— "Tribal?!" — Avaran's cry tore through the air, heavy with despair.
Tribal, the first son of the Earth, had been born without experience, without knowledge. He had to learn everything by feeling it on his own skin. He had walked entire eras to understand the weight of existence. Among all feelings, the one he had cultivated the least was rage. His heart was vast; he had learned to have compassion for beings, for his long life on the planet had taught him that ignorance was also part of life's development. But, at that instant, he felt rage.
He knew that Avaran and Saryan were not ignorant. They had lived long enough to understand the workings of the world. They were spiritualists—they carried within them the energy of Elshua.
Still, Tribal, with his three thousand five hundred years, restrained himself.
Alaya, who held his hand, noticed the sudden void beside her. In a reflex, she positioned herself before him. Her sensitivity, always awake, captured the environment as a vibrating field: she understood that Avaran and Saryan repented for what they had done. But her concern was elsewhere. She felt the ire growing inside Tribal, like ancient magma seeking a fissure.
She squeezed his hand, trying to anchor him. In vain. Tribal was becoming blind, unfeeling. He did not notice Alaya's touch. Then, Avaran placed his hand on Tribal's shoulder—a gesture of petition, of apology. The world broke apart. Suddenly, Tribal was hurled into the past. Through the touch, he read all the information contained in Avaran's body—a body made of condensed matter, where every atom held memory.
Now, through Avaran's eyes, Tribal saw.
He saw the couple's departure from the empire, followed by hundreds of beings. They walked for months. They crossed cities, spreading their teachings about the Great Master. They were heard, venerated—and they gained new names. Avaran became Avaranael, he who had crossed the veil. Saryan came to be called Saryah, the full light.
They received mystical knowledge. They learned to cross the veil of the planet's reality, to walk as shadows. On the other side, they met ancient beings who taught them to project their minds through multiple points in the Universe. They visited planets. They saw civilizations scattered across unimaginable corners of the cosmos. Tribal could hardly believe what he felt. How could so many lives exist? But the reading continued.
Avaranael showed him a planet with a golden aura. There, beings lived in absolute harmony with the world. Few machines. Little pollution. There was no hunger, no poverty. There were no buildings trying to touch the clouds. They lived simply, always in search of knowledge.
Tribal walked through that world, guided by an inhabitant who instructed him. Until the air began to grow heavy. His steps became difficult. The molecules of his body vibrated in disorder. A heat surged through his existence. When he lifted his gaze, he saw him.
Elshua. Brother!
Tribal's thought was so intense that its vibrations crossed entire realities. Elshua heard. How was that possible? Tribal was observing Avaranael's memories—and yet, the connection between brothers followed laws that even the universe itself did not comprehend.
Elshua turned. His eyes met Tribal's.
— "My brother." — His voice echoed like creation. — "You have finally found me. I have missed you so much."
The energy of that planet was colossal. Elshua's presence, unbearable. Tribal could not resist. He opened his eyes of flesh. He felt Alaya's hand enveloping his own. Days had passed in his journey—and yet, he had returned at the exact same instant he had departed.
Tribal took a deep breath. He composed himself.
— "Tribal?" — Avaranael pleaded. — "Let us talk."
His request came from the heart, even though reality seemed to say otherwise.
— "My love… where have you been?" — Alaya whispered. — "Let us leave this place. Let us go somewhere where we can feel life again."
Her voice was sweet, firm—a shelter.
Tribal tried to absorb everything he had seen. It was too much information. Too much truth.
He finally nodded.
— "Let's go," — he said, with the weight of eras in his voice. — "I need time. I need to hear everything you have to say to me."
And, for the first time since the rage had awakened, silence began to breathe around him once more.