It was said that a candle burns its own body to brightly illuminate the world.
Then, by what does the burning candle emit light?
Is the mere act of burning and melting the only source of light?
If it can fill the world with light, what exactly is that light?
“Om-”
The moment Jinseong leaped into the fire, the flames flared as if to welcome the offering. The flames, which had been eerily vivid, now stood out as if they had leaped off a piece of paper. Their images imprinted themselves so strongly into the world that even if one closed their eyes to avoid seeing, the sight lingered vividly in the mind.
When one sees ghosts, it is not through the eyes but through the soul, transcending distance and vision, making their images vividly appear in the mind regardless of the environment.
The sacred fire too could be seen through the soul, so its form could be seen with closed eyes and was naturally imprinted on the brain even when one turned away from it, as long as the light was being emitted. This was the light emitted by the candle burning itself, the form of wisdom illuminating the world.
That is right.
Light.
The altar had light.
The shrine had light.
And at the center of the light was Jinseong.
“Om…”
Surrounded by the flames, Jinseong sat calmly and continuously uttered mantras, each exhalation vibrating the universe like the sound of its birth, and he continued on endlessly, breathlessly.
With an intensity as though his chest would burst, Jinseong inhaled deeply despite the flames around him. In the space where he burned, only heat existed; there was no oxygen to breathe.
Yet, as Jinseong inhaled, the flame flowed into him like air. Colors so vivid they were imprinted upon his very being streamed into his body, filling his mouth and streaming down his throat, filling his chest.
Naturally, inhaling flames brought with it excruciating pain.
Jinseong felt the fire scorch his lips and sear into his lungs. He felt the energy of flames, determined to burn and reduce his body to ash, disintegrating his flesh and igniting his cells.
The worst pain a human can endure is called the burning pain.
Jinseong’s body was scorched by the flames, his skin melting while alive, being boiled from the inside out. His mind screamed in pain, overwhelmed by it all.
The price Jinseong paid for entering the flames with his living body was unrelenting agony.
This indescribable pain triggered the brain’s release of endorphins at full capacity. Every nerve in his body convulsed, desperate to escape the flames. But Jinseong remained still, his back straight and eyes closed, anchored by sheer will alone.
Finally, after enduring unimaginable pain while breathing in, Jinseong stopped.
He exhaled, and his breath was as red as blood.
A sound of the mantra once more echoed.
“हूँ-”
As the mantra flowed, the vibrations that had coursed through his body from before moved upward. This energy that had stimulated every part of him from his core to his extremities now flowed upward, like water or air, through his veins and skin, reaching his crown.
Upon reaching the crown, the vibrations fiercely shook Jinseong’s head, making it sway violently within the flames—like a scarecrow trembling in an earthquake.
“हूँ———”
The stimulated brain now secreted even more endorphins and enkephalins. While the earlier release had been a spontaneous response to the pain, now the brain’s entire function was directed toward producing these substances, releasing them as though extracting juice from fruit.
And in the moment when the balance of pain and endorphins intersected—
When the pain, wandering thoughts, and even happiness were all swept away, leaving emptiness in their wake.
Jinseong realized he had reached the moment he had sought.
‘Samādhi.’
A world where the senses seemed paralyzed.
In a place full of only calmness, Jinseong finally opened his eyes.
And the flames approached, as if awaiting this moment, seeping into his pupils.
Jinseong’s pupils, holding the flames, glowed alternately with red and blue light. His pupils continuously contracted and dilated.
But rather than burning them, the flames sought to take control of his eyes. Instead of blinding him, the flames wanted to see the world through his vision.
Jinseong willingly let this happen, allowing the flames to settle in his eyes, from where they viewed the world through his perception.
Through the flames.
Through the pain of burning flesh.
Through sound-filled vibrations, Jinseong spoke with intent.
Only the pure can maintain their form.
Only the wise can brightly illuminate the world.
Purity and wisdom are sacred, while the defiled shall vanish without leaving even ashes.
Through his perception, the flames observed the world.
To Jinseong, the world appeared entirely filled with calm.
Calm.
Without external factors to shake his essence.
A world of quiet and stillness.
The flames deemed his vision free from defilement. They entered further, moving through his optic nerves toward the brain.
The flames viewed the world through his thoughts.
Jinseong’s brain was at peace, without a single trace of imbalance despite the external pain. The elevated spirit, thanks to samādhi, appeared pure to the flames.
The flames deemed his spirit clear of defilement and moved on, opening the boundary between material and immaterial, passing through his body and mind, heading toward his soul.
Through his soul, the flames viewed the world.
Jinseong’s soul was warped.
Magic has the power to alter the body and the soul.
No matter how one tries to avoid it, the aging body succumbs to time. No matter how much one fears death, life eventually reaches its end. Similarly, Jinseong’s soul had been altered by magic.
Yet, not all changes could be deemed bad.
The flames saw a soul yearning deeply for magic.
The flames saw a soul shedding its worldly form to rise further.
The flames saw a soul with unwavering will.
The flames deemed his soul free from defilement.
Thus, the flames concluded:
The body is pure.
The spirit is pure.
The soul is also pure.
He was worthy to survive in the sacred fire.
Instead of burning Jinseong, the sacred fire blazed. Like Jinseong had offered his body as a candle to emit light, his flame-covered body served as firewood, igniting more flames. Through the sacredness he contained, flowers bloomed.
The flames that continuously scorched and tormented Jinseong changed their nature, healing his body instead. His melted skin transformed into fresh new layers, his internal organs rejuvenated. All toxins, chemicals, and fats were burned away, leaving only the beneficial. Although the parasites within Jinseong’s body were close to being destroyed, they entered a deep sleep, imbued with the fire’s heat due to Jinseong’s will.
Likewise for Jinseong’s spirit.
Reaching the tranquil state of samādhi, his spirit, as the flame of purity flowed through it, reached an even deeper tranquility, igniting a fire within the depths of his mind which greatly expanded his spiritual horizon. Like the forest after a fire, his spirit opened up to a vast, obstacle-free expanse.
A permanent spark settled in his soul. The sacred fire penetrated its twisted parts, leaving behind a seed. Part of Jinseong’s soul transformed, now resembling a charcoal ember holding a smoldering fire.
Jinseong’s actions were enough to shock everyone.
Lighting the altar on fire, ignoring the prepared offering, drenching himself in oil, and stepping into the flames? Only a madman could perform such an act.
At the horrifying sight, Rise tightly shut her eyes, mercenaries who had seen numerous battles could do nothing but stare with gaping mouths, while warriors struggling to put out fires on their bodies momentarily forgot their pain to stare in disbelief.
Yet Jinseong, who had walked into the fire, did not die.
He hovered in mid-air, sitting cross-legged, and his body transformed as if reborn.
“Transformation!”
His appearance was reminiscent of someone skilled in martial arts.
