by Jon Chaisson
*
“She comes within the hour,” Anando said.
Nehalé shivered unintentionally at his words. “You’re sure about this?”
Anando remained at his perch on the warehouse roof and avoided Nehalé’s eyes, instead watching the storm clouds as they rolled and rumbled past the Mirades Tower. Its mass had doubled since earlier this afternoon, expanding outwards in all directions, covering first the southern districts then moving northeast, and would reach them within the next few hours. Already it had obscured the sun, casting unnaturally murky shadows over the city.
“I am very sure,” Anando said. “I can sense her. She’s not too far from here. I felt her presence ten minutes ago. She’s walking towards us. I’m surprised you haven’t picked up her signature yet.”
Nehalé ignored the taunt. “I only wish I could connect with her, Anando,” he said. “I only wish I could speak with her before she comes…”
“She won’t speak with anyone, Nehalé, except those closest to her,” he said. “Believe me, I tried. She’ll hear you, I don’t doubt that, but whether or not she’ll answer is something else entirely.”
Nehalé cocked an eyebrow at him. “My student is teaching me,” he said. “I suppose this is what happens when I leave the party for a few moments. Anything else I should know, sehndayen-ne?”
“Well, she has a friend with her, a Protector, about her age. She’s a self-trained Mendaihu. I believe she’s…” he paused. He closed his eyes and listened to the whispers of his spiritsense. “She’s part of the Ehramanis clan…which means she’s loyal to her, if she’s anything like her ancestors.” Nehalé seemed relieved by this news, so he pressed further. “Nehalé…” he ventured. “Do you have any idea what will happen once she arrives?”
Nehalé pondered over how he would answer. He had done everything according to plan: awaken the One of All Sacred, awaken the Warriors, and gather them all together. Not once had he questioned why it had to be done. He only understood that the One of All Sacred needed to be awakened at this time…at the same time as the Rain of Light. Kindeiya Shalei’s prophecy had demanded it. And yet…he did not dare to question why. He just knew it was part of the path. Faith was all he needed.
“She will lead us towards the next stage of spiritual ascendance, Anando,” he said truthfully.
Anando’s face drained of color. “Ascendance?” he sputtered. “That is the reason for this bloodshed, Nehalé? For this chaos? Are you even remotely aware of its consequences? This is going to lead to an even bigger war, you know that.” Enraged, he pushed away from the edge of the roof stalked away from him. “Goddess! You might feel the pain of spirits taken by force, Nehalé, but your prophecy is making that happen. Who gave you the right to decide who gets to sacrifice themselves, anyway?”
Wordlessly, Nehalé caught up with him and spun him around, grabbing him by the arm. Forcefully he pulled him back to the edge of the roof and pointed towards the clouds above the city and their slow movement towards them.
“See those clouds, Anando? They have quite a bit to do with this,” he growled. “Those clouds are Lightbodies, manifesting themselves. We are seeing spiritforms gathering above us. Spirits being born and reborn. They’ve been there for the past few days, ever since I began the awakening ritual. The Rain of Light is a spirit dance. These spirits gathered the very next day, rejoicing in the fact that the One had returned. However…”
He paused as he saw Anando’s skepticism dulling his original shock.
“I see you do not believe,” he said. “Or at least, do not understand yet. But you will soon. The One already understands this. She’s not here just to fix the balance the Mendaihu and the Shenaihu, not like the last Embodiments. She’s also here to raise the stakes.”
Anando crossed his arms and turned, leaning against the ledge. “Please explain.”
Nehalé complied. “Normally such a manifestation would be little more than thin clouds, perhaps a bit of precipitation. However…something is not quite right. Yes, just like all the previous seasons of Embodiment, there is a severe imbalance between the Mendaihu and the Shenaihu that needs to be adjusted. A spiritual imbalance, both individually and as a collective. The spinning top is coming perilously close to its last revolutions before it falls.”
“How can you tell?” Anando asked.
“How can anyone tell? It goes far beyond good and evil, you know that. That’s entirely the wrong way of looking at it. None of us are completely ‘good’ or ‘evil’ in body or in spirit…we are just not fully knowledgeable either way.”
“That makes absolutely no sense,” Anando growled. “If we started this because —”
Nehalé held up a hand to stop him. “Remember this, above all else: we did not start anything,” he said. “We are finishing what needs to be completed.”
“Completed? That doesn’t —” Anando stopped and stared at him, eyes wide and mouth half open, unsure of what his next words were going to be. A spark had gone off within, and it had made his spirit sing. “Ascendance,” he managed to say. “Both the Shenaihu and the Mendaihu…we are both one after all. The One is here to reunite us.”
Nehalé threw his hands at him. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell everyone, Anando! That’s the message I’ve been trying to give everyone downstairs. Now do you understand?”
“Yes,” he answered quietly. “I think I do.”
“Good,” he said, and turned towards the roof door. “Let’s go welcome her in, then.”
