Growing and Renewing.
Frost 41 720
Pahoran had returned to the family’s temporary settlement. He walked into the camp made by the circled wagons and paused to see the cooking fires were burning and breakfast was half way done as people were rotating through lines that formed by the food. He could smell the food smells tempting and calling him. He was just about to make his way over when his mother approached him.
She was dressed in a simple brown dress that while it hide her athletic form did nothing to hide her general shape. Her liquid gold hair was lose and cascaded down her back and was matched by her icy golden eyes. Those loving icy golden eyes were honed in on Pahoran as she walked forward. The young man had to resist the urge to duck. He hadn’t done anything wrong. By the divines why did that look make him feel like a little boy.
She smiled and opened her arms for a hug and the much taller man wrapped the woman who had once rocked him to sleep in her arms, in a hug bear hug. “Thank you for coming.” She said in her elvish voice.
“Oh course. Unless you need me I am hoping to get some food before its all gone.” Pah said but found he couldn’t leave as his mother with the gentles of touch started to steer him back the way he had come. ‘Okay’ Pah thought, and wondered when he would ever really become an adult with his parents.
“I have a plate of food already prepared for you.” Ruthora said.
“Well, thank you.” He said and then asked as it was becoming obvious, “What’s up?”
“We will have this talk in the wagon.” She said indicating to the wagon she shared with her husband, Pahoran’s father. Pah quickly went through the list of what this could be, and then it occurred to him. He had made a request a while ago about learning more magic, and specifically Kinetics. His eyebrow raised in question, but he followed his mother into the wagon. His suspicions were confirmed when he found his grandmother Calistra. Both were some of the more powerful mages in the clan.
Pah climbed in and sat down at the table, and noticed that there was a very full plate of food sitting on the table, in the spot where he would eat as a child. Once he was comfortable he found himself flanked on either side by his maternal line. He glanced back and forth between them, when his grandmother threw back her head and laughed.
“That’s the same expression you had when I caught you raiding my cookie jar.” She said her laughter turning into a chuckle. “The food is safe, eat while we talk.”
Having received permission Pah began to dig in even as the began to talk. It was one thing that the life of the Wagoneer had changed about them. Where once his mother and grandmother would have been horrified that he was eating right now. They know understood that you ate when you could, and you kept a full stomach when you could. Especially when something unpleasant was planned for the day.
“Alright Pahoran, I have thought about your request and talked with the others, and to the point, we feel that granting you the runes for Kinetics would be a good idea.” Ruthora told her son, and really showing how much she had changed, even as she tore a piece off of his role and nibbled on it. “As you are aware, once we do this you will suffer threshold sickness, and like with Reavering, it can kill you.”
The young man while chewing his food turned and looked in his mother’s eyes, and could tell that was her only worry about what was happening. With the hand not holding the fork he reached out and touched her cheek. Then had that moment and then he returned to eating and she returned to speaking. “You will begin to feel the presences of the Flex, and you will be separated from it, so that instead of going with it you can begin to control it, but the Flex doesn’t like things to be separated out of itself so it will try to squeeze you back into itself.”
Pah paused and raised an eyebrow. “So I must resist, push back to eventually make it do my bidding?”
“Basically.”
There was silence for a long moment before Pah set down his fork on a now cleared plate. He understood why his mother had specifically prepared a plate of food. He would need the strength. He looked between the two of them and nodded his head. The returned the nod and his mother asked. “Where would you like the rune inscribed?”
Pah had thought about this and said. “On the small of my back.” That would place it below Reaver mark located between his wings. Part of the reason was that it would be a place people he did not trust would be less likely to see it. They all took precautions to keep the fact that a group of wagooners were warrior mages quiet. The fighting part was easily explained, but the magic part could be harder. There were nods of heads and the young man stripped his shirt off and after folding up the table laid on the floor. He closed his eyes and slowly took in breaths, and at the same time felt his grandmother hold his wings back so they weren’t in the way.
His mother began to work to place the Rune on him. The actual process was both thrilling and terrifying as Pah could feel it becoming part of him, but this part wasn’t particular long. Though as she finished Pah gasped for breath as he felt that sort of separation for the Flex. It wasn’t to bad at this point, but he could feel a bit of pressure all around him. Light pushing one him. At this point it was like a lot of fingers touching him.
After a few minutes be began to stand up, taking it slowly. He looked at the mages in his family, and saw worry and pride in his mother eyes. “Okay Son.” She said. “What do you want to do today. This could easily go all day and into the night.”
He looked at his grandmother and said “Can we work on my Mythrasi?”
She looked surprised and pleased. “Oh course.” Pah returned his shirt to its correct place and then followed her out of the wagon to her own, and her Hytori books. As they walked she began to teach his the Hytori words associated with Kinetics.
*****
It was a few hours later when the constant pressure had increased. Now it wasn’t so much like fingers touch him, but more like a punch of hands being pushed against him. The young man found it very distracting and hadn’t been able to continue his language lesson. So instead he was out wandering and trying to focus on other things then pressure he was feeling. As he moved about he could tell that there was something different about the world. He focused on breathing in and out and resisting against the pressure.
While not everyone knew what had happened that morning those who made sure everyone had something to do, turned a blind eye to the young man’s preserved lack luster activity. Pah walked, it was his way of fighting against the pressure. The flex wouldn’t make his just sit there and be consumed. Despite his almost lethargic walking, Pah’s brain was active. He was aware that he needed to not give into the pressure, the point of Kinetics was to control the flex around him. So he walked and instead of focusing on the pressure he focused his mind trying to fight back.
It wasn’t easy as the instinctual part of his brain wanted to just curl in a corner and whimper. To just allow it to do what it wanted. Not that wasn’t the way of the Knights. Pah thought. His mother had done it and so could he.
*****
By the middle of the night Pah was still walking, but he was doing so with the help of his father. The pressure had become painful, and he breathing was labored, but still he needed to move. He needed to resist the flex. It was then as he was shuffling along, that it began to open up to him. He began to understand the flow of the flex as things moved. His father had flex in him, and he could feel in moving in the same direction he was traveling.
Pah paused then. He could feel it as the wind blowing, as the ground stationary. Everything had flex and it was different. He was still flex, but he was different and he could control it, he could master it. He pulled on his Aether then and began to use it to direct the Flex that was surrounding him. It was a struggle and he felt the sweet dropping off of his nose.
Taking a deep breath he push back on the flex. His sweet drench brow scrunched and his eyes seen wide open with determination. He could see the Flex now, and he pushed more of his Aether into his command and pushed back. As he did he felt the pressure significantly decreased, and he flared his wings. Taking a deep breath the young man then launched himself into the air and flew.
He flew through the air enjoying being able to move, the Flex was there, but Pah pushed against it and felt himself coming to an agreement with the Flex.
The young man only flew for a moment and given how high he normally would fly, this flight was rather pathetic, but it gave him confidence. He landed only a couple minutes later, and was so tired that he collapsed to his kneeds with his white wings splayed behind him. He looked up as his father and mother came over to him. They could see his eyes shinning brightly with triumph. He had done, it, it was the middle of the night, but he had taken that first step.
His mother and father helped him stand and almost carrying him they brought him back to the fire. He had passed the dangerous step, but he wasn’t done yet. The other senior members of the knights were gathered. A large bowl of warm water was being held in his grandmothers hands. As they approached his grandfather Taselia spoke. The fire making shadows over his face.
“We gather together on this day to watch one of the brave and chosen renew their oath.” He said his voice not carrying beyond there circle. “Pahoran has chosen to take upon him the gift of Kinetics. As such he is now different, and changed as such he must once again take upon him his vows.” He turned to look at his grandson. “Pahoran will you on this day renew your Oath, and this time to include using your new gift to serve others, and the Light.”
“I swear before all of you and Arcas, that I will use my Kinetic Gift to serve others, protect and enhance the Light. To Bring hope.” Pah forced the oath out of his mouth.
With tender care Pah’s parents helped his strip off his clothing. So exhausted but still proud he was bathed and clean of the corruption of the world, and then a white robe was slipped over his frame. He looked into his mothers eyes and said. “Thank you. Can I sleep now.”
He didn’t actually wait for an answer.
Frost 41 720
Pahoran had returned to the family’s temporary settlement. He walked into the camp made by the circled wagons and paused to see the cooking fires were burning and breakfast was half way done as people were rotating through lines that formed by the food. He could smell the food smells tempting and calling him. He was just about to make his way over when his mother approached him.
She was dressed in a simple brown dress that while it hide her athletic form did nothing to hide her general shape. Her liquid gold hair was lose and cascaded down her back and was matched by her icy golden eyes. Those loving icy golden eyes were honed in on Pahoran as she walked forward. The young man had to resist the urge to duck. He hadn’t done anything wrong. By the divines why did that look make him feel like a little boy.
She smiled and opened her arms for a hug and the much taller man wrapped the woman who had once rocked him to sleep in her arms, in a hug bear hug. “Thank you for coming.” She said in her elvish voice.
“Oh course. Unless you need me I am hoping to get some food before its all gone.” Pah said but found he couldn’t leave as his mother with the gentles of touch started to steer him back the way he had come. ‘Okay’ Pah thought, and wondered when he would ever really become an adult with his parents.
“I have a plate of food already prepared for you.” Ruthora said.
“Well, thank you.” He said and then asked as it was becoming obvious, “What’s up?”
“We will have this talk in the wagon.” She said indicating to the wagon she shared with her husband, Pahoran’s father. Pah quickly went through the list of what this could be, and then it occurred to him. He had made a request a while ago about learning more magic, and specifically Kinetics. His eyebrow raised in question, but he followed his mother into the wagon. His suspicions were confirmed when he found his grandmother Calistra. Both were some of the more powerful mages in the clan.
Pah climbed in and sat down at the table, and noticed that there was a very full plate of food sitting on the table, in the spot where he would eat as a child. Once he was comfortable he found himself flanked on either side by his maternal line. He glanced back and forth between them, when his grandmother threw back her head and laughed.
“That’s the same expression you had when I caught you raiding my cookie jar.” She said her laughter turning into a chuckle. “The food is safe, eat while we talk.”
Having received permission Pah began to dig in even as the began to talk. It was one thing that the life of the Wagoneer had changed about them. Where once his mother and grandmother would have been horrified that he was eating right now. They know understood that you ate when you could, and you kept a full stomach when you could. Especially when something unpleasant was planned for the day.
“Alright Pahoran, I have thought about your request and talked with the others, and to the point, we feel that granting you the runes for Kinetics would be a good idea.” Ruthora told her son, and really showing how much she had changed, even as she tore a piece off of his role and nibbled on it. “As you are aware, once we do this you will suffer threshold sickness, and like with Reavering, it can kill you.”
The young man while chewing his food turned and looked in his mother’s eyes, and could tell that was her only worry about what was happening. With the hand not holding the fork he reached out and touched her cheek. Then had that moment and then he returned to eating and she returned to speaking. “You will begin to feel the presences of the Flex, and you will be separated from it, so that instead of going with it you can begin to control it, but the Flex doesn’t like things to be separated out of itself so it will try to squeeze you back into itself.”
Pah paused and raised an eyebrow. “So I must resist, push back to eventually make it do my bidding?”
“Basically.”
There was silence for a long moment before Pah set down his fork on a now cleared plate. He understood why his mother had specifically prepared a plate of food. He would need the strength. He looked between the two of them and nodded his head. The returned the nod and his mother asked. “Where would you like the rune inscribed?”
Pah had thought about this and said. “On the small of my back.” That would place it below Reaver mark located between his wings. Part of the reason was that it would be a place people he did not trust would be less likely to see it. They all took precautions to keep the fact that a group of wagooners were warrior mages quiet. The fighting part was easily explained, but the magic part could be harder. There were nods of heads and the young man stripped his shirt off and after folding up the table laid on the floor. He closed his eyes and slowly took in breaths, and at the same time felt his grandmother hold his wings back so they weren’t in the way.
His mother began to work to place the Rune on him. The actual process was both thrilling and terrifying as Pah could feel it becoming part of him, but this part wasn’t particular long. Though as she finished Pah gasped for breath as he felt that sort of separation for the Flex. It wasn’t to bad at this point, but he could feel a bit of pressure all around him. Light pushing one him. At this point it was like a lot of fingers touching him.
After a few minutes be began to stand up, taking it slowly. He looked at the mages in his family, and saw worry and pride in his mother eyes. “Okay Son.” She said. “What do you want to do today. This could easily go all day and into the night.”
He looked at his grandmother and said “Can we work on my Mythrasi?”
She looked surprised and pleased. “Oh course.” Pah returned his shirt to its correct place and then followed her out of the wagon to her own, and her Hytori books. As they walked she began to teach his the Hytori words associated with Kinetics.
*****
It was a few hours later when the constant pressure had increased. Now it wasn’t so much like fingers touch him, but more like a punch of hands being pushed against him. The young man found it very distracting and hadn’t been able to continue his language lesson. So instead he was out wandering and trying to focus on other things then pressure he was feeling. As he moved about he could tell that there was something different about the world. He focused on breathing in and out and resisting against the pressure.
While not everyone knew what had happened that morning those who made sure everyone had something to do, turned a blind eye to the young man’s preserved lack luster activity. Pah walked, it was his way of fighting against the pressure. The flex wouldn’t make his just sit there and be consumed. Despite his almost lethargic walking, Pah’s brain was active. He was aware that he needed to not give into the pressure, the point of Kinetics was to control the flex around him. So he walked and instead of focusing on the pressure he focused his mind trying to fight back.
It wasn’t easy as the instinctual part of his brain wanted to just curl in a corner and whimper. To just allow it to do what it wanted. Not that wasn’t the way of the Knights. Pah thought. His mother had done it and so could he.
*****
By the middle of the night Pah was still walking, but he was doing so with the help of his father. The pressure had become painful, and he breathing was labored, but still he needed to move. He needed to resist the flex. It was then as he was shuffling along, that it began to open up to him. He began to understand the flow of the flex as things moved. His father had flex in him, and he could feel in moving in the same direction he was traveling.
Pah paused then. He could feel it as the wind blowing, as the ground stationary. Everything had flex and it was different. He was still flex, but he was different and he could control it, he could master it. He pulled on his Aether then and began to use it to direct the Flex that was surrounding him. It was a struggle and he felt the sweet dropping off of his nose.
Taking a deep breath he push back on the flex. His sweet drench brow scrunched and his eyes seen wide open with determination. He could see the Flex now, and he pushed more of his Aether into his command and pushed back. As he did he felt the pressure significantly decreased, and he flared his wings. Taking a deep breath the young man then launched himself into the air and flew.
He flew through the air enjoying being able to move, the Flex was there, but Pah pushed against it and felt himself coming to an agreement with the Flex.
The young man only flew for a moment and given how high he normally would fly, this flight was rather pathetic, but it gave him confidence. He landed only a couple minutes later, and was so tired that he collapsed to his kneeds with his white wings splayed behind him. He looked up as his father and mother came over to him. They could see his eyes shinning brightly with triumph. He had done, it, it was the middle of the night, but he had taken that first step.
His mother and father helped him stand and almost carrying him they brought him back to the fire. He had passed the dangerous step, but he wasn’t done yet. The other senior members of the knights were gathered. A large bowl of warm water was being held in his grandmothers hands. As they approached his grandfather Taselia spoke. The fire making shadows over his face.
“We gather together on this day to watch one of the brave and chosen renew their oath.” He said his voice not carrying beyond there circle. “Pahoran has chosen to take upon him the gift of Kinetics. As such he is now different, and changed as such he must once again take upon him his vows.” He turned to look at his grandson. “Pahoran will you on this day renew your Oath, and this time to include using your new gift to serve others, and the Light.”
“I swear before all of you and Arcas, that I will use my Kinetic Gift to serve others, protect and enhance the Light. To Bring hope.” Pah forced the oath out of his mouth.
With tender care Pah’s parents helped his strip off his clothing. So exhausted but still proud he was bathed and clean of the corruption of the world, and then a white robe was slipped over his frame. He looked into his mothers eyes and said. “Thank you. Can I sleep now.”
He didn’t actually wait for an answer.
