Lord Shadow

Chapter 1917: Enlightenment

Odin like he could read his mind then said

”What you see is what the tree wanted you to see. Not many people could see the true form of the tree. But for those who could land on it, the tree is always welcome. Like a welcoming gesture, it appears to you in a way your mind could perceive it. Even after eons, I am still surprised of its size and boundless nature”

”It was there before me and my father and his father before him even existed. We live and reach immortality by the grace of that tree”

Azief wanted to ask what is the Tree of Life but he held himself back.

This is not what he came here for.

And sometimes, knowing too much about such a sacred thing might not be good

Cause and effect has already have many effects on him. He did not want to entangle himself even further.

He is unlike the others that is eager to entangle their cause and effect with him. They could do that but Azief could not

Because he is not that strong enough to bear the consequences

Azief calms himself down.

”The more I learn, the more I know that I know nothing” Azief mutters and Odin nodded

”That makes two of us. Those who could pry and seek the truth of the Omniverse are those who recognizes that they do not know. Imperfect beings are then...the most perfect beings”

Odin said with a smile on his face.

Then he chuckles.

Like it is a joke only he knows

Odin then look at him and ask.

”What do you think of Etherna as a race?”

He seems to be genuinely curious

Azief did not know why Odin ask him this question.

he thought for a moment and then said

”A perfect powerful beings. The First Race in Existence”

Odin smiles and then he chuckles. Azief eyes narrow

”You don’t agree with that?” Azief was curious.

”I don’t agree”

Azief frowned.

Yes, Odin was powerful.

But if what he knows about the Etherna is true, then Odin could never beat even one Etherna even during the Etherna race low points.

Even Borgan who is not an Etherna that is good at fighting could play around with Odin using the magic of fate and destiny.

It is not that Azief wanted to defend Etherna race

It is just the fact. Etherna powers, almost all of them become a source of magic and other extraordinary sources of power in the Omniverse

And that is after they died. When they were alive and kicking, their ability could even rewrite the fabric of reality

Such magic...probably exceed any Aesir of Vanir race in Asgard.

Odin seems to be able to read Azief mind and then said

”I agree that they were the first race in existence. I also agree that they are powerful beings, far stronger than any Aesir, or Vanir” But then Odin chuckles

”But perfect being?” he paused and he laughed like it is the most funniest joke one ever said to him

”HAHAHA!”

”That is what I don’t agree with”

For a moment there is silence between them. Azief did not understand. Most records that he found or read about the Etherna all hail them as the most perfect being that have ever been created

The Creator, the Destroyer, these two could not even defeat Etherna.

Yes, it took the entirety of the Etherna civilization to hold back these two but this feat alone surpassed any civilization that has been in creation since then

So, he did not understand why Odin said that the Etherna is not perfect. Azief expected that Odin would tell him the reason but Odin only look at him and smile

”You said all of this but did not tell me the answer?”

Odin laughed

”Sooner or later, you would probably understand it. If at that time you did not understand it, then I could always point you to the right direction”

Odin then look at the distance, looking at the plains of cold white snow on a flat ground that seems to stretched into infinity and then said

”We are all a little biased sometimes. You gained the Etherna methods and all you could see is their method. Sometimes, it could be like a leaf covering one of your eyes. And you could not see the full picture of the matter” Azief frowned.

He did not look down on Odin words instead he is thinking intently about the meaning of Odin words.

But before he could contemplate the words, Odin said

”you think too much and do too little. Sometimes, just do as your heart desire, follow the great nature of the great path and you could be enlightened”

Azief was about to think about the words but when he heard this suddenly his mind become blank.

Yet, in that moment of blankness suddenly he understood certain things that blocked him before.

His mind suddenly see things without prejudice and pointed right at the core of certain problem.

And once the core of the problem is seen, then it is like cutting the problem and solving it

But this one moment come and it goes and when it faded, all the problems is still there and Azief was shocked.

He looks at Odin, his eyes asking for explanation.

He could feel it when Odin spoke before, his mind become blank and his mind gain enlightenment.

Not only about magical methods but about other problems that is plaguing his mind.

All of his doubts and all of his fear in that moment disappear and only a steel determination wipes all of that doubts and fear.

In one moment. That one moment that felt like a millisecond yet at the same time felt like an eternity.

He did not know how to explain it other than Odin words brings him into enlightenment

Odin seeing Azief eyes like that, looking at him, he laughed

”That monkey did not teach you about matters of enlightenment instead he teaches you about sincerity. Since he reminded you about sincerity, he wanted you to trust me. And also, to examine your original intention”

Odin paused for a moment and sighed as he nodded

”You have experienced a lot and you have seen betrayals; you have seen through life and death; you kill and you save and all of these different experience has changes you. But it is very important to examine your own heart once in a while, for fear that you might be lead astray”

”Since that monkey didn’t teach you about enlightenment, I would teach you about enlightenment. How does it feel?”

Azief thought for a moment and he nodded to himself.

”It is like all of my problem is solved” Odin smiles and said

”Words have powers” he paused for a second and then added

”Sometimes. For mortals, at certain moment, a word could save a life or end a life. That is how powerful it is. Sometimes, however, ten thousand words could not beat one sincere action”

”But for beings like me, whether one acknowledges the words or not, my words have power that could affect the heavenly laws. When you reached this level, you would understand”

”Did you solve the problem in my heart?” Azief ask but Odin shakes his head.

”No one is capable of solving the problem in your hearts and minds. Enlightenment is merely you seeing through all of that problem. Since the problem is borne by you, then you of course have the answer. Some people see through it and some people could not see through it. Like an answer that is hiding itself below your shadow. The more closer you are to it, the more you could not see through its true appearance”

Azief nodded.

For a moment once again, there is silence between them.

Odin did not seem eager to talk to him. But that is contradictory in itself. If he is no eager he would not do so many things to meet him

”Is there nothing you want to do? I doubt that you only want me to see your power and see the tree?”

Odin smiles and then said

”Time does not move that fast when we are here” he paused for a moment and then added

”It is not that I don’t want to talk with you. It is just that when I brought you here, I have many plans. But when I meet you and talk to you, I know certain things should not be spoken”

Azief only frowns at this. Sun Wukong said this. Wargod said this and even Odin said this

Odin then said

”It is not because I could not reveal the truth to you” Hearing this Azief was shocked

Most of the time he met these beings and they saw something about his future, they chose to say they could not say much about it because it could entangle them with cause and effect and changes fate and destiny

But Odin said something different entirely

”The reason I brought you to the World Tree is because no eyes could see through this place. Other than one being,-” he then chuckles and shakes his head

”Two now”

”One is in a garden. The other one is outside of existence”

>>