"You want to teach me meditation a la Ninshu, Lord Domen? I used to learn it back in Camelot!"

"All Ninshu art practices find their roots in the Rikaiha ritual. Before magic, Seimei preached his way of life first. That's why a magicless can and should do it, because meditation is a way to strengthen your connection and ‘awareness’ of the subconscious, especially given that the subconscious constitutes one’s personal dimension, one’s domain, the only haven when companions are scarce. So while one didn't receive magic, one did receive tranquillity and self-discipline. But yes, it's the same. Undertake this, and I'll lead you through."

Alicia contemplated her Orb due to its cadence. "Orb’s alright with me learning from you," she said, facing the priest.

"That's good to hear. Now, let's start forming the Yama Musubi."

"Yama Musubi...?" Alicia stole a moment for thought. "Och, the Mountain Knots!"

Domen nodded, smiling. "Each Mountain Knot signifies something; if properly applied, it manifests our wishes in the mental realm. In certain sequences, they may generate magic. But for people like us, simply an enlightenment and inner cultivation.

"It all starts with Three Basic Knot Enlightenment—utilising the three Mountain Knots to concentrate energy on the three body points representing the Three Gods of Enlightenment. If becoming a practitioner is your aspiration, then you must gain enlightenment here before advancing to the next stage."

In harmony, they began to intertwine the fingers on each hand into a pose exactly like the one the lass had seen and practised in her pocketbook: palms aligned before her chest with only the index and middle fingers extended.

"…But we don't need to dwell on that. Three Basic Knot Enlightenment is a standardised meditation procedure. We start here: the Point of Intelligence, centred on the brain," Domen expounded.

The second movement. Both hands, with open palms, thrust forwards. "The Point of Wisdom, centred on the heart," Domen said again.

The final movement. Fingers interlaced, forming a tower. " The Point of Self, centred on the palms."

The ritual commenced. No wind whipped either of their brows, however.

"I will teach you a new way of breathing, Kiseko—The Breath of Graded Fortitude. Observe this: Breathe in deeply, then breathe out slowly and gradually—think of it as descending a flight of stairs."

Domen demonstrated with the sound of his breathing. Alicia tried to imitate him, but a few muffled sighs escaped her mouth as she grappled with the unfamiliarity.

"It's okay," Domen soothed, "do it slowly, until clarity permeates your mind. This breathing is useful to remind you that you are not weak in the mental realm. You have energy in the conscious realm that can be mobilised and redirected to the subconscious to address whatever is preventing you from becoming aligned."

Alicia lost track of how long she had been doing the breathing, but gradually she grew into the habit. Her breathing ceased its audible leak; instead, it fell into sync with her heartbeat. Empowered by this rhythmic breath and the guidance of the high priest, Alicia attempted once again to attune with her subconscious.

And Khaos broke into a hasty appearance. Only one eye appeared, already in wait, obstructing Alicia's view of her coveted serene form.

Domen had already noticed the bewildered furrows of the bespectacled lass’ brow. "You're dealing with that foreign force. Utilize your strength; imagine pushing it away and simultaneously stretching your hand towards your subconscious, where the source of self-enlightenment is and always has been!"

In Alicia’s mental leap, she forcibly repelled the Evil Eye away. Khaos's violet pupil radiated serrations, yet she pressed herself forward with her shoulder, knowing that she was not without her resources and strength here. She, too, was mindful of the magical theories of her youth: Khaos was not always defeated by Arcane, though it was the most effective remedy, an undisputed dogma. The other way was endurance, firmness of heart and mind. The same way she was once freed from the Nightmare Snare of Penelope Crimsonmane, her aunt.

A silver lining emerged for Alicia in this method. Fear again ran through her as she envisioned Khaos’ screech that would literally shatter her ears if she were in literal reality. The thick evil pupil quivered, disgorging slimy tongues with other jagged mouths like olgoi-khorkhoi flesh-eating worms. Nonetheless, Khaos continued to thrust backwards, while Alicia's free hand was on the unworried face of her colossal subconscious.

Her efforts seemed to labour; Alicia could palpate the surface of her subconscious form, ethereal and permeable as smoke. Yet, an aura—or feeling—struck her for a fleeting moment: a profound sense of fear and insecurity rooted deep in her past. Her eyes were able to distinguish her replica as well as all her past recollections.

A dilemma hung over the lass's decision to react. She was at a loss, as she should have accepted those misfortunes and made peace with them. The manacles should have been cast off...

...Or was it just a delusional justification cultivated in her mind? When her eyes flew open, she beheld the still-infesting manacles on the subconscious form's body, apart from its stoic face. A face hardened by the gamut of emotions unleashed by the genuine Alicia herself. She empathised with them. She was reliving them.

Ripples were drawn in Alicia's eyes, and when they reached her ears, they transformed into faints.

What I want is security

People to accept me

Don't turn your face away from me

I don't want to be...

Alone—

"Ye're not alone."

Alicia silenced her subconscious form by discarding its manacles one by one. Her other hand throbbed from the violent tremors induced by the violent Evil Eye.

"That fear shouldnae bother us anymore!" Alicia declared vehemently. "Remember. What you have achieved—what we have achieved. When we have no strength left, there will always be someone who won't leave us. If not..."

The hand that held Khaos was racked by the sensation of bones yielding under the intense vibrations, spreading to her shoulders, then half of her body.

"We have each other. We will survive. That fear may haunt us always, but we will survive—"

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

The Eye of Khaos detonated into a burst of mauve energy, propelling Alicia backwards once more!

Alicia's eyes bulged at a moment's notice. Her stratified breathing lapsed to a wheezing whimper.

"I'm almost aligned!" Alicia exclaimed. She drew out Orb. "I'm almost aligned, Orb!" She flicked to Domen. "Lord Domen, I'm almost aligned—"

Her sentence trailed off. Through clenched eyes, the priest, to Alicia's amazement, had peaked in euphoria, almost as if he were about to be lifted into the sky.

"Sorry," Alicia whispered.

Shortly afterwards, a deep sigh was heard. Domen raised his eyes. For someone in constant pain, his expression read more vibrancy and vigour than the lass' own. "I understand. In just forty-five minutes you almost acquainted yourself with the subconscious. A remarkable feat!"

"Forty-five minutes?" Alicia was incredulous. She looked at Orb, who confirmed the statement.

"It's fine. The first try is bound to flounder. But you always grow stronger over time. Do it regularly, and soon you'll master that foreign power. What else do you sense, Kiseko?"

Alicia stayed mute for a while. She groped her stomach. "Dinnae ken if it's just me, but I feel a warm sensation in my stomach. It is throbbing like a second heartbeat. Are my words strange, Lord Domen?"

The priest's eyebrows arched. "Indeed? That's good news, Alicia!"

"Good news? How so?"

"Remember the explanation of the Three Foundation Knots being able to channel energy at certain body points? When you concentrate energy at these points, your body forces itself to form and open a mana path that originates from the stomach, where the mana is stored. These body points in Ninshu art can also be referred to as mana points."

"Mana points... Hmm... actually, I think I've heard of them—yes! Mama's magic encyclopaedia mentions certain mystic arts believing in mana points scattered on specific body parts. The Ninshu manual alludes to it as well. Stomach... stomach! One of the mana points is on the stomach! Lord Domen, does that mean...?"

Domen nodded. "That means your chakra or mana has commenced cultivation there. Persist in your meditation, and you will surely experience enlightenment that your stomach’s mana point is open and it flows in and out of the system at your command. When that happens, who knows what will happen next...."

Alicia knew what would happen next. She excitedly hoisted Orb towards the mural of the gods. "Orb! Soon I'll be a real mage! A real mage like Mama! Pure brilliant! Isn't that brilliant, Orb?"

Do you not consider yourself a true mage already when you wield my might? Orb pondered in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Oh, It's not quite like that, Orb. I mean, if I can learn the mystic arts, I can use them to better use your might! That means the complications that the late judges foresaw arenae for real!"

Do you still find it lacking to control my might as it is? Controlling my might isn't even as hard as unlocking mana points this and that!

Alicia's ears felt uneasy at her ballmate's response. Her beaming smile waned. "Orb? Why are ye asking like that? Of course, things are fine as they are now. But imagine if I could master one mystic art, it would be a great help in the long run, especially in our mission together! Ye shouldnae mind, right?"

No. But it would be a distraction from our goal. You should be careful not to make a fetish out of it.

Upon witnessing the girl's somewhat disheartened expression, Domen attempted to get up slowly with his cane as support. The effort was useless; a mere touch to his ribs gave him a searing sting beyond his wildest expectations. His hand outstretched to the still-seated Alicia. "I doubt you'll unlock a single mana point in such a short span. But optimism is good, for optimism is the most tangible form of hope. For now, it's better to return."

Alicia did not accept the handhold. "You'll be in pain, Lord," she cautioned. Shifting from sitting to kneeling, Alicia began to withdraw the Arcanae tendrils from Orb. "It may hurt—"

"I must refuse, Kiseko. "

A statement that left Alicia gawking. Her Arcane tendrils flickered and died out. "Why?"

"I must endure it even longer. Denying myself the mundane ease by mortification helps me understand how the world works, and trains my body to favour Enlightenment. The body always has a way of healing this on its own."

"Uh, alright," stammered the lass, placing Orb back into the bag in a flustered fit.

"Please don't take offence at this, Kiseko," Domen spoke again. "This is the path reserved for a RIkaiha priest like me, and I embrace it. I do not accept treatment from Ninshu practitioner healers either. Rest assured that your Arcane remains a boon to Kagatse."

"No—no. No offence at all. I understand." Alicia offered a quick nod, though her gaze now wandered anywhere but Domen's compassionate face. She stood up and did a final self-check. "We should head back."

"Yes. We should head back."

Domen did not come in a carriage like the high priest Alicia was used to thinking. They returned on foot along the path and came out onto the smooth main road. The agonising path taken by the priest was one that left Alicia both baffled and in awe of Domen's dedication. Why would availing oneself of mundane ease somehow stall one's progress towards enlightenment, when that ease was a product of enlightenment itself, laboured for by those who struggled to seek it?

Not another Western thought, Alicia prejudiced against herself. But that was indeed a product of her own digressions. She could have asked Domen about this, but the priest's mouth seemed occupied with easing the pain of walking through measured breaths. He did not reject Alicia's supportive embrace, at least.

As their figures came into view for the gatekeepers, they broke through the crowd, taking over Alicia's role as support.

"I thank you for teaching me a new way of meditating, Lord Domen," Alicia offered with a bow. "But I hope ye dinnae mind...," Alicia was about to say "wildfire", but realised the guards’ eyes were also on her, "...the problem in the forest earlier. At the very least, let me take responsibility."

"You possess a noble heart for offering yourself, Alicia.”

"N-not really..." Alicia still gazed downwards. "Tis still my fault."

"I will not make an issue of it,” Domen nodded. “So long as you promise not to let it happen again. The forest in Takamagahara may be free of mujinos, but that doesn't make it 'tame'."

"Ye're right," Alicia finally dared to lift her face and smile. "So, what are yer plan after this?"

"The priest's activities, and they're hectic. But first I'm heading to the psychiatric clinic, to see Donbe, the scientist who came up with the anti-mujino potion, if you remember."

"Oh, yon scientist! Is he alright?"

The priest's uncomfortable half-face undermined Alicia's confidence. "He's currently secured at the psychiatric clinic," he said, still trying to fight back with a smile. He tried to say it in as cheerful a tone as possible, and strangely enough, it did not seem contrived to Alicia. "But in truth, I don't know if he'll recover. The last time I was there, he was still shouting and attacking the staff to the point where he had to be restrained. He believed everyone at the clinic was conspiring against him."

Alicia covered her mouth with her hand. "That... all of this..." Alicia looked in the other direction—at the line of refugees that filled the street—with a furious face. "If it wasnae for that foreign group and their mastermind...."

"Alicia, don't," Domen replied, stroking the girl's shoulder. "Save your strength to practice meditation and prepare for the approaching wave. The Dajo Daijin has assured Donbe’s security. I will also ensure to be by his side frequently. After all, he is a graduate student of mine."

"Yer student? Doctor Donbe also meditates with you?"

"Everyone here meditates, Alicia," the priest replied with a smile. "Before dedicating myself to guiding people to enlightenment, I was a professor of alchemy. And Donbe was my student."

"An alchemist? I'm an alchemist too!" Alicia's trademark childish fervour resurfaced. "Eh, I dinnae have an official title for it yet, but I concoct many of my own potions! But why did you decide to become a priest?"

Domen panned his gaze ahead with his thin smile. "I had an enlightenment."

Hearing this, Alicia held back her giggles with her pursing mouth before she could no longer contain herself and burst out laughing, while Domen was already lost in his laughter. Their peals of laughter were short-lived, though, halted awkwardly by the impromptu grimace of the priest, who then caught hold of one side of his body.

"That's a good joke," Alicia responded sheepishly. "But do ye still mix potions and create anything chemically?"

"If I have free time, Alicia, then I spend it at the shrine."

"Ye dinnae feel any sense of loss? Longing or anything like that for no longer being an Alchemist?"

"Sometimes. But it's just a feeling. I want this, I want that, I want to be this and I don't want anything else—they are all transient. I find greater joy in fulfilling my calling as a priest. To serve on the street with ordinary people rather than sitting in isolation behind a desk. I've seen miracles, and I wish to share that with them."

Before long, a number of subordinate priests approached Domen, urgently chanting. "See? My free time is no more." A sincere grin was directed to Alicia. "We'll meet again, Kiseko. Don't linger outside the walls." []