The clouds had parted as the wind settled, letting the sun shine.

As that young Shadow-Trapper left the scene, the remaining two of the council rushed towards the beings that had just emerged from the esoteric space, their expressions rife with curiosity and concern.

Maysa and Kenji came to a stop. Upon seeing the seven - no, eight - shadows, Maysa wore a frown. Upon observing their restrained aura, their dulled energies, it only deepened.

"You're back quite soon, and..."

"We went someplace where Time doesn't exist which is why it feels that way," Zeno said in a quiet tone, his mind unable to leave his previous atmosphere. Shadows of such... such... such auras... no, something indescribable.

Maysa nodded slowly.

"What now?"

Zeno's question came sharper than he had intended or anyone had expected. Kenji saw Jay's mind struggle to find its footing and thought quickly, just like he had once done for the previous leader.

"I will take care of Elek, like I did for Clement. He can..."

The words faded away and Pranetra looked only at her brother. How delicately he held the small being, how he looked at him with such concern, such responsibility. So unlike his usual self just moments before... could this little boy finally push him past his doubt?

His eyes were heavier than before. The heaviest so far.

He only burdens himself. Is that what he thinks it means to be a leader? Do things right. Keep your promises. Be honest for the sake of the world and the people. What went on his head?

As Kenji still spoke Jay's gaze wavered, moving around until Pranetra finally caught it, not letting him move. She shook her head slowly, her eyes subtly darting to the little boy in his hands.

Jay sighed, regaining his composure as he walked over to Kenji. Pranetra's sighed in relief, her aura finally giving way to weight as she lost focus of her surroundings, still standing but no more paying attention to anything that went about her.

Care... As a cloud moved to reduce the sun's shine, her friends captured Pranetra's attention. Zeno so deep in thought, Maysa so deep in concern. Kenji stood as an anchor of wisdom, yet his age couldn't do much for that bizarre day. Umbra and Hedley stood recoiled, unable to leave that space, just like Pranetra. One death shocked them, just like another did so for her. Why? Why did that shadow reach them, and why did that shadow reach her?

Clement was as unreadable as ever other than the very, very slight distance in his eye.

All those who visited the obscure space found at least one shadow they were attached to just like that, without any explanation. Everyone found one of their own, one shadow they couldn't help but admire. One shadow that simply wouldn't leave their thoughts. What was this?

Pranetra didn't want to indulge in this sorrow, but it was... addicting? It was... she was someone Pranetra simply couldn't forget, and she couldn't figure out why. Why did she care so much? Why did she reach her?

Had Jay not been preoccupied with other things, would he have felt the same? Pranetra looked at her brother who had defaulted to his confusing demeanour.

The one shadow Pranetra could read no matter what... she was unable to read. Perhaps he did feel the same, only in a way burdened in a way so different from the others. What about herself?

Did she care about that leader because of her death? Because she promised to give the leader some of her energy? Because of how she had been during her last moments?

Or perhaps Pranetra simply admired a Shadow-Trapper. Yes, that was it. Why would she be embarrassed by that?

Pranetra admired Mildred with all her heart.

Suddenly something bubbled within her. Bright, strong, fiery, growing and growing until it stayed no more and came out.

The first ray of a new light shone in that forest, straight from Pranetra's hands into the centre of the clearing. Pranetra squinted her eyes, unable to stare at that orange glow for too long.

Pranetra... couldn't stare at this light?

Clement, noticing the shape fluctuate from sphere to ellipsoid and immediately held up his palm facing that energy. His expression remained composed but his eyes were fierce with a light of care as two yellow bursts of light shot forward, joining the sphere. The orange now featured two rings of yellow that stabilised the energy, consoling the confused.

Pranetra's wave of energy finally ended in a long white wave, encasing the sparkling energy with it spread out on it as a thin layer. The sphere spun and spun till it reached an inconceivable speed before it reached a shape and began decelerating. The distortions stopped as the sphere was finally soothed. As the white shell broke a small sphere of an incredibly gentle orange emerged, spinning slowly.

Clement somehow shifted his gaze from the sphere to Pranetra's eyes, his own widening at the view.

Pranetra saw nothing else. The orange shone in a fonder manner deep within her eyes, appearing more vibrant than it was in there. Reality, energy, nothing mattered to her in the moment.

As the sphere emerged from white oblivion, Pranetra found herself back there.

What was in her eyes? Longing? Adoration? For what? For who?

The entity walked slowly towards the sphere and Clement saw everyone's eyes fixated at the gaze, everyone confused. Everyone than the other entity.

Jay wore a smile as if seeing that new energy took some of a new burden off his mind. Zeno's eyes widened in realisation and he turned towards Maysa, stopping himself from saying anything. At that exact moment, Ila stared at the little shadow-trapper in Jay's hands. Umbra clutched her chest as she thought of her daughter, Ava.

None of it when unnoticed by Jay. It was then that everything came to him.

They can grow up together. Are they... just like that child, perhaps. Pranetra's new energy... could she be...?

As Jay found his own thoughts to immerse himself in, Clement finally allowed himself to smile. Both of them may have been mind controllers but the shadow could read their thoughts and auras too easily; everything was transparent. And that's when the worrying thought hit him.

This knowledge of who their past selves are, will it affect the way they look at these new shadow-trappers? They'll be born as children, they will experience the world in their own way, learn from it and give back to it in their own way. The same soul does not equal the same individual.

Pranetra finally smiled, her attention still set on that orange sphere. Clement saw the shadow associate that orange zeal with Mildred, but there was another look in Pranetra's eyes.

Affection for a different shadow-trapper. For someone who was her responsibility. Still, she connected their bravery. Or, perhaps was influenced by her bravery.

Clement smiled with a sigh. At least for the moment, at least she recognised some difference. They could always learn and grow from that point.

Three months need to be enough.

Clement turned to the others, their expressions unchanged. Still, Clement had the confidence that they could learn to disassociate things that had some correlation but very little causation. Everyone could learn.

Jay's eyes lingered on Elek, then slowly travelled to that orange sphere. As memories of that recondite sphere he experienced moments before flowed in, Jay's eyes widened. All those thoughts, all those emotions with regards to Vlad, to this leader that he himself felt he could never match since he wasn't a shadow-trapper, his image of shadow beings as confined creatures instantly shattered.

Clement couldn't see what went on in his leader's head but the convoluted aura shook his confidence.

He couldn't see how thirty years, let alone three months would be enough.

Clement sighed. He simply didn't want these burdened shadow-trappers to feel a weight of responsibility and destiny any more than they already would, even if their previous lives set it up for them

Especially so.

They weren't alone. Not yet, anyway, and Clement intended that to be true for at least a while longer.

So did Pranetra.

- - - - -

"Let's head out!"

Ila called out from the entrance to the white bungalow as she stood with her arms crossed, glancing at the clock in the hallway.

"Why do we all have to head out again?"

Ila narrowed her eyes at Zeno, sighing.

"Big extermination. There are a lot of demonic dreatures at the site of the accident. We need to be very delicate, too."

Ila's tone trailed into softness as she wore her confident smile, any of Zeno's slack vanishing instantly. The other four were soon at the entrance and everyone shared a nod, needing no more discussion as they headed straight to their task.

The forest where their home sat, the city, the people, the sky of life, the unclean atmosphere... what determined such adjectives? Life, unclean... isn't that all just relative? Something good for one can be harmful to others, that's how evolution has always occurred.

As the six came to a stop they took a deep breath, observing the sight.

Bodies being rushed into hospitals in those beeping vehicles as the roads are cleared for the sake of speed. Auras so convoluted, energy so drained... death in greater number leads to a higher return. Was that good for the land?

Minds chaotic. Thoughts out of rational. Emotions out of control. Make haste. Anxiety. No understanding. Everyone's reserved. Physical pain inflicting emotional pain. Mental pain. Pain. Suffering. How could the demonic creatures possibly help with such a situation?

And with that question they came, so many of them, the good weather giving way to the terrible aura, dampening the atmosphere. One creature per human? No, a larger number as they warped their bodies, their minds going from neutral to hollow to aggravated, pulling out the pain of the affected living things.

Emotional negativity inflicting physical negativity. How is this helping? Pulling out the inner burden on a small scale is okay, but so much could affect the environment greatly, could it not?

"We are here to stop the creatures before the negativity becomes overbearing for Earth, so let's get to it."

Pranetra's sharp tone cut through everyone's daze, bringing the five back to the task at hand.

"Quickly let me know what each of you wants to do," Ila started, gesturing for the others to come closer as they huddle around each other.

"Ability," said Pranetra, Clement and Umbra in unison after which Hedley gave a single nod.

"Okay," Ila said softly before she turned towards Zeno, wearing a small smile.

"This seems like a good place to use the technique of Solis, and my ability won't do much good anyway."

Ila nodded. "In my case I can think of good uses of shadow-lifting, but I think I will stick to the technique of Liber. The physical situation of the environment is deteriorating with every passing moment. All of you, go. Hedley, stay back for a bit."

The four nodded as they rushed forward, ...

"Are you sure you don't want to use one of the techniques? I know how good you are with Liber and super-strength has its physical limitations..."

"Super-strength will do enough," Hedley responded with a smile, his aura as settled as ever. Ila hesitated before giving a nod, Hedley heading to his task immediately after.

Am I experimenting in a delicate situation? Is it okay to use something from so long ago? These abilities were passed down to us for a reason, should we stick to them for a while more?

Ila shook her head, waving the doubt away. No, we eventually have to return to them. If we don't start, we'll never move ahead.

The shadow closed her eyes and focused on the rising negativity and the sun.

Like liquid bubbling to the surface... evaporate and transform it into neutral energy that can return to the surroundings, that can safely become a part of the land. Delicate system, delicate instruments, but it's not impossible.

Ila took a deep breath, focusing on the demonic creatures around her in a certain radius.

Zeno will take care of the energy with Solis. Abstract to physical, physical to abstract... a lot of that is at play here, now I cannot see how we can succeed without Liber.

Ila let go of her contemplations for the time being, shifting her concentration to the environment. As the majority of the world blurred away she felt the interaction of auras in the Shadow Dimension... the trauma of the demonic creatures, the source of the humans, the reactions of the land...

The demonic creatures may have come from Destructive Tenebris but they had evidently been born in a weakened state for their energy majorly comprised of Earth... with a simple flick of her finger Ila hardened the aura of one demonic creature, taking it from its control and forcing its energy to pour out of its vessel as its abstract existence was warped to come out of the shadows into the physical world, except the quantities had to be conserved. As a result, the energy faded out and the abstract and physical exchanged places, destroying the creature as a result.

Instantaneously. The pain was sharp for that instant. It didn't affect the soul.

Earth rejected that energy and it made its way to the land of Destructive Tenebris.

Ila's aura tightened, bewildered. Why did Earth reject the energy? Was it because it belonged to a demonic creature, or was it because it had been convoluted and pained beyond neutrality? Why is Destructive Tenebris okay with this?

At this rate, Earth's energy will be depleted into destruction... because Ila was sure that many shadow-trappers were unable to handle so much energy with care. Just how much energy had Earth lost over the many millennia? How is it going? Will it get any of this energy back?

Pranetra's gaze shifted from Ila to Zeno, deciding to leave the former to her solitude to figure out her concerns. The latter handled every bit of energy with incredible care, borrowing the positive enthalpy of the environment, moving it as if the energy was paint swimming in the oceanic atmosphere until it met with the negativity of the creatures, reacting such that both transformed into neutral vapour.

Earth accepted most of that energy, letting what originally belonged to Destructive Tenebris travel back.

It doesn't take back what is never its, it doesn't take back some fitting specific conditions... stubbornness, altruism or a simple law of nature?

Pranetra considered switching over to the technique of Solis for the day; she wanted everything to end as quickly as possible. Such a dull event could hardly hold her attention for long, and she wanted her friends to be okay.

They must've realised the techniques aren't ready to return by now. Using it would create doubt in such a realisation. My 'ability' is not like theirs, anyway.

Pranetra took a deep breath, ignoring everything except the one thing that mattered in the moment. The humans faded, their everything faded, the land faded, its everything faded, the demonic creatures faded and only their aura and energy remained. The abstract was thin and weak, the negativity floating up and causing their energy to bubble, increasing zeal either affecting the environment or reaching the threshold where it could burst and destroy itself to neutrality if it weren't for the vessels of the demonic creatures, the slight semblance of a mind that kept it together.

Pranetra took a deep breath, catching hold of all the minds of all the demonic creatures in the vicinity. As she exhaled their senses snapped and their bodies fell just before their energy began leaking, all bodies eventually disintegrating it.

The energy that was released came together as a lifeless sphere and the angelic spirit focused on each quantum component, taking the positivity of the memories of the humans around and prompting it to reach the sphere of energy. A collection of emotions, a collection of energies that would heal each other.

The humans worked somewhat faster, their emotional states still in disarray but nearly none without hope. The sphere of energy sparkled and dispersed.

Earth rejected it. The dispersed energy hesitated, confused, before making its way to the land of Destructive Tenebris.

Pranetra's eyes widened.

Why? Does this land deem it as unnatural? Is that what's happening? Wait... did I simply do what he did... no, I couldn't. We're different. We're not remotely the same...

Clement's gentle grip brought the being back to reality, but it didn't do much to wave away Pranetra's malaise. Something was so heavy in her gut, like a human si-

"How powerful are you, Pranetra?"

Ila's tone was a wild mix of curiosity, impressed, hesitance and the slightest uneasiness. Pranetra remained motionless, unsure of what to say at which Clement came to the rescue.

"This was quite the arduous last job. At least no one will miss it as we return to the headquarters," Clement remarked in a gentle yet strong tone and Hedley nodded.

"Dealing with such an event one week before we leave does feel quite bizarre..."

Hedley paused as his expression shifted from calm to solemn.

"One thing is clear, there is a lot that we must do. The techniques were sealed away for a reason and we cannot jump into their usage. Combine it with the abilities, perhaps?"

"We have time to think," Clement assured, ignoring the slightest uneasiness he felt as he spoke. The others nodded and an awkward silence filled the atmosphere.

Pranetra turned towards the scene they stood in and the others followed, looking at the humans pick themselves up. Working hard, some on the verge of giving up, some terribly exhausted but nearly none left behind for some close to them always came to the rescue.

Well. As much as they could help each other, anyway. Perhaps a little like the shadow-trappers. They're all trying their best with their limited powers, which supposedly counts for something.

No, how foolish. Of course it counts for something. It's enough for them all, personally. No value here is zero.

"I still think Jay asked the six of us to join the council only because of Pranetra," Ila raised her eyes as she suppressed a smile, her focus solely on Pranetra.

"Jay doesn't do things in that manner..."

Ila punched an arm up in a victorious manner and Pranetra's flustered expression only deepened, settling a bit only when Ila ruffled her hair.

"Jay does know about the techniques, right?" Umbra asked and Clement nodded immediately.

"Of course."

"Who taught him?"

Something sparkled in Clement's eyes, his focus blurring for the briefest moment possible.

"Ehren."

"Though he did come with something special of his own when he was born," Pranetra said softly and an aura of intrigue cut through Zeno's mind.

"Are you referring to his energy? It's definitely not ordinary even if it feels that way on the surface."

Pranetra nodded and Umbra wore an expression of concern, her eyebrows furrowing towards Zeno.

"Careful, Pranetra. It's Jay so it's okay, but Zeno might just try to dissect our leader someday."

Pranetra chuckled softly and Zeno wore a bizarre look while Ila seemed proud of the quiet shadow. The six took the last glimpse of the scene they'd never see again. With a unanimous deep breath, they headed back to the house, settling the trivial physicalities after which Ila took them back to the headquarters.

Never going back. Does only your way exist? A scene they'd never see again, set in stone?

The scene they'd never see again, for worse things exist.

- - - - -

Audrey sat amongst the crowd of kids in the main hall, her eyes sparkling as she turned around to see others shuffle in, expressions of intrigue and anticipation and boredom and indifference surrounding her. She had managed to grab a seat in the front and now waited for her friend, her patience wearing thin.

A gentle aura appeared by her and her smile grew while her frown deepened. Audrey turned to her left and hit the boy on his arm, less lightly than she intended. Galen scrunched his nose but left the site of impact unattended and Audrey muttered an apology in response.

"Yo-"

The moment she entered the hall fell silent, perhaps drawn to her presence, perhaps forced by her aura, perhaps simply quiet due to the air of intrigue she brought in.

For Audrey, it was simply fondness.

Pranetra came to a stop next to the leader who stood in the centre of the room, her smile subtle but so strong.

"Good morning everyone! Today..."

Audrey loved Jay but she could not focus on anyone except the fair lady at that moment. As her gaze continued to peer into the familiar aura, it turned into something unfamiliar.

White as always, but what is this light? Gentle as always, but what is this force... as if it will pull me into oblivion? A space void of everything but a single aura line of... information? No...

"I do hope I can provide a satisfactory explanation of the purpose of your abilities and how you must always improve. For some of you, becoming a part of a team is a long way and for others, it is only days away. Nevertheless, it's never too early or late to start improving."

The voice was music to Audrey's ears. Drawing her in...

"The abilities usually have two components - the physical and the abstract. Some lean more into one side. For example, super speed is more physical than abstract while my own, mind-control, is more abstract than physical. Speaking to Nature is the only one that is a perfect balance of both."

Abstract... Audrey could definitely recognise auras more easily than energy, just as she saw her mother's tranquillity giving way to duty.

"Nevertheless, both components are present and it is important for each of you to respect and work on both. Sometimes separately, sometimes together. Hone each and let it culminate together for the world is a mix of both and beyond."

Hands separately, hands together, creating a wonderful sound.

"Shadows such as Jay, I and the other adults will be here to help you, but eventually you must learn to think and feel for yourself. These are your abilities and they are a part of you. It grows with you, and you grow with it."

What if Audrey combined music and mind-control? How would that work?

"Always be cautious. None of you is safe."

Jay raised an eyebrow. The children's expressions remained as curious as before, frozen, unsure. Tensed auras, reserved energies... where did that thought come from?

"You all have great potential. You can do wonderful things with your ability. Hone it to understand the world around you better.

"Be watchful of yourself and the world if you wish to be worthy of Truth, if you wish to bring joy to beings affected by Time."

"Hear the voice inside, little raven."

The music was no longer good for Audrey. Addicting...

Audrey blinked and found her mother no more present in the room, though she still felt that quiet aura somewhere nearby, no longer as attractive as it had been moments before.

Audrey turned towards Galen, his eyes glazed and fixated on the spot where the shadow stood just a few moments ago.

"Now we have..."

Audrey shook her head, taking a deep breath to bring her concentration to what their leader said.

She would surely work hard.

- - - - -

The large wooden door opened, its white shine giving way to wonder in the little girl's eyes as the room inside was enamoured by bright sunlight. It particularly fell on the large instrument a like a cloud of sunshine hovering only for the black object, though no brightness could outmatch the sight in the girl's eyes.

Audrey zoomed in towards the piano, ignoring everything else in her path. Pranetra's soft hand stopped her as she ruffled her hair with a smile, Audrey pursing her lips with a wide smile.

"Slow down, pumpkin, we'll start soon."

"Pumpkin?" Audrey asked with her eyebrows raised as she appeared to actually give it some thought.

"I think it's a human term for affection, I was trying it out. Looks like I'll stick to little raven, little raven." Pranetra finally left the little girl's hair and she nodded enthusiastically, returning her focus to the piano.

"Mum, why do you play the piano?"

Pranetra sat down on her knees as she wore a more thoughtful look, too.

"Why do you play?"

"Because you play!" Pranetra chuckled as she blinked slowly.

"Perhaps, but you put in more effort than me for this instrument. Why is that?"

Audrey shrugged with a playful smile, though a new question had entered the young shadow, something that may just follow her for quite some time. The two were interrupted by a poke in Audrey's side and the little girl turned towards it, the sight causing her to grin.

"Play."

Audrey dragged Jack by his hand as she sat on the bench after putting Jack up first. The boy wore a flustered look but Audrey held his hand, her warmth assuring, and any nervousness gave way to excitement.

"Ting!" Audrey sang as she played an A while singing it. Jack's eyes sparkled and something quieter awoke in Audrey as she took a deep breath, proceeding to play the piece she came to the room for.

Reality dissolved as her fingers moved... sometimes soft and slow, shifting to fast and bouncy, shifting to something that propagated to their atmosphere as the packets of sound energy affected the molecules around and the girl's aura... could it affect those who were present? Their thoughts, their feelings? Their memories, or various components attributed to them? Their learnings, their observations, their minds?

Their souls?

Somewhere along the time, Jack had slipped out of the seat his sister gave to observe her.

As the three sat together, staring at the little girl, immersing their minds in the sounds she produced, Audrey travelled to a world of her own. Unconscious, unaware, lost in an oblivion that perhaps would return to her sometime in the future.

A future where things are better, the three adults present in the room hoped.

Pranetra thought of the question her daughter had asked moments ago, but it transformed into something else. A question that could give the answer to the posed.

Why does music reach people?

Sounds, sights, tastes, scents, feels... minds in reality, leaping over the wall to enter a state of consciousness common to life, yet unique to them.

What if living things could see each others' aura? Would it make their perception more honest, seeing transparency, or more warped with boundless information? There's so much to handle, as it is... even shadow-trappers observed auras in a minimalistic manner, at present. At present? How was it done before? Was even this done before?

Or were they free from everything?

A stronger sound, a delicate touch, each moment controlled... they certainly had boundless information already.

With the piece's conclusion, it came to Pranetra.

How would Audrey be as a person, as a shadow, if I never introduced this instrument to her? How will she be because of it, and what will cause her to eventually leave it?

As Audrey gently left her seat after closing the piano's lid with immense care, she wore a shy smile, presenting herself in front of her family with a small bow. Clement reached forward with a vibrant and small smile, ruffling Audrey's hair as she closed her eyes.

"I'm proud of you for working on this so diligently. I can only see it helping you in the future."

"Hehe, thanku." Audrey giggled ever so softly, though a genuinely grateful smile remained on her face. Jack nodded enthusiastically and Audrey returned her father's gesture to him, the siblings now matching in their messy hairstyles.

Audrey's gaze slowly travelled to her mother. The lady gave a single, firm nod, the soft glow brightening everything about Audrey.

"I want to go for a walk!"

"You three go, I'll join you after taking care of your best friend here, Audrey. I know you would like to do it with me but you've played long enough, leave today to me."

Audrey nodded hesitantly, but it turned enthusiastic as Clement and Jack held her hands, pulling her forward. As the three left, Pranetra took a deep breath and spoke with a smile, her sweet voice pervading the room.

"You can come out now."

Jay emerged from behind the pillar situated on the far left, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Clement probably sensed you."

"I don't mind," Jay responded with a shrug, the slightest smile coming on his face, only hardening his facade.

Clement and Jay have switched roles since that day, in some sense, Pranetra thought, shaking away the thought immediately.

"Why did you hide? Audrey and Jack wouldn't mind having you join us. Audrey would probably love it all the more," Pranetra said with a light laugh and a sincere smile broke the leader's facade.

"Yeah."

Jay sighed, his thoughts drifting away for the briefest moment.

"Do you still look down on them?" Pranetra asked softly. A melancholic glint flickered in Jay's eyes, his expression and aura otherwise unchanged.

"There was a time when I looked down on shadow-trappers, huh? When I think about it now I don't understand how that was possible, especially with a leader like Ehren. Perhaps that really never happened. Perhaps I had my thoughts muddled."

Jay smiled and it was then that Pranetra noticed she was taller than Jay.

"How can a simple, foreign entity like me possibly lead these complicated creatures? I see you interacting with all of them so wonderfully, as if you really are a part of them, but it doesn't come to me so naturally.

"I think Ehren may have made a mistake."

"Everyone makes mistakes, Jay, just like you're making one now."

Jay looked up, confused.

Confused. Pranetra was able to identify an emotion of his. How did he not see these aspects of him that made him, well, him?

"Ehren certainly didn't make the one you're referring to, I'm sure of it."

Jay hesitated before he sighed and let a smile break his demeanour. Jay turned away, his voice softly echoing with his usual confidence as he left.

"I won't let you keep Audrey to yourself, by the way. I'll make her the best with her ability."

"Shush." Pranetra followed her brother with a small smile, the heavy door echoing its soft thud as she closed it behind her.

Pranetra gave that white entrance one last glance before a more purposeful expression came on her face as she walked forward in a confident stride.

You're absolutely right, Jay, and I know I can trust you with that. The black train is coming, you see.

I'll be waiting for you.

------ -----

White flashes
Into the void

Swirling aura
Pulling it in

The spirits slips inside
Waiting

The spirit stays inside
Observing

Till its end comes
Also bringing the third

Bringing all three together
They take their place

From reality
Into the unknown

Into home
Waiting

----- -------

Audrey found herself in front of the piano after so long.

Her fingers rested on the comforting wood, tingles of the past running through her mind, putting on a smile as she recalled the origin of this odd bond. She thought of the piano in Hearth, her mother and the so many things she gave her...

She understood that she and Mildred were two separate individuals. Even if they were the same, somehow, it didn't make Mildred responsible for Vlad's actions because she wasn't the one who spurred Vlad on in the first place, was she? Perhaps a little nudge to continue, perhaps.

A gentle aura entered, followed by another that was softer and more visible. Both propagated mellifluous vibrations in the abstract space they shared, nearly silent, and Audrey turned towards them with a smile.

Galen waved his hand and Ava gave a short nod and the two dispersed, taking their places in different corners of the room. Two sparks followed, one more streamlined than the other that was incredibly contagious, making Audrey feel as if she could follow the trail of energy to a much-appreciated joy.

Evelyn skipped towards her friend by the piano, ruffling her hair before she walked to Galen. Theo shook his head, closing his eyes after acknowledging the leader by a nod and he made his way to Ava. Audrey narrowed her eyes towards her weirdo friend who now looked at the entrance to the hall with an oops look.

Conrad stood straight with his hands crossed, shaking his head towards Evelyn. The girl waved her hand and he sighed, turning towards Audrey with a smile.

Audrey thought about Conrad's doubts. What makes an individual? How much does our origin matter, how much does our environment matter? Who am I, making all these choices?

She wondered if he had reached an answer.

No, Audrey shook her head. Even if he had it didn't matter. She'd been patient so long, she could wait a little longer.

By the time Audrey came out of her thoughts, Trina and Jack also stood in a corner and Conrad went to the remaining unoccupied one that sat closest to the piano. Her gaze lingered on her friend... such a calm aura now, still silent but in a different manner. Conrad smiled.

A pang of weight hit Audrey and she turned towards the empty entrance.

Will I ever stop feeling his absence?

The aura instantly brightened in response to the soft and excited footsteps. Little shadows made their way inside in two neat lines, some entering in confident strides while others observed the adults shyly. Following their existing formation, they took their places in straight rows, the first few somewhat intimidated by the leader who sat so close to them, but all of it melted away at her smile.

As the crowd of children sat in that hall, the space seemed to have widened much, much more than before, accommodating everyone and her team with enough room for the notes to complete their sounds.

Audrey closed her eyes, thinking about the day when it was just her, this piano and four shadow-trappers she cherished in the room with her, listening to her play.

As the world faded away, it only was her and the instrument in the space they sat in. Mechanical action, hitting the notes, sound energy spreading into the physical and abstract, affecting the auras of the people.

Why does music reach people?

It didn't matter if the notes were soft or loud, smooth or jumpy, slow or fast... each carried a complicated packet of energy translating into something personal for each mind - whether that was of sentience or of shadow.

As Audrey grew accustomed to the musical atmosphere, other presences made themselves known.

Galen is here, so is Evelyn, and Jack, and Ava and Trina and Conrad...

Those distinct shadows were spread throughout the room, as if making sure the aura that the leader conveyed was limited only to that room, only for that day.

If I wasn't in a physical form, I wouldn't be able to play, would I? If we weren't having these bodies, we wouldn't be able to appreciate this form of expression, would we?

The abstract affects the physical, the physical affects the abstract... but it's really not that simple, is it? Is even thought and action that simple?

A few other children made their presence known, discreet, letting the light stay only on the performance.

Audrey thought of her mother's lecture. The aura that she had emanated around the word ability, the importance that had been engrained to all shadow-trappers across all times between two certain leaders... two so connected to that spirit in ways that needed no unravelling.

Honesty isn't a part of my Truth principle, is it? Audrey realised. Memories of doubt and frustration flowed through her, the foolish feelings that made her who she was in the present. Witholding information, wearing facades, showing something while thinking something else, feeling something else, believing something else...

Doing something else.

The loveliest lies of all, sown in the past, needed in the present so that it can rise in the future.

Do false memories create false thoughts? Is the individual not responsible for those actions? Misremembering, forgetting, being forced to not remember. Tampered memories, tampered thoughts, rationalisation, understanding, ignorance, trying... so much more was rampant in sentience.

Why did Shadow Beings have to become like the sentient?

All except one child made their presence known. Still, all shadows now realised what was going on.

The sun's energy made itself known, a simple radiation capturing the energy of each note. Values fluctuating, slipping through its fundamental modes till the moment Audrey deemed was right when the metaphorical became literal.

Abstract energy. Aura. Conservation of energy? Symmetry?

Start unravelling the workings, shadows. Sit, listen, observe, try, understand.

What if it's pointless?

What is the harm in trying? We must start somewhere.

The notes softened, slowing, announcing the session's end is coming near. The aura softened as Audrey waved the technique of Solis away, content in letting the shadows present experience something physical for that moment.

The last child appeared. Such a soft presence, such powerful energy, such diverse aura, full of all of the sentience.

Audrey smiled with the last passage, the notes going to no one but her, now.

Your time is coming, Iris. It's time for the rest of us to climb the wall, into the places true to us, just like this land is for you.

We are here for a while longer, but time moves.

The next piece begins with you.