Completed The long goodbye.

[Miles]

14th of Winter 512 AV.

The sun shone brightly over Zeltiva, casting light but not heat over the city. The hustle and bustle of the day was in full swing, and Miles sauntered along familiar streets. There was no light of mirth in his eyes today- only cold purpose as he strode along, dodging townsfolk and wagons. He was dressed in proper attire, a dark cloak that hid a lace frilled undershirt and fine linen pants, of the same dark coloring. It was a black day today. He wore soft boots, folded down at the ankle, had elected to conceal his dagger within the folds of the cloak. There would be no mischief today. Today was set aside, and had been for the past two seasons. On the 14th of every season, from now until he left this place, he had adopted a ritual. He was going to visit the grave.

Standing outside of the cemetery he halted only to wave to the gaunt and refined caretaker, who had gotten to know the young man since the funeral. They exchanged no words, the caretaker was a man of few, and in his current mood Miles felt the same. Once the caretaker looked up from his duties he rose a hand in silence in reply, and Miles continued on.

The cemetery was rather large but rarely inhabited- Miles didn't bother to check if anyone was around. He walked toward the gravesite with his head bowed out of respect for the dead. He produced a small, white blossom from his cloak and laid it on the headstone. HIs voice, usually loud and boisterous was meek as he spoke: "You know I'm not good at this old man.. I never really have been. But we agreed, so here I am." He shook his head and took a deep breath. "I've applied for school, like you wanted. I don't know when my first class is, but I haven't really anyone else to tell- so.. be excited for me, will you?" The wind picked up, pulling a single tear sideways across his cheek. There was no time for emotion. He ran his hands along his head, pushing the cloak he wore back to reveal long, braded woolen locks. "All right. Let's start with breathing."

The next twenty minutes consisted of a series of breathing exercises, while Miles muttered lessons the old man had taught time and time again to him. "We learn to master our bodies, and our souls follow the same path. Feel the tip of your fingers through the soles of your feet. Feel the wind on your face through the mask of energy that surrounds you. Feel the wind move through you and stir you, follow it with your mind, with your soul, and the body will follow." Miles posed in flowing motions, stretching himself and balancing his body while reciting the lessons. He began to work up a sweat through the cold winter afternoon. Soon his cloak was on the ground and he was working as if time meant nothing- the repetition of words, the calculated body movements falling in time with the gusts of the wind. Miles was one with it all- he imagined he was doing the old man a pride, perhaps Abraham would watch him from the grave, or projected to the stars the old man would gaze from the space above the heavens and grin. And so he spent the day as such, training his mind, wishing his only friend well on the eternal journey that awaits all. This was his long goodbye.

[Miles]

Hours.

Hours of chanting and focusing and remembering culminated in Miles being more tired than he was enlightened. The old man had bestowed upon him meager skills, skills he would go to the Academy to hone, but in the meantime he would have to figure a way to earn money- something he could do to keep food on the table and the house in his name. Zeltiva was full of knowledge and opportunity, right?

He finished up meditation and sat on the earth that imprisoned his only friend, hunching his shoulders against the cold of the evening. "Alright Old man, you always wanted me to 'earn a living'... " Miles made his way to the town square to begin a new chapter in his life. He would become a student, a working man who delighted in the pleasures of the tavern and the maiden, rather than the musk of the night and shadowed places. Was he ready for the shift? He realized then he wasn't only saying goodbye to a friend, but to a lifestyle- one that he'd never have a chance to truly indulge in again. Perhaps he was saying goodbye then, to himself as much as he was to Abraham.

It was time to put aside childish things.

[Arcane]

Rewards and Treasure! Experience Points +1 Meditation Lores Mental Preparation for Magic A Promise with Abraham Comments I can't really advice you so far since you didn't actually do any real magic. But from what I've seen so far I think you're pretty much on the right path