Chapter 7: The Man
Wis sat in front of the sacred pond for many hours. The reflection of the mortal world moved before his eyes, yet it no longer stirred his heart. The scenes that once filled him with wonder now felt empty and silent.
He stood up and began to walk through the divine halls. Each step echoed softly across the marble floor. As he wandered, he began to wonder how high the mountain was and why it was called the Grave of Gods. The thought stayed with him until he decided to ask his Father.
When he entered the sacred chamber, the Father was there, seated in calm stillness. His light filled the room like a living sunrise.
Wis bowed his head and asked, "Father, why is this mountain called the Grave of Gods?"
The Father smiled gently. "It is a long story, my child. Come here and listen."
Wis sat beside Him as the Father began to speak. The sound of His voice carried through the great halls, steady and timeless. Hours passed as He told the story of the mountain, how it was once a place of pride, war, and sorrow.
When the story ended, Wis sat in silence. He finally understood the meaning of the name.
"So that is why it is called the Grave of Gods," Wis said quietly. "It began with a simple conflict that grew into a war. Even gods lost their trust in one another. So even they are not different from humans."
He turned his eyes to the sacred pond again and watched the lives of mortals below. Yet the longer he watched, the colder he became. His heart began to drift away from compassion. The Father saw this and grew concerned.
The Father spoke softly. "My child, I see you are losing what makes you human. It is time you learn again."
That day, the Father began to teach Wis once more.
"I remember a man I can never forget," said the Father. "He was a man of perfect virtue, yet the people humiliated him. After all his suffering, they crucified him. No one is more hated than the one who speaks the truth. Truth tears away the masks that people wear to hide their ignorance."
The Father's eyes shone with quiet strength. "The just man is struck by lies and envy. He is condemned by the crowd, not for his sin but for his virtue. People turn against the one who brings them light, calling him mad, because they would rather live in the comfort of darkness than in the pain of truth."
"They said he disturbed the peace," the Father continued, "but it was their corruption that he disturbed. Remember this, my child. A good man's duty is not to be loved by the crowd but to guard his soul and speak the truth, even if it costs his life. His death was not defeat."
Wis bowed his head. "He was not hated because he was evil but because he reminded them of what they had forgotten. People say they want the truth, but when it forces them to face themselves, they reject it."
The Father nodded. "The man revealed both divine truth and the truth of the human heart. He showed their vanity, their fear, and their desire to hide behind lies. He exposed the hypocrisy of leaders who ruled through pride and greed. Those who live in lies will always hate the one who brings truth."
Wis looked up at Him and said, "So his death was not the end. It was the beginning of remembrance."
The Father smiled. "You are learning, my child. True wisdom begins when the heart understands what the mind cannot explain."
And so, the Father continued to teach, and Wis continued to listen. High above the mortal world, within the house of eternity, the god and his disciple spoke of truth, of courage, and of the fragile line that separates heaven and man.