Swept

Rachel returned to her body abruptly. She sat still as her head swam. Even though her conscience was back her soul and spirit still remained outside and she allowed knowledge to continue to flow into her being, using her soul and spirit as conduits.

Rebecca frowned but she did not speak. She could sense that something was amiss but nothing that currently endangered Rachel.

Smral and Ambruce tensed in unison. Both could see the knowledge pouring into her spirit and soul and they understood most of it. They knew that Rachel would come out of her soul walk upset.

The bright pink streams of knowledge dulled and muted until they were barely visible. At that point both Rachel's soul and spirit entered her physical body, almost in unison. Her eyes slowly opened. She looked at Rebecca, Smral, and Ambruce. All three swallowed hard as one.

She cracked her neck twice and gracefully rose to her feet. "The Conglomerate needs to be dealt with soon." She exhaled dramatically. "First we will go to the Salmoon with the others as planned."

She looked to Ambruce. "I will need you to look into something." Ambruce nodded in affirmation. "Go through the pocket realm connected to you and Trannisa and tell me what you see in Trannisa's sea of souls, then see how it aligns with fate maps and report what you discover."

Ambruce bowed deeply. She looked to Smral and Rebecca in turn and stepped to the right and disappeared.

"Let's get our things together and go."

"You told Allons you would speak to him before we left."

Rachel looked at Smral. "He wants to go with us. He wants to be an Antrunie but I am not sure if he is ready."

"You always say that. Look at how long you allowed Cramnal to linger. He can go with us. If he does not belong with us he does not belong but stop trying to hinder everyone's progress woman."

"I am not hindering anyone Rebecca. I am just…"

"You're just what?"

Smral stood to the side Watching the spectacle in wrapped fascination.

Rachel looked at him so suddenly he flinched back. "Do you have an opinion?"

"Don't take it out on him Rach."

Rachel exhaled and took a stepped back. "Get ready to leave."

'Allons if you want to talk come now. We are leaving.'

'I am on my way Milana.'

'Shain.'

'Rachel.'

'We are leaving. If you need me you can talk to through the tether I bound to you.'

'Okay little sister. Did you find out anything from the main facility? '

'…. Yes… Two months Shain.'

'Two months.'

Allons entered without knocking. He had known he was supposed to be an Antrunie since he was a young boy. Once he laid eyes on Rachel he knew it even more. He wanted, no he needed, to be the one to protect her. She was not a Milana she was his Milana.

He took a knee before her and began speaking before she had a chance to stop him. Both Rebecca and Smral looked on in shock and amusement.

"I am Antrunie. I have been forged to protect the Milana. I was born to this role and I embrace it with all that I am."

"Stand up. You will travel with us. We will go to the abyss near Sibba continent. Get your things. Who do I need to talk to?"

"I have my things and I already resigned from my post. There is no one to speak to about this."

"You do not need time with your family."

He looked at her seriously. "You and the other Antrunie are my family."

Rachel only looked at him and did not respond.

"Becca. Tell Cramnal and Struns where we are going please."

Rebecca bowed. "Of course Milana."

There was a large dome of light at the base of the hill where the Salmoon was. It was lit brilliantly but, because it was in the abyss it did not push back much of the darkness. There was only a little light immediately around the dome.

Inside the dome was a small camp. Rachel arrived and raised the light dome and she, Rebecca, Smral, and Allons set into the camp.

Mis, Anis, and Struns arrived almost a day later and now they had been there for a week now.

Mis engrossed in his research and the others finding training in the abyss a fortuitous discover. The abyss was as rich in magics as the sky but it was warped in a way simultaneously nourishing the mind body and soul and causing a persons magic to actually evolve.

Rachel was going to the Salmoon today. Mis asked her to complete some experiments with him today. She was a bit apprehensive but she knew it had to be done. They had to start unlocking what had been lost to them all these years.

Rachel meditated within a circle of power. The Antrunie set in a circle just outside the circle of power. Allons had demanded to be with them, because of this Rachel surrounded him in protective light. She pulled in magics through the circle of power and distributed it to the Antrunie. Along with the magics was knowledge and memories.

The Antrunie could share the Milana memories when needed and Rachel wanted them to know what she knew about the Salmoon.

Ripples of memory flowed between them. First it was disjointed images that jumped from memory to memory in no reasonable order. Then it sharpened and focused on three distinct memories. They knew instantly that they were the memories of two Milana of the past. They saw the Salmoon on three instances. It was always in a different location and twice it was a revolving portal of blue and white swirling light.

Allons gritted his teeth as the memories seemed to rumble into his being. They seemed to want to destroy who he was and create him into a new person. He felt the sensation ease as two additional layers of light wrapped around him. He felt the layers of light syphoning more and more power from the memories until they were like faint remembrances, instead of crystal clear memory.

Allons felt his soul suddenly strengthen and then he felt Rachel's voice reverberating within his soul well. She spoke in an ancient tongue and he felt the wall of his well thicken and pulse with power.

Then he was gently pushed from the circle of power flow without losing his physical position.

The ritual was over in less than two minutes. Cramnal looked at Allons. He had arrived in the light dome moments before the ritual began and he was now glad he was there. He hadn't realized just how dangerous the Salmoon was.

He felt he needed to protect his sister better and had been feeling guilty for not doing what he knew he needed to do.

He looked at Allons. He needed to make sure all Antrunie were strong and fit to serve Rachel. "You need to be tethered to us. It felt like you were almost swept away from us."

"I felt that too." Rebecca looked at Rachel. She was still meditating along with Smral and Ambruce. She had seen the knowledge the three were sharing. It was mostly fate magics and knowledge and the rest of them could not handle most of it. Struns was the last to break off but she knew that was because he was stubborn.

She would have to wait to speak to Rachel about Allons.

Struns stood first and began guarding Rachel. Seeing this Allons followed suit and took position to ensure full coverage.

"When do we leave for the Salmoon?"

"I am pretty sure as soon as they are finished. Cramnal?"

"Agreed. The ritual is finished. It is just that Smral and Ambruce are higher beings and she can give them more."

Rebecca nodded. "And they both have strong fate magic. My spirits couldn't handle much. I need to help them strengthen their abilities "

Smral and Ambruce stood in unison and moved to Rebecca's side.

"I think the Milana will go in spirit form."

The Antrunie looked at her as one.

"Smral, Ambruce, and Rebecca should go with her spirit to protect her. Struns, Cramnal and I will guard her body."

All heads turned to Allons. He looked at them expressionlessly. Rebecca smiled, nodded, and turned back to Rachel waiting for her to begin. Two spirits appeared behind her.

With that Ambruce and Smral turned back to Rachel as well. Struns and Cramnal took up defensive positions around the circle.

On a basic level Rachel understood everything going on around her. She decided to spirit walk this time because she wanted to be able to interact with the living world more. Souls walked through the world unable to interact in anyway. They could be seen and sometimes they could be heard but that was the extent of it. If they tried to communicate the communication became disrupted in ways that made it indiscernable. As a spirit she could be more effectively understanding the Salmoon.

Light surged from her body and when it dimmed her spirit body stood up sinuously from her physical body. She looked to the others and nodded. Her flaming blue eyes fell upon Allons and they all understood he would be going through an Antrunie ritual soon.

She stepped forward and rainbow flames burned in her footsteps. They felt her inhale and exhale slowly as her spirit body cooled. The flames subdued then extinguished.

This happened as she walked, her footsteps no longer aflame.

Mis was waiting for her with a smile and stars in his eyes. "It has been a long time since I have seen a spirit walker like this. You truly are stronger than grandmother Lanncey."

A wave of light flowed through Rachel from head to toe. "Maybe a little. Are you ready." Her voice was like an ethereal song sung under water.

Mis nodded.

The Salmoon reacted as Rachel approached. It shimmered several different colors at once. A carpet of light extended towards her. She looked as it seemed to unfurl and stop just in front of her feet.

She looked at Mis. "What do you want me to do Alvian?"

Mis looked at the carpet of light. "Do you think you can open the door without having to actually use it?"

Rachel nodded. She looked up to the large coin. Her right hand rotated at her side. The coin seemed to spin within the arch without ever moving as if it was moving through time and not through any physical space.

It abruptly stopped and opened as if were an eye. The center was the purest white and the outer circumference was sky blue.

Ambruce and Smral stepped forward, closer to her but not right besides her. Rebecca's spirits stepped up behind them. The Salmoon acknowledged them all. They saw through the portal as knowledge and language flowed through and into all five of them.

Rachel nodded and a shield raised behind her. Most of the magics could pass through but some was repelled and only allowed to enter her. Still Rebecca's spirits had to be disconnected fairly quickly.

The entire time Mis was taking notes. He was looking at and magically monitoring his sister, the Antrunie, and the Salmoon itself. His notes quickly streaked across the air in front of him and burned into treated papyrus in his tent in their camp.

Eventually the portal seemed to slowly blink one time and then close, but Rachel remained frozen a moment longer. Her shield falling and allowing the others to advance closer to her and the Salmoon.

After a few more seconds the Salmoon seemed to settle and Rachel seemed to come out of her trance.

"Very interesting."

"Indeed. How much can you tell me Milana?"

Rachel contemplated. "Quite a bit."

Mis' smile was beyond brilliant.