They reached a stunning spot adorned with an abundance of flowers. Julia was enchanted by the beauty, especially under the bright moonlight, creating an atmosphere that felt like stepping into other dimensions. Overwhelmed by the magic of the moment, she ran joyfully into the sea of flowers and laid down in the flowers and waved her hand, calling JoJo, "Come, have a seat." JoJo comes and sits with her, both embracing the enchanting view and the moment, amidst the blossoms and the night's tender embrace.
She gazed at the stars, the moon so bright, with a wistful sigh. "Do you ever feel like the stars hold secrets, JoJo? Like they're whispering stories from ages past?"
With his eyes reflecting the moon's luminance, he responded in a soft voice," The stars, they're ancient storytellers, narrating tales etched in the fabric of the cosmos. Each twinkling light is a fragment of a narrative waiting to be unraveled."
Moved by the poetic exchange, she continued "and the flowers beneath us, do they hold dreams, or are they the dreams themselves?"
"They're the dreams of the earth," he replied, "each petal a fleeting thought, each bloom a momentary glimpse into nature's subconscious. We're but a guest in this realm of dream." Everything on earth is borrowed. There is no "mine" or "yours"; there is only "Ours". Even time is borrowed; we kill over a plot of land that belongs only to our mother Earth. All you have is what you came with and what you will leave with… your spirits.
"Do you believe in spirits?" she asked. He looked thoughtful for a moment before replying, "Everything has its Spirit- the rocks, the trees, the very air we breathe." Perplexed, Julia responded, "But I thought spirits were considered evil entities." With a curious face, he asked, "Why do you think that?" Oh, I overheard some girls talking about it. They mentioned different kinds of spirits. There are normal spirits that come into being after people die, and then there are wicked and evil spirits formed when people die due to accidents, regret, or murder. They called them vengeful spirits, and above them, the most dangerous, the mountain spirits.
JoJo's expression turned serious as he acknowledges, "There's truth in what you've heard. People often interpret spirits based on their experiences and beliefs. It's true; there are different kinds of spirits. Normal spirits are the essence of those who passed away, and wicked spirits might arise from tragic circumstances, carrying negative energy. But mountain spirits are the essence of the mountain, a being formed of nature. Mountain spirits are known as 'Dite-Ayit' — 'Dite' means mountain, and 'Ayit' means spirit. They are powerful entities; they hold immense energy. Approach them with respect, and they ensure harmony; challenge that balance, and consequences may follow."
"What kind of consequences? Are these spirits vengeful?" she asked with a curious face. It's not about vengeance; mountain spirits are guardians, and they act to maintain the balance of the mountain. Disrupting that balance can lead to natural disturbances, like landslides or storms. It's their way of restoring order. How do you know so much about these spirits? Have you seen them?
JoJo evaded the question with a mysterious smile, "Well, let's just say the villagers have a unique way of passing down their knowledge; it's been a part of traditions for generations." Julia gave him a look but intrigued, Julia asked, "But how do spirits come into being, and how do they die?" with a solemn face he slowly spoke "spirits have existed since time immemorial. The earth gave birth to two brothers; one day they had a big fight, and the younger brother, the first human, took the day and plains, while the elder brother, the first spirit, took the mountains and night."
"How do they meet their end?" "Spirits can be immortal," but they die when their ashes are destroyed. Wide-eyed, Julia questioned, "What happens to the spirits whose ashes are destroyed? They cease to exist; they can't reincarnate like humans, and a new spirit is born out of it. So they keep their ashes in the form of an ornament and hide it in the safest place they feel it to be." The world is truly full of mystery, she remarked, closing her sleepy eyes, overcome by the enchanting atmosphere. Eventually, the rhythmic sounds of nature, the gentle breeze, and the murmur of the night lulled her into a peaceful slumber amidst the fragrant flowers.