The Celestial Forge
By: Schin Ka'Tharos
CHAPTER 20
(Part 1)
The seed contains the tree and the tree also the seed.
~
Once I had carefully transported my selection of contents to the workshop I returned to the first floor to settle into a session of contemplation and forging.
Grandfather had always urged me to see time spent in dedicated soul-forging as an opportunity to spend in deep contemplation.
"Like up and down are dependent upon one another to make sense and combine into something meaningful, so too, meditation and contemplation go hand in hand. Meditation and emptying oneself of any thoughts is needed but do not neglect deep contemplation. I have found the movement of the essence within the soul can allow for a depth in contemplation unique and wondrous."
I first directed my focus towards my soul-forging. As merely an Apprentice my forging was limited to a single task and I had been passively forging the Heart of Five Foundations the entire time I had been working and inspecting the basement. When I turned my focus inward I was surprised with how efficient the two Red Lunar Drop vials had been in diminishing the cinder that I had built up within my soulcore. The red liquid twisted and churned around the cinder like perpetually melting wax. I could even sense faint amounts of the Drop in my 1st flowline moving along the open path of my circulatory and lung system cleaning any trace elements of cinder that had escaped my soulcore.
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This did wonders for my mood. I couldn't believe the rate at which I would be rid of cinder with the aid of the Red Lunar Drop. The amount of cinder I had consumed would have taken me months if not an entire year to burn off through normal forging means, but now I would be rid of it within a day. I shifted my plan and processed how this might change my training. How far could the five remaining vials take me? How many rendings could I consume and purify with this miracle drop? I contemplated moving the three remaining Red Lunar Drop vials I had left in the cabinet to the basement but decided to stick with my original plan despite knowing just how potent the drop was.
After readjusting and refining my soul-forging technique I turned my contemplation to my mission and strategy. I had assessed all of my assets except the garden but deemed going outside too dangerous at the time to pursue. I refused to make the same mistake as I had before and knew I was not prepared to deal with any potential threats that may be lurking outside of the tower. With mission clarified and assets assessed to my fullest current capability I set about formulating a plan.
I had at least an estimated ten days to maximize growth, training and leverage before the siblings awoke. Beyond that I could make a rough strategy but any plan would need to be dynamic depending on how things played out with Ciara and Adeon. I hoped to Onak that I would have more than ten days but prepared for the worst case. With only ten days I needed to prioritize cleansing the cinder, assimilating as much essence as I could, getting some use out of the basement and rigging any potential confrontation with the sleeping siblings in my favor.
The always present dull glow of the faux stars numbed me to the passage of time as I contrived my course of action. A bone-deep weariness seeped into me and overtook my focus. I forced myself down to the basement where I had moved my bedding. I had made a makeshift room in front of the ornamental gate at the end of the opposite hallway from the workshop. There was something about the massive carved stone that reminded me of my grandfather and uncle. I had found myself drawn to its presence and had decided it made a good spot for my lodging.
Content with my day's work and the path I had prepared for myself, I allowed myself to rest.
Next Chapter...
Chapter 20 (Part 2)