The Thought Keepers: Ability

Chapter 32: Oh Brother

The other side of the mural was a hallway, to my surprise. I expected to enter Forum right away, the way I had fallen through the clouds into Midnight District. But instead, an extra layer of security kept us from reaching Forum's capitol. It felt like we were still inside the maze of bedrooms that was the Mystic Castra, when in fact, we had passed through the portal into Forum already.

Jack took a set of crystal keys from his pocket, fiddling around to find the right one. He stopped outside of a door, where a line of white light hinted at the brilliant space beyond. He fit a clear quartz key into the lock before twisting open the door.

I expected to see cloudy skies, gray buildings and white-stone streets. Instead, the sky was bright azure, as if it were made from pure topaz. The clouds were light and wispy, sprinkled here and there instead of covering the area like a foggy blanket.

I thought that Common District would be all gray and industrial, with no hint of nature in sight. Instead, the grassy hills we stepped into were bountiful, and trees lined the valleys
on both sides, forming a path straight towards the distant city.

Common District glimmered like a cluster of crystals freshly unearthed from volcanic rock. The gleaming white buildings radiated enough light to fill a dark sea, towering above all like monuments to ancient gods. I squinted, struck by the sheer magnitude of that rapturous energy, reaching us all the way across the hilltops. 

At the city's center like a promise, a pure crystal tower stood tall above the others, crafted to a sharp point at the top, like a prism reflecting back the natural light of the sky. 

I looked up, wondering where that natural light came from, because there was no sun here. It was like the very sky itself was light, as if it produced its own color and its own weather without any celestial help. Much like the pure darkness of Tenebris that conjured up shadow from nothing, Forum created brilliance from its very essence. 

"We will be teleporting to the venue from here, after receiving clearance from the organizers of the ceremony. Please be patient while we give them a call," Jack explained, motioning for Daniel to contact the Council members as he spoke. 

He dug into his pocket once more, pulling out a small clear crystal point, one that greatly resembled the Axis Mundi building in the city. Jack had us hover around the small crysral,  waiting for Daniel to finish his call. Apparently he got the approval, because he came jogging back over to us within a minute. 

Carson tugged on my hand slightly, making me realize he had been calling my name. When I looked at him, he smiled reassuringly. To anyone else it might have been strange given the situation, but to me, it was a relief to see a facial expression other than pity or sorrow. 

Do you want to leave? I can take you back. 

I shook my head. I knew he was worried, but there was nothing I could say to him. I was barely keeping it together myself. 

He nodded, never letting go of my hand once. He hadn't since we stepped into Common District together, and neither had I. It felt very natural to keep holding onto him, so I did just that. 

"Please concentrate on this crystal, focus your thoughts and imagine entering the Axis Mundi building. We will depart as soon as everyone is on the same mental frequency."

I had no idea what the Axis Mundi would be like, since I had never been there. But I imagined it to be beautiful, like a hall of clear ice at the center of a wintry castle. Light would stream in from above, reflecting colorful patterns onto the walls as people gathered together. The music would be as light and airy as their surroundings, gentle strings playing as guests danced. In my mind, the Axis Mundi was the picture of serenity.