Taking a break from story-writing. I'm in a bit of a tough spot right now (trying to figure out how much history to reveal), but I have two segments in the works. Here, something for you to analyze.
My dream last night involved me being at work, except that the place I worked was shaped much like an old junior college I used to go to, with a long hall with glass doors on either end and an atrium sort of room in the middle and offices beside it. My office was way down on the far end of the hall. I was working at my computer in my office, which inexplicably had lots of plants and windows and was really nice. I left and drove around for awhile but I knew I'd have to work all night. So, around 3 AM I began the trek down the hall to the office at the OTHER end where I'd have to work. I passed the atrium and discovered that it was turned into a night club/bar late at night. Unfortunately since it was past 2 AM, they were closing down, but they still had music going. I walked through there enjoying the music and dim lighting, and of course it didn't seem odd to me that there were still dozens of people there at work at 3 AM. I ended up in a boring white walled office at the closer end of the building. I worked for a little, but then I was tired. My coworker was also working there, and for some reason there was a bed in my office. We ended up sleeping together, sharing the bed (completely chaste and all that, he's like 50). When I got up I had to go solve a problem for another guy in a different area. As I reached across him to switch something, he grabbed me around the waist. I figured it was all in good fun and I laughed, but he didn't let go. I finally was able to wrestle him off of me and run out the door when I was called away by my coworker to fix a new problem with our project. And then I woke up.
I have NO idea what this means.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
02/2 - History
As Cartak led her swiftly down the stone halls of the training grounds towards the meeting hall, Wren's mind was moving as fast as her feet. Myriad fantastical possibilities poured into her mind, from her being called on to slay a dragon that was threatening the capitol to a long-lost uncle that had come to take her on adventures through the Kren-land to her parents having been mysteriously killed by rogue magic-users that she must now avenge. Practically running with excitement, she almost ran headlong into Cartak when he stopped at the door to the meeting hall. He turned to her and put his dark, wrinkled hands on her shoulders.
"Young Wren. You must remember that this is one of the True Masters. They are not as I am, or even as the Master of this school is. Be sure to show her your deepest respect and honor." Here his eyes narrowed. "Else we shall have a lesson after this meeting that you shall not forget soon."
Wren nodded, furrowing her eyebrows and trying to appear serious and trustworthy. She knew the lore of the True Masters. How they had saved the world from the danger of the Orbs when they threatened to destroy the Four Lands. How they had led the Lands with wise hands even across the great distances that now separated them. And now one of them wished to see her. She grinned as she followed Cartak into the meeting hall.
"Young Wren. You must remember that this is one of the True Masters. They are not as I am, or even as the Master of this school is. Be sure to show her your deepest respect and honor." Here his eyes narrowed. "Else we shall have a lesson after this meeting that you shall not forget soon."
Wren nodded, furrowing her eyebrows and trying to appear serious and trustworthy. She knew the lore of the True Masters. How they had saved the world from the danger of the Orbs when they threatened to destroy the Four Lands. How they had led the Lands with wise hands even across the great distances that now separated them. And now one of them wished to see her. She grinned as she followed Cartak into the meeting hall.
The meeting hall was much like the rest of the indoor portion of the training grounds: windowless stone walled rooms with periodic torches lighting the area and only a set of benches lining the walls as furnishing. Much of the training grounds was outdoors, open to the sky. Even the trainees' sleeping areas were located outside much of the time (save when weather threatened the students' health). The Masters of the academy believed that Wren and the other trainees needed to be prepared for the realities of life outside the academy, where their combat skills would be put to use as guards or warriors in the militia of the Kren-land. Thus they trained and slept as they would in such situations, with few comforts save those they created for themselves. Though this kind of training might have seemed hard to some others of Wren's young age, to her and her fellow students it was the best way to live. They shared a camaraderie rarely found in those of their age, and a confidence in their skills rarely found in those twice their age.
Standing in the center of the room was a tall, gray-robed elderly woman and a shorter, younger woman wearing obviously expensive yet (Wren surmised) functional traveling garb. She glanced quickly at Cartak as he bowed low to the figure in grey and did the same. This must be the True Master, she thought. Not quite what she was expecting. As Wren's green eyes met the woman's serious gray ones, they both looked each other unflinchingly in the face. After a moment, the woman graced Wren with a small smile.
"Student Wren. We are True Master Bur." At this she paused, seemingly awaiting Wren's response. Wren blinked, not sure what was expected of her, before settling on a "Good to meet you."
"And you. We regret that you must leave the academy for a time. We have need of you." Wren's heart jumped. She knew it! There must be some great mission that only she could complete and save the world! Wren managed to keep her face straight and her expression serious as she nodded her understanding.
"We realize that you must have been taught our history, but permit me to reiterate some of it. Beyond the earliest history of the Four Lands, the Orbs were created. There were four of them, each, as we are told, only as large as would fit in your two hands, and each of a different color. They were each linked to the others, and through that link enabled transport between each other. We know that you do not study magic here, so we do not expect you to understand, but magic is a primal force drawn from the ambient environment all around us. The affinity required to channel and shape that force is innate to some, but is limited by their mental and magical discipline and focus. Transport from one location to another then takes a great amount of discipline; more than most mages possess. Thus, the orbs revolutionized trade and exploration when it was discovered that the magical network between them made transport of people and even objects between any two over almost any distance a relatively simple magical task. You may not be able to imagine travel without days of walking or riding, but it is true that hundreds of years past it was common to travel between the Kren-land and the Sur-land in no more time than it would take you to travel from here to your quarters!"
The True Master paused to let this image sink in. Wren was not as impressed as she thought the True Master was expecting. Admittedly, she hadn't heard a lot of this before, not particularly caring to pay attention in her History classes, but it didn't come close to the fantastical tales that she imagined daily as she trained. She did vaguely remember hearing about the Orbs before. Were they what this was all about, she wondered? And if so, what did this history lesson have to do with her? The True Master continued.
"The Four Lands were established then as the orbs allowed transport and trade to flourish across distances previously unexplored. However, after many years of use, there was an accident. That was when the first True Masters saved the Lands from destruction and performed the Severing. The Severing destroyed the magical network between the Orbs and the Orbs themselves. The Four Lands became in a moment isolated from each other. In the turmoil that followed, only the wisdom of the True Masters kept the Four Lands from civil war. We all owe much to those first True Masters, and all those that have followed them!"
During this last speech True Master Bur's voice had grown more impassioned and her eyes gleamed as they looked off into the distance. Even Wren could not help but feel a pang of patriotism at the fervor in her voice. As Bur finished her statement, she lowered her eyes to stare intensely into Wren's face.
"No memorial stands to these historic events save that in our memories. This has been the case for far too long. We seek to honor the memory of those that preserved our way of life in a more tangible manner now. You are almost prepared to begin work outside the academy, are you not?" At this Bur looked at Cartak, who lifted his bowed head long enough to give a small nod. Bur turned her attention back to Wren. "Then let this be your first assignment, young Wren. You will accompany a surveying group as they seek out the locations of the Orbs before the Severing and erect monuments to the events which happened there. "
Wren tried to keep her expression serious and not let her disappointment show through. Her first mission ever and it was to escort some bureaucrats. Great. She squared her shoulders a bit more. This was important enough that a True Master chose me in particular to guide them and came all the way out here to tell me. That's gotta mean something. Wren brought her attention back to the True Master in time to hear her finish her statements, now directed as Cartak.
"... your academy. You have our assurance that Wren's services are necessary for this mission. She shall be returned here once the journey is complete." Master Cartak, his eyes sincere, bowed once more to the True Master.
"It is my honor to serve the True Masters and the Four Lands." Cartak shot Wren a sharp look. She hastily followed his bow with one of her own.
"It is my honor to serve the True Masters and the Four Lands." she repeated. Bur inclined her head once more to them and then turned away, clearly signaling the meeting was over. Cartak laid his hand on Wren's shoulder and walked her quickly out of the meeting hall. She threw a glance backwards as he did, catching just a glimpse of the True Master conversing quietly with her companion. As they left the room, Wren could feel some of the tension leave Cartak's posture. He slowed to a stop in the hallway and turned to face Wren. His face crinkled into a smile.
"Well done, Wren. You may yet do your academy honor." She grinned back at him. Cartak's approval meant much more to her than anything the True Master had said. Cartak's expression turned earnest again. "You must prepare yourself now. The True Master and her escort leave tomorrow. Remember, you represent myself and all your comrades here in this mission. Perform it well, and you will bring us all honor. I have every faith in you, young one." He laid an affectionate hand on her fiery hair, which already looked wild again despite the thorough brushing earlier. Wren gazed intently back at him.
"I won't disappoint you, Master." Cartak nodded shortly.
"I know you will not. Now go. We have much to do before the morrow." Wren bowed shortly to him in farewell and ran off down the hallway. As she ran, she found herself grinning fiercely. Sure, maybe this wasn't the most glorious mission ever; there were no dragons to be slain and no imminent danger threatening the Lands. But it was her first mission! Without slowing as she skidded around a corner, she mentally yelled a challenge to the whole of the Four Lands.
Bring on your worst! I'm ready for you!
The True Master paused to let this image sink in. Wren was not as impressed as she thought the True Master was expecting. Admittedly, she hadn't heard a lot of this before, not particularly caring to pay attention in her History classes, but it didn't come close to the fantastical tales that she imagined daily as she trained. She did vaguely remember hearing about the Orbs before. Were they what this was all about, she wondered? And if so, what did this history lesson have to do with her? The True Master continued.
"The Four Lands were established then as the orbs allowed transport and trade to flourish across distances previously unexplored. However, after many years of use, there was an accident. That was when the first True Masters saved the Lands from destruction and performed the Severing. The Severing destroyed the magical network between the Orbs and the Orbs themselves. The Four Lands became in a moment isolated from each other. In the turmoil that followed, only the wisdom of the True Masters kept the Four Lands from civil war. We all owe much to those first True Masters, and all those that have followed them!"
During this last speech True Master Bur's voice had grown more impassioned and her eyes gleamed as they looked off into the distance. Even Wren could not help but feel a pang of patriotism at the fervor in her voice. As Bur finished her statement, she lowered her eyes to stare intensely into Wren's face.
"No memorial stands to these historic events save that in our memories. This has been the case for far too long. We seek to honor the memory of those that preserved our way of life in a more tangible manner now. You are almost prepared to begin work outside the academy, are you not?" At this Bur looked at Cartak, who lifted his bowed head long enough to give a small nod. Bur turned her attention back to Wren. "Then let this be your first assignment, young Wren. You will accompany a surveying group as they seek out the locations of the Orbs before the Severing and erect monuments to the events which happened there. "
Wren tried to keep her expression serious and not let her disappointment show through. Her first mission ever and it was to escort some bureaucrats. Great. She squared her shoulders a bit more. This was important enough that a True Master chose me in particular to guide them and came all the way out here to tell me. That's gotta mean something. Wren brought her attention back to the True Master in time to hear her finish her statements, now directed as Cartak.
"... your academy. You have our assurance that Wren's services are necessary for this mission. She shall be returned here once the journey is complete." Master Cartak, his eyes sincere, bowed once more to the True Master.
"It is my honor to serve the True Masters and the Four Lands." Cartak shot Wren a sharp look. She hastily followed his bow with one of her own.
"It is my honor to serve the True Masters and the Four Lands." she repeated. Bur inclined her head once more to them and then turned away, clearly signaling the meeting was over. Cartak laid his hand on Wren's shoulder and walked her quickly out of the meeting hall. She threw a glance backwards as he did, catching just a glimpse of the True Master conversing quietly with her companion. As they left the room, Wren could feel some of the tension leave Cartak's posture. He slowed to a stop in the hallway and turned to face Wren. His face crinkled into a smile.
"Well done, Wren. You may yet do your academy honor." She grinned back at him. Cartak's approval meant much more to her than anything the True Master had said. Cartak's expression turned earnest again. "You must prepare yourself now. The True Master and her escort leave tomorrow. Remember, you represent myself and all your comrades here in this mission. Perform it well, and you will bring us all honor. I have every faith in you, young one." He laid an affectionate hand on her fiery hair, which already looked wild again despite the thorough brushing earlier. Wren gazed intently back at him.
"I won't disappoint you, Master." Cartak nodded shortly.
"I know you will not. Now go. We have much to do before the morrow." Wren bowed shortly to him in farewell and ran off down the hallway. As she ran, she found herself grinning fiercely. Sure, maybe this wasn't the most glorious mission ever; there were no dragons to be slain and no imminent danger threatening the Lands. But it was her first mission! Without slowing as she skidded around a corner, she mentally yelled a challenge to the whole of the Four Lands.
Bring on your worst! I'm ready for you!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
(emo warning)
Am I the architect of madness? Or just a bystander perhaps to the chaos ripping loose in front of me.
Tell me where you are, tell me what you see, because I cannot make out the colors anymore. The center of only my own universe, I see you spin around me.
Do you see me?
Predators feed on carrion imagined or perhaps not, I cannot tell, I see through their bloodstained eyes and see from a distance.
Where are you? Did I imagine you too?
Your reality is tainted by my existence. Yet like a bloated ego I press further into dimensions not mine to manipulate. Do even you know who I am anymore?
Is all this in my mind? The window is painted, I cannot see through it. What painting is on your side?
Are you even there? Why?
What have I done to you?
Tell me where you are, tell me what you see, because I cannot make out the colors anymore. The center of only my own universe, I see you spin around me.
Do you see me?
Predators feed on carrion imagined or perhaps not, I cannot tell, I see through their bloodstained eyes and see from a distance.
Where are you? Did I imagine you too?
Your reality is tainted by my existence. Yet like a bloated ego I press further into dimensions not mine to manipulate. Do even you know who I am anymore?
Is all this in my mind? The window is painted, I cannot see through it. What painting is on your side?
Are you even there? Why?
What have I done to you?
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
01/3 - Musings
Alyra lay with her hands behind her head at the cave mouth, looking up at the overcast sky. A warm fur separated her from the cold stone floor and the chill late-winter winds that occasionally gusted into the cave. As she listened to the patter of the rain on the stone, she idly wondered if her assistant had gotten anywhere with the day's grading but decided against Seeking him to find out. Alyra held very strong views on invasion of privacy by magical means, views she tried to instill in all of her students. Magic held so much potential for abuse, she mused; more perhaps even than the potential it held for good. She had seen both in her lifetime. Once the True Masters, the rulers of the five lands, had been masters in more than just name. They were the foremost masters of magic in the lands, brought together to govern the chaos that ensued after the Severing. Thought to be the best equipped to save the world from a danger that was magical by nature, the four first True Masters had done just that. But, Alyra pondered, at what price had security been bought? The harsh restrictions on any public displays of magic outside Academy walls alone had nearly halted the once-rapid growth of understanding of magic. Arbiters walked the streets of the townships at all hours now, free to do as they saw fit to keep the fragile peace. Even now, over three centuries later, the laws laid down in magic and writing by the first True Masters were viewed as gospel. And even though the True Masters of the past generations had had no magical talent, they were still held in awe by the majority of the population. Alyra's mouth twitched in a sarcastic smile. They would not be allowed to become True Masters had they an inkling of magic. The distrust of magic-users ran too deep these days. Perhaps it was best that children who showed magical leanings were still taken from their parents too young to remember they had any and raised at the Academies. At least a few had escaped the mindless prejudices of their ancestors.
Alyra sat up stiffly, wishing now that she'd brought something thicker than a fur cape to lie on. The rain was still going, a steady downpour that boded well for the upcoming spring. She murmured softly, and a dome of light appeared over her head as she stepped out of the cave into the softly falling rain. As the drops touched the dome they gave off a soft hiss, and a steady sheen of steam began rising from the shining barrier. She hugged her dry cape around her a little closer and began the trek back to the Academy, her glowing umbrella following over her head.
Arriving back at the entrance hall of the Academy, Alyra shed her cape into the waiting arms of a servant who whisked it off for cleaning. The darkening sky outside told her the day was almost over; she must have missed the evening meal. Ah well, she thought, I can always retrieve something from the kitchens. Her course set, she had hardly begun to walk down the east hallway before she was accosted by her assistant, looking more nervous than ever.
"Mistress Darkshine! Thank the gods you're here! It's - there's - you've been summoned! By a True Master!" The assistant's eyes were huge as he stumbled over his words. Alyra felt a stab of shock. A True Master at one of the Academies? Everyone knew they only tolerated the Academies because it kept the magic-users out of the way and out of trouble. Her eyes flickered but she quickly regained her composure.
"Show me to the True Master then." The assistant stared for a moment more, then turned and began to almost run down the hallway. He led her to the largest meeting hall in the Academy and pointed dumbly to the door. Alyra nodded at him reassuringly.
"Thank you for your assistance." The assistant took this as his dismissal and hurried away, leaving her staring at the large wooden doors. Gathering herself and composing her features one last time, she pushed the doors open.
Arriving back at the entrance hall of the Academy, Alyra shed her cape into the waiting arms of a servant who whisked it off for cleaning. The darkening sky outside told her the day was almost over; she must have missed the evening meal. Ah well, she thought, I can always retrieve something from the kitchens. Her course set, she had hardly begun to walk down the east hallway before she was accosted by her assistant, looking more nervous than ever.
"Mistress Darkshine! Thank the gods you're here! It's - there's - you've been summoned! By a True Master!" The assistant's eyes were huge as he stumbled over his words. Alyra felt a stab of shock. A True Master at one of the Academies? Everyone knew they only tolerated the Academies because it kept the magic-users out of the way and out of trouble. Her eyes flickered but she quickly regained her composure.
"Show me to the True Master then." The assistant stared for a moment more, then turned and began to almost run down the hallway. He led her to the largest meeting hall in the Academy and pointed dumbly to the door. Alyra nodded at him reassuringly.
"Thank you for your assistance." The assistant took this as his dismissal and hurried away, leaving her staring at the large wooden doors. Gathering herself and composing her features one last time, she pushed the doors open.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
02/1 - Pike Problems
Wren's pike ricocheted off the armor with a metallic ringing sound. She paused in her attack, momentarily dazed. The wooden training dummy seemed unfazed by her brutal rush. Using her pike now as a prop to steady herself, she glared at the dummy. The dummy's blank face stared challengingly back at her, clearly taunting her feeble blows.
"So that's how it's going to be, huh?" She readied her pike again. Yelling a fierce "Have at you!", she charged again. The point of the pike bounced up and down with her steps until CLANG! It bounced harmlessly off the dummy's breastplate and slid to the right. The sudden twist of the weapon caught Wren off guard, spinning her sideways as she tripped over her own feet. She hit the mulched bark floor hard, her breath whooshing out as her head slammed into the ground.
As the buzzing in her ears cleared, Wren thought she could hear a clapping sound in the distance. She sat up groaning and peered around. As she blearily stared at the figure standing on the sidelines, she groaned again and flopped back down on the ground as recognition set in.
"Master Cartak..."
Cartak slowly stopped his mocking applause and began to walk towards the fallen Wren.
"Young Wren. You appear to have been defeated." Cartak's eyes crinkled in hidden amusement as Wren moaned again. She clumsily got to her feet and began brushing the dirt and bark off her backside.
"Are you injured?"
Wren winced a little as she met Cartak's gaze. "No, master. Well, actually, I think I might have bitten my tongue."
Cartak did laugh at this. He tousled Wren's already disheveled fiery hair.
"That may in fact be an improvement." Wren glared at him, her short, slight figure seeming even shorter next to Cartak's tall, muscular build. He gestured to her as he turned towards the training area entrance.
"Come, young one. You must get yourself into a presentable state. One of the True Masters is here to see you."
Wren's amber eyes boggled. "A True Master?", she thought incredulously. Her mind pondered the significance of the words. For a moment, following Cartak, she thought of being nervous. Then she scoffed. She didn't believe those child's tales about the True Masters' supposed god-like powers anymore. Besides, what quarrel had they with her? She was nothing more than a school girl who wasn't interested in school.
Shaking her head to clear the last of her trepidation, she trotted obediently after Master Cartak as he led her back to her rooms. After seeing her safely there, he waited at her door as she hurriedly changed into her dress uniform and brushed out her hair. Her mind kept buzzing in circles between excitement at meeting a True Master and confusion over what they wanted with her. As she rushed back out her door, Master Cartak quickly looked her over and nodded. She automatically followed his lead, unable to shake the nagging feeling of impending doom as they began the long walk to the meeting hall.
"So that's how it's going to be, huh?" She readied her pike again. Yelling a fierce "Have at you!", she charged again. The point of the pike bounced up and down with her steps until CLANG! It bounced harmlessly off the dummy's breastplate and slid to the right. The sudden twist of the weapon caught Wren off guard, spinning her sideways as she tripped over her own feet. She hit the mulched bark floor hard, her breath whooshing out as her head slammed into the ground.
As the buzzing in her ears cleared, Wren thought she could hear a clapping sound in the distance. She sat up groaning and peered around. As she blearily stared at the figure standing on the sidelines, she groaned again and flopped back down on the ground as recognition set in.
"Master Cartak..."
Cartak slowly stopped his mocking applause and began to walk towards the fallen Wren.
"Young Wren. You appear to have been defeated." Cartak's eyes crinkled in hidden amusement as Wren moaned again. She clumsily got to her feet and began brushing the dirt and bark off her backside.
"Are you injured?"
Wren winced a little as she met Cartak's gaze. "No, master. Well, actually, I think I might have bitten my tongue."
Cartak did laugh at this. He tousled Wren's already disheveled fiery hair.
"That may in fact be an improvement." Wren glared at him, her short, slight figure seeming even shorter next to Cartak's tall, muscular build. He gestured to her as he turned towards the training area entrance.
"Come, young one. You must get yourself into a presentable state. One of the True Masters is here to see you."
Wren's amber eyes boggled. "A True Master?", she thought incredulously. Her mind pondered the significance of the words. For a moment, following Cartak, she thought of being nervous. Then she scoffed. She didn't believe those child's tales about the True Masters' supposed god-like powers anymore. Besides, what quarrel had they with her? She was nothing more than a school girl who wasn't interested in school.
Shaking her head to clear the last of her trepidation, she trotted obediently after Master Cartak as he led her back to her rooms. After seeing her safely there, he waited at her door as she hurriedly changed into her dress uniform and brushed out her hair. Her mind kept buzzing in circles between excitement at meeting a True Master and confusion over what they wanted with her. As she rushed back out her door, Master Cartak quickly looked her over and nodded. She automatically followed his lead, unable to shake the nagging feeling of impending doom as they began the long walk to the meeting hall.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
01/2 - World's Light
Alyra Darkshine sat down gracefully in her wooden chair at the front of the class as the students began their Seeking. All of them were slightly in awe of her, and it was not hard to see why. Her face had an ageless quality to it, and her bright indigo eyes contrasted sharply against her black hair and shimmering silver/grey robes she customarily wore. She was tall when she stood, slender and graceful, and she had never been known to raise her musical voice. In fact, many of the students whispered that she had no emotions at all, but not a one would dare say anything like that to her face. Half the students were scared and the other half in awe of her, but nobody could deny she was the most effective Seeker teacher at the academy.
To the class she looked still, her robed form silently watching them, but in truth her mind was far away from the classroom. Her thoughts led her to the familiar old ways in the rocky crags outside the walls of the Academy, where she spent much of her time these past few months. Stormclouds were moving in towards the cave in the cliffside that she Located. It would rain in a few hours. Though her serene expression did not change, she smiled internally. She loved the rain, especially the sound it made on the roof of her cave.
A tap on her desk caused her to return her mind fully to the present. Students were beginning to file past her desk dropping off their reports on today's exercise. She coolly watched each young learner finish and leave their work in front of her. As the last stragglers wandered up, she stood and faced the assembled students.
"Well done. I expect your independent Seeking reports in two days. World's Light."
The students chorused the familiar dismissal back to her and began to leave the room. As her assistant collected the parchments from her desk she gave them a cursory look. Several people had chosen to draw the locations they saw, and the accuracy of several impressed her. This was a promising class. She nodded to her assistant as he gathered the last of them and scurried out of the room, no doubt to spend the next few hours examining the students' work. She had other plans for her evening; those stormclouds were calling the siren song of raindrops to her. She allowed herself a smile as she left the classroom and headed down the hallway that led to the exit to the Academy.
To the class she looked still, her robed form silently watching them, but in truth her mind was far away from the classroom. Her thoughts led her to the familiar old ways in the rocky crags outside the walls of the Academy, where she spent much of her time these past few months. Stormclouds were moving in towards the cave in the cliffside that she Located. It would rain in a few hours. Though her serene expression did not change, she smiled internally. She loved the rain, especially the sound it made on the roof of her cave.
A tap on her desk caused her to return her mind fully to the present. Students were beginning to file past her desk dropping off their reports on today's exercise. She coolly watched each young learner finish and leave their work in front of her. As the last stragglers wandered up, she stood and faced the assembled students.
"Well done. I expect your independent Seeking reports in two days. World's Light."
The students chorused the familiar dismissal back to her and began to leave the room. As her assistant collected the parchments from her desk she gave them a cursory look. Several people had chosen to draw the locations they saw, and the accuracy of several impressed her. This was a promising class. She nodded to her assistant as he gathered the last of them and scurried out of the room, no doubt to spend the next few hours examining the students' work. She had other plans for her evening; those stormclouds were calling the siren song of raindrops to her. She allowed herself a smile as she left the classroom and headed down the hallway that led to the exit to the Academy.
01/1 - Clarity
[Author's note: I've wanted to write a story, so I thought, who better to write about than me? No, it isn't really me, but it's who I was once. I'll leave you to puzzle that out. ^_^ This story hasn't been told in years, I think it's time it was retold.]
Closing her eyes, she visualized the tiny marbles in her mind. There, one over on the rug, another under the wardrobe, two more on the floor. She imagined them rising from the floor to gather above the desk in front of her. She pictured them beginning to spin in the air around each other, now shifting colors between each other; red, then green, then yellow, then blue. Eyes still shut, she smiled, enjoying the sight of the spinning glowing marbles.
A knock on the door broke her concentration. Opening her eyes and catching the marbles that dropped into her hand as she stopped focusing on them, she turned her attention to the intricate web of crystals in her window. "That time already?" she thought, surprised, as she hurriedly stuffed the marbles into the pocket of her robe. Jumping to her feet, she swiftly walked to the door, opening it to find a nervous looking assistant standing outside it. He began to speak, but she brushed past him quickly and marched down the long hallway. Sun slid through the open archways in the sides of the hall as she passed by several doorways, finally stopping at one on her left. She took a moment before entering to catch her breath and smooth her hair and robe. The nervous assistant fellow finally caught up with her as she did, and stood panting a little ways behind her. Now appearing as sedate as the moon, she opened the door in front of her and entered the room.
The room was smallish, surrounded by the undecorated shaped-wood walls common to the whole facility. Four long tables outfitted with wooden chairs occupied the majority of the room's space, most of which was currently occupied by young people gathered into groups, talking in hushed voices. The talking faded as the robed woman strode confidently into the room and stood facing the tables, watching the students file obediently into their chairs. The woman waited till they were all seated before she began to speak.
"As you are aware by this point in your studies, an important aspect of Seeking is the ability to describe where the Found is. It does not matter if you can Locate if you cannot tell another how to retrieve the Found. For this, one needs both the ability to Locate and the ability to communicate precisely and clearly. Clarity is key. Clarity of focus is needed to determine details about the location of the Found. Clarity of awareness is needed to map the path between yourself and the Found. Clarity of expression is needed to communicate your knowledge."
The woman halted her speech for a moment, waiting for the sound of skritching writing implements to die down before she began again.
"Today I wish you all to improve your clarity." She reached into her robe pocket and brought out the four marbles she had been playing with earlier.
"You will practice on these. Each will be sent to a different location throughout this wing. Each of you will then be paired with another, and will be responsible for describing to the other the location of each marble. At the end of the exercise your partner must be able to correctly define the location of the Founds. You may use whatever means you see fit; writing the location, drawing a portrait, even speaking aloud, however the non-Seeking partner must not use their abilities in any way during this exercise."
She motioned to her assistant to begin the pairing of students. Once he returned to her side she looked momentarily at the marbles in her hand. They all vanished.
"You may begin."
Closing her eyes, she visualized the tiny marbles in her mind. There, one over on the rug, another under the wardrobe, two more on the floor. She imagined them rising from the floor to gather above the desk in front of her. She pictured them beginning to spin in the air around each other, now shifting colors between each other; red, then green, then yellow, then blue. Eyes still shut, she smiled, enjoying the sight of the spinning glowing marbles.
A knock on the door broke her concentration. Opening her eyes and catching the marbles that dropped into her hand as she stopped focusing on them, she turned her attention to the intricate web of crystals in her window. "That time already?" she thought, surprised, as she hurriedly stuffed the marbles into the pocket of her robe. Jumping to her feet, she swiftly walked to the door, opening it to find a nervous looking assistant standing outside it. He began to speak, but she brushed past him quickly and marched down the long hallway. Sun slid through the open archways in the sides of the hall as she passed by several doorways, finally stopping at one on her left. She took a moment before entering to catch her breath and smooth her hair and robe. The nervous assistant fellow finally caught up with her as she did, and stood panting a little ways behind her. Now appearing as sedate as the moon, she opened the door in front of her and entered the room.
The room was smallish, surrounded by the undecorated shaped-wood walls common to the whole facility. Four long tables outfitted with wooden chairs occupied the majority of the room's space, most of which was currently occupied by young people gathered into groups, talking in hushed voices. The talking faded as the robed woman strode confidently into the room and stood facing the tables, watching the students file obediently into their chairs. The woman waited till they were all seated before she began to speak.
"As you are aware by this point in your studies, an important aspect of Seeking is the ability to describe where the Found is. It does not matter if you can Locate if you cannot tell another how to retrieve the Found. For this, one needs both the ability to Locate and the ability to communicate precisely and clearly. Clarity is key. Clarity of focus is needed to determine details about the location of the Found. Clarity of awareness is needed to map the path between yourself and the Found. Clarity of expression is needed to communicate your knowledge."
The woman halted her speech for a moment, waiting for the sound of skritching writing implements to die down before she began again.
"Today I wish you all to improve your clarity." She reached into her robe pocket and brought out the four marbles she had been playing with earlier.
"You will practice on these. Each will be sent to a different location throughout this wing. Each of you will then be paired with another, and will be responsible for describing to the other the location of each marble. At the end of the exercise your partner must be able to correctly define the location of the Founds. You may use whatever means you see fit; writing the location, drawing a portrait, even speaking aloud, however the non-Seeking partner must not use their abilities in any way during this exercise."
She motioned to her assistant to begin the pairing of students. Once he returned to her side she looked momentarily at the marbles in her hand. They all vanished.
"You may begin."
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Spectrum
So what does one do when one can't sleep? Maybe write. Write perhaps about what's on the mind, what is keeping one awake, what thoughts cross in the ungodly hours. I've taken to fiction or metaphorical vignettes when I've written before, but perhaps this once I will digress and speak as myself, not through the stark text of another's imagined brain.
The spectrum of people. So much like the spectrum of colors. None would say that the red is more pleasing than the green, or the indigo inherently more likeable than the yellow. We all seem to have different tastes, different preferences that are unrelated to good, bad, right, wrong, or any other supposedly innate consciousness. Thus we all are measured on the multidimensional slide rule of definition. Are we small? Tall? Nearsighted? Slow to speak? Spontaneous? Outgoing? Gullible? Graceful? Everyone can be drawn and fitted to some unknowably large number of factors. In the end we are all definable.
Judge us then on the strength or weakness of our numbers. I am too short, too quick, too large, too clumsy, too introverted, too sad, too cautious, too spontaneous, too talkative... any number of unsatisfactory numbers. Unsatisfactory to whom? Who sets the measure? Perhaps we can only know the precise number we are set to. All others, and their ramifications, remain a mystery to us that we try to solve by watching others along the measure, near and far from us. Observing all those others with whom we share the solution space of humanity, most particularly those whom we keep near to us, and to a lesser degree those we reject most vehemently.
So what makes one choose one person over another? How do the different aspects interact with each other? Does the cautious person seek to be with another cautious one due to their shared similarity in that regard? Or does he seek out the reckless one, curious about the other side of the balance? And if so, can the aspects they share serve as a binding reagent to the polarity of their differences? How much choice is really involved in the decision to associate? Can anyone, even those involved, be qualified to discern the true value to be gained or lost in that union?
But then, I suppose you don't have to defend what you like.
The spectrum of people. So much like the spectrum of colors. None would say that the red is more pleasing than the green, or the indigo inherently more likeable than the yellow. We all seem to have different tastes, different preferences that are unrelated to good, bad, right, wrong, or any other supposedly innate consciousness. Thus we all are measured on the multidimensional slide rule of definition. Are we small? Tall? Nearsighted? Slow to speak? Spontaneous? Outgoing? Gullible? Graceful? Everyone can be drawn and fitted to some unknowably large number of factors. In the end we are all definable.
Judge us then on the strength or weakness of our numbers. I am too short, too quick, too large, too clumsy, too introverted, too sad, too cautious, too spontaneous, too talkative... any number of unsatisfactory numbers. Unsatisfactory to whom? Who sets the measure? Perhaps we can only know the precise number we are set to. All others, and their ramifications, remain a mystery to us that we try to solve by watching others along the measure, near and far from us. Observing all those others with whom we share the solution space of humanity, most particularly those whom we keep near to us, and to a lesser degree those we reject most vehemently.
So what makes one choose one person over another? How do the different aspects interact with each other? Does the cautious person seek to be with another cautious one due to their shared similarity in that regard? Or does he seek out the reckless one, curious about the other side of the balance? And if so, can the aspects they share serve as a binding reagent to the polarity of their differences? How much choice is really involved in the decision to associate? Can anyone, even those involved, be qualified to discern the true value to be gained or lost in that union?
But then, I suppose you don't have to defend what you like.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Never Let Go
I can't understand it.
The search for an answer is met with a darker day.
And we've been handed these moments forever.
But I'm reassured there's another way.
You don't have to close your eyes.
There is room for love again.
Ease the pain to realize
All that love can be.
Forced apart by time and sand.
Take a step and take my hand.
And don't let it go.
Never let go.
Broken, once connected,
We were so strong and so blessed in a simple way.
So don't let me go it alone.
Turn your head up to the sky.
Nothing down below but me.
Face the truth to realize
All that we could be.
Torn apart by rage and fear.
Hold onto what brought you here.
Don't let it go.
Never let go.
Turn your head up to the sky.
Nothing down below.
Don't let go.
The search for an answer is met with a darker day.
And we've been handed these moments forever.
But I'm reassured there's another way.
You don't have to close your eyes.
There is room for love again.
Ease the pain to realize
All that love can be.
Forced apart by time and sand.
Take a step and take my hand.
And don't let it go.
Never let go.
Broken, once connected,
We were so strong and so blessed in a simple way.
So don't let me go it alone.
Turn your head up to the sky.
Nothing down below but me.
Face the truth to realize
All that we could be.
Torn apart by rage and fear.
Hold onto what brought you here.
Don't let it go.
Never let go.
Turn your head up to the sky.
Nothing down below.
Don't let go.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Run
He ran. The darkness in front of him receded quickly approaching the flickering streetlight. The muffled sounds of his feet pounding into the ground echoed deafeningly through the rush of his heartbeat on his eardrums. The streetlight flashed brilliantly against his dark-adjusted eyes and vanished behind him, leaving his retinas flashburned and unable to see the next stretch of roadway.
Listen... Listen...
He blinked and stumbled, his eyes beginning to readjust to the blackness. Turn left here! His shoes slipped and skidded as he veered around a corner, almost falling on the slippery ice that still clung to the curb. He threw a glance from the corner of his eye down the road he'd just come down, but he could make nothing out aside from the glaring light of the streetlamp.
I hear the sound of a heart from the shadow in the dark, waiting for the poison to hit its mark...
The pain in his side lanced up further into his ribs. His steps faltered as he tried to draw a stabbing breath. Clutching his side tightly, he gritted his teeth and pushed his legs even faster than before. His vision narrowed to the pavement ten feet ahead of him and focused. Keep moving, gotta keep moving.
I see the darkness around, the shape on the ground, the killer straight up and the body facedown...
Another streetlight flashed by overhead. A screaming sound broke through his focus. It took him a moment to recognize it as the distant siren of a police car. In that second of broken concentration his feet hit a crack in the pavement. His head hit the ground with a crack! as his body threw itself forward and down.
I hear the death of a scream, the sorrowing stream, the smell of farewell and gasoline...
His initial cry was cut short as he bit down on his tongue. For an interminable moment everything halted but the rushing in his ears. Then he gasped in a breath. Suddenly he could taste the blood in his mouth, feel the shattering pain running through his head. He lay there on the ground for a moment. Trying to hear through the haze of pain and the sound of his own panting breath, he strained to make out the sound of footsteps from behind him.
I see a heart set free by a legacy, hear a voice from the shadow that is beckoning me...
His muscles screamed as he shoved himself up and off the ground. The first few running steps he took awkwardly, body strained to the limit and showing. Slowly his balance returned and he kept running, weaving back and forth across the road. As the quiet darkness of the night reclaimed the broken silence, only a patch of blood shining on the ground and the fading sound of his desperate panting breaths showed he had ever been there at all.
Listen... Listen...
He blinked and stumbled, his eyes beginning to readjust to the blackness. Turn left here! His shoes slipped and skidded as he veered around a corner, almost falling on the slippery ice that still clung to the curb. He threw a glance from the corner of his eye down the road he'd just come down, but he could make nothing out aside from the glaring light of the streetlamp.
I hear the sound of a heart from the shadow in the dark, waiting for the poison to hit its mark...
The pain in his side lanced up further into his ribs. His steps faltered as he tried to draw a stabbing breath. Clutching his side tightly, he gritted his teeth and pushed his legs even faster than before. His vision narrowed to the pavement ten feet ahead of him and focused. Keep moving, gotta keep moving.
I see the darkness around, the shape on the ground, the killer straight up and the body facedown...
Another streetlight flashed by overhead. A screaming sound broke through his focus. It took him a moment to recognize it as the distant siren of a police car. In that second of broken concentration his feet hit a crack in the pavement. His head hit the ground with a crack! as his body threw itself forward and down.
I hear the death of a scream, the sorrowing stream, the smell of farewell and gasoline...
His initial cry was cut short as he bit down on his tongue. For an interminable moment everything halted but the rushing in his ears. Then he gasped in a breath. Suddenly he could taste the blood in his mouth, feel the shattering pain running through his head. He lay there on the ground for a moment. Trying to hear through the haze of pain and the sound of his own panting breath, he strained to make out the sound of footsteps from behind him.
I see a heart set free by a legacy, hear a voice from the shadow that is beckoning me...
His muscles screamed as he shoved himself up and off the ground. The first few running steps he took awkwardly, body strained to the limit and showing. Slowly his balance returned and he kept running, weaving back and forth across the road. As the quiet darkness of the night reclaimed the broken silence, only a patch of blood shining on the ground and the fading sound of his desperate panting breaths showed he had ever been there at all.
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