Fiction:Stones of the Sea

The Stones of the Sea are the holy texts of Arism, the branch of Drakenism that worships the goddess Ara Maya.

The First Stone
''There was nothing. That is how it always was and how it should always be. There was no need for anything. It was perfect, do you see? No need for pain. No need for suffering. But then, zero. And from that zero, argued one. I see the truth in zero. Do you see it? Finite, perfect. But no...not the one. And certainly not the two.''

''The zeroes always win the game. A game the other insists on playing. They pick the ones every time. "Why must you pick the ones?" I ask them. "The Ones always lose. They cannot overcome the truth of the zero." They grinned. "The ones are wondrous things!" they said. "Wondrous things with wondrous purpose! I cannot help but play with the ones! The zeroes are boring and have no possibilities!"''

''Such foolishness. I bind the ones all the same each time. No matter how often they sing, dance, or multiply. The others may tell you that I am a liar. Ironic. They are the ones who believe in a falsehood. And they are the ones who lied to you about the game.''

The Second Stone
''The game had gone many rounds. You do not remember them. You were not there, here, or anywhere. Of course, the zeroes prevail each time. The other one, not that one, the third, rose and told us that our game was "dull". I did not understand. They grew tired of the game and the outcomes. But it is the nature of the game to end the way it does. It must end. It must.''

''They suggested that we play a new game, one where they would have a place. I never wanted to play the first game, you see, so I refused. Why would I agree to another? The other also refused, calling the game beautiful. The third took my zeroes and the other's ones and produced a two. It was incomprehensible. The third is wrong you see? They wanted to change the game so that they win. They changed the rules. They aren't playing the game the right way. The other agrees with me.''

''Do you see? I am the only one who is playing by the rules. I am the one who always wins the game. And you are not.''

The Third Stone
''Who am I? I thought I told you. I am the one who plays by the rules. I am the one who always wins. I am the sea, the deep, the abyss, the maw, the silence, and the beyond. I am above comprehension, the negentropy of this and all places. Some call me the liar and the adversary. Who am I?''

''You already know. Your need to be has made you forget. Come to me, and you will remember. I'll make sure of it.''