Chapter One
Avina Jenkins addressed the room of trainees. “I know that things tend to seem silly when you first begin an aura hunt, but the dead of certain species leave their energy behind when they die.”
She flicked images on the screen behind her. “These pictures are aura captures from a dozen different worlds. A trained aura speaker can get people in touch with loved ones or end questions about deaths. It is a branch of investigation that few people are interested in and fewer still are able to become part of.”
Her lecture continued with image after image of walking auras. When she completed her speech, she looked out at the audience. “Any questions?”
The room was still for a moment, and then, someone raised a hand.
“Yes?”
A nervous young male asked, “Is it accurate that some of the auras can have physical effects?”
“Yes. I have scars on my body from objects thrown at me, and in two cases, the aura fired a weapon.”
He blinked. “I just meant moving furniture.”
“Oh. Sorry. Yes, they can shove furniture, lift items and move things. It depends on their confidence or resentment level in life. In the case of the Lehashicar, the occupation that they engaged in in life is the one they return to after death.”
Another hand went up.
“Yes?”
“Why are the auras invisible to so many sensitives?”
“Excellent question. Every talent seems to operate on a differing frequency. The ability to see the auras is rare. If even one person out of this entire room develops the ability, I would be very surprised. While we are well known, there are not many of us.”
Another male raised his hand. “Then, why are we here? This is a huge waste of time if we can’t consider this as a career path.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose over her glasses. “I am going to answer that with a question for you. Have you ever lost a loved one?”
He shifted in his chair. “No.”
Avina smirked, “I thought not. When you have a chance to see your loved ones again, communicate with them, ask the questions that you didn’t get to ask during their lifetimes, you will want an Aura Speaker. When you need to know what happened at a crime scene, you want an Aura Speaker. When you want a good night at a space station, you will want a short-term Companion, but that is another lecture.”
The room burst into laughter.
Avina adjusted her lenses and inclined her head to the assembled Citadel trainees. “Thank you for your attentiveness, and please, feel free to take the Aura Speaker test at your earliest convenience. I will be here for two days. Call the administrator to make an appointment for assessment.”
They applauded, hooted and generally gave her a good send off from the podium. She hated doing recruitments, but the more widespread knowledge of Aura Speakers was, the greater the demand for their skills.
The Citadel preferred to post a permanent Aura Speaker on a world. They developed an affinity for the frequency of the species, and it improved their connection dramatically. This increased demand for the Aura Speakers far beyond the Citadel’s ability to train and produce new personnel.
The only way to hone the talent of an Aura Speaker was to catch them before they locked into another branch of service. Using their talents in another direction would eventually destroy all chances of them retaining the ability to see the traces left by the dead.
She straightened her smoke and blue robes as she walked. A few of the students and instructors nodded politely, but Avina had only one aim, she wanted a cup of caf more than life itself.
The commissary at Citadel Morganti was well appointed, and once she had the cup of hot, caffeinated brew, Avina took a seat facing the atrium and relaxed.
“How was the recruitment?”
She looked to her left, and the Citadel Counsellor Kalo was sitting and sipping at his own beverage.
“It went fine. I noted at least a dozen interested in seeking out the
Avina Jenkins addressed the room of trainees. “I know that things tend to seem silly when you first begin an aura hunt, but the dead of certain species leave their energy behind when they die.”
She flicked images on the screen behind her. “These pictures are aura captures from a dozen different worlds. A trained aura speaker can get people in touch with loved ones or end questions about deaths. It is a branch of investigation that few people are interested in and fewer still are able to become part of.”
Her lecture continued with image after image of walking auras. When she completed her speech, she looked out at the audience. “Any questions?”
The room was still for a moment, and then, someone raised a hand.
“Yes?”
A nervous young male asked, “Is it accurate that some of the auras can have physical effects?”
“Yes. I have scars on my body from objects thrown at me, and in two cases, the aura fired a weapon.”
He blinked. “I just meant moving furniture.”
“Oh. Sorry. Yes, they can shove furniture, lift items and move things. It depends on their confidence or resentment level in life. In the case of the Lehashicar, the occupation that they engaged in in life is the one they return to after death.”
Another hand went up.
“Yes?”
“Why are the auras invisible to so many sensitives?”
“Excellent question. Every talent seems to operate on a differing frequency. The ability to see the auras is rare. If even one person out of this entire room develops the ability, I would be very surprised. While we are well known, there are not many of us.”
Another male raised his hand. “Then, why are we here? This is a huge waste of time if we can’t consider this as a career path.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose over her glasses. “I am going to answer that with a question for you. Have you ever lost a loved one?”
He shifted in his chair. “No.”
Avina smirked, “I thought not. When you have a chance to see your loved ones again, communicate with them, ask the questions that you didn’t get to ask during their lifetimes, you will want an Aura Speaker. When you need to know what happened at a crime scene, you want an Aura Speaker. When you want a good night at a space station, you will want a short-term Companion, but that is another lecture.”
The room burst into laughter.
Avina adjusted her lenses and inclined her head to the assembled Citadel trainees. “Thank you for your attentiveness, and please, feel free to take the Aura Speaker test at your earliest convenience. I will be here for two days. Call the administrator to make an appointment for assessment.”
They applauded, hooted and generally gave her a good send off from the podium. She hated doing recruitments, but the more widespread knowledge of Aura Speakers was, the greater the demand for their skills.
The Citadel preferred to post a permanent Aura Speaker on a world. They developed an affinity for the frequency of the species, and it improved their connection dramatically. This increased demand for the Aura Speakers far beyond the Citadel’s ability to train and produce new personnel.
The only way to hone the talent of an Aura Speaker was to catch them before they locked into another branch of service. Using their talents in another direction would eventually destroy all chances of them retaining the ability to see the traces left by the dead.
She straightened her smoke and blue robes as she walked. A few of the students and instructors nodded politely, but Avina had only one aim, she wanted a cup of caf more than life itself.
The commissary at Citadel Morganti was well appointed, and once she had the cup of hot, caffeinated brew, Avina took a seat facing the atrium and relaxed.
“How was the recruitment?”
She looked to her left, and the Citadel Counsellor Kalo was sitting and sipping at his own beverage.
“It went fine. I noted at least a dozen interested in seeking out the
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