Page 61 of The Last Guardian

The Void is the realm in which the soul is laid bare during the Rite of Initiation—a state of consciousness beyond the bounds of ordinary perception. The Master, through their own Anchor, pushes the Initiate through their Void. The Initiate is separated from reality and immersed in the essence of their own being.

It is a mirror, a crucible, and a conduit all at once, provoking the Initiate to test their mind through ordeals.

CAUTION: The porthole to access the Anchor can be deceptive. False portals are common within the Void: illusions, memories, and desires that may distract the Initiate. To master the Void, the Initiate needs to find access to their Anchor and activate the three Thresholds.

“If I understand correctly,” I said, lifting my fingers to the base of my nose, “the Master pushes the Initiate into the Void, and from there, they need to find the Anchor?”

“Exactly,” Arystan nodded. His fingers played with the tip of his beard. “The Void has many windows, where you can fall into dreams or memories. The Void tests to see if the mind is able to find a way out, to access the Anchor.”

My eyes drifted to the third section of the book:

PART III: The Anchor - The Core of the Soul

The Anchor lies at the heart of a being’s soul’s essence. A convergence of mind, body, and will. A sacred and guarded place that remains dormant without the Rite of Initiation.

If the Anchor is not activated during a person’s life, they are deemed incapable of fulfilling their needs, whether for soul awakening or for the stability associated with magical powers. The Anchor is a place of rest and peace for the Initiate.

The paragraph died, the ink erased by time, as if too many eyes had read this part over thousands of years. Arystan turned the pages, welcoming me to read the rest, but something stopped me in my reading.

“I don’t understand,” I said, my thoughts racing as I scrubbed my temples. “Why access the Anchor if it’s the Void that can help me find my memories?”

Arystan’s fingers pinched the pages, turning a couple before stopping at the one named “The Thresholds - The Pillars of the Soul.”

“What’s a Threshold?” My brow furrowed as I held my eyes on him.

“Memories flow in the Void, but they are also mixed with windows as nightmares, fears, dreams, and desires,” Arystan explained. “You need to master the Void to access your memories freely.”

His wrinkled fingers touched the edge of the table as he continued, “The Thresholds permit you to awaken the Anchor. Three unique pillars representing you: a past self, a present self, and a fated self.”

PART IV: The Thresholds - The Pillars of the Soul

Full awakening of the Anchor requires traversal of three Thresholds of the soul. A Threshold is a point of confrontation with every self: past, present, and fated, wherein the Initiate encounters that which is unacknowledged, unresolved, or denied.

My eyes analyzed the text, and without the answer to my question, I asked, “How can the Initiate find them?”

“Each Threshold is unique,” Arystan explained. “The Master can help to find the focus, but only the Initiate is drawn to the Threshold. Keep in mind that every Initiation is unique.” Arystan closed the book with care, folding a chain around the leather-bound cover. “I have a summary of the sacred text if you need to study it tonight.”

Lifting his hand, his thumb and index forming an L, one of his runes gleamed in a crimson hue on his skin, and with a thud, a piece of paper appeared.

“There.” Arystan offered me the paper.

I took a look at the text, going over the different stages of the ritual that we had read together as Arystan gathered his books.

He stopped in his tracks, tilting his head. The wizard blinked at me. “May I ask the reason why you need to perform the Rite of Initiation, dear one?” Arystan asked carefully.

I bit my lip, not ready to talk about it in detail.

“Well, I have some sort of memory loss linked to my childhood,” I lied. “The commander told me this could help.”

“It is, in fact, plausible,” Arystan confirmed. “The Initiation is a rite for awakening power for the magical being, but it’s also highly effective to reflect the memories.” And, then he quoted: “The Anchor lies at the heart of a being’s soul’s essence—a convergence of mind, body, and will.”

Arystan took his book as he made his way to the exit.

“So it is true? I can… recover my old memories?” I asked, stopping him mid-step.

The old wizard turned his head; his eyes softened as they met mine. “Once you access your Anchor and follow the different steps of the rite, yes. It can take time, but it is likely the best way to find them. And I think,” Arystan added, hope filling his voice, “The commander will be your best ally in recovering them as quickly as possible.”

AS SOON AS the first rays of sunlight rose the next day, I set off in search of the commander. I made my way in the direction of the camp, entering its narrow, sandy passageway.