This was not a victory. This was a stalemate. He had managed to defeat Miro through the Undead's own carelessness and the intervention of his Familiar. It was not a true win on Venser's part, and though he knew this in his mind, his body did not.
Victory does not feel like this. This is... beyond victory. Distinct.
Venser had never, in his entire life, felt so elated. Deep, fresh breaths filled his lungs as the Rush twin focused upon the djed within his body, deep, ecstatic pleasure rolling down his spine, shivers erupting along his form and spreading the sheer, exhilarated joy of life through him. Adrenaline coursed through his body like djed, pumping in his veins, pupils dilated, heart pumping. The very network of his nervous system was alight with sheer, uninhibited and overwhelming fire.
Every fibre of his being echoed it, every atom in his body vibrating with the unfathomable reaches of his progress. Little by little, Venser Rush felt something. He felt that he was tapping upon the precipice of personal magic, digging deeply into the weave that was his own djed. He felt his blood boil in his veins as a wide set grin placed itself upon his features, his breath almost ragged as he half-listened to Ender speak. The Rush twin was no longer in his mind. He did not listen to or acknowledge Ender's words with his own, simply nodding twice, his brain unconsciously shelving the request to 'stop by' Miro's apartment the next day.
Venser didn't care in the slightest about words at this moment. He felt the weave of his body with a totally distinct understanding. The astral pathways were not mere guides to pull djed through the body. They were not a woven web of lines and passage. They were the portals of djed, the means of communication between the body and soul. Mastering the means of transporting djed through implementation of the astral pathways was the way that the Flux worked. A simple premise to understand, yet Venser Rush understood it now at a completely different level. Venser breathed with the looming awareness that his body was the expansion of his soul, the medium with which the greatest extension of his manipulation of djed took form. Not Reimancy, not Miro, Ender, or Verin's Hypnotism. The Flux. Auristics. These personal magicks were the ones that he drew the greatest sense of elation from.
And... with this understanding, Venser evolved.
Venser stared at Ender for several moments before he finally found awareness of the world again, his lips set into a grin that neither Miro nor Ender had ever seen before. The hunger in his expression was inlaid and ever-present upon his lips, a lust for the power and understanding of the magicks that he was learning of building deeply into his psyche, the product of one's pursuit of magical knowledge clearly, powerfully, and deeply embedding itself into the weave of Venser Rush's soul. It was only after a chime that Venser finally replied to Ender, his gaze then cast over Miro's inert body.
"Thank you, Ender. As you suggested, I will take my leave. And I thank you. Your quick thinking likely saved my life this day. I owe you a debt, friend."
Words felt hollow and empty as Venser Rush finally understood what it was to feel for the first time. Surging adrenaline coursed through his body with the overwhelming self-awareness, the incandescent passion swirling in his body, further motivating him. Inspiring him.
Keeping him alive.
Venser managed one last smile to Ender before he turned to leave the Vitrax, ignoring the prompts and commentary from the Ebonstryfe on his way out. He needed to rest. And with rest, reflection would come.
Victory does not feel like this. This is... beyond victory. Distinct.
Venser had never, in his entire life, felt so elated. Deep, fresh breaths filled his lungs as the Rush twin focused upon the djed within his body, deep, ecstatic pleasure rolling down his spine, shivers erupting along his form and spreading the sheer, exhilarated joy of life through him. Adrenaline coursed through his body like djed, pumping in his veins, pupils dilated, heart pumping. The very network of his nervous system was alight with sheer, uninhibited and overwhelming fire.
Every fibre of his being echoed it, every atom in his body vibrating with the unfathomable reaches of his progress. Little by little, Venser Rush felt something. He felt that he was tapping upon the precipice of personal magic, digging deeply into the weave that was his own djed. He felt his blood boil in his veins as a wide set grin placed itself upon his features, his breath almost ragged as he half-listened to Ender speak. The Rush twin was no longer in his mind. He did not listen to or acknowledge Ender's words with his own, simply nodding twice, his brain unconsciously shelving the request to 'stop by' Miro's apartment the next day.
Venser didn't care in the slightest about words at this moment. He felt the weave of his body with a totally distinct understanding. The astral pathways were not mere guides to pull djed through the body. They were not a woven web of lines and passage. They were the portals of djed, the means of communication between the body and soul. Mastering the means of transporting djed through implementation of the astral pathways was the way that the Flux worked. A simple premise to understand, yet Venser Rush understood it now at a completely different level. Venser breathed with the looming awareness that his body was the expansion of his soul, the medium with which the greatest extension of his manipulation of djed took form. Not Reimancy, not Miro, Ender, or Verin's Hypnotism. The Flux. Auristics. These personal magicks were the ones that he drew the greatest sense of elation from.
And... with this understanding, Venser evolved.
Venser stared at Ender for several moments before he finally found awareness of the world again, his lips set into a grin that neither Miro nor Ender had ever seen before. The hunger in his expression was inlaid and ever-present upon his lips, a lust for the power and understanding of the magicks that he was learning of building deeply into his psyche, the product of one's pursuit of magical knowledge clearly, powerfully, and deeply embedding itself into the weave of Venser Rush's soul. It was only after a chime that Venser finally replied to Ender, his gaze then cast over Miro's inert body.
"Thank you, Ender. As you suggested, I will take my leave. And I thank you. Your quick thinking likely saved my life this day. I owe you a debt, friend."
Words felt hollow and empty as Venser Rush finally understood what it was to feel for the first time. Surging adrenaline coursed through his body with the overwhelming self-awareness, the incandescent passion swirling in his body, further motivating him. Inspiring him.
Keeping him alive.
Venser managed one last smile to Ender before he turned to leave the Vitrax, ignoring the prompts and commentary from the Ebonstryfe on his way out. He needed to rest. And with rest, reflection would come.
