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This was the most difficult chapter for me, so it will probably be the worst and have the most mistakes. The truth is that I wanted to finish the chapter quickly..
It was difficult mainly because I didn't know how to approach the story without being disrespectful.
I was born into a Catholic family, so even though I'm not really a church guy, I still have respect for it.
I really wanted to get this part over with as quickly as possible, it was a heavy burden to bear. So I apologize if I offend anyone in any way, it is not my intention. At first, I didn't even want to add this event, but it ended up happening.
It was going to be divided into two chapters, but I ended up making it into one chapter that is a little longer than the inner chapters. So if it seems rushed, it's because it really was rushed.
Someone asked why the character didn't seek revenge on the one who transformed him. Maybe I forgot about him, and miraculously Kael's father was the only one who survived to die at his hands. Plot holes are complicated, haha. Well, he didn't necessarily ask, but that's what I understood. Well, I don't know anything. My lawyer told me not to say anything that could be used against me in court.
I've said it before, but I've never written anything like this in my life. It's a new experience.
English is not my native language, so I'm trying to be as coherent as possible, sorry.
I'm happy about the kind words I've received. Regardless of whether the comments are good or bad, I read them all, there's always something to learn.
I had three chapters per week in mind, but I've been posting one per day. The kind words helped me feel motivated to write as soon as I get home from work. But I'll try to get ahead on the weekend to make it easier during the week. I write the chapter in my own language, which makes it much easier for me and allows my thoughts to flow more freely, then I edit it. When I finish the chapter, I translate it into English and edit it again. This chapter, which I'm not at all confident about, took me about four hours to write.
So my goal with this part of the story is to humanize Kael. Just as Jesus sees more in him than his nature, the goal was for him to see himself as Jesus sees him. That is, to give him a model of unconditional kindness. So my next step is to give him the motivation to improve his strength.
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Against all common sense, I decide to return to the place where I spoke with Jesus, and to my surprise, he was there, sitting in the same spot where we spoke last night.
Because of the sun, I have my whole body covered, but Jesus seems to recognize who I am at a glance.
I sit down next to him when he says:
-"You know my name, but I don't remember you telling me yours?" Jesus says playfully.
-"Kael." Kael says briefly.
-"You don't need to be shy, you have to speak with more conviction," Jesus says with the same playful smile.
I look at him but don't respond.
-"A man of few words compared to yesterday, I see. Well, follow me, I still have a lot to do before the day is over." Jesus says as he cleans his robes and stands up.
I follow him silently as we walk through the busy streets. Some people, perhaps acquaintances of Jesus, wave to him as they pass by. In their eyes I see hope, but also reverence.
We reach a lake where several fishermen are trying their luck to bring food home, something that, from the looks of it, has not been successful.
Jesus gets into one of the boats that is about to leave the shore, and I follow him.
-"Any luck, my good friend?" Jesus says to the fisherman.
-"Today is not a day for fish. We've been casting our nets all morning and haven't had any luck." says the fisherman, looking tired.
-"Nothing that a few more attempts won't solve. Take the boat over there." Jesus points to the center of Lake.
With my senses, I can feel the fish in the water, very scattered and still. When the boat reaches the center, I feel something unusual. The fish, which were scattered and still, begin to swim toward the wooden boat, gathering in a huge school under it. Before I can even understand what is happening, I hear Jesus speak.
-"Cast the net." says Jesus as he puts his hand on the fisherman's shoulder.
The fisherman casts the net and begins to pull it in, loaded with fish.
I look at Jesus and the only thing I see is an appearance of peace and happiness as he looks at the fisherman's joyful face.
We reached the coast and disembarked from the boat. I keep that strange event in my mind, it was as if all the fish were controlled at the same time, something so unnatural.
-"So what do you think of this braggart?" Jesus says provocatively.
-"A stroke of luck?" Kael says strangely, with little conviction in my words.
Jesus doesn't seem to take my words badly as he starts walking towards the city. I remain silent as I follow him, continuing to think about this human, who seems much more than any being he has ever seen, almost like something divine.
As we head back to his residence, a strange figure covered from head to toe approaches Jesus, human, but with a rotten, deathly smell. I prepare to intercede when the figure falls to his knees in front of Jesus.
-"Sir, can you heal me?" says the man with hope in his voice.
The man's hood falls off, revealing a face with deformities and blemishes.
-"Yes, I want you to be healed!" says Jesus in a calm tone of compassion.
Right in front of me, I watch. The blemishes disappear, the deformities leave the body, simply a miracle, there is no other word or explanation, just a miracle.
Jesus continues to talk to the man, but I don't hear anything they say, I remain stuck in that moment that happened right before my eyes.
Two people with completely opposite natures walk side by side in silence, there are no more words or provocation, they simply follow the path in silence.
When we arrive at Jesus' residence and I prepare to leave, he puts his hand on my shoulder.
-"Can you stay a little longer today? I have something important to tell you," Jesus says in a serious tone as he heads inside the house.
I follow him inside and can sense several people inside the house. There is a table in the center of the room where people are waiting for Jesus. Jesus sits down and invites me to sit beside him.
-"Take and eat; this is my body." says Jesus as he distributes the bread among his disciples.
I look at the bread and, against my will, force myself to swallow it.
-"Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Jesus says in the same serious tone.
Then I hear him say something in a firm voice that makes my body tremble.
-"I say that one of you will surely betray me, someone who is eating with me." Jesus says in a sad tone.
I get up, not wanting to hear any more, and head for the exit. Jesus does not try to stop me, he just looks in my direction.
Several days passed without me trying to meet Jesus again. Would I be the one to betray him? Would I give in to my nature and pay for my sins?
I realized too late that he wasn't talking about me. Just as his deeds spread among the people, they reached the wrong ears. And as he predicted, someone betrayed him.
Without thinking twice, I decide to help him escape. I easily get past the guards and reach his cell, where I see Jesus sitting in a corner wearing a crown of thorns, blood dripping down his face and his back torn apart. At that moment, I feel something I haven't felt in a long time: ANGER.
-"I see you've come to visit me, my friend." Jesus says, almost in a whisper.
-"Let's get out of here. We'll have time to talk later." Kael says hurriedly.
-"I'm not going anywhere, but I wouldn't mind some company," Jesus says with a small smile despite the pain.
-"Don't be an idiot, you healed that man, heal yourself and then we can get out of here." Kael says even more urgently.
-"You of all people should know that I don't have that power, I'm just a simple human being." says Jesus.
-"I saw it with my own eyes, at the lake, and then the man, it wasn't a coincidence, it was you." says Kael.
-"It wasn't me, it was faith. My life ends here, but not my journey." says Jesus calmly.
-"Don't give me that about journeys, faith, or God. I was alive even before God was a word." Kael says angrily.
-"Just because humanity didn't know about God doesn't mean he doesn't exist, only that they didn't recognize his existence." Jesus says patiently.
-"Look at me, do I look like God's creation to you?" Kael says as he rips open the cell door and prepares to take Jesus by force.
-"Are you really going against the will of a friend?" Jesus says reproachfully.
I stop and look at Jesus angrily, but against my will I decide to listen to his words. I prepare to leave when he calls me softly.
-"Kael, we all have a purpose, something greater than ourselves, and you are no different. Regardless of what you see on the day of the crucifixion, do not act or hate humans. Where there is evil, there is also good, two sides of the same coin." says Jesus.
Not wanting to hear any more, I disappear and wait for the day. Must I see my first friend killed by human greed for power?
The day came faster than I expected. From afar, I see him climbing the hill with the cross on his back. People surround him and watch. Step by step, with difficulty, I see him reach the top. I see them nail him to the cross. His cries of pain make me want to act, but I hold back as Roman soldiers raise the cross.
-"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." he says as he looks up to the sky.
-"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Jesus says in pain.
I look at him as I see him take his last breath.
-"Faith? Destiny? God? What a Joke." Kael says angrily toward the sky.
As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt a sense of unease inside me. Black clouds like charcoal filled the sky as it began to rain, the ground began to shake, structures began to collapse, and the ground began to open up.
That day, the city of Rome fell, and the world wept.