Chapter 353: Zach

Chapter 353: Zach

The Fort

Zach spent the trip putting in memories inside his band, trying to glimpse at the secrets of the Mind Essence. He knew that it could imitate all other Essence, except that it wasnt able to have any influence on the real world. Its domain was inside the mind, the brain, or whatever it was that held thoughts of the living things. He was starting to think that it was in fact the soul, as he had learned from Okimwhen he answered his question on what he was doingthat some people in this world didnt even have brains, they werent made up of the same types of Essence.

Following that, it occurred to him that thoughts actually came from the soul. It did make sense in a way; his spirits were just souls after all. They didnt have real bodies, but they could still think. That would mean that he would have to try and figure out the connection between the two before he could make any real progress.

He wasnt discouraged by this, on the contrary, it made him excited. He had a real avenue of research that could help him understand both the Soul and Mind Essences.

It is interesting, Ravallim said. Ive never delved that deeply into the mind. But I see a lot of it deals with change, from my perspective at least.

Change? Zach remembered that Master of Change was one of Ravallims titles.

Yes, change. That was my domain, life and death, winter and spring, all that encompassed change.

You never said how you used power on your world.

Ravallim didnt respond immediately. It was through study, through understanding of the natural laws. And it was through the power of will.

It didnt surprise Zach that what he was hearing made sense to him. All of reality was Iterations built on Iterations, it was clear to him. This world was built on things that had existed before.

My first domains were Winter and Spring, the time of birth and the time of slumber. It was so long ago that I scarcely remember.

What could you do with your power? How did it work?

You build an inner realm, in your mind, and then you force the world around you to accept it. You give a piece of yourself to give your vision power, and your will makes it so. I dont know much about what happened when the Framework arrived, I know that the way we used power changed, or was made easier. We did not get to see from the place where our souls were kept, but we spoke with those that came after. All that I know of the Framework is from them.

Were you in an afterlife?

You can think of it like that, though it wasnt anything as fine as what you are probably imagining. We were disembodied souls, floating in an endless scape. It was a blur, with only moments of clarity. Yet, we were still unchanging, in a semi-stasis of some kind.

Zach was interested in hearing more, wondering just how close his experience was to that of those souls. Time couldnt be compared, of course, yet he would like to hear Ravallims thoughts on it. Still, it was a hard topic to breach, for now at least. So he changed the conversation to something else that he had been interested in.

Do you know of anyone with the name Raazel Equinar?

That name is familiar to me, yes. The question is, how do you know it?

I I believe that I encountered him in the past. I cant remember it, it happened so long ago. But he was important enough that I carved his name in my memory. Raazel Equinar, yeti, untrustworthy, enemy.

I know stories, I did not live at the same time he did. But some of those that arrived after spoke of him. He was hailed as the greatest of our kind, a Runesmith who bound an entire world. I cant tell you anything about his power, he lived in the time of the Framework, and I dont know how that changed things. What I know is that my people eventually turned against him because he wished to defy the Dealmaker. I cant say that I agree with them, but then again, my perspective was different.

Your names, they start the same way. Is that just a coincidence, or?

Bera shook her head quickly. No, no, they just moved on. Our faction no longer holds the same prestige and influence it once did. Nor can we support them in the way that we used to. They joined those who could offer them more. It gladdens me that the two of you have remained true.

If he was being honest, it wasnt because they had thought about it too much. Zach wanted to protect people, and the wardens did that. That they were no longer able to do that was unfortunate. Perhaps they wouldve left, if they had the time to think about it more seriously.

Tell me, Bera started. What has happened since we spoke last?

Zach exchanged a look with Naha. They had already agreed on telling her everything, partly because she was the leader of their faction and partly because they were about to ask her to go to war. It only seemed fair.

Naha was the one who told the story, as Zach didnt remember parts of it.

By the time she finished, Beras expression turned softer.

I am sorry that happened to you, she told him.

Zach shrugged. It gave me power, without it, we wouldve all died fighting Hastur.

There is often a price, for power such as you now have Would you be willing to record your screens? For the records? Unless you plan on leaving the factions? She asked slowly.

Naha had told him that the wardens recorded them for their members. It was supposed to be confidential, with only a few people having access.

I will give it a bit more time before I decide. I know why I joined your faction, but I dont remember. I need to make my own mind about it, Zach paused, then continued. You cant read them?

She shook her head. I have insight into how powerful you are, which is very powerful. You are near the top of everyone who had ever been in my presence, she glanced at Naha. And you arent that far away either.

Well, Naha started slowly. We are here actually to bring you a message.

A message?

And a request, Zach added.

And who would this message and request be from?

Zach pulled out an envelope, beautiful painted in red and black, with gold threads falling from the sides. The wax seal was of a three pronged mountain peak. A message from the Sects, Zach said, looking at her confused look. It was obvious that she recognized the seal. Slowly, she reached out and took the letter.

Before she could open it, Zach spoke. They ask that the Wardens join their war.

She frowned. A war? She met his eyes with a frown. A war on who?

The taken.

Her expression froze and her mouth opened. And then, slowly she opened the letter and started reading.