Post by Lone Dancer on Oct 3, 2021 17:18:31 GMT
As I was being led into the cave, there was a considerable difference in temperature from outside, to a much cooler, just edging the point of being chilly. Which made sense, seeing how the place's main inhabitant was an icewing. The cave widened, becoming larger than I initially thought. The walls were all rough-hewn, as if someone took the time to carve them out. Simple furniture, such as a table made from a wood the same faded beige color as the outside ground.
The icewing dropped me off once again, leaving me to scramble back into proper shape. She collapsed on a crudely crafted bed, sighing in relief and comfort. I was just left kinda just standing there, so I took another glance around. The only other noticeable pieces of furniture was a sparsely filled bookshelf hawed from the same faded beige wood, and a desk nearby it, which had a closed book in a dark leather cover on it.
I found myself drawn to the book, which the icewing noticed, and waved off, her gauntlets clinking at the movement
"Just a basic mediation manual. Nothing fancy, though useful if you wanna improve your Astra regeneration" Despite the explanation, I was still pretty clueless. I picked it up, the dark leather ruffling a bit underneath my claws. The idea of any sort of knowledge of this new world I found myself on was tempting, as well as having a better idea on what in the moons Astra was.
"If you want to give it a read, feel free to. Probably will help you more than me" That second sentence was muttered underneath her breath, but I still caught it. I decided to decline to comment. Riffling through the book, which was rather thin, I found many diagrams and confusing words. Still, a chance to learn was better than none, so I started from the beginning.
Strange sigils covered the pages, which were made of this not quite papery substance. However, the glyphs and sigils had the foreign sensation of flowing, despite not moving. The more I stared, trying to make sense, the more the seemed to flow, until something clicked mentally. I began flipping through the pages, the diagrams and many symbols practically glowing without light, a sensation I took in stride.
Concepts began to slide into place, ideas that I never even thought of. Before I knew, I finished the book, with the icewing giving me a bemused look. I should really learn her name. That thought flitted away, as I wanted to excitedly try something. The memory of the concepts within the book were still fresh, so I settled down, and closed my eyes, like the book suggested.
Breathing deeply in a rhythm, my mind began to cycle through something. I wasn't quite sure what it fully was yet, but I was edging closer to it. I felt kinda ridiculous, but I pushed through that, as to break what little flow I have so far achieved. I sat there in silence, only the faint buzzing of my ears and my own breathing to keep my company. Slowly, the outside world began to fade away, as I drew deeper into a recess within my mind.
I was in pitch blackness, but little motes of colored light began to shine through the veil. Little mites of color that I began to draw towards me; using my deep breathing as a 'net' of sorts to catch them with. Once the tiny motes were close to me, I felt them flow into my position in this strange space, in a sensation I couldn't describe beyond inhaling a tiny ember, yet it was both hot and cold, but not unpleasantly so on either end.
The motes of light went somewhere within me, but I wasn't quite sure yet. I could feel it, but couldn't see it. Unfortunately, my confusion made me lose this state, and I began slipping upwards, trying to claw my way back to this state. Still, it was futile, and I felt myself opening my eyes. I stood up, stretching, and tried to take a step.
I promptly tripped over nothing, as my legs just gave out underneath. The icewing couldn't contain herself any further, and began snorting, before full on laughing. I felt somewhat embarrassed, but I quashed it down. I had to admit, it was somewhat funny. Probably even more so to an outside observer.
Once she contained herself, the icewing did her best to bite back her grin as she spoke.
"Sorry about that. You did well, not many get that far on their first try! Still have a lot to improve though, but I'm sure you'll get there. Anyways, I guess that's your true welcome to the madness that is this place." It began to truly strike me yet again, that this was only day one. I entered a massive gate, entered a new world with a crimson sky, two orange suns, and I watched as a dragon pulverized a giant mole monster thing, or a Molezer, as the icewing stated before. The I got dragged by said icewing through this alien wasteland, into a cave, and then proceeded to do something. Astra mediation or whatnot. I wasn't entirely sure, as my mind was still spinning and reeling from all that was happening.
I was just trying to my best to take everything stride as much as I could. Somewhere within my chest, I could swear that I was feeling those motes of light bouncing around. Another sign(?) that this wasn't some weird dream. The icewing stretched again, gauntlets clinking. That's when I finally figured out the light source for this cave. Not sure why I haven't noticed it before now, but there was metal lantern hanging from the ceiling from a wire, producing a soft amber light. But the light was steady and didn't flicker like a flame.
I shook my head, trying to center and focus myself. Getting distracted was not the best thing to do here.
"Well, it's becoming night time soon, so don't head out. Things come out at night, things I'd rather not face. I'd suggest getting some sleep, as tomorrow is going to be a busy day" She yawned, and I did my best to not yawn as well, and then proceeded to fall asleep in the fastest display of slumber I've ever seen, not even bothering to take off her gauntlets.
I'm not sure if she was willing to fall asleep so easily next to a stranger because she either trusted me, or I was of so little threat to her. I think it's a mix of both. Even if I wanted to for whatever reason betray her, there was not any benefit of doing so, and if I failed, I would have an angry, strong icewing who could probably literally snap me in half like a twig. A pleasant thought, to be sure.
I cleared my mind of these thoughts, tying to focus on other matters. Of which there where not many. She was right, I should probably get some sleep. I was getting tired, and I wasn't sure how long I was out when I was reading and then doing what the manual told me. I paced around, trying to find a good spot, before finding none, as there was only one bed, the icewing on it.
I decided to just settle down on the floor, and to close my eyes. Thankfully, sleep found me quite soon, and I fell into a dreamless slumber, everything fading to black. I thought I saw words, but I was dead asleep before I could read them.
[Astra increased by 1]
***
The icewing dropped me off once again, leaving me to scramble back into proper shape. She collapsed on a crudely crafted bed, sighing in relief and comfort. I was just left kinda just standing there, so I took another glance around. The only other noticeable pieces of furniture was a sparsely filled bookshelf hawed from the same faded beige wood, and a desk nearby it, which had a closed book in a dark leather cover on it.
I found myself drawn to the book, which the icewing noticed, and waved off, her gauntlets clinking at the movement
"Just a basic mediation manual. Nothing fancy, though useful if you wanna improve your Astra regeneration" Despite the explanation, I was still pretty clueless. I picked it up, the dark leather ruffling a bit underneath my claws. The idea of any sort of knowledge of this new world I found myself on was tempting, as well as having a better idea on what in the moons Astra was.
"If you want to give it a read, feel free to. Probably will help you more than me" That second sentence was muttered underneath her breath, but I still caught it. I decided to decline to comment. Riffling through the book, which was rather thin, I found many diagrams and confusing words. Still, a chance to learn was better than none, so I started from the beginning.
Strange sigils covered the pages, which were made of this not quite papery substance. However, the glyphs and sigils had the foreign sensation of flowing, despite not moving. The more I stared, trying to make sense, the more the seemed to flow, until something clicked mentally. I began flipping through the pages, the diagrams and many symbols practically glowing without light, a sensation I took in stride.
Concepts began to slide into place, ideas that I never even thought of. Before I knew, I finished the book, with the icewing giving me a bemused look. I should really learn her name. That thought flitted away, as I wanted to excitedly try something. The memory of the concepts within the book were still fresh, so I settled down, and closed my eyes, like the book suggested.
Breathing deeply in a rhythm, my mind began to cycle through something. I wasn't quite sure what it fully was yet, but I was edging closer to it. I felt kinda ridiculous, but I pushed through that, as to break what little flow I have so far achieved. I sat there in silence, only the faint buzzing of my ears and my own breathing to keep my company. Slowly, the outside world began to fade away, as I drew deeper into a recess within my mind.
I was in pitch blackness, but little motes of colored light began to shine through the veil. Little mites of color that I began to draw towards me; using my deep breathing as a 'net' of sorts to catch them with. Once the tiny motes were close to me, I felt them flow into my position in this strange space, in a sensation I couldn't describe beyond inhaling a tiny ember, yet it was both hot and cold, but not unpleasantly so on either end.
The motes of light went somewhere within me, but I wasn't quite sure yet. I could feel it, but couldn't see it. Unfortunately, my confusion made me lose this state, and I began slipping upwards, trying to claw my way back to this state. Still, it was futile, and I felt myself opening my eyes. I stood up, stretching, and tried to take a step.
I promptly tripped over nothing, as my legs just gave out underneath. The icewing couldn't contain herself any further, and began snorting, before full on laughing. I felt somewhat embarrassed, but I quashed it down. I had to admit, it was somewhat funny. Probably even more so to an outside observer.
Once she contained herself, the icewing did her best to bite back her grin as she spoke.
"Sorry about that. You did well, not many get that far on their first try! Still have a lot to improve though, but I'm sure you'll get there. Anyways, I guess that's your true welcome to the madness that is this place." It began to truly strike me yet again, that this was only day one. I entered a massive gate, entered a new world with a crimson sky, two orange suns, and I watched as a dragon pulverized a giant mole monster thing, or a Molezer, as the icewing stated before. The I got dragged by said icewing through this alien wasteland, into a cave, and then proceeded to do something. Astra mediation or whatnot. I wasn't entirely sure, as my mind was still spinning and reeling from all that was happening.
I was just trying to my best to take everything stride as much as I could. Somewhere within my chest, I could swear that I was feeling those motes of light bouncing around. Another sign(?) that this wasn't some weird dream. The icewing stretched again, gauntlets clinking. That's when I finally figured out the light source for this cave. Not sure why I haven't noticed it before now, but there was metal lantern hanging from the ceiling from a wire, producing a soft amber light. But the light was steady and didn't flicker like a flame.
I shook my head, trying to center and focus myself. Getting distracted was not the best thing to do here.
"Well, it's becoming night time soon, so don't head out. Things come out at night, things I'd rather not face. I'd suggest getting some sleep, as tomorrow is going to be a busy day" She yawned, and I did my best to not yawn as well, and then proceeded to fall asleep in the fastest display of slumber I've ever seen, not even bothering to take off her gauntlets.
I'm not sure if she was willing to fall asleep so easily next to a stranger because she either trusted me, or I was of so little threat to her. I think it's a mix of both. Even if I wanted to for whatever reason betray her, there was not any benefit of doing so, and if I failed, I would have an angry, strong icewing who could probably literally snap me in half like a twig. A pleasant thought, to be sure.
I cleared my mind of these thoughts, tying to focus on other matters. Of which there where not many. She was right, I should probably get some sleep. I was getting tired, and I wasn't sure how long I was out when I was reading and then doing what the manual told me. I paced around, trying to find a good spot, before finding none, as there was only one bed, the icewing on it.
I decided to just settle down on the floor, and to close my eyes. Thankfully, sleep found me quite soon, and I fell into a dreamless slumber, everything fading to black. I thought I saw words, but I was dead asleep before I could read them.
[Astra increased by 1]
***
Morning came all too soon.