The Seer's Council is an independent group made up primarily of Awakened on the Seer's Path who's primary focus is on knowledge and information. They ensure that knowledge is fairly shared within the bounds of what an individual should be aware of.

  This knowledge makes them uniquely suited to ensure that access permissions are properly encoded in Holding Systems and Vaults, they deal with the EDN on a daily basis as creators not just consumers.

  Their skills also allow them to truly perceive and understand what Energy Patterns are, allowing them to discern an Awakened's potential in the form of Awakening Gifts.

  ~ * ~

  As they neared the Branch Manager's doorway Seb slowed. While the entire office flickered with Energy patterns the doors themselves positively glowed. Even more unusual was the fact that opening the door did nothing to dispel the patterns. The fluctuations seemed to be in the threshold itself.

  Anya, do you see anything unusual about the doorway? he asked right as she was about to step through.

  No? she answered, pausing for a moment before sticking her hand through and pulling it back. I don't feel anything either. Why?

  It looks like a curtain of Energy Patterns, I can see through it but at the same time I can't. He pushed a sense of what he saw through the band and felt as much as heard Anya stifle a gasp of surprise. He didn't push to the point that had given them headaches but whatever he sent clearly conveyed the image.

  That- That almost looks like a curtain of Energy, but focusing towards the middle?

  Before he could answer they were interrupted by the booming voice once more.

  "Don't just stand there, come in, come in."

  They both startled at the sound then stepped through. Seb felt the complex pattern wash over him with no discernible effect even as he looked around the office. A large desk dominated the far half of the room, the bald Awakened behind it watching them carefully.

  "Interesting look you've chosen for your Husk Lady Lysanya," he said in way of greeting.

  Seb could feel Anya's shock at the words even as she answered coldly. "I choose to look like myself."

  "Do you now," he answered, his tone filled with meanings Seb couldn't begin to decipher.

  Seb took a moment to glance around the room, growing more confused with every passing moment as details didn't add up.

  "OverSeer Valene? Where exactly are we?"

  "Valene is acceptable unless you both wish to dwell on titles. We are in my office of course."

  Seb?

  "But where is your office? That window is on an inside wall and unless we somehow spent half a day inside the sun is on the wrong side. This office doesn't fit inside the rest of the building, the far hallway when we came in should be close to where we're standing."

  He turned to glance at Anya then back at Valene. "Do Awakened have access to Spatial Expansion? Pocket Dimensions? Quantum Teleportation of some sort?"

  He could feel Anya's confusion at his questions as she looked around as well, realization growing on her face as she did so. The curtain brought us here? And access to what?

  Stuff from Science Fiction. Spaces bigger on the inside than the outside, whole worlds hidden away from reality, and moving from place to place instantaneously, he sent back to Anya, doing his best to clarify.

  "Yes," Valene answered.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Seb frowned, that answer was useless. "Yes?"

  Yes, we have something like- Anya started to answer him as well only for Valene to clarify.

  "At least some Awakened have access to all those things and more, at least based on the Unawakened meaning of those terms. And yes, my office is in an expanded space, but not in a pocket dimension. Combining the two requires an excessive amount of Energy for all but the most trivial or critical uses. And yes, we are not in the building you met Seer Sean in, nor is that actually a window but merely a, as you pointed out, inaccurate projection."

  As he spoke Valene's gaze shifted away from Anya and onto Seb. For all that he seemed relaxed behind his desk his attention left Seb reeling. Being stared at should not feel physical and yet it did.

  "Now I would like an answer from you Sebastian. What made you pause at the doorway and pay so much attention the moment you stepped through?"

  "You obviously overheard our conversation with Seer Sean. I can see Energy Patterns. Your doorway, or portal I suppose, looked like a very thick curtain of energy even once the doors opened. Much more so than the walls of the Construct that looks like an office. And then the projection and the geometry," he answered, gesturing to the artificial window and then to the room as a whole.

  "Well then," Valene sat back, tapping his chin in thought. "I thought you simply saw something through physical contact, not-" he paused and tilted his head in a question. "all the time?"

  Do I trust him Anya?

  I guess? We wanted answers about how you're doing these things, hard to get answers without giving information, she answered.

  "All the time within Constructs. And all the time when looking at Awakened Husks. I don't see anything from True Selves though, at least-" he froze and glanced at Anya. "If I'm in physical contact and thinking about anything related to Energy I'll notice something."

  What do you mean you'll notice something?

  It isn't like looking through a Husk, it's more I can feel your Energy moving if you touch me when I'm meditating.

  Valene glanced between them before gesturing for them to take a seat. "If you're going to talk in band while around others, you probably want to work on your physical reactions. It isn't exactly impolite but it is a little obvious."

  Seb glanced at Anya as they sat before they both nodded in acknowledgment.

  "Your perception is quite interesting," Valene continued. "If I had a few hours I would gladly test your Awakening Gifts and answer any associated questions. Unfortunately although Sean thinks of me as the Branch Manager I am more of a Regional Manager, my office doors can open into many branches of the Seer's Council."

  Seb frowned, if they weren't going to get answers then why were they here?

  "I will however assign a Seer to visit you at your Holding in the next few days. She will be able to answer all your questions and help you with any other Seer related affairs. Those stairways you see are, well I don't wish to say for certain but an Engineer can confirm easily enough, an indication that your Construct is something more advanced than a basic model."

  "You should go to the local Engineer's guild and ask for Yshe. Officially she's retired but tell her Valene sent you and that you see those stairways, it should get her curious enough go and take a look."

  Up to you, he sent to Anya.

  "Thank you for the suggestion. Could you tell us where the Guild is? I was unaware there even was a local Guild Hall, the Holding seemed intent on only using their own Affiliated Engineers."

  "Of course," Valene answered before writing the address down on a slip of paper.

  Seb reached out to take it, only to recoil in shock. As his hand came near Valene's he felt an overwhelming sense of danger. It wasn't how he felt when Rios threatened them, or even how he felt when Anya had lunged, it was the total certainty that he was about to be crushed like the tiniest of bugs trapped inside a vise.

  Seb!? Anya reached out, her own panic evident through the band.

  He shuddered, finding himself standing against the far wall, pressing into it with all his might. I-, he's dangerous, he- He paused, Valene had not moved from where he held the piece of paper, his gaze once more pinning Seb to the wall as though he was the most curious of curiosities. Anya had pushed her own chair back over a foot as she took up a defensive posture. Seb realized that in the moment he had broadcast exactly what he had felt, hit her with the intensity of his panic and yet she had handled it much better. I'm sorry. I-

  No. Whatever that was it wasn't your imagination. I could feel it too, or at least I could feel you feeling it. That was, something else.

  After a long moment Valene shifted his hand to offer the paper to Anya, still looking at Seb as he did. "The address, Lady Lysanya. I swear on my powers as an Awakened and my role within the Seer's Council that I mean you and yours no ill will of any sort."

  Anya reached out hesitantly only to grasp the paper without issue. I didn't feel anything at all. No different from any other Awakened's Husk I've touched.

  "Sebastian, I do not know what you felt, but I apologize for causing you such distress."

  Seb took a deep breath, his panic mostly gone now that he had a moment to process without the sensation. "I felt as though you were about to crush me, not physically but crush all the same."

  Valene frowned and turned away, muttering to himself too low for Seb to hear anything. After a moment he looked back at them. "Now I truly wish I had more time available. Unfortunately I cannot see you out, however once you step out of the office you'll be back in the hallway next to Sean's office. I look forward to hearing what comes of your meetings with Yshe and with my protege."

  Want to support Confluence Saga?

  Leave a comment to tell me what you think of the story so far.

  is 10 chapters ahead.

  Want to chat about the story? Come to .

  Current Bonus Chapter Goals:

  - 21/20 Followers - Bonus on Oct 11th and Oct 18th

  - 7/10 Favorites

  - 3/10 Ratings

  - 0/2 Reviews