This is the 24th section of my novel. If you haven’t read the first 23, you might want to start here.
The Tao of Minus
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Mancini was a little startled when Jane asked about the Akashic Library. But he knew that she had that right, even if she did not have that power.
So, they talked at length about the great teachers of the past, about the holy guardian angel, and about the Akashic Library.
He suggested she take the six month sojourn to learn about the Holy Guardian Angel before trying to access the Akashic Library.
“But… hmm.. When Minus returns, we will talk. He may have a short cut for you. You have every right to view it for yourself. Especially since I have an oath to not speak of what I see there. Minus is not allowed to enter. But neither of us really know why. Sometimes, it’s almost like he has no book. Like his lifetime is not recorded, as it is with the rest of us.â€
Jane didn’t know how to answer. Mancini appeared puzzled, even in his ghostly astral form.
Mancini continued, “The information I have about Minus is from my personal experience with him, and from reading the life books of others that have interacted with him. There are large blank periods, that I can find no information on. Five years ago, shortly after we had met, he completely disappeared. No one knows why. Or where he was. He refuses to talk about it.â€
“From what I’ve learned of alacrity,†Jane interjected, “Is it possible that he got lost in it?â€
“It’s possible. But Othin practices alacrity too.. I’d think Othin would have been able to find him…â€
“And then he disappeared for three years with me, at that bar..†Jane was trying to string together the facts. This whole mess was terribly confusing to her. She had never known magic like this. All of these things were brand new to her.
“Yes, that’s right. Minus is… well, odd. It’s almost like he has a cloaking ability. Kotoko witnessed it with trying to find this house. This house is totally off the official radar. Only a handful of people know it’s here at all. But it has been here for fifty years at least.
“Although it wasn’t his fault, you two were completely masked inside that bar. In the same way, Minus is completely hidden now, at the world tree. No magic can find him there. If you were to walk up to the exact tree he was on, you would not be able to see him.â€
“Does he know this,†asked Jane.
“Sometimes.. Definitely not all of the time. He doesn’t dabble in divination, so he really doesn’t understand the concept at all. All of his magic comes naturally, through self-sacrifice.â€
“Like now? Like his trip to the world tree?†Jane’s curiosity was peaked.
“Yes,†the doctor answered. “Just like now. This is not the first time he has performed the self-sacrifice rituals for knowledge, or power. It’s almost like the gods favor him. His family has no history of magical blood. Unlike me and you. There is no reason for Minus to have the power and understanding that he does. I’ve spent a long, long time trying to figure it out.â€
“What about Othin? I thought he was Minus’ uncle?†Jane interjected.
“Othin is not a blood relative. He was a friend of Minus’ mother. But she never knew about Othin’s magical side life. You see, to most people, Othin just looks and acts like an old, burned-out hippie. I’ve known him for five years. He has not aged a day, but we can discuss that later.
“It really boils down to the fact that Minus basically gave me my powers. I’m certain that he has had a positive impact on your magic as well. Probably Kotoko, too. Othin often tells me about personal relationships with gods, but I usually chalk it up to metaphysical mumbo-jumbo. Most of the gods are dead, or were never there to begin with. Maybe I should reconsider that. We’ll talk to Minus about it when he returns. Not long left.â€
And so, that night, Jane began to practice astral travel to see if she could find this Holy Guardian Angel and the Akashic Library. She was tired of being out of the loop. She was worried about Minus, and she had to do something about it.
—-
Jack
Listen.
The Cost of Magic
Section #24
The Tao of Minus
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