"Through the Loop" Part III
(Flashback 4)
Casse was excited, though in a quite way, trying to still the racing beat that throbbed inside her breast most silently, and raced inside her veins. It was today!!! She was *finally* here.
Years had passed some in silence and solitude, some in confusion and trial, all in learning. Some lessons had to be taught over and over, then again and again if she didn't understand or seem to grasp. Especially the 'we are all equal' thing, seeing as she still didn't like bugs or such, and it took a while to not anything about them, but let them be…..even if that meant they were *on* her.
She'd trained with many a weapon, and she had found that easy as she was always fast on the up take of martial training and it came with four different forms of fighting involved, though it would be so simple compared to the next task. She spent a year and months in silent solitude and servitude, to both Master Beshitod and Master Yido. A lesson in humbleness, one in which you wait, you help…….and you did not speak.
Which took Casse forever to learn, since she was based to herself and loosing her connection to her brother. It took though that year to realize, since she was not a humble person, that she could be, and that she always could stand on her own two feet without Patric as her only foundation, her only fall back. Along with that, in that time, she learned many other lessons within herself; about who she truly was when she wasn't trying to hide who she was.
And she was beautiful. Not some monster.
She sat still as the other women washed her hair (which now reached the low end of the backs of her knees) and tied it up with twiners and lacquer pins of pure white and black ornamentally for unsaid reasons. Next they powdered her face white, though it only seemed to match the normal color of her skin and blend in. She was starting to wonder how long she could sit still if she felt so incredibly over joyed.
IT was today!
Casse began also to wonder if she was supposed to be shaking with this feeling, this feeling she hadn't felt in forever, abounding over her body, surrounding her like a blanket. Making her feel almost like an impatient child staring at a clock in the wee hours of the morning on Christmas. Her heart just couldn't be stopped. She could remember his words from a month ago perfectly.
"Stay among the Thy-Che you will for three weeks for Purification. Assemble thyself to steps of SiWongLi as the first rays of sunset light the heavens aflame. The stand, Be and be known"
It was her hope and she'd waiting 3 almost 4 long years to hear that. Funny, a girl, a woman, someone who wouldn't wait for someone to look at their watch for the time of day, had waited, overjoyed at something this simple, but it was so much more. This was the day she received her recognition. This was the day, the first day in all that time, she would receive her name.
Casse was bathed in rose and herb scented water mixed with lily petals, while incense filled the room with surrounded her; all silently. All her skin, even her face under make up, gleamed a soft fresh white, like new fallen snow, unlike her normal light blue hue that would glow from her skin when she had her powers. Her hair felt softer than the flowers they were beginning to intertwine in it with two other garlands. One ran over the fresh white kamona from over one shoulder to under her other arm, and one circled her right ankle, both in a mirad of colors symbolizing all she had been through to get to this moment.
She would go there now; to the temple in the mountains where she must walk, not run to this temple older than all the others, where none were allowed till now and never allowed since then, and never again afterwards. She was to walk barefoot, both without destroying or rumpling the image she now portrayed no disturbing being or bud on her way.
That though, compared to what shed been put through here seem simple, as the test of purification in Thy-Che were not. A test of pain without response, as they'd been trained to not respond to violence in the third year. Test of innocence and purity, thing she'd never even though at times she might still possess; when reverting to a child-like form. Her mind was silent from hours, days, of just ended mediation, while her stomach was empty except for the crystalline water.
Casse's body though trembled with excitement, through the pain in her back that seemed like only a prick now and she was used to, but it always reminded her now that she was normal -human-, vulnerable in this state, due to the formation of her bones and the hallowness of them. Pain was something she was almost used to though she rarely experience anymore, except in sparring, and that was rarer now as she was reaching this point. She'd master all four forms of fighting much faster than those trained with her, and that of controlling her reactions and maintaining her battle ready mind.
She knew how to fight, and that was all she had known. She'd never known then, that that was only the beginning, and things so simple and so stupid could cost much more than that. After it all, hardship and harrowed wind, suffer night and silent plight, time of joy and sorrow alike, she had come to her triumph; her pinnacle.
It was her night, and one she would never forget.
***********************
She kneeled silently, her feet dusty from walking on trail of her own making as none exsisted to this place. Her legs ached, but with her training she could for go acknowledging that till she was resting and on her own time. She kept her head bowed, though she longed to spin in circles almost and stare at the majesty of the place she was within.
The room it's self was huge beyond almost measure, spanning out forever with columns and wall designs, and the large mural of the dragon of wisdom and balance on the ceiling, all made from tiny tiny stones. Some were unfinished still, stones each to be added by those who passed through. Who made it. Her heart beat now with a nervous beat.
Judge. Jury. They were both. SiWongLi was the temple of the High Master's those who had attainted their places over whole life times and gauged students performances and learning to the attributes of the teaching they were given in all the time they need. She worried sometimes as she went faster than most. She was beginning to physically tremble and prayed softly though that it didn't show as she waited quietly, kneeling, head bent for their words.
"Child of the Great Dragon, Student of the Path," a shiver ran down her spine as if someone had taken a feather across her back softly at an old mans voice rang out across the room, echoing and strong as any youngman, with an energy and a peace that was almost profound to just hear,
"You have been called, the scales have set. Are you worthy of his honor, student?"
Casse kept her head bowed, aware silently she had been addressed and both to the fact she was not allowed to speak within here yet, till she was given that privileging openly. She remained quite. Her honor and her worth were still things that clashed in her mind. She'd committed mass murder in her time, she'd watched and listened as babies we crushed in buildings.
That didn't mean she didn't regret them; Oh, how she regretted them now; but she could still hear the cries and screams of her victims of the past, the future.
"Rise, child, and walk forward to the point."
She moved silently, an ease and grace to her movements like a dancer, more than a fighter, walking to the front of the room before the awning and the rise that would lead to the stairs of where they sat. She watched her feet, her hands behind her back as she walked.
"This day you have been given a gift, you have been reberverated to state where you will no longer be just what you have been, nor more than what you still have to become. Do you wish to proceed?"
Casse bowed her head slightly more inclined and a slight movement both down and up with her knees. A symbolism of approval or wish only used during the time of servitude when no words were allowed, that year ago now. The only form and way she was allowed it for the moment, so remained in that stance.
"So you've said, so shall it be. Rise, child, and come. Cast your eyes to the level of scale. Your burdens are past, remove them as you would a single strain of long past article."
She walked forward silently to the scale and place both of the garlands on the scale silently, watching it weighed against a feather. Her heart could have flopped or even stopped as she watched the man, one she'd never met, sided on each by two others. Another she'd never met and Master Yido, who almost gave her a disparaging expression to realize she wasn't paying attention.
Casse watched the feather the small tiny feather balance out exactly, after tittering many times back and forth before stopping.
"Your heart is light, but has far to go. Your journey will be rough and fraught with consequence; though there will be those to help you if you except them. You have been brought to the sacred temple of the Dragon for you right and so you are given it."
Her heart was shaking, and then she wondered if ti wasn't her whole body shaking with both fear and anticipation, as Master Yido spoke those words. And then the second man she didn't know began to speak now.
"So it is proclaimed and so shall you be. Tandy, wandering Child of the Great Dragon of Life."
She wasn't sure fi she could remember how to breath as she felt like she could almost fly she was so light, so happy, though making herself remain in once place. Her heart almost beating out a tune of her happiness she was surprised the whole world couldn't hear. As trained in such for ceremony, she nodded, and began to back away in small steps.
"Remain, Tandy."
Casse -Tandy- stopped dead cold. Had she forgotten something?
"You have been given to weight and to responsibility and also two more things."
A servant from the side, a young child, with kamona robe in black and a small tap hat walked out with the ivory flute on a black silk looking fabric that draped his hands. She was overwhelmed, and the breath in her chest had all but fled her, as a soft gasp reached her lips as the boy simply stood by her, and she looked up slowly, trying to swallow though her throat had suddenly gone dry.
"Tacked to a privilege a duty, you are now given, Tandy. Guard ye well, the land that has taught you and bathed you in the wisdom of the dragon. There are those who would see you gone and those who trust to have you put there. Guard ye well, Old Japan."
Tears were welling up in her eyes, and she wasn't sure if she'd be able to stand completely still much longer, least she break to tears of joy. She'd never expected it. Never in all those years. Her eyes though blurred by forming tears she could not, would not, stop, landed slowly on Master Yido. He was the only of three Guardians, and the only one here to make her one.
He was remaining silent though watching her. She wished for a second she was a more expressive person almost, though she bowed her head again in acceptance and held her hands out in which the flute now wrapped in the black fabric was laid on them. She had been in a sense, in more than a few, now adopted and belonged, to both a land and a man who believed in her.
(Flashback 4)
Casse was excited, though in a quite way, trying to still the racing beat that throbbed inside her breast most silently, and raced inside her veins. It was today!!! She was *finally* here.
Years had passed some in silence and solitude, some in confusion and trial, all in learning. Some lessons had to be taught over and over, then again and again if she didn't understand or seem to grasp. Especially the 'we are all equal' thing, seeing as she still didn't like bugs or such, and it took a while to not anything about them, but let them be…..even if that meant they were *on* her.
She'd trained with many a weapon, and she had found that easy as she was always fast on the up take of martial training and it came with four different forms of fighting involved, though it would be so simple compared to the next task. She spent a year and months in silent solitude and servitude, to both Master Beshitod and Master Yido. A lesson in humbleness, one in which you wait, you help…….and you did not speak.
Which took Casse forever to learn, since she was based to herself and loosing her connection to her brother. It took though that year to realize, since she was not a humble person, that she could be, and that she always could stand on her own two feet without Patric as her only foundation, her only fall back. Along with that, in that time, she learned many other lessons within herself; about who she truly was when she wasn't trying to hide who she was.
And she was beautiful. Not some monster.
She sat still as the other women washed her hair (which now reached the low end of the backs of her knees) and tied it up with twiners and lacquer pins of pure white and black ornamentally for unsaid reasons. Next they powdered her face white, though it only seemed to match the normal color of her skin and blend in. She was starting to wonder how long she could sit still if she felt so incredibly over joyed.
IT was today!
Casse began also to wonder if she was supposed to be shaking with this feeling, this feeling she hadn't felt in forever, abounding over her body, surrounding her like a blanket. Making her feel almost like an impatient child staring at a clock in the wee hours of the morning on Christmas. Her heart just couldn't be stopped. She could remember his words from a month ago perfectly.
"Stay among the Thy-Che you will for three weeks for Purification. Assemble thyself to steps of SiWongLi as the first rays of sunset light the heavens aflame. The stand, Be and be known"
It was her hope and she'd waiting 3 almost 4 long years to hear that. Funny, a girl, a woman, someone who wouldn't wait for someone to look at their watch for the time of day, had waited, overjoyed at something this simple, but it was so much more. This was the day she received her recognition. This was the day, the first day in all that time, she would receive her name.
Casse was bathed in rose and herb scented water mixed with lily petals, while incense filled the room with surrounded her; all silently. All her skin, even her face under make up, gleamed a soft fresh white, like new fallen snow, unlike her normal light blue hue that would glow from her skin when she had her powers. Her hair felt softer than the flowers they were beginning to intertwine in it with two other garlands. One ran over the fresh white kamona from over one shoulder to under her other arm, and one circled her right ankle, both in a mirad of colors symbolizing all she had been through to get to this moment.
She would go there now; to the temple in the mountains where she must walk, not run to this temple older than all the others, where none were allowed till now and never allowed since then, and never again afterwards. She was to walk barefoot, both without destroying or rumpling the image she now portrayed no disturbing being or bud on her way.
That though, compared to what shed been put through here seem simple, as the test of purification in Thy-Che were not. A test of pain without response, as they'd been trained to not respond to violence in the third year. Test of innocence and purity, thing she'd never even though at times she might still possess; when reverting to a child-like form. Her mind was silent from hours, days, of just ended mediation, while her stomach was empty except for the crystalline water.
Casse's body though trembled with excitement, through the pain in her back that seemed like only a prick now and she was used to, but it always reminded her now that she was normal -human-, vulnerable in this state, due to the formation of her bones and the hallowness of them. Pain was something she was almost used to though she rarely experience anymore, except in sparring, and that was rarer now as she was reaching this point. She'd master all four forms of fighting much faster than those trained with her, and that of controlling her reactions and maintaining her battle ready mind.
She knew how to fight, and that was all she had known. She'd never known then, that that was only the beginning, and things so simple and so stupid could cost much more than that. After it all, hardship and harrowed wind, suffer night and silent plight, time of joy and sorrow alike, she had come to her triumph; her pinnacle.
It was her night, and one she would never forget.
***********************
She kneeled silently, her feet dusty from walking on trail of her own making as none exsisted to this place. Her legs ached, but with her training she could for go acknowledging that till she was resting and on her own time. She kept her head bowed, though she longed to spin in circles almost and stare at the majesty of the place she was within.
The room it's self was huge beyond almost measure, spanning out forever with columns and wall designs, and the large mural of the dragon of wisdom and balance on the ceiling, all made from tiny tiny stones. Some were unfinished still, stones each to be added by those who passed through. Who made it. Her heart beat now with a nervous beat.
Judge. Jury. They were both. SiWongLi was the temple of the High Master's those who had attainted their places over whole life times and gauged students performances and learning to the attributes of the teaching they were given in all the time they need. She worried sometimes as she went faster than most. She was beginning to physically tremble and prayed softly though that it didn't show as she waited quietly, kneeling, head bent for their words.
"Child of the Great Dragon, Student of the Path," a shiver ran down her spine as if someone had taken a feather across her back softly at an old mans voice rang out across the room, echoing and strong as any youngman, with an energy and a peace that was almost profound to just hear,
"You have been called, the scales have set. Are you worthy of his honor, student?"
Casse kept her head bowed, aware silently she had been addressed and both to the fact she was not allowed to speak within here yet, till she was given that privileging openly. She remained quite. Her honor and her worth were still things that clashed in her mind. She'd committed mass murder in her time, she'd watched and listened as babies we crushed in buildings.
That didn't mean she didn't regret them; Oh, how she regretted them now; but she could still hear the cries and screams of her victims of the past, the future.
"Rise, child, and walk forward to the point."
She moved silently, an ease and grace to her movements like a dancer, more than a fighter, walking to the front of the room before the awning and the rise that would lead to the stairs of where they sat. She watched her feet, her hands behind her back as she walked.
"This day you have been given a gift, you have been reberverated to state where you will no longer be just what you have been, nor more than what you still have to become. Do you wish to proceed?"
Casse bowed her head slightly more inclined and a slight movement both down and up with her knees. A symbolism of approval or wish only used during the time of servitude when no words were allowed, that year ago now. The only form and way she was allowed it for the moment, so remained in that stance.
"So you've said, so shall it be. Rise, child, and come. Cast your eyes to the level of scale. Your burdens are past, remove them as you would a single strain of long past article."
She walked forward silently to the scale and place both of the garlands on the scale silently, watching it weighed against a feather. Her heart could have flopped or even stopped as she watched the man, one she'd never met, sided on each by two others. Another she'd never met and Master Yido, who almost gave her a disparaging expression to realize she wasn't paying attention.
Casse watched the feather the small tiny feather balance out exactly, after tittering many times back and forth before stopping.
"Your heart is light, but has far to go. Your journey will be rough and fraught with consequence; though there will be those to help you if you except them. You have been brought to the sacred temple of the Dragon for you right and so you are given it."
Her heart was shaking, and then she wondered if ti wasn't her whole body shaking with both fear and anticipation, as Master Yido spoke those words. And then the second man she didn't know began to speak now.
"So it is proclaimed and so shall you be. Tandy, wandering Child of the Great Dragon of Life."
She wasn't sure fi she could remember how to breath as she felt like she could almost fly she was so light, so happy, though making herself remain in once place. Her heart almost beating out a tune of her happiness she was surprised the whole world couldn't hear. As trained in such for ceremony, she nodded, and began to back away in small steps.
"Remain, Tandy."
Casse -Tandy- stopped dead cold. Had she forgotten something?
"You have been given to weight and to responsibility and also two more things."
A servant from the side, a young child, with kamona robe in black and a small tap hat walked out with the ivory flute on a black silk looking fabric that draped his hands. She was overwhelmed, and the breath in her chest had all but fled her, as a soft gasp reached her lips as the boy simply stood by her, and she looked up slowly, trying to swallow though her throat had suddenly gone dry.
"Tacked to a privilege a duty, you are now given, Tandy. Guard ye well, the land that has taught you and bathed you in the wisdom of the dragon. There are those who would see you gone and those who trust to have you put there. Guard ye well, Old Japan."
Tears were welling up in her eyes, and she wasn't sure if she'd be able to stand completely still much longer, least she break to tears of joy. She'd never expected it. Never in all those years. Her eyes though blurred by forming tears she could not, would not, stop, landed slowly on Master Yido. He was the only of three Guardians, and the only one here to make her one.
He was remaining silent though watching her. She wished for a second she was a more expressive person almost, though she bowed her head again in acceptance and held her hands out in which the flute now wrapped in the black fabric was laid on them. She had been in a sense, in more than a few, now adopted and belonged, to both a land and a man who believed in her.
