Chronicles of Aurderia: The Balance (10 page)

"Let me get my bow and quiver!" Shuran said drawing back Bastien's attention. Shortly after the odd encounter, Shuran and Bastien were headed off into the woods to hunt.
 

Andra and Codger were watching after them as they left. "Good boy that Bastien, used to look after the place when I would go off exploring,” Codger said.
 

"He is a mundane, though I see something else about him,” Andra observed as he walked away.
 

Codger just looked after Andra and shrugged as he followed behind.

Andra began Shuran’s lessons in the Essence back to their origins. “Essence is all around us in everything there is,” Andra said.
 

“I know this already. Why is Mally not taking lessons with me?” Shuran asked.
 

“Mally has learned much but what I teach you today is only something that you can do because you are different,” Andra replied. “You are birthed of seven blood lines, each of those having the makeup to harness one of the seven powers.”

Shuran just looked at Andra blankly before responding. “What I did with the trench, it felt different then the weaving we have been practicing,” Shuran realized aloud.
 

“Yes, you moved earth and water then called fire without using spells. This is dangerous for a weaver but not if the Essence was used to work the elements such as I suspected you did. Tell me what you felt at the time.”
 

“I felt energy… power… life! It was as though I was calling out of need and what I wanted answered. I did not even think, I just acted,” Shuran remembered.
 

“Did you hear anything?” Andra asked.
 

“I DID! I heard what was like music or singing and voices, but very faint. It was different with each. And the fire danced!”
 

Andra just smiled and started to explain what was known to the limited blood mix and knowledge Andra possessed. Elemental powers seem to respond and act in different ways to those who can communicate with them.
 

Water ripples with musical tones. Earth rumbles and vibrates with deep drum-like beats. Wind whispers. Fire dances and swirls. Electricity buzzes and hums. Essence wielders of the elements must learn to listen and watch all around them and be able to separate the sounds, feelings and images of nature in order to blend intent into action.
 

Andra explained how most have difficulties controlling more than one element and those who can, must do so separately. Shuran seemed a natural for picking out the elements and bending them to his will and doing so seamlessly.

"It was not as though I was forcing the elements. I sort of told them what I wanted and asked the elements to help me." Shuran explained. "I did not even know what I was doing I just sort of felt that help was there just waiting for the asking."

Andra was not certain how to approach this revelation from Shuran. Andra decided they would go through lessons on concentration and isolating the different elements.
 

Before any of these lessons were to begin however, Shuran had to learn his limits and proper channeling of Essence. Up until now Shuran had been weaving spells from lessons that required little energy or concentration. Elemental forces that Shuran has wielded so far have been on instinct and without control so they exhausted him and he would pass into a deep slumber.
 

Shuran’s first lessons now would revolve around the flow of Essence and controlling it. He also needed to learn how to block it. Andra instructed him first to take the rest of the lessons time for today to practice sensing the world around him and identify the Essence in everything.

It is not known where the Essence comes from or why. There are old tales and stories of the origins. Some say that the Essence was a gift from the Gods when they created Ersetu, while others say that the Essence was stolen from the Gods when the people of Ersetu revolted and destroyed them. It did not matter now the when, why, or how. What matters is that they have it and must use it to survive. Only balance keeps this world from tearing apart.
 

The Lalli Mah was created to forge a permanent balance of the powers of Chaos and Creation. Each bloodline of the seven races of man, had the innate ability to weave a certain aspect of the Essence. Those of mixed blood were often blessed or cursed with the ability to wield multiple gifts.
 

Some wielders could not handle the power they could harness and ultimately destroyed themselves, while others could only wield to varying degrees of strength.
 

"There is no good or bad, there is only intent." Andra told Shuran.

"Are there some mix bloods that have no gift at all?" Shuran asked.

"It is rare, but sometimes a mixed blood will show no gift. Why do you ask?"
 

"Moona has no gift but she is old beyond the lifespan of a mundane. I sense something missing,” Shuran answered.
 

"That is something all together different, but not my place to speak on,” Andra stated, clearly ending the conversation.

Shuran sat in the practice circle identifying the differences in the elements and communicating with them. He closed his eyes and began to meditate on his surroundings. Shuran tried to concentrate on the elements but at first his mind was overwhelmed by everything at once and he lost concentration, falling over stunned.
 

"Do not open your mind up so wide and free, Shuran. Focus on opening up a little at first then slowly increase your awareness,” Andra told him.

Moona had just come out from the garden and decided to sit a while with her pipe and watch Shuran.
 

As he slowly opened his mind, Shuran began to take in all around him in the practice circle. He reached down into the earth once he attuned to its rhythm. He felt the course dirt and sand mixture of the soil. He could feel the grubs chewing and digging as if they were under his own skin. This disturbed him at first but he regained his composure.
 

As he moved along through the ground using his connection, he ran into a barrier, which he quickly realized was the water ring dug around the area when they first created the practice ring. He quickly released the vibrations of the earth to join the music of the water in the ring. Once within the ring, Shuran sang along and traced its surface around to where he had started.
 

Soon Shuran left his song with water to jump into the embrace of the fire burning in the pit before him. He became entranced with the dance of the flame. It was exhilarating. He danced and danced faster and with ferocity that he felt himself growing and getting hotter.

WHACK!
 

"Ouch! What was that for?" Shuran asked turning to see Moona retreating with a switch in her hand.
 

"Two reasons I whacked you smart arse! One you were gonna' set this whole wood aflame if you kept it up,” Moona said as she turned to walk away.

"You said two, what is the other reason?" Shuran asked.
 

"Because I could!" Moona smiled. "One thing, that shifty over there forgot to tell you, is if you open yourself up to all around you-“ Moona started.
 

"You need to be able to sense sneaky old wenches creepin' up on you!" Codger finished.
 

WHACK! Moona cracked Codger across the backside with her switch. "Didn' see that one comin' either did ya Old fool?” Moona laughed as she headed back to the cabin smoking on her pipe.

Andra turned back to Shuran with barely a hint of a smile on his borrowed face. "You are tired are you not?" Andra asked.
 

"Yes, I feel hungry as well, but I can keep going,” Shuran insisted.
 

"Good, what we will work on now will help how you are feeling I think."

"What do you mean you think?" Shuran asked.

"I only know of this in theory since I have been unable to do so myself. You however, have already shown the ability to channel Essence when you were but days old."
 

Andra retold the story to Shuran of how with a touch; Shuran poured Essence into Andra allowing the shifting into Sulura's likeness to hold. "If you can move Essence out of yourself you should be able to take it in."

"From where?" Shuran asked.
 

"Think back to what I have already told you."

Shuran thought for a moment before smiling and looking up to Andra. "The Essence is in everything."

Andra nodded but then gave a look of great concern. "You must learn to take only what is safe. I will help you to understand."
 

Andra brought Shuran over to a large tree near the end of the circle. "I want you to focus on this tree. Feel the Essence within and draw it into yourself."
 

Shuran placed his hand upon the tree. He felt the smooth white bark beneath his fingers. Shuran stretched out his senses and located the tree's Essence immediately.
 

"Do you have it?" Andra asked.
 

Shuran nodded without taking his attention off of the Essence he now held with his will.
 

"Good now I want you to pull on it and draw it within yourself. It is said to feel as though you are consuming it."
 

Shuran tried to act as though he was feasting on the Essence but it did not respond, but actually struggled to become freed. Shuran fought back to hold onto the Essence of the mighty Birch tree. During his struggle he barely noticed his own Essence moving out from his center and moving toward the tree.

With a sudden jolt Shuran's Eyes opened and his head lifted up. He pulled the tree into himself. He fed on the Essence and savored the energy as it flowed effortlessly from the tree to himself. Shuran was consumed by the feeling of taking in that energy. He did not notice the bark of the tree shrinking and cracking below his touch. He did not hear the tree screaming in his head for freedom from the torture it was being subjected to.
 

Suddenly the tree cried out so loud that Shuran could not help but notice. It was too late. Shuran fell back in shock. Before him, stood the withered and dried up remains of the once mighty birch tree. It was beyond dead. It was turned to stone. Shuran doubled over and released the remains of his last meal. He looked up to the sky as if looking for something then closed his eyes tight.

"Do you understand now what happens if you do not learn limits, young Shuran?" Andra asked.
 

Shuran could only nod through his sobbing. Shuran felt horrible and tainted. He turned and glared and Andra. "Why did you let this happen? You should have told me!" Shuran steamed with anger.
 

"Hold young weaver. You had to feel this for yourself in order to learn to recognize the limits. This is but one tree compared to a world that is falling into the abyss of Chaos. It will not be the last before you fully understand,” Andra flatly answered.

"I will never do that again!" Shuran said.
 

"As you say. Then I suggest we move on to storing power so that you will have something to call on in need. I think you would like being rid of what you have stolen?" Andra inquired over a smirk.
 

Andra reached into a pocket and produced Codger's crystal shard. The shard was now dull and lifeless. He handed it to Shuran. "Release what you have taken. You have done it before when you gave power of yourself to me." Andra could see anger and confusion on Shuran's face. "Let it go. Focus on the crystal in your hand and will the stolen Essence into the stone."
 

Shuran moved his glare from Andra and looked at the shard. It was a trickle at first, then a flood as Shuran poured the Essence into the crystal. It began to shine. The glow grew steadily brighter until it became difficult to look upon it.
 

"ENOUGH!" Andra screamed and knocked the shard from Shuran's grasp. "You only put in as much as you can. You already released what was taken and began adding your own strained Essence. Each day you wake fully rested you will add your own Essence to this shard until you begin to feel tired. Then you eat and begin your lessons."
 

Shuran just looked at Andra.
 

"Once the Crystal resists, it is full and can be returned to Codger."

Shuran nodded and went back to the cabin to eat and rest.

***

Salmetu sat in the center of a dim room barely lit by torches on the far walls. She sat in the room watching as Essence was drained from the tree. She could see the flow of energy like a stream of light from the tree, through the fingers of a boy. The pulses of light flowed up his arm and across his chest where they joined with his own Essence.
 

Salmetu groaned with delight as the tree began to whither and die. She heard its screams of protest and reveled in the agony it felt when it could not resist the draw of its last drop of Essence. Without any Essence at all, the tree could not hold onto its shi. The life force left it a dried and shriveled husk. So strong was the pull that the once thriving Birch turned to stone.
 

Salmetu pulled back from the boy whose eyes she had been looking through. As she looked around to see where she was, darkness suddenly took her and the vision was lost. "There is a boy somewhere in a clearing surrounded by white trees. He drained the Essence from a Birch and drank deeply,” Salmetu smiled wickedly.
 

"We must find him,” Isten turned from the room and joined Telalsu. "You will find this boy! He will join us or he will feed the Priestess."
 

Telalsu bowed as he left Isten then he disappeared in a dark shift of shadow and smoke.

***

Utu was high in the sky when Shuran was prepared to go back to his lessons.
 

Andra instructed him to continue reaching out with his senses and feel his surroundings. "I want you to take notice of the differences in the Essence in everything you feel. This will help you to understand what is around you and feel for what does not belong. You will also be able to tell if an old woman is ready to knock you about your head!" Andra finished with as much humor as was capable of a Guardian.