Helping Gonyaul (Part 3)

JP with Lorem and Cindy

"It must have taken a long time to be completed."

Islana thought she understood what he had said about how it was done. It was like a tattoo then, just it removed coloring rather than adding to it.

Part of her did not want to know the answer to this question but another part, well, that curiosity again, "When you had it done, was it painful?"

“More than two full turns of the suns journey.” Which meant the sun’s ecliptic path in the sky equating to more than two years.

“Every day. Hours. Each letter bring lesson from elder at same time, no forgot.” It was basically like the routine of going to year long higher level education.

One of the reasons he remembered every letter and lesson so well was because his emotional state was so intense during the tattooing that it burned the information into his long term memory. This knowledge was reinforced in that he could see it written on others as well. It was also the answer to her second question.

“Most pain. Each poke feel like bull ant bite. Have to tie up to keep still.” He realized if she had never been to the Kru’ll jungle, she may not know what that was or felt like. “Like entire hive of bees at one time.”

“Leave behind burning under the skin like open flame till go away in short while.” He continued reliving it behind his closed eyes.

He can recall the numerous things he bit through while in pain. The small puddles of tears forming on the dirt beneath his face, while suspended and bound. He could also recall over time how to handle pain the before, during and after from all the practice.

“Had others to comfort me after like you do now.”

It took Islana just a moment to calculate "two full turns of the sun's journey" into about two years.

That process sounded awful, Islana hated the idea of good people in pain. Gonyaul was a good person. But there was a second part to that equation. The markings were of his culture, the young woman guessed that he had been trained from a young age that it would happen.

"Did you learn how to handle the pain then? At least a little? Like you seem to be doing with the bee stings?"

“The pain never less. You get used to it. Breathing and mental focus help push through, but never not feel it.” In fact the toxin had a side effect of making the nerve endings in those areas even more alert. Hence why he was so very ticklish now, more than before. One of the things that felt amazing though was standing in the wind or being in water with his bare skin. It felt really interesting in a soothing, sometimes pleasing, way.

Islana understood the idea of focusing on something else could help, if not get rid of the pain, at least make it more bearable.

The young woman was now finished with his back and proceeded to work a little on his forearms. Her mind trying to imagine what the individual markings meant but it felt more like she shouldn't ask that question.

When Islana shifted to be more in front of him again, it was then her mind realized that, what was one of the more beautiful markings on him, resembled a river. It seemed to start at his lower neck and go down from there. A river of calligraphy.

The redhead had been so intrigued by the markings, at first, she hadn't really taken in the patterns but she was beginning to see them more now

"You mentioned your life's purpose, is that something you're given at the same time as the markings? " Islana decided that maybe asking him what his life's purpose was, would be too much. Even if she wanted to know more about it.

Gonyaul couldn’t tell what she was looking at, since his eyes were closed; however, his hand immediately followed up that beautifully designed river to his heart when she asked about life’s purpose.

“Purpose given by elders at birth. Nourished by it and grow. Not marked until older.”

His left hand moved higher to where the river began at his lower neck. His hand moved past the calligraphy at the pace of translation as he did his best to speak it into common tongue. He spoke with the confidence of a timeless sage.

“Child of the void, every moment is a gift and inside is an opportunity to do something. In that moment, ask yourself who, or what, can I serve. Lead the way in all things with Generosity …”

His hand was at his heart where that word generosity looked to be given special emphasis. He continued

“…it will heal and transform the giver as much as the receiver. There is too much at stake and time is short to not be vulnerable. Therefore, everything you do, or don’t do, matters now and for all time.…”

His hand had reached his waistband. He let his hand lower, but she couldn’t see the rest because of the pants.

“…Take bold risks to increase your seating, serving and sending capacity. Treat all as uncommon and of high value, being grateful for what you have been allowed to experience and the people you experience it with. In this way, Kagim will flow through you to complete the good that started at the beginning. Be persistent, passing all tests towards steadfastness, to gain wisdom and talents to serve others and create solutions to the foreign malevolence and suffering stealing from life.”

Her green eyes watched as Gonyaul traced the river pattern as he spoke. She didn't speak until he was done. His life's purpose was to help others?

Having gotten to know the man, it made sense. He had a generous and gentle soul that wasn't that common.

Speechless for a moment, then the young woman spoke softly, "That's beautiful."

Wondering for a moment, what it would be like to know your life's purpose from early on. Islana still wasn't sure of her own. What about having it told to you and not having that choice? She wasn't sure what to think about that last part.

She moved to the other arm. "I think I'm almost done with the stings. Do you need anything else?"

Talking to Gonyaul had been decidedly interesting but Islana knew he needed his rest.

Gonyaul smiled softly, “If you wrap Osiem Uppar around my eyes again, please?”

“And thank you for you kindness.” He felt exceedingly better.

"Of course," That didn't just mean that she would help him with the wrap but, of course, she would help him in general. He had helped her but this has been done completely out of friendship.

"Thank you, for telling me about your markings." Having the feeling it wasn't something he usually opened up about.

Islana helped Gonyaul with whatever else he needed, then left him to rest. Glad he seemed to be feeling, at least a little better.