Role

Chapter 4

When Nalaea was a child, she'd had a difficult time discerning the difference
between what existed on the spiritual plane and what was in the physical. To
her, it was all the same reality. Working with various mentors, she had
eventually learned to tell the difference, and to some degree had limited the
extent to which the spiritual plane was prevalent, focusing more on the
physical.

Now, as her spiritual power had grown, that line was growing fuzzy once more.
More than animal spirits were presenting themselves to her. Spirits came with
questions. Spirits came with advice. Dark spirits whispered dark suggestions.
Nalaea was having difficulty keeping her focus once more.

As she quieted her mind one day, attempting to meditate on stillness, a clear
voice cut through the muted background mish-mash of spirits. It was a voice
she had not heard since her childhood, one she thought perhaps had been an
imaginary friend. She had named this voice (or it had named itself, she could
not recall) Ardreth.

"Hello again, Nalaea," Ardreth said.

"A... Ardreth? I thought you had left me, or perhaps that I imagined you."

Ardreth laughed, a melodic sound like the tinkle of ice crystals. "I have
always been with you, Nalaea. I am your spirit guardian. You only stopped
having the ability to see me when you focused your mind too much on the
physical. That is not who you are. You are one with both worlds, and I will be
here to help you navigate what that means. I will take many forms, but you
have grown in power sufficient to see me again despite your best efforts."

With that, the spiritual energy near her pulsated, then joined together to
form a spectral wolf. The wolf lay down by Nalaea's side. She reached down and
felt its fur, not with her physical body with with her spiritual mirror-self.
She felt safe.