Page 115 of Within the Veil

I point at Elodia, "you. Mystical adorable, cuddly, protector of secret shit, rewind. Gaia. Iced Coffee. Ruadhan. Does that make Ruadhan, something like my brother? Because I'm trying, very hard, to make sense of all of this essence sharing. And Shea gave his essence to Eli Elimentis. So, I have a sister. Gaia gave me a sliver of her soul, so that makes me her actual daughter? Now, Gaia gave her essence to Ruadhuan so that he could be the guard of all things scary and dark. I'm going to need some better definitions and explanations here because my sweet, darling, ethereal mother is only prone to long-winded speeches when I'm in a coma. Or when I'm randomly standing in a training facility, minding my own damn Queenly business trying to, I don't fucking know, lead an army?" I scowl.

Everyone pauses, and I wait, for my rant to fully sink in. Remi's eyes are the first to brighten in understanding. Well, women are superior.

"Fair point," Elodia nods her cute little head, and her eyes lose focus for a split second before Lirael appears in front of us with large textbooks.

I smile brightly. Cute Faeries, carrying books, are my favorite type. Sure, she could probably rip someone's arms off, but I mean, if you aren't ferocious at the thought of someone harming books, then who even are you?

She inclines her head, "Queen, Consorts, Sentinels, Elodia has asked me to bring you these texts so that you may gain a better understanding of that which you seek. At your leisure," her voice tinkles musically through the space before she disappears again, leaving the books to float in the air. Amazing.

"If I touch those, I'm going to be punched in the face with knowledge. If a book is going to beat my ass, and not be about monsters or assigned by a half-giant, who lives in a cottage on the outskirts of a magical school, I'm going to have to sit down." I move to sit behind the desk and wave my hand to beckon the books closer.

"Not everything has to..." I cut Jensi off with a glare, promising more pain than Oberon could possibly dream up in his deadly ass training, and he wisely stops talking.

"Okay, let's see what Fae-Fuckery awaits," I say, bringing the leather-bound texts to lay before me before I shove my face closer and inhale the intoxicating aphrodisiac that is 'Eau de Aged-Paper and Old-Book Porn'.

"Fuck that's good nasal stimulation," I moan, almost salivating over the worn, yet immaculate, leather decorated in gold runes. Every time I am in this pleasure palace, everything just gets better.

I sigh, as Zane clears his throat, begging me to get on with it. Rude.

I flick my eyes up, and everyone is watching on curiously, arms crossed, like ridiculously gorgeous sex symbols of pain. I like it.

"Fine," I mutter, before I place my hands on both texts at once, hoping to download everything at once and... fuck.

My eyes roll back, and I make friends with my frontal lobe, briefly cursing at it for doing a shitty job of facilitating the making of this decision as I'm hit with wave after wave of knowledge.

I groan as the influx of fuckery comes to an end and take a few seconds to sift through it all for the things I actually wanted to know.

* * *

Arcanum of Fae Essence and Transference

In the vast and uncharted terrains of the spirit lie two core elements that comprise the fabric of every being: the Soul and the Essence.

Each bears its own weight, its own potential, and its own hazards when tampered with.

Mentally, I scroll down the long-winded mystical monologue, that the Fae seem to be obsessed with, until I reach the portion about transference.

The Essence is the magical and elemental signature of a being--the ethereal DNA, in human terms. A transfer or merging of essence is an arcane practice, allowing two beings to share in each other's powers, appearances, and even predestined fates.

Virtues: Amplification of one's magical prowess, enhancement of natural abilities, and even the inheritance of unique gifts unknown to common beings.

Perils:Beware, for essence is volatile. An improper merging can result in an uncontrollable surge of power, or worse, a perversion of one's true nature, twisting the recipient into a monstrous aberration.

The Soul, unlike essence, is the undividable core of one's spiritual entity--the seat of consciousness, wisdom, and divine magic.

Virtues: An exchange of souls, or a fragment thereof, begets a communion so unfathomable, it defies mortal confines. Once unlocked, one so favored may inherit wisdom beyond their years or wield powers verging on the celestial..

Perils:The risks are equally great. A soul improperly transferred can result in loss of self, eternal torment, or discord so severe that the natural order itself could waver and break.

While the essence may enhance, the soul elevates. When essence is shared, it expands capabilities and broadens horizons. When the soul is transferred, it binds the destinies of the giver and receiver in a knot of fate and intention.

The Guardianship:An essence-bound guardian inherits a specific purpose and divine task but may lack the emotional richness that a soul-bound connection offers.

The Familial; Souls:Those connected by soul inherit not only power but the complexities of emotion, morality, and even vulnerability. They are bound by more than duty; they are bound by an inexplicable love, as deep as it is eternal.

The Familial; Essence:Those connected by essence inherit a bond that will instantly negate the natural instinct of self-preservation. Much like the connection of the soul, they are bound by more than duty; they are bound by a shared goal to protect, guide, and love-- both one another and those connected. The bond of those who share an essence can only be as strong as their innate spirit. While souls are molded by the purity or impurity of the creator, the essence is molded by the purity or impurity of the soul who wields it within its corporeal form.

*Both forms prevent the beings from acts of mutual maleficence.

---