Book of The Lightborn: Rise

The road forward

"If our bodies are the exterior matter, and our minds are the interior, then a soul is the bridge between the two. It allows for the mind to enforce itself onto the body through the soul, while the body reflects the soul itself. If you were to destroy the mind, the body still reflects the soul, if you were to destroy the body, the mind remains within the soul. But if you were to destroy the soul, neither can hold on by themselves. The mind will be lost and the body shattered." Kilon said, his explanation ending after he told his siblings about how the soul behaves and it's purpose. They were traveling as he told them these things. In order to not go East and confront themselves with yet other cold lands, as the Frozen Side lied further East from the Link and they didn't know how far it extended. They followed a South-East way, guided by a compass made in fashion to that of Orvus, the Link acting as the anchor point.

Kilon made them understand the importance of the soul. That they possess one, and should acknowledge it's value beyond anything else. He then explained that "Our lights. Given the Link, are also special. Creatures that roam the lands, do not possess our seemingly infinite energy. They exhaust it and replenish it through many means, usually through the consumption of other living things. The living matter is a bit different, in that it needs light, much like us, except it ages, be it slower or faster, then dies." his words right and wrong at the same time.

The Lightborn were more akin to plants than he thought, as Lightborns aged more like trees, really slowly. What Kilon also didn't know, was that there were plants, like those in the Gargantuan Forest, which lived for thousands of years, some lived even since the dawn of creation. Even so, he continued "But that much we all know. It's what the Creator also told us, that we are not like any other "Flesh Beings" as it called them. We just haven't realized what that "special" meant for us." he paused, letting them sink in his words, for what followed hit hardest "It meant that our lives can hardly find peace, no matter where we travel." the Lightborn around listened carefully, others passing the words to the back, as they traveled in a long line, rows of ten.

After his words finally reached to all of them, they started to think of what that meant. Before anyone could make any wrong assumptions though, Kilon said "It means that the energy which we possess attracts those which wish it. The prey likes to sit, sleep and eat around us. While the predators, like to consume us, get every bit of it for themselves. It's not only limited to creatures. The living matter on which we step and the "trees", as Orvus calls them, if they grow fast and aggressive enough, could engulf one of us and trap us in order to consume everything that we have."

The sinister realization suddenly washed over them. Their lights was a luxury that the other beings didn't have. Consuming their light, means prolonged, stronger and better lives for the consumer. It basically made each of them a precious resource, one which could only be consumed thanks to their bodies, imbued constantly with the light, as the light cannot be grasped by anyone, except them.

Kilon wanted them to fully understand what that meant, but there wasn't a clear approach for it. The best he could do is tell them about the beast. An example which they still couldn't fully grasp, as Kilon was the only one who saw the beast. On their way into the Whistling Valley, now called the Closed Passage, the beast's body was not found. Either the winds swiped the body out of it or dragged it along the walls until it ground it's body to nothing. Whichever it was, besides Menoel and a few other lightborn with a rich imagination, it was hard to grasp the issue at large.

"Then what is it for us to do now, brother?" Menoel finally asked after a period of silence.

"We are to find a home. We still do not know what happened to the others. I hope for the best, but since we do not know, we must make haste in finding a suitable home and establish ourselves." Kilon explained, his face looking forward, towards a horizon filled with the promise of a home and unknown lands to be seen. The mountains raising a bit higher as their journey went onward. "Then and only then, we can go look for them. Help them if needed. At worst, pray to the Creator for their souls." he continued, his eyes filled with worry and an unwavering determination to set things right for their future.