Division’s Connected

Thousands of years ago, there resided an oasis in the middle of a massive desert.

This paradise, surrounded by seemingly endless sands, was named Zyfle.

Those who lived in the oasis gave it this name after the spirit, who they believed looked after them for generations.

No one knows where their tiny spot of heaven amidst the hell that laid beyond it came from, but they were grateful for its bountiful food, fresh water, & resources.

 All was well in Zyfle; except for one thing.

There were two tribes who despised the other’s appearance, & customs.

The Eros, who lived on the northern side of Zyfle had been gifted with large, muscular physiques, & immaculate strength.

The largest Eros was recorded to be ten feet tall weighing almost six-hundred pounds.

They had sky blue skin, with crimson eyes, & navy, wool-like hair.

The Eros were also naturally in tune with plants, as well as animals.

As Eros legend has it, they were the first people to inhabit Zyfle, finding their way to the oasis by paying close attention to the fluctuations of wind temperature as they communicated with birds of the area.

Their abilities allowed them to shape the oasis to their liking by raw force.

Sturdy houses of wood were created from robust trees of Zyfle that they placed along the ground’s fertile soul.

The Eros preferred to live on the ground, acknowledging their connection, & appreciation for Zyfle.

They were a proud, gregarious people.

The Eros enjoyed frequent celebrations with loud music partnered by delicious food, & drink.

They often irritated the other tribe with their playful antics, but this was the Eros way of life.

They refused to change.

The Faetons, who resided on the southern half of Zyfle had been gifted with incredible intelligence, & telekinetic abilities.

Their vibrant, amber skin with grey eyes, & silky jet black hair accompanied their relatively slender bodies.

The average Faeton stood at a height of six feet, weighing around one-hundred & seventy pounds.

According to Faeton legend, they were the original people who found, & populated Zyfle.

Their ancient stories explained how Faetons were able to mentally come into contact with spirit guides within a metaphysical realm who led them to the oasis.

Their abilities allowed them to shape their environment to their liking through the subtle use of their minds.

Faetons preferred to live above ground. 

With their telekinesis, they formed suspended huts with robust leaves from the trees, using vines to keep them in place.

 They enjoyed the light swaying of their houses from subtle winds that came from the south.

It kept their minds at ease, an important aspect of Faeton culture.

It kept their powers, & connection to the spiritual realm strong.

They were a quiet people, who were inclined towards the silent practice of meditation.

They rarely walked along the soil; & this irritated the Eros who believed the Faetons should be knocked off their pedestal.

But this was the Faeton way of life.

They would not change.

The discrepancy between tribes on who founded Zyfle was the main reason why the two hated each other.

Both sides believed the entire oasis was theirs to live on, but the history books of each tribe were rather vague, & there was no legitimate record of one tribe, or the other inhabiting all of Zyfle.

There are rumors on each side that both the Eros, & Faetons came from a common ancestor, but were somehow separated genetically by nature’s necessity to adapt.

However, such talk was forbidden, so most never spoke of it.

Even if these tribes had their differences, they relied on each other to survive, & thrive.

Faetons were constantly inventing new bio-technologies out of the surrounding resources making life easier for everyone in Zyfle.

The Eros used their strength to scavenge the toughest, & most precious of resources to acquire, as well build repairs on all housing.

This was the only communion the two tribes participated in that was compelled by Zyfle law put in place by the oasis chief who for fourteen years, was a Faeton man named Traigel.

The Eros felt his prolonged term as chief was wrong, & perceived him to be a tyrant.

He created laws to purposefully restrict the natural power of the Eros, fearing they would one day overtake the entire oasis by force.

But the Eros had no such intention, as they were content with their half; but nevertheless, they were oppressed.

Many Eros believe before Traigel was put in office, he manipulated the voting populace, & Eros candidates by using his exceptionally strong telekinetic prowess to sway votes towards himself.

There was no evidence of such a temperance with the election because the Eros had no access to the metaphysical realm; but their suspicions persisted.

This was another area of contention between tribes which maintained the underlying hatred that pervaded over the magical environment Zyfle. 

So much so, that a twenty foot wall was placed at the center of the oasis, physically separating the Eros, & Faetons.

They did not even want each other in their sight.

A superficial band-aid to cover a deep, collective wound.

Even with the animosity that had run rampant throughout Zyfle, there was one member from each tribe who remained curious about the other side.

An Eros man, named Belyon, & a Faeton woman, named Elise.

They frequently snuck out of their houses under moon lit nights to secretly see how the other tribe lived.

Belyon was always impressed by how well-crafted Faeton housing remained within the trees.

He imagined himself living above the ground with the koalas & birds; but at eight feet, four hundred & fifty-eight pounds, he was far too big.

He was fascinated by the quiet lifestyle of Faetons.

Belyon’s frequent banquets with fire & alcohol grew old.

He wanted a lifestyle that provided him with a subtle grace.

He saw himself meditating above the soil in his mind’s eye, falling into a trance from the gentle swaying from the wind.

He desired a peaceful life.

Belyon appeared to be a brute, but in his heart, he felt a tranquil ocean. 

All he could do was enjoy his dream.

Elise admired how strong Eros houses appeared to be.

She wondered how these people were able to carry such heavy material, & put them together so tightly.

Eros houses were held together only by tightly fastened vines, & the soil below.

Along her walks, she witnessed the aftermath of Eros gatherings.

The soil was layered with half empty bowls of wine, & there was typically a fire still roaring.

She imagined herself attending such a party.

Elise grew tired of her quiet life in the trees, her daily meditations, & the calmness of it all.

Elise appeared to be a delicate flower, but in her heart, she felt a brilliant flame.

She yearned for a more exciting experience of life.

But all she could do was enjoy the fairytales in her head.

After Elise & Belyon’s secret expeditions of Zyfle granted by the cover of darkness, they often wished how things in the oasis were different.

They both dreamed of how the two tribes would accept each other for who they were, instead of highlighting their distinctions.

The two tribes had much to offer the other, but the culture created within Zyfle was born out of fear.

The structure was far too rigid for a radical change such as the union of Faetons & the Eros.

Belyon had half a mind to use his exceptional strength, even for an Eros, to rip the wall in the middle of Zyfle apart, making the two sides visible to the other.

He saw the wall as a symbol of historical ignorance, & imprisonment.

He knew it was for the safety of his people, but security often turns into limitation.

Belyon knew this, but his people did not.

He wondered how his culture praised their connection to Zyfle, but disregarded the other people living within it.

Belyon did not understand how his people had not come across similar realizations in their minds that seemed so obvious to him, & he felt deeply that something was wrong with Eros culture.

He did not know how to convince his peers. 

They were all stuck in their ways.

Elise often thought to use her telekinetic powers, of which she was unusually gifted, to break the wall of Zyfle into pieces.

She spent a large portion of her time exploring the spiritual realm, & in this other world she found there were no such laws of separation between life.

Elise knew others who had explored the same places as she, saw this was true.

However, it was not popular among Faetons to speak on such a subtle insight.

For this, she came to feel disgust towards her culture.

 Elise saw them as hypocrites who let their intellect, & ideas of the world cloud their view of reality.

She could not figure out how to change the minds of her people.

They were all blinded by tradition.

In environments like these, it is easy for souls such as Belyon, & Elise to go mad.

The only reason they maintained a level head was from the fulfillment they felt during the night when they visited their neighboring tribe.

This was taboo in Zyfle, unless it was specifically for business as decreed by Traigel.

The two knew their actions were illegal, & knew the punishment would be severe if they were caught.

If they were apprehended wandering around the other tribe, their fates would be bound to exile; forced to walk through the unforgiving desert to experience certain death.

Even with the awareness of these high stakes, their curiosity of the other superseded their concern for personal safety.

They told themselves they would rather die than live by the close-mindedness of tribal laws.

& so, they continued to explore through the dark.

One night when the moon was shining particularly bright, the two walked towards one of the secret pathways to the other side as they normally do.

Belyon, & Elise had created multiple hidden entrances to gain access to either side, & always covered their tracks making sure there were no signs of travel.

Due to this precaution, the two never noticed there was another doing the same act as them.

Not until tonight.

By fate’s hand, Belyon, & Elise decided to take the same path, at the same time.

As they both approached the entrance, they reached their hand out in movement forward, & both felt the warmth of another being’s hand.

Immediately, they rushed to cover, afraid they would be caught, & their life would end in a demise served by the desert.

After sometime, Belyon felt bold, figuring he could handle a Faeton, & called out into the night.

“Who goes there?” He said in his booming, baritone voice.

“Elise, from the southern tribe of Faeton” she said with a whisper.

Belyon thought he’d heard an angel speak.

The voice that reached his ears was the most alluring he had ever heard.

His curiosity got the best of him, & he walked towards the voice’s owner to find a Faeton woman.

When the two locked eyes, they paused in awe in reaction to the sight of other.

 Elise, & Belyon had never actually seen a member of their neighboring tribe.

They had only heard ghoulish stories of the other.

Faeton elders had only described how barbaric the Eros looked.

Eros elders told stories of how unappealing the body of a Faeton was.

But before them, their ideas of the other had been crushed by a sudden shock of reality.

Elise was drawn to the masculine style of Belyon, & could somehow feel his tranquil heart.

She was intrigued how he did not fit the typical descriptions of an Eros.

Belyon was pulled by Elise’s feminine aura, but felt a fire burning within her.

He was enamored by the surprise of it all.

Belyon never expected such a being to exist.

The two, very curious, wanted only to know about the other. 

Without hesitation, they began to ask a barrage of questions.

Belyon, & Elise talked intensely through the night, sharing the stories of their lives.

What seemed like an hour to them, was in reality, eight; & the two rushed home only after they agreed to meet the next night at a different entrance.

During the coming days, while the sun provided warmth over Zyfle, all the two could think about was the other.

They both heavily anticipated the transition from day, to night, craving to hear the other’s astonishing stories about themselves, & their culture.

Belyon, & Elise were noticeably more joyful in their being.

Their presence began to exude a radiating glow to the surprise of their peers.

They became the talk of the town; & rumors began to spread about each as people hypothesized about a possible love affair in the midst of their tribes.

The people were right, a love was growing, but it was not the kind anyone had expected.

Belyon, & Elise were falling for each other.

Never before in Zyfle history, did an Eros fall in love with a Faeton.

Not only because it was forbidden, but because the two tribes collective souls were dipped in misunderstanding, & fear.

But as Elise, & Belyon began to know, even to their own surprise, that love knows no bounds.

As their nightly meetings continued to take place through time, & their feelings grew, eventually they could not contain themselves any longer despite the dogma prevalent in Zyfle.

Belyon went to his tribe, & explained to them his situation, not exactly caring for the response. 

He was more so informing his peers.

Elise did the same, & each tribe was infuriated by their words.

They were sent to trial in front Traigel.

Everyone of Zyfle was allowed to partake in legal events. 

This made for seamless communication of important judgements.

By the time word spread through the oasis, not a single soul wished to miss the hearing.

Everyone, from both the northern, & southern side were curious about the historical event occurring on their homeland.

Although there was a legitimate hearing, the people of Zyfle knew this was only a formality.

Traigel sentenced both Belyon, & Traigel to exile.

But just as the judgment was made, Elise’s mother cried out to Traigel in tears.

She could not bear the thought of her daughter being subject to the harsh elements of the desert, left to suffer an inevitable death.

The Eros did not have such concern for Belyon.

His tribe was built to survive for many months in harsh conditions.

They had faith he could find shelter, even if they did not know what else the desert carried besides the oasis of Zyfle.

Traigel felt moved by the emotional performance of Elise’s mother, & even though he was a tyrant, deep within him there was a tiny sense of empathy.

He paused, & thought for a few moments as the crowd held their breathe in suspense.

After some time, he’d made up his mind to go forth with his decision to exile the two, but he would keep the sentence to twenty years, not an eternity, but still a long time.

Traigel figured they could find their way back to Zyfle if the desert was forgiving, & he granted them with enough resources to last them three weeks.

So with this, the hearing was through.

Elise’s mother wailed in the space of the crowd pleading someone to save her daughter, but to no avail.

The father of Elise was a strong believer in the policies of Traigel, believing the segregation of the Eros & Faetons to be the only rational option to keep peace within Zyfle.

Once the hearing was through, & Traigel’s words finished cutting the crowd like a knife, Elise, & Belyon said their goodbyes.

The two lovers vowed to worried faces that they will be seen again.

It was mid-day, & the sun was its highest point.

With their hands held tight, Belyon, & Elise walked into the barren unknown as they both prayed to Zyfle under their breathes for mercy.

Not a soul from Zyfle had ventured into the desert since founding the oasis.

They had no need; & they feared the sands, believing them to be cursed by a malevolent

god named Syndra. 

Both tribes were ignorant as to what laid beyond the borders of Zyfle, so their imaginations populated the open space with countless legends.

Both Belyon, & Elise were aware of these stories.

They were told to children to prevent them from wandering into the desert.

But now, the two had no choice but to brave one of nature’s most challenging elements.

Elise relied on Belyon’s strength, & connection to the Earth.

Belyon trusted Elise’s mental prowess.

The two spent several weeks wandering the desert as they trusted their inner instincts to guide them.

  After some time, they realized they could not depend on the voices of their minds which frequently spun tales of fear.

Their thoughts only became another obstacle amongst the desert sands, & heat.

The two ignored negative thoughts in their minds that would only greet them to death’s door.

Belyon, & Elise found it was wisest to follow their heart.

It lead them to each other, & they had faith it would lead them to shelter.

One night when the moon was full, the sands were luminous, & their resources had been depleted to the final rations, a mysterious humanoid gas figure had appeared out of thin air in front of Elise, & Belyon.

The two, even in their state of exhaustion, had been thrusted into a state of alertness to gauge the scene.

They had never seen a figure such as this in their lifetimes, & they could not recall any legends that resembled it.

Slowly, a face began to appear from the gas, & began to speak.

“I am Syndra, the spirit who watches over this desert. 

It is my domain.

I know all that happens within it, for I am it.

The figure you see before you is only a trivial extension of my greater self.

I have chosen to use this language, & take this form to communicate with the two of you.”

Belyon, & Elise had heard this mythical name in various stories told within their tribes. 

In their minds, they knew this was the end.

They foresaw themselves perishing under the night sky with the moon as their witness. 

The evil spirit Syndra would now send them to their graves.

In their state of delirium, all they could do was watch as they awaited their fate.

“I have been observing you two, & the oasis your people call Zyfle.

I’ve seen how they treat others not as themselves, but as estranged others.

They have forgotten nature’s principles, ignoring the truth of wholeness, & love.

However, you two, who were temporarily banished from your home know truth, & have come together despite the wishes of your peers.

So I’ve come to save you from my Self.

I chose to let you suffer in my desert for this long only to see if your love would prevail through the hardship.

Its been three weeks, & I see your bond has remained strong.

You are now ready to enter.”

Syndra directed their attention to an empty valley where suddenly an oasis, about the size of Zyfle, materialized out of a gas similar to Syndra’s.

Belyon, & Elise were left speechless by the sudden turn of events.

The legends they were told had been lies, & their suspicions of the blindness of Zyfle culture was revealed to them by the words of Syndra.

With their stomachs empty, & their mouths dry, Belyon, & Elise trudged forward to the land of their salvation.

This oasis had no name because there was no need.

Not a single person dared to travel that far into the desert of Syndra, so the oasis remained nameless.

Because the two did not plan on making this land their home, they decided to leave it unnamed.

They felt it would keep the mystery, & purity of this new land intact.

Syndra’s oasis kept Belyon, & Elise in state of peace as they explored the harmless territory to their hearts content.

The isolation made it easy for their love for each other, & the earth, to grow. 

One night amongst the stars, nature took over, & months later Elise gave birth to a child.

A boy named Leivant.

He was the first mix being of his kind.

 Leivant was born with canary colored eyes, brunette skin, & white curly hair.

Upon the birth of this magical looking child, Belyon stared in awe at what a magnificent creation nature had devised inside the body of Elise.

They felt blessed to now have a healthy family of three.

Over the years in Syndra’s oasis, Leivant grew to be as strong, & as large as his father.

He also developed the telekinetic abilities of his mother feeling great joy of visiting the spiritual realm.

He grew into a wise man of strength, & integrity; unable to become tainted by the dogma of the people of Zyfle.

Eventually, obvious questions arose in his mind of why him, & his parents were the only three people living in the entire oasis.

Elise, & Belyon were prepared for such a moment, knowing that this day would come.

They explained the story to their son of how Zyfle beliefs shaped it’s culture, & about how it lead to the segregation of its people by tribes.

The two went on to tell the story of their love, & how they were banished from their home for twenty years because of it.

Leivant, an intelligent being, logically understood the words of his parents, & saw how the three ended up in Syndra’s oasis, but deep within him knew something was wrong.

He saw how well his parents interacted with each other, even if they did appear to be very different.

He looked at himself in the reflection of the oasis’s crystal clear lake, & saw he looked unique from his parents, but also felt the love from them throughout all his years of life. 

Leivant’s heart, & mind were conflicted.

He did not understand customs that the people of this world had created, but he knew of love, & knew of life.

 He was able to comprehend them clearly by taking advantage of the solitude, & security Syndra’s oasis had brought him.

He decided to follow his heart.

Syndra provided this shelter for the family by design.

 He desired the boy to come to this very point in his life where he questioned the ways of the world.

The spirit of the desert wanted the people who lived within it to understand the truth of life that all things can become one through love, & separation is an illusion created by distorted perceptions of fear.

Syndra closely evaluated Belyon, & Elise in his desert as they were suffering.

The spirit also watched Leivant with a watchful eye under the perfect conditions he created, & saw he was the being who would convey the message of truth to the people of his parent’s homeland.

Leivant felt strongly that the minds of the Eros, & Faetons of Zyfle were distorted.

“If only they could see what I do,” he thought, “then they would listen, & change their ways”.

Leivant paced through Syndra’s oasis attempting to devise solutions to reconcile the differences between tribes.

After some time, Elise, & Belyon looked closely at their son, & saw how unique his appearance was.

They recalled the moment he was born, & how the two were in awe that such a being could exist in their divided world.

Elise, by telekinesis, was aware of the affairs of Zyfle.

In her visions, she saw how Traigel’s philosophy of separation for safety was slowly destroying the oasis.

Both the Eros, & Faetons were growing to feel that Traigel was not an adequate leader.

The people were demanding an election be held to select a new chief.

Elise saw this is as the perfect opportunity to revolutionize the culture of their homeland through Leivant participating in the election.

By this time, the twenty years of their banishment had passed, & the three were free to travel back to Zyfle.

Elise believed that the time was now for the three to show themselves.

She knew through intuition that Leivant must run in this election & win the hearts of the people for Zyfle to be at peace.

Leivant courageously agreed.

He felt this was what life called him to do, & he had knowledge of what was important.

He wasn’t one to deny the calls of the earth.

As the three prepaired for their voyage across the sands back to Zyfle, Syndra approached them for the final time.

“Read the sands closely, I have set the path to your homeland,” Syndra said.

Belyon, Elise, & Leivant looked out into the desert as a trail of gas appeared.

“Follow this gas with integrity, & you will reach the oasis in six days.

I have enjoyed watching over the three of you.

May you bring change to Zyfle.”

They said their goodbyes to the spirit of the desert, & made their way home.

Along their journey that was completed with relative ease compared to their wandering path before, the three had time to reflect on their stay in Syndra’s oasis.

Each of them vowed in their hearts they would carry with them the wisdom, & peace they acquired while in their solitude.

They could not let the tumultuous environment of Zyfle invade the serenity of their souls, or they would be overtaken by ignorance, & would be of no help to their people.

The Eros, & Faetons needed a fresh perspective of life to bring the momentum of their ways to a hault.

Beylon, & Elise originally left Zyfle identified as members of their tribes, but they intended to return only as beings of the earth, free from distortions of reality.

After six days, the unique family was upon the oasis of Zyfle just as Syndra had promised.

Elise, & Belyon urged Leivant to prepare himself for the initial treatment he may receive.

They explained that he will come as a shock because he is the first of his kind.

Leivant readied himself for entry, holding onto the love he felt permeating through his heart.

The three walked into Zyfle with their heads held high.

There was a gathering taking place that involved both tribes, & someone from the crowd squinted at the tree thinking what a strange sight it was to see an Eros man, & A Faeton woman walking so tightly together.

This person, an older Faeton woman continued to pay attention to the sight before her, until she realized who they were.

“Elise!” A voice cried out.

Elise heard the voice, but did not recognize the figure it came from, nor did she expect anyone to be so excited to see her after her exile.

“Elise! It’s your mother! Oh my! Praise Zyfle for your return!”

Elise looked closer to see her mother in her old age.

Not a day passed that her mother, including citizens of the entire oasis, did not think about Elise, & Belyon.

Elise embraced her mother, & the two cried tears of joy to feel the warmth of each other’s being once again.

Belyon did the same for his family who didn’t doubt for one moment that they wouldn’t see their strong companion again; even after his exile.

Over the years, the people of Zyfle began to see that separation was not the natural way of life.

The unusual behavior of an Eros man, & A Faeton woman falling in love deeply touched the hearts of everyone.

On the surface, they initially saw the bond as blasphemy against Zyfle’s order, & history.

However, what Belyon, & Elise did not know upon their exile, was they served as a catalyst to transform the minds of everyone.

They admired their bravery, & irreverence: two components needed to overthrow an archaic way of thought which proved detrimental to everyone.

The feelings buried within the hearts of each tribe which were reinforced by anger, & fear were uprooted by Elise, & Belyon.

Now that the two have returned, they felt profoundly ashamed; even embarrassed as they remembered how they condemned them twenty years ago

These feelings of guilt quickly vanished as they noticed the attitudes of the two were not of hatred towards them, but of peace, understanding, & compassion.

The family’s very presence was a pleasant gift to uplift the emotional trajectory of the oasis.

What’s more, they were all awfly interested in the being that was with them.

Belyon proudly explained to everyone that this was his son, Leivant.

He gracefully greeted the crowd as people stared at him with the same awe his parents did when he was born.

His brown skin, & white hair radiated into the eyes of the crowd, using the suns beams as fuel.

Some people told Leivant he looked like what they believed an angel to be.

Others said he appeared to be a mystical spirit.

Leivant kindly laughed at these perceptions.

He assured them that he was no different from them, & that he was here to run in the upcoming election for Zyfle chief.

Zyfle elections were very simple.

Each candidate had thirty minutes upon a stage to convince the crowd why they were the right fit to be chief.

The intuition of everyone was strong, so there was no need to have prolonged campaigns.

Each person trusted the compass within them to make the right decisions.

They had forgotten how to use them under Traigel’s dogma, but their hearts were rejuvenated, & their minds awakened by the flood of emotions they felt upon the banished family’s return.

 The gathering in the oasis happened to be for the election.

Leivant had arrived just in time.

There were several candidates representing each tribe who had already spoke before his arrival, all with prepaired speeches.

Leivant, who refused to be phased by the crowd, went up on stage to speak for his candidacy.

Not having prepaired his words, he looked deeply into the eyes of every one looking back at him.

All he needed was to connect with the souls of the people to become the mouthpiece for their hearts.

Leivant did not speak for very long. 

He did not have to.

Every word that came from Leivant’s lips were infused with power, & intention to convey his message.

They were backed by the truth he knew within his heart.

The truth that was found within all things.

Leivant explained that the separation of the Eros, & Faetons was a flaw of perception that arose from distorted minds of fear.

He directed the crowds attention to his very being, proving himself to be an existential example that both tribes can coexist.

He used his life as an example of truth that no one in Zyfle could deny.

Leivant encouraged the people to let go of the identifications to their tribes which inherently causes division, & instead identify with the larger existence around them that includes everyone, & everything.

 Most people in the crowd felt his words reverberate through their being.

Even those that did not understand were indicated by their intuition that this man was a true leader.

The crowd was on the edge of their seats, feeling the fulfillment of their deepest emotions being recognized by this uncommon man.

They saw Leivant understood the expression of the earth.

As his speech came to a close, the people of Zyfle exploded in a blast of cries, & applauds.

A sense of cartharsis spread through Zyfle.

Leivant’s speech provided an emotional outlet that carried enough voltage for the people to release their hatred, & fear.

 Once the votes were in, the announcement was made that Leivant had won the election by a landslide, & was declared the new chief of Zyfle.

Immedeatly, Leivant walked towards the wall located in the center of the oasis, & tore it down.

“From this day forward, the Eros, & Faetons will live as one within the oasis of Zyfle.” Leivant said triumphantly.

“May everyone live in peace, & listen to their hearts. 

A new age has begun.”