AbyssalRoadTrip
patreon
Abyssal Road Trip - 190 - Home again
🕑 Added 2022-05-01 05:18:57 +0000 UTCLezekus’ PoV - Limbo - Monastery of Will’s Hand
Crossing the Portal’s threshold brought a sigh of relief from Lezekus and she stepped to the side. It wasn’t an action needed by protocol but prompted by concern given her parents had both accompanied her to the last transfer point. After the arguments over the break, she wouldn’t put violating the rules past them with how strongly they’d tried to talk her out of her choice of faith. When the last of the travellers was through the Portal, it closed and she gratefully let the solid peaceful feel of the monastery enfold her.
“Novice Lezekus,” said Duurth, and the unexpected greeting catching her amid thoughts of family startled her.
Spinning in his direction, Lezekus stopped and bowed in formal greeting, not used to the outer defences’ master—a monastery council member—greeting her outside of class. That he’d taught them at all had been strange enough and one that gossips attributed solely to Amdirlain’s presence. “Know that I’m pleased to see you, Master Duurth, though your greeting surprised me.”
“Know you should accompany me as Master Jarithä wishes to speak with you upon your return.”
“Me?”
Her pack almost slipping from her shoulder prompted her frozen mind into action, and she moved to the courtyard’s boundary. Instead of leading her through the monastery’s pathways, they were just suddenly elsewhere. A corridor much like any other in the monastery, even the door before them wouldn’t have been out of place within the dormitory. Unlike those rooms though, the mental strength projected from within seemed to challenge Limbo and she hurriedly restrained her perceptions.
The churning in her stomach had her draw into herself further and her breathing raced. A breath at a time, she deliberately worked to slow its pace, but before she’d got it under control, the door opened. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected Master Jarithä’s study to be like, but it was gorgeous in its details. The subtle grains in the stonework, leading to tiny oases of colour that burst like flowers within the stone, even their formation drew attention onwards. It provided an elegant framing that focused attention to the balcony and out into Limbo’s embrace.
The tail end of the public thoughts between Master Jarithä and Master Duurth pulled her attention back to the moment and away from the view. She wondered if that was part of the purpose of the room, given that Master Jarithä, positioned with his back to the view, wouldn’t have to fight its beautiful distraction. The strength of the elder Master’s presence became carefully restrained and no longer pressed against her. Instead, he gave her a smile that echoed her grandfather’s warmth, though to outsiders it likely would have seemed a tiny, even meaningless, flex of his lips.
Two backless chairs appeared—exactly like Master Jarithä’s own—forming the point of an equal triangle, and Master Duurth motioned her to take the left. Not sure why she deserved the position of honour in such a conference, Lezekus still didn’t hesitate to sit.
Jarithä gave a pleased nod, and his serious “Know that first, you’ll need to view a crystal, but our discussion of them will not affect your studies here. Know that it is merely they raise questions that are the source of many rumours that I would like to still.”
A psi crystal appeared hovering before her, its facets gleaming in perfect form showing its quality. At his nod, she mentally reached out and quickly attuning found there was no question about what he wanted her to review. There was only one record within it, and what a record it was.
The light and the appearance of the Celestials—strange yet so beautiful—poured calmness across her mind. Their colours and symbol brought a thought instantly into her mind, though she gave voice to only a part. “Has Amdirlain left?”
A faint widening of his eyes was all the warning she got before Jarithä shielded the three of them. The background mental hum of all the monastery’s minds went absolutely silent. “I had called you to ask if you’d share your Goddess’ name with me. While it had been your own business in the past, now there are many rumours afoot—some best managed—given her Celestials provided Amdirlain’s daughter with an escort.”
“You thought she’d left with her Celestials,” Duurth breathes. His pale complexion showed that he’d obviously caught the chain of her thoughts. “It seems I’ll need to focus on higher level techniques for continually shielding one’s thoughts.”
“Sorry,” whispered Lezekus.
Master Jarithä motioned her to relax, and the crystal disappeared. “I should have shielded the room prior to the discussion starting.”
“How much did I leak?”
“Know that you wondered if they were here to accompany her home, or if she summoned them for some purpose,” offered Duurth, and glanced at Jarithä.
“Know I caught you wished the view through the Gate gave a better view of Amdirlain’s Domain,” added Jarithä. “Know associated thoughts can quickly flow from each other.”
“Know Amdirlain doesn’t like anyone treating her differently,” stated Lezekus.
“Is that why you argue with her so much?” Duurth lightly teased.
Lezekus laughed and covered her mouth, blushing at her outburst. With a headshake, she gave Master Duurth a flicker of a smile. “Know I argue with her because I’m not afraid to voice my opinion with her, and she’s happy to listen.”
“Elliyna is helping to heal the mind of a Goddess?” Jarithä murmured, yet the question seemed rhetorical.
“Know Amdirlain told me that Elliyna is aware of her nature,” offered Lezekus. “Know I don’t believe she likes the Goddess Elliyna follows, though only because she’s an aspect of the Queen of the Winter Court or something.”
The slightest twitch at the corner of an eye was Jarithä’s only reaction, and a tight set of his lips warned her of the seriousness of his question. “How is it you discovered her nature?”
“Know it was during the incident with Sarith when she protected us I felt her nature,” explained Lezekus. She almost held her tongue but dared a question that Amdirlain hadn’t known the answer to either. “I’ve not been able to ask Master Xharn, but do you know why I sense her nature where others couldn’t?”
Jarithä closed his eyes in contemplation and offered his view. “Know that not all faithful can become Priests, and even those that are truly dedicated to their deity might remain lay Priests. Know all I can suggest is whatever allows individuals to become a Priest provided you with the ability to sense it.”
“She did not specifically recruit you as a Priest?” Duurth asked, a hardness in his tone hinting at concern.
Giving a vehement head shake, Lezekus had to restrain her sigh of relief when Master Duurth motioned her to explain fully. “Know afterwards I told her I could feel the strength in it and wanted to pray—she immediately knew I was her Priest.”
Pausing, she considered her explanation to Amdirlain and felt its incompleteness. All the arguments with her parents had made her consider that initial response, and she tried her best to voice it now. “Know that I sensed Amdirlain’s nature in that mist, the hope, and choices she wants others to have in their lives. Know when she did so there was no proclamation of her nature, but what I sensed filled me with the knowledge of it.”
A tightness around Duurth’s eyes relaxed, signalling the easing of tension Lezekus hadn’t noticed until then. “Is that all you sensed?”
“Know there was also pain, loneliness, and a desire to protect us from harm. Know that moment shielded in the mists rang through me like someone had plucked a chord deep inside me. I even asked her why she was here healing. Do you want to know what she asked me?”
“Know I get the impression you would tell me regardless, but I’ll choose to listen,” replied Jarithä, his light amusement setting a warmth through his mental energy.
Restraining her sigh at his wordplay, Lezekus did her best to remember Amdirlain’s exact words. “Why would someone injured and healing have inspired me to follow? Know that I told her it hadn’t mattered to what I sensed, but after time thinking, it’s part of what is important about her. How can a Deity understand us if they’ve never felt pain themselves, never needed time to heal wouldn’t they just demand until we met their needs?”
Duurth nodded in understanding, and Lezekus paused in her explanation for his response. “Know that I’m not a Priest, but I hope never to need aid from someone of that nature.”
“Know she then told me: 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. And then she asked me: if it’s not what you’d expect of a Power, then why did you choose me to provide a focus for your Faith?“ Lezekus paused, and when there was no immediate interruption, continued her explanation. “Gods I had heard about before always felt so perfect and distant to me, but the way she fails then simply tries again gives me hope. Hope that I can achieve more myself, and that she won’t hold my failings against me.”
“Know that the structure of your language needs work, Novice,” chided Duurth, though she caught the twitch of amusement.
Lezekus barely stopped her cheeky retort. The first word was already on her lips, so she stopped, composed herself and started again. “Know I’m sure my words will flow as smoothly as Amdirlain’s one day.”
Hearing the words that left her lips despite her attempt to behave had her wince, but neither Master took offence.
“In that case, should I have Master Tenzin arrange more language classes for you both?” asked Jarithä teasingly, and Lezekus restrained her grimace. “Do I have your permission to put a shield in place, to prevent leaked secrets that aren’t yours alone?”
“You’re not angry, Master Jarithä?”
“Know that certainly I’m startled, shocked even, but not angry,” reassured Jarithä, working to control his voice. He didn’t continue immediately, but Lezekus didn’t dare prompt him; when he spoke again, his tone was far calmer. “Know that while she told me some of her background, this was beyond all my expectations of her: I never said I was usual. Know that given all the fuss the visit of her servants, and daughter caused, I can understand why she didn’t tell me herself.”
The eye roll that Master Duurth gave contained a great deal of frustration. “Know that I’m sure the guards on wall duty don’t really need psi-crystals to record anything and everything coming close to the wall.”
Jarithä gave a dry laugh at the comment, but neither elaborated. When Lezekus glanced between them wide-eyed, he actually gave her a smile that softened his stern face. “Know we shall get you properly protected from prying minds. Would you like me to keep a link in case anyone is persistent?”
“Know I wouldn’t want my mind to betray her,” replied Lezekus earnestly.
“Know personally I don’t think she’d take another’s success against you as a betrayal, though certainly, it’s safer for them not to succeed.”
“How much turmoil do you think the news would cause within the monastery?” asked Duurth.
“Know I think every Monk would be challenging each other for the right to exchange pointers,” Jarithä said, and Lezekus felt a brief touch of his mind again hers. When the touch withdrew whatever link he was maintaining was undetectable to her.
“Know that I’m monitoring the energy of the shield, not your thoughts,” reassured Jarithä.
“Would you like me to Teleport you directly to the dormitory?” asked Duurth, and Lezekus took it as her cue to be on her way and stood.
“Know I’d prefer to start from the quadrants’ entryway, then I can practice reaching its new location,” answered Lezekus.
Scooping her pack from the ground, Lezekus started on her way, looking for the markers from Master Duurth’s directions had provided. Lezekus found herself with her pack at her feet standing within the inner gates. After having to retrace her route twice, Lezekus finally found the proper path marks and orienting herself she hastened along the corridors and gave the dormitory’s door an energetic push. The noise of it slamming against the wall made her jump even as the sight of Master Tenzin brought her to a halt.
Master Tenzin nodded to Lezekus, unfussed by the energy with which Lezekus had opened the door. Though the glance she shot at it, having rebounded off the wall with a bang, had Lezekus brace herself for a scolding.
“Welcome back, Novice Lezekus. Know those who’ve returned so far are in the downstairs training hall. Know that while regular classes won’t start for another four days, the meditation sessions will begin tomorrow—though you may attend the usual prayer sessions.”
Lezekus exchanged formal bows with Tenzin to acknowledge her greeting, relieved at avoiding extra duties. “Know I appreciate the information, Master Tenzin; I hadn’t expected to be greeted by yourself.”
“Know that I’ll continue to be your dormitory Master for this year, and potentially the next,” explained Tenzin, and motioned along the corridor towards her sleeping cell. “Know you may leave your things in your room, as I have notified the section Anarch of your return.”
“Yes, Master Tenzin,” Lezekus said.
“Know also since you’ve so much energy, the general training hall should be clean prior to dinner tonight.”
“Yes, Master Tenzin,” Lezekus repeated, and carefully restrained her sigh.
“Know I believe that still allows you time to catch up prior to lunch, in two bells,” states Tenzin, and shooed her on her way.
Refolding her spare clothes and replacing them in her room’s clothing chest only took a few minutes, but she found Master Tenzin had already departed on exiting her room. With a sigh for the misfortune of her timing, she hurried along the corridor, and heard the conversation in the downstairs training hall as she reached the last door.
“Livia is my daughter, but it’s because she adopted me, not the other way around,” admitted Amdirlain, giving a full-body shrug. “I didn’t get as much time with her as I would have liked, but she stayed with people I trusted to look after her.”
“Won’t you tell us why she came with Celestials of Lezekus’ Goddess?” persisted Gemiya.
Lezekus found only seven dormitory members sitting in a circle chatting with Amdirlain, a proverbial pot boiling over with a happy vibe. The others seemed almost spellbound by her wild energy, all without a single hint from the smooth mirror-like calm of her mind. Her emotions were on full display: broad smiles, expansive gestures, and a gleaming gaze, so far beyond the subtle cues Lezekus had grown up looking for in adults.
“Oh, that’s easy,” Amdirlain laughed and gave Lezekus a welcoming smile. “She guilt-tripped their boss.”
Running fingers through the short fuzz of hair she maintained, Zenya gave Amdirlain a baffled look. “How does one guilt trip a Celestial? Who is their boss given the recording shows Celestials that seem so powerful?”
Amdirlain smile lit up her eyes, almost to the point they glowed. “They were just new Celestials that had time free from training. Since even Celestials must develop their powers and skills, shifting to their home Plane was good practice. As for their boss, Livia’s an astute judge of character but never mind about the visitors. What happened on your breaks?”
Gemiya and Zenya both rewarded her with their typical frowns for her avoidance, the momentary tightening around their eyes far less subtle than an adult—but quite understated in comparison. Sparing them only a glance, Nomein snorted and fingered the brunette braid she’d been growing since she’d taken a fancy to Amdirlain’s typical hairstyle.
“No one?” asked Amdirlain. “Surely someone has something to share?”
“Know my father informed me of the grades I’m expected to achieve this year,” Gemiya stated.
Zenya gave her a sceptical look and nudged her to speak on, a gesture of the long familiarity between them. “Do you think that counts as exciting?”
“Know that I meant that was the most exciting part of my break that I’d wish to speak of,” replied Gemiya, her expression under careful control. “Know my parents were both unbearable about Sarith, and the breaking of the family tradition. Don’t you know Limbo will surely collapse over Zerth’Ad’Lun now? Know that every member in my father’s bloodline has been a member of the Guard.”
“Ouch,” winced Amdirlain and gave Gemiya a wry smile. “Ever consider running away and joining the circus? Sorry, that didn’t translate, a group of travelling performers?”
“Know if I did that, my father’s brain would surely explode, and then I’d be guilty of triggering an event that levelled multiple buildings,” joked Gemiya.
The unrestrained laughter of the others was so very un-Githzerai in nature that it made Lezekus wonder what Master Jarithä would say about Amdirlain’s influence. As Zenya glanced sideways at Gemiya and flung her hands dramatically outwards, Lezekus put her concerns aside and joined in. The others exchanged tales of their breaks, and while some had found it easy to return, some families had provided more drama than her own. Nomein’s mother had offered, repeatedly, to buy her an apprenticeship with a Master Wizard—naturally in the City of Glass that her family called home—if she’d not leave again.
* * *
The training hall was in a worse state than she’d expected. Mostly Limbo dissolves everything untended over time but a thin layer of dust sat across the floor. A full bell into mopping it down Lezekus looked up at the sound of the door clicking shut and found Master Xharn watching her clean. Moradin’s Priest being in the training hall was a surprise enough, let alone being in a girl’s dormitory unaccompanied, she could only assume he had permission. Little tells cried out his agitation; the intensity in normally calm brown eyes added thin line around his wide-set green eyes and tension to his lean frame.
“Know I’ve had a word with Master Jarithä this morning after I received confirmation of your return,” stated Xharn.
Lezekus froze in mid-bow and fumbled with the mop, even as Xharn continued on without his normally strict sense of decorum.
“Know that when I was training as a Priest, the only other Class I had taken was Psion; even then I had focused from the start as a Shaper. Know I knew I wanted to serve Moradin before I was eight, and had sought to learn his ways. Can you understand then how gaining the Priest Class was a dream come true for me?”
She barely had time to acknowledge before Xharn paced across the hall, running his fingers through his thick black hair.
“Is there something the matter, Master Xharn?”
He didn’t respond immediately but continued to pace and only after long minutes stopped and swiveled on his heel to face her. “Do you intend to continue studies for all four of your classes?”
“Yes, Master Xharn, I do.”
“If I request you to spend your rest day training as a Priest, and every day of your nominal breaks, would you do so? Know there is no other way we’ll have time to keep the progression between them equal,” stated Xharn.
“Know that if the choice is wholly mine, I would only ask: when do we start?”
“Know it will mean so much work you will envy Apprentice Sarith her free time,” Xharn warned. “Know I’ll have to push you extremely hard.”
Lezekus raised her eyebrows in amusement and carefully replied. “Know that I wasn’t aware Sarith had free time, but I’d still accept whatever training you’d provide.”
Xharn gave a sharp nod and headed for the door, his public mind entirely still without a single broadcast thought.
“Master Xharn?”
He stopped at the question in her tone and turned back to face her fingers scratching on the edge of his robe. “Yes, Novice?”
“Is there something wrong, Master Xharn?”
“You, of course, know who she is?”
“Yes, Master Xharn.”
“Know with all the confusion caused by her Celestials visiting, I prayed for insight into your Goddess and learnt things it would have been more restful not to know. Know that Moradin counts her as an ally, one he’d welcome among his family!” exclaimed Xharn, his body taunt with energy.
“What’s wrong, Master Xharn?”
“Know that I’m standing in a dormitory that houses a Goddess, an ally of Moradin! Know you are the first and only Priest of hers currently among our people, and I’m responsible for your training,” retorted Xharn, his eyes ablaze with determination. “Why should anything be wrong? Know you’d best get rest tonight; while the others are still on their break, you will not be—we shall rise to this challenge together. Is there anything planned for after dinner tonight?”
At her head shake, he gave her a fierce smile. “Know you now have lessons in the chapel, be prompt.”
Master Xharn strode from the hall, pulling the door shut energetically behind him, and even though it vibrated in the frame, there wasn’t a sound. Breathing in relief at the muffled noise, Lezekus could only hope the effect had extended to cover Master Xharn’s outburst. Taking a moment, she felt about for any minds and found those closest were working on their Zerthi forms with Amdirlain below.
Lezekus took a deep breath and, feeling the extent of Master Xharn’s determination hit uttered Amdirlain’s secret chant. “Oh Fuck!”
Comments
StormyAngel
Haha. Amdirlain's "secret chant" is hilarious. I guess the secret is sort of out now, or at least the leadership Amdirlain mostly interacts with knows. I was expecting the reveal to be a bit more explosive, but I kind of like it this way. The Githzerai arc has been characterized quite a bit by how reasonable and well-adjusted the monastery characters are, solving a lot of problems with conversation etc. (Excluding the politics of the duel, of course.) I also enjoyed seeing through a Githzerai perspective, because it highlights a bit of the cultural divide Amdirlain's been dealing with. I didn't realize they paid quite so much attention to subtle things, for example. From the other side, it just looks non-expressive, but this makes it clear that they're actually kind of *more* expressive. The smallest things carrying greater weight. Anyway, poor Lezekus will have to give up on a social life for a while I guess. She's going to end up pretty boss though someday. Thanks for the chapter!
James Hamlyn
So good! 😁😁
