The Glorious Palace of Cho

Ohepa came back to their senses, realizing that hey had paused for some time.

Ohepa then concluded to their gathered friends and companions, “…and this is how the Glorious Palace of Cho came to be.“

Ohepa did not necessarily know this to be true. Nor did Ohepa know this to be false. Ohepa had simply looked into the mirror of their own mind and stated what they saw, when asked. And Agimu had asked.

One thing Ohepa did know to be true is that Ohepa was the first to arise in the Glorious Palace of Cho.

Another thing Ohepa knew to be true is that when friends and companions asked Ohepa what Ohepa saw in the mirror of their own mind and when Ohepa told them what they saw in the mirror of Ohepa’s own mind, it seemed to gladden these friends and companions–which, in turn, seemed to gladden Ohepa.

What Ohepa had yet no reason to know is that: as space is the mark of yoʔ and as time is the mark of djoʔ, so mortality is the mark of choʔ–as Ohepa was the First Mortal of the Glorious Palace of Cho, so Ohepa would be the Last Mortal of the Glorious Palace of Cho.

Where there was a first, this Ohepa in this choʔ, there would not be a second, same Ohepa in any choʔ.

From Ohepa’s perspective, Ohepa had simply arisen in the Glorious Palace of Cho at birth, regardless of how, when, or why the Glorious Palace of Cho had itself arisen.

Since then, for whatever need or want had arisen in Ohepa, that which fulfilled Ohepa’s need or want also arose instantaneously.

When Ohepa longed for sumptuous food or drink, these simply arose. When Ohepa longed for splendid clothes or furnishings, these simply arose. And when Ohepa had longed for close friends, these simply arose as well.

There was opulent and languorous Ungoba, with their easy manner..

Quick and intelligent Agimu, with their penchant for clever comparison..

Alluring and well-proportioned Ikuwo, with their insightful banter and playful guile..

And strong and steady Ezhati, with their cooling, reassuring presence.

These friends lived together in the Endless Chambers of Cha to the north of the Glorious Palace of Cho. They spent many days together, as marked by the Black Clock of Chu to the south, absorbed in every variety of sensual pleasure.

Throughout the Endless Chambers of Cha to the north, they delighted in all that one could imagine as pleasurable or desirable. And in all that was beyond one’s imagination of what could be pleasurable or desirable, they also delighted.

For Ohepa and their friends, there was no question for which pleasurable delight was not the answer.

The Black Clock of Chu to the south was a regular source of contemplative entertainment for these five friends–called by themselves “the First”, called later and by others, “the First Gods.”

From the plush-couched, third-floor balcony looking into the south hall where the chuʔ abided, down to the velvet-pillowed, ground-floor basin of the south hall itself, every view into the chuʔ was breathtakingly spectacular, as if one were looking into a massive crystal ball holding the entirety of a clear night sky.

Laced throughout the starscape within the chuʔ, lights and shapes of various colors swirled and streaked in discernibly regular patterns. Often many hours passed for the First Gods wondering at these phenomena, from atop silk-brocaded sitting cushions on the middle balcony looking into the south hall where the chuʔ abided.

Among all these cosmic phenomena within the chuʔ, yet clearly distinguishable from them, appeared semi-transparent, yet vibrant and stable images of five young-faced beings, arranged together in the formation of a square cross.

Each young-faced being appeared to sit upon a round-cushioned seat. Each cushion appeared to be woven from fine strands of soft light. Each seat appeared to resemble a distinct and remarkable flower–carved, smoothed, and polished from a single, faultless block of exotic and luminous, precious stone.

Called later and by others, “the Young Gods”, these five, young-faced beings were named simply by Ohepa, “the Young.”

For all that had a name in the Glorious Palace of Cho was first named by Ohepa.

Each of the five Young Gods sitting within the Black Clock of Chu to the south bore some kind of resemblance to each of the five First Gods of the Endless Chambers of Cha to the north.

Hocho, the moonstone white-skinned Young God sitting in the middle of the five resembled a contented-faced Ohepa..

Ruchu, the topaz gold-skinned Young God sitting to the bottom of the five resembled a svelte-faced Ungoba..

Alcha, the emerald green-skinned Young God sitting to the top of the five resembled a humble-faced Agimu..

Nichi, the ruby red-skinned Young God sitting to the left of the five resembled a simple-faced Ikuwo..

And Zeche, the sapphire blue-skinned Young God sitting to the right of the five resembled a soft-faced Ezhati..

From within the Black Clock of Chu to the south, the five Young Gods gazed out impassively, with benign expression, at nothing in particular and at no one in particular.

From within the Endless Chambers of Cha to the north, the five First Gods would gaze back, with all thought of desire’s fulfillment momentarily extinguished.

For the First Gods gazing at the Young Gods, there was nothing else to wish for, because it was perfect.

For chaʔ gazing into chuʔ was perfect..

As dzaʔ gazing into dzuʔ was perfect..

As yaʔ gazing into yuʔ was perfect..

As the Tremendous, Ceaseless Light of yoʔ illuminating all space, all time, all mortality–was perfect.