It was summer, and Anna had just turned nineteen. She had come to the Côte d'Azur and planned to stay all season. She had been touring France with her two climbing friends for the past three years. Aïssata and Hugo celebrated their wedding the year before. The couple of thirty-something years old, had met her three years ago in Chamonix during the Climbing World Cup.
Their friendship had only grown stronger over time. Before meeting them, Anna had only practiced indoor. They were the ones who had introduced her to free climbing. They instilled in her a love for nature and altitude. The trio had reunited every summer since.
This year, their goal was situated inside the Verdon Gorges. They were aiming for a 7b route. This was Anna's biggest challenge so far. The seasoned couple believed she was ready. They were quite eager to see her pass this milestone. Once she did, Anna would be able to join them on the routes they usually climbed.
That late morning in June promised to be perfect. They had chosen a rarely visited part of the Ramirole, where the holds weren't too polished. And since the weather forecast predicted a cloudy sky, the temperature remained bearable. Hugo led the climb, Anna followed second, and Aïssata was belaying. Anna was top-roping.
After two hours of climbing, Anna finally reached the top, exhausted but satisfied. She was proud of having completed her first 7b! Her muscles relaxed as she collapsed onto the ledge. The ground was hard and uneven, yet she felt floating on a cloud.
They drove back home afterward. They only planned to finish one route that day. In the winding mountain roads, the car radio was blasting hits from the 2000s. Aïssata was singing at the top of her lungs, belting out the lyrics from Raphaël's Caravane:
Do I crawl like a child
Do I have no shirt left to wear
It's the Good Lord who makes us
It's the Good Lord who breaks us
Hugo had his hand out the window, feeling the wind. Anna sat behind Aïssata, biting into a sandwich with her eyes half-closed.
— What the fuckin'…! Aïssata suddenly shouted, jerking the wheel.
The first impact slammed Anna against her seatbelt. The car swerved toward the guardrail. The crash didn't stop its course and the car kept going, flying off the edge and straight into the ravine. As they fell, the speakers continued blaring:
Can nothing ever happen,
Since there has to be justice
I was born in this caravan,
And we're leaving, come with me
Come with me…
---
Anna tried to piece together the memory of that day, but no matter how hard she tried, part of her mind remained blank.
— The car… went off the cliff, and…
'What happened next ?'
She replayed the event in her mind, over and over, but nothing surfaced.
— Don't force it, Child, said a voice gently. Some things that should better stay untouched. Perhaps it is too soon for you to remember.
Kalypso's voice was warm and soothing. It calmed the pounding drum inside Anna's head. She suddenly noticed how clammy her hands were, and how goosebumps were prickling down her spine.
That fateful day had clearly left a scar inside her mind. Even if she didn't know why, her body remembered terrible things she hadn't healed from. Kalypso was probably right… It was best to let the past lie dormant… for now.
— I do not know what wounded your soul, but if you feel ready, I will tell you everything I know about your eyes.
Anna took a deep breath.
— I'm ready, she said with determination.
— Then listen closely, little mortal. Your eyes… were stolen.
— …Stolen? the blind girl repeated. What do you mean?
— Technically, your eyes are still there, intact. But your vision… has been taken. Your eyes now obey someone else.
— Who!
— That, I do not know.
— …You don't know… then how are you sure they were stolen?
— Do you remember what I told you about Aether?
— …It's a universal energy found in everything.
— True. But understand that this energy does not always exist in its purest form. In fact, the Aether found in living beings is transformed, altered. When a human breathes, the oxygen taken in is broken down through a process called cellular respiration. After splitting the O₂ molecules, the body releases CO₂ and H₂O instead. You must think of Aether in the same way. Aether is the oxygen we breathe. When you inhale it, an special part of you, your Core, breaks that Aether, Æ, to produce Mana, Ɱ. That Mana is then manipulated by sensitives to activate their powers.
— Sensitives?
— Anyone attuned to Aether is called a sensitive. Perceiving Aether is the first requirement to control it. In other words, sensitives are those who can use magic.
The goddess paused.
— You must be wondering why I am telling you all this. Don't worry, I am getting to the point. But do not forget what I teach you today. This knowledge is priceless.
Anna nodded.
— Good. Let's continue. Aether is universal, but Mana is not. Because Mana carries the signature of the one who created it. Every sensitive has their own signature, their own imprint. A mage trained in tracking arts might identify the caster of a spell only by studying some of their Mana. It is similar both to DNA and a blood type. It tells you who you are. Your traits, your affinities, your weaknesses. It defines your identity. And yet…
Anna felt a breeze swirl around her. It seemed the goddess was closer now. Her silky voice lowered to a whisper in Anna's ear:
— …In your case… you carry two scents. First, there's yours, like cinnamon and copper mixed within… and then there's another… That taste of ozone coming from your eyes… There's no doubt. You've been marked by the Court of Elion.
A solemn silence fell over the empty plains of the Bardo. A shiver ran down Anna's spine.
— The Court of Elion… has my eyes?
— The Court of Elion is one of the most powerful pantheons across all worlds… even dimensions. You probably already know some of its figures. Everything linked to the Bible, the Quran, and the Torah is closely tied to the Court.
Kalypso chose her next words carefully.
— It is possible you are the victim of an angel… but I can't say which one. If we are lucky, it might just be a lesser member — maybe a messenger or a drone sent to Earth to watch over humans. If that is the case, I might be able to help you. But… if the one who stole your sight is of a higher rank… then I will be powerless.