[AA2] Day 45: Brahmarishi in the Making

Soul quotient: 3/7

Mohan attracted trouble like honey attracted flies. It wasn’t his fault, just the way of the Universe. Mohan had long since accepted that fact, ever since he’d been expelled from school for holding a teacher to the same standards that the teacher held his students.

He’d long since accepted that there was no such thing as justice in society. Courts and law and order were illusions. Real justice could only be obtained out in the wild, deep in the core of the Western Ghats or up in the snowy Himalayas. He hadn’t been to the Rajasthan deserts but he was sure there was justice to be obtained there too, the natural order that cared nothing for pseudo morality. Oh dear, Mohan lulled his mind into lethargy with a lullaby he’d learnt from an elephant in the zoo. It didn’t do any good to let his mind go wandering like that.
“So,” said the yoga teacher, throwing his slipper at Mohan, “you came here because you wanted to learn how to sleep?”
It was a free yoga class that Mohan had entered to kill time. He didn’t have enough money for anything and his parents weren’t going to be at home for another hour. Perhaps it would have been wiser to just sit on a bench and watch the birds.
“I thought this was Bihar School of Yoga, not Beer School,” Mohan said, unintentionally mispronouncing BR. Why did he always make those clumsy mistakes? That damn Universe again!
“You come here and insult me,” the yogacharya shouted shrilly.
“No insult was intended,” Mohan said, guilt ridden. “I just thought it would be nice to sleep and do that yoga thing at the same time. Yoga nidra, you know? That way I wouldn’t be wasting any time.”
“Wasting time?” the yogacharya’s face was beginning to grow red.

“I just meant…”

“Out!”

[AA2] Night 43: Trivia meets Thomas

Previously [AA 2.1] Day 43: Dreaming with Ayahuasca

Thomas dreamt of himself and Hecate
His body had been getting used to the ayahuasca tea, but never before had it been as vivid as this full moon night. Shadows transformed into interdimensional creatures going about their ineffable, inexplicable duties in the multiverse. Moonlight transformed into fine wine that he could taste with all his senses. The cry of the bats outside his window sent pulses through his head that made him pendulate between universes. His shaman guide transformed into a network of colourful whorls that extended from the ground into the sky… but still no moon god. Where was he? Why wasn’t Thomas able to see him in his dreams any longer?
His room transformed into a stone paved intersection, surrounded by dark countryside. The air grew still, and all noises ceased. A beautiful woman appeared before him, her dark hair falling to beneath her waist, her green eyes blazing light amidst the utter darkness of his surroundings, her pale skin radiating luminescence.
She sang:

Where wanders the warrior of Moonlight?

One wonders why he looks so uptight.

Perhaps he is lost

I meet him now, but at what cost?

“Er… Hello, how do you do,” Thomas said to the woman. “I’m looking for the Moon. Could you help me?”

“Help you for a price

Come roll the dice”

Thomas found a pair of die in his palms and threw them on the grass, without thinking.
“Snake Eyes,” the woman shrieked with joy,

“The Die never lies.

You are mine at the cross roads

Directions I’ll give for two toads

Eat them now while they’re hot

Or else you’ll be regurgitating rot”

Thomas swallowed the two toads she held out to him in one gulp. If he was awake and in his proper senses he’d have never done such a stupid thing… perhaps, thought a part of him. He had trust issues, especially with women, but this crossroad place in the countryside was lulling his senses.

“Soma’s power I share now

I’ll now give it to that Venus sow

If you want to dream of the Moon, my pretty

Then stop drinking the Ayahuasca tea

It changes to Demeter your frequency

And not to the heavens, you see?

You’re dialling the wrong number

While Soma is in slumber.

Thomas thanked her, and then blacked out.

[AA2] Day 44: Hecatapp: Moonlight Edition

[Short Story] Tommy Pt 1: Holy Elven Cliffhangers Batman

Every full moon the elf would dance outside Tommy’s window, and every full moon Tommy would look at her for a moment, yawn and then close his window shades. She’d take different forms each time… a redhead, a blonde, a brunette, short, tall, an Amazon, a delicate debutante, a bearded man, a hairless Adonis… But she’d always get the same result.

She finally lost her temper, and…

Will Tommy survive the wrath of the jilted elven queen? Find out next year on whenmarsmetsaturn.

[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.

[7Souls Fashback] 3. The Big Dipper is Born

Previously

Soul quotient:1/1

He had painstakingly searched the multiverse for millennia, and finally a wrong turn on his way home had led him to his target. The world of the soul splitting deity was a small one, its roads too narrow for two chariots to pass each other. Its houses were all two storeys tall, and the land was filled with masses of people.

“Thank you,” he smiled, when a group of pedestrians made way for him. They smiled and bowed in return.

“He’s thanking us,” he heard one of them giggle to the other. “How strange.”

His companion shrugged, “you get all sorts coming here these days.”

Was gratitude a concept that was foreign to these people, Mn wondered. Were these people so unused to it that ‘thank you’ and ‘welcome’ had become extraordinarily exotic words? Or perhaps there was another reason for the rarity of expressions of gratitude here. Maybe they were so in tune with doing the right thing all the time that they didn’t deem it worthy of response.

“I’m looking for the being who can split souls,” Mn said to the amused pedestrians. “Do you know where I can find him?”

The man pointed towards the main road, where a golden haired child was walking. Mn nearly choked in surprise when the child took off into the air with his next step, walking through the air.

“You won’t be able to catch up to him in your vehicle,” the pedestrian said. “You’re better off on foot.”

“Thanks,” Mn jumped off his chariot and followed the child. This land was a maze of buildings, some roads leading to sheer ledges, and some terminating in dead ends. Could everyone in this little world fly in the sky?

“Yes, most can,” a voice answered his unspoken question. It was the flying child. “The problem is when the infants learn flight. They take off into the clouds, and its a race to get them back down before they freeze to death. Thankfully we always find them in time, but if only there was some way to stop this from happening.”

Mn nodded, gazing at the roofs of the houses, “why don’t you make a rope mesh over the towns?”

The child beamed, “not rope, that would block the light… but tafurat would do. I will grant you one boon in reward for your help.”

“Split my soul into seven parts,” Mn said.

“Done,” the child said, and floated into the air.

“Hold on,” Mn shouted after the child. “How do I reconstitute my soul parts back into myself when I want to be whole again?” The child was too far up to hear him. A moment later, the child threw a spear at Mn. The spear left mushroom clouds in its wake. The earth quaked as Mn’s vision turned from red to black.
Soul quotient: 1/7

He heard his brother mourning his death as he walked the path to rebirth. He drank the waters of forgetfulness, but somehow, even as his soul made its way into a four month old foetus, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was something within him that was missing.

Image courtesy: Wikihow.com

[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

…