Chương 42: Book 2; Chapter 41; Life is unfair (2)

"It has been a long time since I have had a desire to meet you, the headmaster of this School." – King said with a slight, warm smile playing on his lips. – "I have heard about your place from many of your ex-students, and also, your own presence can be felt very strongly in this world. Even if it is the first time we have encountered each other at this close proximity, you can be reassured that such energy and character certainly didn't slide by me unnoticed." That wasn't something that Aqila expected to hear.

If all her life's work and achievements could have been somehow reworded, then it has been done now. The words he spoke were very simple but very strong. But words are just words. The feelings that have come with them were way more informative. Somehow, she could see, feel, experience completely all her life as a one, singular substance in this very moment. All of it, all bad and all good, all achievements and losses, or slips, stagnation and refusal.

All secret thoughts that, at that time when she had them, she was hoping would never surface again, and all desires that she was raising openly for others and for herself to see and to strive for. As if someone would be able to write a book about her whole life to the smallest detail, not just events and actions, but reasons why it happened and how it felt, and even reasons behind these reasons, actions taken and untaken, wishes approved and disapproved.

Nothing skipped, not even the smallest shadow of a thought, not even a dream or daydream. And then present all this in a book that could be read in a moment, as one full event, not just an event, but as one whole substance. As a person? Was that what it meant to truly see someone? To truly see a person? Not what someone wanted to be, not what someone expected from himself to be, or to perform, but what one truly was and what actions, desires, beliefs, and rules she placed on herself, what goals she set for herself.

All that made this person live the life as it was lived, therefore made that person to be who she has become. What was the driving force for the direction the person was moving towards? Is that how the King sees everyone? Then there is no wonder that people cannot stand to be close to him, as it wasn't easy to be fully exposed, to realise that there are no secrets, no hideouts, only an illusion of possibility to hide. But even then, there was way more to what she had experienced just now.

There was something additional to it, something that she had learned to recognise in others but never before was able to see it in herself. That something was so unique to each person that it wasn't possible to mix it with anyone else. Some called it character, some called it personality, but it wasn't something that you learn or train into; it was something that you discover and grow into. Grow to love and appreciate it as it was given to you and only to you.

It was the first time Aqila had faced it in herself, and what she saw surprised even her. So she just stood in silence, not knowing what to say in return.

"But I can see that, for some reason, time isn't very kind to you." – King continued. – "In my life, I have never seen such an unjust mismatch between inner and outer appearance. If you would allow me, I am eager to wave off this injustice." His hand moved in front of Aqila's face from top to bottom as if cleaning something off. She didn't understand what he meant by it, as the words didn't make much sense, and feelings were not shared at this time, so she didn't say anything in reply to it either.

"Please come and chat with me a little bit," – King said, showing her to this newly built podium. – "Let me enjoy your company, and I am happy to answer all questions and satisfy your curiosity for the time being." Aqila was never shy or someone who thinks low of herself. But she had to admit that equally, she never felt about herself as good as she was feeling right now. The message she received from the King's first words hasn't faded yet, and it was like seeing herself with new eyes.

She had little to hide or blame herself for, same as she never felt the need to blame others, nor to rub truth into the faces of those who didn't want to see it. But also, she wasn't naive and saw herself and others for who they truly are. At least that's what she thought until now. Somehow, she always had this understanding that at the very moment, a person can do only what they can do and no more.

And once it is done, there is no reason to hide it, nor to be ashamed of it, nor to be blamed for it, as none of it would help to act, think, or behave any differently next time. To pretend that nothing happened wasn't something that she would do either. A person must understand where they are standing. Just then, it can change the outcome of the next events.

If there is no desire to change the reasons and understanding behind the actions, then no matter how much shame or blame is directed towards oneself or the surroundings, a person will behave the same way under similar circumstances. So to change, one must know where one stands. Trying to change from a fantasy point could help no one, as there is no person in fantasy, so if anything were to be changed, then it would be from one fantasy to another. How can it affect reality?

And she always was soft with herself, just as with others. At least that's what she thought until now. A few words from the King disclosed reality in a moment as if pulling off the invisible veil that had covered her until now, and actual, raw reality was presented to her heart and mind. She thought she didn't hide anything, but there was a lot. She thought she wasn't harsh with herself, but she was mistaken. She thought well of herself, but that wasn't true either.

Never ever would she have imagined what a great person she was! All other things seemed just minuscule, temporary, and not important. And that wasn't an opinion. It was based on the life she lived, the choices she made, and the desires she had for the future. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. When the King invited her to sit down next to him, it didn't even seem strange; in truth, why should it be any different?

The only difference was that it was her place, and it was she who should be inviting him. But again, not entirely, as how the School looked now wasn't something that belonged to the place she knew.

"That is some fancy entrance your Majesty made." – She said to the King. – "I have never seen this place so glamorous as it is right now."

"Let me reassure you that the look of this place has little to do with me," – the King smiled. – "But I must admit I couldn't resist the opportunity to bring with me as many of my best people as I possibly could. Chances to see this wonderful place, hidden from many, don't come too often. I thought that those who think they have already learned all would benefit greatly from seeing with their own eyes that the knowledge they obtained so far is just a handful of sand in a dune.

Let them marvel over your place for a day or two. Hope that can be allowed, and it will not bring any objections or trouble."

"As if anyone can object when a decision is already made," Aqila thought to herself. But the King said these words in such a simple and undemanding tone that it was difficult to take them as an order and not respond to them.

"Even if I could, I would not see any reason to object," – she replied to the King. – "This place is open to anyone who finds a way to it. I never heard about any restrictions, and it would be a pleasure for me to host so many bright people. But wouldn't it be better to bring them through the front gates so they could make a more meaningful entry, leading to understanding what is wanted from life?"

"It may well be," – the King agreed, – "but I am not a babysitter to bring anyone to the School and leave them here. My motive wasn't of this kind. Whoever wants to stay will have to find a way by themselves. However, it isn't easy to search for something when you don't know that there is something to search for. Reminding, or rather, at this time in history, introducing this place back to the world was one of my intentions." Introducing this place back to the world…

Wouldn't it mean that the world has forgotten about it? The number of people residing here right now would disagree with it, but Aqila wasn't fooled by it. No matter how many people are here now, one wave doesn't make an ocean, one stream on its own doesn't make a river. Some events are happening right now in the world that made these changes, and once they pass, all will return to the old rhythm.

"So this is the intent of your visit?" – she asked with building curiosity.

"One of them," – the King smiled again.

"It is a very honourable cause," – Aqila said, – "but I don't see how the School would open its borders for someone led by it." That was true. This place wasn't built for those who wanted to improve the world. This place was built for those who wanted to improve themselves. How they will use this knowledge later, whether to benefit the world or to bring detriment to it, was something that the School would not take into consideration.

No one with a desire to change the world, for better or for worse, will ever find this place. It wasn't the School's purpose to enlighten the world. The purpose of this School was to enlighten people who live in this world. As long as people grow within themselves, there is no chance for the world around them to shrink.

"You are right," – the King said. – "It wasn't the reason why I was invited."

"Then what was it?"

"A combination of factors."

"Are you willing to share them?"

"To the degree that I can break it into understandable pieces. Nothing in this world comes in pieces, so it cannot be accurate. But I can share the top highlights of the whole event that brought me here. Of those, I have already shared two."

"Yes," – Aqila agreed, – "but neither of them is enough to gain entrance."

"True. But the desire of a person is a very powerful force, and it activates the world to create possibilities for it to be fulfilled. It is up to the person to notice these possibilities and take them. My desire to meet you and see this place and to reintroduce it back to the world was born a long time ago and never ceased to grow. I don't think it could have been ignored for the mere fact that I am a King. This fact could just make it more challenging to create a possibility for it to become a reality.

I firmly believe that if I hadn't occupied this position, we would have met a long time ago."

"Is there anything this place can teach you?" – Aqila couldn't refrain from asking it.

"I doubt it," – King replied.

"Then have you come to teach?"

"From my coming, many will benefit and many will learn, but not directly from me."

"I doubt you come here to express yourself in something that the rest of the world would not allow."

"I doubt it too," – King smiled.

"Then it is a service that you could provide for those who are already here." – Aqila said firmly, as that was the last option. King already clearly indicated that he didn't break boundaries, but was invited to this place. King didn't reply, just his smile widened.

"May I ask what services you are going to perform?"

"The major one is already done," – King said again. Aqila looked around, not fully understanding what he meant. Surely this service wasn't to transform the Town Square into this glamorous place? She looked at King again with a questioning look.

"Most obvious things are most difficult to notice," – King smiled at her.

"So you have already finished your mission here?"

"I have finished the services that were required of me, yes. But I haven't finished my mission."

"Which is?"

"There are many hearts here, and in the outer world, that look for the opportunity to join my ranks. As I am already here, there is no reason to postpone it any longer. And as this desire comes in significant numbers, I will need the help of my generals, so I came here to summon them back." Once again, King said something that Aqila didn't understand.

"Generals? But there are no generals here," – she said aloud, looking around. He didn't even bring any generals with himself.

"But that's where you are mistaken," – King replied with a smile.

"Is there some special way to summon them?" – Aqila wondered, thinking that maybe there was some sort of secret ceremony that could be performed only at this place. Who knows, as nobody truly knew what mysteries lay in these premises until they were disclosed. And time after time, here would happen something that no one ever even imagined to be possible.

"Nothing of that sort," – King replied more to her thoughts than to the question. – "I think simply informing them that their services are required will be more than enough."

"And how are you going to pass this information?" – Aqila asked, watching him with curiosity, bracing herself for some sort of unseen magic.