Chapter 8
It had been a just over a week since Tylira had first taken Karis out to meditate, a task that they now did every morning. After the first few days, Karis' body started to get used to having to be up so early, although she still didn't like it.
For the first three or so days, Karis hadn't noticed any improvement in what she was trying to do. Each day, Tylira would have her try to fully picture herself in front of her, and each day she would try well into the afternoon.
She had asked Tylira why she had to do it after what felt like a rather long session. Tylira responded that if she couldn't picture herself, someone she should know very well, quickly, then she would not be able to see the spirits, something she didn't know, at all.
The answer had confused her, but she decided not to press the issue. Whilst her morning were spent meditating, she would spend what was left of her afternoons with Umber, the only human that Karis had seen in Nighthaven.
According to what Tylira had told her, Umber was the archivist in Nighthaven. He took care of all of their records and books, and was quite a knowledgeable person. Through him, Karis studied the paths and trials of previous druids in a bid to learn what she may have to face herself.
She couldn't tell if Umber was a druid himself. He never made mention of the fact, but she thought she best not ask, just in case. Not to mention the fact that he slightly creped her out with his eye patch.
Karis had asked Tylira about the old man, but she had simply avoided her question, telling her that if she really wanted to know, then she should just ask him directly. She didn't, deciding to just let it rest, instead.
After her fifth day of meditating, Karis saw a drastic improvement in what she was doing. She sat down that day, just like she had the previous days, and got into the same basic position, Tylira sitting opposite her.
Clearing her mind and regulating her breathing, she had closed her eyes in preparation of picturing herself. Almost instantly she had the blurred image of herself present, and it was clearing up rapidly. Although she felt that it had been faster than before, she didn't put too much stock in it, as she found time did indeed flow differently whilst she meditated.
It was only when she had managed to form a crystal clear depiction of herself in her mind that she opened her eyes again, letting out a cheer. Tylira then confirmed for her that she had indeed been faster than before, much faster. Her mind was getting used to the challenge that was being provided to it, and it was learning how to go about it faster, even if Karis wasn't aware.
Over the following days, it became easier and easier for Karis to complete the task. What first took her many hours to complete was soon only taking her a few hours, and eventually less than an hour.
Due to the speed at which she could now picture herself, Tylira was having Karis attempt the challenge multiple times. They would follow their same process; they would rise early in the morning, eat their food, and then go to their meditation spot. Even though it had been only a week, Karis was able to picture herself within half an hour.
As soon as she had achieved the image in her mind, Tylira would have her get up and simply look around her, let her mind fill with all the details of the trees and plants and animals, let her mind become filled with them. After ten or so minutes of this, she would then have Karis try to picture herself again, clearing her mind of all she had seen.
In that one day alone, Karis managed to speed the process up immensely, cutting the time down from its half an hour starting point, to mere minutes. Karis finally felt like she was accomplishing something.
The following morning, Tylira awoke Karis, as per normal.
"Time to rise, young one" she whispered gently, stroking some of the hair from Karis' face. Letting out a yawn, Karis opened her eyes and smiled up at Tylira before sitting up and stretching her arms out in front of her.
The marks on her shoulder ached slightly, causing Karis to rub it slightly. More of the druids had taken a look at the marks, trying to find a way of healing them. Eventually, all of them, including Tylira, came to the same conclusion: the glove that Karis' uncle had been wearing at the time of Karis' injury had had some kind of enchantment or curse. Although there was no longer any physical injury, the marks themselves could not be gotten ridden of, and could still cause pain.
"Here, let me" Tylira said gently as she reached out and placed a hand on Karis' shoulder, using a feather touch as she did. Karis relaxed as she felt the healing energies flow through Tylira into Karis, removing the dull ache, at least for the time being.
"Thank you" Karis said, smiling at Tylira before she climbed out of the bed, stretching some more as she did so. Karis had taken to wearing her training cloth, as she called it, to bed so as to save her putting it all on in the morning. She would still wear her skirt though, an item she quickly picked up from its place on the back of a chair before swiftly putting it on.
"How are you today, Tylira?" Karis asked, looking over to the Night Elf female as she stood up from the bed. Tylira smiled and moved to stand beside Karis, gently stroking her cheek.
"I am doing fine, thank you" she said with a smile. "Shall we go and get something to eat?" Karis nodded as she took hold of Tylira's hand, leading the woman out of their home and down onto the walkway towards the closest inn.
Karis had come to thoroughly enjoy eating at My'lanna's, as well as enjoying the Night Elf woman's company. As they approached the inn, Karis let go of Tylira's hand and ran into the building, almost jumping onto her seat.
"Heya My'lanna!" Karis said with a beaming smile as My'lanna walked over to Karis, returning her smile in kind.
"Morning Karis" she said, reaching over the counter and giving Karis a quick hug. "And how are you today? The usual I assume?"
"Im doing good thanks!" Karis said, settling in her seat as My'lanna brought her food to her, along with a nice warm herbal tea for her to enjoy. "How are you?"
"I am good too" My'lanna said with a smile as Tylira walked in and sat down beside Karis, offering a polite nod and smile to My'lanna, who returned the gesture.
"And how is your training going?" My'lanna asked, just as Karis took a huge bite out of her breakfast. She tried to mumble the words, but the food in her mouth made it impossible for anyone to understand her, and resulted in both Tylira and My'lanna letting out a laugh.
"Her training is going very well" Tylira said, still smiling as her own food and rink was brought to her. "It won't be long now, I don't think."
"That's good" My'lanna said with a nod, looking to Karis and smiling before turning her attention back to Tylira. "Before I forget, Tylira, Kharedon and Geenia asked me to let you know that the project you spoke to them about, they think they will be able to do it. They are going to try at least."
Karis glanced over at Tylira and My'lanna, wondering what project it could be that they were talking about. Karis had noticed that Tylira had spent a lot of time with Kharedon, the resident expert in all things light armour, as well as Geenia, one of the people who sells specialized dresses, but she thought it was just Tylira catching up on old times. She had no idea what sort of project they could be working on.
Deciding not to pursue it for the moment, Karis simply finished her food and quickly drank her drink. Smiling, she looked to Tylira who had also just finished her breakfast.
"Shall we, then?" Tylira said as she stood up, motioning for Karis to follow. With a nod and a smile, Karis jumped down from her seat, her bare feet hitting the wooden floor with a slight thump before the two of them headed out of Nighthaven.
As with every other day, they went to their usual seat, Tylira laying out their piece of cloth on the floor before the both of them sat down. Karis shivered slightly as she felt a cool breeze blow past them, goose bumps forming on her exposed skin.
"You know what to do" Tylira said with a smile as she crossed her legs, closing her own eyes, the breeze blowing her hair across her face. "As soon as you manage to picture yourself, let me know, but keep the image in your mind."
Karis simply nodded and closed her eyes. Taking in a deep breath before exhaling slowly, Karis focused on picturing herself. As with before, the image of herself appeared, almost picture perfect this time. After only a tiny amount of concentration, she had perfected the image, a small smile forming on her lips. Keeping the image in her mind, as Tylira had instructed, Karis spoke quickly.
"I have done it, Tylira" she said, trying not to open her eyes.
"Well done" Tylira responded, her voice seeming to echo as she did so. "And it only took you a few minutes. Next, however, I want you to imagine the world that you are in. I cannot tell you what to picture, that you must come up with yourself. Provide the image of yourself a world to live in."
Karis frowned slightly at the instruction, not sure of what Tylira meant. Imagine the world she was in? Exhaling slowly, whilst shrugging ever so slightly, Karis focused on the image of herself again, floating in the darkness.
Well…I need some land to stand on first… she thought to herself, picturing herself standing in the middle of a large field of green grass. Smiling slightly at the sight, she focused even more, making the grass sway as if there was a gentle breeze.
Finding herself enjoying the act of creating her private world, Karis imagined the sky above, as if it were just coming to dusk, a few clouds hanging in the sky. Pleased with what she saw, Karis took a moment to study what she had pictured.
It looks a bit bare… she thought as the image of herself looked around the rather empty field. The image of herself scratched her head for a moment as Karis herself tried to think what to do.
I know! Trees! It didn't take much for Karis to picture the trees she wanted, and soon she was no longer standing in the middle of an open field. Her image was now stood in a small clearing, surrounded by a thick forest of trees of all shapes and sizes.
Its missing something… Karis pondered some more on her little creation, her image walking around the clearing, studying the surprisingly detailed trees. The image smiled as Karis worked out what she needed. It was to quiet. Reaching into her mind, she remembered the various sounds and calls of the woodland creatures, adding them to her world.
Happy with what she had accomplished, Karis took a moment to study it and take it in. After a few moments, she realised she didn't know what to do next. Just as she was about to ask what to do next, a sudden realisation hit her: she was no longer looking at her world from above, as she had been, no longer looking at her image. She was the image.
Panic and fear started to spread through her as she ran around the small clearing, wondering what had happened. Looking up at the sky above she tried to calm down, breathing deeply and calmly. Panicking wouldn't help her. She managed to get in, surely she could get out.
Turning around, Karis almost jumped out of her skin. From between the trees of her personal forest, a mist seemed to be approaching.
"I didn't put that there…" Karis whispered as the mist approached her, seeming to sway and move gently as it came closer, coming to a stop directly in front of Karis.
"Hello..?" Karis whispered as the mist seemed to just hover in front of her. There was only silence in response, and Karis let out an exasperated sigh, turning around. It was as she turned around that a deep, echoing voice breached her mind, sending a chill down to her very soul.
Welcome Karis, I have been waiting for you…