A Journey of Reiki
Chapter Four

-Sybis-

A gentle nudge woke me from my dreamless slumber.

The night’s activities left me so drained and tired that I had passed out almost immediately in the stables as my head touched the straw. I noticed that a small bed was made this time, all clean straw and neatly made. I was so tired it felt no different, though internally I was appreciative.

“Wake up, Sybis. I need you to move.” The voice sounded familiar. I rolled over and looked into the slightly amused face of Rynvus, his scholarly appearance somewhat diminished today. He was dressed in casual furs, his Academy uniform nowhere to be seen. The look on his face was different from the morning prior, and something told me our meeting now would be nothing like yesterday.

“Good morning,” I grumbled, still heavy with sleep.

“Morning, Sybis. Sleep well?” I stood up, rubbing a sore spot on my back. I realized I had slept on my bow and quiver. I took them off my back and began to check them over, making sure I didn’t damage the limbs or arrows. They were fine. I felt my empty sheath, however, and felt a small measure of anger reside. I let it go, knowing there was nothing I could do about it.

“I slept well, I was in need of it. Thank you, for the bed.” He turned around and gave me a confused look.

“Bed?”

“The bed of straw, I appreciate it.” His expression didn’t change.

“I didn’t make you a bed. I wasn’t even sure if you’d be sleeping here again.” It was my turn to wear the face of confusion. If it wasn’t him, then who was it?

“That’s… odd. Well, regardless.” He waved it away as well.

“I must take Hansel and Gretel out today. Would you like to help?” He offered me the reins of the horse beside the stall I slept in. I hesitated at first and shook my head.

“No thank you, I can’t ride a horse.” Rynvus looked at me for a moment before he realized I was being serious.

“Well, no time like the present.” He slapped the reins in my hand and walked to the horse next to the one I now held. I let it go.

“I’ve never ridden a horse in my life. Not a good--” He raised his hands in silence.

“You’re an Elf. You,” He grabbed the reins again and put them in my hand firmly. “Ride a horse. Or learn, in this case.” He smiled, and I sighed. I felt like this wasn’t really an option. I grabbed the reins and opened the stall, standing next to the horse.

It took a moment, and some leverage to get me on top of Gretel. Rynvus laughed audibly, loud, but clear and pleasant. “You really never have ridden a horse, have you Sybis?”

“I try not to make a habit of lying, Ryn.” He stopped and looked at me. He swung easily onto the saddle, still making eye contact with me.

“Ryn?” I shrugged.

“Easier.” He snorted.

“Whatever you say, Sy.” I rolled my eyes.

“Look what I’ve started. Shush yourself and tell me how to work this thing.” He laughed and kicked his horse lightly in the flank, and he began walking his horse out of the stall. He gestured at his feet.

“Nudge her, she’ll move.” He failed to mention how hard I was supposed to nudge her. I gave her a kick and she bolted. I held on for maybe three seconds before I came crashing down onto the ground, my side grazing the ground hard. I rolled for a moment and heard the cracking of arrows in my quiver. I let myself lie there, my body aching with the force of my fall as Gretel trotted back over to me, sniffing me as I groaned in a low tone, wondering how many bones broke along with my arrows. Her cold nose pressed against the side of my head trying to nudge me back to my feet. I wanted to push her away, but instead, I gave her a nasty glare from where I was laying on the ground.

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” I mumbled venomously, pushing myself to my feet. She gave me an all-too-innocent look as Rynvus slowly walked towards me, peering down from atop his horse.

“You alright there, Sy?” He was smiling, holding back from laughter. I gave him a flat look, rubbing my back as I stood straight. I looked at Gretel again and went back to Rynvus.

“I think you’d better handle the horses, Ryn.” I began walking back to the stables when he called me.

“What?” I said, turning around.

“Would you be willing to meet me back here around eight?”

“In the evening?” He nodded. “Why?”

“I have something that may help you, but it’ll take a moment to replace it.” I was confused but nodded regardless.

“Yeah, I can meet you here.” He nodded curtly, turned Hansel and grabbed Gretel’s reins as he passed, falling side-saddle to grab them. I was amazed at his ability to simply do that without concern. I shook my head slowly and decided what to do with my day.

“Belrae,” I said to myself, “Time to see Belrae.” It didn’t take much to convince myself. I subconsciously went to go dress, and then remembered about the ring on my finger. “Oh yeah,” I observed the simplistic ring for a moment and then continued, walking towards Belrae’s cabin.

It took only a short time to get there. I remembered the way clearly and found myself in front of her door only a half-hour later, knocking in short bursts.

“One moment,” An irritated voice called in response. It sounded more like Uvesilin, and less like Belrae. I gulped.

The door opened slowly and to my surprise Belrae stood, her nightwear still on, her eyes looking sleepy. She looked irritated before she opened the door, but as she recognized me it alleviated into something reasonable.

“Sybis, I didn’t realize it was you.” She rubbed her tired face slowly and looked more perked afterward. Her long black hair was tied back in a sloppy bun and her blue eyes shone more in the morning than they did at night, though it could’ve just been my imagination.

“I’m sorry if I woke you, Lady Belrae,” I touched my ears in apology and she bowed her head, acknowledging my apology.

“It’s alright, I needed to wake up anyway… would you like to come in?” She offered by stepping to the side, revealing the hallway and stairs. I nodded, walking in. I kicked my boots outside first before entering. She closed the door and led me to the first door on the right, past the stairs and pictures hanging on the wall. The room had two puffy chairs, a single bookshelf, and a fire that was barely going. One of the chairs had a blanket on it, and scrolls and books surrounding it on the floor and on the arms of the chair itself. She must’ve slept here last night.

“Belrae--”

“You can call me Bel,” She gave me a warm smile, adjusting her hair. “Anyone who treats Lady Eliseia like you did has that right.” I felt my cheeks warm at her compliment.

“Well, it wasn’t much, just a simple thing…” She waved it away.

“She told me about the dungeon, as well as your encounter with Enlori. You took a beating for her, and for that, I’m more than happy to teach you magic. At least as much as I can teach you.” It was my turn to smile now, and I felt relieved. One step closer to the power I sought. The power to help those who need it, and can’t help themselves.

“Thank you, Bel.” She nodded.

“Take a seat, we’ll talk about it.” I sat in the unoccupied seat, and she cleared her seat and sat as well. She crossed her legs and studied me.

“What do you know about magic?” I racked my brain.

“I know the force of magic is called Reiki, and I know there are many types of magic, like sorcerers and warlocks… I know that your type of magic is known as your Lotus, and that’s about all I know.” She nodded slowly.

“You’re mostly right. Reiki is a part of your energy, your life force and soul is the other. There are many types of magic-users, all depending on what their energy type is like. It’s also very easy to figure out what you are if you’re anything.” Surprise shocked me, followed by a small amount of dread.

“You mean there’s a chance I’m nothing?” She nodded.

“Always that chance. But, it’s very rare that anyone is born Annulled, it’s more common for someone to be cursed or do something that seals their own magic.”

“Annulled?”

“Non-magic users, people with no Reiki. As I said, uncommon, but still possible. You told me before that you don’t know what your Lotus is, right?”

“Yeah, I’ve never had the chance.” She caressed a strand of her hair as she bit her lip, thinking something over.

“It’s easy enough to figure it out, but not as easy to build up from nothing. Most people, Sybis, work from their childhood to build upon their magic and expand their knowledge of the arts. You haven’t done that, you have to start all the way from the beginning, but you’re an adult now.”

“I understand it won’t be easy Lady Bel, but I still want to try.” She regarded me with a look of curiosity before standing up.

“Alright, Sybis. Come with me, we’ll see what your lotus is like. Then we can begin.” I hopped up and followed her down a hall and into another room in silence. This room was very tranquil, and almost dead silent. Runes marked the walls and though I didn’t know what they did, I had a feeling they were responsible for the quiet in the room. In the center of the room were three candles and a single square mat to sit upon. The candles were black, blue, and white in color separately, and each looked almost brand-new. The room itself was a neutral grey, which stunned my eyes into a relaxed state.

“What is this room, Lady Bel?”

“This is where I meditate. Take a seat.” I sat down on the mat and crossed my legs. With a mutter of a word, the candles sparked to life, each flame the color of the candle. “Each of these candles resembles a path.” She hovered her hand over the black candle, “This is for those of a darker nature, the warlocks.” Her hand continued to the blue candle, and the flame jumped up to surround her hand. “This is for those of creative nature, the sorcerers, like myself.” The flames died as she continued to the candle of white. “And for those of pure nature, the oculists, the farseers, and the…” She stutters in her saying of the last item. She looks down, and mutters, “And the Others.” I was confused.

“What are the Others?” She took a moment to compose herself.

“A dying Lotus, the very, very few who use it have had an extraordinarily tragic life, and this has led to the separation and division of their Reiki and blood, allowing for the separation of their magic. A potent, and direct form of magic that takes no form but what the user wants it to be.”

“So what do I do?” She mimicked waving her hand over the candles.

“Do this, you’ll know.”

“How will I know if they have more than one meaning?”

“We will come to that bridge when we must, Sybis.” She stood up, rigid as a nail, and watched me in silence. I swallowed nervously. What If I didn’t have any magic? What if I was Annulled? Belrae didn’t say it was impossible, only unlikely.

I shook the thoughts out of my head. As she said, we will come to that bridge if we must. I pushed my hand forward, over the black candle. I waited a second or two with the warm flame underneath my palm, but after those few seconds, nothing happened.

“Continue,” Belrae ordered. I moved to the next candle, and in less than a second, the flame jumped up to around my hand and formed a cold, icy white flame. I pulled it away quickly, and Belrae smiled.

“Wind Lotus. That’s a very good one.”

“Wind?” I asked, still shocked from the freeze-blast my hand took. She swiped her hand and the candles smoldered out, and she nodded.

“Yes. You’re a sorcerer, like me and Uvesilin. And your Lotus is wind.” Wind. I did have magic. I controlled the wind. I stood up quickly, excitement flooding through me. I needed to know more, all that I could.

“What does that mean? How do I learn to control it?” She put a hand up to silence me.

“You are an elemental controller, and you learn it by practice. Lots and lots of practice. If you want to continue to train under me, Sybis, you’ll have to become my apprentice.” I stopped in my tracks and looked at her.

“Apprentice?”

“Yes. I cannot keep training you under the law without you binding yourself. I understand if you don’t want to, and I’m sure you could replace someone else to train you if you need--”

“How?” She looked at me, stopping mid-sentence.

“You have to bind with… are you sure about this? This is no game.” She took a step forward and left little room between us, her breath mingling with mine as she spoke. “If you train under me, I won’t go easy.” Defiance crept under my skin, and I straightened myself, looking her as closely in the eye as I could.

“I don’t want it to be easy. I want to learn, Bel.” She straightened as well, and her sudden ferocity startled me.

“Why must you learn, Sybis? Why must you learn magic?” She left no room for negotiation.

“Because without power, I will never replace who I’m looking for.” She seemed to take that in for a long time, and we equally stared at each other as she assessed my answer. I didn’t move. Something told me that this was her first test, and trusting my instincts I allowed my footing to remain sturdy, my chest an inch from hers. Her dark blue eyes looked fierce in the lighting we were in, and my legs quivered a little as I looked deep within them. I’ve fought in dungeons and battlefields but never before did someone make me shake. Not for a very long time.

“Then If you’re up for the challenge, I’m happy to train you, Sybis.” She stepped back, and I let out a breath. “If,” she said sternly, and raised a finger. “You listen to what I say and follow my instructions. The second you don’t, I’m breaking off the contract, and you’ll have to replace someone else to teach you.” I nodded. It was a fair exchange. I wasn’t in a position to argue besides, she was the only sorceress besides her sister that I knew of, and I wasn’t about to ask Uvesilin for training.

“Deal. What’s the contract?”

“Watch.” Bel raised her hand towards the ceiling and spoke in a low tone, her voice quiet.

“Contract summon.” A pop of white blinded me for a moment, and when I blinked it away, Bel held a small scroll. Written on the parchment was as follows:

I, Sybis Glacia, hereby swear to allow Belrae Anhan to teach me the principles of magic and abide by the Laws of Sorcerery as are stated by the Council in 583 V.Y.

If I am to break one of the laws and/or the word of my master, I will abide by the consequences of my actions accordingly and without backlash.

I read the script three times, before looking at the place for me to sign. I saw no pen.

“How do I sign this?”

“Use your blood, Sybis.” I gave her a look to see if she was kidding, but she clearly wasn’t. I sighed, biting my thumb, and winced at the feeling of blood filling my mouth. I let it cover my thumb, thought twice about my choice, and proceeded, pressing my thumb into the paper held in front of me.

“And now, we will begin.” Bel closed the scroll carefully, and with another flash of blue light, and another smile, Bel turned and walked out the door.

The following hours passed by with small talk before Belrae left me to my own devices, and she to hers. I decided to pass the time by heading back to Eliseia, and seeing if she needed anything else.

Though in the end, I truly just wanted to see her again, her golden glow and her vanilla scent had captivated me since I had the pleasure of learning it, and now I couldn’t think about anything else. Vanilla brought me back to when I was young, to the smell of baking my mother always did, and the compliments of my Aunt when I would try my best to follow. I may be able to sing, but I could never learn to cook. I remembered my mom dancing around the kitchen, humming to a tune only she knew. I remembered it well, and on bad nights, I would replace myself humming it to myself as well. I missed her deeply, my Aunt and my sister as well. I missed them all.

My thoughts took me to the edge of the lake once again, but this time it was stagnant and iced over, the water not what it was the last time I had seen it. Eliseia wasn’t anywhere to be seen, so I figured she was inside.

When I approached the door, it opened swiftly and once again I came face-to-face with the Lord of T’uuk in all of his devastating power. I avoided running into him, but he stared me down once again, his eyebrows slightly raised.

“Sybis Glacia. We meet again.” I held my resolve, and stood tall.

“Yes sir, it seems we do.”

“I take it you’re here to speak to Elise?”

“Yes sir, if you’ll permit me to.” I held his eye, and the glint of gold paired nicely with the smile he then offered.

“She is an adult, and a Duchess no less. She can turn you away if she so chooses. It is not for me to decide.” With that he walked past me, but before he passed me completely, he set his hand on my shoulder, briefly. He didn’t say another word, but he didn’t need to.

He walked away without another word, two guards snapping to his side with precision. He left the door open. I walked inside.

I found Eliseia sitting in the first of what I assumed to be many reading rooms, a fire filling the room with a smokey warmth and smell that again took me back to childhood. Eliseia was curled in one of the plush armchairs, a large hand-bound book in her lap as she turned the page slowly, glasses perched on her nose that made her eyes shine. She didn’t notice my entrance, and I took the time to lean against the archway and just observe. It was oddly intrusive, to be watching her while nobody was around, but I didn’t do it to be creepy, I did it because something about her made me want to never take my eyes off her, the way her hair fell around her shoulders and how small but powerful she was. Her kindness was never ending, and her heart was forever on her sleeve. She finally looked up at me.

She smiled when her eyes landed on mine, and she offered me a small wave. I walked over to her and set all of my belongings on one of the chairs, unstrapping my armor as well and sliding it off in a fell swoop. She watched me in silence, her wand untouched. She made no move for contact, so I sat in the chair beside her.

I gazed into the fire, and saw the bookshelf nearby. I looked at some of the titles, and saw books from ancient authors, as well as many I’d never even heard of before. I took one off the shelf sitting back down again in a light motion, opening it and observing the swirling letters on the inside. I peeked over a moment later and saw Eliseia had gone back to reading, the corners of her mouth upright in a small smile that suited her face, framed in circular lenses. I went back to reading, the silence engulfing us with nothing but the crackling of the fire to break the silence. It was peaceful, resting my mind and body for the first time in longer than I could remember.

Minutes passed, and soon those minutes turned into hours, the fire dying slowly. Only when the flames were half what they started at did I feel small, light fingertips brush my arm.

“Hello Sy.”

I turned to her, closing the book I was reading gently and looked at her. “Hello Eliseia, it’s good to see you again.”

“Did you enjoy your book?”

“I did, in fact… but somehow…” I looked at her and let my eyes close slowly, and my mouth moved on it’s own. “... it wasn’t the best part of this meeting.”

She gave me a look that signified confusion, but it flattened out into something that resembled understanding. She looked away for a moment, shuffling her book somewhat clumsily. I took it gently from her hand and marked the page, setting it on the side of the table near the chair I sat in.

“Can I take you somewhere, m’lady?” I offered her my hand to grab, to talk to me. She took it, looking at my feet.

“Can you take me for a walk through the woods?”

“You want me to carry you?”

“If it’s not too much to ask…” She looked away still, her eyes shifting back and forth. I smiled.

“Never, Lady Eliseia.” I left everything on the chair, making sure everything was ok before I picked her up, lifting her to my check. I slid my ring tight on my finger, feeling the supernatural warmth. “Are you ready, Lady Eliseia? Would you like a coat?” She nodded her head. I walked to her stairs and set her on one of the steps before running up to her room quickly, returning with a warm coat I found on a hook in the corner of her room. I helped her put on the fur jacket and picked her up again. She wore pants, not a dress or anything less for that matter. It fit her form beautifully, Elven lace surrounding her ankles. As I stopped at the door to open it, she grabbed a silver circlet hanging on the wall and slid it on her brow, adjusting it slightly. She saw me looking and gave me a warm laugh, soundless.

“I must always look the part. I never know when I may be needed.” I nodded, accepting her words. I opened the door with ease this time, carrying her in my arms and took a step out.

The snow had begun to fall, but it was light and gentle flakes that blew through the air on that evening, and they fell only lighter when we entered the forest, the light around the trees beginning to fade only slightly as I carried the Duchess of T’uuk in my arms. She looked all around her, taking in every second of sight she had in the forest, and I enjoyed the walk as well.

“Tell me about yourself, Sy.”

“Well,” I sighed, “What do you want to know?”

“Where do you come from?”

“I come from a land seven months to the west, a group of islands known as the Okenata Islands. They’re small, it only takes a few days to walk across them all, but it was home. And much warmer.”

“Who did you leave?”

“My mom, and my Aunt, as well as…” I took a second to let the thought slide away. “...my sister.” I felt her hand touch my chest, her fingers spreading over the thin layer separating my skin and hers. She looked me in the eyes, my pain siphoned into her.

“I can feel that… pain, Sybis. What happened?”

“She…” I stepped over a fallen log carefully, “... was very sick. She wouldn’t get better, and we didn’t have a good doctor at the time. Nobody in the village knew any medical Reiki, and so she just… didn’t get better.” She left my mind in silence for a while, and we just took in the forest as I focused on the crunch of my boots on the snow.

“I’m sorry for your loss Sybis. I understand.” I knew she spoke the truth. I appreciated her kind words, and her condolences meant more than most others.

“Thank you Lady Eliseia.” I saw the sun going down, and I figured it was about time to head back to her home. I still had to meet Rynvus. “Alright m’lady, we should start heading back.I nearly dropped Eliseia when I saw what stood behind me. A wolf, nearly six feet tall at the shoulder approached from the brush beside the path, the trees obscuring it until it chose to be seen. It’s eyes were black, putrid, and it reeked of death as it’s fur glistened with a crimson liquid I could only guess was blood. I very slowly set Eliseia down behind me, never breaking eye contact as the Great Wolf growled mightily, it’s throat reverberating violently.

“I’ll handle this, M’lady.” I reached slowly for a large stick on the ground, and broke it. The edge edged, I stood back up. I took five large steps forward, keeping a distance between the Great Wolf and Eliseia. I had to keep her safe at all costs.

The Wolf took a look at me and huffed, leaning it’s head down, dismissing me entirely.

And suddenly, the Great Wolf backed away and ran, bolted out of sight. I turned all around me, but saw nothing near me, nothing that would’ve scared it away, anyway.

“Alright, I don’t know what the hell is going on, Lady Eliseia, but I’m not sticking around for it.” She nodded, and helped me lift her. I began a jog back to T’uuk.