[7Souls Flashback] 9. Kara The Angry Giant

Previously

As Makk and Aystrana danced within a circle of their friends, under the revolving tail of Ursa Major, a bright light shot through the sunless sky. The music and dancing stopped as everyone gazed upwards.

“The stars are changing their rhythm to adjust to your steps,” Aystrana giggled.
“No, I don’t think that’s it,” wincing from the sudden pain suffusing his birth mark.
“The energies have changed. Oh!” Agasthya shouted frantically, floating into the sky, his fingers pointing upward, “Look! Look!”

“The Sun!” screamed the Baba exultantly as a bright orange light began to emerge from the horizon. “The Sun is back.”
“Not the sun,” said Agasthya, “unless there are two of them rising from opposite sides.”
“The stories told of only sun,” Makk gasped as the earth began to rumble.
“Kara!” the Baba shivered, “Kara is waking. The Giant is waking! Mn promised he’d return before this happened. Who will pacify him now?”

“We will,” Master Samsa took charge. “Everyone who has ‘ME’s, come with me. If we can show Kara the progress we’ve made, and the penance we’ve undertaken, then perhaps he will forgive us for our sin.”
Everyone gazed towards the beach, where the sleeping giant had always lain. He was getting up now, the earth shuddering with his every movement. “My sons,” he shouted. His voice boomed, echoing through distant mountains and valleys, “where are you? Come and see the thrones I have made for you from within the dreamscape.”

The elders, after communicating through their crystals with the rest of the ME holders throughout the land, summoned sky chariots and headed towards the giant, Master Samsa in the lead.
“Mn, Yhm,” the giant shouted louder this time, generating tsunamis with each syllable, “why can’t I smell you? Why can’t I sense you? Where have you gone? Come to your father.”

“Oh,” Agasthya shuddered, watching the scene with Makk, Ani and Aystrana from the hilltop, “this isn’t going to end well.”

“My Lord,” Master Samsa hovered his chariot in front of Kara’s eye, his voice magnified a thousand times. “I am Samsa, a former disciple of your son Mn.”
“I remember you,” Kara closed one eye to get a better view of Samsa, “you haven’t grown much these past millennia. Well, where are my sons?”

“Mn left to search for his brother and hasn’t returned. If you will come to Mount Mara we will provide you with food and entertainment while you wait for his return.”
“Yhm is missing? He loved this place too much to ever leave. How did this happen?”
“Well, umm…” Master Samsa scratched his head, “a cherub tricked us you see. He disguised himself as one of the seraph and conspired to take Yhm away.”

“Conspired?” the giant’s eye began to grow red, and furious furrows began to form on his forehead. Air currents changed in response, sending warm gusts of wind throughout the land. “Is that how you got all these new fancy toys of yours?” Kara grabbed one of the Sky Chariots and threw it at a mountain. “By conspiring against my second born? Mn and Yhm would have provided you with far greater treasures than this if you had remained loyal. They were weaning you off your old and corrupt ways to prepare you for something greater, but you people grew arrogant and proud. You forsook your old benefactors, and forgot the sacrifices they made in your honour because of a fake seraph? Where is this being that fooled you? I will send him to dissolution.”
“I do not know,” Master Samsa’s voice was beginning to waver. How could he stand the force of the giant’s anger from such close proximity.
“Then I suppose that I will have to punish all of you instead,” Kara roared. Meteors began falling from the sky. The earth rolled up and down like a tsunami. Volcanoes spurted lava and ash into the skies. The two new suns grew bigger and bigger, as they came closer and closer. “No wait,” said Kara, “I can smell him. I can smell Mn.”

An invisible hand lifted Ani towards the giant. “Makk,” Ani screamed as he levitated towards the giant.
“No, you smell like him, but you aren’t him,” Kara roared, angrier than ever. “Did the cherub somehow transfer his power into this little flea? Die!” Ani’s head snapped.

Agasthya flew into the air and pulled Ani back. “Ani! Ani! Say something,” he wept, as he lay Ani’s body by Aystrana’s feet.

“Do something for him. Please,” Makk begged his wife, but she could only shake her head in response, and close Ani’s eyelids.

Photo courtesy: Attack on Titan game trailer

[7 Souls Flashback] 8. A Wedding and a Brief Intermission

Previously

“I am the sky and you are the earth,” Makk said, gazing up into the bright eyes of his beloved.
“I am the trees and you are the dew,” Aystrana smiled at him, a hint of mischief fleeting through her features.

“I am the bird and you are the song,” Makk said, wondering when she was going to let him off the hook and declared to the assembled masses that they were married already.
“I am the mountain and you are my wings,” she sang this time.
Agasthya cackled as Makk struggled to come up with another line, “I am the light and you are my fire,” he said, with a sigh of relief.
“You are my cloud and I am your rain. We are one,” Aystrana laughed, and the gathering cheered. They crowned each other with wreaths and exchanged garlands, holding hands for longer than was required. Ani was weeping, and the Baba and Master Samsa were howling with joy, which was a strange sight to behold. Makk would have gazed at them longer, but Aystrana’s brilliant eyes kept drawing him back.

“The glaukopis,” Trivia was momentarily stunned by the words of her song. “Aystrana is you,” she pointed at Venus accusingly. “How can this be true? You are as old as I am, And this was ancient history in my time. How did you wed the sky ram? Or is there an error in this song’s rhyme?”

“It can’t be her,” Mars snorted. “This happened when our grandfathers were young, after all. I find it surprising that he was apprenticed to Samsa. Disciples are considered sons of the master, so I suppose that would make him Soma’s uncle.”

“That’s what you’re all surprised about?” Soma asked incredulously. “Are you forgetting that we have just found out that the Sky Ram was a split soul version of Mn? This changes everything!”

“Don’t stop! Continue his song,” Venus ordered, a single tear dripping down her cheek.

[7Souls Flashback] 7. Never Ask a Seraph for a Ride

Previously

Makk and Agasthya met at the Rainbow Lake as usual after they’d finished their daily meditations and chores. Ani was helping Aystrana with some work that day. Aystrana had shooed Makk and Agasthya away when they’d offered to help.
“I think she’s in love with you,” Agasthya said, as they groomed the sea dragons. In the years since Agasthya had created the Lake more and more wildlife and birds had made it their home. The gang of four had taken great joy in taming and caring for all the Lake’s new denizens, eagerly waiting for more strange and exotic creatures to find their way to it.

“Rubbish, she treats me likes dirt. Besides, she’s one of the Aylar. Why would she want to be with a deformed person like me. I feel guilty even asking her to treat my Mark.”

Agasthya shrugged, “don’t talk to me about deformity. I’ve made my peace with mine and found ways to compensate. You should too. Don’t let it hold you back. She’s the Baba’s apprentice. It’s her role to heal people, just as it will soon be yours and Ani’s role to bring us rain, and mine to direct the flows of energy. Now, let’s practice the isolated thunderstorm again.”

Makk began to strum his sagit, while Agasthya drummed a beat on the trunk of a tree. Dark clouds appeared in the sky, the colours of the lake giving it a tinge of blue and orange. Thunder roared as Agasthya began to increase his tempo. “Hold on,” Makk ended the song abruptly, staring at the lake. There was something there. “Do you see that?” There was a strange creature hovering over the lake, its skin shining with such brilliance that it was hard to make out its form except for the pair of six large wings emanating from its body. Agasthya’s eyes were sharper, but even he had to blink.
“A new type of fire dragon,” Makk said. “Our storm might hurt it.”
“Not a dragon,” Agasthya hesitated. “Maybe we should leave this one alone. I’ve never seen anything like it. Its inner body is completely shielded. I can’t see any marma.”

“Rubbish,” Makk threw his hand in curt dismissal. “I’ll shield us with cloud so that we don’t get burnt. Come on.” Agasthya hesitantly followed Makk, as he stalked the six winged creature and leaped onto its back.
“What’s this now? What do you children want?” the creature’s voice sang in his head as he channelled his energy into the Six Winged’s neck.

“It can talk,” Agasthya and Makk both gasped as one.

“Oh I see,” the Six Winged sang. “You want a ride.” It could read their mind? Makk blanched. “Where would you like to go? I can take you anywhere.”

“Anywhere?” Agasthya yelled excitedly, taking a seat behind Makk, all fear gone as new prospects dawned on him.
“Across the world, if you please fiery one,” Makk said, not sure if he should apologize for mistaking the being for a dumb reptile.
“No No,” Agasthya chirped. “Across the Universe.”

“Very well,” the creature sang. “You may dissolve your shield. I will protect you.”

The creature then took off into the sky, and then entered a new realm that Makk could make sense of before. “You have made this journey before. Why does your mind wrestle with what you see?” the Six Winged asked Makk, as they flew through an ocean of milk.
“Before?” Makk asked, shivering with shock. His mind couldn’t comprehend any of this.

“The different energies,” Agasthya gasped, “the different songs. You are flying too quickly. I can’t hear them.”
“Their songs are not for your ears… not yet. Perhaps it is best we return.” The Six Winged returned to the Lake, an invisible hand gently setting the two boys onto the ground.

“Ah, I am familiar with this song,” Agasthya said, kissing the ground. “Never again Makk, never again. That was too much too fast. And we never tell our Masters about this.”

“I agree,” Makk said, colour beginning to return to his cheeks.

[7 Souls Flashback] 6. Breaking the Brontosaurus

Previously

The three apprentices and one journey-woman lazed on the hilltop overlooking Agasthya’s Rainbow Lake, gazing languidly at its shimmering surface, while birds and dragons circled overhead, under sunless skies illuminated by the colourful lake and the glowing crystal outcrops surrounding it.
“I still think it’s rotten luck that you and Ani got apprenticed to Master Samsa,” Agasthya said to Makk, while Aystrana and Ani giggled at the antics of the dinosaurs down by the lakeside.

“Well,” Makk said, “just because our masters are enemies doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”

“Yes, but it imbues our relationship with an element of peril,” Agasthya usually lost his simple way of speech when he was thinking deeply. “I feel that my master can see straight through me every time I lie. He even makes this little shudder of disgust.”
Makk knew what Agasthya meant. His mind and thoughts felt naked when his teacher looked at him. “Forget about it for now,” Makk stood up. “Let’s go and ride the dinosaurs.”
Agasthya grabbed Makk before he could run to the Lake. “I haven’t tamed those yet.”
Makk grinned, “I’ve always wanted to break one of them in. I’ve watched you enough to know how to do it.”

“Eei,” Agasthya mimicked choking, “knowing you, you’ll pick the biggest one.” He floated into the air, “All right, but I’m going to take over if you make any mistakes.”

“What idiocy are you boys up to now,” Aystrana’s voice echoed through the hills as the boys raced down towards a gigantic brontosaurus.

Makk jumped onto the back of the dinosaurs and skipped onto the top of its head, placing his hands on the dinosaurs pressure points.
“Your right thumb should be a little lower,” said Agasthya, floating in the sky a few feet to his right.
Makk moved his thumb and channelled the energy, trying to become one with the reptile. The dinosaur resisted, running into the lake, dunking its head into the water, shaking this way and that in a vain effort to dislodge the boisterous interloper. Agasthya roared with laughter, while Aystrana and Ani shouted abuse and cautions, as Makk held on for dear life. “Almost, almost,” a soaked Makk shivered as the dinosaur came out of the lake and decided to scrape the trespasser against a tree.

“Oh no you don’t,” Makk channelled more energy into his fingertips, forcing the dinosaur to sit on the ground. “Good, we make better friends than enemies, Big One. In time when our mutual imprints are stronger we will share our energy and our knowledge,” he cooed to his new child. “Now let’s run to the hill so that Aystrana and Ani can climb on. You’ll like them, and Agasthya too if he gets tired of gliding around.”

“Never,” Agasthya cried with joy, flying so quickly that his voice came with a boom. “Makk, let’s race.”

[7 Souls Flashback] 5. The Young Continent and the Baba

Previously

Soul quotient 1/7

“We’re the same age,” Ani insisted, while he commanded the street crystal to beckon a sky chariot, “so you’ve got to listen to me as well.”
“I came out a month earlier, so I’m older,” Makk dismissed Ani’s spurious claim with a wave of his hand.
“If it hadn’t been for the Baba’s medicine I’d have been delivered on that day too,” Ani just wouldn’t give up his argument. “And everyone says I’m the responsible one, so just give up and come with me to the Baba. Every time your birth mark hurts you get really sick afterwards.”

“Alright, alright,” Makk said. Now that Ani mentioned it, Makk was beginning to feel a little faint. The mark that covered most of his face was beginning to throb, and his forehead felt like it was on fire.

The auto pilot hover car came moments later, and soon they were in the skies over the Young Continent. The land below would have been a mesmerising sight for a newcomer, but Makk was used to the crystal lights that illuminated the entire land– changing colour to simulate the day/night cycle that had once been a natural phenomenon on this planet–elaborate text and designs spiralled over the land and mountains, designed specifically to be seen from the air, that would change with altitude—one sight did always make Makk gasp in wonder though. Even from ten kilometers in the sky, Makk could see Kara, the Sleeping Giant, lying on the beach, an enormous figure cloaked in black with golden text embroidered onto the cloth,. The elders said that when Kara the Patriarch awoke, the continent would sink and the sun would rise once again.

The hover car carefully landed in the garden outside the Baba’s house. The old lady preferred having an outdoor landing area, rather than the stage area that most people used to conserve space.
“Ah, Makk,” the Baba said, peering out her window, “Come in, come in. I’ve been expecting you. Aystrana has just finished making the draught.” Her hair had much less white in it than the last time Makk had come. The Baba was reaching the fifth and final stage of her growth spurt, and was already twenty feet tall. If it went on for a few months more she might end up being twenty two or twenty three feet. The Vil often grew much taller than the other people of the continent. Kara’s blood was strong in them.
The Baba grabbed Ani as he stepped through the door. “Too thin, too thin,” she wailed. “Boys your age never eat enough. Come with me to the kitchen while Aystrana applies the medicine to Makk’s mark. Makk couldn’t help chuckling at Ani’s protests that he was eating enough, though he did feel a little sympathy for his little brother. The Baba’s cooking tasted horrible.

“Does it hurt a lot today,” Aystrana looked at him with concern as she motioned for him to sit on the carpet.
Makk shrugged trying to look unconcerned. Unfortunately, a twinge of pain sent him yelping a moment later.

“Ah, you boys,” Aystrana sighed, “always lying, trying to act brave.” She gently began to apply the medicine. “You’ll grow out of it, I hope.”

“Don’t say that,” Makk murmured. “You’re younger than I am.” The way he reacted to Aystrana, Makk often wondered if he was in love with her. He couldn’t tell. Perhaps it was love that made him feel so good when he was near her, perhaps it was because he always came to her in a time of pain and always left with a feeling of relief, or perhaps it was the poppy juice medicine that he knew he’d soon be drinking. “The mark hurts, but I think I can bear it a while longer. It’s not as bad as the last time. Ani wanted me to come here before it got worse.”
“Ani has good sense,” Aystrana smiled.

The Baba came barely seconds after Aystrana had finished. Did master and apprentice share a telepathic connection, Makk wondered. What would it feel like, having that old woman babble in your head all the time? Ani followed the Baba, looking disgruntled. From the look on his face, the Baba had probably forced him to drink some of her tea as well.

The Baba made Makk drink a glass of poppy juice. She then placed a blue sapphire against Makk’s forehead and began singing. The stone vibrated in response, sending shivers of ecstasy through Makk’s body. The feelings of pleasure ended as soon as the Baba had finished her song. The Baba then tested his reflexes, poking and pinching Makk all over his body, and even punching his stomach once, though not hard enough to hurt. “You should be fine for a month this time. Come back as soon as you notice the signs, next time.” A rat-a-tat-tat on the door interrupted the Baba.
“Arhg, it’s him again,” the Baba opened the door and scowled at the short child who had been waiting behind it. “Agasthya, how many times do I have to tell you, that I can’t cure your shortness.”
“Can’t you at least make me as tall as him,” the four foot tall boy pointed at Makk.
“The best I can do is make you a pair of stilts,” the Baba said, “but you’re going to be this short for the rest of your life, so I advise you to get used to it. Why don’t you take Makk and Ani to that Rainbow Lake you’re so proud of, and play like a normal child should, instead of harassing this old woman.”

“All right,” Agasthya grinned at the two boys, his affliction instantly forgotten. “Come on then and I’ll show you my latest and greatest creation.”

World Map:

[7Souls Flashback] 4. The Easiest Test in the Universe

Previously

Soul quotient: 1/7

From the aqueous comfort of his mother’s womb and the companionship of his twin, he was pulled away. The song of the unborn child’s soul was transposed to a higher dimension.
“Welcome,” a woman greeted the person who had formerly been Mn, but was now Unborn. The effect of the waters of forgetfulness was still strong.

“Hello,” for some reason he felt a close kinship with this woman. “Mother?”

The woman nodded. “Come, let’s get your test finished and away with. Once that’s out of the way I can give you a proper tour of Shambala.”

“Shambala,” the name sounded familiar. Where had he heard it before?
They walked through blue crystal streets, under lapis walls and emerald towers shining ruby lamps. There were very few people walking on the streets. Some looked anxious. You could tell that they were tourists, unused to the strange energy of this place. There was a soft and pleasant hum in the air, and if you concentrated on the sound you could hear a multitude of voices, talking, singing, chanting, laughing. The Unborn sighed in pleasure as he concentrated on one particular voice. Her song was beautiful, suffused with the scent of jasmine, in the scale of a gentle breeze over an ebb tide.
“Come on, now,” the Mother chided (was she his mother, or was it a title of some sort, the Unborn’s instinct couldn’t tell), “or we’ll be late.” She led him into a small field where a group of people sat behind desks. They asked him questions, and he answered them as best as he could, his mouth speaking words automatically. He had no idea what their questions or his answers meant. The Unborn chuckled. This was the easiest test he’d ever done, and since he had no idea what it was about he didn’t care much whether he passed or failed.
“Well done, well done,” the examiners said, after they had finished. “Five of your soul fragments have passed our tests with great ease.”

“What of the other two?” the Mother asked.
“Above average,” an examiner answered, “but might not make the cut off. It’s too early to tell.”

The Unborn’s eyes flickered towards another group of examiners standing before a jungle gym. People were hanging down the horizontal pole and levitating their bodies. “Let me try that one as well,” he said. That was a test more to his liking.
“Sure,” the Mother shrugged, “but you’ve already passed, so it’s not going to make much of a difference.”
The Unborn ran towards the jungle gym with a child like joy, and jumped onto it.
“Now close your eyes,” said the instructor of the test, “and channel the wind into your stomach. Let it lift you ever higher.”
The Unborn did his best, feeling the coldness run through his nerves from stomach to head as more and more wind filled his inner being.

“Not bad, not bad,” the instructor said, as the Unborn floated horizontally. “Above average. This is outstanding for someone who’s had no previous training.”

The Mother tut tutted, “His apprenticeship has already been decided and it’s not with you. Now,” she called to the Unborn, “come down from there and let’s go. Oh drat! I used too much.”

A heavy energy pulled the Unborn towards the ground, and then through the ground. He passed through several dimensions before the Mother could fully finish her sentence. The trumpets went off time and the orchestra playing his soul song paused for a split second in panic.

He was born into the world one month premature.

“Your name is Makk,” his human mother smiled down at him as he opened his eyes.

[7 Souls Flashback] 2. Akupara, the Cosmic Turtle

Previously

Soul quotient: 1/1

Mn smiled at the woman behind the glass window, “I’m here for the transit pass.”
“Just a moment,” the woman smiled, as her gaze fluctuated between Mn and her holographic screen. “First timer, huh? Why do you possess so many weapons?”
Mn hesitated. He’d forgotten about his collection. Were these people capable of seeing into even his most hidden spaces? They might not give him a transit pass if they thought he was a dangerous warrior. Should he lie? Say he was a gardener and that they were tools of his trade? Would their technology be capable of detecting untruths? Probably.

“I enjoy collecting them,” he chose the more honest path. “I’m weird that way. There’s something about a finely crafted implement of war that sings to my soul. Plus, they come in handy if you’re ever attacked. I don’t intend to harm anyone, unless I’m under mortal threat.” Had he messed that up? Would he not be allowed to travel through this dimension in search of his brother? Damn it all.
The woman nodded, her smile waning a little as her screen flickered. “Go on to the next room. You are expected.”
A group of people, including the driver, escorted him to the next room, which was dominated by an enormous holographic model of a gigantic turtle. A group of people, dressed in white long coats, stood within the room, studying the holographic model intently.
“Hello, hello,” a distinguished looking woman said. “We were expecting you here much earlier.”
“A cosmic cycle earlier actually,” the man near her added.
“Well,” the woman patted the man on his hand, “he’s here now, so stop fretting.” She grabbed Mn by the hand and pulled him to the front of the holographic model, “As you can see, the disease is spreading. Tell us how we can cure it.”
“Cure the turtle?” Mn mumbled.

He’d never been interested in reptiles, and knew next to nothing about medicine. The closest to administering medicine he’d come to was in distributing mead to his men, but he didn’t want to lost this chance to find and rescue his brother. He’d have to make something up.

“Hmm,” he stroked his chin, “I suppose we could operate, and remove the infected area. It looks like it’s almost completely consumed by the disease anyway. Make an incision on that spot between the gaps on the shell,” he pointed at the model, “send a crew of a few healers through it, cure what can be cured, remove and destroy the parts that are too far gone, suture it up and then pump the entire system with nutrients and substances to stave off further infection and promote regrowth.”
The entire room burst into applause. The man who had been rude earlier about Mn’s late arrival was now beaming in a smile and giving everyone cake.

“That will do it,” he laughed. “We’d never have been able to come up with such a plan of action. You were worth the wait.”
“Did I pass?” Mn asked, not sure what was happening. “Will I get the inter-dimensional transit pass?”
“Oh, that and more,” the man answered in glee.
Mn decided to exit the room before they changed their minds. The driver accompanied him. “I don’t get it,” Mn mumbled to the driver. “What I said was just common sense. I have no knowledge of medicine. Why are they so happy?”
“Common to you,” the driver laughed, “but not to them. What you did was a very rare thing.”
“But the turtle… Anyone could see that…”
The driver hushed him with a gesture, “You saw a turtle, but those people saw stars and atoms and comets, metals and gas, electromagnetic waves. Your words today will result in the destruction of twenty stars systems, and perhaps also in the salvation of the universe. What was common sense to your perception, was exceptionally rare in theirs.”

“So, that’s the price of a transit pass these days?”
“Transit pass?” the driver laughed. “You gained much more than that. You are now qualified to partake in the test of discipleship to the celestial sages. There will be twelve contestants, out of which seven are chosen. If you want to rescue your brother, becoming a celestial sage might be the only way.”
“Five losers eh?” Mn grunted. “Knowing my luck, I’ll probably end up being one of them. I have little knowledge of the universe, apart from how to make war.”
“You can cheat,” the driver whispered in his ear. “There’s a being living at the edge of this dimension who can split your soul. Since you’re one of the first to qualify, if you split your soul the other parts of you will automatically get qualified for the test. Split your soul into three, and you’ll be taking the test as three different people, tripling your chance of success. I can’t drive you to him myself, but I can lend you my car.”
“Alright,” Mn said, “I’ll do it. I’ll split my soul.”

[7 Souls Flashback] 1. The Journey Begins

Previously

Soul Quotient: 1/1

Mn and his two companions ran through the barren wasteland, desperately flagging a passing vehicle. They had travelled through many dimensions in their quest to find his brother, but they’d never had to pass through such barren wasteland, almost completely bereft of life. What had happened to this land, Mn wondered.

“Thanks,” Mn said gratefully to the driver. “Where are you headed? We’ll get off at the closest town.”

“Only one place to go in this dimension,” the driver answered. There was something not quite right about him. Perhaps he was one of those artificial lifeforms Mn had heard so much of.

The vehicle soon arrived at a small building complex, where Mn was relieved to see more people. “You need to pass the test for the transit pass,” the driver said, unlocking Mn’s door and leading him by hand towards a glass cubicle.

“Test?” Mn asked blankly. “I don’t have time to pass any tests. I have to save my brother.”

“Pass the test,” the driver replied, “and you may save us all.”

Night Two: Trivia’s Song – The Man with Seven Souls

Previously

Callista dreamt of Trivia’s song

Trivia watched the man with many souls ride his elephant

fighting off dragons, snakes and lions; triumphant

The human’s celestial arsenal rivalled the might of Mars

The elephant’s magic could have overwhelmed even Gandaberunda

Rakshasas crowded around the two fighters in their cars

Trying to win the fight with sheer numbers like the Ymanbanda

Had overwhelmed the ancient world of man

The clouds rained as the elephant trumpeted

The rakshasas and dragons were defeated

Consumed and excreted, their soul music transposed

Within the elephant and its rider

Trivia concentrated hard… this human’s soul music was complex

Seven voices within the fugue, there were

Singing their songs in different dialects

But only five of the voices she could hear

Trivia used the Sight to look past space and time

Moving to an Age before the Sun, when the Seven Souled human had been One

It would be difficult to put this in rhyme

…

The Autumn Arc – Night 2 : A Strange Discovery

Previously

INTERLUDE:

“Ah,” Thomas heard a voice mutter, “looks like the medicine is finally kicking in. Sweet dreams, I hope.”

Thomas dreamt of the moon

Soma added the last dab of charcoal to his self portrait, and smiled in satisfaction. He’d call this one, ‘the Dark Side of the Moon’.

“Hello, hello, is there anybody in there,” he hummed as he made a few changes to the texture.

“Hello, yup I’m here,” a loud voice boomed in response, startling Soma to such an extent that his charcoal stabbed through the canvas. “Heard me come did you? I was trying to be extra quiet. I know how crotchety you get when anyone disturbs your solitude.”

Soma ground his teeth. Mars! That damned buffoon. Sure, he was good to have around during times of strife, but couldn’t the fool have used the herald to announce himself before coming?

Mars’ armoured hand clapped his back a moment later, “Not a very good likeness, I must say. You’re losing your touch, old man.”

“What do you want? The tree is destroyed, and your job is done. Go away,” Soma said, not sure if he was angry about Mars’ total disregard for personal space, or the fact that he’d ruined the portrait.

Mars chuckled, “you haven’t changed a bit in all this time I’ve been away. I’m not here on my own behalf, Old One. Venus said she had something important to show us in the Vael dimension, a split soul man. We must go quickly. Saturn and Trivia are waiting in their chariots. You can share mine, if yours is too slow.”

“Too slow?” Soma growled. “I’ll show you slow. Come on.” Soma summoned his chariot with a whistle, but though he travelled at kiloparsecs per second he could always hear Mars’ annoying laughter close behind. It was a small victory that he arrived at Venus’ location a few milliseconds before the others, and one that he desperately needed. Old? He wasn’t old!

“Greetings, Lord of the Moon,” Venus bowed, as he arrived. She had always shown him respect, even during those crazy decades after she’d been driven mad by the betrayal of Tammuz.

Soma bowed in return. “What did you want to show us, light daughter?”

Venus pointed. “Sister,” she turned to Trivia, “will you use your powers to reveal this one’s story? I suspect that his story spans many dimensions.”

“I don’t like him,” Mars said. “Forget about his story. We should just kill this human and be done with it.”

Was there a hint of fear in the voice of Mars? Soma couldn’t help smiling, as he looked down at the split soul man who was riding his elephant across the skies of the Vael.

Saturn seemed entranced by the human, and Trivia was almost drooling. Venus looked wistful and sad, but there was colour on her cheeks, something Soma hadn’t seen on her for a long time.

Soma shook his head at Mars, “Why do you fear the unknown? This man is definitely not contagious, unlike the Tree of Ash. Trivia, tell us what you see.”