Soul Census - War of Shadows - Book 1

Chapter 5.2 - The Plan

Earth Date: 5th of September 1340 CE
Location: Aaru, Spirit Realm

The two of them walked in silence for a moment, their hooded brown robes contrasting starkly against the white of this otherworldly place. As they reached the end of a hallway, it extended out farther, essentially creating itself as they approached.

“This place—Aaru—grants all manifestations a more realistic texture,” Vero said. “I come to Aaru to practice my craft. Test ideas before attempting them in other settings.”
Zarad wondered if that was one of the reasons Vero was such a good Ethereal Artisan; all of his creations back in the Spirit Realm were renowned for their authenticity. Even so, nothing he had ever created matched this human body.

With each step, Zarad felt what it was like to really be human—the breathing, the vulnerability, the aches, the very density of moving a physical body. It was akin to wearing a really thick and uncomfortable coat.

And then there was the dulling of the senses—his sight narrowed to a mere 120 degrees. May as well be blind when compared to the clarity and infinite sight of the soul.
Hearing was also restricted, but this wasn’t actually a bad thing. Coupled with the inability to telepathize, the deafness was a welcome blanket of silence that would make meditation easier.

“Why are we in this form?” Zarad said.

Vero pointed to his forehead. “The silence makes our talk more private.”

Well, that made sense. Human form made it difficult for spirits to read their thoughts. But why the secrecy?

“Thank you,” Vero said.

“For what?” Zarad said.

“For accepting the assignment, of course,” Vero said.

Zarad cocked an eyebrow at him. The human gesture seemed so automatic—amazing how quickly the soul integrated with the body.

“I never said I accepted. I said I would meditate on it.”

“Of course,” Vero said. “Thank you nonetheless.”

Zarad could see a slight smirk from within Vero’s hood. Sometimes Vero seemed to know Zarad better than he knew himself. They soon reached a hallway that ended without expanding. Instead, it became a barrier door, with a medallion at its center bearing writing and symbols—similar to the Elder doors he had seen while snooping earlier.

Vero reached into his robe, pulled out a medallion, and pressed it against the door. The barrier caved inward, allowing them passage. The room on the other side looked like a featureless haze, which Zarad figured would reveal itself to be more once they entered.

“What are those symbols, Vero?” he said.

Vero stepped in first, Zarad following. As expected, the room’s haze gave way to form. It was now a humanlike dwelling, complete with couches, chairs, and even a fireplace that crackled to life. Random artwork and other adornments painted the walls.

“The doors have a special language,” Vero said, “only known by the Elders.”

Zarad grinned. “And some Guides too?”

Vero turned to him, a stern expression on his face. For a moment, Zarad wondered if he had offended him.

“Yes,” Vero said, forcing a smile. “Some Guides as well.”

He sat on one of the couches facing the fireplace, then gestured for Zarad to sit as well.

Zarad sat on the other couch, feeling the repelling force of the cushion against his body. It felt strange not being able to pass through matter.

“I do not really agree with the Elder Quorum,” Vero said. “I do not believe you are yet ready to be parted from Aloli for this assignment.”

Zarad felt shocked at his words. For whatever reason, he could never predict Vero’s way of thinking. “Why did you vouch for me, then?” he said. “I can tell that you pushed hard to get me here… why?”

“There were two reasons. One was the alternative that the Quorum proposed. They wanted to impose a special Fugue on you, one that would continue even while you are disincarnate. It would have erased your memories of Aloli. I rejected this, as I felt it was completely immoral.”

Zarad tried to imagine such a thing. The Fugue is the amnesia applied to mortal, incarnated life—but not a soul’s memory!

“I did not think that was possible,” Zarad said. “A Fugue for the soul?”

“Unfortunately it is,” Vero said. “It is a barbaric practice, reserved only for very heavy, troubled souls… and only as a last resort after other means have been attempted.”
Zarad wondered if the alternative was casting them to Tartarus, but he was still waiting for a complete answer to his question. “You said there were two reasons you vouched for me. What was the second?”

Vero stood up and went over to a pile of split logs. He picked one up and tossed it into the fire. The wood crackled, and embers flickered. As he tended the flames with a fire iron, smoke began to fill up the room.

Zarad coughed and turned away. As he cleared his lungs, he wondered if it was possible to feel death within this very realistic human body.

The wood heated, and the fire began to settle down. Eventually, the smoke in the room cleared.

Vero sat down and spoke. “Tossing a seemingly young, wet piece of wood into a fire can yield unpredictable… chaotic results. But as you can see, if you are patient and allow the wood to burn long enough, it will become one with the fire, calming it… even as it is consumed by it.”

Zarad gave his Guide a raised eyebrow. “Are you comparing me to a wet piece of wood?”

Vero smiled. “I have mentored you for many Cycles, Zarad. I saw your Circle birthed from the Source. I watched you and all those from your Circle advance… you, Freya, and Anundr.”

“And Aloli?” Zarad said.

Vero paused. “Yes, of course… and Aloli.”

Zarad never realized that Vero had been around for so long—that he had even seen the birth of his Circle—his family. Vero must be much older than he’d realized. Vero was so advanced and wise—why hadn’t he ascended to the Elder Quorum by now?

“You were the wettest wood,” Vero continued. “But I saw in you the potential to kindle the brightest fire.”

Vero leaned closer to him, almost whispering. “The Soul Sphere has many powers. Many secrets as well. Not all of which even the Elders know about.”

Vero sat up, then reached into his robe and showed Zarad the medallion. “I can show you how to read these symbols and discover the language of the Presence. And with this knowledge you can learn the secrets of the Soul Sphere. Together we can use it to contact Aloli, Freya, Anundr—your entire Circle—while still tending to your assignment as the Caretaker of the Sphere.”

Zarad’s thoughts raced with excitement. He had never even considered the possibility of being able to contact Aloli during his assignment.

“In exchange for this,” Vero continued, “you must do some things for me, and for your Circle. These tasks are of great importance to the future of humanity and spiritkind. But we must keep this secret from all others… even the Elders.”

Zarad felt a bit of shock at those words. Secrets? Ethereal beings seldom kept anything from each other.

“But… But …” Zarad said. “How would we protect such secrets… and why?”

Vero pulled away and gazed back at the fire. “I am about to tell you a great secret that the Elders are afraid of admitting. Something only a few of us Guides and Grand Masters know about.” He paused a moment before continuing, “Aside from my teachings, which were few on this matter, what do you know about the Presence?”

Each turn of this conversation was more unexpected than the last.

“The Presence?” Zarad said. “Well, it’s simply a fact of ethereal existence. The Presence simply is. What else is there to know?”

Vero chuckled, something Zarad had never heard from him.

“A very textbook answer. The Presence is not a mere fact, nor is it an intangible myth. There is an unspoken hierarchy in the Spirit Realm, Zarad. The various spirit groups provide teachings and pass down assignments to souls, as well as supporting the Guides. The Elder Quorum is the highest sentient authority. They push down the strategic spiritual guidance to the lower groups and are supposed to be receiving their divine instruction from the Presence itself.”

Vero hunched over on his couch, staring intently at the flames. “The secret that I am telling you is that the Elder Quorum does not speak to the Presence—or perhaps more so, the Presence does not speak to them.”

Now Vero turned to him, yellow and orange flames reflecting in his eyes. “The Presence does speak to some of us who are not on the Elder Quorum. And it has told us that we must start a divine crusade. One that the rest of your Circle has already begun down on Earth.” He put his hand on Zarad’s shoulder. “As Caretaker of the Soul Sphere, your part is the most important. Do you trust me, Zarad?”

“Of course, Master. Of course I do.”

Vero smiled and nodded. “Listen to me and I promise that you and Aloli will be reunited at the end of this. And together we will advance spiritkind to a new level of ascension.”