Waking up after three days of sleep and vague dreams was a relieving feeling, a healer was at my side – she told me that she and others had spent days collectively helping my body balance its chakras. The blessing Ra’Imboo had bestowed upon me had sent my body into hyper drive – upping the rate of change for the better. My body had been exposed to a much higher frequency of light and in order to cope with this higher level of vibration it had to upgrade my systems – this was easiest when the body was in a low power mode so that the maximum amount of energy could be utilized. The healer explained that this was an accelerated form of an ascension process, which is a natural phenomenon where a being evolves from a lower dimension into a higher one. This incorporated the body eventually becoming lighter than air and due to the higher light frequencies – similar to crystalline. It was a most sacred process she explained – because it involved the being attaining a godlike quality and a oneness with nature as opposed to the more animalistic and primitive consciousness from before.

Ascension was my heart’s desire – a journey from my lower self into my higher self – something I was very aware of, almost subconsciously and intuitively. It is what drove me to battle through the hardships of this world and reach this magical place of learning and of wisdom. Now she told me that the dimension I was living in now was a parallel one to the one I had come from – the one represented the worst of me and the other the change from the worst of me into the version of me that was whole and balanced. She explained that at this very moment I was my astral self living a collective dream on the astral planes alongside them – these planes were as real, if not more real than the reality I stemmed from and it was up to me to solidify my consciousness in these astral planes so that they may become my permanent reality – for I had chosen a life of peace above a life of war, famine, destruction and depravity.

My ascension would carry on for time unknown for it was determined only by my will to change my perception – the faster I let go of what held me back the faster I would progress towards spiritual perfection. In order to be truly free I had to sever every tie I had to my lower self and embrace the new self with all my might – it was the way I had chosen and I had the help of all of Izuh’goll at my disposal – it was what they were good at. Izuh’goll was city of people that were fascinated with the process of ascension and therefore called themselves light workers, for they wielded the light in all shapes and forms as to help and attain mastery of the universe by learning and teaching the principles the universe was based on. By the unification with these galactic principles the subject would be at one with the universe once more in the way all sovereign creation is shaped – innocently free and confident in the highest form of intent – the intent that is best for all.

I thanked the healer for her clarifying information and tiredly fell asleep again with Leeza at my side.

When I awoke again feeling better and stronger than before I smelt cooking in the air – Leeza had been making pan cakes on the stone oven in the kitchen – I was as hungry as a bear after winter. I called and she came swiftly with a plate of the delicious food which I gobbled down in delight. It was wonderful staring into her eyes – all this sleep had made me miss her greatly- even though I knew she had been at my side assisting the healers with their gifts to me.

After the meal and getting dressed we sat on the broad balcony to chat so we could catch up on our experiences of the past days – I told her of the miraculous meeting with Ra’Imboo and she shared hers as well. She had found something miraculous herself in the last three days – a plant that grew different colours of leaves, blue, green, yellow, purple, pink, red, orange with a neon shine at each leaf’s edges– she had been strolling along Izuh’goll’s paths and discovered the plant on the balcony of someone’s house. The person had been sitting close by blowing smoke into the air so she asked whether the plant had any special properties he could tell her of – coincidentally it had been what he was smoking – the plant he had genetically designed through decades of breeding and magical spells he had bestowed. The leaves could be dried, rolled up and smoked and would taste wonderfully in each of their different flavours – even the smoke had different colours. He was very proud of his achievement and offered her a bunch of rolled up leaves – she asked what he called them and he replied naming them “tipla’s” – she had gladly accepted the gesture she said and put them down on the table we were sitting at.

As we each tried one out the effects were mesmerizing – it was like drinking fruit juice with a never before experienced taste and it had a wonderful aroma. Furthermore the smoke was think so it was easy to blow smoke rings and play around with it – what a grand idea. Refreshed after a long conversation and a few tipla’s we set out to the centre of town to meet up with some of the people to get our minds onto things unserious – I needed a portion of laughter and light conversation.

Walking hand in hand I realized that I should be able to blink by now, tried it – but to no avail. Hovering also did not work but I made no further attempt at it – I was just not ready yet.

As we got to a restaurant and had just sat down we noticed someone screaming in the distance, before long he had reached within earshot so we could hear him – Salenia was under attack! We were all to gather by the vortex for more instructions and briefings – this was serious, we had to gear up and move out immediately. We made our way to the meeting place along with the rest of the people in the restaurant. Arriving there we saw Jewell and his fair lady perched in the middle already speaking to the people that had gathered.

After the entire town was gathered, which took a while – eerily – he started: “Salenia is under attack. The dark forces have infiltrated and corrupted our world projector – it is because of this that you may find it hard to blink or hover, cast spells, create or warp in whatever you wish. How the attack hit us so unexpectedly we do not know at this point – it must have been some kind of ingenious deception on the side of the dark – a clever one at that also because this leaves us at a very vulnerable stage. Our powers have dwindled and we are forced to reclaim our underwater city in states that we are not accustomed to – or at least; no longer accustomed to. I ask you to remember all combat training and experience you can draw upon and put it into action now, for if we do not reclaim this city all our work is for nothing. Healers bestow the gift of underwater breath to all that have yet to receive it and the rest of you bestow yourselves and each other with wards and spells that make you swift underwater, no matter the time it takes to cast the spell. Our ability to move faster will give us the upper hand.

The dark cannot have many forces in our city for the bulk of their army is on land but do not underestimate them – for what they might have will be strong and resilient. Every moment we have is precious for every moment the yellow crystal grows weaker and weaker – we must reach it as fast as possible. I shall call on the keeper of the sea to have water beasts ready at the underwater exit of the vortex so that we may travel at the fastest pace possible.

Gear up at the old armoury in haste and meet up here once you are ready for battle. The journey will take half a day and I wish us to be at the gates of Salenia in the early morning hours – so go forth before the corruption spreads into our hearts!”

The crowd dispersed into all directions as everyone readied themselves – reaching the armoury we stood in one of many lines to receive armour and a sword, a helm if we were lucky. The process was a quick one – everyone was on high alert and moving very fast. After a short period I had received a short sword made of blue crystal, a scale and mesh armour and a scale helmet with horns facing backwards – Leeza had received the same except she got two yellow daggers instead of a blue sword. Having put all of our things on it was time to find a healer or a spell caster that would make our weak areas deflect oncoming blows and blunten instruments on impact. We made our way to Elafor’s and stood in line once more – this was going to take a while. We were novices in this area of magic so we had to wait our turn – others simply imbued one another.

Having been blessed with spells I was glad we did not have to find healers to give us gills or webbed hands and feet – we were ready for the fight. While the rest of the city got ready we ate as much as we could, and packed what fruits would hold underwater.

Readied and prepared for the journey we took our place in wait at the vortex. Jewell would return soon to announce the departure of the first battalion – it did not take long for him to arrive – on his arrival he bode us farewell with an unfamiliar and sad conviction in his voice:”Go forth and slay our foes dear ones – it is a sad day indeed where we are forced to implore more violence than foreseen. Your weapons are imbued with the spirit of deliverance so be assured that your every victim will have the opportunity to enter the higher dimensions after their death. So feel not bad for your actions, to the contrary – you are the deliverer of salvation to them. There may be creatures among them that you have not seen to date – know that the shine of your weapons will shield you from the darkest of them for they fear the brightness of the light. Reports tell us that the city is bathed in a dark hue – Salenia is overshadowed by something unknown so if you possess glowing orbs that can guide you through the darkness please take these along with you. Your steeds are waiting for you – may you move with grace and speed my fellow brothers and sisters, may our victory be swift and may light be on your way – you, the first battalion, may leave!”

With that all of us sprang over the sides of the vortex into its middle, its twisting and churning was confusing for the trips length but ultimately left us washed out into the sea.

The ground was red and the horizon a dark blue, large coral reefs joined up with the pillar of stone the vortex was contained in. Fish swam by, oblivious to the greater reality at stake. In the distance a caravan of gargantuan size waited – we swam its way.

Getting closer we beheld the behemoths accompanied by smaller animals much to the liking of sting rays. The behemoths had four legs, scales like the fish and the head of a sea horse – they were able to take giant steps with their massive weight, all we had to do was hold on.

We decided to hitch a ride with the behemoths; it did not take long for us to be on our way, many an hour later Salenia was in our sights – a light grey city of stone against an underwater mountain with a dark cloud over its spires. This battle was going to be a hard one to win.