In his previous life, Tao had not thought much about religion and spiritual matters. Even after rebirth, his thoughts were mostly occupied with everyday things. Magic too seemed closer to science than to religion. But when an invisible intelligence spoke to Tao in his head, it became frightening.

The fairy tales that Sofra used to read in front of the children in the evenings came to mind. Stories of heroes who defeated monsters, evil sorcerers and demons with sword, magic and divine help. Magic and monsters were real. What about the other creatures mentioned in the book?

"What are you?" The question was repeated.

The voice was clear, unmistakably real, yet it didn't reach his mind through ears, but vibrated right inside head. And somehow managed to let him understand the meaning of the unfamiliar words.

The healer's magic was still working, at least partially. Tao didn't feel calm or happy, but at least he didn't panic at the stranger's presence. Mother held his hand, which was also somewhat comforting.

"Hi... I'm Tao," the boy decided to reply in his own thoughts.

"Tao is a name... not your essence. Your form is human, but your spirit is different... were you born human?" The alien presence changed his question.

It was strange enough to be talking to an invisible presence in one's own head. The fact that this being seemed to understand that Tao wasn't a normal human was even more disturbing.

"I was born human... And I am now. Maybe different than the others, but I believe I am human," he claimed.

"Different... yes. Young and old, strong and weak, but strength is not because of sacrifice, not a proper one... I don't understand how that's possible... but I see that you want more strength... why?" The impression was that the alien being was reaching deeper into Tao's consciousness, into his soul.

"This... why do you ask? Who are you? A ghost? Or... something else?" Tao decided to ask his own questions first.

"I am a spirit of light, born to serve the will of the Ascended Ones. I give peace to troubled hearts, courage to the fearful, strength to the weak. I have no name in the human sense. I ask because you called me, albeit in the wrong form and with a mind unprepared."

Tao's family, the other people, even the healer seemed completely ignorant of what was going on in boy’s mind. The magical light had ended, the emotional high he had received had subsided and people were once again celebrating. Sofra and Safiya went to the food tables, while Tao walked silently along, lost in his own thoughts.

"I don't know what a spirit of light is, or how to call one properly," he confessed.

So far, it didn't look like the intelligence was hostile, so Tao decided to continue the conversation to get more information.

"Indeed, you have no knowledge or understanding of the Holy Law. But your spirit power is strong, tied with your thoughts and will in one knot. This is not the way of men, but neither are you of the children of the Firstborn. I don't see the presence of the Darkness either, so you don't seem to belong to it... It's strange."

The voice in Tao's mind was hard to describe. There was no identifiable gender or distinct emotion, aside from a sort of curiosity in the last sentence.

"I... wanted to learn how to harness the spirit power, so I started training. Maybe that's why... something looks strange?" Tao made a guess.

The spirit had mentioned the word sindura in his speech, but its true meaning was spirit power, not magical energy as the boy had been thinking before.

"That's right. If the will is strong, even a mortal soul clothed in flesh can do great things. Your will is strong for a human child... Your desire for power... Why? What is in your heart?" The spirit returned to the previous question.

Tao felt he was being tested, which was not pleasant. He had managed not to reveal about memories from his previous life, so it was clear that this spirit could not read all his thoughts and memories. But there was a feeling that he would not be able to lie openly.

"I want to protect my family, this world is... full of dangers," Tao confessed honestly.

The voice in his mind didn't answer immediately, it felt like it contemplated something.

"The fear, the insecurity is in your heart... but the desire to protect those you hold dear is true. Perhaps that is enough to become who you are... who you will become, I cannot say. There is no Darkness in you, but you do not stand in the Light either."

"Is that... bad?" Tao understood the words, but their deeper meaning remained hidden.

"Bad... no... but not good either. I was born to serve the Ascended Ones, to help those who seek the Light. I and those like me will not come if you call. Your path is not yet set."

"Then… Can you teach me how to... how to call you and those like you?"

Tao felt that he might lose the opportunity to continue talking to this spirit. Despite the difficulty of understanding everything, the information he was getting seemed very important, he longed to know more, perhaps to learn how to do what the healer could do.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"No, I can't. My ministry is a blessing that gives courage and peace to a depressed heart. I answer those who call me, according to the Holy Law. Many mortals know this, including the one who called me here. Ask him to teach you." The answer was in the negative.

"I can't... he doesn't know about my... situation. I'd rather learn from a spirit," Tao tried to assure him.

The spirit seemed to be thinking about it.

"Your wish is true, but my duty lies elsewhere. I must return to answer when I am called again."

"But... you are already speaking to me. Can't you do it longer?" Tao didn’t want to give up.

"I delayed longer for you, to understand who you are. Although it is not forbidden, it is not easy for me to be in contact with a mind that is not prepared for it. Your thoughts and emotions affect me, it’s taken a lot of strength to overcome."

"Strength... you mean the spirit power?"

"Yes."

"Can I give you mine?"

Again, the spirit pondered.

"It is... possible. There are spirits that live in this Realm, drawing strength from mortals. Even now, some lesser spirits are around you, hoping to draw on your power, though its intensity prevents it... And some of my kind still form bonds with mortals."

"Then... how to do it?"

"By aligning both minds and hearts... But I won't do it."

"Why not!?"

Tao was annoyed by the spirit's way of speaking. Why did mention the possibility if he did not want to do it?

"Although I want to understand you better, you want to hide a part of yourself. There is no Darkness in you, but I don't know where your path will lead in the future. The spirits of Light can only stay with those who stand firm in the Light - with a pure heart and a clear mind."

Apparently, the spirit had realized that the Tao had not been fully honest. Moreover, it seemed that being “pure of heart” and “clear of mind” meant more than sincerity. He did not feel ready for it, but also did not want to give up on a spirit connection either.

"You said there are other spirits besides the spirits of light? Lesser spirits? Would they like to talk to me?" Tao grasped at the last straw.

"There are many spirits living in this Realm, but be careful! Spirits that do not serve the Light may not be friendly to man, even if they do not serve the Darkness. Those who are of the Darkness may hide their nature and seek to deceive, to corrupt your spirit and cast it in Darkness."

"That... sounds bad..." Tao didn't quite know what to say.

Even though these words sounded like a sermon by a religious fanatic, Tao didn't think it would be wise to ignore the warnings.

"That's right. Seek the Light and its protection. That is why the spirits of light were born to help and protect."

"Then... can you help me?"

"If you purify your heart and mind according to the Holy Law and call out, I will come. Until then... seek help from those who serve the Light."

Tao sensed that the spirit was about to say goodbye, so he tried to change the conversation in his own direction.

"Aye, I get it... but still, how do you tell the good spirits from the bad? How to find them?"

"What is good and evil is determined by belonging to the Light and the Dark. Those who do not yet belong to one or the other are not judged until the time comes."

"I wanted to know how do I find spirits that are friendly and want to talk to me?" Tao clarified, sensing that it was not easy to be patient.

"Some might be interested in understanding who you are... but I cannot vouch for their intentions, their thoughts and desires are unknown to me. I cannot help you."

"But... but you said there were spirits who sensed my spirit power? Lesser spirits?" Tao kept asking questions, trying to find out as much as he could until the last moment.

"The lesser spirits are not intelligent, they are... like the animals in your Realm. Some of them can repeat words, share memories, or take human-like form, but you will not find wisdom among them."

"Tao, are you alright? Don't you want something to eat?" The boy's mother unexpectedly asked.

"No, I... don't want to..." he responded.

The contact with the spirit seemed to grow weaker, Tao nervously tried to strengthen it again.

"Your will is strong... as is your desire for knowledge, but it is time for me to return."

"Here's a honey and fruit pie, are you sure you don't want one?" Sofra asked again, putting the plate in front of her son.

Tao took one piece to calm his mother and started to eat it slowly.

"Oh? He already knows how to take food in his hand so well? How old is the little guy?" the old woman next to him chimed in.

"Oh, just over a year and a half... he was always quick to learn." Sofra spoke with pride.

Now was not the time... Tao tried to ignore what was going on around him and return his thoughts to spirit.

"Spirit of light, help me! I want to know more about this world, how to protect myself from evil spirits and other dangers. Maybe there is some magic that can help?" The boy tried to delay the spirit a little longer.

"What you call magic is not liked by spirits. It is a disrespect for the Holy Law, an arrogance against the Ascended Ones. I see now that your mind has been in contact with these blasphemies. I should not have come to you."

Tao felt the spirit's attitude change, become colder.

"Forgive me, I don't understand... is that a bad thing?" boy ventured to question further.

"Lack of knowledge eases the guilt, but doesn't remove it completely. Nor is it my duty to explain these things to a human child. Our conversation is over." The spirit of light was inexorable.

"Uh... come on..." before Tao could think of a reply, the contact was gone.

There was no longer a foreign presence.

In the boy's mouth was a piece of pie, the taste of which he could now feel again. His mother was talking to another woman, while every now and then Safia asked her to pass something from the table, because she couldn't reach it herself. Indres was with his hunting companions, happily drinking alcohol. The grey-haired healer sat at the table with several old men and women, talking quietly. He showed not the slightest sign of suspecting a conversation between Tao and the spirit of light.

Everyone behaved normally, as befits a village party, enjoying the food, music and dancing. All except Tao.

Although an outsider might have thought that the little boy was tired, or uncomfortable in a crowd of people, he was really just trying to process in his mind what he had just experienced. In a way, it was as shocking as when he heard about his rebirth or the other world.

In this world, there were invisible, intelligent spirits - benevolent and malevolent. It took time to get used to the idea. Tao could not believe that he was able to hold a conversation with the alien intelligence in his head, instead of freezing in fear.

The boy raised his head, remembering what had been said about the lesser spirits, but he could not see or feel anything of the sort nearby. Were they really around? Even if they were harmless, it seemed strange to think about.

Although the voice called itself a spirit of light, Tao did not find it pleasant. The being undoubtedly thought quite highly of itself and tried to look into the boy's thoughts and feelings without permission. To converse with spirits was... scary.

On the other hand, this was the first proper conversation Tao had after his rebirth. Until he reached the appropriate age, the spirits were his opportunity to communicate with other intelligent beings and to obtain important information.

Maybe he shouldn't give up on this possibility completely…