Toni
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Episode One Hundred and Twenty-Four: Mediation
🕑 Added 2025-03-14 15:53:14 +0000 UTCWas it sad that the first thing I thought about was that we only had five days until the Solstice, and Indigo wasn’t back yet? Not to mention, the professor hadn’t been back yet. At least I had the distraction of writing in my journal about my magic, and forcing myself to practice mediating each morning and evening.
I sat on the fluffy couch facing the snowy windows in the living room. A warm mug of coffee waited for me on the coffee table. Hints of it floated through the air, tempting me. Unfortunately, I’d discovered the Professor was correct. Mediation went so much smoother if I hadn’t had a cup yet.
So it was my treat. My precious treat, waiting for me to reach a good point with focusing on my magic.
It sat in the middle of my chest, a warm pulsing light. Golden, with spots of white. Touching it felt like warm rays of sunshine after several days of rain. Happiness and joy filled me during the moments I sat trying to touch it.
As I withdrew, my mood dropped.
The little bookdragon would hate having to do mediation, but she’d love snuggling with me on the couch.
I pulled my treat closer to me, cupping both my hands around the dark blue mug with stars. Warmth flowed from the mug to my hands and I sipped on the warm latte. Cinnamon burst in my mouth, along with some sweet maple.
Absolutely perfect.
The snow drifted slowly to the ground outside, still covering the massive dark green trees in the distance. The Solstice tree sparkled with the lights.
I let out a sigh, then took a deep breath.
I trusted Lady Twilight. Indigo would be back.
Slowly, I climbed to my feet and headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. Betty pre-heated the oven to the correct temperature, and the bacon was ready to be tossed inside. I got that started, then pulled out the eggs to make a quick scramble.
“How is your magic training coming?” asked the Cat.
I glanced over my shoulder and found him staring at me from the island.
“I think I have the meditation practice down.”
“You think, or you know?”
“I have the meditation practice down,” I said more confidently.
The Cat nodded, and his tail flicked back and forth in the air behind him.
After cracking several eggs into the pan, I stirred it, making sure to keep them light and fluffy. I tried not to think about how Indigo had been learning how to make scrambled eggs. I had to remind myself she still would learn how to make scrambled eggs, as soon as she was back.
“Are you ready for the Lord and Lady to attend the party?”
The Cat’s question hung in the air, and it took way too long to sink in.
“You’re that certain she will be back on time?” I asked softly.
“Of course. You had better be prepared for the dragons…”
I smiled to myself and nodded, making a list of things I needed to do if we really were going to have guests for the gathering in five days. That brought a rather important question to the front of my mind.
“What the heck do I get the dragons?” I glanced at the Cat, but he wasn’t paying attention to me anymore. Instead, his gaze was fixed on the oven.
The timer went off, and I quickly pulled the pan out of the oven, before going back to the eggs. By the time I piled the food up, I realized I’d made way too much. It was just that sort of day.
“I hope you want lots of bacon,” I mumbled.
“I am never going to say no to bacon.”
After breakfast, I made a second mug of the cinnamon maple latte along with a small one for the Cat’s teacup. He sneezed, then quickly finished the rest of it.
“Thank you for the coffee,” he said, padding closer to my elbow as it rested on the counter. “It was tasty.”
“Of course,” I said, and patted him on the head, looking over the bookshelves that filled the store.. “What’s today look like?”
“Easy day…”
The shop's layout was the normal bookstore one, though the tomes on the shelves felt different. Energy rose in several places, some areas more than others. The sunlight coming in from above felt different as well, like the color was off slightly.
“Woah,” I whispered at the purple sky above the skylights. “That’s new.”
“Hmmm?” asked the Cat, glancing up.
“The sky’s different…”
“What do you see?” demanded the Cat. His body radiated power, and warmth, almost making me feel like he was a flame.
“A purple sky…” I scratched under his chin. “It’s nothing to worry about.”
His eyes focused on the skylights, but he said nothing else. The power coming off him reduced until I couldn’t feel it.
“You ready?” I asked him.
“Of course,” he said, taking a step back.
The door unlocked, and I sipped at my coffee, letting the maple flavor wash over me.
Green.
Even the smell of a forest and wild flowers filled the shop as the tiny lady stepped inside. The bells softly jingled behind her, slightly muted. Her emerald eyes were ovals as she glanced around the shop.
“Oh my,” she whispered. “Look at these books!”
She was shorter than me, and a cascade of vibrant green leaves and moss took the place of her hair. Two bright pink flowers seemed to be near where I expected ears to be.
“Welcome to the shop, How can I help you?”
Her eyes landed on me, and suddenly she almost appeared even smaller as she took a step back.
