The foreign voice materializes within Billy’s head. But he is not surprised. A psychic link has been established allowing direct communication via thoughts alone. Yachi, his mentor is the source of the voice. He doesn’t wait for a reply. Billy soon finds his energy focused and his body relaxes. Yachi is aiding him, speeding up a process that usually takes several minutes. Billy slowly disentangles from his physical body, floating up to hover just below the roof.
He is now in the astral realm, an alternative dimension where he takes a form of pure energy allowing movement unhindered by gravity or walls. He heads out into the city streets. As he moves beyond the room he sees office workers rushing to yet another meeting, buskers pouring out their soul, people having teary break-ups, while others fall in love. Those jaded by the city’s harsh edge are found alongside those enchanted by the dazzle of its bright light.
He wanders above, amidst the high-rise world of executive suites and office parties. Peering from room to room, building to building until his attention is captured; extravagant food, penthouse location, wait staff, all present in their best outfits. The auras gave away the true purpose of the occasion and it isn’t to relax and have a good laugh, although many present rarely have a better time. They all have just one thing in common, business. And judging by their surrounds it was big business: pushing sales, broadening client bases, networking, thoughts of Christmas bonuses or upstaging a colleague.
The electric atmosphere of such situations fascinates Billy and he, or his aura shines a bright blue to reflect his pleasure. The ebb and flow of energy across the room is charged by the intensity of duelling professionals. Ever since he could remember Billy has played the merchant and power-broker at any opportunity, from picking teams in the school playground to dividing pocket money with his brother. It was that same interest that brings him here. The exchanges before him can change instantly, often a well-established relationship is pushed too far or a positive dynamic is quickly created. A disinterested or unhappy player can feign interest verbally but their aura is not capable of such dishonesty. Billy sees great contrasts in a conversation, as one aura pales and shrinks when its owner tries to break away while the other intensifies and enlarges as it’s producer tries desperately to force the issue.
However, something different catches his eye today. Away from the crowd, a heated argument is occurring between a couple. Their auras glow so strongly that others in the room are dull by comparison.. Their aura is a bizarre rainbow of colours. Billy has not seen this before, the aura of the exchange is always changing, it mixes, twists and contorts in an instant. He thinks of what he knew from Yachi’s teachings, different emotions are represented by different colours in the aura so is this exchange a variety of emotions, changing with the speaker? Or maybe the topic? These things can get pretty complicated… Oh Shit!
Without realising Billy has moved to within a few metres of them. Too close he thinks remembering one of Yachi’s oft-repeated policies:
‘It is one thing to observe but yet another to pry. We have special privilege in the astral form but it is not to be misused. Power such as this must be wielded wisely not corrupted by your whims and desires’
While unsure how, he is certain that Yachi would know if any of his conventions were breached.