Chapter 10: Healing

The world was a deep abyss that slumbered for eternity. Not a single flicker of light was present—just the pitch-black darkness that enveloped everything in the area. 

An undetectable figure laid dormant within this world, seemingly oblivious to the vast darkness around it that appeared to have no end. The figure, however, was merely an empty husk used to preserve a wounded soul that was being soothed by the engulfing darkness. 

Silence was the reigning sovereign over this area. Not even time could intrude into this domain and as such the soul could not feel the sense of time passing by.

Without being aware of time, the soul slowly recuperated. Then the sky cracked and light radiated through, clashing against the dominant darkness of the world. 

A voice echoed through the crack, sending ripples across the realm. “So foolish, so, so very foolish.” The voice not only affected the world but caused the soul to tremble upon hearing the words. 

The light then vanished and the crack disappeared. Just like that, the world returned to its tranquil state as if nothing had occurred. But in the small window that the crack had created, it had let in a fleeting sense of time that squirmed itself into the husk. 

From that, the soul could now feel the passage of time passing by. Yet the sensation of time was obscure, the soul could not figure out the exact time, just that it was continuously moving. 

Then time passed by as the soul continued to heal. However, the soul’s grasp of time couldn’t help but birthed a new feeling within itself: weariness. The soul started to be worn down by the passage of time. Yet nothing had changed besides it’s newly discovered fatigue.  

An unknown amount of time passed by and another crack in the sky emerged, piercing through the darkness.

A voice penetrated through once more. A younger, softer voice. A voice that was filled with tender, loving care.       

“Chief… please wake up.”

Again the world quivered as the voice echoed throughout the land and the soul shuddered once more upon hearing the voice. Once the voice vanished, the crack closed up and the world returned back to normal.

This time the small crack had let in a whisk of emotions that too drilled itself into the soul’s husk. Paired with the weariness of time, its newfound emotion aroused its indignation at the sensation of helplessness that permeated deep within the inside of itself. 

The coming of Indignation fueled the desire to break free of the invisible chains that constrained the soul and its vessel. 

However, the darkness had no equal in this world, it was an absolute ruler that filled every single corner. The soul was just a speckle, a fleck of sand against the overbearing tide of darkness that knew no end. 

Yet it was just a soul that had only begun to feel the concept of time and understand the emotion of wrath. It had never learned the idea of surrender. Thus, it didn’t yield even in the face of the certainty of defeat. 

In the midst of it all, the soul began to mutate. An unfathomable metamorphosis occurred, the soul began to transmit a new light to the world of darkness. The light of evolution broke through all and every restraint, rendering the darkness powerless for a split moment in time.

Nonetheless, the light was just not meant to be in this world hence the world began to fracture apart. Numerous fissures riddled throughout the realm, carrying a suction force that wanted to take the light and the soul away from this desolate sterile world. 

The soul had only received the gift of emotions and had yet truly grasped everything it had been bestowed with yet. But then deep within itself, its instinct kicked in. While still clueless, an itching urge rose up within it to reach out to the world’s cracks. 

Following its basic instincts, the soul began to stretch and pull. Yet no matter what it tried to do, the husk it resided in wouldn’t budge. A wave of disappointment washed over it and then came the fuming fire of fury flared up immediately after. 

The influx of emotions only strengthened its resolve to break free as they became nourishment for its budding desires. 

A string of luminous lines soared through the world’s fissures, illuminating a pathway wherever it went. 

The glowing lines then directed itself into the husk that was entrapping the soul, piercing through it and merging together with the spirit. Another metamorphosis occurred with the fusion of the two and the soul gained something that was as valuable as the gift of emotion, the blessing of wisdom.

It began to think and ruminate over everything that had happened. From the endless darkness to the voice that pierced through the cracks to bestow on it these gifts. 

Along with these thoughts, the spirit’s long-forgotten memories resurfaced from under the depth of time. It remembered that the husk wasn’t a jail nor was it a restraint. The husk was simply a tool for it to interact with the world. 

Soon after the stream of memories came flowing in, the soul started to control the husk—setting off a chain explosion of crackling pops that spread throughout the husk's rigged form.    

The husk’s eyelids rose up and two beams of light shot through as the soul continued to swim in the never-ending ocean of wisdom. Its sense of self solidified with the soul’s identity began to surface up. 

After all this time, the fundamental truth had dawned upon the soul. It saw through the fabric of reality that was this darkness realm and it realised who it truly was. There were no more restraints, deceits or waiting left. 

Only clarity remained. 

In a swift motion, the husk ascended into the air, taking the soul with it. Following the pathway that was the trail of wisdom, it entered into the cracks that were brimmed full of light.  

Like a piece of glass, the world of darkness shattered apart.

***

Jolted awake from his long slumber, Polius sat upright from his bed while covered in a cold sweat. 

Everything before was a dream. 

Although in his last moments of the dream, he had gained clarity—right now—his mind was a muddy mess and his heart was a mad lion that roared with ferocity. An aching pounding in mind took away any sense of clarity that he could have had.

A strange shock ran through his body as he could feel the numbness of it all. He stretched out his arms but was met with a sense of unfamiliarity. Then a question rose up within his mind, How long have I been asleep?

Polius turned his head to look around to find an answer yet there was no one around. Only the beaming sunlight that sneaked through the window’s blind greeted his effort in seeking for the truth. 

It was still morning. His anxiety couldn’t help but manifest in the form of a dagger and point itself against Polius’ heart. There were just too many questions that came from his long slumber. 

Polius focused his senses to his ears, trying to pick up any noises. From through the window, he could hear the quiet yet distinct playful yelling of the village’s children. 

Hearing their laughter and screams, the knife in Polius' heart dissipated as a wave of relief washed over his mind—calming down his thunderous heartbeats. 

The village was still safe, a thought echoed throughout his mind. 

Polius then focused his senses back to his ears once again, in an attempt to find out more of the truth. 

Instead of focusing his hearing towards the window, he instead focused it in the direction of the door. His effort was fruitless as the door was just too far away.  

Polius then concentrated his mind towards his body. From within himself, he could feel the astral energy streams that laid dormant. 

He controlled a wisp of astral energy and channelled it into his ears. Then from behind the door, he could hear the subtle sound of footsteps. 

It was a very soft footstep that little by little got louder yet it was still imperceptible to the normal human ear. 

***

The room’s door gradually crept open, revealing the face behind it. 

A pale complexion with murky eyes that carried an undisguisable worry. Dressed in a simple clean dress, her green long hair was tied into a small bun. It was Lydia who was behind the door.

The second her sight landed onto Polius, her eyes widened up and the murky fog that had run amok previously had disappeared immediately. 

She even dropped the warm soaked cloth in her hand from the surprise yet she paid no attention as an overwhelming sense of elation rose up within her. 

“Chief!” she shouted.

Their eyes met and neither of them turned their face away. After seconds had passed, Lydia came back to her sense as a pink rose colour flushed her face. Her temperature also soared as her ears reddened. 

She broke the eye contact, lowering her head.  

“Chief…” Lydia muttered. “You are awake, that’s good. That’s good.” 

Polius continued to stare at Lydia and slowly nodded. He turned his sight away and gazed at the window, trying to peek at the outside world. Yet all he could see from his angle was the serene blue sky which helped pacify his aching poundings. 

Lydia’s appearance only further consolidated the answers that he had established. Thus, wiping away the urgency that had walled up his mind and giving him room to breathe.

“What happened?” Polius asked.

Lydia hearing his question didn’t answer immediately but rather recalled everything that had occurred. 

Polius seeing her behaviour did not lash out but rather waited for her to respond. 

“I wasn’t able to witness the battle that had occurred. Rather the elders had directed me to gather into the storehouse where they said it was safe. We were only left out after the bees had fled.” Lydia slowly recalled.

Polius nodded at her words, signalling her to continue. 

“Chief… you’ve been asleep for three days now.” 

“Three days? How… could that be?” Polius questioned. 

He thought back to the dream he had, the everlasting darkness. It’s already been three days… 

“Hah, of course, it’s been three days. You should be happy you brat. What were you thinking when you tried to assimilate with the Astral Spirit by yourself? So foolish.” A barrage of scoldings was launched at Polius from behind Lydia. 

The sudden voice took both Polius and Lydia by surprise. Lydia jumped up from her spot and turned around to stare at the figure behind her. 

Empedocles stood there with his hands together behind his back. His eyes radiated a sharp glint that was sharp enough to cut Polius in half. 

Polius sighed as he could feel the oncoming storm that was Empedocles' fury.