16 - Chapter 15 - Day 1753

There was just one thing she needed to do before making her way to her mother. She wanted to be able to prove her claims, and to do that she needed to do more than just tell a story.

Adya retrieved a sheaf of parchment that she used for taking notes. She didn't have long, but then she didn't need to make this first experiment complicated. A simple light talisman should provide proof of concept of her abilities. Now what was the best way to approach this task? Adya was quite good at drawing freehand, but the formations’ knowledge had been clear, the more exacting the design, the higher the quality of the finished formation.

Adya knew that parchment was not the best material, at best the formation would last a single use, and even then not for long, but she didn't have metal plates or an etching rod to be able to create something of a higher quality. That was something she would have to look into procuring, though she had ideas about that too. No for now, simple paper would be best, but she still wanted to create the highest quality she could.

Adya: Sai are you able to use our limbs to directly draw out designs?

Sai: Yes I am, though for best results we will need to create and train some form of telekinetic skill. At our age and our level of musculoskeletal development, even the best would leave a lot of room for improvement.

Adya: Ok, let's add another item to our ever growing todo list. Then let's try to create a simple light formation.

Letting Sai take over, Adya watched as the design was drawn onto the parchment, and at the same time, using the energy control skill, the corresponding mana design was etched also. Adya took her time, as it was the first even formation, and it took the better part of half an hour to create her first attempt. Adya took a deep breath then activated the formation. The formation activated, but Adya could immediately see the issues, and most were caused by the ink not being the right quality or the drawing not being accurate enough. The pen she used, while acceptable for normal writing, was like a crude stick compared to the accuracy required for formations. It was like trying to etch an electronic circuit using a leaking pen. Still the attempt had proven what she could do. It would do for her first demonstration.

Adya collected the materials she would need, and placed them in her inventory. She had not been sure about revealing that particular ability, but if the initial conversation went well, revealing it would give her significantly more options.

Adya steeled herself as she made her way to meet her mother. While the rational part of her knew that she needed to do this, the emotional part of her was still hesitant. The knowledge and memories of her past life could limit, but not fully ameliorate the effect of being in the body of a five year old, one that still had the need to feel a sense of belonging. Perhaps there was more than a little truth to the theory that posited that form was able to define function to a certain extent.

Adya felt that her family in this life was an integral part of her, a core tenant of her identity, and she worried what revealing her past would mean. Certainly, there would be a shift in the dynamic that she enjoyed with her family, that was outside of her control. She only hoped that this would not lead her family to push her away. Even though she was confident in making her own way in this new world, she would rather do it with her family.

As the weather was nice, Gauri had elected to take lunch in the central gardens. It was a private space, an acre of beautifully sculpted garden, set in the central courtyard. While the garden could be viewed from most parts of the main house, the trees and shrubbery lining the courtyard made it almost impossible to hear anything actually discussed within. It was a good compromise between privacy and security. A table had been set up , with two very comfortable chairs, for their luncheon. The table was covered with an ornate and colourful marquee to provide a modicum of shade.

Gauri was already waiting for Adya, with a selection of items already set out for lunch. Adya noted that the items included a lot of her favourites. Adya walked up to the empty chair and climbed in. It was still not straightforward for Adya to use a normal chair due to her diminutive size.

“Good afternoon mother,” said Adya, “Thank you for making the time.”

“It’s not everyday my precocious little daughter has time for me.” replied Guari with a smirk. “So when I was informed not only that the same daughter not only wanted to have lunch, but that I should clear my calendar for the rest of the day, I was not only intrigued, but happy to oblige. I am sure that we have things to discuss, but I am most curious as to the reason it will take all day.”

“I am not that bad mother,” replied Adya, “You are even busier than I am most of the time, you can't put all the blame on me.”

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Adya took a little time to select her favourites from the table on to her plate. Once she was settled with a filled plate in front of her, she continued.

“What do you know about reincarnation, mother?” asked Adya.

Gauri was a little surprised by the question, religion not an usual topic of interest to her daughter, but she decided to humour her to see where this was going. “A most interesting question, and not one I expected from you,” said Gauri, “Well, from my understanding, a soul at the end of one's life, leaves the body, and moves through a cycle of cleansing and purification. At some point, the soul is sent back into the world, and born into a new body. There have been a few mentions in histories of re-incarnated individuals being identified where a magic item that had been soul bonded in a past life reacted to the new person. Though that's usually by chance.”

“And are there any widely known instances of a reincarnated individual retaining memories of a past life?” asked Adya.

“No, it is posited, that the soul can not carry forward any memories” replied Gauri, “The soul carries a mark of the karma of past lives, but no knowledge may be carried between lives.”

“Are there instances of a body being taken over by demonic or dark means?” asked Adya. “Where even the soul may have been replaced.”

Gauri was getting very concerned by the direction of the questions coming from her little girl. There were not topics that even most adults would dare venture into, let alone a child. “Well, the churches and the healers can actually see the soul, even if they can't interact with it.” replied a very troubled Gauri. “There is no known method to take over a soul, a mind yes, a body yes, but they would both leave clear signs that could be detected during deep scans. The largest sign would be a soul trying to dispel the changes as it would recognise the foreign intrusion as an illness it needed to remove. While the soul may not be able to push out the influence, the external influence of the clash would be obvious to those who look at such things, or so I am led to believe. Now what has happened, why these questions?”

Adya did not answer her mothers question asking for confirmation instead. “Are you sure mother?”

“Yes, not even demons may cast out a soul or consume it.” replied Gauri, “There are myths about such things happening, but no one takes it seriously. I should not be telling you this, but the reason its not possible is the system.”

“The System?” asked a confused Adya, “Why is that?”

Taking the question to mean that Adya didn't know what the system was, Gauri answered. “You are too young, but have always been more mature than your age. I shouldn’t be telling you this yet, but we are all subject to a system. It will activate when you reach your age of majority at 13, and fully unlock when you turn 17. The reason what you are asking can't happen, is that every soul is initiated into the system at birth. Some people have the ability to identify others, this ability provides them the responses based on the system. So if a soul was to be replaced, when the person was identified it would show the identity of the new soul, and not the one that was replaced.”

“But, how widespread is that ability, and how often are people actually checked?” asked Adya. She was not going to accept this without understanding the limitations that were in place.

“The ability is available to all members of the clergy ,as well as all healers.” replied Gauri, “Every time you are checked for medical reasons, your identity is verified as a matter of course. As there are maldiction that can attempt to attack the soul, a full medical review will flag any changes to the soul, as well as if it had been replaced. Why is this topic of interest to you?”

Adya was at least a little relieved, it seemed that only the system could directly mess with souls. And while it sounded like there were methods to take over a mind or body, it seemed that it was unheard of there being those who could manipulate or replace the soul. While not anywhere close to a guarantee that it was impossible, it certainly seemed to be very difficult or well hidden, or both.

“Have I been checked since my birth?” asked a contemplative Adya.

“You have been checked more than most.” replied Gauri with a chuckle. “You won't remember this, but when you were a baby, you underwent something unexplained. When you were born, your soul was very strong, but soon after being born you went into a sort of a coma. Do you understand what that is?”

At Adya’s nod,Gauri continued. “You had me worried sick, it took a long time for you to come out of it, and it's why you have the weekly medical checkups. The healer said your soul only fully settled once you woke back up.” What Gauri left unsaid was that was also the reason she gave Adya such latitude. Having almost lost her, she wanted to indulge her youngest child, and though the demands of her daughter tended to be strange for a young child, Gauri didn't really have it in her heart to deny her. “Are you going to tell me what this is all about now?”

Adya ignored the question from her mother yet again, and asked another question. “Have you heard of any enchantments, formations or abilities that allow for the storage of items?” she asked. “Items that can then be retrieved at a later time?”

Gauri burst out laughing. “If such an ability or item was possible, it would completely change our business.” she replied. “The reason we need to operate caravans, and that your father and brothers spend so long travelling, is that moving goods is hard work and requires lots of people, carts and horses.”

“So I am guessing that moving long distances instantly or through a portal is not possible either.” replied Adya.

“No” replied a chuckling Gauri. “If it were, it would change our business forever, and make the world more dangerous. Now are you going to tell me what all this is about?”