The Celestial Forge

By: Schin Ka’Tharos

CHAPTER 13

(Part 1)

How are heaven and earth able to endure?

~

To move beyond a mere human who is unnatuned to the dual essences, one must take the path of a Forger. The first step along this path of advancement is to become what is widely referred to as an Apprentice Forger. There are five levels to an Apprentice and each opens a new essence flowline and creates a new layer within one's soulcore. In order to reach the next advancement level beyond Apprentice, a Disciple Forger, one must open all five of the essence flowlines.

To become a 1st Apprentice the typical path is to first gather enough essence through natural assimilation or through consuming celestial rain. It is most common to focus on accumulating just one of the two types of essence as Celestial and Arcane do not coexist well. Once a sufficient amount of essence has been accumulated within the body the aspiring Forger will soulforge throughout the body and coax the first flowline open. Once opened the Forger can then Forge through the first flowline and will then refocus the gathered essence into where the soulcore resides just between the lungs behind the lower sternum. By splitting one’s will into hammer and anvil the budding Forger truly forges for the first time, creating an outer shell to their newly crafted soulcore. The soulcore acts in one part as a sort of heart for the essence that a Forger gains authority over.

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Essence Authority. Now there is a topic that echoes in the halls of all of the great sects and schools. I have had my fair share of arguments over its deep mysteries myself. I’ve even come to blows over it with one of The Seven of the Severed Skies. Surely I will impart my thoughts to you on this topic within these pages, but that is for a later point in this tale.

My unique circumstances led me to a novel path to establishing myself as a 1st Apprentice once more. With my soulcore formed I shifted to nudging my first flowline open. Reforming my soulcore was a harrowing and difficult task, but in contrast my first flowline burst open and essence flooded through it with ease. The movement and flow of the essence was healthier than anything I had experienced prior.

With its opening came the beautiful relief of vitality and truly good breath. The first flowline opens the lungs and circulatory system to essence integration. At the 1st Apprentice level this allows for heightened vitality and access to enhanced breathing techniques, oxygen efficiency and storage and overall connection to the body. It is the first of five flowlines and in some ways it is the most important of the five as the remaining four flowlines depend on the first.

What a difference an opened first flowline made over a mere normal body. I felt more real. More alive. Now that I could breathe well again I realized how taxing it had been not to be able to get sufficient air and breathes in my lungs. It was another reason I had been so miserable once I had awoken after crashing into that makeshift cave.

I sat and reveled in my breathing. I spent a significant amount of time merely breathing and pushing my essence through the first flowline. Eventually I refocused on my task and stirred to full present awareness. My eyes took in the fire and then refocused on the last Rending which lay before me emitting a dull mustard hue. The smell of the fire's ash hit my nostrils and its crackling bounced into my senses. Other noises filtered in and I felt the hair on my neck stand up.

Something was wrong.

NEXT CHAPTER....

Chapter 13: How Are Heaven And Earth Able To Endure (Part 2)