Chapter 57: Speak into the Void

After the collision and then collapse of the Spirit gathered into Trint’s Spirit core, the void inside him felt satisfied and full all the remaining Spirit exploded out from his Spirit like an exploding star. There was a remnant of Spirit in the Temple around Trint that hadn’t been absorbed but it did not explode. The sight Trint was seeing was happening unseen by all on his Subsystem planet. As he took his focus from his Spirit body and its core, he looked around inside his Spirit. The former cage was now inside him and his Spirit looked out into a void. There were points of light in all directions, shining in the darkness.

He tried to cast his sight towards one of the lights and he felt a rapid pulling and he was yanked near the light. He found he was peering at a star. As he watched it burn and shine its light, he became aware of a planet in revolution around the star. He could sense a pull towards the planet.

“That looks like another Sun and planets. Pneuma, do you think that planet has a temple?” Trint inquired.

“I wondered when you would clue me into what happened or where your mind went,” finally Pneuma was with him. At least in voice. His form was nowhere in sight.

“Can you see this? I can’t see you,” Trint wondered what was different.

“I can see through your eyes,” Pneuma confirmed, “but I am not able to see in your Spirit Space otherwise. I too feel the pull similar to this planet’s Temples but more importantly, you feel like you’ve changed. Your power has grown more than I could have imagined without Soul. What you are doing and what you’ve become is beyond my experience. Again, you are breaking new ground.”

“Yeah, did you see what happened with my core and body and the cage?” Trint asked. But Pneuma gave no response. Trint looked around the planet. “Maybe we go here next.”

“Hello, young one,” A soft old voice spoke.

“Who speaks in this void?”

“Interesting you should call something so full, a void,” the voice posed.

“I apologize you have me at a disadvantage. Would you care for introductions?”

“Yes, manners are a luxury to some but a necessity for others. I find them more important for those below my station. So, I agree, this is appropriate. My name is not relevant, but I bear a message. You have 100 hours to make plans and say your goodbyes. At the end of that time, we will arrive in Atlas to escort you to one of our academies for young ones like yourself. You play around with concepts and powers you don’t understand. Therefore, we will treat you like a child till your actions prove otherwise. Until then I am locking your command over Spirit. I apologize for the inconvenience, but you have forced our hand. Until then rest, you will need it.

Trint was left with the silence of the void. The voice and its presence were gone. Then with a lurch, Trint felt his chest clench and he opened his eyes.

Trint opened his eyes as his body collapsed to the ground. His Spirit armor and garb retracted into his body. His human form lay weak and collapsed on the ground. Pneuma was immediately at his side.

“What happened?” Trint gasped, clutching his chest. The emptiness he felt was like a chunk of him was blocked off. Near but locked. Like a paralyzed arm. He couldn’t enter his Spirit Space or connect to Pneuma even.

“Trint, I don’t know what to make of this either,” Pneuma replied. Do you have any notifications that might explain it? I was talking to you then you were gone.”

“Yes, there are notifications. But who was that? Why 100 hours?” Trint had questions that he wasn’t sure his notifications would answer.

Trint took a few minutes to gather himself. Looking around everything was as he left it. The temple was still sealed, and they were safely inside. Trint spent the next hour explaining his experience to Pneuma. First about his changed core and Spirit. Then his encounter with the voice in the void.

“What do you think they want?” Trint worried.

“Whatever it is, I feel powerless to help. If they can lock your Spirit from you, I hate to imagine what they could do to me. I am a being of Spirit. We should be inseparable, but I feel more separate now than I ever have since we were bound.”

“Then if I must go with these forces, I want you to stay here and protect these people. Can you still control the Spirit around us?”

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“Yes, I can just as well as before. But I can’t let you go without me. If you are at their mercy, then I will be also. I don’t know what they want from you, but you cannot exist for long in the Subsystem or the System without your Spirit. I didn’t think it was possible, but I imagine you encountered a person or group that has access to Soul in the Subsystem. I don’t know how but if they can restrict Spirit like this… And how they did it across such a vast distance, I don’t know. But if they are Soul masters or something more then we don’t have any option but to comply and pray they are benevolent.

The next few days were spent hypothesizing what options they had. Nothing new presented itself but Trint’s crew of followers were busy commanding and directing Atlas and the rest of the planet. They made plans to carry on the unified planet role of leveling skills and professions. Keeping the peace and being productive were still worthwhile goals. Trint left Iliana in charge of the new council of leaders. He granted System privileges of leadership to them, and they were then able to access the Temple controls of teleportation and other access necessary to continue if he did have to leave.

As the end of the 100 hours approached, they waited in the Atlas temple. Not sure what would happen next. Screams and shouts began from outside the temple. Trint and his crew ran to the main entrance. Everyone’s attention was turned to the sky. It was as if a moon was coming to crash into the planet and it was centered over them. The moon seemed to grow as it neared. Taking up all the skies. Gravity was not changed but the celestial body continued to near the city of Atlas. The blue glow from the orb shined but distorted the view of what the surface may contain.

The approach slowed and at the exact moment the 100-hour countdown ended, a bell tolled as if the entire sphere above them rang. All on the planet were forced to their knees in fear and awe. Many had already assumed they would die, but now they knew that something controlled this thing looming over them. And that someone might not be there to help them. Trint and his people remained standing but were equally in awe. But in the silence that followed the loud bell, they all heard steady footsteps behind them.

“Hello, Mr. Henderson,” The voice came from a man. But the bright blue color of his skin couldn’t take away from the glistening shine of his talons. Instead of fingernails, there were sharp two or three-inch talons. But each finger was interlinked, and they were folded over the center of his robes. He walked with poise and purpose and his smile although filled with sharp teeth seemed predatory his eyes appeared kind.

“Hello, is now a good time for introductions? Or am I not worthy of your name?” Trint was polite but on edge.

“Apologies, you, unfortunately, spoke with another of our Protectorate. He was not happy to be disturbed. Lazy if you ask me. I on the other hand am excited to meet you and eager to see what you will become. My name is Ele’Azar. I have a longer name and many titles but for now, you can call me Ele’Azar or Mentor. That is one of my titles.”

“It seems you know my name already, but I prefer to be called Trint.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Trint. We have a lot to discuss and a long way to travel. Please collect your things and your Bond and we will be on our way.”

“May I know how long we will be gone and what you intend to do with me?” Trint politely inquired.

“To the first question, yes you may. The answer is unsatisfactory for you, I imagine. As long as it takes and what we intend is to help you.”

“What if I don’t want your help?” Trint ventured to hope he might have an option. But the view above his head indicated otherwise.

“I wish to keep this civil and polite but if you press me, I am required to use force,” Ele’Azar unclasped his hands, and with his right hand turned up towards Trint, he beckoned him to come near. Then he turned and walked back into the interior of the Temple

For a moment Trint was tempted to strike out at this polite captor but he felt his gaze drift to the all-encompassing planetary body above them. He resolved to see where fate and this person would take him.

They walked to the teleportation platform and in Ele’Azar’s direction, Trint and Pneuma joined him.

“Goodbye, and good luck,” Trint spoke to his people that had trailed them to the platform. The next moment Trint found himself on a new platform. Surrounded by blue pools of glowing liquid. Similar in shade to Ele’Azar’s skin color. In front of them was a walkway that Ele’Azar lead them down.

“There is much to explain and not long to explain it,” Ele’Azar spoke as he led them through hall after hall. The ceilings were square at roughly 20 feet in height and width. At regular intervals, they passed closed doors. “The next ruler cohort will gather and begin their training. You will be tested and likely both placed with the future rulers and leaders of our people.”

“What is the purpose of training me?” Trint asked.

“Good question, but not as immediate as what we will train you. But since you asked; we wish for balance, peace, and enlightenment. Renewed awareness of ourselves and our Souls. The System has shaped our perceptions for so long that many are unaware of anything else.”

“What else is there once the system arrives?” Trint asked.

“If there was once a time and space outside of the system, then we hope that there is also a way out of the system. Past the known True Ascension. Some of us have found the True Ascension. We can only speculate what happens when they left or where they go but we have documented many of our people Ascending beyond this place. We believe that there is more out there. You happened to be floundering in currents of Spirit in your corner of this Subsystem space. We became aware of you and rather than destroy you and allow the planet to settle, we decided to learn from you and teach you our understanding of the Soul.”

“Are you Soul Masters then? Somehow from the iterations, now here?” Pneuma interjected his guess.

“Hmm, yes, but no. Yes, in that we deal in the ways of the Soul and are masters at it. But no in that you are referring to those in the iterations,” Ele’Azar smiled a knowing smile. “I imagine I only cause you to generate more questions the longer we talk. Trust me when I say there is time. Not for us now but soon your entire devotion and commitment will be to learn and understand what it means to have and know your Soul.”