Amdirlain’s PoV - Limbo - Monastery of Will’s Hand

While most started heading inside immediately when ushered by Tenzin, there were two exceptions: Sarith with cold, calculating fury lurking in her gaze and a still rapturous Lezekus.

The yang seared her emotions? Did it leave only the strongest aggressions standing?

Tenzin kept her hand on Sarith’s shoulder and motioned the others to continue moving inside.

Lezekus glanced at Sarith and whispered. “You held back fighting Master Liranë, didn’t you?”

“Master Jarithä advised me to not to use certain capabilities in the challenge, and others I avoided,” admitted Amdirlain.

“Know that Nomein described the Ki. Is that what we sensed when Sarith lashed out in the link?”

“Yes, it’s been my guard for maintaining calm for so long that I used it instinctively, but I didn’t expect it to have that reaction. Master Tenzin isn’t happy with Sarith.”

“Know that someone could have gotten hurt by her projection without the shield you created,” responded Lezekus. “Would you explain the power I sensed?”

Her awed expression still hadn’t faded, and Amdirlain held back a sigh before projecting to her mentally. “Master Tenzin would have protected everyone, I reacted out of reflex. I know you already figured it out, Lezekus. When did the Priest Class appear to you?”

“Know the mist was a haven, gentle—kind even—and I believed I’d be safe in your care,” replied Lezekus. “Know that when I had that thought, I saw the safety you offer others and accepted the choice offered to me. Will you tell your newest Priest how you are so strong? Is that part of being a Power?

“Please keep this to yourself until Tenzin shares the information, but I don’t hide these details from my followers. Tier 7 Prestige Classes are offered at level ninety, and some combine four classes, but they take more than just levels. They take dedication and accomplishments to become available. I took an evolution version of one that became available at level one hundred—it combined four classes.”

A burst of surprise came across the mental touch, but Lezekus’ expression didn’t reflect it with the exchange taking place in an instant.

I don’t know how strong Powers are without their Mantle. Did Set die to Epochē's schemes because he was born into divinity, and so when his Mantle was weakened, he didn’t have Class levels to back him up?

“How are you in need of healing? Know it’s not what I’d expect a Power needing.”

The admission amused her coming alongside the feeling of awe Lezekus’s mental connection contained.

“I’ve been in places, seen and done things I thought would break me. Instead of dealing with the trauma of those events, I let them build until they broke loose. If it’s not what you’d expect of a Power, then why did you choose me to provide a focus for your Faith?”

“Know your explanation to Nomein said the Ki is spiritual life energy. Know when the mist surrounded me, I could feel the strength in it. I wanted to immediately pray to you, but still I could sense the choice was mine.”

I should never have come here.

“I’d prefer you not tell the others of what you discovered. Some are having enough difficulty with me being present.”

“Know that Sarith is jealous because she was expecting to receive special attention. Know that’s not the monastery’s way, and after you arrived, that became clear to her,” stated Lezekus.

Amdirlain tilted her head, as frown lines shifted around eyes. “Why was she expecting to receive a lot of attention?”

“Know that her natural Psionic gifts are strong, and she’s skilled in Zerthi, though not as skilled as she believes,”

“I’m not sure jealousy is the complete reason, but it potentially is a factor,” replied Amdirlain and let their mental link drop.

“Know the rest of you should ensure you’ve completed your duty assignments,” Tenzin stated and once the last of them had entered the dormitory’s corridor gently guided Sarith towards the upper path.

“I know this will sound odd, but we should meet with one of the monastery’s priests, perhaps one of Moradin’s. They can give you better advice about developing the necessary skills and utilising blessings than I can,” suggested Amdirlain. The confused look she got from Lezekus almost forced a laugh from her, but Amdirlain shrugged. “I’ve never been a Priest. While I know the blessings you can access, I’ve no experience in their best applications or using them in battle.”

Chaos Shaping created a medallion, the Elven styling of the amber lined grains showing her symbol. Amdirlain reached for the Faith energy that had grown in leaps and bound of late and allowed a trickle to flow through the wood. The residue alone was enough to cause the amber forming the symbol’s pattern to gain a reflective sheen instead of remaining dull. That wasn’t the only change; the wood grain itself became darker, and the candle’s blue flame looked alive in the wood, wavering slightly as it shifted about.

Amdirlain offered it over to Lezekus, who almost squeaked in surprise. “For me?”

“Channelling blessings requires a Divine Focus,” observed Amdirlain, and moved inside.

The chatter in the dormitory was louder than she’d heard it before, with voices echoing from upstairs. Not wanting any involvement in the discussion, Amdirlain withdrew and closed her door this time.

Arriving at the refectory later than usual, the other Novices—except for Sarith—were already present. The last chime had faded before Master Tenzin entered the room. At her appearance, Gemiya’s gaze flickered across the empty spot before it shifted to Tenzin. “Will Sarith be alright, Master Tenzin?”

“Know you should all learn this lesson, as it is essential to keep your emotions controlled in mental links. Know on this occasion the Healer is confident there will be no lasting harm, but Novice Sarith risked others with her conduct,” stated Tenzin. “Are there any in doubt that Novice Amdirlain instructed you all to meditate and centre yourselves before joining the link?”

A negative murmur came from the Novices who’d been present.

“Know that it is important to follow the instructions of the coordinator regardless of how much better you believe you know,” instructed Tenzin. “Know I will accompany Novice Amdirlain to meet the other female Novice dormitory this evening, along with anyone still wishing to learn an affinity—few though you are in number.”

With a nod to the table due to serve the meal, Tenzin fell silent. Instead of the usual chatter, the silence spread through the refectory under Tenzin’s displeased gaze. Amdirlain left the table first but heard Gemiya’s question and paused in the corridor. “What will happen to her?”

“What punishment would your father give to someone risking others in a link that way?”

“Know they’d be thrown out of the guard and face criminal charges.” Gemiya gloomily admitted.

“Know such a decision rests with Master Jarithä. Know that while angry words are merely air, all Novices have shown the ability to calm themselves before entering mental links. Do you believe those that risk harm to others will escape lightly?”

The empty silence behind her stretched on and Amdirlain made her way back to her cell, not sparing a further thought for whatever trouble Sarith faced from her choice.

I’m good at ignoring things, but not so good at forgiveness once things cross the line to actual harm.

The next bell had just rung when a single tap sounded on Amdirlain’s door, and she opened it to find Master Tenzin alone in the corridor.

“Know you should allow me to protect any Novices in the link to ensure we have no further Monks following your way for now,” Tenzin said in lieu of greeting.

Amdirlain held back her reaction to being teased at the slightest glimmer of amusement in Tenzin’s gaze. “Good evening to you, Master Tenzin. I will certainly try to avoid doing so. Though should I say instead: I’ll do that since there is no try.”

“Know that many attempts end in failure—it doesn’t mean they didn’t try,” corrected Tenzin. “Know I will Teleport us since we keep the pathway between dormitories convoluted.”

A quiet stillness was all that greeted their arrival from the lines of Novices already on their meditation mats. Rather than the Spell Amdirlain had expected, it was clear Tenzin had used a Psionic technique.

A quick headcount gave a tally of twenty-two Novices, and before she could double-check the number, the Novices’ Master stood from her position at the front. The Githzerai looked far older than Tenzin, her near completely steel-grey hair pulled back in a short ponytail. Her well-lined expression was calm and unruffled, but she kept her purple gaze fixed on Amdirlain before nodding to them both. A graceful gesture to positions at the front served as the only invitation before she knelt.

[Name: Peale

Species: Githzerai

Class: High Anarch / Ascetic Monk

Levels: 71 / 60

Health: 20,503

Defence: 422

Magic: 91

Mana: 812,184

Psi: 16,030,872

Melee Attack Power: 240

Combat Skills: Chaos Shaping [S] (41), Clairsentience [S] (29), Metacreativity [M] (98), Psychometabolism [S] (47), Psychoportation [S] (91), Telekinesis [S] (52), Zerth [S] (2) - Various Psi Techniques. Affinities: Air, Dark, Gravity, Ooze, Steam, Spatial, Water - Various Spell Lists.

Details: A mainstay in the monastery community for years. All of her children have graduated and achieved Master rank among the order.]

Inclining her head respectfully, Amdirlain waited for Master Tenzin to take a mat before she knelt on the other. Still centred from her own meditations, Amdirlain joined the mental link and felt the calm curiosity of the Novices already present. The Novices’ discipline was unfalteringly absorbing the lesson and, as each felt the Affinity settle in place, they withdrew from the link.

When the last released the link, Amdirlain stood and bowed to Master Peale only to find the Novices mirrored her action but to her. A group mental broadcast of thanks issued forth before they retired indoors in well-coordinated motions.

“How many of the enrolment took up the opportunity, Master Peale?” asked Amdirlain, aware of the fluid grace of the aged Githzerai.

“Know they are all that remains of their enrolment. Know the first three months can have up to half a group leave,” explained Peale, before she made an encompassing gesture to the monastery’s buildings. “Did you think that monastery life is easy for all the Githzerai?”

“I asked out of curiosity, not from expectation. I’ve been told a few left Master Tenzin’s group within days,” replied Amdirlain, unruffled by the questioning look.

“Know you are far meeker in person than the fierceness you displayed in the stadium,” noted Peale.

Her gaze weighed on Amdirlain, but there was nothing uncomfortable about it. “Don’t you find Githzerai present themselves differently at various times and places?”

The loud snort wasn’t the response that Amdirlain was expecting. “Know that I think it is more that the infectious maggot mouth had you stirred up. Know that I look forward to seeing how well this enrolment does; they’ve all chosen to pursue the harder course. Is there anything you need Novice Amdirlain?”

A little hand twitch towards the dormitory made Peale’s meaning clear and Amdirlain smiled. “I’m happy to give them the opportunity. “

“Know you are in excellent hands with Master Elliyna and I can only hope that mess didn’t harm your healing,” said Peale and, giving Amdirlain another nod, headed inside.

Only after Tenzin returned them to the dormitory corridor did Amdirlain voice her question. “Why the silence from the Novices?”

“Know that there are times during the training that we maintain general silence to encourage Telepathy for co-ordination,” explained Tenzin, and nodded to her cell. “Know you aren’t expected in the Mana Theory lesson; perhaps conduct whatever exercise she has requested of you.”

No one disturbed her after they returned from evening lessons and chores. Either everyone took the closed door as the request for privacy it was, or the recent events had rattled them. The dormitory’s quiet settled in place like a psychological blanket. Having calmed some of the churning inside herself the stillness no longer bore the same resemblance to an oubliette. The quiet was so complete that when she pushed her perceptions, the sounds of soft breathing in the cells to either side were audible—fortunately no one snored.

Rather than taking on a form that might disguise her presence from Tenzin’s inspection, Amdirlain simply sat cross-legged on the blanket and focused on Elliyna’s exercise. Turning over memories of her early childhood brought up incidents she’d thought long forgotten, affectionate gestures from family and friends. Happy times, and sad times. Besides the pleasant memories, she found the start of patterns that grew familiar and the start of cracks in her self-image. The pain from people, both those being intentionally nasty and ironically her mother’s delight in Mal’s children.

I survived, and they died. When did my wondering ‘why her’ become ‘why not me’?

I only knew her a month, but Elizabeth was so much more positive and gentle than I’ve ever been. I was focused on locking my fears down to keep mum and dad from worrying where she looked to cheer everyone else up.

Would Sidero blame survivor’s guilt? Is that even survivor’s guilt? I felt relieved that it wasn’t my mum crying in the hospital corridor and decided then not to make mine cry. Did I get caught up because I didn’t feel more compassion for Elizabeth’s mum? I locked down everything even though I was so afraid after she died.

Or was it because I’d never give mum any grand kids? I knew intellectually that, when the treatment had to start quickly, there would be no hope of children. But then again, what thirteen-year-old places importance on kids of her own ‘someday’ when your life is on the line? It didn’t bite home until later what I’d lost.

The boys that later expected I’d put out easy because they remembered me having chemo and knew I had no chance of getting pregnant. Did I let them under my skin because I was already feeling guilty?

Here I am back to survival mode again, no need for the Abyss when I have my internal demons.

I can’t change what I did, but I can look at it objectively now.

Master Âdaka was already in the courtyard when Amdirlain arrived, her posture making it clear she was mentally communicating with Master Tenzin. She hadn’t even reached her spot when Âdaka spoke up. “Does one need the Wizard Class for Ki to direct Mana?”

“No, the progression of a Class Power called Ki Infusion brings with it insights into Mana. If you’ve not learnt an Affinity by that point, insights in the Power help you gain one,” explained Amdirlain.

Her words brought forth a broad smile from Âdaka. “Would you assist me in gaining access to the Ki then?”

“I’d need Nomein or Master Tenzin’s help to make it easier,” replied Amdirlain.

Tenzin looked at her curiously. “You believe using the Ki and the chakra would work again?”

Amdirlain shrugged helplessly. “All three times have been unintentional, but that seems to be the simplest to reproduce. I’m told gaining access to the Ki normally requires years of meditation and guided practice.”

“Know then I’ll assist.”

“There is still time before the morning meditations to attempt it,” Âdaka eagerly pointed out.

Amdirlain managed not to roll her eyes at Âdaka’s excited tone and crossed the last distance to kneel on her usual mat. Her gaze rested momentarily on the bare stone where Sarith’s mat would have been.

“Know that she’ll not be re-joining this enrolment. Know you have my apologies for not acting sooner; I had hoped she would in time calm, but Master Jarithä will now judge if that opportunity has passed.”

“What will happen to her?” asked Amdirlain, her concern more for Gemiya than Sarith.

“Know that after treatment completes, likely the best case is she’ll be on probation given the unusual situation, but it will be her last warning,” replied Tenzin.

“She has an almost unhealthy dependency upon her twin’s presence,” observed Amdirlain.

“Did you believe that hadn’t been noted?” Tenzin asked and motioned towards Âdaka. “Shall we begin?”

Not like I didn’t warn her about her behaviour. She made her choice. I hope for her sister’s sake she recovers.

It only took a moment to centre herself and connect to the link offered by Tenzin.

Harmony enfolded all three of them before Tenzin moved a drop of Ki to her central chakra; the mist exploded out through veins. The moment it drifted outwards, it brushed against Âdaka’s awareness and Amdirlain felt the pool come into existence within her. Though initially empty in their meditative state, her vitality caused a film of Ki to glisten along its edges.

“I could teach you an Affinity now, if you’d like, for use with Ki Infusion later,” offered Amdirlain through the link.

“Know that is tempting but it can wait until another time,” replied Âdaka, her mind conveying her delight at the Ki’s feel.

Tenzin didn’t break the link but moved another droplet to the heart chakra and the veins radiated upwards towards her shoulders and mouth. When they touched the mid-point of her throat, the residual energy swirled about before it bloomed even further upwards, propelled by another chakra point.

“Would you help me with chakra meditation, Master Tenzin?”

“Know if you can keep time before dinner free from punishment duty, we can do so each day,” confirmed Tenzin. “Know that likewise Master Liranë enquired if you would be interested in additional training in the evenings once things settle, since you sleep so little.”

“Know that I’ll certainly try, Master Tenzin, though my dormitory Master is fierce. Master Liranë’s offer is most welcome, and I’d appreciate any guidance she’d care to share,” quipped Amdirlain and broke the link to mental chuckles.

Upon her arrival, Gemiya’s gaze drifted across the empty spot, and then she nodded politely to Amdirlain without a hint of accusation, but there was a flicker of guilt. She apparently reserved the sadness solely for her sister’s absence. Though she didn’t procrastinate in joining the session, she also didn’t hesitate in turning to leave the courtyard afterwards.

“Gemiya, are you okay?” Amdirlain asked. The girl paused in mid-step and turned back after a delay that almost seemed like she might continue.

“Know I’m worried about Sarith, as we’ve never been apart this long before. Know that she’s never dealt well with the unexpected, but I never expected her to go so far. Should I not have set her an ultimatum to attend the session?”

The guilty look in her eyes prompted Amdirlain to step close and rest a hand on her shoulder gently. “I’m not one that’s taken this advice well, but I’m told you shouldn’t take responsibility for another’s decisions.”

“If I avoid taking responsibility for my sister’s actions, will you not hold them against me?”

The question came out in a whisper and Amdirlain caught her gaze before she could look away.

“There is nothing to hold against you. You said you’ve not been apart from her for so long, will you tell me how you really are and not the socially acceptable ‘okay’?”

“Know I miss my sister, but not all the anger she’s had of late—it makes her ugly,” proclaimed Gemiya and gave Amdirlain a slight smile before she went inside.

The change in her demeanour made it clear Amdirlain wasn’t the only one in need of stability at present.

Aegina - Beneath the Paláti of Apollo

Every footstep echoed in the empty expanse of the vast underground chamber. His robes brushed across the smooth stone as Charilaos made his inspection with such thoroughness that the Wizard standing by his assistant, began sweating.

When he completed his circuit, Charilaos’ gaze fixed on the Wizard from a distance away and he sneered distastefully at the sweat trickling down the Wizard’s face before he spoke. “It is satisfactory.”

“The bedrock here is solid your Highness, it will provide symbolic stability for whatever works-”

The blade’s tip struck under the Wizard’s chin and drove straight up into his brain. Steel grinding against bone echoed in the chamber at the twisting motion the assistant used to extract the dagger from his skull.

Charilaos’ only reaction was to step further back from the pooling blood. ”See that you also deal with his apprentices. Ensure I’m not disturbed for any reason. I’ll need to consecrate the chamber before the engraving can begin.”

“I poisoned their meal,” replied the assistant and gave a bow at Charilaos’s stern look. “I had already inspected the chamber and ensured it met your requirements before I allowed him to bother you.”

“Clean up their remains.”

“Very good, your Highness.”

Quickly retrieving the body, Charilaos’s assistant left without a further word. Charilaos confirmed the chamber’s mid-point three times, before he knelt to begin the dedication to the glory of Apollo.