Day 11: The Light Wielder

            Most people when they see the Northern Lights are quite awestruck, but I have a more intimate relationship with them, for I rode them across the night sky. I am, what may be called, a god of light. And yes, in a sense, I am a god, but most would put me under the naming of “demi-god.” My importance was so little and not worth mentioning to any extent, because I was once but a controller of the light in a small, bed-side lamp in the house of a poor, old couple.  But the couple with whom I lived are worth mentioning because they helped me to learn to control my powers and use in them in a way that would help people. 

           When I first began to realize just how great the extent of my powers were, I was thirteen and was walking the streets of my town late at night as I often did when sleep evaded me.  The old couple I lived with did not worry because my town was a safe place.  I was out practicing turning on and off the street lights.  I was out there and one by one I had turned off all the lights on one specific street.  I decided to try and turn them all on at one time.  I concentrated as hard as I could and all of the sudden, the lights all turned with a greater brightness by far than they were supposed to. The intensity of their brightness rose and rose, until they all exploded into a shower of sparks and glass. That night was known as the darkest moment in that town. But one thing was made sure through this, street lights weren’t large enough for me.

          Years passed. My powers grew. But I realized more and more through this time that something bigger had to be accomplished. I could control smaller things easy enough, but to show the extent of my abilities would require a larger source of light. 

          Now many times per year, lights of many colours and shapes were seen in the sky. I asked many times to multiple people where the source of these came from. These, what the local people called, Northern Lights.  I was fascinated by these lights and I am not proud to say they became my obsession.

          I tried to control these lights with all my power, but could not.  My obsession became too great much like a scientist or an inventor would with their projects.  I rarely slept or ate and it took a toll on my body.  

          But one night as I tried to control them yet again the Northern Lights spoke to me.

         “Why do you try to tame me, Light Wielder?” it asked. 

         “I have not seen anything so beautiful in my life and I must control you,” I answered.

          “Some things are not for you to control, no matter the greatest of your powers.  I am one of these things and I hope that you will not continue this attempt to control me.  For one day you will succeed and I shall no longer be free.”

            “But I must.”

            “I shall strike a deal with you Light Wielder.  If you promise me you will not control me I shall give you a ride on my back tomorrow night.  Ponder your decision and I shall speak with you again tomorrow.” 

            I thought about this all the next day. I had become so obsessed with the lights that I could not resist this offer. And yet, how could I live the rest of my life not needing to control them. Night crept in quicker than I wanted and the Northern Lights spoke to me once again. 

            “What is your answer Light Wielder?” it said. “Do you wish to ride upon my back this night and forever resist your attempt to control me as you do towards the weaker lights?”

            “I will ride upon you and do as you ask.” My mind was made up. It was this or possibly never being able to do so. The idea of really being able to control the Northern Lights was foreign to my mind and seemed impossible, no matter how much it told me I could one day. 

            “Very well, Light Wielder. Prepare yourself for this. It will be nothing like anything you have ever seen. You must let go. Let the light guide you as you do each time you focus your powers.”

            As I mounted its back and we slowly drifted into the night sky, I felt something that I had never felt before.  I felt peace and a strange sensation.  I think it must have been joy.  It was…incredible.

            I had never seen such beauty.  Colors not seen before danced around and below me.  I found myself smiling like a small child would on Christmas morning.  It felt like I had always been there and yet I had been there too short a time.  I felt at home up there.  And then it stopped.

            I felt so lonely and empty, more than I had before. And in that moment, I made a choice. I could not give up what I felt and saw. Nothing in life could compare to it. Life itself would not be worth my time or trouble if I was forced to just walk away. 

            I channeled every portion of energy and power I could and had before. I knew I could not overpower the Northern Lights without it. I searched inside myself for everything. I built it up. So at the last moment of release, it would be the most powerful thing I had ever formed. 

            It wasn’t enough. I released it all and I pushed and pushed to overpower some area of this being. Yet, when I reached out to it, I realized too late that I wasn’t ready. I felt the amount of energy that truly made up the Northern Lights. And knew I was hopeless to accomplish my goal. 

           “You traitorous fool!” It yelled. The voice coming all around me, encircling me both in sound and light. “You thought overpowering me was possible? I am Aurora Borealis! To go back on your promise to me? I cannot forgive such an action."

            It was in that moment that I truly saw my mistake. So caught up in what I was shown, I thought it possible of me, in my limited power, to do this. But I realized then I could not.

            Aurora Borealis spoke one last time, its voice still surround, keeping me motionless and speechless in fear. "I shall punish you now, so that you never will have the chance to do such a thing again to me or any other. I shall cast you into eternal darkness. In a space so void of light, that only that which you can create yourself will be possible. This will be the brightest: that small lamp you began with you shall also end with. You shall live the rest of your days in this realm."

            As I write this, even the light I was once able to produce now fades. I know I shall soon be in complete darkness. I now understand the great depths of my mistake. If I could, I would choose differently and much more wisely.

           But I can't.