Chapter 24

The High Reliquary /// Suplicant Ki'ir

The High Reliquary was by all accounts, the spiritual beating heart of the Empire. Adorned under the shadow of the imperial palace it was by no short measure any less extravagant. Huge spiraling pillars dotting the skies, hovering with electromagnetic pulses keeping the massive spires aloft, the main building looked like an eccentric coral growth over what the building was previously.

Inside the cool blueish green hues, adorned the massive entry hall built like an ancient coral cave their ancestors inhabited. Stretching out across thousands of pous designs for the worship of the faithful. Leading towards the head where a raised podium where the orator would preach to those who needed or wanted to hear the wisdom of the currents.

Past the oval raised platform entered dozens of intersecting hallways and corridors each adorned with ever flapping silk sheets adorned with the stories of the ancient histories. Congregations would come in and sit and listen gazing at the flowing tapestries as they emphasized the points of the orator.

This was the place, were the tides of all existence were able to make there presence known, and more specifically translated by those chosen by their glorious revelations. The selected Orators of this divine will, were considered prophets by the first, and enjoyed for the most extent a life of luxury and relative peace. Excluded from the infighting of the imperial authority. While offering guidance or perspective on relevant matters they never had any real risk in their advice or solutions, because if and when their plans failed, it never fell back onto the Reliquary or the supplicants therein.

Ki’ir had been a Supplicant for most of her life, she found her way amongst the currents of life early, and found she had an attunement to it. Her family were highborn, but were not wealthy enough to be given a star so she like many other lesser nobles lived her life amongst the roiling tides and endless storms of their homeworld. Today she was leading the other acolytes in prayers and reflections. It wouldn't be her first teaching, but it wasn't one of her favorite duties. Some would panic, some would cry out in joy, but for the rest, they would fail. This task they were about to struggle with was one that completely separated those who could commune with the current and those that couldn't.

The storm raged against the coral like spires outside causing an echoing reverberation down into the reflection pools, where the class was entering. Ki’ir looked around making a mental note of the few students who seemed to be conscious of their Djikit and were actively controlling it, she had hope for these few. One young female even reminded her of herself at that age.

“You are all chosen amongst the first, selected by the great current not just as its witness, but as its voice. Today we will try diving into the current so you can be truly immersed in such revelation.” Ki’ir said letting her ceremonial dress touch and be carried by the waters churning in the fashion of a current.

Her collected students at her bequest made their way towards the rippling waters, and allowed themselves to be taken aloft. Some needing a few more words of guidance while others found their ways to a natural resting state.

“You may feel yourself drift between this realm and the one the current resides in, if you do follow it let it take you….however if you feel the urge to sleep i'd recommend against that for any undue distractions will be met by attunements of effort.” looking around at the grouped students she could see a few had already lost themselves after only a few minutes of positioning themselves across the waters edges. Those that she was having to personally guide she had little hope for but the current doesn't always make the obvious known to all. After several long minutes of instructions and guidance to the newest acolytes all seemed to be finding their stride drifting off into the currents of divine will. She had taken note of a few exceptional students, but was disappointed as one of them rose from the waters.

“Uh mistress, i… i think something is wrong”

Her Djikit was coloured by fear and terror. Plus a level of uncertainty. Ki’ir tilted her head unsure, this student seemed to hold her conviction even under her practiced scrutiny. This issue was compounded by the sudden lurching and fleeing of over a dozen students. Bursting from the pool like they were being chased by some deranged predator. Ki’ir’s maternal instincts kicked in and she began to shepard as many of her chosen family out of the pools as she could.The fledgling seers darted from the pool fear wreaking across each of their auras. Turning her attention back to the pool, she saw a pods worth of students still in the pool. Unmoving. She cursed her luck as she dove into the pool, she wasn't sure what was going on, whatever this was it was enough to traumatize her existing students… she had to try to pull the remaining half dozen or so from the current, by force if needed. As she dove in her astral form slipping from her physical one like a normal entity would discard clothing, she dashed down into what should have been a titanic force pulling her forward. Her immaterial eyes scanned the void before her, searching for her students assigned to her care. Her instincts told her she was in terrible awful danger. She could not let these thoughts derail her quest, and yet, something was amiss. Every fiber of her being was telling her as such.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

She couldn’t place it, the current was still… it was unnatural, and immaculate. A perfect state of nothingness. She could feel herself sinking further and further. It was impossible, these were the waters of life, of the connection all living things share amongst each other. For these tempered hallowed waters to be still… would be the end of all life everywhere. This was beyond reason, but she had traveled these now still currents for so long, she didn't even hesitate; she steadied her aura and plunged at full speed down into the growing darkness.

Outside the tranquility pool stirred not in the constant calming currents but a still swirl had begun, spinning those few still floating in its waters like spinning tops. Two of the acolytes had run off seeking their seniors, while the rest waited patiently unsure of what to do. Whispers began to be heard “has this ever happened before?” “how should i know?” “what do we do?” As confusion and uncertainty spread like a mental plague their auras becoming ever more unsteady, only one the female who originally noticed how dangerous the current felt had the senses to leave the tranquility room, and she began to run. As fast as she could outside. She couldn't explain it yet, but her entire body felt like it was being burnt with her still alive. She dashed down the curving pathways down the spire into the main building exploding out into the main congregation hall. Dashing past the onlookers who all starred and made their own comments, she felt like some great predator was beating at her heels, and she knew if she turned around it wouldn’t hesitate to strike. Darting forward propelling herself with her own psionic powers she exploded forward trying to leave through the front archway. Her momentum carried her forward but from behind her she could feel it, like a pressure building inside a beating heart, getting ready to burst forward. This thought distracted her for only a moment but it was enough. one of the white clad temple guards had reached out with his own Aura and ripped her from her propelled destination, pinning her to the ground. “No let me go…let me GO!” she screamed into the inhabited hallway only now hearing how much of a ruckus had occurred at her sudden appearance. An Orator standing at his podium far on the other side made his presence known by letting a calming aura soothingly rock against those gathered for his sermon and said “peace child, this is a place of calm contemplation and guidance. Now relax and explain yourself.”

She didn't have time for this and threw herself against the temple guard pinning her to the ground.

Back in the current, Ki’ir couldn't explain what this was, a sensation both freezing cold and burning hot. There was something…. A buzzing? No that wasn't right, but a noise of some kind echoing throughout the darkness. She propelled forward, her curiosity turning warping into an obsession a panicked manic need to KNOW. she almost didnt even register that something was with her, just beyond what she could sense. There was a massive black shape encircling her, or maybe it was more than one…. She couldn't stop to think about that despite the danger and plunged deeper. As she did she saw a shape barely fade into view before disappearing outside her sensory range again, it was keeping pace with her.

Back in the tranquility pool, the crystal blue waters continued to spin those inside the class outside watched as those students who couldn't leave earlier convulsed their fibrous tentacles flailing as they spun and twisted in the water, their aura their Djikit changing and warping. Pain and fear watches across their psionic presences. The group of collected acolytes backed away unsure what to do, at this point the sounds of alarm could be heard echoing down as the senior clergy had been alerted. But the group of assembled witnesses had little hope as one of their brethren twisted around and around splashing frantically in the waters. Their Qwoo began to swell, pulsing over with each heartbeat growing larger before the soft flesh began to tear then….pop. a sickening hissing sound could be heard as the acolyte in question burst gore and ichor staining all corners of the room. The remaining Acolytes screaming in fear, darted from the room in a panic, slamming with psionically propelled force into their senior clergy who were almost within range to help. Yet it was already too late. The blood from the unfortunate novice was already turning an inky black.

Back in the deep, Ki’ir could swear she could hear a scream being cut short by snapping jaws. Turning in the direction of the sound all she saw was the same as before, nothing but calm darkness. Like a deep heavy blanket seated over the great current. Her mind raced under the possibilities of what was going on, even as her quest loomed before her ever deeper.