Whatever the source of this energy is, I am overflowing with it, Sayana responded hazily. It really was quite difficult to focus through the waves of energy surging around her. I could probably turn a mountain inside out.
“Try not to disturb anything,” Nellise advised, “I suspect this place doesn't need any major landmarks turned inside out right now. Are you okay, Pace?”
“Yeah,” the former ascetic replied with a thick voice. He appeared to be struggling to relax. Sayana spied a tear trickling down one cheek — she had never seen him cry even once in her time with the troubled young man.
“Come on, let's find whoever brought us here,” Nellise suggested with a smile, offering her hand to Pacian. He looked up at her, and in that moment Sayana saw a profound change in his usually brooding features, as if the weight of his past had been lifted from his shoulders.
“I thought you brought us here?” he said, taking her hand and rising to his feet.
“How would I even know how to use that confusing console in the lab?” Nellise responded with a laugh. “No, someone was communicating instructions to me. Whoever it is wants to meet us, and we shouldn't keep them waiting any longer.”
“Did this person leave directions, or are we just going to traipse through the gardens forever?”
I sense energies flowing from over there, Sayana said, pointing to their right.
“Right it is,” Nellise concurred. She tightened her grip on Pacian's hand when he tried to pull it away, and the two exchanged a curious glance as they continued through the garden, with Sayana following closely behind. She knew Pacian felt too burdened with his past to consider “tarnishing” Nellise with his love, but in this place, none of that seemed to matter to her.
It wasn't long before the sorceress sensed a presence ahead, and watched in fascination as part of the energy flowing through the realm broke off and began to coalesce before them. A vaguely humanoid shape of glowing mist took shape, appearing to be a robed man of average height. His ghostly features were obscured by a hood and the light emanating from the top of his form resembled a halo.
“Greetings, travellers,” the figure addressed them in a rich, clear voice. “My name is Caedmus. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the celestial realm of Assumption.”
Assumption of what? Sayana asked. I'm sorry, I was expecting more words on the end of that sentence.
“It is the assumption of providence,” Nellise explained patiently. “The acceptance of divine presence in our reality. It is one of the core teachings of the Church of Aielund, as imparted by Kylaris.”
I'm not sure I follow you.
“For all your power, you aren't really very bright, are you?” Pacian said with a roll of his eyes. “It's the assumption that when we pray, someone will be listening. The basis of faith.”
“Don't be hard on her,” Caedmus gently instructed. “Sayana's life has been devoid of the opportunity for education. This will soon change, I believe.”
Can you see the future? Sayana inquired curiously.
“In a way,” the celestial being replied cryptically. “Sometimes a spark grows into a fire, if properly guided and nurtured. We are very good at nurturing the sparks of possibility.”
“I don't mean to rush you,” Pacian interrupted, “but we're a bit pressed for time. There's some powerful opponents of ours about to level half the kingdom... unless time moves more slowly in this place?”
“Time can pass more quickly here than on the Materium, known also as the mortal realm,” Caedmus answered, “but only if you allow yourself to be caught in the moment. As we speak, the moments pass synchronically.”
There are a lot of words I'm hearing for the first time, Sayana remarked dourly.
“Your education has already begun,” Caedmus remarked with amusement. “It was not my intention for anyone save for Nellise to come through to this realm. Certainly, your other companions would have found their visit here unsettling.”
“You have been watching us?” Pacian asked.
“In a matter of speaking. Forgive my cryptic responses, for our time together is limited and the answers you seek would take too long.”
“It was you who instructed me to operate the portal,” Nellise suddenly exclaimed. “You, personally, have been watching us for some time, correct?”
“Events on the Materium are of great interest to us, yes,” Caedmus confirmed. “I do apologise for manipulating you, Nellise. A unique opportunity presented itself, and I simply could not pass it up.”
“I don't understand,” Nellise said with a furrowed brow.
“Let us move as we speak,” Caedmus suggested, leading them along a path which suddenly became apparent through the dense part of the garden. The celestial being drifted along the surface in much the same way Sayana did, a similarity she found extremely interesting.
“Are you and your glowing friends in the habit of taking control of people's minds to suit your own ends?” Pacian asked accusingly.
“Not at all,” Caedmus assured him. “As I said, this was a unique situation. Nellise is a special case and thus, I was able to intercede to arrange this meeting. You see, mortals typically do not come here until the right time, and even then, they must divest themselves of their physical form in order to transcend. The presence of the portal device, however, offered a way to circumvent the natural order of things.”
Why? Sayana asked simply.
“To save lives,” Caedmus explained in equally simple terms.
“In the end, life is all that matters,” Nellise added. “That is what we are taught, yet so many do not understand this simple concept. Even some in the Church flaunt the law to exact 'justice' in the name of God, where a soft touch would suffice.”
“Don't I know it,” Pacian remarked. “Caedmus, you said Nel is a special case,” he pressed, still trying to understand it all.
“Quite so,” Caedmus said as they walked around the immense base of a tree so tall, they could not see the upper boughs. “I have a connection with Nellise which allows me to sense her presence on the Materium with greater clarity than other mortals. Understand that everything is energy, and all energy is connected. Like waves in the ocean, the flow of energy throughout the cosmos influences events and matter in ways even we struggle to comprehend.”
That is so true, Sayana murmured, visibly witnessing around her the interplay of energies about which she’d only theorised in the past.
“What sort of connection?” Pacian continued. It was Nellise, however, who answered.
“You're my father,” she whispered, coming to a stop.
“Not exactly,” Caedmus assured her. “Twenty-three years ago, I travelled to the Materium to intercede in an important matter. We are only permitted to make this journey once per century, and since we do not have physical bodies, we must inhabit the body of a mortal being. These willing individuals are called vessels.”
“Yes, I'm familiar with the term,” Nellise responded with barely concealed excitement. “You chose my mother, yes?”
“Correct,” Caedmus confirmed, prompting them to continue walking. “After my work was complete, I returned to Assumption and your mother met the man who would become your father, and soon conceived you. The presence of a celestial being within a mortal host has some lingering effects, which are passed on to the first-born child. Thus, you have been blessed with a stronger connection to the Source than most mortals.”
“The Source?” Pacian asked with a hint of exasperation, something Sayana felt as well.
“Of all things,” Caedmus answered. “The Origin of Inspiration, the Muse of Existence. I do apologise, Pacian, for dropping all of this on you at once. Mortals often spend a lifetime learning and contemplating what I have imparted to you in a few minutes. Suffice it to say, the stronger one's connection to the Source, the more visible you become throughout the cosmos.”
“When Aiden rose from the dead to save us,” Nellise remarked, “I thought he was an angel sent from heaven. It turns out his soul w
as sewn back together by a dragon. I was rather disappointed when I learned this.”
“An astonishing achievement for a mortal, even a dragon,” Caedmus remarked. In the distance, Sayana could hear the gradually increasing sounds of a waterfall as they travelled. “But we digress. In short, I am a sort of spiritual father, if not your actual parent. Your real father perished at sea two years after your birth I am sorry to say, something your mother Helena kept to herself for reasons I do not truly fathom.”
Caedmus guided them onward a little further, toward the sound of the distant waterfall. They came to a halt at the edge of a precipice, looking down at a cascading torrent of not water, but sparkling energy. The dimensions were impossible to determine. It was entirely possible the cascade was a thousand miles across, yet also small enough to fit in the palm of one's hand. It appeared through the clouds like a river in the mist and came together into a conflux of energy which vanished into the clouds far below.
“This is the Source,” Caedmus stated. “It is through here Divine Kylaris channels the light of the cosmos into the Materium. If you look closely, you can see her performing her eternal meditations below.”
Sayana focused her vision through the blinding radiance and saw a vaguely feminine shape sitting amongst the confluence, her legs crossed in a meditative pose and hair-like energies swirling about her. The halo of light around her head was astonishing to behold, almost crystalline in form and Sayana knew then and there she was gazing upon a being of transcendent nature, as close to a god as she was ever likely to see with her own two eyes.
Nellise and Pacian stood in rapt attention, unable to speak at the sight before them. Caedmus seemed to sense their overwhelmed minds and gently guided them away. Even with her enhanced mind, Sayana was barely able to remain coherent in the face of such otherworldly might. As her faculties returned, she came to a realisation.
This place appears to be filled with the energy of life, yet I sense no individual forms other than yourself. Is this not the place people come when they die?
“Astute of you to notice,” Caedmus answered pleasantly. “When someone reaches the end of their mortal existence, if they have gained sufficient enlightenment, they sometimes transcend their metaphysical boundaries and come here upon the demise of their material form. Those who have yet to finish their journey simply begin the cycle of life anew.”
How is this 'enlightenment' achieved? Sayana asked curiously.
“Patient study, introspection and solitude,” Caedmus answered. “Enlightenment is difficult to achieve while distracted by the noise of everyday life, another reason your friends were unable to take the step into this place. The three of you have had time to contemplate the vagaries of existence, and thus were open to the possibilities presented. You must think me terribly boring,” Caedmus chuckled. “I do love to teach, though I rarely need to compress advanced theology and inter-dimensional lore into such a short timespan.”
“It has been genuinely fascinating,” Nellise assured him, though Pacian's expression seemed to say something entirely different.
“This pleases me,” Caedmus answered. “We have nearly reached our destination, so I will finish by addressing a point you brought up earlier, Nellise. Kylaris channels divine energy into the Materium in the hope of uplifting the realms of mortals through her agents, such as you. Those who twist her blessing for their own ends do so with the belief they are right. The energy has no consciousness of its own — so long as the devout truly believe everything they do is right, they can manipulate said energy for their own ends. Morality is a separate issue, something Kylaris has imparted on the Materium in the form of the Codex Moralis.”
“So, a true zealot can murder people in the name of God and still be able to receive answers to their prayers,” Pacian pointed out. “I think some of our brethren have twisted the Codex to their own ends.”
“The road to Hell is paved with good intentions,” Nellise intoned, a quote Sayana had heard before.
“Many priests have fallen by the way using this power for other purposes,” Caedmus lamented. “Such is the price of free will. In pursuing their misguided path, they delude themselves into the belief that their choices are the way to Enlightenment. They will have to do better on the next cycle of their existence.” Sayana sensed a slight hardness to his voice as he spoke, but before she could ask anything further, they came to a stop at the edge of the garden.
They looked upon a tall spire of pure white energy fashioned into the shape of a building resembling the cathedral in Fairloch. Intricate patterns of light which Sayana recognised as sigils were woven into the exterior structure, although the exact language was beyond her knowledge. Aiden could probably understand them, if he were here. Part of Sayana was sad neither he nor Robert could bring themselves to walk through the portal, and see this place with their own eyes. She would have to directly impart the image into their minds at some point to share the experience.
“The Concordance,” Caedmus announced in a quiet voice. “Your time here is almost concluded.” He continued along the path while Sayana and the others followed in awe of the sight ahead. Much like the Source, the spire of the Concordance defied perspective. It only took moments for them to traverse the field of long, swaying grass to arrive at the entrance, unnerving Sayana whose augmented senses cried out at the casual dismissal of logic.
A pair of doors swung inwards at their approach and they were granted access to a hall of lights. Coloured stained-glass windows depicted people and places Sayana had never seen before, and she wondered if Nellise had any idea who they were. More of the obscure sigils were carved into the stone floor, each of them faintly pulsing with light.
Many vaguely human-shaped forms of energy drifted through the open space inside the building, accompanied by whispered words. At the far end of the hall was a glowing cloud of energy far brighter than any of the others. The new figure was taller and hooded in the same manner as his celestial brethren, but the light from his halo was far stronger, and the aura of energy surrounding him vaguely appeared to resemble three sets of wings. Caedmus moved forward to present his guests to the celestial power.
“May I present Benedictum, light of heaven and divine apostle of Kylaris.”
“... Hi,” Pacian said, clearly at a loss for words.
“Greetings,” Benedictum answered, his voice smooth and powerful. “Mortal visitors to this realm are rare indeed, though we are not unaccustomed to such events. Thy road has been long and hard, beset by evils and injustices. Know this — thy trials have not been for naught. Thine enemies position their terrible weapon to strike at thine homeland, but with alacritous timing and steadfast purpose, thou will prevail.
“Why is he talking like that?” Pacian whispered to Caedmus.
“Forgive mine archaic speech,” Benedictum answered with amusement. “Long hast been the centuries since mine last visit to the terrestrial realm. Thine language hath evolved considerably in a short time. I trust we can understand each other well enough?”
“We'll see,” Pacian answered cautiously. “Look, this whole experience has been quite overwhelming, and I'm starting to wonder if we were given the grand tour to do just that. Understand that I'm not that pliable, and I know when I'm being manipulated. What I want to know is, are you able to help us avert a disaster?”
“The continued wellbeing of the advanced races of the Materium are paramount to our shared interests,” Benedictum responded. “Thy lack of faith is thine own concern, Pacian Savidge. Thou art blessed with rare insight into the worlds beyond thine world, yet thy cynicism remains a barrier to thine spiritual growth.”
“I'm just a product of my experiences,” Pacian replied with a shrug. “My life may be a mess, but I do the best I can given what I had to work with.”
“Thou chose the manner in which to be affected by thine experiences,” Benedictum corrected. “Ever hast the choice been in thine own hands. Thou art most comfortable thinking others art responsible for thin
e suffering, because it serves thine ego. Thou shall never be rid of guilt unless responsibility is taken for thine own decisions.”
“Do you have any idea of what I've been through?” Pacian asked through gritted teeth. Sayana wanted to warn him about angering the entity standing before them, for the power she sensed flowing through Benedictum could vaporise someone without a great deal of effort.
“Thine past is known to me, Pacian Savidge,” Benedictum answered in the same pleasant tone of voice. Thankfully, it would probably take a great deal of effort to anger him. “Tragedy is the way of thine world. It is how thou and thy kin react to it which matters most. I say this only once, so as not to bore thou with preaching — shed thy guilt and victimhood. Seeketh thou a lighter path. Thine suffering is simply a matter of perspective.”
“I called out for help once, when I really needed it,” Pacian continued with suppressed anger. “I lay on a field with a man trying to kill me and all I got was silence.”
Your duel against Dante Colt, Sayana remarked, recalling the bloody fight which resulted in Colt being knocked unconscious.
“How much use was my faith then? Where were you when I needed you most? I survived that fight on pure rage alone, no thanks to you and yours.”
“If thou called to us on that day, we did not hear,” Benedictum replied. “But thou hast answered thine own question — thou cannot become a conduit for the light of Kylaris while filled with rage. Thy hatred for thine opponent stifled thy connection. Truly, thou left the care of thy teachers too soon, and in the midst of bloody conflict thou forgot the most important lesson — love conquers hate.”
“While I'm all for Pacian's continued spiritual growth,” Nellise interrupted delicately with a concerned glance at Pacian's apoplectic expression, “I believe we have a more pressing matter to deal with.”
“Fear not, beloved Nellise,” Benedictum assured her, “Developing affairs on the Materium shall be dealt with in due course, thanks to thine assistance. Our intervention will insure thou hast a chance to avert disaster.”
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