Chapter 1 - Genesis

Prologue

Go.
She heard this urgent voice telling her to vanish herself into the dark. The whole place was on fire. She is hearing explosions around. She looks toward that big white castle afar, its pillars are slowly eaten by fire. 

" No, I can't! I want to stay here with you".   The little girl replied. 

" Look, honey, this place is no longer safe for you, dad has to save this place and you too, but they're gonna get you and when they got you chances are I might not see you anymore".

 " I'm afraid daddy"      the little girl answered sobbing. 
" Look at me",      I will just finish this and daddy will go there and I will find you ok?". 

   "Ok"      She answered. " 

"Here receive this".     The man laid his palm on the girl's eyes, and light comes out, a gold flickering light goes into the girl's head.

 " There",    the man said in a certain voice, I'm sure I will find you, and you will find me, and you can go home".

And the whole place was eaten by darkness.
And she vanished away.
And dad vanished also.
That was the last time she sees the wide enchanting garden, that white and gold castle.
Home.
That was the last time she sees her home.

Present Day on Earth
" The baby is healthy and very fine", nothing to worry", said the doctor to the woman lying on the clinic bed, as she checks her belly. " Glad to hear that doc", she smiled, this is our first baby, the woman said excitedly. 
"Really? so you already have a name for her? 
" Yes, we have"
" Oh...the doctor slightly startle. "something is quite unusual" she said

" What is it doc"?
" I can't figure it out", she answered.




Chapter 1

"Celestine!"...  see what I've got! Abby places his arms across her shoulders, and showed her what's in her hands.
"What is that?"    a movie ticket? Celestine answered peeping at what her bestfriend is holding.
" Oh, are you sure with that"?        She said  after confirming its really a ticket. We're not allowed to be with the ubralo
( common people) Celestine said as they keeps on walking, directing towards that part of the shopping mall where the cinema is. 
" If Cascade will know this..then we're dead?  uhhmm... Abhaya giggles,   " then much better".
"Cmon, lets go".... Abahaya grabs Celestine running towards the counter. She give their ticket and goes inside hurriedly.
" By the way, what movie is this"?     Celestine asks her friend as they are sitting comfortably.
" Oh, its romance comedy" she answered while looking at the lady in the cashier.
" I don't like romance"  Celestine frowns. 
" Hey, just watch and relax",   Abhaya just  smiled.

" Abby, I am really not used in places like this ",    Celestine looks around the cinema. They're now inside. But Abhaya ignore her, She seems excited of the movie. Celestine looks at the big screen. There is a huge explosion, and a man in white is talking to a little girl, but there's no sound. She could not hear anything from what the man is saying. Then another explosion in the palace. The little girl was crying and talking... and the man gives something gold and flickering to the girl, then the girl falls into the deep dark cliff.
Celestine cried shoutes, then cry after. Why she's so affected with this scene? What?, Abby said this is comedy? 

" Hey!" are you OK?    what made you cry in there?"  Abby tried not to laugh.
" Abby you said this is comedy?    Celestine wipes her tears irritatedly.
" Yeah, it is!    Abhaya answered.
" Why it's like that there's a house burning and exploding but there's no audio, but the scene kinda hurts"   Celestine replied.
" Hey, girl are you seeing a different movie?"  Abby siaid in dismay.
  "Let's go home now Abhaya" Celestine's voice sounds uninterested to continue the movie.
 Celestine stands and grabs Abahaya's hands, pulled her from her seat and they walk outside the cinema.
" wait Cel",       "First I don't like to be called in my full name,     Abby said          " and hey did you just say explosion?, nothing is like that in the movie", she continued     

" maybe I see a different thing? "   Celestine replied.

" yah, maybe, because I'm sure the movie is comedy not sci-fi"   Abby continues to explain

  "never mind, let's go home"    Celestine just don't want to argue.

" Know what Celestine"   Abby's voice is now soft in tone. She stops walking, pauses for a while  and touches the side of her forehead.    "You have the gift of vision but you don't have the blood of the prophet? How come is that? "   Abby is  seems  puzzled.
" I don't know either if what I'm seeing is something from past or  if its something that will happen in the future, It's confusing".  Celestine expresses her frustration.
" Because you don't have the blood, maybe that's why"  Abby hold her friend's wrist and they continue walking to the exit. 
" Yeah, maybe". Celestine answered.

Its always like this. Everytime she experience something unusual, she tries to convince herself to just accept whatever explanation is available. She tries not to dig more, that is what she's been taught. Its enough for now that she knows, she's a reincarnated soul. She's Celestine. She's an Achkerian.


At the Keepers Mount

"Cascade!  Celestine excitedly shouts from afar, waiving her hands to that man in his 50's.
Are you also having visions right ? What does it mean to see fires and explosions" ?    her eyes sparkles as she asks. 
"It could be a bad omen of days ahead,   " Why have you seen anything recently " ?    Cascade answered as he shapes the bonsai.
" I think so...",     Celestine sounds hesitant.
"Maybe you're just delusional.  It can't be, because only the family of prophets can see what is ahead"  Cascade seems not interested to pursue the topic.  Now, she  feels embarassed of what she heard, but she's used to it. She trust Cascade. Its for her good and besides in Achker, the Keeper's judgement is reliable.
But how can she find answers about the things she's curious about?
She has so many questions, but where would she find answers?
Even the Keeper seems to slam her every time she tries to ask questions. Nobody believes she's having visions. Cascade is the Keeper of the race of Achker. The whole Achker with some ritual through the sacred stone, has decided that Cascade will be the Keeper. The keeper has two important duty: to ensure everyone's safety in Achker and to lead them back home. The whole race of Achker is waiting for the coming of Apocalypse for it is the only way they can go back home again. Everyone in Achker believes they are from the other world, that they are not of this planet. They exist to find other Achers and Cascade exist to guide them.
That is why Celestine is here.
Three years ago she was searching for reasons. She remembers how her mom thought of her as a lunatic, because she's continually saying that she can hear people's thoughts, feel their minds, or she can see herself travelling when she's asleep. Swear she have a sound mind, until her mom saw her one day unintentionally lifting frezzing a heavy log that is about to fall on her. There her mom believes she's not ordinary. She feels alone until Cascade came to their house one day, telling her what she is and there are other people who are like her.

In Achkers, the people are grouped according to their supernatural abilities. The majority of the people there are "listeners". They are those who can hear a voice that warns of possible danger, or of what is to happen in the future, or they can hear other people's minds. They are called the auribus. They are considered as the most common and powerless family in Achers. Some are the Astralis. They are those whose spirits can travel to the spirits world, they can see person secrets, read minds, they can see the world in its true nature, but only when their eyes are close. Strong Astrals can do greater than what a usual Astral can do. They can manipulate time, and realms.  They are mostly powerful when they're eyes are close and when their spirits travels out of their consciousness. That is why the Astralis are found at the lone part of Achker.  The very rare family in Achkers are the prophets. The prophets are those who have all the abilities of the auribus and astralis. They can do anything supernatural iether with eyes open or close. They don't need to meditate to see the future. They have visions. They can see things ahead, and have mastered their abilities than all of the clans in Achker.
Cascade belongs to the prophet's family.
And he is the only one in Achkers who can hold the sacred stone without being burn.
 Celestine is an Astral. 
That is why Cascade doesn't believe she's seen a vision.
" Oh, Celestine I learned you saw it while you and Abby are in the cinema?"   Cascade said without looking at her, he's still busy with the bonsai.
" You saw"?    Celestine replied.
"No the wind there told me"   Cascade said, still not looking at her. 
" Ok, well Cascade I told you so I can have answers not that I want to ascend into your family."    Celestine said. Cascade puts down the scissor and looks at her smiling. Cascade always love her being upfront. Celestine is the only Achkerian who could talk to her like that. 
" Yeah, I know you, you're like my child"    Cascade smiled at her.
Ever since she arrived in Achker, Cascade was her mentor. He taught her how to use his abilities. He opened to her what is behind the world she had known. Cascade told her she's not ordinary, that there are signs he sees in her, telling that she do not belong in this world.  He told her that to be in Achker is an invitation because people like them should travel back safely to the world where they belong. Everyone in Achker has such great respect for the prophet family, especially for Cascade.

" And you are special Celestine, you are not just an ordinary astral" Cascade added. 
" Ok, you like to play chess?"  Cascade ask her when she was about to leave.
" I like so...but I will when I am sleeping" Celestine replied
"You still can't beat on me" Cascade laughs.


The Achker
Achker is a place for reincarnated souls. Celestine was born from  a common person, that is what she knows.  Her parents were ubralo. They are not from Achker, only her is in Achker for she's the only one who has the gift, they said. Unlike other teenagers, their parents are also in Achker, especially with the prophets all of them are born from an Achker's parents. Very little are like her in here. 
The people in Achker believe they are reborn in this age yet they are not meant to be in this age. They are all seekers of change in this world and are waiting for a new world to come. They all devote their powers to make every Achkers safe especially from the coming of Apocalypse. Yes, they are waiting for the Apocalypse to come because for them that event is the beginning of change, it is their chance to transcend into a new world they've been waiting for, a world where their reincarnated souls will no longer be imprisoned in this weak body that they have now. The Achkers are waiting for their fullness. But no one in Achker knows the road to it except for the prophet family, that's what they say, that's what the tradition says, and the elders ever since had said.
Here in this human world of the common people, where everyone seems to be busy with their mundane lives, where there is a battle in the economy and in politics, where there is a struggle for power in every human being; here lies a world unknown to human eye --- the Achkers. Its far from the noise of this world, yet they're not isolated, where creatures there lives a different life and follow a  different rules. They do not conside the human world, the outside world, for they knows it very well and they are here with us. They are among us.
Their temples, homeland, sanctuaries, capitol, and palace are just here in this human world.


The Achkerians
They don't like to be called people for they consider themselves not human. They like to be called beings, generally or creatures that just existed in this age, and they refuse that this human world is their world. There are three classes of creatures in Achkers. The Prophets, the Astralis or Astrals, and the Auribus. These classes are called family. The most prominent and considered powerful family in Achker are the prophets because it is from their clan where the next Keeper would come from. Their abilities are naturally higher than anyone else in Achker. All of the prophet's family are born from an Achkers parents. They are pure souled Achkerians.
The Astralis are  mix. Their parents are Ubralo or Achkers. They have special abilities but they are considered less because of their roots. The weakest families are the Auribus for they only have little ability, they cannot have more than of what the Prophets and the Astral have.
And here in Achker despite of their differences, they are all living together in harmony, together they are searching for the fullness of their reincarnated souls. Together they are hoping that they could all be safe from the Apocalypse. They stick together so they could survive that doom , so they could reach that new world they are waiting for.

The Sacred Stone and its Keeper
No one in Achkers can touch the sacred stone. One must be a Keeper to be able to touch it without burning. The sacred stone is the symbol of Achker's identity. It is said that the stone has been passed from their ancestors. It is said to be the key to the fullness state of their souls. Their lives in Achker depends so much on the stone, to lose it means to lose their lives; that is why they have elected a keeper to make the stone safe from every threat towards it. 
Now, in this generation of Achkerians there is only one fitted to be a keeper, and that is Cascade. He is known for his gentleness and righteousness. He is well respected in Achker so as his family. To be a keeper one must be a prophet and must have the highest ability compare to what all of the families have. And Cascade has it, he is not an ordinary prophet. He is the strongest in their clan.



" Why you didn't punish that rebel?" Felon asks her husband disappointed.
" Oh, watching a movie is just a simple teenage thing" Cascade answered her wife.
" even though", they're not just ordinary teenagers, they're Achkerians, you know we should walk in a pure path if not we will not achieve our soul's full state"
" The weight of the action so is the darkness of the motive", you should know that you're the Keeper's wife. It won't stain them. Topic dismiss. " Cascade answered her wife irritably.
Felon is a sophisticated yet most intimidating lady in Achker. She looks like in her late 50s but in Achkers age is not counted as humans count it, for they believe their age in this present time might not be the true age of their souls. Considering their physical built and appearance she and Cascade look the same age. It doesn't matter to Cascade how old is he, but for Felon this is what she's hoping for, she hopes that her fullness state is younger than this physical body,  for now she has to invest in vain cosmetics and fashions to aid her insecurities.
Her fashion style always draws attention, for Achkerians her style is a usual sight,they're used to it,  but it's different when she mingles with the humans. Her constant visit to a beauty clinic is a secret to keep.
It's against their code if the elders of other clans find out about it she'll be punished. It's a shame for an Achkerian to be insecure, an Achkerian must be confident especially when it comes to the physical. Good thing the house of their son's soul is a younger body. It's well built and no need for accessories for him to look intimidating.  Yes they have a son . Their son Vex is naturally ruthless to look, he has a temper but he's sensitive and somehow soft inside and easy to swayed.


" Hey, Quasi have you heard of Vex? Celestine asks her male friend. 
" Yes, I bet he has a good life in Norway"
" Really?"
" Yes, and I heard he's living there like how humans live"
" How come? he's the son of the Keeper? 
" I don't know"
"Celestine!" ... it's Abhaya running towards them. 
" The feast of Polaris is near, are you attending guys?"
" I'm not sure" Quasi answered. 
"My family, has a different schedule that day, you know my mom is an ubralo she doesn't care about the feast. I don't know if I and Dylan can sneak out" Quasi explained.
Like Celestine, Quasi is born from an ubralo. His mom is a pure human with no resemblance to a reincarnated soul. He has a younger brother who's also an Achker but not serious when it comes to Achker's duty. He's preoccupied with human things, gadgets and machines are his fascinations.
" Ok, you like us to help you sneak out?" Abhaya grins at them naughtily.
" Oh, no need, I bet there will be chaos" Quasi answered laughing.
Unlike them, Abhaya's mom is an Achkerian, her dad is human but he died when she's still a baby. So, their house is more strict when it comes to Achkerian duties.
" Abby, if we did something odd again, Felon will freak out this time"
Celestine reminds her friend smiling.
" I'm bored" Abhaya frowns.
" Wait, Abby, you said before your granny is an oldie in Achker right?" 
" Yes Celestine, why?"
" Maybe we can go visit her some time"? 
" Like to hear some old tales"
" Uhmm...I think you're up to something right?" Quasi interrupted.
" That sounds fun" Abhaya giggles.
" Quas, we have to befriend our past so we could walk clearly towards our future " Celestine explained.
" What if Cascade learns about it?"
"Well, at least we had some fun, before the Polaris", Abby defended smiling.
"ok..so when are we gonna see your gran Abby?"
" The soonest", Abby answered excitedly"
Quasi just made a sigh. He could not argue anymore.
The Polaris feast is a very important event for the Achkerians. They celebrate it every year. Every Achkerian has to watch out for unusual activity in the stars, or any demonstration of strange powers because it is believed that during these times, special messages are released from the stars, and a message received during the feast will serve as their guide for their journey in a year. So every Polaris, Achkerians are waiting for a message not only for the whole Achkers but also for themselves. Watching the Polaris demo is already grace for them.


Polaris Feast

Now, here they are on top of the Keeper's Mount waiting for a sign or a revelation to unfold. It was already midnight and the cold wind was blowing gently. Silent. All Acherians are gathered there this night, but it seems like nobody is there. Everyone is so silent, waiting silently and patiently for something to happen.
" Cel I feel like peeing" Abhaya whispered, as usual, with that naughty giggle on her face again.
" Why now? Do you see that we'll be going to miss something important here?" Celestine answered.
"Let's go to the cr" Abby begged. " GRRR, you're timing is excellent" Celestine exclaimed.
So they walk out from that open hall in the field and goes to the comfort room hurriedly. 
" Make it fast ok?" Celestine told Abby as she's now there inside the cubicle. 
" Ok", she answered while feeling the relief.
BOOOM! zzzz! pang! sounds like something exploded from afar.
" Hey, Abby did you hear that?  Celestine startled. "Faster come on let's go back!" Celestine knocks on the door of the CR cubicle where her friend is inside.

"Ok ok... I'm there" Abby shouted as she fix herself fastly, also alarmed by what `they heard.
" What do you think is that? It's coming from the hall right"? Celestine continuously asks her friend.
" Better if we see it ourselves" Abby answered.
They run hurriedly back to the hall, and from afar they saw that the sanctuary inside the hall in that field is on fire. They can see it from afar because the hall is walled with thick glass and also its roof is made of glass. The keeper decided it should be designed that way so they could see the sky during the Polaris feast. The glass as they all know is hard and fire-resistant and besides Cascade prayed a spell around the hall for it not to be penetrated by an explosion unless... Celestine thinks... unless what invades the hall is something that is beyond the Keeper's power.
" Oh no," Celestine gasp.
" Celestine! I can't go inside, seems like there's an unseen barrier here " Abby shouts at her. She did not notice that Abby is already there at the entrance. Celestine tries to walk inside the hall but she can't.
" What are we going to do now?! My mom is there and also Quasi, many Achkerians are inside there" there's a crack in Abby's voice as she says it, worries can be felt in her.
Celestine stands there confused. It feels like she's been this kind of scenario that they're in now. 
" I promise... I will find you",  there she hears that voice again. Celestine can now recall that phrase so vivid. The voice is loud and seems familiar. Then, she sees a hand touching her face and her forehead. She closes her eyes pushing her mind to remember, to see more, to see farther.
Then  Abby poke her shoulders. 
" Cel this is not the time meditate" Celestine heard her Abby's voice as if calling her from afar. She opens her eyes immediately.
"Whoah! Abby is shocked. " Your eyes!"
But it's like Celestine is not hearing anything. 
" A star causes the fire, but the barrier was not from the star one of the Achkerians made it." Celestine told Abby. Abby just stares at her friend. It's the first time she sees Celestine in this aura. She transformed, her monolid eyes had changed its color. The pupil becomes dark blue & luminous white.  It's like there's a galaxy in her eyes.
" Abby we have to break the glass to dissolve the barrier because the power attached to it strengthens this unseen barrier" Celestine continued. 
So Celestine raises her hands and then drags her hand downwards and the barrier that seemed like a light goes with the movement of her hands.
" Ok let's go," Celestine said and they both hurried inside.
" Celestine... you're here"! I was not mistaken you can destroy the barrier that I made. Cascade said sarcastically.
" Cascade? What happens to you? seems like you're not yourself? Celestine asks wondering. She looks around. The Achkerians are silently sobbing, trying not to show their fears. She sees Abby searching for her family in that wide hall.
" What happened here? What have you done?!  Celestine's voice sounds emphatic as she looks around at the Achkerians weeping.  "It's you who made the barrier right? Celestine's voice increases as she probes.
Cascade laughs teasingly. " My son is a genius, isn't he? 

What?, What's happening to the Keeper? something is not right. He's acting weird.
Celestine is shocked. At the side of her eyes, in a glimpse, she sees Quasi and Abby and other Achkerian's face also surprised of what they had just witnessed.
" What does your son have to do with this chaos now? he's not here" Celestine asks Cascade. But he ignored her. Cascade walks near to the Achkerians in that hall.
" Achkerians listen, the Polaris now is unlike any other feast which we had celebrated before. An unusual great revelation had been utter from the stars, the sacred stone which serves as our light strength was consumed by this star from heaven. We know very well that without the sacred stone, we will get stuck in this present age, and we cannot achieve the fullness of our souls.
To revive the light of the stone you must all sacrifice your powers into it." Cascade said loud and firm.
Celestine's eyes widened in shock as she heard Cascade's words.
" Quasi, Abhaya" come up near. Cascade called her friends to come nearer to the sanctuary where the dead stone and Cascade were.
"No!" Celestine shouted she stops her friends from getting near to Cascade. 
Cascade is stunned as he hears Celestine's voice objecting. He expected she'l be as obedient as how she was taught to be.
" Everyone has free will, give us a chance to decide whether we'll give what you're asking" Celestine said courageously.
" Are you doubting me, Celestine?" Cascade asks her.
" Is there a reason to doubt you?" Celestine replied sounding suspicious.
Cascade walks towards Celestine. His eyes look fierce and scary. He is completely different now from the Cascade she had known before. He whispers in her ears. 
" Why don't you show us your galaxy eyes? Celestine is puzzled, he knows? What happened a while ago with the barrier, is the first time she experience her eyes changing. How come?  " You don't know what you are. You don't know us either but I know you very well" Cascade sounds threatening.

" You are not the Cascade I know, and what you're asking is dangerous" Celestine replied fiercely.

Cascade stares at her,  still with that threatening look in his eyes, and turn back. He faces the Achkerians in the hall.
" Ok, I will give you time to decide, you have 3 months to go, offer your abilities or your souls will perish, and will never be reborn! " Cascade said with a creepy smile on his face.