The Crystal Maze

Posted on Fri Jun 7th, 2019 @ 9:25pm by Bomoor Thort

1,743 words; about a 9 minute read

Chapter: Chapter V: Unbound
Location: Elenca Settlement, Üssina, Öetrago (Physically)
Timeline: Evening after "Dinner at Mumin's"

A purple fog smothered the ground of the ethereal forest; thick, crystalline vines swarmed around the pathway, connecting worlds and planes of existence hidden far beyond the misty scenery that could be viewed from where Mumin stood.

Of course, Mumin was not really here, not physically; She had never left her house back in the Elenca settlement. But her spirit had projected itself to this realm, that connected all worlds and all places. She attempted to step forwards but found that all paths were blocked by thick vegetation.

This realm had been travelled by many who had made that deep connection with the essence of life. To others it appeared differently: vast hallways, sprawling caves, endless voids. All spoke to how the individual interpreted that which was unknowable to a being still bound to the mortal plane. This deep crystal jungle, seemed to speak to Mumin: appearing both familiar as a form of nature but also frightening in how the fragile skin of these vines had been replaced with cold, hard mineral, that glowed with a seemingly alien essence.

She had walked these paths before, guided by the Mother Jungle, as she learned of the power that connected all of life: that mysterious Force. So, why now did she find her path blocked? Was Mother Jungle not with her?

Mumin’s spirit settled for a moment in the clearing she had arrived in, hoping to see a path that was not immediately clear. The ground around her glowed as she meditated on her point of focus: her son Bomoor.

Bruta had informed her that Bomoor had left the Reborn Jedi Order and his current whereabouts was unknown. But, in the Force, he could be found. He was connected to her, even over all these lightyears, even over all of time and space.

But what path do I take to him? the healer thought.

“That rather depends…” came an eerie, but well-spoken voice, answering what she had presumed was her private thought, “…on what path dear Bomoor has travelled himself.”

She looked around in time to see the jagged vines retracting, as though they were withering away at the presence of the one that emerged from them: a pale humanoid male, dressed in black but with glowing red pupils that were the focal point of his ghastly appearance. Despite having the complexion of a corpse drained of all blood, the being strode forward with surprising grace as it reached the edge of the clearing, stopping just outside the field of light cast by Mumin.

Looking down at the glowing ground for a moment with a subtle grimace, the man continued, “If the path Bomoor walks upon is one of darkness, you will need a guide that knows such paths.”

His face softened and he chuckled, turning his gaze to the non-corporeal Ithorian, “That would be me.”

Mumin stared wordlessly at the entity for a moment; he seemed to be at home in this world-between-worlds. He was not a traveller like herself, only keeping one foot in this place, “You are some kind of spirit?” she asked, although it was spoken more as a statement, “I have only been guided by Mother Jungle before and she was not like you: she took no form, had no voice.”

“I have guided so many souls without the need of a body or words,” the pale one commented, “But, no, I am not your Mother Jungle, as you call her. However, she is very dear to me: her forms are so very beautiful when she chooses to take them.”

“You speak the truth spirit,” Mumin hummed back, “Her beauty is seen in every plant and animal in my world. I seek her guidance now; where might I find her?”

The spirit turned away and gestured into the air, “Oh, I am certain that she hears you but why would she answer when what you ask of her is not hers to provide? She cannot walk the dark paths, she is not able.”

Mumin questioned, “You mentioned this before: these paths of darkness. I know Bomoor has not fallen to darkness: you would lead me astray.”

“Perhaps your son is not yet quite open to darkness,” he seemed to ponder the thought, “But the path he walks is steeped in it. You will need to walk these paths too, if you want to reach him. You will find following only ‘her’ paths quite restrictive.”

“As I am sure it is just as ‘restrictive’ following yours,” Mumin slowly brought her spirit upright, now fully facing the being.

Looking down and emitting another throaty chuckle, the pale one did not argue but added, “Though so much more rewarding.”

He began to walk slowly back into the crystal maze of vines, “Walk my path and find Bomoor for yourself. I am not here to corrupt you: that would not be in my best interest. I learned a long time ago the value of balance.”

Looking at the dark path laid before her by the otherworldly being, Mumin took a nervous step forwards, the light around her, dimming slightly but still forming a barrier of protection around her mental projection. She began to follow him, being sure to stay far enough behind him that she could retreat should he turn on her.

“What of the way back?” Mumin asked, “Will your offer extend to a return trip?”

“I cannot keep you in the darkness when your spirit is still bound to your plane,” he answered, still walking forward with a powerful majesty, carving out the crystal vines into a pathway, “ When you wish to return, you shall return. But your son will have to make his own way out.”

---

After some time, wandering through the tangled forest of this spirit world, the pale being stopped abruptly, causing his Ithorian passenger to stop also, still a short distance behind.

“What is it?” she asked him, “Have we arrived?”

“Strange,” he ignored her question, “I did not expect to find her in this place. Seems this young sage still finds favour with my Sister.”

He waved a hand and the last of the undergrowth ahead of them was stripped away to reveal a dark and gloomy structure made of a strange stone and marked with even stranger carvings, alien to the Ithorian healer.

“Your son is within this prison. Your Mother Jungle, my Sister, is with him. This, I did not expect,” he clenched his fist and a doorway materialised in the stone wall which he then gestured towards, “You may enter and see them, but he cannot leave, not yet. She knows this too, but still sees fit to comfort him. She is free to do so, even though she knows I have already visited him.”

Cautiously, Mumin walked past the dark being, who moved back only slightly as her light threatened to encroach upon his being, “Thank you, spirit,” she acknowledged him, “If you are kin of the Mother, then I shall treat you with the same respect.”

Finding her words amusing, the spirit began to fade into wispy shadows but his voice lingered, “She may be Mother to you, but our own Mother is not as kind to mortals as we are. Let us hope you never meet her either in our realm or your own.”

As he faded into nothing, Mumin entered the stone structure, feeling a cold, claustrophobia creep in upon her being. The interior was entirely hollow and in the centre of the room was an Ithorian hunched over and clutching some sort of pale, white creature.

“Bomoor?” she called, her soft voice echoing back on the thick stone.

The body shifted and two dark but glistening eyes looked up at her. It was her little boy; it was Bomoor.

“My son!” she called and hurried to his side, “I have found you.”

The creature in his arms was startled and jumped out of Bomoor’s grasp, running behind him and peering out at Mumin. It was some sort of mammalian creature with pure white fur, pointed ears and large green eyes that stared softly at the newcomer. While the Elencan Matriarch had never seen such a creature, it was instantly familiar to her.

Creeping more slowly forward now, Mumin reached out her arms to embrace her son, “Bomoor, what is happening? What is this dark place you have found yourself in?”

Almost dream-like, Bomoor reached out his own arms and ran his fingers delicately along his Mother’s as if testing to see if they were real, “I had to play his game,” he answered, his voice confused, “Or our minds would be forever trapped here on Korriban. I had to think of them too: Thane, Coda. They don’t deserve to be trapped here. Not after we just escaped from the Jedi…”

“Escaped the Jedi?” Mumin’s voice was concerned, “Did they do something to you? Oh, I thought you would be safe with them. Bruta promised…”

Bomoor continued, his voice rising, almost wailing, “Oh, but what did I do? I didn’t deserve to do it. There are real souls in here too. Mother…”

His eyes looked up, “…take me home.”

With the passion of motherhood in her eyes, she replied without thinking, “Yes, Bomoor. I will take you home!”

But before she could pull him upright, the white creature had wrapped itself around her arm; not tightly, but enough to warn her that she could not do as she had said. The warmth from the creature’s soft fur instantly reminded her: it was the Mother Jungle, given form.

With that realisation, she began to feel herself losing her grasp on this realm, the power of her deity coaxing her back towards her warm hut on the Üssina continent of her home world of Öetrago.

She called out to her son, “I will find you!” she felt her body crying as she began to awaken, “Trust Mother Jungle! Keep her close until I find you, my sweetheart!”

The smell of gentle incense burning was the first sense that Mumin awoke to as her eyes flickered back open. The cooling night air could be felt through the window and the soft mat beneath her protected her from the solid cob floor. She was safe here; far from the Sith, far from political plots. But Bomoor was not safe from these things and that was something she could not sit by and allow.

TBC

 

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