Miradjinn

The bonds unite two living beings who have become Soulbound. Originating from different planes of existence, they can, in rare cases, include a totem.

A totem, a creature of exceptional rarity even for the Soulbound, is an animal with a unique mastery of ruh, whereas other living beings can at best sense it.

Existence, a concept shrouded in mystery, is distinguished by its planes:

The material plane encompasses the world of humans, elves, elementalists, and animals.

The mythical plane is born from beings venerated beyond their mortality, possessing their own dimension where their kind reside outside the material plane.

The Ethereal plane, invisible and unknown to most living beings, houses the Aether Haven. Beings capable of traveling to other planes dwell there, provided they become physically undetectable. The most well-known are spirits and djinns.

Six forms of djinns exist:

Ifrit, true living infernos, embody fire in all its forms. Their body is an eternal dance of flames, symbolizing both destructive power and consuming passion.

Marid, as deep and mysterious as the blue of oceanic abysses, carry the essence of water. Their unparalleled adaptability allows them to manipulate water to submerge, circumvent, or crush their adversaries.

Sylph, draped in the vibrant green of foliage dancing in air currents, are the djinns of wind. Elusive and swift, they move with a lightness that escapes the human eye.

Jann, in rich, earthy hues of fertile soil, embody the stability and permanence of earth. Unshakeable, they are symbols of solidity and perseverance.

Hinn, wrapped in shades of mystical gray, master intangibility and energies. They move between worlds, crossing physical barriers unseen.

Nasnas, with yellow skin and half-animal bodies, represent the quintessence of metamorphosis. They embody the fusion between fauna and spirit, a bridge between the wild and the elemental.

Despite their diversity, a common thread unites them: eyes vibrating with a color unique to their elemental essence, deep and pupilless. Lacking legs, they move thanks to their nature. Although they enjoy taking on a humanoid appearance, their true nature cannot escape my vision.

I didn't know if it was due to the bonds that united us, but when Jalik explained my family's situation to me, I couldn't help but believe him. I had the intimate conviction that it was impossible to lie to one's bond. Thus, when he affirmed that it was in my interest to eliminate Lutan, I believed him immediately, while sensing that he was hiding something from me. I couldn't understand why the true name of this entity eluded me, but insisting didn't seem to be an option. I resigned myself to learning more once my training was complete.

"Tell me, Jalik," I asked, intrigued, "how is it that all my wounds have disappeared? I haven't felt any pain since waking up in your palace."

Jalik gave an enigmatic smile before answering: "Among my servants are Hinns, exceptional beings most of whom have the power to grant wishes. I asked the majordomo who brought you here to fulfill my wish to heal you."

"That's incredible!" I exclaimed, amazed. "But in that case, why not ask the Hinns to eliminate Lutan?"

Jalik's face darkened slightly. "Their abilities have limits, Zayn. This is also true for your healing. My servant has indeed healed your physical wounds, but he can do nothing against psychological wounds."

I shuddered, not fully grasping the implications of his words, but sensing their gravity.

"In any case," Jalik continued in a lighter tone, "I must inform you of the upcoming events. You will reside in the Aether Haven for the next eight years. During this period, we will implement a program aimed at preparing you for your quest."

"Eight years?" I exclaimed, stunned by the magnitude of this sacrifice.

Sensing my confusion, Jalik took the time to patiently explain: "Imagine Aether Haven and your world as two clocks. In the Aether, our clock turns four times faster than the one in your world. So, while you'll spend eight years here, only two years will pass in your world."

"Does this mean I'll physically be a ten-year-old child, despite the eight years of experience and training here?" I asked, trying to understand the implications of this revelation.

"Exactly," Jalik confirmed with a nod.

I thought for a moment before summarizing: "If I understand correctly, my goal is to eliminate the Lutan threat, and in parallel, you'll help me become a Soulmaster. But I wonder... Many don't believe in its existence. Is it really possible to become such a being?"

"Zayn," Jalik began, his gaze lighting up with a mysterious glow, "I'm going to reveal something to you. Soulmasters have indeed existed."

Captivated by this statement that contradicted the doubts of those around me, I listened attentively.

"One isn't born a Soulmaster, one becomes one," he explained. "To achieve this, you must be able to influence the world. At the end of your training, your physical body will be out of sync with your mental age. After six years of catching up, you'll have to choose the path to follow."

Reflecting on his words, I replied: "Surely there are very influential individuals at present, and yet no Soulmaster has appeared. No need to say more, I suppose there are other conditions to acquire this title."

Surprised by my sudden insight, Jalik nodded: "Indeed. Revealing more to you might skew your behavior, where actions and heart must be one."

"I understand," I replied gratefully. "I'll give you my answer on the path I intend to follow at the end of my training."

"Very well," Jalik concluded, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes. "I look forward to discovering what you have in store for us."

Over the days, I became aware of the profound changes that had occurred in me. Jalik encouraged me to name my new abilities, emphasizing the importance of giving a name to what one masters.

I started with my extraordinary vision, this faculty I had possessed since my awakening. Capable of perceiving the infinitely small as well as the infinitely large, of piercing illusions and discerning all the colors of the universe, I decided to name it "MirEye". Like a broken mirror, my eyes knew no restrictions.

I also learned to activate and deactivate this vision at will. When I returned to my normal sight, a new world opened up to me. The djinns, previously visible in their true form, appeared to me in deceptive appearances, similar to beings of the material plane. Curiously, only Jalik remained unchanged, as if he had never sought to conceal his true essence.

As for my ability to teleport at sight, I named it "Blink". This name seemed appropriate to me, as I literally moved in the blink of an eye.

I noticed that female djinns seemed particularly attracted to my appearance when my eyes returned to normal, reminding me of this singular characteristic I had possessed since birth. This unexpected attention troubled me, but I strived to stay focused on my training and the challenges that awaited me.

Jalik summoned me unexpectedly. "Zayn," he began, his voice tinged with palpable tension, "do you remember the fennec that kept you company during your imprisonment in the well?"

My heart immediately raced. "How could I forget?" I replied, anxiety gradually overtaking me.

"I have grim news," he continued. "The family of this fennec is prey to ruthless poachers."

These words struck me like a thunderbolt. "How can I help them?" I cried out.

Jalik looked at me intently. "Zayn, you are still weak. Without mastery of offensive techniques or combat experience, you find yourself in a vulnerable position."

"I'm aware of that," I retorted, "but if I can make even the tiniest contribution to rescue Sahar's descendants, I must act!"

After a moment of reflection, Jalik yielded. "Very well, listen carefully. You will go to the location alone, as you cannot yet teleport with a companion. Your main mission will be to buy precious time until reinforcements arrive. However, a crucial task also falls to you: ensuring the survival of one fennec in particular."

Perplexed, I questioned him: "Why one of them specifically? Each life is priceless in my eyes."

"This fennec," Jalik explained, "possesses the attributes of a totem. It could even be ours."

Although I had learned the vital importance of totems for the Soulbound since my arrival, I couldn't help but consider each life connected to Sahar as equally precious, regardless of their particularities. Nevertheless, I resigned myself to promising Jalik to protect the totem and preserve my own life until the arrival of reinforcements.

Heart pounding, overwhelmed by a mixture of apprehension and determination, I stood up. I declared in a firm voice:

"Jalik, I am ready!"