Sometimes there are worlds with too many souls. Sometimes there are worlds with not enough souls. In the first case it is because of over production of soul essence, drastic drop of population, or inherited souls from a different world. While the lack of souls usually is from a lull in production or an unforeseen population boom.
This was the basic explanation given to everyone gathered here in this endless space. There must be thousands. We are all going to a new world because they are running low on souls. They are experiencing a population increase that the production side cannot keep up with. Apparently, this causes losses in pregnant people, which is discouraging for a medically progressing civilization.
The world asked Earth_7583, my current world, to transfer souls. My world has plenty to spare with only 4 billion people living on the two moons from the once 5 billion 100 years ago. Many of the souls sit and wait years to be reborn as the population has been declining on the Earths’ surface as well. Of course, this is just my rough estimations. Most children aren’t taught population statistics. I hear things though and see things.
I overhear some people whispering. They are a group of three, a tall boy with black hair looking near 20 years old was speaking. He was softly flickering between transparent and solid. He spoke with a girl looking 30 with dark skin, and brown hair. She flickered though, between tall and short. The final person in their group was a very short boy near 10. He was not stable in his looks; he must not have many lives. In this space you look like the average you. Your age is the average age you have lived to, your eyes the average colour you have had and so on. To be that unstable he must not have lived that much, no real average.
I am pulled from my thoughts by tall boys’ words. “What is that eight-year-old doing here? I get why this boy is here. He has had a few lives, and high potential for magic.”
He came closer to me eyeing me up and down making others draw near. He speaks again almost like he is thinking aloud. “She is completely solid looking, and stable. Eight years old, brown hair with blonde streaks, green eyes and pale. This is a rare look, and she has had many lives somehow coming to this rare look often. OR. She has only lived onetime”
The girl spoke up next “We were told there are no souls are here who have lived less than 3 times. We were picked because we have lived many lives, or due to our potential in magic. So how can she be here?”
I knew this could happen when the Gods said they would have to send me here first before coming to grab me. I happen to have a great relationship with the Gods of Earth_7583.
“Does this explain it?” I ask as I show my life counter. In this space there are two panels that can be shown. Ones’ status screen, and a life counter. The status screen of this world only records name, age, and life journal. The life counter shows how many lives you lived, mine shows a number over 2 billion. Now the average soul beaks down between 300,000 - 700, 000, 000. Sure, some live more some live less. At least in this world that is about 17 billion years old. It could be older, I never cared to ask. It never seemed important.
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They all look shocked. In this space we usually have the capacity to remember our other lives in their entirety. Once reborn it is rare to remember previous lives while living in the mortal world. The issue is the more lives you have lived the more you have to remember. It can be a strain on the soul, even more so on a physical body. The few who have the aptitude to remember their lives in a mortal body break down faster. Souls break down and need to be repurposed, or fully cleaned because of the strain of remembering everything.
Except me, who must suffer each life with memories from all my other ones. They are not clear though. Too many memories to properly remember everything, at least when I am in my human body. In this space I can remember more, but still not everything. I still can’t remember anything but blurry vision from before I came to this world. It usually makes me sick for a few ticks as well as there are just so many. Therefore, I am currently laying on my back on the floor.
“That, how is that possible? That old man over there has only lived 800,000 lives!” The tall boy points at a man that looks to be 80 years old. He must have lived many long lives. It appears he is one of the oldest souls as well. He gives me a warm smile with a shaky wave of his hand.
“Please leave me alone, I am experiencing memory sickness still” I explain through gritted teeth. Closing my eyes, I breath in trying to calm my mind.
I feel my body being lifted; I fear for a second the tall boy is to explain. However, I soon recognize the chest I am pressed into as my head rests on a broad shoulder. This is the God of Fertility. He is a strong handsome man; his hair is a deep green. His eyes a blue. Not many features of the Gods come through, as they are a bit shiny or misty.
Apparently in this world the God of Fertility was created by the God of Nature. Many worlds have a team of Gods, either assigned by the council, or wondered to. Some have naturally born Gods, usually after other Gods have already come to the world. The Gods born to worlds before other Gods come are rare finds apparently. These Gods have absolute claim over their worlds, as they create them.
“Leave this child alone, you should be lining up with everyone else, no?” The God holding me sees all children as his children. This is why his words come softly with a bit of anger in them. His words always make me feel better.
“Y-yes sir!” I can hear the tall boy and everyone else quickly walk away.
From my perch in the Gods’ of Fertility arms I can see countless souls lining up ready to walk across a bridge. The bridge was here when we got here however, I heard many people trying to get close and being pushed back by an invisible wall.
Other Gods were guiding people to line up in front of the bridge. I was carried to the front. Fertility was appointed alongside, Sun, Hope, and Love to lead the souls to the new world. Caution, War, and Seas were apparently in the back to ensure everyone crossed.
In the arms of Fertility, I begin the journey to a new world. I am hopeful as are the Gods taking me, that my luck would be better. Could I really live happily? It was obvious happy lives were rare for me, as even after 2 billion lives my average age was just 8.
We move slowly over oceans of stars, moons, and planets. It seems quick and slow at the same time. I am very nervous. After some time, Fertility spoke in a loud voice.
“Everyone we will be taking a rest here as to not damage you” In a soft voice he leaned close to my ear. “Close your eyes, I will wake you when we begin to move again. You are too curious for your own good”
“I know I am, but how could I miss this once in a lifetime view?” I snickered as the Gods near shake their heads. I fall into a deep sleep. When I wake up, we continue.