The Celestial Forge
By: Schin Ka'Tharos
CHAPTER 22
(Part 1)
It is a fool's game to compare yourself to others. I know this. The only comparison worth making is to the individual you were previously and to who you possibly could be. Yet, I‘ve found it hard not to compare myself to grandfather. His legacy looms over me with judgment. The three months spent training in solitude in the tower while the siblings slept, brought with it natural reflections on the words of my Uncle. The new revelations, details and history echoed in my mind, haunting my thoughts.
One of the many things that stuck out to me was grandfather's incredible talent and advancement. In an age before the celestial rain, in a famine of essence, he still had achieved a staggering 4th Apprentice by his 18th winter. There I was, training in his tower, having consumed Rendings and celestial manna, elixirs, and items to aid, yet still struggling at the age of twenty-five summers to get close to 3rd Apprentice. I am ashamed to admit, I wasted many hours of mental effort contemplating my shortfall. A foolish game played by a foolish man.
~
For the rest of the day little passed between Ciara and I, which suited me fine as I was content to leave her to her thoughts. I moved to the opposite part of the room on the other side of the spiral staircase to give her space as she watched over her brother. I decided the time wasn’t right to alert her to the presence of the basement just yet so I passed the night within the Room of Reflections. Upon waking, without thought, I automatically began my morning routine. I was near the end of my kata forms when I noticed Ciara close by leaning with ease against the wall observing my movements.
“What is the martial art that you practice?” She said.
“It’s one passed down in my family.” I said. “It’s called Jun’Dok.”
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“It seems familiar,” she said. “And foreign all at once.”
“I suppose there is a significant influence of a few of the martial arts of Jaspen in there as well.” I said, offering a solution.
“Jaspen huh?” She said.
“I spent some time there and found some of their balance concepts and movements to fit me well. “ I said and added a small smile. “I like to learn where I can.”
“And this is how you train?” She asked.
“Yes,” I shrugged. "Also, it's the best I have at the moment.”
She moved off the wall and began to loosen up her limbs. She no longer wore her midnight blue jacket which made the Seekers Guild symbol on her chest plate stand out all the more. The chest plate still beamed with a polished luster and the room's multitude of lights reflected off the silver steel brilliantly. The decrepit state of her robes underneath reminded me of all that we had been through since first meeting.
“Alright, let's do this.” She said and began cracking her neck. “Time to spar. Don’t worry I’ll go easy on you. Besides, I believe I saw some healing elixirs over in your cabinet you can use if you can’t handle it.”
I stared at her, not knowing how to respond.
“It's a joke, Schin,” She said with a smile. `I wouldn't waste an elixir like that. I know how to pull a punch and be careful in training with someone significantly lower in rank.”
“Is being called significantly lower in rank really necessary?” I argued lightheartedly. “I’m nearly up to 3rd Apprentice, better watch yourself.”
A smile played in her eyes as she continued. "This'll be good, I really need to get back up to speed. That trial really did a number on me. This is how I train. Combat. Serious sparring. This is how Adeon and I do things. She glanced over to Adeon who still lay dead still on the ground. “And you're the best I have at the moment.”
“Thanks for that.” I said. “I am happy to spar. I have been wanting us to engage in combat sooner than later, we need to get an understanding of our capabilities and to get an understanding of how we work together. We need to go outside soon our-“
“Yeah, all things you can tell me about later. Along with that damn mask you have on again. Right now,” she said and her eyes lit aflame. “We fight.”
Next Chapter...
Chapter 22 (Part 2)