Short Fiction · Chapter
The Uniter of Souls explained
Garmonov, a young and awkward poet, visits Sonpolyev, who feels an inexplicable hatred for him.
What happens
Garmonov, a young and awkward poet, visits Sonpolyev, who feels an inexplicable hatred for him. Sonpolyev converses with a wall and is answered by a four-headed monster, the Uniter of Souls, who offers to merge their souls. On New Year's Eve, Sonpolyev attempts the ritual by burning a magic hair, but Garmonov, in fear, blows out the flame, causing the ritual to fail. The monster laughs and disappears, and Garmonov wishes Sonpolyev a happy New Year.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Control
Sonpolyev attempts to control and merge souls, but Garmonov's fear disrupts the ritual, highlighting the struggle for power over one's own identity.
Illusion vs. Reality
The magical ritual and the monster's appearance blur the line between reality and illusion, as Sonpolyev and Garmonov confront the possibility of a fused existence.
Characters to notice
- Souls Garmonov
A young, awkward poet who visits Sonpolyev and is the subject of the soul-merging ritual.
- Sonpolyev
A man of action who feels a strange hatred for Garmonov and attempts to merge their souls.
Key passages
“There is no mask without a responding soul. It is impossible to put on a mask without harmonizing your soul with its soul. Otherwise the mask is uncovered.”
A mask only works if the soul behind it aligns with the mask's essence; otherwise, the deception is revealed.
Sonpolyev explains the necessity of soul-mask harmony to Garmonov.
“It is possible to hate so strongly and so poignantly only that which is near to one.”
Intense hatred is reserved for things that are intimately close to us.
Sonpolyev reflects on his inexplicable hatred for Garmonov.
“Miscarried! Miscarried!”
The ritual has failed! The ritual has failed!
The Uniter of Souls announces the failure of the soul-merging ritual.