TBC: Chapter Twelve

The team hiked their way along the forest trail to the Tran Ceiabré clearing, refreshed from their morning training.

"I thought for sure you were going to catch Master Jalena off guard with that last turn," Valora told Gyan as she pushed a tree branch out of her way.

Gyan shook his head. "I thought so too. But, if she is reacting more to our energy field than skill, it is easy to understand how she can outmaneuver any of us no matter the move. It's like she is releasing or looking past reality."

"Hence the name, Relasu," Jarek chimed.

Valora cast Jarek a surprised look.

"What?" Jarek replied. "I can be super-minded like the both of you. I just choose to highlight other skills instead."

Brogan raised his eyebrows. "I think it's more that those moments accidentally pop out of your mouth without conscious direction."

Valora and Gyan laughed as Jarek leaped onto Brogan's back.

Brogan tossed Jarek off into the bushes with ease. He straightened his uniform and continued down the trail.

"Be ready, Brogan," Jarek said boldly as Lorcan helped him up. "You're on my list."

Brogan laughed and shook his head. "I'm not worried."

Gyan turned back to Valora. "Remember when I told you that I thought Master Jabari and Master Asia could see our energy?"

She nodded. "In the first week, when we started the Damsé and group meditation."

"I think we are about to finally learn how they do it."

"You mean through Relasu?"

Gyan nodded as the group entered the clearing. "It could be the key to understanding why the elder masters and older masters seem to know so much more about us than we do about them."

Jabari and Malik stood waiting for the group by the pool of the falls.

"Follow us," Malik said.

The two led the group off-trail for at least a mile deeper into the forest. They reached the same clearing that Malik had led Zareb to on the night of Rite of Nysa ceremony. The canopy of the trees was so thick that it blocked out most of the surrounding daylight.

Malik's skin automatically began to glow in the darker space as he faced the warriors. "Relasu is an art that is derived from my people. It is the art of keen observation. The concept means 'to release reality' and is the very basis of conducting magic. By looking past current reality or by emptying your mind of what you perceive to be true, only then can you focus on altering existence to the reality you desire."

"But, Sir, how do we create a new reality while having to deal with the reality we are in at the same time?" asked Hoshi.

"You can't," replied Malik. He smiled at the confused look on the warriors' faces. "With one singular sense at least." He started his usual pacing in front of the group like he did when he became excited about a topic. "As you were reminded of earlier, what happens when you split your dominant focus, Master Tarak?"

"Your action weakens," Tarak responded.

"Indeed," replied Malik. "Therefore, any energy directed toward two possibilities is not at its fullest power and risks more of the chance of being ineffective. But, when more than one possibility is occurring, which is always true, between the reality you wish and the reality that is, one must dominate your attention. Whichever reality that dominates is the one where your power resides. If you are in a situation where you are able to concentrate fully, then it is easier to release the perceived bounds of a reality that you wish to surpass. In the event that there is more than one circumstance pulling for your attention, you will never be able to utilize your full focus and thus full use of your power until you release concentration on the challengers."

"If you must focus your mind to make a decision for one, how do you hold a vision of what you want and still react to what is before you?" Valora asked.

"You can't," replied Malik.

The warriors looked at each other in bewilderment. Jarek scratched his head. Brogan cast Malik a look that said he thought the wizard might be the confused one.

"You must choose. The moment you react to the old, the old dominates your focus. This is why you must yield the old as you are learning in Chiséi and act on the new desire instead."

Intrigued by what Malik was saying, Gyan stared at him thoughtfully. "So, in a sense, the old is being allowed to move past as we yield. Then, we reach for a different action that is in line with our desire?"

"Exactly. It does not mean that you are unaware of the old, but you must yield your focus and attachment to the old as much as possible so that the new can emerge. Your power to alter circumstances resides where the majority of your focus is. This is one of the main principles behind creating effective magic."

Gyan nodded in understanding.

"As you change your dominant focus, even if you cannot place your entire focus on one subject, the reality that receives less and less of your directed thought begins to weaken and the new reality takes form in a cooperative context." Malik smiled. "Energy follows focus, even in battle. Therefore, by focusing more on redirecting one's energy rather than reacting to one action, their action begins to coincide with your intent because you are dominating the energetic desire. At that moment, an enemy's focus becomes split because as you solidify your focus on your dominant intent, the one in opposition attempts to anticipate your reaction to their action rather than focusing just on their own action. Any opposing moves that are directed at you become fragmented and lose power as your mind solidifies its focus on just redirecting the action to how it suits you."

The warriors stared at Malik in silence. Brogan's eyes widened further. Hoshi shook her head. Jarek put a hand on his forehead and sighed.

Malik's eyes twinkled as he gazed at the blank stares around him. "You already know of this process. I have only gone into slightly more detail."

"Slightly?" Jarek whispered.

"You have already practiced this concept."

"We have?" Lorcan said as he raised an eyebrow.

"Let's put it another way then, shall we? How do you teleport yourself out of danger, Master Jarek?"

"Uh…you must look past where you are," Jarek said.

"And then you move to where you wish to be," added Hoshi.

"Good," Malik replied. "It is the same concept as Relasu."

"Ah," Jarek said as understanding dawned across his face.

"You must let go of where you are and concentrate on what you wish to produce what is not yet seen or known. When teleporting to a new location amid danger, you must look past the danger at a different point of focus so energy can follow your desire. Some of you are already well practiced at this." Malik nodded in Tarak and Danika's direction. "And some of you could practice more."

Gyan shifted as unease passed through him. He recalled Danika teleporting from one space to another after she was bound with ropes that caught fire in Malik's classroom during their san training. Tarak also teleported himself out of danger as he fell from the caving roof of the Celestine Temple, but Gyan panicked when the time came to transport himself out of danger. He remembered feeling trapped, unable to see beyond Malik's flaming classroom as the ceiling caved above him. Although he had used his charisma to cast a shield over himself, if it hadn't been for Jalena appearing within his shield at the last minute to teleport them both out, he might not have survived.

"So Relasu is the basis of teleporting?" asked Aderes.

"Yes," replied Malik, "as it is with most magic. Relasu is also part of how we transform specific matter to match your intent." He nodded in Jabari's direction. "Master Jabari, if you will."

Jabari moved to stand directly in front of the group. He closed his eyes, breathed deeply for several moments, and then held his hand out in front of him, palm up. His eyes lit up as he concentrated on his hand. At once, a small trail of light began to weave above his hand as if it were drawing an object.

Hoshi gasped. The warriors instinctively took a step closer to watch.

Several moments later, a small, silver dagger appeared in Jabari's hand.

"How did you do that?" Brogan asked in amazement.

Jabari handed Brogan the dagger. "By using light energy to transform matter, Master Brogan," he stated. "A practice long referred to as Alchemy to many and Lumanthrúto the light warriors and Mysteis."

Although fascinated by Jabari's skill, Gyan wasn't as surprised as his teammates to see Jabari create the dagger. He had already watched Jalena demonstrate Alchemy when she created a monarosia flower at the Tran Ceiabré the first time he had met her there.

"All matter is at your fingertips and responds to the basis of its creation," Malik added. "Light is this basis. You all were born with the ability to manipulate light, and this light is guided through focus. Therefore, by narrowly focusing your light you can manipulate matter as you wish. However, this practice can require more recovery time than some of the other practices."

Gyan looked at Jabari, who was now leaning against one of the nearby trees and wiping sweat from his brow.

"Meaning, that we can become extremely fatigued after performing it?" Gyan asked.

Malik nodded. "It drains much of your energy, so it is advised to only use Lumanthrú in dire circumstances or when you are sure that you have time to recover. Although it generally takes more time to renew your energy, the more skilled you are at focusing while performing Lumanthrú, the faster the recovery time. You must become masterful at remaining entirely focused on the light you are guiding before an object will form. If you sway your focus even slightly, the form you wish to create will not appear."

Malik nodded to Jabari once more, and Jabari moved forward to his place in front of the warriors. He held out his hand before him, palm facing the ground. He furrowed his brow in concentration. Light began to swirl beneath his palm and then became more specific in form as it traced the outline of a small plant emerging from the ground.

His mind is filled with what he wishes to create, Malik told the masters. Now watch the light as he introduces alternative thoughts.

Jabari blinked several times and the light that outlined the plant halted and swirled in a random pattern. After several moments, the light expanded outward into a small lingering mist, where it remained until Jabari's hand dropped to his side.

"Why does the light linger?" Malik asked the warriors.

"It's waiting for direction?" Jarek guessed.

"Good, Master Jarek."

Jarek grinned as Valora shoved him lightly in the arm.

Malik waved a glowing white hand before the warriors as he did the first time the group visited his classroom. The clearing in the forest and the surrounding trees became semi-transparent, showing the small particles of light that resided throughout the air and within every object in the forest.

Gyan reached out his hand and touched the tips of his fingers to the small floating lights. A warm sensation spread through his hand.

"All things contain what, Master Aderes?" Malik asked.

"Light."

"Which is always doing what, Master Danika?"

"Vibrating."

Malik held out his hand and many of the surrounding particles in the air gathered and began to swirl quickly above his palm. "This vibrating light is the energy that is always awaiting your direction. With my thought or my intent, I have directed the energy to gather above my hand."

The particles above Malik's palm began to slow and then bounced around in different directions, still buzzing quietly. "My desire brings the energy to a ready point, but when there is no focal point or if contradictory vibrations are occurring due to multiple points of focus, then this energy becomes scattered and the momentum of that energy slows. However, once thought is held consistent and is not contradicted by other thoughts, energy becomes concentrated, ready to respond to your directed focus. As you align your mind, the energy aligns as well, and momentum ensues."

Malik stared intensely at the energy. Light particles emerged from his hand and joined the particles in the air. The particles gathered into two tightly knit, bright streams. The streams weaved together, increasing in length and speed. Malik lowered his hand and stepped back but remained focused on the energy before him. The longer he stared at the energy streams, the faster they moved. After a few moments, a silver glowing, thick sword with a jewel-encrusted hilt appeared before the warriors. Malik grabbed the hilt of the sword and the particles returned once more to the air, where they buzzingly floated to await further direction.

The warriors smiled in awe.

"When you are using Lumanthrú, the energy you are weaving becomes visible. To make it easier for you to concentrate and believe in what you are practicing, I have made the light particles visible for you at this time. However, energy works in the same manner even when this vibrating light is not apparent to your eyes.

"Concentrate on the particles near you and note how they respond."

Gyan focused on the light particles closest to him. With his concentration, they began to buzz harder until several gathered and moved toward him. They vibrated excitedly before his eyes.

"The clearer and more stable your focus, the more certain you can be that your manifestation will appear," Malik said. "What I and Master Jabari have demonstrated to you is individual power. What do you believe can happen when many share the same focus?"

"More powerful or larger manifestations," replied Valora.

"Indeed," Malik replied. He reached into a pocket on the inside of his robes and pulled out a single blue monarosia. "The monorosias usually do not grow this far into the forest due to the thick amount of shade here. However, just to demonstrate how the power of joint Alchemy works, I think we can provide some a temporary home."

"But, wouldn't the conditions have to be ideal or available for a creation to occur?" Valora asked.

"That would seem logical, Master Valora," replied Malik, "but what is it that we have learned about perception?"

"That there is always more than what we believe we see," said Gyan.

"Right you are once more, Master Gyan Philosopher!" Malik exclaimed.

The group laughed as Gyan blushed. He smiled. Malik had not used his nickname since their time in his old classroom.

"If you remember, there are many things that our senses are aware of even though we mentally may not perceive them in the moment. We may not be able to observe that there are conditions that would allow our creation to occur, but they may very well be. As Master Jabari said to you earlier, you must yield to the judgment of what you observe to open to other available information. Otherwise, there would be a limitation on what is possible, and in all my years I have found no such thing. Rest assured, if the context surrounding your desire happens to be opposing your manifestation, you will be directed to a participating environment as your desire solidifies in power." He looked at each in the group. "Are you ready to transform thought?"

"How do we do it?" Jarek asked in uncertainty. "I mean, do we face each other or…?"

"You may do as you wish, Master Jarek," Jabari stated. "You may lie down, stand, sit…The position you are in for performing Lumanthrú is not as important as your focus. Just get comfortable."

Malik held out the flower to Danika to pass around. "This is what we will focus on. In your mind, see the monarosia growing around the area. The more detailed you are in imagining what you wish, the better."

Gyan looked at the light particles floating around him. They began to vibrate harder as if they couldn't wait to get to work.

"Does everyone have the flower in mind?" Malik asked.

When the team nodded, he said, "Good, now get comfortable and maintain the vision."

Danika turned her back to the group and sat on the ground. Tarak went to stand further away from the group and sat on the dead trunk of a fallen tree. Gyan remained standing but turned to face the trees at the edge of his side of the clearing.

After the warriors chose a position, Malik continued telepathically. Now empty your mind, and then fill it with only the image of the flower. Do not introduce other thoughts that pull you away from visualizing the creation of the flower. Only see what it is that you wish to appear, but most importantly do not doubt your ability to create.

Gyan pictured the monarosia in his head. An image of Jalena using Alchemy to create a monarosia at the Tran Ceiabré filled his mind. The light particles near him, which had begun to dance in a figure eight, fell still but remained buzzing in place. Gyan took a deep breath and tried to ignore his building frustration. He stared at the particles again, willing them to cooperate with his desire, but immediately a memory of picking the flower at the Celestine Temple and handing it to Jalena popped into his mind. The light danced around and fell still once more.

Everyone pause for a moment, Malik said.

The warriors turned to face Malik. Gyan could tell by his teammates' expressions that he wasn't the only one struggling.

"You have just experienced the very reason that many find Alchemy too difficult to attempt. Can you tell me what that is?" Malik asked.

Several warriors spoke at once. "Memories."

Malik nodded. "With every thought that arises within the mind, there is always a joining thought. Much of the time, this thought is tied deeply to past perceptions. Most of you likely experienced a memory of the first time you saw the flower or something meaningful to you that involved the flower. You may even think about the color—if you dislike or like it—whether you even like flowers… In other words, this oneobject that seems simple enough to create for a master is connected to many other thoughts. When your mind is flooded by other thoughts that dismantle your focus, you begin to doubt what you are doing. Then your focus scatters even more, which can cause your belief to wane."

Gyan's mind eased as Malik spoke. He smiled as the wizard pointed his finger in the air.

"But, let me remind you of who you are! You have mastered mental focus and senses already through meditation and the Damsé. You are not a novice at this. Do not forget your training. Apply the same technique, and you will be successful. Now…" he scanned the group with an amused expression, "…we try again."

Gyan faced the trees again. As he began to think of the flower, the particles around him jumped excitedly. The flower faded to the background of his thoughts as Jalena's face came into the forefront of his mind. An image of a vase of monarosias sitting on his family's dining table followed. Gyan closed his eyes. As he kept repeatedly dismissing his memories in an attempt to empty his past connections to the flower, the image of the flower floated to the foreground of his mind.

He turned his hands before him, palms up. Light energy began to seep from his eyes and hands and joined the particles around him. The particles began to weave in a figure eight, picking up speed. He narrowed his focus further to the flower in his mind. He noted the depth of color and the details of the petals. The scent of the flower flooded his nose. He felt the softness of the petals across his fingertips.

Gyan's eyes flew open as more light spilled from his gaze. The image of the flower was now crystal-clear in his mind. As he duplicated the image of the monarosia in his thoughts, he vaguely noted the particles around him. They circulated before him faster and faster until a single beam of light danced before him. Multiple balls of light seemed to come from the furthest parts of the clearing and joined the light before him, creating a thicker, faster-moving light stream.

A thrill of energy surged through him as he noted the evidence of his focus. His hair flipped in the breeze that had suddenly spiked throughout the clearing. Cracks of light began to shine through the canopy of the trees. The stream of light danced faster as it whipped through the edge of the clearing near Gyan. He suppressed a laugh of delight as the image in his mind formed physically between the trees. Although exhilarating, it also felt odd that he was witnessing the image in his mind come to life before him within a shared moment.

He lowered his hands and the light particles broke away from the flowers between the trees and floated buzzingly in the air once more.

Look around you.

Gyan started at hearing Malik's voice in his mind.

He looked around the clearing. Thick hedges of blue monarosias now stood between the trees at the edge of the clearing.

Gyan and the warriors grinned broadly at their joint creation. However, smiles disappeared as quickly as they showed. The effect of using his power in such an intense way hit Gyan all at once. Fatigue swallowed his mind and body like the weight of a waterfall crashing down over him. He wiped the sweat from his brow and dropped his hands to his knees.

"I'm just gonna…" Jarek looked around, "…lie down."

He and Lorcan dropped to the grass as the rest of the warriors laughed.

"It is important that you rest now," Jabari stated. "Practicing Lumanthrú draws forth a large amount of internal energy through a suppressed physical form. Although the energy is endless in supply, the physical form must expand to allow for it, which is the reason Lumanthrú causes extreme fatigue afterward. As light warriors, your capacity to manage this energy is already heightened, but the consequences of it are still experienced."

"You have all witnessed the effects of joint concentration and focus," Malik stated, sounding pleased with the group. "This same concentration is what ignites the Lumfáinne when warriors gather together with the intent to protect or defend. Since the Lumfáinne comes naturally to you through instinct, the focus to ignite it is slightly easier even though you must concentrate intensely on controlling your power at the time."

"We will dismiss you now to rest. However, for your work tonight…" Jabari was interrupted by several groans. He smiled. "…I want you to all think of how what you just experienced ties into our warrior philosophy as well as how the Damsé Esprimiente, Relasu, Chiséi, and Lumanthrú are all connected. Meet me here at tomorrow light at the usual time, and we will begin again."

Jabari and Malik bowed in dismissal. Jarek and Lorcan slowly stood, and the students returned the bow. Malik disappeared within a channel of starlight, and Jabari led the warriors back through the forest.

After the warriors shuffled through the door of their home, Brogan, Jarek, and Tarak made their way slowly to the dining table where several dishes of food had been prepared for the group. The rest of the team bypassed their meal and took the path up the stairs to their rooms.

Gyan grabbed the stairway railing and hauled himself upward. It took every ounce of strength that he had to move his feet up the stairs. He fell across his bed without bothering to undress. Ponderings of Jabari's assignment faded too quickly from his mind as his eyelids drooped and sleep overcame him.

***