[Stone Gardens]A Trade of Heart and Soul (Aoren)

[Shane Wallsly]

Timestamp: 11th of Spring 514 AV

The silence was refreshing. The distinct lack of metal-plated bodies was exhuberant. The rhythmic tapping of his feet on paving was soothing. Enjoying his newfound unemployed freedom Shane had been wandering the Citadel and had come across the Stone Gardens which he had not visited in some time; not since before his father disappeared.

He was without dog for once which was odd for him. Ever since he had purchased Norman from the Bazaar the dog had been a near permenant fixture. Sometimes, however, the dog was just too cheerful. Too happy; too out of control... Shane was envious of the dog's carefree nature which was why he had selected one of the least carefree places in the Citadel. A solemn garden with no trees or grass; merely the cold gray stone of fallen men and woman who once sought to bring peace to the world in the name of a dead God.

Yes, the Stone Gardens were a perfect place for melancholy and that was probably why there were so few people here. There wasn't even any Knights here today. They were usually here though. Pining about fallen comrades most likely. Some had probably put down stones for their own family members here. It was a dangerous task being the only beacon of light and hope in the entire world, Shane thought bitterly.

He had vague memories of coming here with his father. His father had been a squire and he'd probably died on duty too. Where was his stone? He hadn't heard of any Richard Wallsly stone. Well, he'd never even heard what happened about his father. He left one day for some squirely duty and never came back. Shane didn't even know what that duty had been. Maybe he'd tripped over his shoe on the way to an academic lesson and hit his head hard on the concrete and died. Simply never turned up. Just died and added to wherever they piled their corpses around here. Nobody ever having the sense to wonder about his family; wonder about if his kid wanted to know how his father had died; why his father never came home?

Shane took a seat on the paving crossing his legs. He closed his eyes taking deep, shaky breaths to calm himself. He was in some mood today. He was always in a mood. Perhaps Hypnotism had finally maddened him. He'd read that's what happened to Hypnotists. One day they just lost their mind. Shane wondered if his mind was even worth keeping sometimes.

Breathe. Breathe.

Feel the calm. Build a wall. Meditation was neccesary to all that Shane did. It was the force in his life that kept all the pieces together. All the little bits of himself sewed together with meditation. No matter how broken e became he could always pick up the pieces.

Breathe. Breathe.

He was feeling much calmer now. It was remarkable what a few breathing excercises could do. Now it was time to clear his mind. To do thishe pictured nothingness. Complete and empty and unlimited. He blocked off each sense one by one as he focussed on the concept. Taste, sight, touch, sound and smells all gone. Just him. Just Shane. It was this trance-like state that had once helped him to see. To see the true nature of life with his Auristics. He wondered, what would he learn today?

Credit to Skerry

[Aoren]

The Stone Gardens.

In his many years in Syliras, Aoren had not often visited the shrine to the fallen Knights. It was a quiet place that many spoke of with a note of reverence and respect he could somewhat relate to. As he approached the silent memorial to the men and woman who had paid the highest of sacrifices in the pursuit of peace and civilization Aoren found himself thinking on his longtime friend, Ileera.

It had been quite some time since his thoughts had turned to her. He was beginning to wonder if perhaps he had moved on to accept the gravity of her loss. The memory of her that he conjured in his head was a blurred one. Her face wasn’t as clear. The shade of her hair wasn’t as vibrant. He couldn’t rightly recall the sound of her voice. What he did remember was the impact that she had had on his life. She had helped him grow. She had helped him become something of the stronger man that he was in the present. Were it not for the bond that he had formed with Ileera he might very well have lived a less peaceful life. In many ways, Aoren honored her memory as a true knight though she had only ever been a squire.

He did not know the exact details of how she had met her end. It had felt as though one day the both of them were sparring and the very next she was gone. Ileera had gone on her knighting quest. The highest honor in all of Syliras. He had been visited by her patron nearly a season later only to be told that she had perished in the pursuit of Peace. Her name was not written upon any of the stones within the garden but he still felt compelled to go there now and again to honor her memory. It just so happened that he had felt like doing that this particular day.

“Always quiet. Always peaceful.”

The Stone Gardens was certainly a beautiful place. The memorial to the achievements of those that were was befitting of their cause. Quietly, Aoren walked the cobblestone paths winding around the elegantly constructed garden. The greenery that grew along the stone walls was soft and though it dominated them the plant life didn’t seem to intrude upon the walkways themselves. As he walked he counted the stones embedded into the dirt. He doubted he had the time to count them all. The stones themselves were small. They reminded him of stone eggs. The idea of which made him smile softly.

“Eggs from which hatch the hope that all of your work is not in vain.”

Coming upon a corner of the garden he noticed a man sitting in quiet contemplation. He had his eyes closed. His breathing was measured. It was a stance that Aoren recognized. The sight of him did not surprised Aoren. There were many that came to the gardens because of the solace it offered. Whether they came to mourn, to honor or simply to bask in the soothing peace there was to be found there it did not matter. Everyone came to the gardens for a reason.

Aoren came to stand on a path directly across from the meditating young man. The Drykas didn’t bother him. He knew how difficult it was to sometimes find the inner calm allowing one to focus. No, he came to stop at that particular spot because resting just on the path was a clay pot holding a wilting plant. Looking at the dirt in the pot Aoren noticed that it was fairly dry. Kneeling down the Drykas man took a deep breath of his own. He brought up his hands tapping into the depths of his mind grasping his Djed and pushing it outward into his palms where it manifested as Res. Aoren shaped that Res into a liquid with only a few flick of his thoughts having mastered such simpler tasks with reimancy some time ago. Winding his hands around the rim of the pot he willed his Res to blanket outwards until it covered the expanse of dirt within the pot. With a little focus and an exertion of his will he transmuted his Res into water.

The conjured water dropped into the soil of the pot. Aoren continued to conjure the water for a moment or two until he felt the soil had been adequately watered. The remaining untransmuted Res flowed back into his hands as he drew it back into his body. Gently he thumbed a leaf of the plant examining it. It would have to be tended to but the water that he had given to the soil would no doubt provide some nourishment it needed to recover.

[Shane Wallsly]

Shane was no master of meditation. It took but the slightest of interruptions to bring him back into himself. He was easily distracted. He had sometimes mused that it was the subconscious sixth sense Auristics gave him that made it that much harder to block off all stimuli. Shane did feel something then, as Aoren drew the magic of his being outward. As he willed it to transmute into water Shane felt something strange. It was almost like a shiver. He focussed deeply on his own inner power. In the power of Sight and he willed his eyes to show him more than the world wanted him to see. He willed forth the power of his sight and opened his eyes.

The world transfixed in a multicolour rainbow of constant motion and change. He focussed on the being in front of him. It, he, was doing something strange. It felt, it looked, as if he was leaking bits of his Aura into something else. Shane took a deep steadying breath and tried to focus on this other thing as well. It was a plant. A wilting plant but it was being watered now. It seemed as he watched and focussed upon both auras that the person was watering the plant with his own djed. He was giving his soul so that another might live. Shane felt an instant liking for this character.

Shane's vision was blurring a little from the strain of focussing on two auras so intently. Shane closed his eyes again and let the djed drain from his senses until they were barely there anymore. Shane opened his eyes to a much less vivid world. A world of true colour. He looked upon the man as if for the first time when, in reality, he felt as if his eyes had seen every part of him already.

“Good day, fellow.” Shane said without standing. “It is a good day for long strolls and watering plants, wouldn't you say?” Shane began to alter the way he sat sending non-verbal suggestions with his Hypnotism. Friendly. Open. Safe. Shane always felt more confident when he used Hypnotism. Almost as if the use of it was hypnotising to him. “I am Shane. Come, sit with me. It is a wonderful day and a quiet locale. Tell me, what is your name?” Shane was perhaps being a bit forward layering in all of these Hypnotic suggestions but unless he was an Aurist or possessed some Godly power he would never know what was happening. In any case all a few suggestions like that could do would be to loosen a tongue

Credit to Skerry

[Aoren]

Aoren did not look up when he was addressed. He hadn’t heard any other person enter the gardens and there had only been one other person around. That only meant the young man who had been previously meditating had opened his eyes noticing Aoren’s arrival. It came as no surprise to Aoren. No doubt the reason the other man was opening up conversation was because of the abnormal thing he’d witnessed Aoren do. It wasn’t as if he had made a very strong effort to hide it.

“Good day, friend.” Aoren felt a stirring kinship to the young man. Shane. It was an interesting name though Aoren couldn’t place why. Whatever anxiety the Drykas might have felt in the presence of this seemingly friendly individual was smoothed over the more he spoke.

“All days are goods days for the nurturing of life.” Aoren looked up then. Shimmering on the right side of his face catching the light shining down into the gardens was the hallowed mark of Rak’keli. The swirling opalescent gnosis drew in the eye with its flowing intricate pattern. He gave Shane a kind smile. Rising from where he knelt in front of the plant Aoren found the idea of sitting with a casual stranger to be welcome on this particular day. He felt no inclination to deny the young man his request nor did he have any reason to.

At his full height, Aoren stood at six feet and three inches. An intimidating factor to some but his calm expression and quietly confident demeanor suggested a man of a mild mannered temperament. Following the cobblestone path he took up a seat next to Shane folding his legs beneath him adopting a somewhat meditative pose. When he was comfortable he extended a hand to Shane, his right hand to be specific. Like the mark upon his face there shone a mark upon the back of his right hand as well. There rested the picture of a lily with a single blossom upon its stalk. It was possessed of a similar sheen as the marking upon his face suggesting that it was somehow related. Were Shane familiar with the Goddess of Foresight he would recognize this as the mark of Avalis.

“You may call me, Aoren. It is a pleasure to meet you.” Should Shane accept the hand that was offered to him Aoren would shake it firmly but without any excessive force. Upon dropping his hand Aoren would fold both of his in his lap meeting Shane’s gaze calmly.

“Do you often visit the Gardens? I find myself drawn here sometimes because of the quiet.” He studied Shane for a moment nodding to his equally meditative posture.

“I’ve known a number of people who come here to meditate. It makes me sometimes wonder what they think about.” The manner in which he spoke suggested he didn’t always possess such a desire. There was a slight melancholy note to his voice but it was soon dismissed as he gave Shane another friendly smile.

“Do you often invite perfect strangers to sit and speak with you?” Aoren gave a light chuckle. While he couldn’t say it was out of the ordinary and there certain was reason for Shane to have sought to speak with him, he was curious as to the man’s motives. People seldom spoke to Aoren unless they had reason to and he personally did not make a habit of just striking up conversations out of the blue.

[Shane Wallsly]

Shane was surprised that he hadn't noticed the marks when he had been inspecting the man's aura. Usually the divine blessings were hard to ignore in their power and significance to the Aura. Shane couldn't really place either mark but he was no expert. Indeed, he had really only seen the one Gnosis Mark. That of Lykata which his previous employer, Dominac Avira, had once shown him.

Shane took the man's hand. Friendly. The thing about Hypnotism at this stage was that it merely enhanced your normal charisma. Everything he relayed through subtle body movements could have worked on their own but not as effectively now that he had pulled his Hypnotic power into it. “It's nice, to meet you Aoren.” Shane replied as they shook hands. When his hand was given back to him he mirrored Aoren's handfolding. Similar. Same. Safe.

The man seemed melancholy about the Gardens. Shane could understand that. He had been very malancholy not that long ago. “This place brings out the deepest thoughts.” Shane spoke the thought as it entered his head. It was true. It was almost an epiphany of thought to him. “Mortality is the weakness of all peoples and to walk among a reminder of it makes us long for those things we trully want and to think deeply on our life.” Shane felt possessed by knowledge completely forgetting for a minute that Aoren was there. “Or, I mean, at least that's how I see it.” Shane added as he realised he was monolouging.

“Only the interesting ones.” He replied in answer to why he had struck up a conversation with a complete stranger. This was actually the truth. He would have completely ignored the man had he not shown him that blatant display of magic. “I noticed you watering the plant a moment ago but you hold no bucket or watering can. Tell me, how did you do it?”

Credit to Skerry

[Aoren]

Aoren listened to what Shane had to say. There was an uncanny ease with which he seemed to be able to relate to the young man. Given the multitude of roads that people walked throughout their lives however, it didn’t strike Aoren as odd that he could find a guy so likeable. People were visited by all number of different experiences in their lives it was not beyond reason that this Shane character was something of a kindred spirit. As the young man mused about deep thoughts being drawn out in the presence of the gardens, Aoren chuckled before shaking his head.

“Such is the life that we are meant to live. Whether it is fortune filled or tragic, charmed or cursed, it falls to you to shape the road you would seek to travel. As you walk it always know that there is something different just over the horizon.” The Drykas man shrugged a shoulder reaching up to rub at the back of his head. He was a little embarrassed at the words that had come out of his mouth but they came from a place close to his heart.

“A friend once gave me that advice. He said that what it boiled down to was that no matter the troubles or joys that we face in our lives the truth of who we are and what we face lies in what we do with the experience. Whether it is death or the celebration of life we can dwell in the moment or look forward to the change another day can bring.” Aoren wasn’t naïve enough to believe that every change would be a positive one. The world they lived in was a harsh one. The memorial both he and Shane were sitting in was a testament to that. Some sacrifices were necessary in order to overcome the obstacles they all faced along the way.

“Reimancy.” Aoren came out and said it. He wasn’t one to hide his gifts when he had so obviously used them. It was not as if he were in any danger of being hung at the gallows or imprisoned for using the magic either. The Knights only frowned upon destructive uses of magic. He had used his power to assist a dying plant. That was hardly something noteworthy in the eyes of the Knighthood.

“It is, as I’m pretty sure you have guessed, a form of magic.” Aoren had been a practitioner of the personal magic dealing with the natural elements for most of his life. He was first initiated into the discipline when he was just a boy. His mentor had instilled in him a sense of responsibility in handling the magic with only a few minor incidents of overgiving along the way. It was more than could be said for a number of wizards Aoren knew of. It was something that while he used freely, did not often discuss in depth with many. He could think of only a select few people he had shared truly lengthy conversations with regarding the magic.

“Are you familiar with it?” The majority of people steered clear of magic but Aoren had encountered a number of other wizards in recent years. Part of him wondered if the Knighthood was sending out invitations to magic users in the hopes of drawing in the help of a particularly powerful one.

[Shane Wallsly]

Shane smiled genuinely at the man's enthusiasm. He seemed pretty wise or at least hopeful. Shane usually would have scoffed at the man's upbeat nature. He would have professed him a complete fool in his enthusiasm but Shane couldn't. There was something about this calm day, this pleasant conversation and this man who would give his soul for a plant's life that made him feel open; open to the possibilities of a good life. A life of happiness where at the end of every trial was hard worked for bliss.

“That's very astute.” Shane replied thoughtfully enforcing the idea with a suggestion. He wanted Aoren to remember that. To think about it later. “You seem like a deep thinker. We'll get along famously I think.”

As Aoren identified the form of magic he had been practising it rang a bell in Shane's own mind. He'd heard of that magic before but where had he heard it from. The old man, Avira, popped into his head. Yes he had once said he was a Reimancer. So this was reimancy. Transfiguring your essence into water. He wondered what else it could do. He had obviously seen but a small but of it's true power. He wondered if this man was a novice. There had been nothing shaky about his performance. In fact from the practices ease in which the man had performed it Shane was sure the man was quite familiar with the magic.

“I have heard of it.” He replied with an inquisitive gaze the suggested Tell me about it. “My former employer knew the magic but did not often practice it. Your demonstration was the first of it's kind I've ever seen. I tlooked like you took a piece of yourself and turned it into water. It was quite impressive. Could you tell me about it? Can you make anything else? Does it hurt?” Shane was perhaps a little too eager in his questioning...

Credit to Skerry

[Aoren]

“I am not surprised. Of the magic that people would know about, it is probably one of the more common ones.” In Aoren’s mind Reimancy was the magic that first popped into his head when he pictured a wizard. Perhaps not the name of the discipline itself so much as seeing an elder man fling fireballs at assailants or conjuring bolts of lightning. He could do those things himself if he had reason to but he typically avoided grander displays of his power in favor for more subtle uses. He gave a light chuckle at being complimented. Shrugging his shoulders he rubbed at the back of his head once again displaying a mild amount of discomfort in bringing his skills to light.

“It wasn’t all that much.” In truth it wasn’t. Not for a reimancer of Aoren’s capabilities. Had he the desire to do so he could have blanketed the entire courtyard in a storm of ice, jagged lightning bolts or gouts of flame. Fortunately for Shane, he had no such whims. There were only a few times in his life where Aoren had been compelled to perform such feats. He could count those instances on one hand. Bypassing Shane’s other inquiries he quirked his head at the young man studying him for a moment.

“Why the interest? Do you practice any magic yourself?” Reimancy, its nuances and its secrets were something that Aoren held closely to his heart. It would take a far more persuasive and gifted Hypnotist than Shane to pull those secrets away from Aoren with ease.

“I know many things regarding the art of Reimancy but I do not often share what I know with casual strangers. If your former employer knew the magic perhaps you should approach him? Would you not be more comfortable learning about it from a familiar face?”

It made sense to Aoren. He knew that when he had first encountered his mentor the old man had been a terrifying sight to behold. A sour curmudgeon that hadn’t taken to the idea of teaching magic to a youngster all that well. It had taken considerable convincing and eventually the saving of his life to warm him up to the idea. Aoren did not know the specifics of how or why Shane’s employer was a “former” but it suggested there might have been some tension there. He could understand that. All the same, this was not a subject he went in depth about on a whim.

“I am not trying to be rude, I am certain you are genuinely curious. That is the point though. Reimancy is not something for the curious. It is dangerous. It is volatile. The powers it grants can very easily rage out of control if the wizard wielding them is without discipline and focus. I have seen what can happen when a reimancer loses control. The destruction is devastating.” Aoren’s memory was drawn back to the demise of the very man who taught him everything he knew about the magic. It was a bitter memory sweetened only by the fact that he had sacrificed himself to save the Drykas man’s life. Aoren did not want to be responsible for potentially unleashing an irresponsible madman simply because he found the man likeable.

[Shane Wallsly]

Shane was quiet; thoughtful; as Aoren spoke. As he at first wondered why and then denied to tell Shane about the magic. He mentioned Avira and that made Shane feel sour. “No, he will not teach me.” He answered with a grim expression “He is a terrible old man. He cares for nothing but himself and his gold. I'm sure you've met the type. Those who think that wealth is the key to everything.”

“I am a practitioner of a few disciplines.” Shane shared with the man feeling that if he had any hope of learning anything than his best bet was not to be soo tight lipped. Knowledge for knowledge; it was a fair trade and one most would take. He could tell this man held a curious spirit akin to his own. “I am well aware of the dangers of magic, Aoren, for I have seen things with my own eyes that I can never take back.” Shane had never seen a man overgive before but his lessons in Hypnotism had mde him rather good at lying. “You've seen something too, haven't you? Destruction at it's high. Do you remember? Do you still feel fear? Fear is not the pillar of magic. Magic exists in every state to help us. To bring a fraction of the Gods divine power down to spread goodness just like when you gave up a piece of yourself simply to help a dying flower. Magic isn't dangerous, Aoren. Have no fear. It is just people that are dangerous and this is something we cannot change.” Shane felt he was perhaps overselling it but he hoped this made Aoren just believe that he was passionate. His body language was suggesting that passion. Deep, intense passion.

“But I understand why you hesitate. As I said before people are very dangerous and I would no sooner share my own magical power with them. We are alike in this.” Shane replied trying to stir that bond within him. He even urged an emotional response. A rise in comeradrie. A subtle little feeling of kinship. “You seem to me like an honourable man. I can share what I know with you. I trust you to use what I know wisely and go out and do good in the world. Do you trust me?”

Credit to Skerry

[Aoren]

Aoren had suspected as much. Those with a true fascination with magic were more often than not practitioners of magic themselves. He had yet to meet someone interested in the topic of magic puretly for scholarly reasons. That eased his mind only a small bit. At the same time it made him a little more wary of sharing his knowledge. The potential for madness to have already taken hold of Shane’s mind was that much greater. Nevertheless he felt that he could trust Shane on a familiar level. He couldn’t explain it but there was an ease with which he felt he could talk to the other mage.

“That does not mean I need to risk contributing to that danger.” Aoren contemplated Shane’s words for a few moments. As he sat the silence of the gardens enveloped him. It was a balm to the hesitation he felt. The uneasiness he felt was somewhat stymied by the focus he managed to garner in the calm of the garden. Aoren reached up rubbing his chin studying the young man in front of him. In truth he had no reason not to trust the young man seated in front of him. Then again he had no reason to trust him either. For a moment though it looked as if he were about to refuse Shane. As Aoren thought however he glanced down to the marking on his right hand.

“Very well, Shane. I will consider your offer on one condition,” He extended his right hand to Shane. The mark of the Goddess of Sight shimmered slightly in the light of the courtyard.

“Give me your hand and in so doing take a leap of faith.” If there was one way that Aoren could find the answers as to whether or not Shane was a many of character he could find trust in the Gift of Sight would be it. It was not often that he turned to the gifts of Avalis but for a decision such as this he felt that only by the hand of the goddess could he come to the right conclusion. He wanted to trust Shane but this was not a decision he made lightly.

“I will teach you what I know in exchange for something you know but first I must know who you are. I will not accept any other way. With that being said you must also trust me. Understand that the initiation process for reimancy is as equally dangerous as the use of the magic itself.” He was certain that Shane would have questions in regards to what Aoren would be doing so he took a moment to explain. He nodded to the Seer’s Lily on the back of his right hand.

“Avalis gifted me with the ability to see the past of all who walk this world. I would see yours and in so doing drawn my final conclusion. It will only take a few moments.”