When Soul Walkers die and are buried, their spirits are often seen sitting curled up atop their graves, or whatever resting point they may lie. In some cases, when the body isn't properly laid to rest, they become wandering ghosts, or restless spirits, which may lurk around—sometimes continuing their lives without the knowledge of their passing, or becoming corrupted by the Curse, and turning into Abominations.
Now let's not get too hasty, and retrace our steps to the more 'normal' side of things…
The spirit of a Soul Walker—which means Transcender, sits for nine months by the gravepost, and doing nothing else, before ascending into the clouds like angels towards paradise, through the Ladder of Life and Death.
Nine months. Doesn't that sound familiar?
Of course, what you are thinking of is pregnancy and conception (I'm assuming you aren't Mr Gnorts). And if we're to speak of conception, then we must talk about one which, regardless of how you picture it, is rather strange…
….
A baby wrapped in burial clothes, but alive. Covered in blood, but unharmed. And most strangely, found next to a tightly shut black chest, in a tightly shut wooden box. A coffin, to be precise.
To Sabrinna, a graceful Transcender and traveller of two worlds, this went beyond strange, and bordered on the banks of disturbing. She stumbled upon the poor little child in one of her quests to purge a Deadland, peeking through a hole in the box, and bawling in a loud voice. In these lands, there couldn't have been one to mother a child, for even survival was a feat worthy of praise, so you could imagine how much less sense it made, for a baby, sheltered by none, to survive. Not when the Skinwalkers, Undead, and the hosts of Abominations were still prowling about.
'Is this the Child of Prophecy?' she thought.
A prophecy of woe, that is.
Sabrinna knew of the legends, of the tales which her father—a fervent believer would tell her. The Herald of Chaos, The Darkness and The Vessel: that's what they called it. She was aware of the uproar she would cause if news of this child was told, alongside the bountiful reward she would receive from the Holy Legion before they slew the child.
As such, she was tempted. But, her conscience betrayed her.
When she saw how he would suck on her thumb, wriggle his feet in joy, and stare at her with pure innocence, her heart ached for the mischief that she once thought of. She was made to wonder how such a child could turn out to be as evil as the stories told. Perhaps, as many New Age Humans believed, it was all propaganda.
For the first time in all her Deadland raids, she was glad to be alone—though a nasty thing to be glad about as all her comrades had been either killed or dehumanised in appalling manners that are best left unsaid. She was glad that she couldn't be seen or caught keeping the child.
And so, for years, she nurtured and trained the child, honing him into a Soul Walker who could cross over to the Other World. Aiden grew from an infant into a boy, under two watchful, curious eyes.
He was only a boy, after all? How could he become the Darkness?
Sabrinna wished to know, and to see. Whether he would grow into a normal Aetherian, a great Soul Walker, or the Herald of Chaos. But, she didn't live long enough to witness these things.
That being said, the introductions are over. And the story begins.
—The Storyteller, Author of Realities
*****
Urmm..so some basic things to know:
'<...>': Author speaking (i.e the anonymous lifeform writing this story)
'Italisced': Hmm…thinking…about…a girlfriend (help, I'm single). Thoughts, essentially.
"Cursed Declaration: Da Hood": A skill, or any of those witchcraft thingy (i.e sigils, cursed abilities, learnt abilities, Cursed declaration, Soul Declaration)
What else…?
Ah..most importantly…
You mustn't forget this one…
'....' : Normal words ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)