Pathway

Chapter 1: Reincarnation [1]

"Whatever you bring in death, you'll get in life."

Those were the words that rang out to the arriving souls at the gates of the Acheron palacium which was located in the Acheron realm on the cosmic plane.

It was the final destination of all departed souls where the fates, destinies and the time of souls were determined in regards to their reincarnation. The forms the souls would take in their next lives, which could be that of beasts, mortals, Halflings, demons, demigods, daemons, gods or celestials. Their destined planes nether plane, the mortal plane or the heavenly plane. And the moments of time in their next lives in respect to their reincarnation.

And right at the centre of the palacium, were the three wheels of incarnation. The wheel of time; the wheel of fate; and the wheel of Destiny,  spun by the Carnates the three primordial sisters. The divines assigned by creation to preside over the palacium and the dead souls. Welcoming the arriving souls and directing their paths toward the mirror of deeds, at the centre of the palacium and the light of Radia.

Lady of time, Divine Arta, was in charge of the wheel of time which determined the time period for the reincarnation of the departed souls. At the centre of the wheel was a mirror, the divine myriads mirror that showed the past deeds of souls.

Lady of fate, Divine Asha, spun the wheel of fate to decide the inevitable mighty hands of creation on the lives of incarnated and reincarnated souls. At the centre of the wheel was a large orb of pulsating fibres of yin yang lights that threaded the fates of incarnated souls.

Lady of destiny, Divine Amra controlled the wheel of destiny that determined the forms and destination of souls based on their karmic merits according to the laws of creation. At the centre of the wheel was a large golden bell. The bell of finality, the sound of which confirmed the certainty of a soul's destiny.

Then, one day, the sisters were busy carrying out their task when they suddenly felt strong Karmic connections. They gazed at the souls waiting for reincarnation, and discovered the connection was coming from two newly arrived souls. The golden halo surrounding the two souls was giving off a faint radiation, enough to cover their souls.

"Another dead celestials."

Lady Amra said, eyes fixed on the two soul orbs. Squinting her eyes, she continued.

"Deaths that weaken the pillars of the universe." 

"Nevertheless, the universe welcome their impending rebirths."

Lady Arta voiced with a trace of sadness.

Lady Asha spread her arms as she smiled bitterly.

"Yes, after the sadness of death."

Lady Amra gave a slight nod as she glanced at the two souls.

The divine Carnates continued their work as they remotely watched the two souls, until it was their turn to stand before the mirror. The rare occasion attracted their undivided attention and interest. The other two divine Carnates directed their gazes towards the mirror and watched with great interest, as divine Asha spun the wheel of time for the two souls past lives.

The divine myriads mirror was a primordial treasure of creation, storing all the deeds of souls before their death, but only revealing the scenes where the soul accrued good or bad karmic virtues.

The Carnates were staring keenly at the Myriads Mirror as the past karmic deeds of the human souls in front of them mother and child were being displayed on the mirror.

[The mother was a mortal, and her name was Dai Yi Min. She was born in one of the mortal worlds, earth. A world of six continents ruled by a human emperor. She came from the Red eagle clan, living in the fountain-spring village on the Aksan continent. Her clan was the smallest in the village. Her family lived on the outskirts of the village. Her parents were mortals, they had given birth to her after they had passed their prime. They had to wait for a long time before they had her, and she had been their miracle.

She worked on the pig farm in the morning and the chicken farm in the evening. It was on one of such evenings that she was attacked by reavers, creatures of the nether region. A rare portal had opened on her farm. A portal that connected to the nether region. It was simply an unfortunate situation. War had been raging on between the reavers and fiend factions in the nether region when the portal had been opened. An unstable portal that was opened randomly. It was really unjust. The odds were unfair.

But fought she did. Holding a short sword with her son tied to her back, she fought like a deranged berserker. She battled tooth and nail, but realized it was a loosing battle. Then, she prayed to the gods she knew, and didn't know. It was at that moment that the crystal she hung around her neck was triggered. The celestial karmic merits, stored in the crystal was then transferred to the mother and child, just as the shadow of death fell over them.]

"A mother and child mortals for what it takes."

"And a mixed fate at the end of it all."

"Let's see more of their past lives, Arta. I'm a little curious of their past deeds"

Lady Asha turned towards divine Arta as the light in her eyes shone brightly.

"It piqued my interest too, Arta."

Lady Amra voiced with a grim face, displaying a trace of sympathy.

"You two know it will need the Cosmic Fetter seal to do that. Which I have none."

Lady Arta said as she looked lovingly at her sisters. They meant everything to one another. Many, were the situations they've been through together. Especially, during the great wars. She felt a surge of happiness in herself and knew the other two were aware of it. Covering it in acting pretence, she asked.

"Alright, do any of you have one?"

"Here's one, Arta."

Lady Amra flicked her hand and a seal appeared in it. A cosmic treasure, crafted from a cosmic essence crystal, obsidian crystal from the void, yin yang spirit leaves and a ray of Radia's light. The rarity of the items meant the universe only wanted them to see few deeds of the dead souls. Lady Amra gave the seal to Arta, and they watched as she activated it.

Then, they all shifted their attention back to the mirror, and continued observing it keenly.