Chapter 20

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[Floor 2 – Day 30]

[Total Days in Trial: 71]

[Status]

Name: John

Attributes

Class: Disciple – Skills: 4/7

Titles:

Perks:

Strength:

15

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Lesser Analysis

Dexterity:

13

Archery 8

Constitution:

20

Resist Poison 16

Intelligence:

10

-

Wisdom:

14 [+2]

Meditation 8

Lesser Heal 5 - (Miracle)

Wise man of the Mountains

Charisma:

10 [+5]

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Ambitious [ACTIVE]

There was a single boulder, towards the center of the pond.

Perhaps it had been a piece of the mountain once, that long ago broke free and tumbled down, rolling along the slope before finally coming to a stop here, where the pond waited. Or perhaps, it had simply sat there for eons, as the water around it eroded its cover, unburying it.

Regardless of what had brought it to the pond, I had taken to calling it home, and seated upon it, I meditated what I’d been taught. Like a monk from the stories, I sat in quiet silence, as I waited and prayed for the 2nd Floor to end.

Eventually, I guessed it would.

I hoped it would. If I was patient and conserved calories, I felt confident I might make it to the end. I just needed to believe in my ability and the preparations I'd made.

Life became a simple matter, from this point on. Truly, the only real time I was tested, was when I made my first and only trip out to the boulder. Trying desperately to keep my bag out of the water as I swam to it, I choked felt the fear of drowning grip my tired body, as I continued holding the bag above my head, recklessly treading water. Yet, apart from that risky swim: once I climbed up on the boulder and began making my camp on the stone, further challenges were on more of a personal and introspective matter, than an exterior threat. The water around the boulder was deep, and cold, but the boulder itself was large enough that there was room to spare for my material possessions. I had space to lie down and sleep without fear of rolling off the edge, and I had no reason to return to shore.

Although the chill from the cold mountain water had soaked me through to the bone that first day, I soon dried my clothing in the afternoon sun. Positioned far enough from the edge of the pond to avoid shade, I was almost constantly in the sun until nightfall, and it was there that I made my peace with the fact that I would not be leaving.

In truth, I had gone as far as I could. The limits of the floor made it clear that any additional travel was likely going to be a waste of effort, and finding another spot like this one would be impossibly lucky. Being elevated from the water and shore, my position gave me a vantage point with my bow, should I need to use it. The pond itself was mostly flowing water, however slowly, so it remained clean and clear. I could use it as a source I could drink from, so long as I made sure to heal after to avoid becoming ill. Topping all that off: it was also a decent shield, and the pond acted as a natural barrier for whatever natural predators might be roaming the woods. Though I hadn't seen any of those, I had to imagine there would be some. Wolves, or perhaps bears. Creatures of that nature. Should any of those appear, they would need to swim all the way over to me, in order to become a threat.

The constant breeze on the boulder also kept the bugs away. Which was a nice plus.

So, with my mind set on what I needed to do, I committed to the concept of staying put. Like those ancient philosphers, who waited atop pillars. I was something similar to a stylite, in that sense. Waiting on my odd perch, commited for the long haul.

I simply had to last.

And so, I did.

Meditation continued, meals were consumed carefully, with a focus on healing as best I could to sustain my body, which continued to slowly deteriorate. As the days passed, it became clear I was trapped, no longer certain I would be strong enough to swim back to shore without drowning, regardless of if I changed my mind.

Which was worrisome, but by the time I realized how bad it had gotten, it was already too late for me to second guess my choice.

Meditation seemed to let me pass the time without as much concern. My mind drifted, barely even aware as I waited. Simply sitting in one place for hours and hours might have driven me mad before the ability had come to me, but as I was, I could endure. Stepping back from my mortal concerns of hunger, or boredom, I felt the pattern of breathing become larger than my ego. Sitting quietly as nature flowed around me, I felt a sense of connection growing.

The days continued, though, and life became harsher. Without the Priest’s healing to help sustain me, I was struggling to keep my body in condition to do much of anything. My feeble healing attempts seemed to be barely frequent enough to sustain me. My ability to ignore the incredible discomfort and sickness was held barely at bay, until the next healing could complete. The brief respite barely enough to hold me over.

I did my best to keep my focus turned inward, spending every minute of every hour preparing for the next casting of [Lesser Heal] in an effort to make it just slightly more effective. To make it just slightly more efficient. To learn what I could, each and every time I used the Miracle.

I breathed in.

I breathed out.

I watched as fish swam in the perfect water, eyes barely focused.

I watched as the dark clouds drew ever-closer. Those rumbling storms growing into a tempest as they approached.

I breathed in.

I breathed out.

In.

Out.

I let my senses flow, the way the Priest had tried to show me. I let my Mana rise up, as I had seen his once do. I let my senses spread with the flow. Sinking deep into the boulder. Then, deep into the sand below, and the water around.

Swirling and drifting.

Saturating.

Time passed.

The sword beside me, set on the boulder, collected the warmth of the sun before cooling in the night.

The bow and arrows waited, ready and in reach of my hands should something approach.

Perhaps, I might still have the strength to draw back the string.

Perhaps, I might not even find myself capable of lifting the bow at all.

In.

Out.

Days blurred to night, blurred to days.

My meager meals came with healing. Shaking hands barely lifted the meals to my tired mouth, jaw chewing slowly as my healing came with a rush of life. One that reminded me ever so painfully of what I used to be, before my body returned to the gradual, uncomfortable, sensation of a scale slowly falling out of balance.

I let my anger go.

My frustration, my annoyance… These were things I let fall and drift away from my mind. Swept off into the current of the pond, swept out towards the forest. These were things I no longer needed.

I was here.

Drifting as my heart beat onward.

I was alone.

Until I wasn’t.