and the power of that loss.” He placed a hand on Ruwen’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”

Ruwen nodded, not wiping the tears on his cheeks. His Awakened chakras made it difficult to suppress his feelings, deny their impacts, or use logic as a protective shield. Awakening had illuminated the truths he carried, and enlightenment demanded he embrace them.

Pine dropped his comforting hand and touched his own chest. “I thought you spoke figuratively, but your emotions feel anchored in physical truth.”

Ruwen laughed, releasing the tension that coiled inside him. “Yeah, that last insight happened recently. It’s complicated for a hundred reasons, and I’m still sifting through the aftermath. I think these chakras are unearthing all the stuff I’ve buried.”

“It makes sense the shallowest grave is uncovered first,” Pine replied.

 “Even if this is healthy, I can’t run around crying all the time.”

Pine chuckled. “It gets easier. In a decade you can probably stop carrying tissues.”

Ruwen’s Throat chakra heard the lie in Pine’s joke. That Pine knew he’d know made it funnier.

The screen door of the farmhouse slammed closed and Ruwen shifted his Perception to the house. The trees still hid the structure, but he identified the familiar figure that, from the sound of creaking metal, now leaned against the old pickup truck.

Ruwen gave Pine some of his own medicine. The old man’s Throat chakra would hear the truth in Ruwen’s words which should cause significant confusion.

“You might feel better old man, but Death has never been closer.”

Ruwen patted Pine’s back and a break in the trees allowed moonlight to reach them, revealing Ruwen’s grin. As he’d intended, the smile softened his grim words, and Pine’s apprehension turned to confusion and then curiosity.

They stepped out of the grove to find yellow light spilling from the open farmhouse windows. The voices and laughter grew much louder now that the trees didn’t suppress the sound.

As they neared the large structure in front of the house Ruwen’s Stone Echo detailed the poorly maintained shed’s many issues. With a thought and a small amount of Spirit he repaired the metal, turning it into something far stronger than steel.

The scan had detected an anomaly, and even Sixth Sense had problems determining its composition. Ruwen knew the shadow near the pickup meant to talk with him, but that could wait a few minutes while he investigated whatever the shed hid.

Ruwen turned toward the building and Pine followed. The old man’s brow wrinkled as they entered the shed, and he stepped to the large sliding door.

“We haven’t had a door in years,” Pine said in confusion. “And the holes are all gone.”

“That’s weird,” Ruwen replied as his gaze searched for the anomaly hiding here.