Zaraline's Point of View935Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtZe404TMb
For the next four weeks, Morganna had me meditating. My daily cycle consisted of waking up, bathing in a nearby cave with steaming springs that Morganna had shown me, eating, meditating, eating again, and then sleeping. Sometimes though, before I went to sleep, I went up to Morganna's library to read. Right now, I was reading through a personal account of a soldier who survived through a conflict known as the War of the Spider.
At first, the meditating was tedious. It was just me and my thoughts, which would often drifts to places I didn't want them to, like my family. Around the third week was when I started to really get into it. When I was deep in my own mind, I realized it wasn't about what I was thinking, but the feeling of immense peace that washed over me. It felt as though I wasn't even in my body anymore at some points.
At the end of the fourth week, was when Morganna met with me again. I explained to her my experiences with meditating thus far.
"Good," she began. "That means you are ready to take the next step, mind-reading."
My eyes widened. "Mind-reading?" While there were times when I wished I could've read minds, the idea of it was unethical.
"Yes. It is an art that takes years to master properly. But, luckily, you won't need to master it. Once you get the grasp of it, it only takes practice to perfect. Once you've learned how to do this, then magic will be much easier to understand as a whole." She motioned for me to follow her, so I did.
Morganna led me outside, and to the small pond behind her home. Together, we walked up to the ancient willow tree. She placed her hand against the bark of the willow tree, closing her eyes. Silence hung in the air for several moments, until Morganna pulled her hand from the tree and leaned away.
"To read a mind, you must find that place you found while meditating. After that, it is simply a matter of reaching out beyond the confines of your own mind, and latching onto other consciousnesses nearby." She clasped her hands at the base of her back, looking briefly back at the Willowtree. "There is a spirit bound to this tree. I would like you to discover his name. Tell it to me, once you have found it."
"How will I know what to...Latch on? How do I even do that?"
"Another consciousness appears like a candle in the dark. Many visualize it different. You must only go out to meet it."
"I see... I'll try... What if I can't do it?"
"You must, or else I am afraid I will be of no further help to you."
"I understand," I said, terrified that I wouldn't be able to do complete her task. "I will try my hardest."
"Good." Morganna placed a hand on my shoulder. "You can do it, Zaraline. Your will is strong, I am sure of it." Then she left me.
So, I sat down, and began my routine of meditation. I lost track of time, but before I knew it, I was in that place of peace. I sat there for a while, reveling in it, before in the back of my mind, I remembered Morganna's instructions and the task she left me. Only, there was only the comfortable blanket of darkness. No candles were shining like a beacon. I continued to search, but there was nothing to be found. Only the darkness of my own mind.
When I gave up for the time being, I opened my eyes to the sun starting to set. I went back inside to eat dinner with Morganna. I'd try again tomorrow.
Tomorrow came quick enough, and I spent a better part of that day trying again, desperately searching for that figurative candle in the dark. Only, the harder I searched, the more I lost grip on the peaceful state of being. It took me a while, but I soon figured out that searching wasn't going to help me complete my task.
So instead, I quit searching, and simply sat, trying to open my mind to the world around me without disrupting my current state. It took some effort, but it started to work. I could hear the wind howling against the rocks, the sound of the pond's waters lapping against the shore, a bird calling in the distance, a frog nearby. It was astonishing how much I could pick up on if I just sat and listened to the ambience.935Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWysN1yaRp
Then, a faint blue light appeared in the center of the blackness. Was that it? Slowly, it began to grow brighter. As it did, other faint blue speckles of light appeared around me. They barely grew brighter. Yes, this was definitely it! The burst of excitement that soon followed that realization shook me from my trance, much to my disappointment. 935Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTie8Ty9Fr
It was later in the afternoon, so I figured this was a good time to stop. Another attempt would have me out here until well after midnight. Since I stopped early, I figured this evening would be a good night to read. I went to Morganna's library, and picked out another book to stick my nose into. This one was titled A Brief History of the Order of Blessed Ones. I cracked the dusty tome open. I lost myself among its yellowed pages, trying to imagine all the heroes the book discussed. After a few chapters, I went to have dinner with Morganna. After dinner, I took the book back to the living room where I was staying and continued to read it until I fell asleep.935Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawy1H7Q5QW
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A week had passed. Every day, I kept trying to get to the biggest blue light. Everday, I would get about half way there, and then I came out of my trance. It was so frustrating, but I was determined. I would reach that light, and I would find out that blasted tree's name!935Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cNgyWUjsa
I woke up right as dawn was cracking one morning, far earlier than when I usually wake up. I skipped breakfast, and my morning bath, and went straight out to the willow tree. I plopped down, and started to go through the cycle. I was going to do this, even if I had to stay out here for the next twenty-four hours.935Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHMgbgCgaL
Soon enough, I got to the point where I could see the big blue light and the ever-changing sea of tiny blue speckles that surrounded the light. I reached, and reached, and reached, stretching my mind to it's limits. Inch by inch, the blue light got closer. 935Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmufbq4urW
I got halfway. In the back of my head, I told myself that I would not bend. I would not break. One foot in front of the other. I continued to go forward, inch by inch. When I got two-thirds of the way there, I began to hear faint whispers. They were unintelligible. My excitement grew, but I worked to stifle it. I would not have my excitement getting in my way this time.935Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD8JLiisAY
Just as I had gotten within what seemed ten feet of the blue light, the whispering now almost deafening in my ear, the ground shook. My eyes snapped open, startled and confused. Only, I saw it to be Grindyr who landed in front of the tower. I was furious. Even though I knew it wasn't Grindyr's fault. I was so close.935Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyiLQaoS1Q
Grindyr and I locked eyes. He tilted his horned head, and then raised a claw, motioning for me to come over. Trying to refrain from grumbling curses to myself, I pushed myself off, brushed the dirt off my pants, and went to Grindyr.935Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu8hMmkbN1
