Kaelen

In over my head yet again, and it’s Lyra’s doing. I watched as she turned, and walked away into the busy city, as I got pulled deeper into the guild by a human monk that I was handed off to. In a whirlwind, I was pushed into a bath house, scrubbed clean, offered a set of earth colored monk’s robes, and then ushered into a silent room of about forty to fifty monks all meditating quietly in front of a large statue of Typhor, the gods grand form shaped by clay, finely shaped the many fingerprints of the artists on his flesh and glass, glistening as the suns light hit it and gave the statue a slight glow.

I shyly walked to an open mat, sat down, crossed my legs, and joined in, harshly adjusting my posture to be pin straight and almost falling over as I tried to mimic the other monks' seating positions. I felt off balance, the whole room felt off balance, my energy was heavy, dirty, and unprepared for such a spiritual center.

As I closed my eyes, and deepened my breath, a side door opened. An elderly fistfolk, his eyes now cloudy with time and scaled skin dull and flakey, walked slowly to a cushion in front of the ethagy. He took a deep breath in, the monks on the floor did the same, a melodious connection of life force bringing all the individual minds and energies in the room and blending them into a collective.

I could feel the hair on the back of my neck raise as I copied the monks. I drank in the air, taking an extra sip at the top, only to cause myself to start coughing loudly. The monks did not get disturbed, the whole group seemed to hold their breath as I tried to catch mine.

A kind hand patted my back, I turned and a kind velociraptor like first-folk smiled at me. The collective exhaled, I felt the energy shift. Again, they inhaled, my neighbor signaled me to join in, his hand slowly raising, showing me how quickly I should be taking in the air. I followed, feeling the life force fill me, ground me, and then his hand stopped and I held my breath with the collective.

A few moments passed, a gong was softly rung, its sweet deep tones vibrating through every vertebrae in my spine and a slow exhale took over. I think I get it. We are all one being, breathing in unison. I closed my eyes and let the peace consume me as I followed the flow of breath. Hours went by and I felt myself become blended with the spirits of those around me, the smells of the sacred incense and warmth of the calmed energy held me as I sat within the whole. Maybe this isn’t so bad. My breathing deepened, but still my lungs ached as I filled them with life.

******

“Ouch!” I fell to the ground, my small sparring partner smiling down at me and offering a hand.

“Just try to use my force against me, you’ll get it.” He demonstrated how to grab his wrist and move it past my body, his movement fluid and graceful from years of practice. I copied his flow, shaky but cleaner than my last attempt, then I got in position to try again.

He came at me, trying to slap me on the shoulder, I copied his technique and grabbed at his wrist. This time I made contact. As quickly as he came at me I pulled his arm across my body and moved him behind me with ease, his body slightly stumbling as I did so. “Exactly, like that!” He turned to face me, “Again, let's do it again.”

I repeated this sparring exercise with K’thar, my friend from meditation, until my body could move no more, and my sweat soaked through my robes. Over and over again I moved my arms in a fluid motion, moving his attack beyond me. Our bodies danced in time as we started to incorporate more moves into the drill. Energy flowed through us and moved around as I felt it fill my spirit and the ache’s turned into a dull drive to keep the flow going, to not let this energy drop.

I asked him how he could dedicate himself to something tiring, he said it gets less so the more you do it, you just have to do it. We drank some water, and I continued the drills.

******

When the suns had set, and the split moon rose the day if drills and breathwork was finally done, and it was time for dinner. I felt in my element finally, and helped the monks with their vegetable meadlies and legumes, offering up my knowledge of spices and how to prepare them both beyond steaming. That night we ate tempura veggies and a lyre bean hummus, tea was also poured and the night was filled with a cheerful atmosphere. I ate my fried food slowly and reflected on what information I had learned today. The monks were no stronger than me, but somehow had mastered reading others' energy and seeing how to use it against them.

Lyra’s instinct was correct, this was my bread and butter, that wasn’t actually bread and butter. I caught myself quite often trying to deepen my normal breathing, noticing the subtle shifts to my anxious energy, and how at ease I felt, even in an unfamiliar environment, but this might just be the guilds influence for the moment.

I shoved another tempura veggie into my mouth, and stared into the distance, only to be snapped back to the moment by a slap on my back.

“K’thar thinks Kaelen is going to be a brilliant monk, just needs to slow down.” He hissed a few laughs and pulled me into his group of friends, a few humans and other first-folk, all small and wearing matching robes. I instinctively smiled and laughed along, even if I was essentially just called slow by my only friend here.

“Well, what do you suggest I do?” I turned my body to face the group.

“Breathe. Deeply.” Answered a human, their freckled face framed by a bush of curly dark hair, “Then you will see your opponent's energy more clearly. Since us humans have no connection to magik, our auric senses are the closest thing we have to even competing with the elves' power.”

Another first-folk, her scales rainbow in hue and eyes like a snake, spoke, her voice soft but dry.

“Too bad you only have one more day here, Screech agree with K’thar, you would do well training here for a few months.” She handed me a shared bowl of hummus.

Everyone is so kind to me here. I wish I could stay, but abandoning Lyra is completely out of the question.

I had to soak in all the information I could before I left the day after tomorrow. K’thar suggested that I should seek out a meeting with the elder of the guild for advice, worth a shot.

******

I slept in communal spaces, the group that pulled me in at dinner invited me to sleep in their space with them. Screech gave me a sleeping roll, and the bushy haired human, I learned their name was Royal, gave me a pair of sleeping clothes. Happily changing out of the sweaty monks robes, I could smell the sweet incense from the meditation temple on the sleeping clothes fabric. A deep earthy scent with a touch of citrus like sweetness, a smell I would keep with me forever.

I really don’t want to leave. I could feel my heart break as I thought about how much one day with this guild had changed my outlook. I feared that I could not get all that I needed, and yet again my heart sank.

“If you wish, you’re welcome to join us for our before sleep meditations.” K’thar offered me his hand once again, always pulling me from within myself, a good friend to have on my side. I looked up at him and confusion took hold, I could see a glow, a subtle one but still a glow, around his body. It was orange and pink, blending all around and most pronounced at the crown of his skull. I squinted my eyes then rubbed them before looking again, the colors were still there.

“K’thar, what am I seeing around you? Have you always glowed?”

“You’re seeing auras already! Not fair!” A ginger haired human threw his hands down, a frustrated sigh escaping him, “I’ve been trying for months to see them, and you waltz in and see them on the first day?” K’thar shot the human a glare, “We are to be happy for our brother, Thorin. You’ll see them in time, keep practicing. Some are just gifted in other areas.”

Auras? I am seeing auras? I glanced down at my own hands, and saw nothing.

“You can’t see your own aura silly.” Said Royal, who was now glowing with a turquoise and pink haze. I blinked my eyes again, trying to end the visual hallucination.

“Kaelen, you are gifted, K’thar knew it!” The monk pumped his fist and grabbed my hand pulling me into their sleep quarters meditation room. “Come sit in communion with Typhor. When the spirit has questions, in silence answers will come.”

I sat next to him, the rest of the group piled in, I could almost lick the back of Royal’s head we were all sitting so close. K’thar took a deep breath then let out the most relaxing chat I had ever heard.

“Ohm.” His nostrils flared as his exhale powered the word he spoke, his voice monotone and soon joined by the echoes of the others. My body felt electric as the word ended and a split second of silence followed. Inhales, deep and sounding of the waves of the great universal ocean, were taken all around me. K’thar opened one eye and motioned for me to join in. Focused, I took a swift breath out, and got myself set into a comfortable position. I listened for the next inhale and joined in with the waves of other breathtaking. My body melted into the ether, all I could feel was in the waves of breath washing over my soul, light filled my veins, and darkness left with each exhale. I was one with this guild. One with it all.