Another month passed by as the two grew even closer. Each day was another day of honing and creating a container for aura to be stored. But she also had to learn her limitations, by now having a place to store and expend her aura. She could just easily overfill that container as she could drain it too quickly. Thus why a balance was needed, in body, mind, soul and spell casting.
These were the aspects Rin insisted on the hardest. A simple stripped down approach to it all. She had to figure out where to strike a balance in all, have some kind of faith, and strive to be better with her own internal conflicts.
Everyday was almost the same, but just as well different. For once, she was almost happy. Everyday she'd gone back to work, but upon George's insistence that she cut back her hours, take some time for herself and not work so hard. And each day she got off earlier than she was normally used to, she went to train with Rin at the base of the mountains.
The path there was the same in its own way. The cobblestone stone road and walls came to an end at the forests edge. The trees tall and forbidding, like an intense wind was coming down from the very peak of the mountain. Going in further, her eyes absorbed more of the surroundings, no matter how many times she walked through, always memorizing and looking at something new that caught her attention as she walked.
The massive pine trees darkened the area, the mahogany bark and almost black pine needles made her feel an overwhelming sense of tension. Like she wasn't supposed to be here, though she herself only felt her strength increase like a beacon against this overgrown and wild forest. The snow crunching under her boots as she the only sound piercing her ears. She could feel the cold ever more so now than she had in years, but it still did not bother her. It made her feel a bit more healed.
As she came closer to the Snowtop Mountains once more she could feel the overwhelming and raw energy that radiated from high up and into the top, up where the clouds hid away the peak. Something about those mountains, now that she could feel and perceive aura, endowed a sense of allurement and curiosity in her mind.
"Curiosity is not a sin in itself." Rin's voice came out of the air making Xylia instantly jump "but one must exercise caution, ask if they should not only if they can." He added pushing off a tree he had been leaning on the whole time
She looked his way exhaling irritated by this, Rin had a habit of sneaking up on her when she wasn't paying attention. Though her voice had yet to return, only to encourage her that it would find on its own way to her, much to her confusion and not understanding his culture.
She pouted again, clearly annoyed that he startled her yet again, only for him to chuckle at her expression of irritation with him.
"Come along, we have a long night ahead of us. Learning to control your elemental nature is one of the most difficult tasks in training." Rin said moving forward now
Xylia followed him close by, each day they walked a little closer together, trusting each other more and more. As they arrived back at his camp, the familiar feeling of this place seemed to put her at ease. The encirclement of trees, the snow cleared away from the main area, a pit now encircled by stones still had a fire going with a new log freshly burning. Two large flat stones set up around the fire, their seats. Rin had originally set it across the fire pit, but overtime she moved it closer to his. The tree he had chosen to make into his tent still had the opening parted, the deer pelt serving as a sleeping mat. The layers of branches added to the top of the lowest hanging ones providing a makeshift roof.
As they sat down together he set aside his sword and cloak. But her gaze fell upon the weapon as she'd never seen him draw it or even use it in the last two months of their training. Was it some kind of ceremonial piece? Something like some rich noble would wear on their hip?
"It's of my clan. My father's clan, but the guard is of my mother's clan. An old outdated variation of the church's cross. The one that honors the four gods, not just the goddess of light." Rin said as he picked up the weapon now
He knew her well enough by now. Having found it was best not to argue with her, as it was often equivalent to arguing with a brick wall. But what she thought spoke louder as did her actions. Thoughts he could easily decipher in her expressions, movements, the way she held herself, how she sat. He noticed these things and worked to better understand and communicate himself. Often getting gung-ho himself and being rather stubborn about his insistence on his lessons.
He now slowly offered her the weapon. Xylia's eyes went wide and taken aback. Wanting to be sure she was allowed to handle such a weapon. But Rin's gaze assured her it would be alright.
Xylia now carefully accepted the sword. Her eyes unable to look away from the beauty that was this sword. It's simple black polished scabbard and matching hilt, her gaze now moving away and up to the guard. Its shape of a rectangle and connecting arms. Its gold hue showing the age of the metal. She looked at him again, her eyes asking the question as he gave a nod.
She now drew the blade as her eyes lit up once more at the sheer quality of the blade. She was no smith, but she recognized it was of truly a high quality weapon alone. She could feel the weight of the metal, it was heavy. But where the true weight lied was in the emotions tied to this weapon. Making it feel heavier, like it was impossible to swing or even use.
"Every member of the Shinobi clan, no matter what sub clan they hail from, learns the art of forging their own sword. Above all else, no matter what magic they use. A Shinobi always carries their sword. It's said when the great love of a shinobi dies, their grave is marked by their sword and its scabbard." He explained to her giving her a little history of his father's clan "An Amazoness will be marked by their mastery of light bow, one who loses an arm in battle can no longer call themselves a warrior, and are put to farming. A Shinobi who has lost a limb are considered disgraced, for one needs both hands to wield a sword, and both hands to draw a bow." he explained to her
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Xylia looked away again, feeling the pain in his heart again. She'd felt it often. Even if he would never say it out loud, it was there. A sense of shame, a feeling of not living up to his ancestors. His own soul so conflicted and torn between the two clans. He wanted to make his parents proud. Someone else too... someone she couldn't quite make out by their aura, but their presence alone was a powerful one and who clearly trained Rin well.
With this she sheathed the sword again and carefully handed it back to him. She felt like could understand him a little more now. Knew what kind of man he was. He had taken her in and shown her control when he did not have to, he ensured she would get home when their lesson's were done for the day.
"Close your eyes, focus on your breathing. Remember your training." He said starting the lesson as she did as she was instructed "Picture in your mind what this cold you feel is like, visualize it, let your mind describe what you feel, even if you can't speak it out loud, let your imagination run." He encouraged her to
She couldn't quite grasp this new aspect he was describing and talking about. Imagination, surely this couldn't be the true reason and answer behind magic. But she knew better by now than to doubt by Rin, he clearly knew far more than she did. And took great of her to make sure she understood both the dangers and risks but the beauty and harmony in magic.
"Imagination is just as well a fundamental aspect to magic. It is the very essence of magic itself, the thoughts and ideas, our ways of thinking, the way we envision things should be built." He said looking up at the sky now as she studied it too as the stars began to come out "Our imagination never fades aways, it only changes, as do we." he added as she pondered these words now as they took root
She couldn't help but start to see her in her mind, the ice that surrounded her. It constantly breathing and swirling around her, freezing and shattering like glass. But it was not cold to her, it did not freeze her, nor harm her, but protected her, only so long as she believed in it.
As she came back to, she was surrounded by a swirling flurry of ice and snow. But the moment she wished it, it fell to the ground. Rin standing aside as he had witnessed the whole thing. But he offered a smile now as he walked towards her.
"Congratulations on becoming a full fledged mage." He said as she felt such joy hearing this as she her mouth agape formed a smile "I think this is cause for celebration, you've been working hard. And I am a stranger to this village of yours." He added as this got a chuckle out of her and made her roll her eyes
Just as he turned and started to walk away he felt the temperature drop rapidly as a thin wall of ice almost instantly formed beside him and blocking him some. Now turning around at the stance she had taken, her body lowered with arm near her midsection and the other outstretched. Having cast this thin ice wall. But she was smiling now.
"Alright then. Let's see what else you got." He said dropping his cloak and taking her out to the lake now
She was even more ecstatic following him closely.
"I have the perfect spell in mind for you to learn." he said smirking a little as she tilted her head curious what he meant "It's the first thing my father taught me." He added as she looked at him again more so shocked now
With this he now inhaled deeply and slowly, Xylia's eyes only growing wider watching him continue to draw breath in. Before finally looking up and exhaling hard as he now spewed a swirling vortex of fire into the sky. Xylia almost falling back from the sheer force of the fire he was breathing out. Able to feel its overwhelming heat, her hair blowing back and the intense heat drying her face out, having to squint her eyes. Yet, she remained unchanged in own body temperature, only increasing her own bewilderment. Magic truly was a wild and extreme yet simple thing. Now she could start to understand why mages were often so mundane with their own magic when potentially challenged, the clashing of her aura against Rin's helped her at least under this fundamental principle of magic. Only to be even more mesmerized by Rin's aura, it was a myriad of clashing types, so birght and beautiful yet still terrifying. he did not rely on such power, kept it hidden away. At last the fire died down now as Rin could feel her thoughts.
"It's best not to dwell on what can't be fixed." He said as she now looked on in horror understanding now what this was "Soul Magic is precious, something i didn't understand at the time." He further added much to Xylia's confusion once more "Breathing fire is one of the most sacred forms of fire magic, for it is the mark of the Dragon. To honor them, pay respect to them. For it is said in legends, among the first mages learned from Dragons themselves." He now explained putting an end to that topic and continuing his lesson
Xylia now pouting again wanting to understand what this 'Soul Magic' was, she had never heard of it. Then again she hadn't heard of many if any of the concepts Rin had drummed into her head over the last few months. Now taking his words and lesson she turned it over in her mind, how she could use this with her own magic. Taking a long slow deep breath she drew in as much aura as she could take in, feeling it swell inside her lungs and saturate all throughoout her body. still foriegn to aura melding with and moving through her, often feeling like electricity coarsing through her veins. It made her feel more alive and excited her, yet still just as much scared her just as much, this power.
Concentrating and focusing her aura she now exhaled with all her might releasing a blast of icy breath, immedialy causing the tempature to drop rapidly. The small lake and surronding trees frosting over. Rin looking on at her display truly impressed, she had made amazing strides and adapted to his training very well.
"You have far exceeded my expectations, I never thought I would make a great teacher. But you've proven me otherwise." He said once more genuinely shocking Xylia "Its just as much a learning curve for me. But you have more than shown i can find just a little peace of mind." He further added
Xylia now studying him as she was clearly turning some idea over in her head. Rin able to see the gears in her mind turning and seeing her strain her throat as she wanted to clearly speak even if she still wasn't ready.
"Let's, go out. Dinner, on me." She finally said as RIn now offered a smile in turn
"I would be honored." he said softly bowing a little and now offering his arm, making her roll her eyes but smile herself as they headed back for town
But she liked the idea nonetheless. She hadn't been out in so long, she had her usual places she frequented on her days off. One day to enjoy herself on the town wasn't going to be the end of the world...
Meanwhile....
On the other side of the mountains. Where few settlements and villages that laid beyond the guilds and the capital, these settlements generally developed on their own but often still had need of both. When disputes and conflicts occurred that required either's assistance. This string of villages totaling about twenty had grown over the years, it was even rumored they rested on the border of a hidden dark guild, though this has yet to be confirmed as many search parties have gone out.
But as of late, something else was plaguing these villages. It came in the dead of night, without warning, only then for the very ground to begin to rumble, and its people to disappear and leave only an empty village with blood and sand left behind...
These rumors were starting to reach the capital after the fourth attack in two months. It was becoming a serious issue and problem. A rogue and undocumented mage would only added tension to the outlying village's.
A man with thick shaggy scarlet hair, glowing orange eyes, and draped in dark red robes shuffled weakly to the hidden path of the rocky terrain, a bag of goods, food and clothes over his shoulder. A waterfall nearly hid away his cave. Passing under the water he put his hand on a large flat boulder as it disintegrated a large enough hole for him to pass through.
Inside was a massive hidden carvern with a hole poking out high up. A small fire burned and a small child was asleep in a bed of floating sand holding a teddy bear. The young man looked at her with eyes of kindness, feeling his troubled mind ease. Like she was the most precious thing to him. She stirred in her sleep and began to cry as he walked to her patting her head gently.
"It's alright Juni. I'm back..." he whispered
"Mmm, big brother... I had another bad dream." She said wiping away tears
"It'll be alright, they can't hurt you anymore..." He assured her as she gripped her bear tighter but nodded in agreement nonetheless "I'll protect you..." he assured her as she felt a little more at ease gently taking his hand into both of hers now as she looked on at him with knowing eyes, both knew their time was short...
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