Episode 17 – Walking Against the Current

  “And He said to them all: If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

  — Luke 9:23

  Dawn rose quietly over Planet K11.

  A pale mist hovered above the lake, and the sky remained dark, as if the world itself was still asleep. Leon knelt near the water’s edge, his knees pressed into the cold ground. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and for the first time in a long while… he spoke without being called.

  “Father…” his voice trembled.

  “For the first time, it’s not You calling me.

  It’s me calling You.”

  The wind stirred gently.

  “Forgive me for being afraid of this mission. I’ve been here for some time now… yet I still feel lost. How can I fight hatred… if I can’t even defeat it inside myself? Speak to me, Jesus… one more time.”

  The world darkened.

  Time froze.

  A celestial wind swept through the air, and Leon felt his spirit lifted from his body.

  He stood in a realm of pure light.

  An endless white field stretched in every direction. From within the glow, Jesus approached—His presence calm, firm, and unwavering.

  “The answer you seek,” Jesus said gently, “cannot simply be given to you, Leon. If I told you now, you would not understand. You would only question it.”

  Leon listened in silence.

  “You must live through the injustice of this world to understand what it truly means. The answer lies in the cross.”

  Jesus paused, His gaze deep.

  “Since you took the Holy Bible with you… tell me, how many times have you opened it?”

  Leon lowered his head.

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  “Do you remember the parable of the prodigal son?” Jesus continued.

  “The father does not ask where the son has been. He only wants his son back.”

  “When people stop looking at the imperfections of others and begin to treat them with love… then change will happen.”

  Jesus stepped closer and placed a hand on Leon’s shoulder.

  “Do not fight hatred, Leon. Embrace hatred with love.”

  His voice grew deeper.

  “Meditate on this verse:

  ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’

  I am with you.”

  Light engulfed everything.

  Leon awoke.

  He opened his eyes beside the lake. The professor stood behind him, watching quietly.

  “So,” the professor said, “did you find your answer?”

  Leon smiled faintly.

  “Yes. But there’s still one more thing I need to do.”

  He stood, walked toward the water, inhaled deeply… and dove in.

  At the bottom of the lake, Leon sat cross-legged in silence.

  His heartbeat echoed.

  Darkness surrounded him.

  Then, from the shadows, Kairós emerged—massive wings spread wide, yellow eyes burning, claws sharp, five tails thrashing with restrained fury.

  “You again?!” Kairós roared. “Have you come to fight?”

  Leon remained calm.

  “No. This time… I came to talk. I want to hear your story. I want to understand—before making my final decision.”

  Kairós stared at him, surprised… then smiled cynically.

  “Very well,” he said. “Then listen.”

  Visions flooded the darkness.

  Stars were born. Nebulae expanded. Life took shape.

  “I was the third in creation,” Kairós’ voice echoed.

  “The first was the Word… the Christ. Through Him, all things were made.”

  “Then came me.”

  “Magnificent. Powerful. Administrator of the universe. I shaped matter, created life, designed the cosmos.”

  “But I watched as all creation worshiped only Him. I desired a glory that was never mine. And I noticed another who felt the same—Lucifer. I gave him a push.”

  “He corrupted a third of the heavens. And then… I rebelled as well.”

  “I was punished.”

  “Imprisoned on Krizard. Wild wolves lived there—I shaped them. Divided them into elements. Gave them purpose. Intelligence.”

  “I was betrayed. Used by other fallen ones. Sealed within a stone… for ten thousand years.”

  “Until Lim found me.”

  “Through him, I was freed. We conquered empires. And I took revenge on the entity who imprisoned me—one you know as Lara.”

  Leon’s eyes widened.

  “The Goddess Lara… is an entity?”

  “Yes,” Kairós replied. “But in the end… she defeated me. With the help of your Jesus.”

  “There was a young woman within her—pure of heart. She cried out to Him.”

  “Jesus freed her. She gave her life to Him. I was torn from Lim. She was saved.”

  “I was sealed… in Jesus’ necklace. Until I was placed inside you.”

  Leon’s voice was steady, but emotional.

  “And even then… you didn’t learn.”

  Kairós snarled.

  “The Creator will erase everything! He no longer cares! I want to be free—and destroy it all!”

  The world trembled.

  But Leon did not move.

  He remembered Jesus’ words: Embrace hatred with love.

  “You…” Leon said firmly, “need love.”

  “What…?” Kairós whispered.

  “I’ve made my choice!” Leon shouted.

  “I choose to walk against the current of this world!

  To be who my God wants me to be.

  Someone who brings hope—

  Not fear!”

  Tears streamed down his face, yet his gaze was unshakable.

  “Jesus! I accept Your calling!”

  Light exploded outward.

  Kairós vanished within a vortex of radiance.

  Leon rose from the depths of the lake, his body surrounded by a brilliant aura.

  To be continued…