The Empty World | The Empty World Sequence [complete | rewriting]

Four (Draft 3) "Allies"

"I can't remove your pain. It doesn't work that way. But if your life is full, this one pain will seem less by comparison. Love is important, but it alone doesn't make a life."

"I know." The knowledge didn't keep him from being affected by longing.

"I wish to give you something," Jibril said. "I owe you a gift."

From the Introduction. Morpheus also remembered Jibril's curious statement that the Introduction would not be ended until he presented his gift.

"But my Introduction must have ended. Absinthe and Laudanum took me away to be educated. I spent years in the Empty World. Maya has already been studying in my absence."

"Is that all so?"

Morpheus squinted at Jibril. This had to be a test, but Morpheus wasn't sure what the right answer might be.

"I don't know. I assumed Absinthe and Laudanum were my mentors, but Laudanum claimed only to facilitate. I did find instruction from Raphael, Gabriel, and yourself." Morpheus paused a moment. There was that other thing Gabriel, Raphael, and Jibril had in common. "But, the usual way is to find a mentor after one's Introduction. Isn't it?"

Jibril smiled. "Usual is not only. My gift to you is an opportunity. The possibility for a learning partnership, if you are willing." Jibril waved his hand over the surface of the scrying pool and an image resolved.

Morpheus leaned over the pool; he could see an image of humanoid figures. He could not say if they were in a transit station or a professional office, but they were clearly in a waiting room. Some of the souls milled about while others sat on benches or in chairs.

"They have unfinished business. When there are openings available, they may be shown to new bodies."

"Reincarnation."

"Precisely. Your sister is assisting Gabriel with the work."

"Maya's learned some new things."

"As have you, Morpheus."

"Maybe too much." He sighed.

"Yet you obviously resisted the Lethe water."

"Do you know?" Morpheus asked.

Jibril nodded. "I have some idea how you feel. You realize, I hope, it would have been foolish for me to allow you to operate a mirage for the first time without some means of observing."

Morpheus had figured as much and shrugged.

"It is possible the incident that brought Julien to your mirage was orchestrated."

Morpheus cringed; his want for Julien mixed with sorrow for those lives lost in the crash.

"If you're Human enough to experience such want, then you're being watched by certain members of the family."

Morpheus understood. If Morpheus slept, his father knew. If he dreamt, Jibril knew. If he experienced love or desire, someone knew.

"The Amber Palace." Morpheus had not knowingly visited, but the Palace was where the Regent of Love dwelled.

"Yes, but it can't be helped. Trust they're doing their duty."

"Yes. Of course." But the fact that Jibril had mentioned trusting them made Morpheus suspicious.

"The family is here, but our duties must be our priority. You have no shortage of teachers in that respect. But we are not well equipped to offer a Human perspective. Your mother does better than most."