Chronicles of the Seventh Realm, Scroll 1 : River of Blood

Chapter 4

Boundaries

Benjamin leaned back onto a tree at the top a hillside overlooking the valley below. He stretched out his legs and crossed them at the ankles. Slicing into an apple, he offered part of it to one of the beast at his feet. The creature let out a deep rumbling purr and put its head down. "No?" Benjamin shrugged and popped the slice into his mouth.

Another three slices of the apple found its core, and Benjamin chewed contently as he looked out into the vas pool of souls gathered in this place. He'd come to understand these fields a little better. There were seven of them in total, and though he could not leave this realm, he'd heard of many others with pools of their own, some big enough to dwarf the seventh realm a hundred times over. The pool of souls he stared into was filled with individuals idly working toward enlightenment through mundane tasks.

Many were the sons and daughters of Eve. One of the souls clapped as she finished building a campfire, and disappeared. Another walked into a wall of trees, backed up, and started slowly walking around them in circles. Another ran from tree to tree then back again; he repeated this cycle before working its way up the tree. How convenient, Benjamin thought, and tossed the core aside.

Although Benjamin learned more and more about the souls on a daily basis, his interest was never focused on why they were here, but instead how best to gain access to their light. If one dying daughter of Eve could be so powerful, I can only imagine what a single pool of this size will do. Sitting up straighter, Benjamin noticed a clumsy trespasser who'd unintentionally run into several moving souls within the field, and drew the guardian's attention. He quirked a brow. "That's never a good idea," he said aloud.

Benjamin watched as the massive bird swooped down and grabbed the intruder. Her huge claws curled around him with ease, threatening his very existence should he move a muscle. The man cowered in her hands begging once he heard her speak.

"Why have you come to this garden, riffraff? There is nothing for you here." She tossed the man on the ground and squawked at him, her chest puffed out.

He rolled several feet before coming to a stop. When he did, the man quickly rolled onto his belly and begged to be forgiven.

"Oh please, great one, I came upon your garden by accident."

"Accident!" the bird repeated angrily. "One doesn't enter my garden by accident, riffraff. Out with it. What are you doing here?"

"I am sorry, great one," he apologized again, placing his head to the ground as he spoke. "I was being chased and thought to hide inside; I meant no harm. Please...."

Benjamin stopped listening then, and focused his attention on three individuals within the mass of bodies that seemed to be moving a bit differently than the rest.

"What's this?" he asked no one. There was a woman strangely dressed from head to toe in garb to match the surrounding forest. The two males with her were dressed in camouflage as well. Benjamin looked on with renewed interest, as the three seemed to be herding one of the souls away from its intended path. They didn't touch it, but forcefully placed themselves in its path, making the soul move where they wanted him.

"Interesting," Benjamin said, and turned his attention back to the guardian who was now turning her attention back toward the souls. She stopped hearing a sheath sword come free.

"I presume your pursuers have returned, riffraff?" she asked with interest. When the man grinned evilly and advanced toward her, she turned her body to face him.