The New World

The Mirror Stage

"Sister Lyda, Brothers Paul and Tecumseh, welcome to the ProMental Institute", began the man with a smile. "Thank you for accepting our offer to join Tecumseh. I'm Lindsay Bernalt, director of the institute."

Young, short and lean, with an emaciated face and impeccably pulled-back blond hair, his clear eyes were scrutinizing and he spoke quickly. Like all Parfaits, that supreme circle of the Congregation, Bernalt was dressed in white. Paul had heard of him as a Power advisor, belonging to the Olamites, who claimed that the Devourers had always been present in our world.

The institute was a large, old-style, two-storey building in the old megalopolis's upmarket districts.

"As you can see", added Bernalt with a gesture of the arm embracing what could be seen through the bay window, "if Tecumseh were to join us, he'd be quite well here."

A vast interior garden filled the space formed by the wings of the building. Morning sunlight stretched in golden sprays across the deep green lawn. A few students were seated at white tables. Everything looked bright and clean. Heavenly.

Bernalt offered them hot drinks, which they sipped, comfortably seated in leather armchairs facing his large light-wood desk with lion's paw feet.

After a short chat about the weather and current events, Bernalt spoke again.

"You must have a lot of questions about the meaning of this meeting, about who we are and what we're going to do with Tecumseh. You must, understandably, feel a certain anxiety. We're going to tell you, show you who we are and try to answer your questions. Before we start, would you like to share morning mass with the Institute's Beginners?

The bay window slid open noiselessly. They stepped out into the inner garden. Beds of hyacinths perfumed the fresh air of this early spring day. At the other end of the garden, a hundred or so students and priests of both genders were gathered around a canopied altar. Bernalt invited his guests to stand beside him in the front row.

A young priest, dressed in a crimson tunic over an immaculate habit, arrived and began the service. His chanting seemed to have an effect on the Beginners, as Bernalt called them. Several of them were swaying back and forth.

Paul felt glances. Intrusive thoughts tried to make their way into his mind. Yet direct connection is a cardinal sin, he mused. He turned discreetly to look for anyone who dared to probe them. But they all seemed devoutly immersed in prayer.

After mass, they returned to Bernalt's office. He began his presentation of the Institute by reminding them that ProMental had been in existence for 150 years, and that its vocation was to provide the most gifted young people with an education adapted to their faculties. These young people would then be fully equipped to become the Chosen of tomorrow.

"We're in contact with the network of inductors", he added. This is how we identify the most gifted, and we've been informed that Tecumseh has great potential.

He then switched on his terminal and invited his guests to log in with their thoughts. There, they were treated to a series of presentations of the institute, complete with images and sounds.

The presentation of the program that the teenager would follow, should he pass the entrance exam, emphasized the quality of the supervision. Animated diagrams showed how Tecumseh would master the most intimate functions of the Spirit Pearl and acquire a high level of knowledge in all subjects.

"Sounds great", exclaimed Tecumseh.

"You see?" smiled Bernalt. "The teaching here is, above all, fascinating, which is why the Beginners want to continue."

Finally, a little music played.

"That's it", concluded Bernalt, rising to his feet.

There was a long silence, broken by Paul.