How many years had it been since her quest had begun? She dared not dwell on that for now, finally she felt that her quest was nearing its end. It had begun with a dream and now seemed to be ending with a dream. Her heart pounded harder with each step up the stone staircase.

So many years ago an angel had led her up this very staircase. If only she had taken that final step and pased into the light at its end. But she had lacked courage and the light had vanished. How many years had she spent searching for it since then? She dared not dwell on that. This time she would go through. This time she would not falter. The light grew brighter and brighter. Her heart beat harder and harder. If only she could be certain what was on the other side...

My people have learnt a secret of the human mind. It is a secret that has cost the lives of countless men and women over generations but it is surely a worthwhile sacrifice. My people have learnt through ritual and ceremony how to seperate mind and body.

So it is then that my body lies motionless and dead below me while I soar through the ether of the world . At first it was hard. The silver cord that binds my soul to my body was tight and I could barely manage to float just a few feet away. I would look down on my body from above and think how fragile and weak it looked. But time and the herbs we imbibe have strengthened the cord and now I fly free. I glide upon the ether like a bird and go where my minds eye would take me.

I see below me the great city of Dul-Raya. I glide silently across the plains to see armies marching this way and that. I see two great hosts marching towards one another and know that death will soon fill those fields south of the razor peaks. I fly north and spot a raiding party of renegades and cutthroats pillaging some small pathetic settlement.

I fly to my home village but instantly spot that something is wrong. The defensive wall is breached. There are people all around me screaming. My body! Is my body safe? There is no time to initiate the melding ritual. I must risk death to bring mind and body together in an instant. I have no choice. I feel the snap of the cord and the fleshly feel of my body hits me like a thunderbolt. I am back. I hear the screams. I open my eyes but too late. There is a flash of steel and a pain in my chest like fire. A foul demon imbred beast grins down and I know I am going to die...