Chapter 47: Of Gods And Magic
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Chapter 47: Of Gods And Magic
Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. That was what Maiyas life had become these daysa monotonous series of breathing exercises that had yielded not even an ounce of progress.
Is there anything else I can do? Maiya asked from where she sat on the floor of Tanyas bedroom. Both she and Vir had been on house arrest ever since they got back from Saran weeks ago, and it was honestly driving her crazy. Grotto soaks only did so much to cure cabin fever.
Her mejai mentor paced around her in circles, which of course, did absolutely nothing for her concentration.
Some Praniks naturally attune to the surrounding prana, Tanya lectured. Those who live in prana dense regions manifest affinities far more easily than villagers like you, growing up in gods-forsaken lands.
Gee, thanks. Trust me, if I couldve gone back and chosen my place of birth, Id have done it already. Anything I can actually do thatll help me out?
Keep practicing, Tanya said.
Maiya let out a sigh, returning to her breathing exercises. Pranayam, Tanya called it. If she really concentrated, she could just barely feel a hint of something as she breathed in and out. But then it was gone. Her progress felt agonizingly slow to her.
Unlike Vir.
The irony was not lost upon her. Someone who was supposed to be incapable of using prana was leaping past her, while shethe one with two affinitieslagged. And one of those was a Greater affinity! Not to mention that she had a mejai teacher, while Vir was out figuring things on his own.
At a startling rate, too. How the heck had he picked up not just one, but two Talents in a single week? She knew the answer, of course. Prana Vision was far more precious than her friend probably realized. If only he knew how much she struggled to sense even the tiniest bit of prana. To be able to see it? That felt like cheating to her.
Maiya shook her head, ashamed of those thoughts. She couldnt possibly complain. Vir had been ridiculed and ostracized for most of his life. His inability to use orbs hobbled him daily, making his everyday life a chore.
Riyan had called him a prodigy, but that wasnt true. He just worked hard. Absurdly hard. On every single thing he did. What right did she have to mope when she hadnt even given magic a fraction of the effort? She practically had a seric spoon.
Itd just be nice if I had some progress to show for my efforts. Is that really too much to ask, you stingy gods and goddesses?
But alas, fate was not so kind. She needed a distraction.
Clearing her throat, she spoke up. So, can people ever improve their affinities?
Distracting me with questions will not speed up your mastery over magic, girl.
Look, Im still doing my breathing exercises, arent I? Not like itll kill you to humor me.
The woman glared at her for a moment before answering. You can, though it is difficult. Quite difficult. Refining ones affinity to Apex is a requirement to progress from Mejai of Ash to Mejai of Realms. A chalIenge I will have to overcome someday.
Maiya burned Tanyas response into her memory. Okay, then what about arrows? Do people enchant arrows? she asked, firing off her next question without pause.
Tanya narrowed her eyes. These are very peculiar questions. How are you coming up with these?
I, uh, I just thought itd be useful. Yknow, if I ever run into a situation that needs this stuff? As a mejai, of course, she stammered.
The truth was that Vir had given her a list of questions to ask Tanya. He knew the mejai would never answer him directly, so Maiya was the go-between. She didnt mind. His questions always intrigued her as well.
Arrows cannot be enchanted with magic, no. The runes and patterns that have been handed down from the gods only function on a very specific type of crystal, mostly found and mined within Saian lands. All attempts to copy these onto other materialsincluding wood or metalhave proven impossible.
What about the arrowhead? Maiya asked.
Which means less arable land for them to grow crops on, Maiya said. Makes sense. They must have it rough.
Indeed. And that is quite enough chit chat. Now, focus on your training. I have affairs to attend to and will return later.
Tanya strode to the door and left the room, leaving Maiya alone. But if given the choice between studiously practicing her useless technique, or tailing Tanya to see what she was up to, her course was obvious.
Maiya got up and sneaked out of the room after her. Luckily, Tanya was not a difficult woman to follow. Unlike Riyan, who somehow moved as quietly as a snake despite his size, Tanya didnt even try to hide her presence. Almost like she wanted people to know she was coming.
That worked out well for Maiya, who picked up her loud voice all the way from the hallway. Shed entered Riyans room, and while the door to his bedroom was just as solid and thick as all the other doors in his abode, Maiya had learned a trick. There was a small gap at the very bottom of the door where airand soundtraveled. Shed found it when spying on their benefactor earlier.
She got down to her knees and planted her ear under the door.
leaving now. Use this situation to our advantage, Riyan boomed, his voice thundering through the room, all the way to the door. He sounded agitated.
Wont that tip off the princess?
Mina already knows. Cautious, these ones. Very cautious. Else, we'd have found them long ago. They'll wait for the perfect opportunity. They cannot succeed, Tanya. I shall remain here to guard the girl, in case there are more. Annihilate them. Leave no trace for her to find.
Yes, sir, Tanya said. Maiya was so shocked to hear her speaking deferentially that she almost bumped the door. Her heart pounded in her chest.
The one who set us up in Saran! Maiya realized. I have to warn Vir!
She sprinted into their bedroom, only to find Neel snoring happily on her bed.
The Dome! she thought. He spent most of his time there, so she hurried there next. But that too was empty. As was the grotto.
She sprinted outside, despite the late hour and saw that Bumpy was missing, his tracks still fresh in the sand. She'd only just missed her friend.
Hes gone somewhere? This late?
She started after him, then hesitated. This is dumb. I'll never catch up. She couldn't ride the other two Ash'va, either. Besides, if someone was hunting them, Riyan's sanctuary was the safest place to be right now. She forced herself to calm down, despite every shred of her being telling her to sprint after Vir.
Maiya ran back into the abode and returned to their bedroom. Long ago, theyd established a method for sending each other messages neither of them wanted Riyan to get wind of. It was especially useful if their training schedules didnt match for the day. Often, one of them would be fast asleep by the time the other returned from their training.
Maiya lifted Virs mattress and snaked her hand underneath, searching.
She soon found what she was looking fora small piece of parchment with a note hurriedly scribbled in charcoal.
Out on last minute training trip for Riyan. Finally good to get out! Back in few days. Keep up your training!
The blood left Maiyas face. She grew lightheaded and had to brace herself against the bed, taking deep breaths to calm down.
Vir was all alone out there. And he had no idea he was being hunted.
Next time: 48 - Some Dreams Do Come True
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Chapter 47: Of Gods And Magic
Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. That was what Maiyas life had become these daysa monotonous series of breathing exercises that had yielded not even an ounce of progress.
Is there anything else I can do? Maiya asked from where she sat on the floor of Tanyas bedroom. Both she and Vir had been on house arrest ever since they got back from Saran weeks ago, and it was honestly driving her crazy. Grotto soaks only did so much to cure cabin fever.
Her mejai mentor paced around her in circles, which of course, did absolutely nothing for her concentration.
Some Praniks naturally attune to the surrounding prana, Tanya lectured. Those who live in prana dense regions manifest affinities far more easily than villagers like you, growing up in gods-forsaken lands.
Gee, thanks. Trust me, if I couldve gone back and chosen my place of birth, Id have done it already. Anything I can actually do thatll help me out?
Keep practicing, Tanya said.
Maiya let out a sigh, returning to her breathing exercises. Pranayam, Tanya called it. If she really concentrated, she could just barely feel a hint of something as she breathed in and out. But then it was gone. Her progress felt agonizingly slow to her.
Unlike Vir.
The irony was not lost upon her. Someone who was supposed to be incapable of using prana was leaping past her, while shethe one with two affinitieslagged. And one of those was a Greater affinity! Not to mention that she had a mejai teacher, while Vir was out figuring things on his own.
At a startling rate, too. How the heck had he picked up not just one, but two Talents in a single week? She knew the answer, of course. Prana Vision was far more precious than her friend probably realized. If only he knew how much she struggled to sense even the tiniest bit of prana. To be able to see it? That felt like cheating to her.
Maiya shook her head, ashamed of those thoughts. She couldnt possibly complain. Vir had been ridiculed and ostracized for most of his life. His inability to use orbs hobbled him daily, making his everyday life a chore.
Riyan had called him a prodigy, but that wasnt true. He just worked hard. Absurdly hard. On every single thing he did. What right did she have to mope when she hadnt even given magic a fraction of the effort? She practically had a seric spoon.
Itd just be nice if I had some progress to show for my efforts. Is that really too much to ask, you stingy gods and goddesses?
But alas, fate was not so kind. She needed a distraction.
Clearing her throat, she spoke up. So, can people ever improve their affinities?
Distracting me with questions will not speed up your mastery over magic, girl.
Look, Im still doing my breathing exercises, arent I? Not like itll kill you to humor me.
The woman glared at her for a moment before answering. You can, though it is difficult. Quite difficult. Refining ones affinity to Apex is a requirement to progress from Mejai of Ash to Mejai of Realms. A chalIenge I will have to overcome someday.
Maiya burned Tanyas response into her memory. Okay, then what about arrows? Do people enchant arrows? she asked, firing off her next question without pause.
Tanya narrowed her eyes. These are very peculiar questions. How are you coming up with these?
I, uh, I just thought itd be useful. Yknow, if I ever run into a situation that needs this stuff? As a mejai, of course, she stammered.
The truth was that Vir had given her a list of questions to ask Tanya. He knew the mejai would never answer him directly, so Maiya was the go-between. She didnt mind. His questions always intrigued her as well.
Arrows cannot be enchanted with magic, no. The runes and patterns that have been handed down from the gods only function on a very specific type of crystal, mostly found and mined within Saian lands. All attempts to copy these onto other materialsincluding wood or metalhave proven impossible.
What about the arrowhead? Maiya asked.
Which means less arable land for them to grow crops on, Maiya said. Makes sense. They must have it rough.
Indeed. And that is quite enough chit chat. Now, focus on your training. I have affairs to attend to and will return later.
Tanya strode to the door and left the room, leaving Maiya alone. But if given the choice between studiously practicing her useless technique, or tailing Tanya to see what she was up to, her course was obvious.
Maiya got up and sneaked out of the room after her. Luckily, Tanya was not a difficult woman to follow. Unlike Riyan, who somehow moved as quietly as a snake despite his size, Tanya didnt even try to hide her presence. Almost like she wanted people to know she was coming.
That worked out well for Maiya, who picked up her loud voice all the way from the hallway. Shed entered Riyans room, and while the door to his bedroom was just as solid and thick as all the other doors in his abode, Maiya had learned a trick. There was a small gap at the very bottom of the door where airand soundtraveled. Shed found it when spying on their benefactor earlier.
She got down to her knees and planted her ear under the door.
leaving now. Use this situation to our advantage, Riyan boomed, his voice thundering through the room, all the way to the door. He sounded agitated.
Wont that tip off the princess?
Mina already knows. Cautious, these ones. Very cautious. Else, we'd have found them long ago. They'll wait for the perfect opportunity. They cannot succeed, Tanya. I shall remain here to guard the girl, in case there are more. Annihilate them. Leave no trace for her to find.
Yes, sir, Tanya said. Maiya was so shocked to hear her speaking deferentially that she almost bumped the door. Her heart pounded in her chest.
The one who set us up in Saran! Maiya realized. I have to warn Vir!
She sprinted into their bedroom, only to find Neel snoring happily on her bed.
The Dome! she thought. He spent most of his time there, so she hurried there next. But that too was empty. As was the grotto.
She sprinted outside, despite the late hour and saw that Bumpy was missing, his tracks still fresh in the sand. She'd only just missed her friend.
Hes gone somewhere? This late?
She started after him, then hesitated. This is dumb. I'll never catch up. She couldn't ride the other two Ash'va, either. Besides, if someone was hunting them, Riyan's sanctuary was the safest place to be right now. She forced herself to calm down, despite every shred of her being telling her to sprint after Vir.
Maiya ran back into the abode and returned to their bedroom. Long ago, theyd established a method for sending each other messages neither of them wanted Riyan to get wind of. It was especially useful if their training schedules didnt match for the day. Often, one of them would be fast asleep by the time the other returned from their training.
Maiya lifted Virs mattress and snaked her hand underneath, searching.
She soon found what she was looking fora small piece of parchment with a note hurriedly scribbled in charcoal.
Out on last minute training trip for Riyan. Finally good to get out! Back in few days. Keep up your training!
The blood left Maiyas face. She grew lightheaded and had to brace herself against the bed, taking deep breaths to calm down.
Vir was all alone out there. And he had no idea he was being hunted.
Next time: 48 - Some Dreams Do Come True
Chapter 47: Of Gods And MagicInhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. That was what Maiyas life had become these daysa monotonous series of breathing exercises that had yielded not even an ounce of progress. Is there anything else I can do? Maiya asked from where she sat on the floor of Tanyas bedroom. Both she and Vir had been on house arrest ever since they got back from Saran weeks ago, and it was honestly driving her crazy. Grotto soaks only did so much to cure cabin fever.Her mejai mentor paced around her in circles, which of course, did absolutely nothing for her concentration.Some Praniks naturally attune to the surrounding prana, Tanya lectured. Those who live in prana dense regions manifest affinities far more easily than villagers like you, growing up in gods-forsaken lands.Gee, thanks. Trust me, if I couldve gone back and chosen my place of birth, Id have done it already. Anything I can actually do thatll help me out?Keep practicing, Tanya said.Maiya let out a sigh, returning to her breathing exercises. Pranayam, Tanya called it. If she really concentrated, she could just barely feel a hint of something as she breathed in and out. But then it was gone. Her progress felt agonizingly slow to her.Unlike Vir. The irony was not lost upon her. Someone who was supposed to be incapable of using prana was leaping past her, while shethe one with two affinitieslagged. And one of those was a Greater affinity! Not to mention that she had a mejai teacher, while Vir was out figuring things on his own.At a startling rate, too. How the heck had he picked up not just one, but two Talents in a single week? She knew the answer, of course. Prana Vision was far more precious than her friend probably realized. If only he knew how much she struggled to sense even the tiniest bit of prana. To be able to see it? That felt like cheating to her.Maiya shook her head, ashamed of those thoughts. She couldnt possibly complain. Vir had been ridiculed and ostracized for most of his life. His inability to use orbs hobbled him daily, making his everyday life a chore. Riyan had called him a prodigy, but that wasnt true. He just worked hard. Absurdly hard. On every single thing he did. What right did she have to mope when she hadnt even given magic a fraction of the effort? She practically had a seric spoon.Itd just be nice if I had some progress to show for my efforts. Is that really too much to ask, you stingy gods and goddesses?But alas, fate was not so kind. She needed a distraction.Clearing her throat, she spoke up. So, can people ever improve their affinities?Distracting me with questions will not speed up your mastery over magic, girl.Look, Im still doing my breathing exercises, arent I? Not like itll kill you to humor me.The woman glared at her for a moment before answering. You can, though it is difficult. Quite difficult. Refining ones affinity to Apex is a requirement to progress from Mejai of Ash to Mejai of Realms. A chalIenge I will have to overcome someday.Maiya burned Tanyas response into her memory. Okay, then what about arrows? Do people enchant arrows? she asked, firing off her next question without pause.Tanya narrowed her eyes. These are very peculiar questions. How are you coming up with these?I, uh, I just thought itd be useful. Yknow, if I ever run into a situation that needs this stuff? As a mejai, of course, she stammered.The truth was that Vir had given her a list of questions to ask Tanya. He knew the mejai would never answer him directly, so Maiya was the go-between. She didnt mind. His questions always intrigued her as well.Arrows cannot be enchanted with magic, no. The runes and patterns that have been handed down from the gods only function on a very specific type of crystal, mostly found and mined within Saian lands. All attempts to copy these onto other materialsincluding wood or metalhave proven impossible.What about the arrowhead? Maiya asked.Which means less arable land for them to grow crops on, Maiya said. Makes sense. They must have it rough.Indeed. And that is quite enough chit chat. Now, focus on your training. I have affairs to attend to and will return later.Tanya strode to the door and left the room, leaving Maiya alone. But if given the choice between studiously practicing her useless technique, or tailing Tanya to see what she was up to, her course was obvious.Maiya got up and sneaked out of the room after her. Luckily, Tanya was not a difficult woman to follow. Unlike Riyan, who somehow moved as quietly as a snake despite his size, Tanya didnt even try to hide her presence. Almost like she wanted people to know she was coming.That worked out well for Maiya, who picked up her loud voice all the way from the hallway. Shed entered Riyans room, and while the door to his bedroom was just as solid and thick as all the other doors in his abode, Maiya had learned a trick. There was a small gap at the very bottom of the door where airand soundtraveled. Shed found it when spying on their benefactor earlier.She got down to her knees and planted her ear under the door.leaving now. Use this situation to our advantage, Riyan boomed, his voice thundering through the room, all the way to the door. He sounded agitated.Wont that tip off the princess?Mina already knows. Cautious, these ones. Very cautious. Else, we'd have found them long ago. They'll wait for the perfect opportunity. They cannot succeed, Tanya. I shall remain here to guard the girl, in case there are more. Annihilate them. Leave no trace for her to find.Yes, sir, Tanya said. Maiya was so shocked to hear her speaking deferentially that she almost bumped the door. Her heart pounded in her chest.The one who set us up in Saran! Maiya realized. I have to warn Vir!She sprinted into their bedroom, only to find Neel snoring happily on her bed.The Dome! she thought. He spent most of his time there, so she hurried there next. But that too was empty. As was the grotto.She sprinted outside, despite the late hour and saw that Bumpy was missing, his tracks still fresh in the sand. She'd only just missed her friend.Hes gone somewhere? This late?She started after him, then hesitated. This is dumb. I'll never catch up. She couldn't ride the other two Ash'va, either. Besides, if someone was hunting them, Riyan's sanctuary was the safest place to be right now. She forced herself to calm down, despite every shred of her being telling her to sprint after Vir. Maiya ran back into the abode and returned to their bedroom. Long ago, theyd established a method for sending each other messages neither of them wanted Riyan to get wind of. It was especially useful if their training schedules didnt match for the day. Often, one of them would be fast asleep by the time the other returned from their training.Maiya lifted Virs mattress and snaked her hand underneath, searching.She soon found what she was looking fora small piece of parchment with a note hurriedly scribbled in charcoal. Out on last minute training trip for Riyan. Finally good to get out! Back in few days. Keep up your training!The blood left Maiyas face. She grew lightheaded and had to brace herself against the bed, taking deep breaths to calm down.Vir was all alone out there. And he had no idea he was being hunted.Next time: 48 - Some Dreams Do Come True
