Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2016 5:07:45 GMT
Another day in heaven. Well, it might be, if days didn’t run together in cyclical tedium known as eternity. After he saw another flit about in a solid body, Braiddan couldn’t help but feel envious of it. Yes, it appeared even in heaven, such an emotion existed. This was probably why he had yet to be selected for reincarnation. That and he made sure to float off to a secluded place that was sparsely visited, even by ogres.But he figured it was time to finally socialise with the other souls. Sure some of the newer ones might not have much to talk about. Some of the older souls of course may be a little bit more interesting. Braiddan found himself moving to one of the more populous areas of heaven. All the high pitched chit chatter flooded his mind quickly. Most of it was hard to decipher, what he could make of it, wasn’t anything that interested him. The little cloud about gave up on socializing with the others. That was until he saw a solid bodied being.
A wiry, elderly chap with a contented looking face. While certainly the type to take initiative and acquire a body. He didn’t seem to hold the same restlessness as Braiddan. A closer look at the being made the cloud stop in his tracks. The person that stood before him was the father figure throughout his living years. Monk of the temple of the Lemure, Bera Joh. Braiddan never knew why he failed to make the connection that the former monk would probably wind up here as well. The man dedicated his life to helping others, and even saw the good in two demons spawn.
“Glad to see you departed for a land more peaceful, Sensei. I am sorry that it took so long to get in touch with you. I’ve had to meditate for quite some time after my demise.”
Braiddan, in his shock, failed to notice the gathering of souls collected around Bera. The ancient fellow seemed to be weaving some great tale or proverb. Such rudeness would have gotten him scalded back in the day. The little spirit paused. As if frozen. He awaited the chastising, the chores, Scribing the thickest book in the library by hand. Bera Joh’s only response was a chuckle. Light hearted and mellow.
“My niece Yaga told me long aago that you were here. Two hundred years and you never even stopped by for tea. Not that tea is readily available here. Come, young one. I can tell you have many questions this old man may be able to answer.” Bera offered a nod to the other spirits before wandering off to a more secluded area. Braiddan followed closely.
“Yaga? The sorceress? “ He paused a moment. He remembered a violet haired young woman with steely grey eyes. The interactions with her were limited. All he did was deliver books and herbs to her once a week. Her gaze unsettled him. He remembered her stating once that she learned how to speak with the souls who passed. He thought it bluster, but Bera’s comment seemed to state other wise. Another thought occurred to him. One that made the little cloud feel as if he were made of lead. “So...If she told you about me. Then you must also know of Zarek”
“Yes. Yaga showed me the events that lead to both your ends. My, boy. I know you probably expect me to be disappointed in you. For using that forbidden technique. For ending the life of your brother. And for giving into the rage that plagued you. But I couldn’t be more proud. You followed the philosophy of my life’s work to your dying breath.The school of the open palm is one to lend assistance. But it is also a hand that is open to take on a burden. That is why you learned the technique. Sometimes, the burden you must take is a life. Zarek killed many that day and he would have taken many more lives if you hadn’t stopped him.
That is why I taught you the art and not him. You were a kind hearted lad with savage streak. That savage did not define who you were. Zarek might had seemed calm. But I can tell he was calculating some plot. Every step of it. I did teach him a dangerous art, yes. But I taught you the art that was designed to defeat it. But let us not worry about Zarek any longer. He was like a son to me. Yet, I cannot forever lament the path he chose as a man. Surely these are not the only questions you have.”
Braiddan shook his cloud self. Most likely a substitution for shaking his head. He decided to address the elephant in the room. Or the solid body in an eternal plane of disembodied spirits. After all, that was what he desired.
“How did you come across your physical shape? I’ve seen another with the same.”
A chuckle rolls from Bera Joh’s mouth.
“Once more. Yaga assisted me. The monks of my order are entombed in glass. For they believe one of us will return from the other world to aide during a time of peril. Needless to say, my body wasn’t too hard to find. You were buried the same way as well. After they found out what happened. I suppose I could try to call to her. I certainly hope I do not get her while she is sleeping or having tea. She gets awfully cranky. “
The cloud didn’t respond at first. Hearing all these developments come down. But one question burned in his mind amidst all this information.
“You said it’s been two hundred years. Yaga is still alive!?”
“Oh yes. Those who devote their lives to the study of magic usually seem to find ways to live far beyond human expectation. But the years show on her still, it seems a long life cares not for vanity.”
The elderly chap takes on one of those obnoxiously content faces. As if he had said something very deep and profound. Bera Joh seemed to enjoy the wise old man stereotype. Or course, in the afterlife there are not many goals to strive for. Eventually his face fell as he looked to the cloud. Though he still held a sad smile.
“Though may I request some time with you afterward? I know you may wish to spend time training and figuring out a way to return to the land of the living. But like you I believe I have seen enough of eternity. I am planning on being selected for reincarnation. So if you do return to the living realm, we may meet again. I feel there are possibly a few more lessons I was unable to teach you in my last days. ”
Of course, Braiddan would stop to ponder just how predictable he was. But, Bera always had a way of reading him. Of course there came the pang of guilt. He knew the old man passed on, and assumed he went up to heaven. But he decided to brood and meditate for two centuries. He could see how selfish that might be.
“Certainly master, we have plenty of time to make up for. We don’t have to rush on contacting Yaga either. It might take some mental preparation before talking to her again. There always seemed to be some odd pressure around around her. And she never seemed to blink while talking to me. It always seemed like she was studying me. Anyway. I suppose when I get my body back I can train with you again. Maybe we could discover some new techniques a long the way. Let me tell you, I learned quite a bit when I began watching animals.”
A perplexed look finally cracked the serene mask of Bera Joh. Lips peek into a smile, until a guffaw erupts. Braiddan paused, he wondered if he said something foolish. A lot of what was was taught centered around nature themes. Surely he must have been going in the right direction.
“ Ah, like the masters of old. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of it myself. Yes, you should show me what you have learned. Also, you would probably need help returning to fighting shape. You may be weaker than you were before. Your body should be in good condition. But so long of only meditation leaves you out of balance. Your mind will be strong, but your body will be a stranger to you. You will not know its capabilities so you will subconsciously create limits. You will have to relearn a lot of things. But you were already a swift learner”
Braiddan never thought of how different his combat power be if his physical form returned. Of course, the ability to regain his body was still rather new information to him. It looked like training with his old master might be the best medicine to said diagnosis.
“Come along, lad. Waiting a moment to do something here could turn into a decade on earth. If you wish me to contact Yaga for you, time is of the essence. She would want to see you anyway. I think she developed a fascination with you outside of curiosity about your bloodline.“
Bera Joh wrung his hands as she loosed his breath. An aura rising as he prepared to send a message across worlds. ...To be continued
A wiry, elderly chap with a contented looking face. While certainly the type to take initiative and acquire a body. He didn’t seem to hold the same restlessness as Braiddan. A closer look at the being made the cloud stop in his tracks. The person that stood before him was the father figure throughout his living years. Monk of the temple of the Lemure, Bera Joh. Braiddan never knew why he failed to make the connection that the former monk would probably wind up here as well. The man dedicated his life to helping others, and even saw the good in two demons spawn.
“Glad to see you departed for a land more peaceful, Sensei. I am sorry that it took so long to get in touch with you. I’ve had to meditate for quite some time after my demise.”
Braiddan, in his shock, failed to notice the gathering of souls collected around Bera. The ancient fellow seemed to be weaving some great tale or proverb. Such rudeness would have gotten him scalded back in the day. The little spirit paused. As if frozen. He awaited the chastising, the chores, Scribing the thickest book in the library by hand. Bera Joh’s only response was a chuckle. Light hearted and mellow.
“My niece Yaga told me long aago that you were here. Two hundred years and you never even stopped by for tea. Not that tea is readily available here. Come, young one. I can tell you have many questions this old man may be able to answer.” Bera offered a nod to the other spirits before wandering off to a more secluded area. Braiddan followed closely.
“Yaga? The sorceress? “ He paused a moment. He remembered a violet haired young woman with steely grey eyes. The interactions with her were limited. All he did was deliver books and herbs to her once a week. Her gaze unsettled him. He remembered her stating once that she learned how to speak with the souls who passed. He thought it bluster, but Bera’s comment seemed to state other wise. Another thought occurred to him. One that made the little cloud feel as if he were made of lead. “So...If she told you about me. Then you must also know of Zarek”
“Yes. Yaga showed me the events that lead to both your ends. My, boy. I know you probably expect me to be disappointed in you. For using that forbidden technique. For ending the life of your brother. And for giving into the rage that plagued you. But I couldn’t be more proud. You followed the philosophy of my life’s work to your dying breath.The school of the open palm is one to lend assistance. But it is also a hand that is open to take on a burden. That is why you learned the technique. Sometimes, the burden you must take is a life. Zarek killed many that day and he would have taken many more lives if you hadn’t stopped him.
That is why I taught you the art and not him. You were a kind hearted lad with savage streak. That savage did not define who you were. Zarek might had seemed calm. But I can tell he was calculating some plot. Every step of it. I did teach him a dangerous art, yes. But I taught you the art that was designed to defeat it. But let us not worry about Zarek any longer. He was like a son to me. Yet, I cannot forever lament the path he chose as a man. Surely these are not the only questions you have.”
Braiddan shook his cloud self. Most likely a substitution for shaking his head. He decided to address the elephant in the room. Or the solid body in an eternal plane of disembodied spirits. After all, that was what he desired.
“How did you come across your physical shape? I’ve seen another with the same.”
A chuckle rolls from Bera Joh’s mouth.
“Once more. Yaga assisted me. The monks of my order are entombed in glass. For they believe one of us will return from the other world to aide during a time of peril. Needless to say, my body wasn’t too hard to find. You were buried the same way as well. After they found out what happened. I suppose I could try to call to her. I certainly hope I do not get her while she is sleeping or having tea. She gets awfully cranky. “
The cloud didn’t respond at first. Hearing all these developments come down. But one question burned in his mind amidst all this information.
“You said it’s been two hundred years. Yaga is still alive!?”
“Oh yes. Those who devote their lives to the study of magic usually seem to find ways to live far beyond human expectation. But the years show on her still, it seems a long life cares not for vanity.”
The elderly chap takes on one of those obnoxiously content faces. As if he had said something very deep and profound. Bera Joh seemed to enjoy the wise old man stereotype. Or course, in the afterlife there are not many goals to strive for. Eventually his face fell as he looked to the cloud. Though he still held a sad smile.
“Though may I request some time with you afterward? I know you may wish to spend time training and figuring out a way to return to the land of the living. But like you I believe I have seen enough of eternity. I am planning on being selected for reincarnation. So if you do return to the living realm, we may meet again. I feel there are possibly a few more lessons I was unable to teach you in my last days. ”
Of course, Braiddan would stop to ponder just how predictable he was. But, Bera always had a way of reading him. Of course there came the pang of guilt. He knew the old man passed on, and assumed he went up to heaven. But he decided to brood and meditate for two centuries. He could see how selfish that might be.
“Certainly master, we have plenty of time to make up for. We don’t have to rush on contacting Yaga either. It might take some mental preparation before talking to her again. There always seemed to be some odd pressure around around her. And she never seemed to blink while talking to me. It always seemed like she was studying me. Anyway. I suppose when I get my body back I can train with you again. Maybe we could discover some new techniques a long the way. Let me tell you, I learned quite a bit when I began watching animals.”
A perplexed look finally cracked the serene mask of Bera Joh. Lips peek into a smile, until a guffaw erupts. Braiddan paused, he wondered if he said something foolish. A lot of what was was taught centered around nature themes. Surely he must have been going in the right direction.
“ Ah, like the masters of old. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of it myself. Yes, you should show me what you have learned. Also, you would probably need help returning to fighting shape. You may be weaker than you were before. Your body should be in good condition. But so long of only meditation leaves you out of balance. Your mind will be strong, but your body will be a stranger to you. You will not know its capabilities so you will subconsciously create limits. You will have to relearn a lot of things. But you were already a swift learner”
Braiddan never thought of how different his combat power be if his physical form returned. Of course, the ability to regain his body was still rather new information to him. It looked like training with his old master might be the best medicine to said diagnosis.
“Come along, lad. Waiting a moment to do something here could turn into a decade on earth. If you wish me to contact Yaga for you, time is of the essence. She would want to see you anyway. I think she developed a fascination with you outside of curiosity about your bloodline.“
Bera Joh wrung his hands as she loosed his breath. An aura rising as he prepared to send a message across worlds. ...To be continued