Central City, City Basilica.
The pilgrimage continued from the entrance to the city, where we were greeted by Simte and the Cardinals, to the Basilica. All the people of the city gathered near the basilica, which would be the site of the final ceremony.
Unlike the previous day, when the sun disappeared in the west, new songs began to be sung, led by the priests and deacons.
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"Sun and Moon, you dance together in the firmament, the perfect balance between light and shadow.
You are the heart of our world, witnesses to our existence, pillars of our life.
To you our spirits rise with profound devotion, in humble reverence.
We acknowledge your majestic power and infinite wisdom in every moment of our lives.
Praise be to Sun and Moon, life of the day and protector of the night."
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The type of singing for this hymn was a blend of the calmness with which the Moon was prayed to and the emotion with which the Sun was celebrated. Each instrument and song formed a beautiful harmony.
The priests led the people in singing this song until the light of the Sun completely disappeared. Now the light of the full moon, lanterns, and bonfires illuminated the city. The people who sang huddled around the bonfires, watching the dances and singing praises to the moon.
When the moon reached its highest point, many fireworks were set off from different parts of the city. Everyone looked up at the sky, watching the spectacle in awe. Even if some had followed the pilgrimage from the beginning and had already seen the fireworks, this time they were amazed by the number of them launched in the city.
At the same time, the lanterns were lit, just as in the regional capital. These, along with some well-placed mirrors, illuminated a large, finely detailed silver sphere in front of the Basilica.
"This moon is even bigger than the one in the capital!" Umza said excitedly.
"That's right... It's beautiful," I commented as I looked at the moon and out of the corner of my eye at Nyia, who was on one of the basilica's balconies with some canvases and paintings.
Unlike the previous day, this time the celebration didn't stop until dawn, as there was no need to rest before embarking on a new journey. This would be the final day of this first celebration, so the people sang, danced, and ate until they were exhausted.
During the celebration, I set off with a small group of people up the mountains.
The group consisted of Simte in a chariot, the cardinals, a group of bishops, the governors, my parents, Nyia, Umza, and soldiers guarding or helping move the chariot that took Simte.
We all set off from Central City singing softly, while some of the soldiers accompanied the songs with instruments. There were no conversations, murmurs, or sounds other than the songs and instruments.
Calmness was the main element of this small, private pilgrimage. Even Umza, a very active girl, remained silent the entire way.
The road was long and difficult to travel. We continued for hours, stopping only to eat and drink.
After a while, in the distance, at the foot of a snowy mountain, a stone altar with four very tall pillars could be seen. The altar was beautifully adorned with inscriptions carved on its sides. Figures of the Sun and the Moon, made of gold and silver respectively.
Everyone gathered around the altar between the four pillars, continuing to sing praises to the moon while arranging the offerings around the altar and lighting a bonfire.
The instruments played harmoniously in this place; it almost seemed as if the echo produced by the pillars resonated with the chants and instruments.
When traces of dawn were noticed, the chants changed to prayers that included the Sun and the Moon together. The instruments also changed the style of accompanying music as everyone watched me approach the altar.
Everyone waited for the moment of dawn. Receiving the first rays of the sun was a part of this ceremony.
Just as everyone was excitedly waiting for the moment, an inexplicable pressure appeared in the place. Everyone, except me, felt pressured by an inexplicable force. I noticed they were singing with greater difficulty and moving a little slower than usual.
Everyone looked at the ground with worried faces, thinking they were experiencing a moment of divine presence. I noticed some of them trembling slightly.
Nyia and Umza, who would participate in this moment by handing over the sacred vessels, rose with difficulty from their places and walked slowly toward the altar. They reached the altar and looked at me reverently. They made a final effort and placed the vessels in their proper places. Then they knelt right there, unable to bear the pressure.
"Do gods really exist?" I wondered as I noticed all these changes in the group.
Truth be told, in my previous life I wasn't a believer. I spent my life without worrying about it, and that's why I also came to believe that my illness was divine punishment for my lack of respect for God.
When I died, I expected to end up in Hell or Heaven, depending on how God viewed my actions. I believed I would be sent to Heaven since I hadn't harmed anyone. I even thought I would be presented with the opportunity to go to another world, as is often the case in some works of fiction about the future. However, what happened was that I died, felt a tremendous silence accompanied by darkness, and then was reborn here.
"Even Simte is looking at me with devotion in his eyes," I thought when I noticed the High Priest's gaze.
Just as the light illuminated the altar, I performed the ritual animal sacrifice and sprinkled its blood in the vessel dedicated to the Moon God. Everyone began to experience a growing sense of freedom to move. They began chanting the Sun Prayer and began playing their instruments to the rhythm of the hymns.
I threw the animal into the brightly burning bonfire, and after an hour, I collected some ashes from the fire and placed them in the sacred vessel of the Sun God. Afterward, I knelt beside the altar, and emotion grew among everyone present, who felt the tension melt away as the final step of the rite concluded.
I stood up and contemplated the majesty of the mountains and the kingdom from this elevated position. I then embraced everyone who had taken part in the ceremony, beginning with my parents, Simte, Umza, and Nyia. Afterward, I embraced the Cardinals, Governors, Bishops, and all the others who had joined me.
We continued chanting for another hour, pausing only to eat and drink water. At the end, we descended toward the city along the same path, but now with a spirit full of optimism.
Three hours later.
We entered the city amidst the festivities; we were all tired but happy. The people didn't notice our departure, and we returned to our homes to rest.
Almost as night fell, I organized a grand dinner with everyone who participated in this special pilgrimage where we honored the gods, and according to everyone present, they were 'together' with us.
"Chuta, did you receive any messages from the gods?" my father asked in a low voice while the others laughed and chatted at the table in my house.
"Hyba, that's something the gods shared with Chuta. You shouldn't interfere," my mother scolded my father while lightly pinching him in the side.
"Za, I was just asking out of curiosity. Aren't you interested in knowing?" my father asked, his tone embarrassed, as he endured the pain of my mother's rebuke.
"I'm curious too," Umza commented, trying to keep his excitement under control.
"Do you want to know?" I inquired with an enigmatic smile. Everyone around me nodded in unison. Even Nyia and Simte, who were usually quieter, wore expectant looks.
"Well... The gods said..."
Several months later, Year 8 of the SuaChie calendar, Central City.
Many events have occurred since that first ceremony. First, we managed to unite the remaining villages within the regions included in the Kingdom's expansion map. Negotiations and agreements were already underway, allowing for a fairly smooth transition.
We also sent many specialists and assistants to Governors, Chiefs, and Leaders to establish the first capitals, Great Cities, and Towns in those areas.
We also sent shipments of food, tools, and other essential items to improve healthcare in the new territories. At the same time, regiments, temples, and schools began to be built in each of the cities.
The kingdom had experience integrating new territories and adopting all these measures, so the incorporation of these ethnic groups was not particularly complicated.
The greatest challenge was establishing operational shipyards on the coasts of the regions with access to the Western Ocean. Although the tools to build these facilities existed, the main obstacle was transporting the large number of workers needed for the shipyards to operate properly.
Many members of the Navy were excited by the prospect of exploring this vast expanse of water that was unknown to them. They longed to discover what lay beyond the shores of the West. To seek out new territories and bring the knowledge of the gods to places where they weren't believed in.
"Chuta, when will the ships be ready to sail the Western Ocean?" asked a thin man in my office.
"Captain Sogeking, address Young Chuta with respect," the general of the Southwest Corner Navy reprimanded him sharply before he could say anything.
"Understood!" Sogeking replied, adopting a stiff posture. "I'm very sorry, Young Chuta," he apologized to me.
"No problem… I've known him for years," I told the general, while Sogeking looked at the general as if to say, "We know each other well, is that clear?" although the general still regarded him sternly.
"As for the ships… Unfortunately, we'll have to wait a few more years," I said dejectedly, while Sogeking's shoulders slumped in disappointment.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
Chuta witnesses something that could be considered a fantastical event, but in reality has a logical explanation. However, I believe it's possible that these supernatural occurrences, which used to be associated with gods and spirits, are real.
As an unnecessary fact of the day, problems arose on Columbus's first voyage from the very beginning. One of the ships broke down, and they had to tow it and the other two ships to the Canary Islands for repairs.
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Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future.
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis from Visions of Future Saga.
You can find them on my profile.]