Before I begin, I would like to thank Flamestar, and Atrum, from my KH RPing site- Eternal Twilight (thetwilighter(dot)proboards98(dot)com) for letting me use the characters of Ty and Atrum.
These characters, along with Raiina, my character are currently being RPed with, however I have changed some aspects of Atrum and Ty's appearance and personality to better fit the fanfic.
Also sorry about the delay in updating, I've been really busy lately. x.x
Anyway, on with the fic! Thanks so much to people who have reviewed!
"Ok everyone, take a breather," Valader's voice was greeted by four sighs of relief, as the students collapsed sideways from their seated positions on the ground, trying to relax their cramped muscles.
Raiina blinked, trying to clear the sweat out of her eyes, as she raised a hand to her red forehead, in an attempt to shade her eyes from the burning light that seemed to be everywhere around her. With a sigh she adjusted her legs, straightening them from their cramped position underneath her body, as she stretched them, trying to get the feeling back into her toes.
Her eyes sought the horizon, where the last of the suns' could just be seen over one of the dunes, and as she watched out of the corner of her eye, it disappeared, heralding the oncoming night. For the best part of the day the group had been meditating, an easy task many might think, but not when you had to do it for hours on end, trying to hone your mind as you did so.
Shortly after breakfast, Valader told the four apprentices to change into loose fitting white garments, before taking them outside into the scalding heat, sitting them down in the shade of the building.
"Before you can even begin to achieve physical strength, you must first strengthen the mind. We will achieve this by meditation."
A low snort greeted this statement, and Raiina turned to see Aerren looking intently at Valader, a bemused, bored expression on her face.
"You have got to be kidding me, meditation? I've been doing meditation for years, ever since I was little, so thanks, but no thanks, my minds 'strengthened' as it is." Her voice was quiet and low, but musical, as is she were a melodious bird trilling some glorious melody, but she had a bored, disdainful tone, that Raiina instantly disliked, for one reason or another.
Valader gave Aerren a wry smile, "Ahh, but am I right in assuming you've never meditated focusing particularly on one aspect of your mind, or for that matter done so in the heat for extended periods of time?"
The look on Aerren's face was enough of an answer, so Valader turned away, beckoning for the group to sit cross legged on the ground, their backs straight, and hands in their laps, clasped together.
"Now," he began, pacing in front of them. "I want you to close your eyes and to hold in your minds, a picture of a beam of light, yes? Picture light flooding you mind, entering every pore upon your body."
Raiina along with Ty, Aerren and Atrum shut their eyes obediently, trying to summon the picture Valdaer was presenting to them. Concentrating as hard as she could upon that mental image Raiina tried to block out all other thoughts- a challenge for her over active mind.
"Now," continued Valader, "Concentrate on that image, not only see the light, but feel it, hear it. I will be back later, do not move, or think of any other thoughts apart from the light, this is your challenge."
And with that, he was gone, leaving the trainees, to complete the assigned task, leaving a blanket of silence which covered the world, broken only, by the whisper of wind.
Raiina desperately clung onto the image of the light, having to wrench her thoughts back to the beam whenever she became distracted, something which seemed to be happening increasingly often.
For hours and hours, the group sat there, until they were so hot, hungry, and thirsty, they no longer even tried to focus their thoughts, rather they just tried to keep from fainting.
When at last Valader emerged, the group collapsed on the sand, gulping down the cool water and bread rolls he had brought with him, famished beyond belief.
Sitting down, next to Ty, he smiled at the group, ignoring the mutinous expressions which had appeared on their sweat drenched faces. "Not as easy as it looks is it?" His voice was light, almost playful as he addressed the future wielders, a sly smile on his face.
"You did well though, all of you. From now on, everyday while you stay here you must come out here in the morning and meditate for three hours, each time focusing all your thoughts and energy on the light, ok? That is vital."
Standing up, he pulled the four up with him, gesturing to the building at his back, "Now get changed, and meet in the dining room for dinner, but make sure you get a shower first."
With Valader in front, the group trudged silently back to the beckoningly cool halls of the building, their thoughts buzzing. The training had begun.