The echoes of a timeless laugh resounded. Anna searched for its origin, in vain.
— Such calm, remarked a smooth voice. But I'm not surprised. You've always showed that strength.
— Do you know me? the young woman asked warily.
— Many know you, Anna.
— Then who are you?
— You can call me Kalypso.
That name sounded familiar. Definitely from Greek mythology, but more than that...
Anna raised an eyebrow:
— Like in Pirates of the Caribbean?
A clear and elegant laugh answered her.
— I suppose so, Kalypso said at last.
The laughter lingered a moment. Anna felt strangely at ease. She could tell this voice meant no harm.
The motherly voice continued:
— There'lI be time to explain more about myself later. As of now, let's focus on your situation. As you may have noticed, you are far from home.
— Where are we? the blind woman asked.
Finally, she was about to know.
— An In-Between of the worlds.
— An In-Between… of the worlds? Anna murmured. ... So… there are… other worlds?
She couldn't see it, but an enigmatic smile split the gentle face behind the voice.
— Indeed, many worlds exist, but also many dimensions.
— So, worlds and dimensions are two different things?
— Exactly. Unfortunately, we won't have time to explore the subject now. Let's focus on the worlds. You'll uncover the rest when it becomes relevant to you.
— Then… why am I in an In-Between?
— Little mortal, do you remember how you got here?
— The Comets.
— Yes, the Comets. Do you know what they are?
Anna had no idea. After a moment of silence, Kalypso gave the answer:
— They are psychopomps.
If Jenna had been here, she would have immediately explained to her sister what a psychopomp was. Jenna had always loved history, mythology, and archaeology. She knew all about psychopomps.
Across all continents, myths spoke of animals, creatures, special beings, or the spirits of the ancestors who came to fetch the dead and guided them to the Afterlife. Among the best known were the Grim Reaper, the Shinigami, Charon… and the ones Anna thought of immediately: the Valkyries. In Norse myths, these powerful female winged warriors flew over battlefields to gather the souls of the braves and bring them to Valhalla.
Anna knew them well because they appeared everywhere in popular culture. That's when doubt seized her. If Valkyries came for the dead, did that mean…?
— Am I dead? she whispered.
— No, don't worry. You're not dead, Kalypso replied with amusement. When the body fails, the soul fails with it. You have to be special to keep your integrity after death.
— ...So the dead don't go to the Afterlife? she asked.
Since souls existed and many worlds existed, she had assumed it would be so.
— It depends on what you call the Afterlife. As I explained, some souls survive, but the number is ridiculously small. Most mortals only live once. In exceptional cases, a few souls manage to cross the barrier of death. But it takes immense resources or very unique circumstances.
— Is it really that rare?
— I'd say… about 0.00001% of souls actually survive.
Anna did the math fast : 0.00001% meant 1 person out of 10 million. The world had about 8 billion people, which meant only 800 people! Of course, not everyone died at the same time. Anna didn't have the exact figures, though. If she had, she would know that about 160,000 deaths occurred daily. Statistically, one soul survived every two months worldwide.
This new knowledge shattered all the concepts Anna had grown up with. All those humans hoping for Heaven or Reincarnation… Luckily for her, Anna was an atheist. She had already thought about God, and concluded that, if he really existed, he probably didn't care about mortals. Yet now, she faced someone who might well be a goddess. In that case, what were gods… and did they really ignore humans?
A flood of speculation overwhelmed Anna. But she had to focus on her current situation. Kalypso had just said the soul could live without the body.
— There always has to be a body for a soul, she thought softly. The soul can't survive on its own. So the Comets carry souls?
Kalypso gave a quiet nod.
— Psychopomps are vessels. They replace the role of the body and house the soul during the journey. Each one has its own qualities and mission. The Comets carry the chosen ones to this In-Between.
— What about my body?
— The Comets also carry the bodies of the chosen. That's what makes them different. Your body is right here, with you. When you reincarnate in this new world, it will be entrusted to me.
Anna wasn't sure if she should believe the mysterious woman. But did she have a choice?
— What is the purpose of the In-Between?
— Most In-Betweens are natural passages between worlds. At first, they didn't really serve any purpose. With time, we have learned to use them as corridors. And sometimes even to create them. You probably heard of the Styx or the Bifröst.
Anna knew the Styx. As for the other one:
— Bifröst... like in the Avengers?
Kalypso chuckled.
— Yes, just like in the Avengers.
— So we're… in a liminal space?
— Exactly! Kalypso was surprised. You seems to know a thing or two about liminal spaces.
— ...I saw that in a video game, Anna admitted. And this In-Between… which one is it? she asked hesitantly.
She had a feeling the answer would shape her fate. A knot of anxiety was forming inside her.
— This is the Bardo.
— The Bardo... repeated the young woman.
She had never heard of it.
— This place is special, Kalypso went on. It's not like the other In-Betweens. I told you earlier, souls of the dead are incredibly rare. These are not guided by the Comets but by different psychopomps. The ones brought here were chosen with very great care. There is something in you that resonates with one of the worlds connected to the Bardo. Something bound to your deepest desire, to your will. Not everyone possess this force within them. This Force drew the Comets to you. They're known by another name. The Karma'i Lung. And their role was to bring you to this place.
— Why?
Kalypso did not answer, and silence settled over the Bardo.
— ...That's a difficult question. In truth, not all gods agree about it. Some say it's the work of the Samsara itself.
— The Samsara?
— A system. It controls all the worlds connected to the Bardo.
— A system… like… a program?
— Exactly! Though the Samsara is of a very different nature than the technologies you know. But you'll get used to it. It's true magic disappeared from Earth a long time ago. However, traces of it still remain in your culture. You will catch on fast. To return to your question, the Samsara might be the reason for your arrival. But other gods think there are beings even higher than us, and that all this follows their will. But not matter the reason, know that mortals are not the only ones called to the Bardo.
— You mean the gods.
— Exactly. The Comets call the gods as well. And if I am here, it's for you, Anna.