Nyxara
—Nyxara's Living Room—
After Korran left to attend a late afternoon meeting, I let myself sink into the sofa, relaxing from the mentally taxing exercises I just completed. Doing training scenarios in what type of persona I should apply in various social engagements was enlightening. The fact that the originator of this training is Azrail both is and is not surprising.
I can sense that Azrail's "chaos" isn't as chaotic as many would assume. Only with further interactions can I confirm my suspicions that his chaos is actually a weapon to keep people exactly where he wants them…off balance.
Looking at the time on my phone, I saw I have 10 minutes before my lesson with Nimra was to begin. "Dang it, I forgot to check where the lesson will take place." I muttered as I quickly pulled up my schedule to see the lesson would take place in my meditation garden. The lesson note says I don't need to bring anything to this lesson and that she will meet me in the garden. Curious about the note, I sit up and ask Lima her opinion.
"Well, mistress, I suspect that since this is likely to be a hands-on lesson, all will be provided for you by the Matriarch. However, since this will be lessons on essencecraft application and you will need to fully focus on your training exercises, I would be pleased to assist you by attending and writing down notes on your behalf."
At some point during our roleplaying exercises, Lima had changed her appearance to that of a punk gothic maid. Her once long teal hair now falls just above her shoulders. Her warm skin tone has transitioned to a delicate porcelain white, and she had black eyeshadow and lipstick to complete the look. Her black lips seem set in a manic grin that is giving a lot of Harley Quinn energy.
It appears our roleplaying has helped her just as much as it has helped me. My pleasure at seeing my maid figuring herself out was actually quite surprising. It's as if it gives me permission to keep figuring myself out too. We will be evolving together, which I feel will help us connect as mistress and maid.
"It is 5 minutes until the lesson begins now. In my currently limited opinion, the lesson being in the garden is well thought out. It is a good location since most stones, flora, and the elements that are used in essencecraft will be present to help you work your craft. Are you ready to go over? Also, will I be accompanying you to take notes?" Lima held out a hand, which I took to help me off the sofa that was way too comfortable for its own good.
"Yes, come along. Thank you for the help." I gave her a quick hug, then walked through my study to my garden. As soon as I walked in, a portal appeared, allowing my mother to step through in a loose, flowing temple-like robe. A nod of her head was her only acknowledgment of my presence. "I need to finish setting up. You may wander the garden until I am ready." Then she walked off towards the back corner where the tranquility pond lay.
Feeling confused by her cold behavior but refusing to let it affect me too much, I walk around the enclosed garden, letting it soothe me. The hush settled around me, making me pause and take a deep breath. The scents around me brought to mind the lyrics I wrote the day before. I can almost see the continuation of those lines and hear the melody that could go with them. When I first walked through the space, I saw what was here, but now I feel like I'm truly seeing the beauty around me.
Blossoms of shifting colors lean towards me when I pass. Stones of various sizes and shapes pulse in rhythm with the wards woven in the borders. For a time, I just walked and experienced this space with Lima quietly by my side. I will have to make walking in here a daily routine. I say as much to Lima and she promised to fit it into my day as often as possible. Being in here seems to energize me in a way not even the rejuvenation spell could accomplish.
"I am ready for you, little one. Come join me." Nimra's voice on the breeze ended my walk. The distance I had wandered was further than I thought possible. Lima had to guide me to where Nimra was waiting. She explained that a Dimensional Weave had been applied, expanding the space into a full garden within the confines of the limited space that was once a … spa meeting room for Minette's fan club meetings.
I guess when I told them that I was cutting off Minette, they decided I wouldn't want anything connected to her in my private wing anymore. It was the correct move, but I will be talking to them about not making changes in my space like that again. I will also tell Nimra to not portal into this wing going forward unless it is an emergency. She can come in through the main doors or portal into the living room.
I didn't look at how I might want to enforce that boundary because of my current hurt feelings. Nope, I'm not feeling any kind of way after such an intense first day about her cold behavior. Not me, expecting the motherly warmth I've been experiencing over the past few weeks. I'm not feeling particularly sensitive right now, not at all.
"Mistress, your blood pressure is rising. Here have a cup of tea to calm yourself." With a perfectly warm cup of tea in hand, I unconsciously sipped on it, instantly feeling calmed. Where she pulled this cup of tea from, I won't ask. How she already had a cup of the 'Breathe, Focus, Fuck 'em' blend prepared, I won't ask that either. I do know, I am extremely grateful she is my maid. My relaxed smile brought a mirroring pleased smile to her lips.
"My sensors tell me your scent has calmed along with your blood pressure. This is good. You are strong but still fragile in some ways." After saying this, she turned away and began walking again. By the time I was done with my tea and Lima had waved the cup away, we had reached the tranquility pool where Nimra sat on the grass in meditation.
Looking around the space, I saw a glass ceiling opened to let in the afternoon breeze. On the other side of the pool was an egg-shaped tree swing attached to a huge fruit-bearing tree. This corner of the garden looks like a comfortable place to come relax.
My attention does eventually drift back to Nimra. She was sitting with her back straight, hands folded in her lap. Her eyes were cool and steady. She was still giving off a chilly vibe, but I was prepared to give her chilly right back.
"Let us begin with the system itself," So we are just going to start without further delay. Her voice was even and distant. At her gesture, I seated myself on a pillow across from her. I mirrored her positioning and expression. Cool and distant. Two can play this game, mother. "You can not understand essencecraft without knowing the foundation of the system."
Tracing a line down her sternum with two fingers, red essence sparking faintly along the path. "The body of every person on this planet carries three cores, connected by veins. Core locations vary by race. For us witches, the primary core sits in our heart.
The primary core is a person's main power source, so it tends to be the core developed first when a person is attempting to ascend tiers. The secondary core is here in our hands. This core helps shape your crafting skills." When she draws a glyph in the air, it glows red before dissolving into sparks that swirl upwards and around her head.
As I watched, the sparks became red stars twinkling like a crown. "The tertiary core is located in the crown. From this core, you anchor yourself so that when you craft, you can do so without losing yourself to the essence all around us. In the lesson cloud drive, I have uploaded where the cores are located for each of the six races. This will be useful information for your investigations and essencecrafting. I will let you explore the how." I nodded my understanding of the assignment. When I glanced at Lima, she gave a thumbs up, so I assume she made a note for me to follow up on this topic later.
"Something to remember when studying essence cores, because each core carries essence differently, they must be in balance with each other so that the flow of essence through out the body stays aligned. When one fails, the others will become stressed maintaining the balance."
She paused for a moment to let that sink in. It took me another moment to realize the implications of what she just told me. "My cores were affected by the Velintra weren't they?" I asked with trembling hands. She nods with a hint of anger in her eyes.
"Yes, this is why it may seem like your essence is sluggish or slow to respond. You used your essence this morning with Lux but not again since then, correct?" I nod, realizing that while everyone else has been using essence throughout the day, I have only used it during Lux's session. "If you try using your essence for too long right now, you would end up hurting yourself. So, for now, don't do any essencecraft without one of us nearby. Your essence veins are knotted, and we must slowly undo those metaphysical knots before you can do more."
"Aspen has been monitoring your progress through your medical bands. Your progress has been going very well. Even exceeding expectations. Soon, you will be able to truly flex your skills, so be patient for now." She grips both my hands comfortingly, giving me a smile filled with warmth. And now she is back to being warm again. Me and her are really going to have to have a talk at some point about why she is so warm and cold towards me randomly. I gripped her hands back, sensing she was about to tell me something serious.
"Because of the knots and your good progress, soon Aspen will remove the nanotech that is keeping the bond sickness symptoms to a minimum. When that happens, you will not only experience intense emotional symptoms but also physical ones as well. I tell you this to prepare your mind. We will have to let your body finish processing the bond sickness for you to become completely cured and the alignment your essence system be restored."
I'm so happy Lima is taking notes right now because I am honestly feeling all over the place with this new bit of information. If I'm understanding correctly, I'm going to have to break even more before I can heal from the damage inflicted on me. I pulled the shawl still clasped on my shoulders tighter around me, feeling a wave of weariness pass through at the fact that this is going to be a rough healing journey.
With a sigh, I let myself feel the weight of this endeavor, before I straighten my spine and look into Nimra's waiting eyes. Regardless, I am not alone. They believe in me and my chosen path of healing. So I will repay their belief with the will and drive to continue to meet and exceed their expectations.
This is not just for them. This is for me. I'm choosing the path that feels right to me, and I'm honestly proud of myself even if everything feels overwhelming right now. I can endure the pain to come. I must. My destiny is on the other side of this pain. I am going to claim it with both hands.
"So, does this mean I'll be cured by the time we do the ritual?" I asked with a hopeful lilt.