She didn't resist the mirror, she couldn't.
She had expected impact, or at least the suggestion of it, but instead there was only a brief, penetrating cold, as though she has stepped into winter without cause. It passed through her rather than around her, carrying with it an irresistible heaviness. Sleep tugged at her insistently.
However her eyes remained open.
Or so she thought, until she realized the notion n longer applied.
She only existed as an ethereal figure, the feeling of weightlessness assaulted her senses as like she was standing at the edge of a cliff. The anticipation that certain fall will follow tightened around her chest, she braced herself, but nothing happened.
Is this a dream, no I don't think so, dreams weren't supposed to go like this.
She became aware of movement then… not her own, beneath her. The surface which she stood on was rising, lifting her steadily upwards. Ahead of her was a world covered in a thick haze. So much so she couldn't see the world in front of her.
'It seems I'm not alone in this place,' despite the obstruction of the haze, she could see the faint outline of another person. From the demeanor of the other party, it was obvious they were just as clueless as she was.
More platforms emerged from below. Ascending in measured intervals until they settled at an equal height. Together they formed a rough circle, each bearing a solitary figure.
Their figures were obscured by the haze that seems to be growing thicker with each attempt she make to make out the features of the people. It was as though she haze had a mind of its own.
She counted without quit meaning to.
Aside from here, there were three women and two men she could tell as much, for a moment nothing was said.
Then a voice cut cleanly out of the stillness.
'Perhaps we should begin with introduction." It came from directly opposite of her, Polarity recognize the voice at once. The voice belonged to the person who had initiated and made her a dominator.
That should be her, however she couldn't be sure.
Silence reigned once more, this time heavier for having being disturbed.
"Why don't we start," The lady continued, "With the person standing in front of me."
The words landed with unmistakable precision.
She was pointing as polarity.
A chill ran down her spine.
Can she see me? That shouldn't be possible right,
As she had observed, so far everyone here where strangers to one another, and none of them could see one another.
Of course I could be wrong. Unsettled as he might be, she considered the possibility that she might have mistaken, the gesture had been general rather than exact. However she said nothing.
There was still a lot she didn't know. But she the silence, not uttering a single word.
'Just your name would be enough my lady.' The woman added seeing Polarity still not going ahead with the introduction.
'I don't think she can seeme' Polarity thought.
The woman had addressed her as 'My lady' a formality reserved for heirs of the greater and lesser houses. Commoners like herself would refer to themselves as 'milady' or 'milord.'
It was fairly obvious that the woman would notice that she was a commoner when she handed her the mirror.
Polarity took in another took of air, this place wherever it was could easily pass off as a real world, it felt so real, she could feel the cold air on her skin, she could even feel the moisture in the air. This kind of miracle could exist in this world, this was nothing short of supernatural.
This would have been impossible to believe if she wasn't experiencing it firsthand. She observed the room once more.
"You may address me as Polarity"
"We welcome you, Ms. Polarity"
After the introduction the woman's gaze drifted unhurriedly to the platform besides polarity's own.
"How about the young sir next to the Ms. Polarity?"
The figure there was unmistakably male, though age was difficult to judge through the haze. His outline suggested strength broad shoulders, a steady stance.
The later paused for a bit, adjusted his gaze a little, "You may address me a Mr. Road"
Polarity frowned inwardly.
That couldn't be a real name.
She revisited her own phrasing with a twinge of irritation. You may address me as… It did sound like an evasion, whether she had meant it to or not.
She had to admit, saying it like that dose sound like she was giving an alias name instead of her real one, then again polarity didn't exactly sound like a usual name.
Before the woman could prompt again, the next figure spoke.
"You may address me as Mr. Night."
Polarity resisted the urge to sigh
Hmm
Polarity felt like pulling her hair out, it would seem like Mr. Road wasn't the only one who had the same thought. The others introduced themselves with weird names like journey, night, network, and box
Polarity rolled her eyes, though she doubted anyone noticed.
The woman directly opposite polarity who introduced herself as Ms. Journey nodded, "I welcome everyone to the first gathering of the order of thinkers."
"The aim of this gathering is to establish a network of information gathering and exchange across the continent, pertaining the supernatural" Ms. Journey added.
After pausing for a minute, she continued, "Particularly, valuable information can be traded among members"
"I'm sure members have already noticed that the greater families are actively suppressing information regarding the paths of dominion"
"I have a Question" all eyes where immediately fixed at the position of the lady who introduced herself as Ms. Rivers.
Without wasting time, Ms. Rivers proceeded with her question, "Does anyone know how I can become a dominator" the lady asked.
Like Ms. Journey ha said, the secrets of dominators is being actively suppressed by the greater houses, it was by share luck that the Polarity had stumbled upon dame Veracity who performed an initiation rituals on her.
Polarity fell into deep thoughts. 'If an initiation ritual is required to step into the path. What then is the origin of the first dominator?' no matter how she thought if it, she couldn't come up with an answer. She then brushed it off, focusing on the gathering, perhaps she might find out.
Ms. Journey was the one who answered the question, "As far as I know there are thirteen paths of dominion, each of them is linked to the observable constellations across the world"
'Thirteen paths, linked to the constellations. Wait there are actually seventeen constellations so does that mean there are more than paths, seventeen maybe' across the night-sky there are actually seventeen constellations, if each path is linked to the constellation. It would make sense for there to be more than thirteen paths.
Polarity once again her attention back to the gathering. Ms. Journey continued speaking, "Becoming a Dominator means coming in contact with the spirituality tied to these constellations, called paths of dominion"
This time silence was deafening, as all ears tended to Ms. Journey, "There are two ways to come in contact with spiritually, one is to be initiated to by a Dominator affiliated with any of the thirteen constellation"
This would mean the initiation ritual performed on her.
"And the other way is to look in to one of 'The Thirteen Bends o' the Bow,' of course the former is more plausible, while the latter is next to impossible"
"Given that most of the bends are either lost or are safely being guarded by the greater houses, finding a dominator to initiate is into any of the affliction is much easier"
"Only dominators of the third state and above can conduct the initiation"
However being initiated is not without its own risk, as the dominator could easily enslave your thoughts to his will, without you even knowing it, so you have to be careful"
Hearing this made the other pale in fright. 'So it's possible to be enslaved, that too without realizing it, so that that mean…" polarity quickly brushed off the thought.
From the way Ms. Journey casually said it, that doesn't seem to be the case, but she would need be careful from now on.