mentor 5

[22:08] Lemuria Augustus says, "Alright, Phobos. I am ready."
[22:15] Lemuria dragged Phobos way, way back into the Vale, to a small, secluded bunch of ruins hidden deep within. A single step in here would be enough to mark a stark difference between this are and the ones prior, as it was immediately evident that they were not alone. While only Lemuria could see the spirits within, Phobos would be able to feel them.

"You could consider this a final exam of sorts. Spirits of all kinds exist within ruins like this- dark, nature, elemental- whatever you desire and are willing to interface with."

Her eyes shone blue, as they usually did whenever she opted to gaze beyond the material world.

"These spirits are different, however; they have a story to tell. A story they wish to express. To connect with them is to discern portions of the story amongst all the white noise that comes with a place so densely populated with spirits. It lacks the danger that dark spirits grant, but it requires your perception to be on point."
(Lemuria Augustus)
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[22:23] He was always eager for spiritual sessions with Lemuria, they were very informative and helped him advance in more ways than just one. So far he's made progress on a spiritual level, and a personal one. Truly a great way to pass time. Upon entering these ruins he could feel the spirits sliding by. It was like he entered a pool of some sorts.

Quite the place, Lemuria quite the place. He slowly removes his mask placing it to the side as he stands before Lemuria. His casual grin plastered on his visage as he maintains eye contact. She was giving the usual instruction and so it was best to stay quiet and listen.

There was a story to listen to, and that alone was more than enough motivation. "A story you say? But who's telling? I suppose I'll just have to choose the right ones huh?" It was mildly difficult, would there be dark spirits telling the stories here? Or would it be spirits of all kind? It was mysterious, but that's what made the challenge that much more worth taking.

He inhales through the nostrils, slowly exhaling as he takes a seat on the stone floor. "Ahmm."

His eyes close, as he begins to empty his mind. It doesn't take long, his usual smile morphed into a more plain expression as his influence on his facial expressions just slipped away. He was inviting any and all spirits to his space. No matter their nature.
(Phobos)
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[22:31] As she tended to do in these situations, Lemuria rose her hand up, and with it, various wisps could be seen forming around her arm. Or rather, they'd be visible as soon as Phobos connected with the spirits here even the slightest bit.

"The spirits here seem chaotic. They seem like they're flooding you with messages that don't make sense and are hard to organize. And yet..."

The spirits surrounding her arm organized themselves based off of color. Even the dark ones, as erratic and unpredictable as they were, did the same.

"...an order is born from that chaos. After all, chaos is merely unrecognized order. Once you hone your spiritual perception enough, you'll be able to recognize it with ease. Perhaps then your training will be complete."

The story these spirits told was up to Phobos to discern. Each person was told a different story, even though some were similar, so there was little Lemuria could reveal to him tomake it easier. All she could do was tell him the more spiritual and philosophical aspects of such an exercise.
(Lemuria Augustus)
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[22:43] It was in his instinct to focus hard, especially when trying to discern things. However for the first time in a while he would go against his own instinct in favor of Lemuria's teachings. This was something much more natural and so he relaxed. His eyes opened, though he was still in a very meditative state. Her words were heard, but they weren't his focus-- he still listened of course.

He watches as the many multicolored wisps form around her arm. All different colors, ranging from dark eerie kinds to bright and vibrant colors. These colors are what Phobos used to categorize these spirits. In his mind this was pretty acceptable.

Mimicking the Augustus he too would raise his arm, maybe spirits would come, maybe they wouldn't.

Eyes shift about, as he watches the many colored wisps fly by. There was a sudden chill that ran down his spine, as he could hear those low whispers. There was a link, a connection of some sorts. The voices were loud, yet the volume was low. He could feel the tone still, booming! And they were talking fast.

It was like a chamber of echoes. Voices bouncing off one another. Perhaps this is where he would have to decide what to listen to, and what to tune out. "T- These spirits." He calls out in the monotonous voice. "They speak of a being, one of great power that lacks freedom."

That's what he was getting from them, after a long game of who's who. "To release this being it's said that one must cause great turmoil to others, and with the terrible emotions that they exert this said being gains strength. And with time it will be free again."

His head began to ring, as the longer he attuned with these chaotic spirits, the more damage his psych took. It was probably due to him being a novice. He hoped that he had did correctly, Phobos is no stranger to failure. Unfortunately.
(Phobos)
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[22:50] Lemuria clapped her hands a few times to signify her pride. The spirits surrounding her hands dispersed, but once she returned to stillness, so too did the spirits.

"Remember not to overdo it, Phobos. This is an exercise of calm- of harmonization. Pushing yourself has a high chance of doing more harm than good, especially in a place with as many spirits as this one. At some point, this all must come effortlessly, so just keep that in mind if you push yourself to the point where it starts to hurt."
(Lemuria Augustus)
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[22:59] No pain no gain. It may not seem like it, but Phobos has been under pressure, overworked, and in many bad situations. There were times in his life where he had to tough things out. Deimos' occult training was no easy task for him. Although his head was ringing, and he felt like it was time to quit, he wouldn't falter just yet.

He relaxes himself, as slow breaths leave his frame. His body would calm, and it seemed like he had a bit more time to listen to these chaotic spirits. "The name, it's hard to discern. I think this being may just be of another origin." He winces, before finally finding some sort of end to this mad tale.

"The enemy are those who claim to be just-- the light. Or rather, the false light."

Just as he let out those last few words, the whispers he was listening to suddenly stopped. There were still many spirits about, but he'd heard the last of those. Phobos sat in silence for a long while, the wisps hewere looking at seemed to increase in size, but there was no sort of shape.

Maybe, just maybe he'd strengthened his bond with these spectral beings. Or it could all be a ruse. "They're gone." He said. "All gone."
(Phobos)
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[23:03] Lemuria smiled, and once more, clapped her hands. She was genuinely, seriously excited at all of his progress.

"You're getting there. You're just about there, even! You just need that one final oomph- that one final push- then you will be able to see things just like we do."

She didn't know how she could tell that he was almost there, but in the world of the spiritual, there was little in the way of clear answers for just about anything.
(Lemuria Augustus)
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[23:13] He was too close, too close to lose it all. She taught him so much, he's been trying so hard. He needs these abilities not for power, but for purpose. There was so much he needed to accomplish and no good man, no man who shares his brother's blood would ever stop here.

Harmony.

He was to harmonize with these spirits, not push them away and not pull them in. He attempts to broadcast some sort of spiritual signal, welcoming any all spirits to his mind. He too would dance with the wisps, he hoped that their figures would be come more visible if he was more open to them.

The whispers were back again, though they were much more legible. "Something I hear something." He calls out. The end of the tale was given and it was much more clear. He speaks now, ending that story. "And then when said being is free, those who freed him would be given all they desire."

This was perhaps the clearest he's ever heard these beings, and maybe he could see some form of a shape that wasn't a wisp! Who knows. What was certain was that this was the strongest connection yet.
(Phobos)
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[23:18] Lemuria, meanwhile, was allowing herself to listen to her own story, and engaged in a dance of her own. The wisps surrounded her body in a symphony of various colors and sizes, and Phobos would perhaps start to see them, as well as his own, take a much more physical-looking form. Not the appearance of a person. Nay, spirits came in all sorts of shapes and sizes!

Animals, human, perhaps even as simple as... well, shapes. Triangles, squares, you name it. Being able to see spirits opened up a whole new world for someone, and as Phobos continued his dance, he'd slowly yet surely begin to see his first gazes into that world.
(Lemuria Augustus)
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[23:26] His first glimpse into a new world. It was hard not to get excited. He would stay calm, as hazy spirits of all kinds seemed to just pass by. They were in many different shapes and sizes. Phobos found himself very intrigued with this world. There was so much more to it, and these spirits were always open for conversation.

Unlike the many people in Moonfall he's tired to converse with. It was like and ideal world, a dream world even. There were no words, he would just bathe in the experience. Those whispers became full on voices, as the spirits pass through. Fading in and out.

Very difficult.

"This- This is unlike anything I've ever experienced." He calls out. "I can't describe the way I feel right now."
(Phobos)
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[23:31] In response, Lemuria merely rose her finger to her mouth, instructing him to silence himself.

"Then don't."

Lemuria placed her hand over her chest.

"Just feel it. Just experience it. Trying to explain the unexplainable will only limit your understanding of it. One important thing to remember for everything like this is..."

"Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent."
(Lemuria Augustus)
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[23:37] Oh... Okay.

No more talking. Only feeling, attuning, harmonizing. All of those things, everything he ever learned was now to be put into practice as he sways with the spirits. There was no telling what a real witch could do, being able to see these beings with minimal effort. And this was only the first gate he'd have to cross.

There was so- so much more to go over. But right now, none of that mattered. This was an experience that would only be this way once. As it was his first experience. He would enjoy this time as long as possible, his mind free as spirits come and go. Connections were made as many different beings pass by.

Some with wings.

Some with arms and legs.

All spiritual, and all had something to say. Whether it was a dark eerie tale, or helpful advice for the future. The spiritual world seemed boundless and growing by the day. A place where Phobos could see himself getting lost in forever. A beautiful place!
(Phobos)
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[23:48] Many great philosophers have said that the best way to experience something is to drop everything else and merely be that thing, and nowhere was that more true than in the realm of the spiritual. Reality became apparent when one ceased to compare, and even though polarized concepts such as good and bad still existed within the spirit realm, the only way to gaze into it was to cast aside that polarization and view things as they are. Phobos seemed to be succeeding at it at flying colors.

And so, with that, Lemuria merely continued meditating, harmonizing, and leading by example, while waiting for Phobos to finish.
(Lemuria Augustus)
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[23:49] {Item} You drop Priestly Robes - Black.
[23:49] {Item} You picked up Priestly Robes - Black. Dropped by Lemuria Augustus. .
[23:57] Without thoughts of any kind. Without desire.

Focus on one thing and you eventually feel what it feels, experience what it experiences. Her teachings were well remembered, as he gazed at the many spirits. Taking notice to one in particular. The spirit dances in an attempt to lose his view as Phobos slowly but surely makes contact with this one.

There was nothing he wanted from it, there was no reason. He was just practicing what he knew. There was no fear present once the connection was made. And for a while everything just went blank. It was almost like Lemuria vanished, as did the spirits. The bond that he made with this specifically selected spirit was strong.

And then...

It happened! A sudden rush as he was about to truly understand what it meant to experience another's experience. It happened so fast that vision did. And what he say was truly shocking- so much so that it sent him flying backwards. It was true surprise! He hadn't been caught off guard like this.

His entire body was sent back as he yelled "ACK!" His head on the stone and his back against the floor. Phobos was knocked from focus. It was almost certain, something like this wouldn't just go perfectly there would have to be some sort of error.

...though there wasn't anger from the lad. No there was laughter, a genuine real laugh. He was proud, this was a boisterous laugher one of pride. Even though he failed here he'd gotten so far. What a day this was.
(Phobos)
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[23:57] Lemuria Augustus says, "...well."
[23:57] Lemuria Augustus says, "You did nicely today."
[23:57] Lemuria Augustus says, "I am proud of you."
[23:58] Phobos says, "--I can't thank you enough Lemuria."
[23:59] Phobos says, "You're one of the only people who pay me any mind, it helps more than you think. If there's any way I can repay you let me know."
[23:59] Lemuria Augustus says, "Repay me by making use of it."
[23:59] Lemuria Augustus says, "I want to see you succeed."
[23:59] Lemuria Augustus says, "So grant me that wish, if nothing else."
[23:59] Phobos says, "I'll do my absolute best, I promise-- though I do have a question if you don't mind me asking."
[00:00] Lemuria Augustus asks, "Hm?"
[00:01] Phobos asks, "Why? Why do you wish to see me succeed?"
[00:02] Lemuria Augustus says, "I don't know."
[00:02] Lemuria Augustus says, "Maybe I just care about you."
[00:03] Phobos says, "Strange. I didn't think I'd meet anyone other than my brother who would say something like that."
[00:03] Phobos exclaims, "It makes me feel different, thank you!"
[00:04] Lemuria Augustus says, "And thank you for being an excellent student."
[00:04] Lemuria Augustus says, "But now, I must sleep."
[00:04] Lemuria Augustus says, "Good night!"
[00:04] Phobos exclaims, "Oh..! Sleep well!"