Revelations of earth and fire and sun

01:52] Shezmu La'Heba says, "Hey there."
[01:54] Sa Awaret exclaims, "Shezmu!"
[01:54] Shezmu La'Heba says, "Ullih, dear."
[01:54] Shezmu La'Heba asks, "Are you feeling well?"
[01:54] Sa Awaret exclaims, "Uh-huh!"
[01:54] Sa leaaans in!
(Sa Awaret)
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[01:55] Sa Awaret asks, "Want to come meditate with me?"
[01:56] Shezmu La'Heba exclaims, "Mmmm, sure!"
[01:56] Shezmu La'Heba says, "But shouldn't we uh.."
[01:56] Shezmu La'Heba asks, "Go over that book?"
[01:56] Dervla Diabolyn exclaims, "Oh! Hello, Sa!"
[01:56] Dervla Diabolyn says, "Lady Sa, rather! Sorry."
[02:01]
{LOAD GAME}

[02:02] Sa Awaret says, "I.. guess.. I've been trying to read the book without you, Shezmu.."
[02:04] Sa Awaret asks, "Do you want to read with me?"
[02:09] Shezmu La'Heba says, "Mhm."
[02:17] The Sultanah of Deseti sat next to the Comamnder, atop fort Azahara. It was early morning, and the dawn's rays stretched across the sky. Pale pink and.. hopeful.

The light seemed drawn to Sa, somehow.

Sa Awaret drew back her cloak and produced the copy of Eagleheart's book which she had painstakenly created. There were notes, annotations in the side, written in Sarradian.

She'd taken to keeping the book with her at all times.

"For those of the light: Arcane Magic and the Land of Agartha."

She snuggled closer to Shezmu, flicking through pages. Her handwriting was neat, each word recreated with care and precision from the copy their teacher had loaned them.

Even whole diagrams had been transposed.

Notes scribbled in the margins.

The Arcane is a guiding light, it is serenity and peace
In it I find purpose, the compassion that drives us forward
I act as a vessel for its will; with clarity and precision
I do not let anger blind me, I do not let greed tempt me
Order binds our world: We are all connected.
In death, we are born again.
(Sa Awaret)
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[02:28] Yoltzin asks, "Hmm is William not around?"
[02:29] Yoltzin exclaims, "Hmm it's fine. If he comes by can you tell him I'm looking for him? Thanks!"
[02:30] His eyes slightly widened as Sa revealed her own copy of the book.. the moment was soon followed up by a light chuckle.

"Seems I am not the only that keep a copy on my person, mm.

Though, I suppose for this 'study' session, we'll use your book. "

Shezmu leaned to this result due to the simple fact that he was not GREAT at taking notes. His book was as blank as it was when he first retrieved it.. the Commander truly was a person who worked with the mind or even a hands-on type of person!

As for the copy within his view, his eyes skimmed over the several diagrams and notes written in the margins, slowly nodding in agreement at what was jotted down.

A great sight to see! She truly was dedicated!

The La'Heba was as well but in his own ways!

Words would escape his mouth as the pages were flipped.. It mostly consisted on what seemed to be the most important thingsthrough his perspective.

" The Arcane is our guide against what’s an otherwise fragile state of mind. It is benevolence, it is kindness, and it is selflessness. We should not be possessive of another. We should be compassionate to all, and instead show concern where necessary..

Slooowly, he shifted himself over on the bench to grow closer to Sa just before asking her of her opinion.

"Sa.. Do you think we fit the criteria to wield such power? To wield the gift of the Lifestream?"

(Shezmu La'Heba)
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[02:36] Sa was, of course, tempted to flick straight to the back of the book. There was a section there titled advanced meditation techniques. A section she was, truthfully, itching to try for herself.

"Do we fit the criteria?" She repeated, tilting her head ever so slightly as she peered up at Shezmu.

The Sultanah reached up, cupping the Commander's cheek in her dainty hand.

"We can only try. It.. seems that the more that we understand of the Arcane, the easier it will be to embrace kindness, benevolence, and selflessness."

Sa's gaze shifted from Shezmu, to the sky above.

"I intend to let the Lifestream be my guide. I don't know what more we can do."
(Sa Awaret)
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[02:46] Shezmu couldn't help but smile as he was smothered by Sa's comforting words. Her hands cupping his cheek also played a part as well! His multi-colored eyes stared directly into the Sultana's..

" I see.. You are right. Thank you. I feel that.. Even with or without it, there will not be a change in what I will do.. I will continue to help everyone to the best of my ability while protecting the lifestream with my life. "

The La'Heba's eyes continued to drop back onto the book, searching for more important quotes or statements that could play a big part in connecting the missing key points that leads to completely understanding the process of attuning to the Arcane.

"Let's see.. Ahh- There's a Sarradian who assisted in writing this book.. Hmm.. speaking about the elements..

At first, I thought Order Magic was something completely different but.. If there's another Sarradian that was able to utilize his knowledge of the elements into it, then I think that will help us greatly!

He attempted to recall words from his memory, specifically from the last time he studied the book.

"There was a description on every element.. I remember Fire.. it went something like..

A flame knows no mercy, but to truly understand fire… you must become the fire. Be the warmth in the bitter cold. Where there is fire, there is smoke. Do not allow it to cloud who you are."




(Shezmu La'Heba)
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[02:57] Shezmu La'Heba was studying the book. Sa Awaret had stopped staring up at the sky. Sa Awaret was studying him.

Gentle fingers reached out, resting ontop of Shezmu's hand as he read. She was listening!

There was a Sarradian who assisted in writing this book, Shezmu said. Her hand patted his. "Nerzan," she chirruped, her tone helpful.

Fire.

Sa blinked, thinking. Bit her bottom lip.

"Nerzan spoke about.. balance. Throughout this tome they speak about harmony between the elements. But.. I've never really studied outside my affinity, and.. well.. with my connection with the sun."

The smile returned.

"Ehe. I guess that's where you come in. Maybe you can help me find my connection with the elements!"

(Sa Awaret)
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[03:03] As her hands fell on top of his own, he gently secured it with a light squeeze. She was right.. The Sarradian he was referring to was Nerzan.. and from what he has read so far in the book, Balance was the key to what helped him attune to order..

And Balance could also play apart in assisting the two who were studying.

"That's right.. Balance! And of course I could help! But I think there is a sections on methods of meditation.. One spoke about connecting to the Sun..

I remember because as I was reading it.. I thought of you. "

A deeper smile grew across the La'Heba's face just as he cleared his throat.

"But! Yeah, there is methods that both of us should be comfortable with.. Let's go read that!"
(Shezmu La'Heba)
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[03:08] Sa, despite herself, made a light groaning sound beneath her breath.

"More reading? I want to do it.." She protested lightly, squeezing Shezmu's hand. "Come on, Shezmu. Our children are asleep. Deseti is quiet. Lets.. just sneak away, just the two of us, just for a moment."

Her eyes glittered as she grinned at Deseti's commander.

"Last time Eagleheart and I climbed the mountain to our north, but.. I was thinking maybe we should go further."
(Sa Awaret)
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[03:12] A sigh left the Commander.

"It is quiet.. and we deserve a break.. but..

Are you sure its okay? "

There were many demon attacks as of recent and a worried expression filled the La'Heba's face.
(Shezmu La'Heba)
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[03:20] Sa tilted her head as she once more squeezed Shezmu's hand.

"If we only ever study the theory behind the Arcane, we will only ever have a theoretical understanding of it."

Her tone was gentle, voice quiet as she looked directly at Deseti's ever cautious commander.

Warmth spread at her fingertips. Cheerful flames licking over her flesh as she smiled at Shezmu.

"Come, Shezmu. I've only ever heard of this volcano. I want to see it myself. Perhaps I can feel a connection with Agartha there, that is what I am thinking.."
(Sa Awaret)
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[03:20] Sa Awaret says, "...besides, you're with me! Nothing can stop us when we're together.."
[03:20] Shezmu La'Heba says, "You're right."
[03:20] Shezmu La'Heba says, "Lead the way."
[03:32] The two Sarradians travelled with greater speed than could have been expeced. Why, it was like the wind was at their beck and call.

Each light and dainty step Sa Awaret took ended up being a truly great stride. Winds lifted her, propelling her forward.

Until.. the two arrived at their destination.

The volcano.

One great caldera of heated, molten rock.

Sa exhaled. Her amber eyes gleamed.

The air up here was not good.

The volcanic gasses were poisonous. Already, she felt slightly light headed.. and that was with the protection afforded by her command over wind magic.

"Eagleheart said that the first thing one has to do is close your eyes.. and focus on the connections you can feel."

Sa exhaled. Her hand was still within Shezmu's own. She squeezed his hand.

"I can.. feel the heat. The molten lava." She said slowly. "I can feel it stretching down into Agartha."

Sa opened an eye, peeking at Shezmu.

"What can you feel?"
(Sa Awaret)
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[03:42] The moment that Sa asked what he felt, he closed his eyes, attempting to get a feel for the natural element of fire that surrounded them.

A deeper feeling.

After all, the trial of the Desert Fury called for attunement of each element.. What he felt may be entirely different from what Sa feels.

"I feel..."

The sound of the bubbling lava below was heard just before a rapid increase of heat struck him.

"The flames.. The heat is aggressive... More so than normal.. It tells me that this volcano has seen better days..

Visitors..

Ones not of my liking.."

His eyes slowly opened..

"Must been Vampires or Demons.. Other than that.. The fire stays calm.. Remains a burning will similar to the other elements."
(Shezmu La'Heba)
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[03:55] Sa listened, enrapt.

She never stopped being impressed by Shezmu. He was patient and calm. A master, not only of the elements, but also of himself.

The heat rolled over her. Unfamiliar and alien, due to the combination of elements.

Magma was fire and earth.

She raised her free hand to her face, shading her eyes as she stared out at the glowing, molten rock.

"Aggressive.." She murmurred. So that was how aggression felt. Sa filed that knowledge away for later.

"Vampires and demons," she repeated. "Here? Really?"

Her hand squeezed Shezmu's harder as she closed her eyes. Focusing her attention.

Previously, at the mountain north of Deseti, she had found it easy emough to focus on the bubbling creeks and brooks that flowed down the slopes and watered Deseti. It had been easy enough to find the connections. To meditate and to see how order bound everything in place, interlinking and interconnecting all things and all people.

That connection had almost felt like.. love.

Peaceful, hopeful, and offering a great chunk of empathy for her fellow man.

"...the.. Arcane is supposed to be like.. love." Sa said, repeating something she was paraphrasing from the book Eagleheart had given them.

Focus.

Sa could almost feel her minds' eye being drawn into the volcano. It was vast and ancient and its heat stretched across great distances under ground.

But where she had been able to, relatively easily, trace the flow of water down Huitzilopochli mountain to Deseti... and had vaguely sensed the links between people going about their business in Deseti, Sa Awaret struggled to replicate that here.

A fuzzy, uneasy feeling threatened to brew in her stomach as (eyes still closed) her attention was drawn to the east.
(Sa Awaret)
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[04:01] Maybe this was one of the cases where Shezmu was simply too comfortable with the elements.. He was simply focusing too hard and overlooking the other type of feelings that the Volcano was giving off.

But there wasn't much he could do.

"Hmm.. Though.. When it comes to ways of relating.. Then I may have a different perspective..

Probably the same perspective in which what you feel..?

Fire..

An element that represents passion..

So, if you wish to relate passion to love then.. I suppose you can put it in words like..

How bad do you wish to see it flourish..? "

As usual, Shezmu brainstormed to the best of his abilities. How he seen it was.. if an individual could channel the element of fire with a view that resembled passion and combined it with the love that Order had in store, then-

A beautiful creation would be in process.

"Sounds like it makes sense.. I'm not entirely sure myself, to be honest, dear."

Shezmu hesitantly smiled at the woman. It was obvious he didn't have too much faith in his own notion.
(Shezmu La'Heba)
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[04:14] Flames.

Warm and comforting, like a campfire on a cold winter's night, they shrouded the petite Sarradian.

Even if Shezmu hadn't grasped a mastery over the elements, the control Sa possesed over fire would mean that he wasn't in any danger of being burnt.

Sa was focusing on the volcano.

"I.. can almost feel the people who have lived here. Visited here. The passions that they have felt. Their joy, and what has driven them."

She paused, a small frown forming at her lips.

"Almost."

Threads connecting Sa Awaret and Shezmu to these past people were.. just out of reach. She could almost percieve them. It was like a curtain was held up, and she could see only indistinct shapes on the other side.

Sa exhaled.

The gasses in the volcano were making her light headed.

"Perhaps I am going about this the wrong way.." She murmured.

And attempted to sink deeper into the trance.

Interlinked.

She could feel Shezmu by her side.

His hand was in hers.

Two lives: interlinked.

Far, in the distance, she could sense their child.

Their blood. Interlinked.

In her mind, she imagined the golden threads linking them.

Interlinked.
(Sa Awaret)
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[04:24] " Don't give up. "

His free hand reached for her other hand, attempting to have both within his grasp. Following afterwards, the Commander leaned his forehead against hers, closing his eyes once more to enter the concentrated state needed to connect with the fiery nature surrounding him.

"I believe in you.. You are almost there.."

A light squeeze was given as he continue to cheer her on with the words of renewing courage.

"Their passions, their joys, their goals..

Their accomplishments. "

There was a small, glowing warmth that surrounded the La'Heba.

"I cannot connect to them as well as you.. but.. I truly believe in you..

Sa Awaret. "
(Shezmu La'Heba)
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[04:41] They had travelled most of the morning. The sun had been high in the sky when they had reached the volcano's caldera.

But suddenly, it was like the sun hadn't been out at all before.

Sunlight flooded their immediate vicinity, like a powerful spotlight had been shone on Shezmu La'Heba and Sa Awaret.

"Shezmu," Sa exhaled.

Sa Awaret was trembling.

Perspiration dotted her brow. Both from the radiant (and unfamiliar!) heat from the volcano and, honestly, the exertion of what she was trying to do.

Mana was churing through her, leaving her body as sunbeams given form, shaped into solid rose-gold coloured light.

Her eyes snapped open.

Amber and glowing and (briefly) unseeing. She stared past Shezmu. Her grip loosening.

Moments later, she wouldn't be so sure that what she had seen wasn't just a hallucination brought on through breathing in too much volcanic gases.

But now?

Now she was enrapt.

She would never be a master of earth, and yet with the combination of heat she could almost understand it. The vaguest comprehension of all the dark spaces within Agartha, the solid grounding foundation on which all depended, it was blossoming within her.

And at the same time, she could feel it. She could feel the sun calling to her. Solaris, calling her name. Entreating to bring the sun's light and purity and justice to all who walked upon the land -- or below it, as may be.

The petite Sarradian woman leant against Shezmu, fingers grasping at his cloak.
(Sa Awaret)
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[04:59] "...Sa..?"

After calling out to her, there was a brief moment of silence with curiosity to follow.

Did she finally connect with the past people who settled atop of the volcano? Did she clearly perceive them? There were many questions that ran through the La'Heba's mind as assumptions to her actions.

Despite what happened.. It was no doubt to be progress, a visible sign from the Lifestream that the two were indeed worthy..

"Please do not strain yourself too much, Sa.. Are you okay?"
(Shezmu La'Heba)
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[05:01]
{LOAD GAME}

[05:15] Sa blinked. Fluttered her eyelashes, really.

Her concentration broke as Shezmu spoke. It wasn't so much that he'd spoken, but the concern in his words that drew her out of her trance.

"Y-yeah," she exhaled. Still, she clung to him.

"Lets go home."

And so, home they went! Returned to Deseti without consequence.

Safe. She nestled in his arms, a faint glow at her rich brown skin.
(Sa Awaret)
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