"Of course, our definition of souls, like most areas of science, is constantly evolving and changing. The definition is loose and largely encompassing because it's an area of study that we, as a species, do not fully understand.
However. Just because we do not fully understand it does not mean that we cannot use it to our advantage. Today I will show you how to view your soul. If you are skilled enough, you might even discover how to tap into it on your own.
I do not expect many of you to actually tap into it. It is incredibly difficult for a beginner, unless you are gifted. If you happen to be gifted in this, then you have my congratulations."
Silvanna finished her speech and needless to say....Lia was intrigued. She wasn't sure how many people were actively researching souls, but in her eyes, a large amount of people should. It seemed to be a fascinating research topic.
Silvanna continued.
"Everyone needs to close their eyes and breathe deeply. Feel the mana circulate as you breathe. Like an ever-flowing river that carries you along on your journey."
Lia and the rest of the students did as instructed. Most of them seemed to be trying to feel it, but Lia and Sisha understood what Silvanna meant. This was supposed to be some manner of meditation.
"Do not try to do anything. If your mind is focused then you will fail in this exercise. You must free yourself of your thoughts and actions. This is a time for relaxation. Breathe deeply and let go of your inhibitions, worries, and cares. Float along the river of consciousness and let it carry you toward your destination. To a place that we all travel to eventually."
Lia was instantly able to relax, most likely due to her ability to perform Rejuvenating Meditation. To the rest of the students, Silvanna's words seemed to lull them into some strange sense of security. They subconsciously began to relax.
Most of the other students sank into their seats, some seemed to nearly fall asleep. Silvanna's voice was their only guide in a journey they had no control over.
"Let the river of magic carry your consciousness to its intended destination. That is where you will view your soul, where all of you will view that which makes you who you are."
Most of the students, including Sisha and Lacey, were now wholly relaxed, due in large part to Silvanna's coaxing words. Lia, however, was a separate case. The longer she remained in that state, the larger her growing anxiety became.
After more than a minute, Lia's anxiety became abject terror. She began sweating profusely and her body shook with sheer dread. Silvanna watched her warily, but did not make a move to assist her.
All of Lia's reactions stopped when her mind created a mental picture of her soul.
A gray glowing orb with an elongated, black shade trapped inside. The shade had long shadowy tendrils that seemed to be its hair and it had sharp jagged edges where its mouth should have been. It's eyes glowed with a malevolent yellow light and seemed to be boiling with rage or pain, Darkova wasn't sure which one it was.
Lia's body was wracked with sudden pain as the shades eyes locked with hers. Lia's blood began to boil, her muscles contracted and expanded in rapid succession, her eyes strained against her skull trying to burst like grapes under the pressure exerted on her. Lia's skin began to rip and tear as some form of magic began to yank and pull at her very form. It was trying to unmake her entirely, trying to forcibly change her physiological makeup.
Lia snapped awake with a sudden gasp followed by violent coughing. Everyone stared at her in shock as she coughed violently. Her body was shaking from the sheer amount of pain she was in, her mind reeled in agony and abject terror as some force attempted to unmake her. Saro's voice thudded against the back of her skull, but she couldn't make out any of the words.
Silvanna watched her warily, and the other students looked concerned. Lacey stood up in shock as a worried expression adorned her face. She held her hand over her mouth as she watched Lia reel.
Lia tried to respond, but she gave up trying to speak in between her violent chest heaving. After almost a full minute of coughing and shaking, Lia spat out a mouthful of what she thought was blood.
However, the liquid she coughed up was entirely black. Silvanna narrowed her eyes.
"Feeling better now, Darkova?"
Lia nodded as the color came back to her face.
"Yes, though I am unsure of what happened."
Silvanna's narrowed eyes did not ease up. She did, however, motion for Lia to sit back down before she continued her lecture.
"Some of you have witnessed what your mind comprehends your soul to look like. That is not what a soul actually is, but it is the closest thing our mind can make similarities between.
As for Darkova's outburst....there exists a species of creatures that invade and live inside of one's soul. These creatures vary in intensity and function. Some are outright predatory, even dangerous. While others are benign and harmless. We call such monsters 'Soul Parasites'.
You would likely know by now if you actually had one such infection, as you would experience a reaction similar to that of Lady Darkova here."
Lia began to swear loudly as the class began murmuring. Saro's voice resounded in her skull. She sounded slightly angry.
"I am not a Parasite."
Lia mind nodded. 'No, I don't think you are. You are something much different, but I'm not sure what that means for you.'
Saro was about to respond, but Silvanna began speaking again.
"It's impossible to know if a Parasite is malevolent or benign. However, in almost all cases, they should be extracted."
Silvanna eyed Lia warily for a moment before continuing. Since she had seen the 'other personality' within Lia, she had been trying to wrap her mind around an explanation. This was all she could come up with and it seems like her hypothesis was correct.
She continued after a moment of deliberation.
"Speak with me after class, Darkova. We can talk about arrangements to heal you."
Lia was inwardly furious. To her, Saro was already family, like sisters that shared a body. She merely nodded in response while she attempted to calm her rising anger.
...
The rest of the class went as expected. No-one proved capable of tapping into their Soul and weaving it into magic. Only one individual came even remotely close, and it happened to be Lacey.
Lia was largely unable to try due to the sensation of sheer agony that came crashing down on her whenever she did. Bile would rise in her throat and her eyes would instantly start to become bloodshot. Lia did not try again after her mouth filled with bile the second time.
Sisha, however, seemed to be very talented martially, but was somewhat rudimentary when it came to magic. She struggled quite a bit with more common forms of meditation. Silvanna recommended that she discover and practice her own form of meditation, as discovering what works for you will oftentimes speed things up.
Lacey on the other hand proved to be incredibly capable. She was able to tap into her soul but was entirely incapable of actually forcing it to show up in a physical sense. The girl herself had very little idea where she got the sudden talent from, but she welcomed it nonetheless.
Once class was dismissed, Lia was the only one to remain sitting. She was left in a relatively awful mood and it was reflected by her facial expression.