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Authors: Candace Knoebel
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confusion. “Why?”
He ran a smooth hand through his hair. “Though they are wise in the ways of healing and harnessing energy, they are not to be viewed as a kindly race. Once you are taken in, you may never leave. Their sole purpose is to protect the Pool of Virtue. Leaving is punishable by death. Stealing a drop from the Pool is far worse...something that only a fool would try.”
I swallowed hard. Who would steal from them? “Well, when you put it like that…”
He watched me for a moment, like he wanted to say something else, but then his face shifted back to scholarly sternness. “Controlling the use of energy is not an easy feat,” he said, rising from his chair behind the thick mahogany desk.
“The energy inside of a living being is as mysterious as electricity. It is a powerful source that no other race, aside from the Magium, is able to tap into. Knowing this is the beginning to understanding exactly how using this energy works–what the Priests have come to understand. They have experimented on Mages for centuries.” His tone dropped on the last sentence, sounding grave and repulsed.
“Experimented? Where does the Priests magic come from?”
He stopped pacing and turned in my direction. “Priests are trained to harness the energy from the Pool of Virtue. They are able to meditate into a state of mind that allows them to use the Pool’s energy to heal, but it is an artificial magic. It can only be used as long as they are in tune with the Pool. Because their magic is artificial, they are fascinated by the Magium race and how they are able to conjure magic from within.” He didn’t sound too enthusiastic about it.
I was baffled. “Why do they practice healing if they don’t use it for the greater good?”
“The Elder Priests of the Amethyst Temple do on occasion leave,” he said in a tone that implied I should have paid attention to what I read. “When a war is present, that is.” His eyes twinkled with hope. He had been meaning to tell me this. “They have the ability to hold the harnessed power from the Pool within themselves for long periods of time. Those are the Priests you want to meet and bring to our side.”
“You think they will choose our side?” I asked quietly, hoping that these contradictory Priests would make the right choice.
He sighed. “Hard to say. But no matter, we will deal with that when the time comes. Your first priority is to earn your title. Then we can focus on preparing for war.”
I felt a smidgen of hope.
There was a moment of strong silence. Astral tugged on his beard, then he looked up at me, smiling. “First things first, I need you to focus on the light within you. That is where your energy stems from.”
I stared at him, my mind going blank. “How do I do that?”
“There is a place for every special thing in the world,” he said insightfully. “Your light,” he pointed to where my heart rested, “is inside the very center of you.”
I glanced down to where he pointed, looking for some obvious sign. Everything looked normal.
“It is pumped throughout your being,” he added knowingly, “providing you with endless possibilities. Close your eyes and focus on it, Aurora.”
I closed my eyes as tight as they would go, feeling a slight pulse within me. It was easy to tune the silent room out, but my thoughts were chaotic. Doubts and insecurities surfaced along with the images that supported my failures.
“This is the hardest part, Aurora.” Astral’s voice was soft, patient. “You have to learn to let it all go. You will always have to let it all go if you are ever to control what is inside of you.”
I nodded, keeping my eyes closed, and let out a deep sigh. The pulse was there. It had always been there, even when I was in the other realm. It was a constant craving for power. It was as deeply imbedded in me as my dragon.
I cleared my mind of all doubts and began to feel the energy inside me, a light that constantly buzzed. I
He ran a smooth hand through his hair. “Though they are wise in the ways of healing and harnessing energy, they are not to be viewed as a kindly race. Once you are taken in, you may never leave. Their sole purpose is to protect the Pool of Virtue. Leaving is punishable by death. Stealing a drop from the Pool is far worse...something that only a fool would try.”
I swallowed hard. Who would steal from them? “Well, when you put it like that…”
He watched me for a moment, like he wanted to say something else, but then his face shifted back to scholarly sternness. “Controlling the use of energy is not an easy feat,” he said, rising from his chair behind the thick mahogany desk.
“The energy inside of a living being is as mysterious as electricity. It is a powerful source that no other race, aside from the Magium, is able to tap into. Knowing this is the beginning to understanding exactly how using this energy works–what the Priests have come to understand. They have experimented on Mages for centuries.” His tone dropped on the last sentence, sounding grave and repulsed.
“Experimented? Where does the Priests magic come from?”
He stopped pacing and turned in my direction. “Priests are trained to harness the energy from the Pool of Virtue. They are able to meditate into a state of mind that allows them to use the Pool’s energy to heal, but it is an artificial magic. It can only be used as long as they are in tune with the Pool. Because their magic is artificial, they are fascinated by the Magium race and how they are able to conjure magic from within.” He didn’t sound too enthusiastic about it.
I was baffled. “Why do they practice healing if they don’t use it for the greater good?”
“The Elder Priests of the Amethyst Temple do on occasion leave,” he said in a tone that implied I should have paid attention to what I read. “When a war is present, that is.” His eyes twinkled with hope. He had been meaning to tell me this. “They have the ability to hold the harnessed power from the Pool within themselves for long periods of time. Those are the Priests you want to meet and bring to our side.”
“You think they will choose our side?” I asked quietly, hoping that these contradictory Priests would make the right choice.
He sighed. “Hard to say. But no matter, we will deal with that when the time comes. Your first priority is to earn your title. Then we can focus on preparing for war.”
I felt a smidgen of hope.
There was a moment of strong silence. Astral tugged on his beard, then he looked up at me, smiling. “First things first, I need you to focus on the light within you. That is where your energy stems from.”
I stared at him, my mind going blank. “How do I do that?”
“There is a place for every special thing in the world,” he said insightfully. “Your light,” he pointed to where my heart rested, “is inside the very center of you.”
I glanced down to where he pointed, looking for some obvious sign. Everything looked normal.
“It is pumped throughout your being,” he added knowingly, “providing you with endless possibilities. Close your eyes and focus on it, Aurora.”
I closed my eyes as tight as they would go, feeling a slight pulse within me. It was easy to tune the silent room out, but my thoughts were chaotic. Doubts and insecurities surfaced along with the images that supported my failures.
“This is the hardest part, Aurora.” Astral’s voice was soft, patient. “You have to learn to let it all go. You will always have to let it all go if you are ever to control what is inside of you.”
I nodded, keeping my eyes closed, and let out a deep sigh. The pulse was there. It had always been there, even when I was in the other realm. It was a constant craving for power. It was as deeply imbedded in me as my dragon.
I cleared my mind of all doubts and began to feel the energy inside me, a light that constantly buzzed. I
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