Chapter Four: Echoes of the Primordial Light

The Elder Supreme Keeper Aruna stepped into the shimmering portal, and the reality around her dissolved into a whirlpool of light and shadow. When the veil between worlds finally cleared, she found herself in a spacious observatory, its walls carved from a single crystal. Beyond the transparent walls, the stars pulsed with an unusual rhythm, as though space itself were breathing within this universe.

"Welcome, Keeper from spiritual Azarala," a melodious voice rang out.

Aruna turned and saw three beings in snow-white robes. Their faces radiated the wisdom of ages, and their eyes shimmered with starlight. These were the local Keepers — scholars and mystics who had come to know the laws of their universe to its very depths.

"My name is Elorian," the tall Keeper with silvery hair introduced himself. "These are my colleagues — Miratea and Zephyron. We've been awaiting your arrival, Keeper Aruna. Your mission touches the very foundations of our existence."

"Tell me about your world," Aruna asked, sensing a strange heaviness in the air, as though space itself were pierced through with hidden pain. Her spiritual-material nature, granted by Azarala, allowed her to sense distortions in reality that were beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Miratea, a woman with eyes the color of moonstone, gestured, inviting her to the observatory's central platform. Above them arose a three-dimensional projection — a living map of the universe, where galaxies slowly turned in a cosmic dance.

"Our universe was not born the way it was meant to be," she began, in a sorrowful voice. "At the very dawn of time, as the Creator poured out Spiritual Light to fashion a new world, something terrible happened.

The projection changed, showing the moment of the universe's birth. Blinding streams of golden light poured from a source of boundless power, but suddenly they were seized by a dark figure.

"Morgoth the Destroyer," Zephyron said, his voice trembling with ancient grief. "An evil sorcerer whose greed knew no bounds. He invaded the process of creation and distorted the very nature of the Spiritual Light."

Aruna watched as, in the projection, the golden streams darkened, growing dense and heavy. Light meant to give rise to pure spiritual forms was transforming into coarse matter.

"The Spiritual Light was meant to give birth to immortal beings, living in harmony and bliss," Elorian explained. "But Morgoth transformed it into matter, which carries a terrible property — it constantly breaks down, releasing energy which he devours like a parasite."

"Are you speaking of... a galvanic effect?" Aruna asked, astonished.

"Precisely," Miratea nodded. "Imagine a battery, slowly draining. But this battery is the very fabric of reality, and its energy feeds the forces of darkness. Every atom in our universe slowly decays, giving up its strength to Morgoth."

The projection showed the microscopic level — atoms and molecules, ceaselessly vibrating and gradually losing their integrity. It was cosmic-scale entropy, bent to the service of evil.

"And living beings?" Aruna asked, though she already sensed the answer.

"We are all victims of this distortion," Zephyron answered, and the pain in his voice was palpable. "Our bodies are made of matter, which breaks down. That's why we age, fall ill, suffer, and die. Every breath, every heartbeat brings us closer to death, and the energy released in the process feeds our enslaver."

Aruna felt her heart clench. She had seen many worlds, but a tragedy of this cosmic scale shook her to her very depths.

"But there is hope," Miratea said, and the projection changed again, showing a new vision. "The Creator has not abandoned us. He is working on a great transformation — a process of converting matter back into Spiritual matter."

In the projection, material structures began to glow, gradually becoming transparent and radiant. The dark threads binding them to Morgoth snapped, one after another.

"When matter returns to its spiritual nature," Elorian continued, "death, illness, and suffering will vanish. We will become what we were meant to be from the very beginning — immortal beings of light, living in perfect harmony."

"But this process requires time, and... help," Zephyron added, watching Aruna closely. "Morgoth won't surrender without a fight. He will resist, trying to preserve his source of energy.

Aruna nodded, understanding the scale of the task. She was not merely a traveler between worlds — she was a participant in a cosmic battle between creation and destruction, between light and darkness.

"How can we help this transformation?" she asked.

"Some people are able to establish a connection with the Creator," Miratea explained, pointing to individual points in the projection that shimmered with a particular light. "And through them, the Creator's energy enters this universe and turns matter into spiritual matter. You know this well, Aruna — your universe was created correctly, from spiritual light into spiritual matter."

"But many people cannot establish this connection," Elorian added, sorrowfully.

Aruna nodded, her eyes filling with understanding.

"Your emotions hinder the connection with the Creator," she said gently. "Mostly the negative, restless ones. These emotions are like interference on a radio signal. First, one must learn to listen to the Creator, clearing away all the interference, and whatever creates it."

Zephyron leaned forward, listening eagerly to her every word.

"The Creator speaks with you constantly," Aruna continued, "you simply don't hear Him because of this inner noise.

Aruna looked at her hands, where the energy of interworld travel shimmered faintly — a reflection of luminous Azarala, where spirit and body existed in perfect unity. To the ordinary mortals of this universe, her dual state was incomprehensible — to be at once spiritual and material, unsubject to decay. Now she understood why fate had brought her here, of all places. This universe was a trial not only for its inhabitants, but for herself as well.

"I'm ready," Aruna said, and her voice rang with unshakable resolve. "I will leave the necessary knowledge behind."

The Keepers exchanged glances, and in their eyes lit the first spark of true hope in many eons. The battle to free the universe from the shackles of distorted matter was only just beginning.

"But first," Zephyron warned, "you must know: your presence here will be fraught with danger. Morgoth will sense the threat and send his servants. And every use of your power from luminous Azarala will draw his attention."

Aruna smiled — the smile of one who has come from a world without suffering, and does not fear a new challenge.

"Then we'd best not waste time," she said. "Show me where I can leave the knowledge of Azarala."

And in the crystal walls of the observatory was reflected a light of hope — the light of Azarala, which was to revive an entire universe and restore to it its lost spiritual nature.