Finding Contentus

Chapter 136: Terms and Conditions

Her hand rested on her belly, on her growing essence, who wasn't the first hybrid as she originally thought, rather she was the second hybrid to her cousin, her omega, Omphile, daughter of The Almighty Mpho and Sekai of Serenity.

Shocked was an understatement in that regard, though if anything, Ramela felt more shocked at the fact that she didn't see the likelihood of Mpho having a hybrid child before Genesia and Neosa. Why else would she deem it safe to allow her twin cousins to procreate with Ramela and Ramoth with no warnings to prohibit them?

It made her feel stupid, close minded in retrospect, which in turn brought forth a new wave of untamed curiosity that would serve to enrich her collection of knowledge and remind her mind that she did not know all, making things more fun, more invigorating like a hunt that would continuously chase after the fields of ignorance.

That was the virtue of true wisdom wasn't it? Knowing that you didn't know everything, knowing that you could have access to everything and still not be able to fully attain all matter in the palm of your hands. Knowledge was a constellation. You could gaze upon the patterns of the galaxy, but you could never truly grasp the materials of the solar system from an objective lense.

Like miracles. She thought of her daughter. Yes, in concept she and Genesia had planned her conception. It didn't take away from the fact that they both knew nothing about her, if she was possible, and furthermore, what she would mean for herself, for them, for the world, for the universe.

Like prophecies and fortunes. They are what we make them out to be. Much like reality. We are the organisms that give its construction meaning by force.

She glanced at Musa for a moment. Bāba singled you out as the Mambo of the prophecy, which forced Ramsis to make you the only Mambo that could fill that role. It could have been anyone really. Still, you, and you alone had to choose this walk yourself. You could have walked away when Ramiya offered you a way out. But like me, something kept pushing you back into the hell Bāba put us all through. Mwari's movement perhaps? Or your own? Both most likely. Funny how we choose our fate that has already been chosen for us before we were even born. Is that then an hallucination of choice like a mirage that isn't there, or an oasis of choice that is in fact there? Questions, questions, questions.

Her eyes narrowed in on the lines of the Genesia's diagram that led to Natalia, and the clear words Neosa said. Her heart was racing so fast.

Shall I move on to some answers in the meantime? Yes, solutions to my hypotheses that either hit their targets or strayed off completely. Omphile. The pleasant and much needed surprise. She is with my sweetheart. My winged niece, my lovely... cousin. Ramela thought, staring at the board like a piece of glass from the past, shards of which nearly cut her tears open for all to see. Her eyes became glassy as momentary regret manifested itself in her corroded heart.

In an ideal world, Lovouta would have been freed from poverty on her non-negotiable orders. Ramela would have spoiled her rotten. She would have given her the best education there was to offer, Ramela's personal teachings of course. She would have been her teacher, her mentor, her aunt, her cousin, her friend, whatever she wanted. She would have killed for Lovouta without hesitation if any fool dared to touch her. I did kill for her, after I ordered the deaths of...

She halted. No wonder I felt so strongly for you back then. No wonder I feel so strongly for you now. Of course. You aren't just my family by blood. You're... me. Flip a coin and you'll find me on one side and you on the other side. You're my second chance. Or am I your second chance? Samsara?

She honed in on the cyclical Hindu belief of the soul. Yes, did I say that before? Or did you say that recently? Am I repeating myself or am I repeating what you said?