Soul Census - War of Shadows - Book 1

Chapter 5.5: The Pooka

Earth Date: 6th of September 1340 CE
Location: Aaru, Spirit Realm

Zarad sat alone in the room on a couch facing the fireplace. As he stared at the flames, he thought about everything Vero had told him.

Vero had explained there was a spiritual crusade, led by a group called the Circle of Medusa—a group headed by Vero himself and comprising members of Zarad’s own Circle… including Aloli.

What a strange name… Circle of Medusa? Zarad recalled the myth of Medusa, a creature with serpents for hair—slithery creatures who could poison their victims with a bite. Why choose such symbolism?

Zarad felt uneasy. The whole thing felt like a coup. A crusade whose mission could undermine the entire ethereal establishment and go against the Elders.

He was at a moral crossroads, and free will felt like the enemy now.

If he took the one road, he would be Caretaker of the Soul Sphere and help his Circle—a privilege that Vero had helped to secure for him… Or had he? Vero had seemed somewhat opposed to it in front of the Elder Quorum. Was that just an act?

If Zarad took the other road, he would go back to the Spirit Realm and see Aloli, but they would be unable to touch and connect. She would likely go ahead without him and reincarnate on Earth to continue her progression.

As he wrestled with the choices, the flames in the fireplace suddenly died out. Shadows invaded the room, and it felt cold. Although he wanted to delay the decision ahead, this place now reminded him of the void that lurked outside the walls. He had to leave.

Shedding the human visage, he returned to his incorporeal state. The density of the artificial body vanished as he floated in pure ethereal form. His thoughts sharpened, as if awoken from a deep slumber.

Now that he was in his native form, the room seemed to lose much of its Earthly luster. Zarad slipped out of the room and spilled his energy into the hallway. He traversed the corridor, following Aaru’s central artery until he emerged into the main Elder Quorum chamber.

Gliding across the luminescent floors, he expected to encounter Quorum members along the way. Instead, he was alone in the chamber. Perhaps it was best; he did not want to face Vero or the Quorum with these conflicting thoughts still in his mind.

Now came the choice. If he followed Vero’s plan, Zarad would just need to cross over the symbol in front of the Quorum table and be transported to the Soul Sphere to begin his assignment as a Caretaker. Thoughts of Aloli filled his mind. When would he see her again if he became Caretaker?

As he debated with himself, a brilliant flash from the crescent table grabbed his attention—it was one of the many celestial objects traversing within it. Cautiously he approached the table. He reached out a tentacle and touched it.

As his own personal energy glossed over its surface, a wave rippled through it. Shimmers passed across the stars and galaxies within the table. He briefly wondered if that ripple could actually affect the physical universe. Perhaps that mere touch from his tentacle caused untold damage to those worlds. Shuddering at that thought, he whipped his tentacle away.

Zarad recalled the table telling him that it gave the Quorum access to the human world, but he wondered how it served the Elders. What did they actually do with this power? And what power did it have?

“All they be doing is observing,” said a voice.

Zarad looked at the table, startled, thinking maybe it was speaking to him, but then he caught the real source. Standing at the other end of the chamber was a physical being—a short humanoid creature with a long, hairy nose, pointy ears, and greenish skin. Claw-like fingers latched onto the leg of the table as it slowly emerged from its hiding place.
It appeared to have masculine features. Its eyes looked like yellow sapphire stones, with sharp edges and a black core in the centers that must have served as its pupils.

“Observers, they say,” he said. “Watching humanity. Helping humanity they claim. But the game they play is spying and manipulation—a game for which they are masters.”

Zarad had difficulty understanding him—he was using both verbal and telepathic speech, but provided no visual imagery in its telepathy, forcing Zarad to rely solely on the odd combination of words it used to communicate.

“I have never seen a physical manifestation like that,” Zarad said. “What sort of creature is that body—and who are you?”

The creature left the confines of the table and walked up to him. Thick tufts of fur sprouted through openings in its clothing—it might be humanoid, but it was not human.

“Manifestation?” he said. “I’m not manifestation. Role of familiar for the Quorum. Physical body of a pooka, I am.”

“Pooka?” Zarad said. “Your name is Pooka?”

The creature slapped his hands on his thighs in a seemingly agitated gesture. “Ninian,” it said, slapping its chest loud. “That be the name. Pooka be my species, not name.” Ninian pointed at the table. “Spying in your thoughts as well? A game that should not be limited to the privileged Quorum.”

Zarad looked over at the sparkling galaxies erupting from the divine object. He knew the table held within it a great power, one that the Quorum manipulated for their purpose… but what does it do for them?

“What do you mean, spying?” Zarad said.

Ninian jumped up and down, swatting his palms down on the ground—a gesture Zarad could not decipher, and the lack of imagery in his telepathy did not help.

“Spying is the table’s purpose. And you …” Ninian pointed at him. “Spy for Vero is your role… and that of the Circle of Medusa.”

Zarad hovered back, startled again. Circle of Medusa? he thought. How does this creature know about this? He glanced around to make sure nobody was nearby to listen in. He had to clear his mind of these thoughts or he would be discovered.

“Stay your worries,” Ninian said, making a swirling motion above his head. “My power holds your thoughts entrapped in this circle. No privileged spying by the Quorum on us.”

Zarad looked up and noticed for the first time that a thin energy bubble surrounded them. As he became aware of its presence, the bubble explained its purpose to him—telling him that their thoughts were safely intercepted by the bubble and that it would recreate the thoughts with babbling of its own, thereby making it unintelligible to an observer. It would give them a private conversation, but the unintelligible babbling would eventually arouse curiosity and suspicion, so their time was limited.

Now Zarad wondered why it could not just mask their talk indefinitely by hiding the thoughts and repeating nothing—to which the bubble kindly explained that thoughts were energy and energy could not be destroyed entirely. It had to be replaced with the same kind of energy—apparently an unbreakable law.

“So our conversation is private,” Zarad said. “Good. What do you know about the Circle of Medusa?”

Ninian stayed silent for a moment, putting his finger to his cheek—perhaps a meditative gesture. “Vero withheld further explanation, then?” Ninian finally said. “Time evading his grasp, perhaps?”

Zarad was not sure how to respond to that, as Vero had only given him bits and pieces. Maybe he could get some useful information out of this creature instead.

“Yes, he was pressed for time,” Zarad said. “He could not explain it all… perhaps you can fill in the gaps?”

Ninian scratched his forehead, then nodded. “Ninian not in position to tell. That be up to Vero’s discretion.”

Zarad dropped his tentacles in frustration. He was really having doubts about continuing with Vero’s plan without knowing more.

“Ninian can show something of Zarad’s interest,” Ninian said, drawing in closer. He then pulled out from his shirt a medallion that looked similar to the one Vero had shown Zarad earlier. “Power given to me that is of the higher spirits. Ninian is promised a prize from Vero… if Ninian help Zarad.”

“Vero asked you to help me?” Zarad said.

Ninian pulled the medallion off his neck and laid it flat on the table.

The celestial imagery changed—from galaxies and stars to blue skies and green grass. The images refocused and zoomed in on a Victorian-style house situated in front of a turquoise-colored lake in a rural neighborhood. The landscape was neatly trimmed, with pretty flowers in potted plants lining the walkway into the home. The image then slowly zoomed in on the front door just as it opened.

A woman in a long white gown walked out. She carried a baby in her arms, wrapped in a blanket. The mother’s long golden-brown hair draped just over the baby as she looked down at it. The image was now close enough to see a bit of sadness in the woman’s green eyes, sadness that not even the baby’s cooing seemed to change.

“I don’t understand what this means,” Zarad said.

Ninian slowly looked up to Zarad, a hint of a grin on his mouth. “Your love,” he said. “Aloli.”

Zarad slapped his tentacles on the table, peering closely at the images. Ripples from his tentacles distorted it, and he saw a sudden strong wind coming through the front of the home. Perhaps he could actually manipulate the physical world with this table? Perhaps he could even talk to Aloli from here?

“Not that one,” Ninian said. “Aloli be in the arms of parent mother.”

“The baby?” Zarad said.

So Aloli reincarnated as this baby …

Vero had told him that members of his Circle would be reincarnating on Earth to take on secret missions for their cause. It was all part of the plan, Vero had said.

From behind Aloli’s mother, a shirtless man stormed out and began yelling at her, his hands flailing in front of her face. She backed away, turning Aloli away from him and then yelling at him in return. The yelling continued for a moment, ending with the man slapping her in the face. She stumbled back, almost dropping the baby before recovering.

Zarad could see the energy of his own tentacles flutter with anger. How can spirits allow the human host to do such terrible things?

“Saving his love—that be Zarad’s intentions,” Ninian said. “Yes?”

“Is she… in danger?” Zarad said.

Ninian shook his head. “Yes, danger surrounds Aloli’s future.”

Apparently shaking and nodding had different meanings to pookas.

“But Zarad could save Aloli,” Ninian said. “Of this, time’s interlude provides an entry of fortuitous opportunity.”

“What can I do?” Zarad said. “Reincarnate?”

“Not reincarnate,” Ninian said, then pointed at him. “Zarad’s opportunity is as Caretaker of the Soul Sphere. That is how Zarad can be saving his soul mate, Aloli.”

Zarad stared at the image, watching the crying mother and angry husband retreat into the house—the door shutting behind them to hide whatever wrongdoings continued inside. The images faded, replaced by the original celestial imagery.

Ninian pulled the medallion away from the table and hid it back in his shirt. Then he said, “So… what is Zarad’s chosen path?”

Zarad hovered silently for a moment in thought. There was a time he would not even hesitate to do what his Guide suggested, but this whole thing felt strange. He was involved in something more significant than himself. He could not help but feel he was a pawn in a greater game. He should walk away from this.

Yet Aloli could be in trouble. The thought of his soul mate being in danger was too much to ignore. He was kidding himself to think he had a choice. There was no choice to be made when it came to Aloli.

“I’m going to the Soul Sphere,” Zarad said, “to carry out my assignment.”

Ninian slapped his knees and shook his head. Zarad could not tell what that meant.

“A good path chosen,” Ninian said. “One with much complications for Zarad and much implications to who all else. Now Ninian must go.”

Ninian turned and began walking away.

“Wait,” Zarad said, chasing after him. “Where are you going?”

Ninian stopped but did not turn around. “Vero owes Ninian a prize,” he said. “Ninian must collect and see if Vero’s honor matches the conviction of words spouted out.” He began walking away again.

“What prize?” Zarad persisted. “What did he promise you?”

Ninian stopped again, this time turning halfway to face Zarad. “Freedom,” he said. “Ninian going free. Not a familiar for Elder Quorum anymore.”

“What does a familiar do?” Zarad said, trying to keep him from walking away.

“Bah!” Ninian said. “Familiar be getting dumb jobs. ‘Go get this, go get that.’ Only good thing be watering the tree. Ninian be hearing it sometimes… will hear it more when visited.”

“Tree?” Zarad said. “Hear what tree? What do you mean by that?”

Ninian looked up thoughtfully, then grinned. “Vero did it! Ninian is freed from the leash of the Elders. Ninian be free to be going back home. Free… to be a pooka!”

Ninian ran off, disappearing down a hallway.

Well, Zarad thought. At least I know that Vero does keep his promises to some.

Zarad looked over to the hexagonal symbol on the floor near the table. It was glowing white, almost as if beckoning him. It was time to commit himself; the choice had been made. Zarad glanced around the chamber once more, his thoughts reaching out to Aloli.

I’m going help you, Aloli, he thought. I’m not going to let you suffer.

With that thought, Zarad passed over the symbol. It ignited with an eruption of energy that shot up and through him. His spirit form drowned inside the column of energy, and everything around him disappeared. His thoughts froze, and everything stopped. For a moment, his consciousness seemed to leave him. Startled, he wondered if something had gone wrong, as he felt sluggish—with slow, tepid, humanlike thoughts.

Then the slumber vanished as quickly as it came, as if he were waking from a dream. It was then that he felt it—something so beautiful that it erased all remnants of fear and uncertainty within.