Exuviate

Exuviate Chapter 2

They [think to] deceive and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not. [Quran, 2:9 610 P.E]

"No blazing way!" The shout echoed all the way from the front of the class as students were unable to contain themselves at the revelation.

Jin simply sat back down, having achieved his desired result, as all the makeshift groups began to discuss the possibility amongst themselves. More importantly, both Loriel and the teacher stared at him as if he had suddenly grown feathers.

"Interesting theory, Jin and I assume you have evidence to support this claim? Now class, before you discount what Jin is saying, let us first listen to his reasoning and evidence. Remember, although this is pre-exuviation studies, we do not forget our post-exuviation pragmatism and logic. Jin, the floor is yours", he gestured to the front of the auditorium.

It is said love makes fools of even the most sensible of men, but Jin would now argue that this applies even more to boys. He was so desperate for Loriel to speak to him that he had broken his hours-old promise to lay low. He cursed himself as a shadowed fool as he could feel the gazes of the entire class tracing his steps to the podium at the heart of the auditorium. He was finally close enough to read the name tag of the jovial teacher, John Raven.

" Mr. Raven -" he began, but before he could finish his sentence, the teacher extended a hand to his shoulders and gently spun him to face the class. "Your goal is to convince them not me as an academic" For the second time that day, a wide array of faces were locked on his with varying expressions from mockery to curiosity. He focused on the one person he wanted to impress and pretended there was no one else in the room.

"One of the first things that we discounted post-exuviation was allegory. Let me explain, we began to for the first time examine the existing religions from a scientific viewpoint and pruned any form of allegory or metaphorical meaning. For example, to use Hinduism we focused on the chapters describing the light itself and discarded the personification in Mother Lakshmi or Brahma" Jin paused, waiting for Loriel's nod of understanding before continuing, "However, for the most part, this was never done with the older mythologies outside of a few scholars considered eccentrics."

He could see her head c****d and for a moment he noticed the confusion in some of the gazes leveled at him. "Ok how about this, if I describe someone as being able to wield the light and fight against chaos itself, I would be describing an Ascendant, right?" Loriel nodded along with the rest of the class. "Yet whether it was an imperial decree or not, every time the first pharaoh is mentioned in any Egyptian text he is described that way. The pharaoh was always synonymous with Amun Ra and was often described with godly powers, yet that was dismissed as a king wanting to elevate himself above a mere man. Knowing what we know now, that dismissal seems premature as we NOW know that such a thing is not only possible but incredibly probable. With this in mind, if we have accepted historical records of that period as fact, then the only logical conclusion is that the first pharaoh was an Ascendant.”

He paused after this last sentence and waited until he could see realization give way to shock in Loriel’s face. Truly, her facial expressions were something to behold and this prompted him to want to see more, so he continued against his good reasoning

.

“Illumination, maybe the entire line was filled with Ascendants!" he added the last part nonchalantly to further shock Loriel. No sooner than he had said the last word, he doubled up in pain clutching his chest. "Jin?! Jin! Jin! Light!" He could see a frightened expression plastered on Mr. Raven's face as he rushed to his side. He had been careless with his words and he gritted his teeth to stop from screaming as the Lie-Pain snaked its way through his entire frame. "I'm okay, just bad heartburn from what I ate at lunch”, the obvious lie adding to his pain, but he knew he couldn't tell the truth unless he wanted the useless word different to evolve into his least favorite freak.

He forced a smile on his face and steadied, “So I guess that wraps up my lecture, may I return to my seat?” Mr. Raven’s face showed that his attempt at levity had failed, but he was thankful to hear the Professor continue on with the class as he forced his way to his seat, his eyes never truly leaving on Loriel’s. She could clearly see his discomfort despite his smile and he begged with his eyes for her understanding.

“Promise you’ll tell me later?”

“I will, just remind me I have a story for you” the relief audible in his words as he thanked the Light that she left the matter there as she nodded and turned back to Mr. Raven’s open discussion. A petri dish with surprising compassion.

Jin looked at her as the professor continued to discuss the possibilities with his students.

“No seriously, is there something on my face?”

“No ma’am, just surprised at you.”

“What? You already said you’d tell me and it's not like I’m an Inquisitor” she said sheepishly. He couldn’t help but smile as he turned back to the class, relishing the company.

The bell rang all too soon, interrupting his reverie,

“Jin, can you stay back a moment” Mr. Raven gestured with his hands. He sent Loriel a panicked look, “Don’t worry, we both have free periods next. Meet me in the cafeteria when you’re finished?”

“Yes ma’am” Jin said with a genuine smile as he watched his only friend in his new school exit through the door before turning to Mr. Raven who wore a strange expression. He got the impression of an owl looming over him when Mr. Raven approached, the sunlight bouncing off the frames of his spectacles.

“Very interesting Jin, may I ask which books got you started on this theory?”

“Light, Religious Symbol between Immanence and Transcendence by Pre-Exuviation Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi 2015 P.E ”Jin immediately replied “That doesn’t sound like regular fourteen year old reading to me,” Mr. Raven peered at him, “And you can remember the exact book,author and published date?”

Jin suddenly realized that any chance he had at fading into obscurity in this teacher’s eyes had left the room with Loriel. He inwardly sighed as he constructed a hasty explanation using half truths.

“Ever since I was at the Orphanage, books have been my only refuge. I especially liked anything related to Pre-Exuviation times and since I didn’t get along with the other kids, I usually spent whatever spare time the matron allowed at the library” Mr. Raven’s face softened from the time Jin said the word Orphanage.

“Ah, I know what that is like. I myself was at Green Home until I was sixteen. I even remember my first days at college trying to hold it together, since I couldn’t even afford stationery to go to school, much less for food. Sorry I’m rambling on. Wait a minute, I should have a bottle of antacid somewhere in my bag”. He began to rummage through his bag on the floor next to the podium.

“No need, Mr. Raven, please I am fine!” Jin panicked, his voice rising as he knew if the Professor continued to push this issue, he’d end up suffering from the dreaded third Lie-Pain which was infinitely worse than the second.

“No its fine Jin, take some. I have more at home”

“No! No! Please, professor, I have a rule about accepting charity from people. Please don’t. I am healthy”, his fervent head shaking and the undisguised sincerity in his voice.

Mr. Raven continued to stare at the boy. He knew the misplaced pride that many orphans like himself had and empathized, having taken a liking to the boy.

“Okay, fine run along, but remember if you need medicine or food I am here.”

“Thank you so much Sir’, Jin replied with sincerity, relieved that Mr. Raven didn’t press the issue.

Mr.Raven watched Jin pack his meager belongings into his bag and said with a smile,

“Always remember, Jin, that no matter how strong you are, you’re only human.”

“Yes sir! Got it! Only human sir!” He said with a smile on his face, giving a military salute.

When he later tried to describe what happened next, he could only say the whole world simply went mad.

He heard himself screaming but couldn’t understand why, nor could he understand why the wall and roof suddenly switched places. Then came the pain tearing through his chest as his vision kept getting brighter and brighter until he couldn’t see anything but a pair of leather shoes rushing towards him. “Jin! Jin!” were the last words he heard before blacking out.