Crossing Over - Part I
Crossing Over - Part II
The second level of Oribos was not as crowded as the first and Norli was happy to see that she had escaped the throng of people that had mistaken her for a soul hunter. However, the swirling void of strange magic traveling through the center of the city unsettled her, so she moved as far away from it as she could. From here, she could take a flight to any of the areas that Naraleth had described for her, but in her haste, she hadnât grabbed any extra provisions.Â
Letting the magic slip off of her once more, she checked her coin purse. It was growing concerningly light. A small frown told her why these people charged fees up front, but it still wasnât right that they werenât even attempting to hunt the souls they promised to. Securing the bag back to her belt, she made her way back into the lower levels.
Norli was used to surviving with the basics; years of training in the wilds with Shando and continued similar living with Ronan had made it become a routine. That didnât mean that the colorful displays of clothing in the shopping windows didnât catch her attention, but luckily there was none of that here. Most things were foreign enough that she couldnât ascertain their purpose, even the rations she bought were the dried meat of some animal sheâd never heard of and the work orders she was able to find posted were for materials she didnât know.
A waste of time. Again, she heard Shandoâs words, but didnât push them as far away this time.Â
Helping is never a waste of time.
One day, that mentality will get you and the person youâre trying to help killed.
That day hadnât come for her yet and over the years and their many arguments, she had decided that sheâd rather die helping someone than live with passing them by.
Still, she could be smart about this job. Naralethâs description of his daughter pointed to either Ardenweld or Bastion; a rather reserved girl who was interested in her studies and hadnât decided between the priesthood or Cenarion Circle, but would thrive in either. Back in the upper ring, Norli pondered her choices. Ardenweld was the most likely, she would start there. Perhaps her new friend could be of some help.
The descriptions of the forest did not do it justice. Norli found herself awestruck standing on the cliffs overlooking the path into the valley below. At first glance, the lush vegetation stretched on for miles with vibrant colors in all shades of blues and purples. She resisted the call to immediately leave the path and explore and instead made her way towards the nearest settlement. To her joy, she found it filled with not only normal spirits, but forest creatures and the other animal familiars that she had seen wandering Oribos. To her dismay, they all confirmed her original thoughts.
No new souls had entered any of the four realms in at least five years; all souls were being sent straight into the Maw with no solution in sight.
âGetting souls out of the maw is possible, yes?â she inquired.
The group of centaur-like creatures exchanged worried glances.
âSouls that go to the maw do not last long. If they do, you will maybe find pieces, but they may never be the same.â
Norli frowned at the information. It wasnât what she wanted to hear and certainly not what she wanted to deliver to a grieving parent.
âBut is possible.â Norli replied.
The small squirrel on her shoulder squeaked out a protest. âMiss, if you go into the Maw, youâre not going to come back out. It is a prison meant with no escape. There is no way out for souls or physical bodies to pass through.âÂ
As Norli landed back in Oribos some days later, she was wrestling with the morality of this place. Nothing she was taught growing up made sense with this strange system of soul sorting and being used for fuel for these creatures. Even the forest of Ardenweld began to look menacing to her. How could the Naaru allow such a fate for their people?
It was with a heavy heart that she delivered the news to Naraleth. Surprisingly, the elf took it in stride and spoke of searching for a way into the Maw next. Norli excused herself then. Until there was clear information on how to navigate the area, she would wait. She informed Naraleth that he could find her in the same tavern each Saturday if he learned anything new.Â
In the meantime, she was going to help others navigate this strange world.
There was no shortage of jobs for her to do and each presented a new challenge. Maldraxxus had been the easiest, which surprised her with the rumors she heard. After escorting a young woman through the area for a brief reunion with her father, she found that she actually aligned better with the denizens here, they were just a bit too intense for her complete buyin to their beliefs.Â
Bastion was the worst. The man who employed her wanted to search out his sister who had died many years ago. She was a priest, working towards helping the plaguelands, who was struck down too early in her career. Tracking the woman almost made Norli give up if it hadnât been for the strange owl creatures that inhabited the land. They took some strange pleasure in providing lessons on the land they lived in and were even willing to take the name she provided and hoot amongst themselves about their records.
As Norli watched them mingle around excitedly, her gaze trailed out over the sweeping plains filled with golden grass. As it swayed in the wind, she realized she felt lonely; for Ronan and for Kalâsin. Would he ever come back? She frowned at the thought and turned back to the owls as they rushed over to her with wings outstretched.
âShe has ascended!â One exclaimed to her excitedly.
Norli blinked. âWhat is ascended?â
The owls shuddered with growing excitement. âThey are become Kyrian! To help other souls become unburdened and ascend as well. This is the highest honor!â
Nothing she had encountered in this place that the denizensâ deemed âgoodâ seemed anything of the sort to her. âI am seeing her, yes?â she asked as gently as she could.
âYes, yes! This way!â
She watched as the flock hurried off over the hills, then jogged after them.
Sarah was now Petrina and remembered nothing of what Norli tried to tell her; not her brotherâs name, not her lifeâs work, not her family home. If it werenât for the owls explaining the process of ascension, Norli would believe they had the wrong person. She must have been deep in her own thoughts as when she came to, the flock was around her hooves, staring up at her with concern.
"T-thank you. I am going now," she offered quickly and headed back to the flight path.
Instead of going back to Oribos, she took the longer route back to Ardenweld. While she didnât agree with all of their methods, the landscape was calming compared to the sterile feeling of Oribos. Once the worm-like creature touched down, she stepped away from the settlement and found a small clearing to settle in. It reminded her of Elwynn at times and she rested her head back against the tree, letting her eyes slip closed.
Her rest was short lived as she heard a branch snap nearby. Norliâs eyes opened and she leaned forward for her bow, then was confronted by the scene of two men standing in the treeline ahead. As her hand closed on the weapon, she heard a familiar voice speak up.
âWouldnât that if I were you, love.â A third man crossed into the center of the clearing from the left. âUnless ya want ta be a pincushion, then by all means.â He gestured for her to continue.
Norliâs eye narrowed at the blonde man. âYou are following me all this way, why?â
A soft chuckle escaped him. âI told ya, just business.â He waved a man forward and Norli briefly glanced towards the motion. The two in the tree line were still in place, she could see their arrows aimed in her direction. A third stepped forward, flexing his fingers around something in his palm.
âNow, letâs talk about ya poaching our customers.â
