072 - The Sleeping Forest

Pontius easily assumed the role presumptive leader; as the most senior of the three Alchemists present in an Alchemist led mission the others were quick to acknowledge the elderly Magister. The seven assembled around Pontius, awaiting his instructions.

The Ether, the spirit plane - incomparably vast and, even after thousands of years of studious Alchemists examining every possible aspect; incredibly mysterious.

Mysterious in a very real sense - no immutable law or reason had ever been fathomed as to its existence, as to its function, or even as to the most basic mechanisms of the Ethereal plane.

Pontius had long been fascinated by the Ether, going so far as to train in the Martial Courts methods and usage of Mens to access the Ether directly. But after decades of study, years of wandering the endless expanse of the spirit world he knew no more than what books and histories had long since provided.

If anything, there were a few constants that proved true no matter the circumstance - facts about the Ether that had long been set in stone. The first fact was that nothing in the Ether was real; nothing material could be brought into the Ether and nothing could be taken from it.

The Ether was not a material plane, only astral or spirit bodies could visit, the distinction between the two being one of detail; an astral body was a projection of the self, a spirit body a reflection of self. This distinction was vital when considering the differences between Mithraic Seers and the Martial Courts.

Now, the similarities in application were . . .

"Magister," Valerius nudged the Pontius, shaking his elbow. "We await your instruction, sir."

"Oh! Oh my, I do apologise! I was just lost in thought for a moment, ahem." Pontius pulled back the sleeves of his robe, a blue aura growing thick around his fingers. "Valerius, anchor us!"

The young Alchemist pointed to the ground, an imprint of a hand sunk into the ground. In the center of the palm print was a small black circle with many arrows pointing out. Pontius nodded approvingly.

He pointed at the ground with one hand and at the sky with the other, a steady beam of blue Animus formed into two equal discs above and below. The seven felt the ground shake, replaced by the blue disc. It lifted them up into the air until they were all floating dozens of meters above the flat grey grass plane.

"Baqir, Zaynab? If you would be so good . ." Pontius maintained the discs with ease.

Baqir bowed his head, taking Zaynab's hand and looking out. "It is the work of a moment."

"Saaa yaaa neeerrrr . . . Seeee yaaaa naaaarrr . . "

The two Mithraic Seers begun a deep chant, raising their hands together in a slow rhythmic motion. The voices carried, ringing throughout the Ether and through the heads of all there, every drawn out syllable resounding within the heads the others.

"Saaaa naaa yeeerrr . . . Yaaa neeee seeeerrr . . ."

For a long minute they continued the chant, nothing much happening in the vast nothingness. Slow, like watching the sun and stars crawl through the sky . . a deep resonance with the entire Ether grew, traveled out from the two seers. With every new intonation a ripple ran out, the entire Ether seeming like a glassy pond disturbed by drops of water.

He'd seen it numerous times . . even knowing what was to come the old Alchemist couldn't help but shiver in anticipation . .

Their chant contained a sliver of Mens . . a hint of Animus . . as they chanted he felt the presence of every Logos rippling out, the many strands intertwining, forming countless vibrations through the Ether . .

Down below the flat expanse begun to twist and deform, forming into waves, rising and falling and flowing out in all directions. The air itself took on a seemingly solid form, all around the land waves rose, touching on dense mirror like bubbles.

The two Seers chanted louder, Baqir's deep intonations harmonizing with Zeynab until their individual chants could no longer be discerned. Below, all around, the entire Ether danced to their words, formed countless lines and strange undulations.

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The Goddess . . Pontius eyes widened in anticipation. Prince Dong-Geun and his rough scar faced guard had an expression of wonder . . she is coming . .

Up from the endless plane rose hills, mountains, smooth and flowing lines washed down in intricate patterns, merging together into an enormous shape . .

Like a divine maiden rising from a pool of water . . her head, her face, her breasts . . beautiful and perfect . . the Goddess, laid on her back.

The whole Ether became her skin, pale golden waves her hair, impossible to behold at once . . vast! Too vast! They floated above her head, before them was only the vast expanse of the Goddess, her body seemingly stretching beyond infinity. No matter which way they turned to look it was the same; as if they were at the top a mountain.

Baqir and Zaynab chants lessened to a murmur, the vibrations from their voices still pulsating out and feeding into the body of the Goddess. Pontius sighed, watching them jealously for a time. If I could commune with the Goddess . . if we Alchemists could . . ah . .

"Prince Dong-Geun? If you would . . " Pontius motioned to the two from Segye Martial Court. They were both staring out dumbfounded, eyes full of wonder . . Valerius and Domitia were equally enraptured, staring out at the Goddess. She had that effect on people . . "Ahem! Prince Dong-Geun! Sung Hu! I believe it is time for the Martial Court to act, if you please." Pontius' voice shook the two from their reverie.

Dong-Geun no longer had a scowl on his face, even the scarred Sung Hu softened, his martial aura almost vanishing entirely. They couldn't take their eyes off the giant Goddess . .

A dense yellow aura emanated from the Dong-Geun and Sung Hu, concentrating around their eyes and hands. Mens . . the Logos of divination. The Martial Courts too held many secret methods, Pontius sighed in his heart once more . .

The aura of the two joined in a single point, shooting out a beam of yellow energy at the Goddess. Where it touched her a white speck appeared, like a tiny freckle on her skin. The energy pierced through, her body turning translucent . . more white dots appeared, some in clusters, all through her body more and more specks.

The second truth of the Ether was that it connected all living things, large or small. Everything alive in the universe had an immutable presence in the Ethereal plane. The Mithraic Seers methods were something that the Alchemists had never been able to replicate, not through lack of trying Pontius mused.

"Valerius, Domitia . . a glyph each, send us down." Pontius commanded.

Two glyphs were woven into existence by each of the Alchemists. They radiated a steady stream of Animus, charging the top and bottom discs and moving it through the Ether at the vast Goddess . . it took only a few moments for the disc to enter into through the skin; a shimmering membrane.

All around inside were white specks, as they travelled onwards more appeared, reacting to the yellow beams of energy. Pontius gazed out, examining the specks . . white . . white . . no reaction . . he called out, two more glyphs shot from their fingertips, the disc accelerating down.

***

"The hunt has begun . ."

On a vast plane of ash-grey grass a man with milk white skin in a silver-white body suit opened his eyes. He sat cross legged, shoulders slumped, an expression of deep sadness showing in the lines of his face.

"It is too late for regrets . . too late . . the two Celestials, are they all that remains? Too late . . El won't listen . . not to reason . . all I can do . ."

From the man rose a dozen white specks of light and several red coloured specks. With a sigh he sent the lights off into the distance through the Ether.

"The most I can do . ."

The man faded from the Ether entirely, around where he sat there was left an imprint of bright green; the ash-grey grass full of life and flowering.

***