Read The Mirage on the Brink of Oblivion (The Epic of Aravinda Book 3) for Free Online

say your people were able to go through walls?”
    “Yes,” Jyana nodded, “and that was only the beginning. These out-of-body experiences were completely unprecedented. For the first time, we had observational proof that we were more than our physical bodies, and eventually we learned how to communicate in ways far beyond what words could afford us. Even more exciting was the possibility of traveling beyond our star system. In the beginning, we sent a few explorers off-world, until one went too far. We had to bury an empty shell. But then again, I suppose that’s always the case.”
    “Where did this explorer go?” Asha asked.
    “Her mission details were classified, but most of us believe she was trying to find a portal into another reality, or perhaps another universe entirely. Some believed she got trapped in a black hole, but other explorers reported that, curiously enough, stellar gravity didn’t effect them while out of the body. So we wonder if she perhaps went too far, finding a portal whose geometry curved back in on itself, severing her silver cord unintentionally. But these are only theories. Ever since then, travel beyond this world is expressly forbidden.”
    “What is the silver cord?” Asha said.
    “The natural tie between the physical body and the etheric,” Jyana said. “It’s at the base of the neck, but the cord is often unnoticed, phasing out to near invisibility unless touched.”
    Zahn frowned. “So what happened to this explorer?”
    “We don’t know her fate. It’s possible she found her way back to the Golden Realm…” Jyana trailed off for a moment. “Anyway, if you’ll follow me, we can get started.”
    Jyana waved them over to a spiraling ramp that led them down to the chamber floor. Farther down, they reached a narrow corridor leading between a row of huge white cubes as large as houses, and she led them through the maze of corridors, turning left and right until they reached a cube with an open door.
    “Inside, we will calm your mind and determine if you are prepared for the etheric state. Also, please do not touch anything unless I ask. The equipment inside is… finely tuned. And if you are prepared, then you shall see the wonders of the Mirage.”

CHAPTER7
     
    INTO THE MIRAGE
     
     
    As they stepped into the expansive cubic room, Zahn felt stunned at the thousands of details flooding into his eyes.
    Towering all around them were layers upon layers of metal latticework, forming hundreds of slots about two meters wide that reached all the way up to the ceiling, and another narrow hall led straight ahead, deeper into a kind of filing matrix.
    A loud hiss from the end of the hall almost made Zahn jump, and he watched in wonderment as a long robotic arm zipped across an overhead track built into the side of the latticework. Its movements were efficient and fluid, and it paused only for a moment before extending a section of its arm deep into one of the slots. When it reemerged, it held a padded rectangular platform with a thin pillow at one end, brought it down beside them, and held it steady just a meter over the floor.
    “You’ll go first, Asha,” Jyana said. “Please lie down on the bunk, and I’ll begin the test when you’re ready.”
    “Should I remove my shoes?” Asha said, still processing her surroundings.
    “That’s not necessary. If you’re concerned about cleanliness, we have automated systems for that.” Jyana’s voice softened. “Are you okay? You seem hesitant.”
    Asha looked over to her. “Well, uh, no, I’m okay. It’s just huge. Is this whole room for people who are sleeping?”
    Behind her, Torin laughed mischievously. “It’s like a huge slumber party, Asha, and you’re invited. Except we haven’t even gotten to the fun part yet; we’d better get there soon.”
    “Let me get this straight,” Zahn said, craning his neck to see the uppermost slots near the ceiling. “For everyone who leaves their body, their real bodies are