The party approached the Barrier filled with reverence, hope and worry in good measure. They’d had some difficulty traversing the slope from the plains above as the trail was narrow it wasn’t easy to get Dav down in his litter. They managed though and found themselves in a woodland so unlike the terrain they’d been in for the past week. Compared to the Dreadlands this place was vibrant with life and had a sense of right about it that settled souls and minds.

  Dav’s fever held yet seemed to abate as they entered the woods. He grew still, thrashed around less and the rictus of pain on his face softened. He vocalised more too, though it remained unclear.

  Tanisin felt a sharp sense of need to get to the Barrier and help Dav in any way he could. He was certain that his dream was more than a dream. The others were less so but they all pushed on. Sayoshti had reached out to him and he would follow through and his companions didn’t object. Since they’d reached the woodland all of them had noted the influence of Despair leave their minds. It was an immense relief and they hadn't realised just how much that it had affected them even counting for the blessing.

  Now they had arrived, exiting the forest. The ground was clear of trees for a hundred paces or so before coming to the Barrier, a shimmering dome of bluish light immense in size. The trio dismounted and though Tanisin was in a hurry he ordered camp setup in case they had to spend the night. It was already well into the afternoon. The whole time the work went on, picketing and unsaddling the horses, laying out bedrolls and clearing a space for a fire Tanisin felt a pull to the Barrier. Something incessantly called to him.

  With everything completed Tanisin bent to grab the end of Dav’s litter, Relf helped get the other end and Deliah followed as they approached. They walked with a measured pace, eager yet subdued, feeling a reverence for the area and what they were about to do. A few paces short they stopped, placing Dav on the ground. Tanisin untied him from the litter and as if cradling a babe lifted Dav into his arms. The three resumed their walk. A song rose in Tanisin’s head, in all their heads. A song they could not hear the words to but one that filled them with hope and joy, a promise. Nor could they ignore it, not that they wanted to. Even Dav stirred and Tanisin’s hope flared anew that whatever was wrong with him Sayoshti would fix it.

  Tanisin came to a stop in front of the Barrier, Dav held firm in his arms. “What now?” He asked. The question directed not so much at his companions as at the spirit of Sayoshti he could feel overwhelming him. With no answer forthcoming he made an unconscious choice and stepped forward, connecting with the Barrier. In step with his friends at his side unconsciously moving as if one with him. They walked into the Barrier.

  Tanisin felt it envelop him and Dav. Like diving into a pool of cool water on a hot day. Yet in a strange contrast, also like the warmth of a good blanket on a cold winter night. His burden became as light as air and the sense of peace and right increased tenfold. Each had the same experience, the same feelings flowed through them all as they entered.

  Relf found immediate peace and complete acceptance. Peace at knowing he was part of something larger. Acceptance in the knowledge that all of humanity was flawed, himself no less or more than any other and Sayoshti accepted him for who he was both in the past and present and who he would become. He felt Sayoshti’s presence! As if She lay her hand upon his head and then the force of her being delved into the depths of his mind.

  He felt the love of a Being like no other. He accepted Her in his heart and put aside the troubles of his past. Visions of Relf’s life flickered through his conscience like a slideshow of events and emotions. His parents, joyful at his birth. His loss of them at a young age. His time in the orphanage in Wayra’s capital city and his time spent forced to work in the Basin digging for Basin Crystals with other orphans. His rise in status among the varied groups there and the security he’d offered to others due to that status.

  His freedom and the sudden killing that had brought it about. His flight from Wayra as a fugitive. The various deeds he’d committed just to survive and his eventual introduction into gang life in Dimabri City. The many acts of violence committed against others to further his own needs, falling into patterns that would lead to his sentence in the Corps. The visions lingered on some events and passed over others. He had no basis to determine what She found important, only let the visions flow as they would.

  The past year, spent in forced service that he came to accept. His skill and aptitude for soldiery once he’d accepted it. The friendships he’d formed, especially the time Willhem spent with him. Long hours in conversation about his situation and what it meant, about his fate and what training and accepting his lot as a soldier could do for him. The acts of selfless service he’d committed since then. His whole life was laid bare for Sasyoshti to see and scrutinise.

  Overwhelmed from the start he fell to his knees. “Most Holy Sayoshti, I accept you into my heart. I accept the path I am on and I pray to live up to the expectations of the Corps, my service to the Church and the examples set by the friends I have found.”

  He again felt an overwhelming love and acceptance and he knew Her spirit was pleased with him. Relf’s internal peace grew exponentially. Never in his life had he felt so complete, so accepted for who he was than in that moment. He would feel so for the rest of his days he was sure. These feelings were accompanied by a radiant light filling his soul as he lost himself in the flow of it, the last image to strike his subconscious was one of Willhem.

  Deliah also found herself enveloped in peace. She basked in it as it overtook her. So too did scenes from her life pass through her mind. Scrutinised by a force so large and powerful she couldn’t fathom the total scope of it. She saw her childhood in Bayamak. Full of fun and learning. Her transition from girlhood to that of a young woman and her training to be one of her tribe's warriors. She witnessed her first raids on her tribe’s neighbours anew and felt the exhilaration of one on one combat as if living it for the first time. Her father’s death and her mothers passing. Her tribe’s absorption into the fold of The Church of Sayoshti’s Children and she felt anew the calling to serve something larger.

  An intense scrutiny of an insignificant memory. An encounter she’d had before leaving the Citadel with her squad on Dav’s pilgrimage. She recoiled, trying to sever the connection but she couldn’t overcome the force of will directed at her. She watched as a stranger approached her in the Covered Maid one night asking questions about Tanisin and Dav. Anthin’s whelps as it was put to her. She tried to put him off until he offered gold for information on them and their activities. She answered all of his questions then. Now she recognised him for what he was. Having it laid bare caused her shame and she again recoiled from the connection.

  A new sense of peace, acceptance and love overcame her as Deliah stopped struggling. Her choice was wrong and rooted in greed. It had done harm to her friends and companions. A choice that brought the death of one and the near death of another, both now dear to her. That man was an agent of Despair working through cultish followers.

  Delilah further opened her heart and repented to herself knowing she would have to come to terms with her friends. “I’m sorry, so sorry. I didn’t know.” Deliah pleaded.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Forgiveness flooded into her soul and acceptance flowed into Deliah and she resolved to correct her actions, to make it right. She lost herself in the love and peace of Sayoshti’s spirit.

  Subconsciously Dav knew he was ill. Knew he was injured. His mind was filled with dark visions of death and destruction, flashes of Despair's desires. He fought them for what seemed a lifetime. Then something changed. He was half aware of being carried, by whom and where he did not know. Following that a feeling of warm calm overcame him in the deepest parts of his heart. The burning within his body subsided and he felt himself become more content than he’d ever been in his life. A voice beckoned from the darkness urging him to open his eyes.

  He saw light, so pure and brilliant. His wound, festering until then calmed and the pain subsided. He felt peace and an overwhelming presence within. His mind flashed to his earliest memories, ones he didn’t even recall. His time on the streets of Dimabri City and his first meeting with Tanisin who had offered him some food. The unyielding love that had developed between him and his adoptive brother as they looked out for each other.

  The presence focused on his first meeting with Anthin where the elder had taken him and Tanisin in and become a father to them. His exploits growing up. Running the streets with Tan and helping people who needed it. His focus on what was right and the unfairness that wrong should befall good people. His Faith in Sayoshti as Anthin taught him, strengthened over years to lead him to choose a path in the Church. His relationship with Anna and their sad parting.

  The months and months spent learning and training in the Citadel, forming friendships along the way. HIs act of mercy to the farmer and his cold rage at having to do so. The events of Dav’s life were pulled from his mind and scrutinised by this force and he worried it would find him less than he aspired to.

  “You, like your brother, are part of the balance. Two sides of the same coin. Equal yet different. Much as Etrusia’s Faith in Me is the balance to Despair’s influence in the world.” She told him.

  It dawned on him what the force was, whose Spirit was commuting with him and he felt joy and a little fear. “Sayoshti, most holy?”

  “Your Faith in me is the foundation of your character Dav and your compassion for others is your strength. It will serve you well. I warn you however. Things will not transpire as you had planned. You have much work to do.”

  “I relish the chance to prove myself.” He replied, overjoyed at the recognition one such as Her would place in him.

  “You must still learn and grow and again you are part of the balance in all things. You are to do so at my behest and your deeds may shake the very foundations of Etruisa. Yet I have no doubt you will do your duty. Indeed you must! Even when you do not realise that is the case.”

  “I don’t understand.” He implored Her. “What am I to do, how will I know or not know as you said?”

  “You will not know. None do until the end. Do not fear, follow your heart and your instincts and beware those who would put you on a false path. I shall take you where you need to be.”

  Dav felt his body strengthen as the effects of his wound’s illness were swept from his body. The light intensified, filling him with hope, love and a renewed sense of purpose. He basked in that glow and knew he would do his best.

  Tanisin walked through the blue light of the Barrier carrying Dav in his arms. In the blink of an eye he was then walking alone. He noted that Dav was no longer in his arms and had a brief flash of panic. A presence entered his mind, vast and powerful. He felt warm and alive, welcomed. He felt peace and knew his brother was safe. Tanisin fell to his knees in reverence, he felt the presence of his God!

  He jolted at the contact. Never before had he felt such immensity in one being, such strength and timelessness. She absorbed all of him with her touch. All that he was, all he would be. She saw it all to the deepest shadows of his very being in the briefest instant. His past flashed by in that small time and she knew the whole of him. He swooned, light headed after the experience. His mind whirled with thoughts and questions. Did he dare question Sayoshti herself?

  “Ask.” She stated, direct and abrupt. He knew then nothing within him was secret from Her.

  “What now?” He questioned her. “I mean, what happens to us?”

  “You and your companions are not done, not yet. I will take you where you need to be and after that it is up to you. Despair stirs!. His hand touches Etrusia directly. It hasn’t done so since my act created the Barrier. Now more than ever humanity must stand firm and work together lest all be lost and my sacrifice be for nothing.” She seemed saddened at sharing this news.

  “I see.” He stated though he didn’t. “What can we do, mere humans against Despair?”

  “Mere humans? You and your companions are no mere humans. You are touched by the hand of Sayoshti. You are my hope for Etrusia. Despair was not triumphed over the last time just because of me or my kind, it took both Human and Veliar and for what it cost Humanity it cost US more. Yet that was the choice we made for the good of Etrusia. It could not have been done without the aid of men who were willing to give their all. Special people who selflessly committed their lives to stopping Despair.”

  “I’m sorry, I still don’t see it.” He told her. He knew the story as told in The Book of Witness. He knew it had taken an immeasurable toll on everyone in Etrusia and Despair had quite nearly won. That Etrusia was decimated after almost a century of war. He still couldn’t believe that just he; or anyone for that matter, could make such a difference alone.”

  “I know you in the depths of your spirit. As I know your brother and companions. You could–none of you–turn your back on each other or Etrusia. I also know the resilience of the human spirit. I watched as humanity crawled out of the mud and trees to build and spread, to invent and learn. No you will not let me down.”

  He thought for a minute. It was surreal talking to a God. He knew She was right. He and Dav had chosen this life of service and they couldn’t turn their backs on it even had they wished to. Grimly he nodded with conviction and she accepted it. “What do we have to do?”

  “I am not omnipresent. I know some things, others remain a mystery, clouded by despair’s influence or held in the hearts of those furthest from my influence. What I do know is this. Your father has found Despair’s forces in control in Wayra. He’s confronted some part of them and escaped, though at a cost. Anthin is now making his way to the Citadel.”

  “Despair in Wayra! They must be pushed out and dealt with.” He was shocked. She’d told him Despair’s hand was on the world but he didn’t think it was to such an extent.

  “Yes they must. Anthin believes so as well and will be working towards that goal. I have sent your brother to aid in what way he can. Dav also has much to learn and I fear that if Despair’s agents have breached Wayra they will be working elsewhere within Etrusia.”

  “Send me to him, I’ll help.” Tanisin insisted. He’d just gotten Dav out of trouble and had no desire to leave him in a potentially worse situation.

  “I will take you where you need to be. There is more, a new threat in Etrusia. I have felt it and you and your group have encountered it.” She told him.

  “The Shadow Being.” He ventured.

  “Yes. What's more is that it is gathering The Followers of the Inevitable and giving them direction. You have already become involved in some of them and not by chance. They know of you and will try to stop you but you must find and defeat this creature’s plans.”

  He shuddered at her words, The Cult was proving more of a factor than he could have guessed. “Can you tell me more about this thing?”

  “I know little, it is a new thing, not from my time. Cunning and intelligent, it commands The Followers and has control over the Shamblers, possibly more of Despair's minions that we haven’t seen as of yet.” A hint of frustration seeped through the contact. That She should feel so left him scared. “It can ride shadow and conceal itself in the slightest darkness and it takes its orders directly from Despair. What I know for certain is that it MUST be stopped, and I believe you can do so.”

  “I have so many more questions.” He told her. He was honestly blunt about it.

  “Life is full of questions. Some have answers, some do not. We are out of time, come you must go. I will take you to where you need to be.” Her words left no room for further questioning. Resigned to whatever fate was in store he basked further in her presence, the serenity and strength of it, her faith in him and the reassurance he got from it.