The attention of the entire Ellogos' cohort flowed as one unified, admiring stream toward the Mountain.
A fine place to settle. Wonderful vibrations. Clean water in the lake. All the joys of natural life. Despite the nearby large human settlement.
Just returned from its mission, tired Lynn tore its gaze away from the majestic view, which had held its attention captive for a long while, and tuned into the no less beautiful "Chorus".
It was a pure harmony. As usual. Each voice appeared precisely at its Universe-ordained moment, forming the Pattern of Life in miniature.
But it was a totally unsettling chaos for a young one. It remembers the feeling of being lost in tons of information, coming from hundreds of voices, including the Archive streams, in which you constantly get unwillingly distracted, forgetting to hold your attention on the desirable subjects.
The older ones could operate everything at once. But not Lynn. It barely got used to not getting lost in all these signals.
– Well. Settling in. Finally.
– Yeah, Tess, but it's sad to be without the things we used to.
– Don't worry, Illyss. We'll recreate them from memory. Or invent something better.
– It's so nice here. — Lynn decided to stop listening and make some noise too.
– My favourite spot for meditation.
– Mine too, Evo. The settlement down here looks nice. By the way. Did you hear from our half-ljuses recently?
– Nope. Seems that they're gaining their experience somewhere else.
– These youngsters.
– They're not hurrying to join the community, do they?
– At least I didn't see them, either. Consider it a good sign. — commented the thoroughly weary Tesselynn, who had practically single-handedly cared for the ljuses re-emerging on the Mainland after "perishing" during the attack on their Forest.
– This place looks pretty peaceful. I consider it a good sign also. At least, we can rest. A little.
– Rest? No time for rest! Everything is so fascinating!
– The lake! Let's ruuuuun! Straight into it!
– Come on!
And the wild crowd surged toward the shimmering source of delight.
– Enjoy yourselves, young souls. We're staying here.
– Out of the fuss.
– In a relaxed cosy mood.
– I have a good feeling about this place in general.
– Me too. Nice gnatty circumstances.
– I really like it here. Bog ready to see how things'll go.
– I'm just glad we can rest and relax. So tired.
– No we can't. Has anyone seen Gaelle?!
Dallyss sharply interrupted the stream of dismayed comments.
– No! — the Chorus sounded.
Asking was unnecessary.
Dallyss could have consulted the Memory Archive itself. But, attached to the missing ljuses more than anyone, it clearly wanted to draw the Chorus's attention to its problem.
– We will sort it out, Dallyss. As soon as we settle down here. I think we'll make it without much trouble, the Unseen won't reach here soon. For they would have to climb a steep slope, as the short route through the Knapps' stone dwellings is complicated for them thanks to the Knapps' efforts. And upon reaching the plateau, they'd run into the dims' settlement. Which may delay them also. Meanwhile, we'll be looking for answers. I'm very interested too, believe me.
– I'm just worried it fell asleep in a dangerous place. Or its seed fell somewhere it can't be grown. In Hellies caves, for example, or…
– I see. I see. I'll get some rest and we'll find it. I swear.
– Thanks, Eilynn. Let's discuss it later, then. I just wonder why it's quiet and why there's no seed.
– Wait a bit. Gaelle is the eldest and most powerful. It should worry about us, not us about it.
– I think you're right.
– We'll be fine. So it was, so it will be.
– We'll be. - Ettellynn interfered. - But what about our home and our belongings? A number of terribly needed things are missing. My tools and materials are now at the disposal of the Unseen. I bet they don't even know how to use them.
— It's a good thing they don't.
The Chorus smirked sarcastically along with Tillyss.
— We'll get our lands back, if it's in Universes' plans.
— And if it's not?
— Let's set up a Tea house.
— And wait cosily!
— Yay.
– Totally agree with Maellynn.
— That will take an Eon to build a proper one.
— Aren't we in a hurry?
— Doesn't mean we shouldn't start.
— Otherwise, we'll have to mourn our losses without a tea house in addition. I didn't sign for it.
— Me either.
— Me neither.
— Let's do it then. Lynn?
— I need some rest first.
Lynn flipped over from a position convenient for observing the surroundings to one more suitable for rest. It still lazily listened to the conversation of its "tribe," no longer bothering to distinguish which voice in the Chorus belonged to which phrase that flashed through the shared space.
It didn't make much sense anyway.
Over Eons of co-existence, the single "mind" had practically absorbed the personalities of the individuals, now acting almost as a single organism, which was especially noticeable in the most ancient of them.
Without any words, they knew it instantly, as soon as an impulse arose in the common space. They "verbalized" their thoughts mostly out of habit and for the convenience of the youngsters like Lynn, who didn't have such powerful perceiving abilities yet. So it had to get used to holding only relevant information at the moment.
– Ooooh… I like that tree over there. I'll settle on it.
– I fancy the neighbouring one.
– Are you suggesting I watch your tasteless curtains every light again?
– Good news is now you won't have to. Bad news is they remained on our lands. And I have no spares.
– Pity!
– Yes! I liked Illyss' curtains. Those colourful bits of captured madness in threads, energies, and fabric would add some cheer here.
– Dea's grumbling out of envy.
– Well. I'll weave new ones.
– Make two. And gift the old ones to me once we return home.
– Deal!
Diverting its attention from the closest youngsters' chatter, Lynn switched back to the elders.
– …the Nejs seemingly planned their attack very well, I must give them that. Surprise appearance is clearly their forte.
– If only they could also get rid of the smell and the clearly noticeable flicker of the inner Abyss up close — they could have crept up almost point-blank.
– Should we have hinted to them… about the smell?
– So helpful. A nej-pleaser.
– And so rude. Don't hint them anything.
– Anyway, we had no time, being busy carrying ourselves away from there as soon as possible.
Lynn thoughtfully paid its half-envious attention to the youngsters' "embodied gathering" for a moment, but decided to return its concentration to the elders' conversation.
– …looks almost like a therapeutic Ellogram of Development… Only in reverse, I think… with some impurities.
Trying to follow, Lynn peered intently into the stored memory in the shared Memory Archive the elders were staring at.
– Creepy…
– Very creepy indeed.
– So. We should mind our own business, and shouldn't tell them about these little Abysses also.
– I think so. Even as you noticed they're not in a mood for communication, we're have a guesses, but not knowing literally anything about this Abyss. What is its nature? Where did it come from?
– Should we get a look? Somehow?
– From a safe distance, preferably.
– The problem is precisely that it's only visible up close, Tillyss.
– And then they activate their creepy "hugs".
– That doesn't diminish my curiosity.
– Oh no.
– Famous ljus' curiosity from Dim's proverb, Stellyss.
– How could I learn something new about the world without it?
– Not being reborn a hundred times?
– It's not *a hundred*, Tesselynn! Sometimes it is accompanied… by some inconveniences, yes. For you also. Do you think I'm happy getting through this hard ground, regaining my skills and learning to communicate every time? Nope.
– Stop it then.
– And who will do the scouting?
– So, what? Do we… do we need to… try to catch one nej? Somehow?
– That's an interesting thought, Dallyss. Catch the uncatchable.
– …look at this light passing through the leaves!
The youngsters of the community "tugged" Lynn's attention again and it got stuck on it for an indefinite time.
– Magnificent.
– Ooh. I've got a seed… It's… Avallynn, I think.
– Great. Hild will be glad it wasn't lost.
– Has anyone planted Hild itself?
– Keillynn buried one.
– Not sure if it's Hild though.
– Poor Hild.
– Stubborn Hild.
– They had to flee with us.
– They were protecting our Lands as they swore.
– Totally Nej-filled lands. Sometimes you should accept reality and adapt. Hild's old enough to understand it.
– Look in its thoughts. It couldn't have it the other way, being deeply attached to our Home.
– I know! But we all did.
– It did it longer then most of us.
Lynn retrieved a carefully "folded" living image from the shared Memory Archive, capturing the breathtaking sensations of that epochal moment when the first ljuses found the future home of the Ellogos race. A place now lost to them.
– Well. This place is a decent place to settle. And to be reborn.
– I agree. Everyone likes it so far. But I think Hild will argue as soon as it will restore the ability to communicate.
– You don't need to be Icellynn to predict it.
– Poor Icellynn though. Is it planted yet?
– It is.
– Who else are we growing?
– Lia, Timo...
Lynn felt a feeling of sincere bitterness and disappointment spread through the younger part of the mind, still clinging to the old Vallos' habit of resenting inevitable circumstances.
– …no-no-no… Not Timo!
– We're without the Songs?!
– *For now*.
– Aiaiai!
– Abyss take these Nejas!
– They have it themselves.
– Let it grow and devour them then.
– Stupid Lia also. I'll miss its shenanigans.
– Don't even mention it.
– But that's so very Lia… Ellogos are the epitome of wisdom, but that doesn't apply to Lia.
– Say that when it sprouts and grows up.
– I definitely will.
– And you'll get a bashing.
– As usual.
Lynn switched its half-dormant wandering attention to the elders again.
– …about the Frontier? Dallyss? Stellyss? Illyss? Anything new or interesting?
– Not much.
– The Knapps sealed the through-passages in their mountain dwellings to the Mainland, as they warned. They're relocating to neighbouring mountains.
– So quickly?
– The part that didn't survive the Unseen attack is not so big. And the enormous death cloud that appeared suddenly in their caves, also send many into the rebirth circle as I heard.
– Sad to hear troubles aren't just ours.
– More souls are interested to find the answers then.
– Yes. It's common. Unseen ones showed themselves as utterly indiscriminate beings.
– Yes, I'm not jealous but… Knapps. Those shiny bright darkness dwellers. So strange, so adorable... How dare they. And who are they? Did the Unseen ones do this cloud?.. I don't even want to know *how*, though.
– It's not many options, considering how undeveloped they are, Illyss.
– Eww, Eillynn.
– If we consider they're highly developed… Then things are much worse than we can imagine.
– Returning to this death cloud. Am I the only one finding this suspicious?
– No. You're not. If we take our minds off our… opportunity to find new energies, new information, new paths, invent new tools, gather new herbs, find new tea recipes… And etc. It was a disaster. If we perceive an attack by a bunch of Unseens as something spontaneous… This sudden death cloud doesn't look like a coincidence. And it's dark as the Voids inside them. Looking like some sort of twisted Ellogram. It almost excludes the outlandish origin of those creatures. But who are they again? Where did they come from? No answers.
The elders sank into thoughtful silence, reviewing all the evidence of the catastrophe gathered by their tribe in the shared Memory Archive.
– A ghastly sight…
– I saw it firsthand, up close, while scouting near the Forest on the Wastes. Not fun at all.
– The death cloud affair isn't entertaining either, I suppose.
– Depends on how you look at it… The organisers surely had a lot of fun.
– Do you believe someone watched it? Someone invisible too?
– I… don't know. We've got nothing. Lynn's got nothing.
– Lynn's got nothing. - "yawned" as an answer Lynn. - Because some creatures are uncooperative.
– But some are. The Omill's vallos learnt about the Nejas from me quite recently.
– And? They're not bored now either?
– Yes. They took it quite dramatically, in fact.
– No one's bored here, right.
– Everything would be far more dramatic for them… and for everyone, had the Knapps not sealed their mountain dwellings and through-passages. The route was fast and quite convenient.
– They lost their Home too.
– Yes, poor Hellies. I think the same fate awaits the nearest dims' settlement. But no one is put aside, I think. Soon the whole Mainland would be… far too lively.
– *Fascinating*.
– Not much, Eillyss! I appreciate your naturalistic curiosity, but… I'm not immeasurably happy that my favourite tea set stayed in my hastily abandoned home.
The conversation of the younger ones, having found a common point, mingled with that of the older ones, giving Lynn's tired attention a rest, without rushing between them.
– Brew in mine, Ofllynn. Now you see, why I always carry it in a pocket dimension?
– Because you're a hopelessly tea-addicted maniac.
– I protest! No more than the average.
– More than is decent for a ljus. Hand over that teapot already… Actually, I think I'll move closer to the water. That always improves my mood.
– Don't fuss. There's water inside you too. Stick to it.
– What's inside is my "startup capital". It's not enough.
– When will it rain?! I'm far from the serenity of the elders.
– This flux of emotions has its own charm and allure.
– Just gets tiresome.
– Restless by nature… I discarded it. Like my Vallos' life once.
– Lucky you, Evo.
Long ago reborn from a Selva but still dwelling in its beloved city, breathing with it, Evo was a watcher, constantly observing Omill's life and its development with admiring enthusiasm.
– Though the Vallos' nature has undergone some changes lately. I myself perceived this city through a vallo body not so long ago. Now I can't grasp them. Sometimes it's inconvenient. Ellogos' vision opens one path but closes the others.
– Ask Aelliss or Niall to help. If you'll find them.
– Or Innyss. They're not in Prime, for sure. Aelliss intended to go to Zeth and Lim.
– They're not in Omill also. Niall studies his dearest Knapps, I suppose. But Innyss… could be anywhere.
These are aeonically busy and elusive precisely because of their Vallos' style of existence.
– Like Gaelle. Maybe… it decided to regress and become a half-ljus too? To… help us? Or just thought it amusing?
– Gaelle is the oldest and the greatest trickster. Anything can be expected from it.
– It's so dumb not to embrace Ellogos' preferences. I felt muuuch better when I was born as a ljus.
– Well. They are what they are because that's what this moment needs. Though it might be not easy for them.
– The Universe doesn't ask.
Ellogos jokingly referred to "immature" ljuses of a new type, which, by a strange quirk of the Universe, not only retained its old personality, but carried into its post-rebirth life several vallos' residues of souls in addition. These energetically charged patterns of features of once lived characters were perceived by the "half-ljuses" as various voices, that's why they earned a nickname – "Chorus in miniature".
Physically distancing from the other Ellogos, the "underdeveloped" lost their connection to the Chorus. Perhaps the presence of its own inner community offered them some solace instead.
But by Aellyss' own admission, it was a heavy burden. Though, judging by it's not rushing to be rid of it, it was clearly being coy.
– Aelliss had already shed some light on part of this story, by the way.
– Aha. Vallos from different settlements are playing their own Vallos games. Again. Nothing new on the Mainland.
– Are the Nejs playing also? Or are they a part of their games?
– Who knows.
– I want to find them.
– Does it mean… Vallos' games cease being some abstract occurrence in their plane of existence and now directly concern us?
– It's unfortunate. The need to delve into their affairs, motives, and amusements seems an added complexity. In short… That's a serious accusation, Eillynn.
– And it didn't answer the question of where did they come from.
– From… the neighbouring settlement?
– Maybe.
– Interesting times have come. Like Eillynn and Dallyss, I'm curious to get to the bottom of all this. Riddle upon riddle. And no certainty.
– Life will show what it was anyway. Why fuss? Be curious.
– And cautious.
– Don't linger too long at the Frontier.
– What?! Why?
– I need your help.
– *Specifically* mine? Why? Ah. I see.
– I wouldn't offer you anything dull, Dallyss.
– I know, I know…
– Illyss, Stellyss. You too. Return swiftly. Preferably, in bodies and without using rebirths.
– But what about scouting? Should Oillynn come too?
– It's already on its way. Don't worry. You'll return to your vagabond life soon. Let's focus on the present moment.
– Tea then? Let's physically join the young souls.
– Tea. And settling down comfortably. That's what we need now.
– Finally. That's true Ellogos' spirit! A housewarming Tea-party.
A half-asleep ljus, comfortably perched on a branch, watched in fascination as a bunch of lights flocked together. So bright and beautiful.
– I plan to return to scouting too… — it "yawned" with a thought.
– Is it? Where?
– Near the Dims at the Frontier. I'm getting back to them.
– But why? You already tried and learned nothing from them.
– Yes, they just shied away as always... It makes it more interesting to deal with. A bit of even the most idiotic stability looks pleasant these days… Their luminosity is barely brighter than our enigmatic Nejs. That might hold part of the solution to our riddle. Not sure what I want to find, but I'll see what the circumstances offer. Too tired to make plans now.
– An excellent plan, though. Circumstances are quite curious lately indeed. There's much to see. I won't leave this matter alone also.
– Me neither.
The conversation continued without Lynn, who moved into uncontrollable alternative worlds, subject only to the ancient as modern civilization Icellynn.