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

here?”
    “Their physical bodies are stored in a stasis cube like this one, yes,” Jyana said. “However, I wouldn’t say real , as that is a matter of perspective.”
    Asha walked up to the bunk and studied the clear border that ran along its perimeter like a thin, low wall. “What’s this? So I don’t fall out?”
    Torin followed her. “These are some of the bio-monitors. They record your life signs while playing binaural frequencies, which helps you relax and leave your body more easily, especially if you haven’t done it before.”
    “Actually, I have,” she said.
    Torin squinted in disbelief. “Really?”
    But before he could say more, she was already lying down on the bunk. The robotic arm held the combined weight of the bunk and Asha easily, scarcely moving. The grey padding had somehow formed itself around Asha’s body, and she looked supremely comfortable.
    Zahn walked up to the side of the bunk and took her hand. “Are you sure about this, Asha? I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
    Asha squeezed his hand, her brown eyes gazing up to him reassuringly. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry so much, okay?”
    “Okay,” he nodded.
    “Well!” Torin interjected. “This has been super touching, but we should move along and do your test. We’re losing time—lots of it. You did tell them about the time dilation. Right, Jyana?”
    Zahn looked over to Torin who seemed increasingly agitated.
    “That’s right. I almost forgot.” Jyana sighed, as if she remembered a forgotten burden. “Before we proceed, there is something you both ought to know. Time flows much more rapidly when out-of-body. For one day of planetary time, roughly sixty-four days pass in the etheric state, what we call the Mirage. So this means that if you wake up out of the Mirage for even a few hours, as you most surely will, multiple days will pass within the Mirage. Is this clear to both of you?”
    “Sure,” Zahn said, “but what if we go back to the wrong body? Could we lose our bodies doing this?”
    “Oh, don’t worry about that,” Jyana said, almost amused. “The etheric body is inexorably linked to the physical until its death. We’ve created exotic conditions to try and find the limits to this, but we’ve never been able to permanently sever the connection while still on this planet, the silver cord I mentioned earlier, between an etheric body and someone’s physical body. Beyond the planet, it has happened, but we have taken precautions to prevent this from happening to our citizens. I assure you that it’s quite safe. However, you will need to awaken to eat. While the body’s requirements for food are reduced, they are still present.” Jyana turned back to Asha. “Are you ready?”
    “Yes,” she whispered.
    “Then we shall begin.” Jyana pulled out her scanner and tapped a few buttons, causing a wavering tone to resound out of the right and left borders at the edge of the bunk. “These are binaural beats, merely two different sound frequencies. One frequency is sent to your left ear while a slightly different frequency is sent to your right. Both frequencies combine inside of your brain to create a difference pattern, a thumping sound that only you can hear. Please, close your eyes.”
    Zahn watched as Asha closed her eyes and relaxed. He moved around a bit to study the sound, but didn’t hear any thumping.
    “We are now going to test her etheric body for any fragmentation or discarnate attachments.”
    “Discarnate what ?” Zahn said.
    “Shh!” Torin shot him an annoyed glance. “Don’t distract her. She’s nearing stage one. You wouldn’t want to throw her off, trust me.”
    The sound radiating from the bunk rose in tone and volume.
    “Terrific,” Jyana’s voice hushed to a whisper. “She resonates well. And her hemispheres have excellent crosstalk.” She walked up to Asha and ran her scanner along Asha’s body. “Yes, she’s transitioning into the Mirage now.”
    Torin shot Zahn a