Unveiling

Prologue " Go!"   The voice of this powerful man in front of her gives chills to her bones. She gazed at her eyes. He's radiant and magnificently strong. In this place, he's the symbol of power and glory, yet at this time, what this man wants her to do is the only thing that could save her.  She shakes her head and grabs the man's hand. Diving into that steep, and endless darkness is scarier than this ongoing war.   " Dad, I can't", she mutters in a shaky voice.   Her small voice and teary-eyed pinches unto his father's heart. The man pulled her closer and kissed her hair.  They don't have a choice but to do this. To jump into the dark empty cliff or stay in this chaotic world of theirs?  The girl looked at her surroundings with deep sadness in her eyes. She glanced at the white gold majestic palace which is slowly eaten by fire. She heard wails and explosions. This place where she felt most secured is no longer even safe. It falls into the hands of the invaders she doesn't even know. She's just a child. She doesn't understand what is happening.  And this is her world. This is her home.  Yet, now this could be the last time she'll be seeing this.  She cracks into tears. Her cry echoed along with the ongoing pandemonium, as she laments how extremely sad and scared she is. This is more than just separation. Jumping into that cliff might mean she could not exist again, in this time or in any world. It could mean the death of her soul. " Shhhh!...shhh...here take this...okay, I will find you...sure I will find you!", the man mutters trying to calm the girl. He kissed his daughter and hug her and laid his palm on her forehead.  A white dusty shimmering light comes out of his palm. He's putting something inside her soul. And the little girl felt light, light enough that her body was lifted from the ground and being carried away down to that dark cliff, falling endlessly, as the soft lights burst unto her face, enveloping her entire soul, creeping into her senses and sucking all that's in her soul.   " This is the only way you could live. This place is no longer safe for you"  That's the last words she heard as she drifted away.  Home... why do I feel like I lost my home? The girl thinks as she closes her eyes.  CHAPTER 1 - The World of the Reincarnated  " Celestine!", Abahaya shouted from afar. Celestine could see the excitement on her face, as she waves her hand holding a small piece of paper. The mall is a noisy, crowded place but Abby's voice is loud enough for her to hear from a distance. She rushes to her smiling widely.  " See what I've got!", she showed what's she's holding.  "What is that?", Celestine asks.  "A movie ticket!" Abby giggles.  " You know we can't do that! we're not allowed to do the things of the Ubralo ( humans) " Celestine replied hesitantly.   " Oh, cmon we're always together, especially in naughty stuff like this!", Abby giggles again.   Then she drags Celestine into the cinema.  " Wait, Abhaya", Celestine stops her.  " iF Cascade will know this for...." Celestine tries to explain...  " Then much better", Abby answered with a naughty smile.   " And how many times will I remind you to call me in my nickname huh?", she said frowning.  " A..b..b..y! Abby, not Abahaya it sounds old!", she frowns.   Celestine laughs amuse at her friend's gesture " okay... okay," she mutters.  They proceed to enter the dark large room. It's a bit cold inside the theater. Good thing, they're both wearing a thick long shirt today. Celestine is a pretty naïve innocent-looking teenage girl from the countryside who is never used in places like this. Her best friend Abby is the same, the only difference is that Abby is more determined, curious, and adaptable.   " By the way what movie is this?", Celestine asks Abby.   " Oh, it's a romantic comedy", Abby answered. Celestine frowns. She doesn't like movies of those kinds.  " Hey, just watch and relax", Abby said glancing at her.   Celestine composes herself and stares at the big screen in front of them. Waiting silently for the movie to start while her best friend sits beside her seems to be enjoying popcorn. After a minute Abby almost throws herself from her seat. She's surprisingly disturbed by her friend's loud cry. As the popcorn scatters on their seat, Abby sees Celestine covering her ears as if she's hearing something loud from the screen. Abby looks at the screen. What's wrong? She thinks. There's not even drama in there. She thinks.  " Hey, girl are you okay?", Abby asks her friend. She holds her face and taps it slightly helping her friend to get into her senses. After a while, they both walk out of the cinema.   " You're seeing visions again?", Abby asks Celestine.  " Here, " she handed her an ice cream  " I'm not sure if it's a vision or pieces of my past life", Celestine answered.  " I keep seeing these explosions somewhere in a place that looks like a paradise and a vague face of man. His face isn't clear, but his voice is distinct and clear", Celestine told her friend.  " You don't have the prophet's blood, yet you're seeing things with your eyes open, How come?", Abby asks.   " I don't know", Celestine answered. She's confused too about what she is. Maybe Cascade can give her answers but every time she attempts to, he just slams her.  "Let's go home", Celestine said. Abby put her arms around her friend's shoulder.  " Okay, I guess the movie isn't good for you", Abby said laughing.  And they walk home.  The next Day The Keeper's Mount although deserted in the far countryside is a picture of a modern, sufficient paradise. A castle built with fine modern and classic architectural design rests in the heart of it. Celestine saw Cascade doing some gardening on the rooftop.  " You're having visions again?", Cascade asks Celestine without glancing at her. He's busy trimming his bonsai plants. Cascade's rooftop garden is a relaxing haven. This is where he usually spends most of his time when he's here in the castle at the Keeper's Mount.   " Didn't you said I can't have visions", Celestine answered.   " Of course you're Astral, it's not your gift", Cascade replied in a calm tone still not glancing at her.   " Why are you here then?", he asks now looking at her with raised eyebrows.   Celestine feels awkward about Cascade's reaction. But she insisted to visit him today because as usual, she feels like he's the only person who can answer her questions.  " Maybe you're just delusional, it can't be...only the prophets can see what's ahead or what's in the past, " Cascade said to her even when she's not yet asking. He seems to know what she's here for. And he sounds not interested to answer his questions today. Celestine fell quiet for a moment. It's always like this. Cascade is her mentor. Yet, it seems like most of the time he's hiding many things from her. She's confused about Cascade's kindness. She feels something doesn't match like how he always tells her that she's special and that she isn't just an ordinary Astral yet there are times that he would hinder her from growing and exploring her gifts.  " How about playing chess with me?", Cascade puts down the scissor now he's smiling.  Cascade is a man in his fifties yet looking stronger and wiser than of his age. He has this charisma that could draw people into having a good impression of him. He talks in ways that no one could argue.  Celestine confusingly gazes at him. Now, he sounds nicer and cool. She thinks.  Why do I feel that Cascade is just faking it? No, I must not be thinking this way. He's the Keeper. Celestine said to herself.  " Maybe next time, when I can already beat you even when I'm awake," Celestine said to Cascade, smiling. Cascade chuckles. He understands what Celestine means, astral like her are stronger when they're in their eyes are closed or are asleep...when they're in their astral state.   " I think I should get going", Celestine gets up and fix herself to leave.  Now, isn't a good time. I can't find answers in him. Celestine thinks.  As he watches her walk away, Cascade's recalled that day where he first meet Celestine. Three years ago, Celestine is a girl from the Ubralo,  ( humans). She's a usual-looking kid from the city. Until now, although curious she's still that picture of a fragile kid whom he took from her parents. Cascade told Celestine that she is a reincarnated soul, which explains her strange dreams and exceptional abilities in comparison to other people. And there are many people like her in this world, living in a hidden place, and are unknown to ordinary humans.   Driven by so many questions about herself, Celestine agreed to go with him. He takes her to Achker a place where all reincarnated souls live together. The people living in Achker considered themselves to possess a reincarnated soul and they have a common goal, and that is to travel back safely to the world to which they think they belong.  Celestine, you just developed your abilities but you're still that easily swayed, fragile girl I met three years ago. Cascade said in his mind as he reminisces the look on Celestine's face that first time she arrived in Achker.   Achker is a place where all reincarnated beings are gathered. They liked to be called Achkerians which means reincarnated. They rather like to be called "beings", in general, rather than people for they don't see themselves as human, but souls that are trapped in a human body.   Achker, is a large modern city set in the heart of a forest. It is magical, green, rich, and self-sufficient. Yeah, self-sufficient. They have their own resources to sustain their day-to-day living. It is their safest haven on earth. The people in Achker are grouped according to their natural abilities, and each group is called clans. The prominent, powerful clan in Achker are the prophets. They are regarded as the strongest because the Keeper comes from them. They have the ability to foresee the future and see someone's past. The strongest in their clan can harness stronger gifts that are founded or connected to their ability.  The next clan is the Astralis or Astrals. They are the group that can manipulate someone's subconscious mind, has telekinetic abilities, and can see events from the past or future through dreams. Their senses can travel so as their souls that's why they're tagged as strongest when asleep. Some people in Achker considered them as the strongest clan but because most of them aren't pure Achkerians, which means one of their parents is just an ordinary human being, their clan are looked down ar deemed as second to the prophet clan.  The weakest clan is the Auribus. They have a distinct strong hearing ability. They can hear above what an ordinary human could. They can hear distant voices, thin, soft, and even sounds of warnings for possible danger.  The prophets, Astrals, and Auribus.   They are the three clans living together in harmony and with one shared a common goal, in a land, they called, Achker - the place where all reincarnated souls are gathered, where all those living in there called the ordinary humans as ubralo, where all those in there considered earth, not a home...not their home.