68 If there is light? (2/2)

”And what if something is wrong?” A young woman in blue robes asks me.

”Then you hold me down and call for help.” I wince at the thought.

”But what if we don't manage it?” Someone else asks.

I sneer at them. ”You are ten people and I will be alone. You still want to tell me that you wouldn't be able to restrain me?”

All of them look at me with doubtful expressions.

”Whatever! Get Celes and Nicosar down here if you have so little trust in your own abilities.” I turn around and enter the room.

Inside, I slam the door shut and turn towards the Sphere of Sight. It still gives off an ominous feeling.

Slowly I circle around the thing without coming too close. It's a solid sphere made out of mana-crystal. It's constantly spinning while it stays perfectly centred inside the room.

Are you supposed to touch it and see something on its surface? Or do you have to connect with your mind to it? According to Lada the Sphere was a mystery to her. She just saw Amaru standing before it for hours and days.

When he suddenly moved again, he would have the information he was looking for. So it's a mental connection?

I brace myself and sit down cross-legged to concentrate. Doing this right can't hurt. After my mind is clear, I start to set up my defences.

A good mental blockade has to consist of multiple layers and insurances in case something goes wrong.

After spending another whopping twenty minutes with setting up every trick I know, I slowly stretch my mind for the sphere.

At first it feels unhealthy and cold. But then I get used to the Sphere. It's a gigantic conductor for sight-magic. This particular type of magic can be used to search for something lost. But I never heard of it being used on such a scale.

The Sphere channels my magical power and forms it into a pre-defined spell. Suddenly my perception increases drastically and I have to gasp. It almost overwhelmed me but slowly I am getting a grip on it.

Is that what omnipresence should feel like? I know it isn't real omnipresence, but it comes very close to it. I can see the people in front of the room. They really called Nicosar, Celes and even Arthur. Such low self esteem.

Above me are other worlds. By focusing on one, I can search it in seconds. And there are sparks of pure power everywhere.

After concentrating on one of the sparks, I realize that I am watching over the shoulder of a god. He is playing an immoral prank on a mortal. Seeesh. Is that everything an ascended being can do to kill time?

Carrying on I return the focus of my attention to the Council's city to watch its inhabitants. Then I focus outward again in an attempt to find the missing members of the Council.

But there is no way to distinguish all the sparks from one another. Where should I start? Do the Council members know each and every spark? So if a new one turns up, they know that it's a new god?

Then I become aware of a heavy presence. It's watching me. And it's close. I search for it and find its origin within the black hole.

It's ominous and dark. The same feeling I got from the sealing room and the sphere. Suddenly I feel a strong pull on my entire being and I am jerked towards the black hole.

-Who are you?-

I try to resist, but my soul falls towards the black hole and every resistance is futile.

-Come!-

Something black and slimy grabs for my mental body and I strike it mentally. It shudders in pain but it still keeps enveloping me while I fight. I am being pulled down! Down towards the darkness!

And there are teeth!

-Fresh!-

The thing claws into my mind and starts to eat! All my defences fail or are blown aside like smoke.

And all I can do is scream.

...

-NOOOOOOO! BETRAYAL!-