Soul Eyes

CHAPTER THREE- KEEPER TRIAL

Jaysa's fall was halted as soon as it had began. Now, she floated in darkness besides the blue speck of the temple above her.

Who has he sent now?

Another failure, he will never find a Keeper. We will be here for eternity.

Stop complaining! She's awake! Look!

Jaysa turned her head from side to side in search of the voices but only blackness met her vision. The voices were coming from all around and her senses were very confused.

"Stop playing games," Jaysa called out. "Get that damn cleric and tell him to let me out of here."

Aha! I like her!

Most are crying by now. Let's ask her a question.

What is your name?

"If you're who I think you are, then you already know that right?" Jaysa retorted, angered by her lack of control here. "And would you let me stand?"

The voices melded together and demonically shouted, "What is your name?"

Jaysa shuddered, her thoughts confirmed. Somehow, some way, the Ethereals were real and she was in the middle of them. How they were here was another question. Jaysa had read about them. They had been banished to their home plane by the creation of the Void Field eons ago. Their story had turned to myth as the years passed. And now, here she was conversing with them.

"How are you here?" Jaysa inquired. "You were banished."

We are here and not here child.

Masters before Klea created this space by sacrificing themselves and pouring all of their power into making a communication link. We are in our own land. Think of it like a phone, I've been learning about those.

Hush Mar! She has passed nothing, stop giving out our secrets!

"Passed what! Tell me where I am! What is going on?" Jaysa attempted to sit up in the air but she found her body was bound where and how it floated. She threw her head back in exasperation.

Master Klea believes you to be a Keeper. Just like the last one. And the one before that.

"He said as much before sending me down here. You're gonna have to do better than that," Jaysa quipped, her temper rising. "And let me down!"

I say we fail her here, she's yet to tell us even her name.

We know her name.

It's the principle though Mar.

Jaysa was becoming more and more irate and finally shouted at the top of her lungs, "Klea, get me the hell out of here! I want nothing to do with your little puppet show!"

PUPPET!?

She called us puppets! The nerve!

Laughter from Mar ensued.

It's not funny Mar! How can you be laughing?

Oh lighten up Boral, this is great! We haven't had one come with such a snarky attitude. Give her a chance.

As you are so enticed by her personality, Mar, you shall be the one to set the trial.

Ooooo, goodie! Thanks Rasha!

There was a loud clap of thunder and the darkness dissipated, revealing a white, pristine landscape. She recognized the mountains in the distance but it had been years since Jaysa had seen them. She was back on Hoklen. The familiar sound of waves crashing engulfed her senses and Jaysa almost expected to see her mother waving down the sailors at the docks.