Quapselpo led the way to what seemed to me a training room. Not the largest training room I have seen in any blacksmithy but then again I doubt if he has plenty of customers so this should suffice. There were wooden dolls, swords, daggers, spears gauntlets and other weapons scattered all over.
“ Could you not arrange this place ” I asked stepping on an old rusty sword.
“ I cannot. I fired the cleaner 2 years ago ”
“ And you have not deemed it necessary to employ another in 2 years?. Allow me to provide you with one, at my expense ”
“ Your father said same when he stepped in here the first time… and the others. But it doesn’t look that bad to me, infact it shows the joys of… I like it so ” He said while looking around. Clearly admiring whatever beauty he sees in the chaos. “ And do not bothered by my affairs they are not of your concern ”
‘ Obviously ’
“ What others? ” I had to ask though I probably would to receive no reply. Getting to know those frequenting this place could me help establish it’s importance.
…
“ You want to know why I can forge a weapon for you without you having a magical signature yet ” asked Quapselpo once at the center of the of the training ground.
At the very, very important question, I turned, staring at him who just stared back.
“ Yes ”
“ Its simple. Contrary to what most think, magic signature can be gotten even before awakening. What do you know of where magic comes from?”
“ I do not? ”
“ Let me rephrase that. Where does magic come from? ”
“ From the union of body, soul and spirit?. With any of those lacking , the body cannot hold to magic?”
“ And where do you suppose magic is stored? ”
“ Nowhere in particular? ” I shrugged. “ There is no concrete evidence of magic being stored in the body. By earlier theory, possibly all aspects of body, soul and spirit must be together somehow forming an abstract that holds onto magic. Its just more convenient to assume it’s in the body because the body can easily be visualized as a vessel, the others not. ”
“ Does magic in body and one that manifests itself out of the body change? ”
“ If it is for a single body then no ”
“ Why then do you assume that most people are only able to record or feel magic signature once it manifests outside? ”
“Uh… Because it’s like that?” I had asked myself that question, I also asked Sir Moloen but he said he didn’t know either. “ Wait most?, I have never heard of people being able to record a magic signature of non awakened. ”
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“ Yes. They lack talent. To be able to record the magical signature of non awakened as you call them is to be able to somehow feel that greater abstract you talked about.”
“ What? ” Now things were getting of my understanding. How can you feel that aspect?. Most are not even able to feel their soul unless talented, or crazy depending on who you ask. Even then it’s a feeling, not a substantial connection. Now how someone could feel the soul and thus spirit to the extent of feeling that abstract is beyond me. But that brings another question.
“ So… can you feel magic. Not feel in the sense that all magicians but in the sense of that abstract? ”
“ Yes. Like I said it’s a talent, I cannot explain it. I just do it. I can feel that aspect an the magic it contains in other words, your magic, but I cannot feel magic as in the universal magic… thing? ” he said shaking his head.
“ So… How do you perform it? ”
“ You will need to meditate while I do the job. Just let it me in on your soul ”
“ Isn’t that just forceful awakening? ”
“ No ”
“ Is there any advantage to what we will be doing?. ”
“ Yes. You weapon has higher chances of awakening a spirit. Surely you have heard of spirit weapons.”
“Yes. Basically a weapon that has access to it’s own magic given that it completes the requirements of having a body though metal or whatever you use to make the weapon, soul and spirit ” Spirit weapons are a huge boost. Now I want to to this even more. Quite sure Father anticipated this.
“How is that possible?”
Quapselpo shrugged.
“ How can I be sure you are not doing something strange? ” I know the spirit tries to fight any soul invasion or intrusion but I will not take chances on someone who has said talent. I could already imagine scenarios of him doing something without my notice. I would not taking my chances of me being a noble to be enough to scare him. Experience told me the being the noble is sometimes the killer.
“ That ring on your finger. Your father gave it yo you yes? Do you think it’s for show?, your noble father will let anyone be able to touch on the soul of possible heir of the Gawaine family? ”
I raised the hand in question and stared at the engravings. Each family member is given one the age of 4. And I do not know of all it’s functions. Father never listed them all, just storage, defense and to manage some things under the family name. He did say the ring has an artificial soul. Once I am able to communicate with it, I will have access to all it’s capabilities. That I should treat it as exercise. That still does not explain how he knows that.
“ Ha. As if nobles will let people like me touch their family members without safety ”
As if reading me thoughts he answered.
“ Fair enough, but I do not know if the ring has said capabilities ” At that, he left to where ever the door he took leads to while I continued looking around and settled for a space where I sat crossed legged but then stood up. ‘ There’s a meditation room for that ’
“Here. Read what the document says ”
Quapselpo was back with a document which he handed over. The document was quite strict, a spirit contract. Basically he could do no harm to me. Father’s spirit was watching him.
“ Why did you bring me here?. This is no place to meditate ”
“ This was the meditation room ” He said as if insisting on something.
“ What of the other room? ”
“ The meditation room ”
“ Where will we be meditating? ” I had no plans of meditating here with all rust assaulting me.
“ Of course in the meditation room. Where did you think? ” he said while walking the to the door that let us here.
‘ Okay… ’
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I sat at the meditation room crossed legged and tried to feel something, anything. There was no accurate way to meditate. Every person has their own methods of meditating. Soma for one meditated while sleeping. How exactly she did that eluded me. I wish I could do that. Though now that I think of it, can she actively meditate?.
“ You are thinking. Do not think, meditate ” said Quapselpo, a hand on my shoulder and eyes closed probably trying to feel my soul, doing his magic.
I tried again and finally I blanked.
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“ It’s done ” Quapselpo woke me with a shake and I came back from wherever I was.
“ When done with your weapon. I will inform your father. ” I stretched will listening to Quapselpo. I wondered how the body and soul are such opposites. Sitting idly is good for the soul but not the body.
“ That was it? ” I asked.
“Yes”
“ What was the box for? ”
“ Tests ” He said and walked away.
With that said, I left for the carriage.