The mountain range of Malinoia was largely inaccessible. Vast mountains sprung violently and suddenly out of the ground and near vertical walls of rock and ice blocked the way to all but the most skilful climbers. Surrounding the inner range was a ring of steep mountains that were often merged, creating an impassable wall. Located sparsely around this great wall were valleys and gorges that provided access points to the central range. It was in one of these that the town of Briarstone had come into existence. Climbers and explorers would use Briarstone as a base camp so they could rest and take on supplies before heading up the valley between two mountains and into the central range. The native inhabitants were well suited to the mountains. They were hardy folk that could withstand the bitter cold that winter brought. When summer came however, the snow and ice melted and the hillsides were transformed into meadows of long grass and flowers. The rivers sprang back to life and rushed down the mountain sides and valleys, eager not to be caught in the next freeze. Herdsman brought their goats up to the meadows to graze and the hostility of the mountains above was temporarily forgotten.

After working his way up the valley, David was now standing outside the lower gate of Briarstone. The thick wooden gates had deep ornate engravings of mountain goats and fire filled caves. Through the gates, a cobblestone street led up through the town towards the square, and beyond it to the upper town gate. Old houses and shops lined the way. They had oak beams visible in the white walls, and second floors that protruded out over the street sheltering the shop windows selling climbing equipment, winter clothes and supplies. The town was not busy, but the people that David did see were hurrying about to get their errands done before nightfall when the temperature would plummet. It was near evening and the sunlight was draining from the hillside so David stuffed his hands inside the pockets of his thick coat and nestled his chin down into the neck to avoid the cold. He wandered slowly up the street looking left and right for a warm tavern or guesthouse where he could stay. After ten minutes of walking up through the sloping town David arrived at the square where the narrow street opened up into a wide cobbled area with a stone fountain in the middle. Cafes, restaurants, and taverns surrounded the square, their windows glowing warmly in the dying light. David made his way towards one of the taverns that had its windows steamed up with a welcoming warmth. Inside it was rustic but homely, the patrons were cheery and sitting around tables or stationed at the bar.  They were mostly the same red faced heavily built men that inhabited the area, but in the corner four men, no doubt explorers, were grouped around a map deep in discussion. Their clothes looked more expensive than those the locals wore, but they did not look as comfortable or as warm. David booked a room at the bar and after eating a meal of stew and tough bread he went upstairs for the night.

David was about 18, and strongly independent. He looked slightly unkempt because of his time spent traveling, and this made him look fierce, like a wild animal. This masked the fact that he was intelligent though, and very inquisitive. David rose the following day and exited the tavern into the bright morning light, blue sky and crisp air that was so refreshing in these remote areas. He was fascinated by these mountain communities and had been traveling form town to town for nearly a year, experiencing new traditions and cultures. It was his custom to spend a few days exploring a town before replenishing his supplies and traveling onto the next one. Each town he visited was vastly different, as were the people who dwelled there. Some were welcoming, while others were more cautious of strangers. David liked to explore the lesser explored. He would often roam down the side alleys of the places he visited, exploring small dark shops selling strange artifacts or tradition food and remedies. Briarstone had many of these and David was eager to examine them. It was down one of these alleys that one building in particular caught his eye. The front had large windows but behind these was covered by black cloth. The door had an engraving, a circle surrounding a flame.

David tried to push the door open but it was heavy and stiff so he had to barge his shoulder against it to open it, and enter into a room devoid of sunlight. A large fire burned in a fireplace opposite the door and there were oil lamps on the walls that lit the room with a homely flickering light. There was a shop counter to the left made of dark polished wood with a single bell on top. Behind it, there were a series of shelves with glass orbs placed along them on circular wooden stands. The orbs, about the size of a melon, were not empty. Inside there seemed to be some type of clear gas swirling around like a heat haze. As he edged towards the counter the door shut behind him and a man popped up curiously from behind the counter. He was an old man, quite thin, with grey hair parted at the side. A black shirt was tucked into his trousers and he wore a purple waistcoat covered with stitched images matching the engraving on the door. Despite his increasing age his voice was strong and full of an unintentional assertiveness brought about through his wisdom.

“Hello. How can I help you?”

“I was just curious about what this place is…”

“Ah of course, the orbs can be intriguing.”

“Orbs?”

“The Soul Orbs.” He said, gesturing at the shelves behind him.

“What are they? What do they do?”

“They show you your soul… or an interpretation of it at least. Would you like to see?”

“Yes please.”

“Come closer then.”

The man picked up some gloves from under the counter and turned around to face the shelves while putting them on. He picked up one of the orbs and turned around.

“Follow me.” He said.

The man creaked across the polished floorboards of the room to another door that led into a dark hallway. At the first door on the left the man stopped and beckoned for David to open the door. Once they were inside with the door closed the man placed the orb on another circular wooden stand to stop it rolling off the table.

“Why are you wearing gloves?” David asked.

“I don’t want you seeing my secrets do I?” the man said smiling.

David looked confused so he continued.

“The Soul Orb only works if it is in contact with your body. Most people want to keep what they see private so we have these private viewing rooms available.”

He took his gloves off and gestured for David to sit down on the wooden chair by the table.

“If you don’t mind me staying then I can explain to you how this works.”

David nodded. “OK.”

“The Orbs have a special gas inside that reacts when a human comes into contact with it. The glass is made so it doesn’t affect it too badly. Although you would see stronger effects if you were exposed to solely the gas. Now, place your hands around the orb.”

David stretched his hands out over the orb and cautiously brought them down until his palms rested on the cool glass and his fingers followed the contours. His eyes focused deep into the orb, staring into the swirling clear gas to see what would happen. It started to turn gently blue, and form together into a compact ball in the centre. The gas still swirled around looking more like light blue fog. Gradually flame like shapes would lick upwards out of the ball. This happened more frequently until finally in the centre of the orb there was a small but intense blue flame burning.

“Innocence.” The man murmured.

“Sorry?”

“Oh, nothing. If I were to show you my flame you would understand.”

“What does it mean?”

“If you were to place a newborn baby’s hands on the orb you would see nothing. The gas would remain clear. Does that help?”

“So, as you get older the flame grows?”

“Yes and no. Remember, the flame represents the soul.”

“Do you mean the flame grows as your soul grows?”

“Well, everything you see, hear, and do affects who you are. Your actions, your sins, your good deeds… the more you experience the more you change. The flame will change to reflect your soul. Naturally as you get older the flame becomes more complex.”

“What does yours look like?”

“It is very complicated. It is not worth getting too obsessed with what you see in the orb because you cannot change it. If you see sin lick out of the fire, it can never go away. Some try to live their lives by checking the orbs and altering themselves accordingly, but they will never be happy.”

The man sighed and put the gloves back on. David took his hands off the orb and the blue flamed died instantly. The clear gas ball was back in the centre and slowly expanded outwards until the orb was again filled with the clear swirling gas.

“Why do they exist then?” David asked as they returned to the shop room and the man returned the orb to the vacant space on the shelf.

“Who knows? They have done for many years.”

“I’ve never seen them in any towns before.”

“They can only be found at Briarstone, or wherever a buyer may take theirs after they purchase one from here.”

“Why?”

“The gas contained in the orbs has only been found in caves in the mountains above Briarstone. But where exactly they are, no one knows now. The majority of expeditions that set out from here are searching for those caves. People want to harness this gas for their own means.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know… but stories from the men who discovered the caves state that the powers of the gas in the orbs are nothing compared to what they are in their natural form. The orbs only contain a small amount of it you see, the caves are said to be full of it. It is not poisonous and when one walks through it they are said to see profound things.”

“I’d like to see that.” he said.

David left the shop feeling confused. As he made his way back to the tavern at which he was staying he thought about the gas and it was of great interest to him. He wanted to find out more, and to visit the caves the man in the Soul Orb shop had talked about. It was then that an idea struck him. As he entered the tavern he looked around, he was looking for the group of explorers he had seen around a table the previous night but he could not see them anywhere in the tavern. David walked up to the bar and asked the man pouring drinks if he knew where they were. He was a large red faced man with a thick beard that he scratched thoroughly as he thought.

“They’ve already set off from what I know… checked out earlier.”

David sprinted up to his room and collected up his things. He put on his furs and checked everything was in his bag. There were enough supplies to last 5 days that the tavern had provided him with for a few coins. Once outside the tavern he crossed the square and carried on walking up through the town away from the lower gate he had entered through. When he reached the upper exit that led up the valley and into the mountains he stopped and scanned the slopes above with his eyes, looking for the figures of the explorers. The path led up the valley between two mountains and from there down again into the central mountain range. David could not see the group but they had not set out long before and would be setting up camp soon so he could hopefully catch them up. What would happen when he reached them he did not know. They probably would not let him join up with them, but he was not about to turn back and let this opportunity fade away. He knew that if he did not find them by the next day he would have to turn back but he was buzzing with what he had learnt and he could not stay still when there was a chance to find out more. With that in mind he set off up the valley, eyes still scanning the horizon, desperate to discover the secrets that lay up in the mountains waiting to be rediscovered.