Page 60 of The Last Guardian

Then he walked away, and the tent flap fell closed behind him.

“I’M NOT SHARING a part of my soul with him!” I argued, pacing around the table. “Or with anyone else, for that matter.”

The sound of pages turning faded as Arystan leaned closer, reading aloud one of the commandments of the Rite of Initiation. “It is not a dangerous rite, dear one,” clarified the old wizard in a raspy voice. “Initiation is a rite of passage, not of command.”

Biting my nails, my feet moving in rhythm with my pulsing heart, I tried to calm my swirling thoughts as I glanced at Arystan.

Sympathy crossed his face as he whispered gently, “Come read the text with me, Alyana.”

I stopped my pacing in front of the book, sitting next to Arystan. My chest rose and fell with panic, as if the sacred text spread on the table was announcing my demise.

The yellow pages of the volume, worn by time, were slightly cracking at the edges. The ink of the elegant handwriting sometimes lost its legibility on the sheet, with some letters almost erased.

THE RITE OF INITIATION

By Oralys Caelus of the

Primary Archives of the Celestium

FIFTH EDITION.

An observation and analysis of the Rite, informed by centuries of scholarship. It is evident that the Rite is neither simple nor uniform; it is a highly personal and sacred process, shaped by the Initiate’s soul.

PART I: The Initiation

Initiation is a rite of passage, not of command. A Master is necessary to assist the descent into the Void and guide the Initiate through their transition to their anchor and activation. The Master facilitates the process by giving a fragment of their own soul. This fragment enables communication between spirit and mind and serves as guidance and stabilization during the descent. It’s an act of devotion and trust; each shared fragment is protected and cannot be used for manipulation.

The Initiation will send the Initiate into the Void—the realm in which the soul is laid bare during the Rite and the medium through which the Anchor may be accessible.

“Why do I need a Master to do this then?” I sighed. My voice couldn’t hide the exhaustion anymore.

“They guide the Initiate through the Void to access their Anchor—in doing so, it’s needed for the Initiate and the Master to communicate inside the psyche state. It is why you are sharing a fragment of your souls.”

“I prefer to avoid sharing anything with the commander,” I attested, shaking my head.

The old wizard closed the book in front of him and said, “Having a powerful Master is beneficial for the Initiate. And mostly, he’s the only one around to help you with it.”

“You are the third person to tell me that, and I still don’t know why only he can do it!” I scoffed. “Who are the others?”

“The Oralys,” Arystan said. “But it seems that the commander had training for mastering this rite when he was younger. I’m afraid I don’t know much about the commander’s past training; it’s probably due to his strange power.”

Returning to my seat to face the wizard, I asked, “Strange power? What is it?”

“Well, it’s a thing that is not mine to share, I’m afraid.” Arystan smiled softly.

A wave of disappointment washed over me, but instead, I asked Arystan, “What’s an Oralys?”

“Oh, the workers of the gods,” Arystan explained. “They are the ones who controlled the Celestium and watched over the peace of the civilization in Keraneeth.”

“Like a priest?”

“Yes, in some sort,” Arystan said. Then he opened the book again and resumed his explanation of the rite. “The Master will guide you through the Void, the Mirror of the Mind.”

“The Void?” I frowned.

Arystan eyed the text once more, pointing out the next part.

PART II: The Void - The Essence of the Soul