The structure of existence is complex and can only be understood from an outside vantage point where the nature of existence is fully realized. The physical realm of existence is the majority of the structure of existence and there are various lenses through which it can be viewed. Dark matter of the Quinspace is not typically visible in the physical realm, but this Quinspace is essential to the function of the physical realm, and those who can view it, see it in combination with the physical realm that reveals the true variety of existence.
Another layer of physical existence is the mental realm that was created when the first conscious organism emerged in the physical universe and it represents the unexplainable nature of conscious thought that is not tangible, but capable of impacting the tangible world. The soul animates the body to which it is entangled, and when that soul is no longer entangled to a body, it can exist freely in any realm of existence that it can find. But none of these realms of existence account for the origin of the conscious spirit that is the result of interaction between the physical realm and the Quinspace.
Hence the mental realm of existence, the seeming birthplace of the souls of bodies born in the physical realm, where conscious souls can commune free from their bodies if they are in possession of the ability to access it. The mental realm seems to be the birthplace of conscious souls because the mingling of the matter of the Quinspace and the physical realm recreated the conditions of the superstructure of existence where everything and nothing is possible. The mental realm is a psychic link to the superstructure of existence within every constituent universe and it creates a malleable realm for beings with a strong psychic will to realize all of their dreams and to experience the consciousness of others. Access to this realm accounts for psychic or mind reading abilities.
Alia has been on the mental plane of existence for over a month. It’s the longest she has ever spent in this state, on this plane of existence, and she realizes that time moves much more slowly here. The Kazi call the mental plane the Dreamscape and it is where they go to meditate.
“You will find answers there,” Kazi Fandral explained to her when she started her training with the Kazi on the picturesque plateau of the Master Dōjō in the Great Red Mountains of Eel.
“What am I looking for exactly?”
“The location of Ife-Osu. The start of the Rainbow Road that will lead you to it.”
Alia didn’t want to do any of it. It was nonsense and all she could think about was the tragic story of her parents and how the Kazi had inserted themselves into her life to horrible result. The whole thing felt like an extension of that and she would be a fool to listen to them.
But Alia knows that they are ignorant of the whole picture and they have only been doing what they feel is best based on the information available to them, which is very limited compared to Alia who accesses both alternate and aeonic realities. She couldn’t hate them, she could only show them.
“Explain to me how I find it,” Alia said.
“The Kazi unlock extraordinary ability through mastery of our physical experience. By achieving complete understanding of feelings both physical and emotional, we gain access to parts of our consciousness that allows for extraordinary ability. To teleport, we must master many physical sensations and hold emotions in our mind that activate the right part of the consciousness to complete the act. To find the Rainbow Road, you must master the physical and emotional sensations necessary to commune with Ife-Osu.”
“Are those written down somewhere or do I figure that out while I meditate?”
“There are many theories, but few have ever found the gate at the start of the road, and those who have, never live to tell about it. Their bodies wither away like empty husks, seemingly forgotten by their consciousness.”
Fandral could see that Alia was less than enthusiastic about all of this. He was afraid of her after the fearsome display of her powers shortly after she learned of the fate of her parents.
“So you all are sending me to die searching the Dreamscape for answers?” Alia said with rage in her eyes.
Fandral shook his head slowly. He was sympathetic, but he felt that she was being difficult.
“We are your servants, we live for you. We are not guiding you, we are teaching you what we know, and we trust you to do what you feel is right. You are the Alia, the daughter of Samaya…”
“Don’t! Don’t say her name,” Alia said, and the white light exploded like a flare from her eyes.
“I’m just saying,” Fandral floated away but he didn’t stop talking. “We are not sending you anywhere. I did not bring you here, I know that because I did something horrible to you instead. I left you without her, without both of them, and nothing I do in this life will make up for that. But I have dedicated my existence to you and you have come. Whatever you do next, whatever move you make, we support it. We will take you back to Earth if you want. But if you want to complete the Hyperion, then I will give you my knowledge with the caveat that I am not extraordinary like you and there are things you know that I never will.”
Alia likes Fandral a lot and she was honest with him then. She told him about Par-Cell 77 and her plan to find Solse Prab, the Bromeris man that she knew from an aeonic past who had spoken to a God. She only hoped that in this existence, Solse would remember the encounter well enough to help her do the same.
“I understand,” Alia said to Fandral when she was done with her explanation. “I know that you all don’t know everything and you don’t pretend to. I’m just mad. And you’re gonna have to deal with it if you’re gonna be here for me. I won’t hurt you, I’ll just yell and make you remember them.”
“Henry Michael and Rebecca Samaya,” Fandral said dutifully. “I say their names seventy seven times each day. I will never forget them.”
Alia hugged him and then she shooed him off the deep red plateau and back to the Master Dōjō.
“You sure you don’t want a companion in the Dreamscape?” Fandral asked. “I can help you.”
“I’ll see what I can do on my own first. I need to concentrate to remember Solse anyway. I’ll get you if I need you.”
When she was all alone, Alia sat on the sole patch of green on the plateau that was actually grass from Earth that Fandral had transplanted himself. It was a nice spot with neatly manicured trees and a statute of her mother marking her grave. Alia sat in the shade of her and closed her eyes to access the mental realm.
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