Completed [The Bronze Wood] The Unlocking

[Fallon]

17th Autumn 503AV
10th Bell

Fallon gave a mighty yawn as she stretched. Autumn had come at last; the horrid heat of the summer had gone and in turn left only the crisp air. Winter was approaching indeed, but that was far from the concern of the young Fallon. She breathed in the fresh air, and clapped her hands together in a sense of glee that she was outside of the stone walls of Syliras. The Bronze woods beckoned both her and her mentor this day, though as to why exactly was still a mystery to her.

“Fallon! Oh Gods Fallon! Stop running off ahead!” came the somewhat nagging shout from her mentor, “I’m not as young as I once was!”
The girl paused for a moment as she watched the older man pull himself through the undergrowth. Coppery hair fell, the piercing eyes of an out of breath gentleman landing upon her. His palms rested on his knees, the kukri gripped tightly within his right, before he wiped his brow with the cuff off his shirt.

“How in the… How do you run so fast? Are all children like that? Never mind,” Aleric Skylar gave a flick of the hand and straightened, “Now stop running off. It’s bad for my health and it will be bad for yours if you get caught in something.”

She watched him shake his head and walk away, untangling himself from the undergrowth as he did. Fallon herself though stuck to trudging quietly behind him, keeping her head down and her tiny hands shoved into her oversized coat. Loose shoes trundled after him, a young eyes occasionally staring up at his back. Fallon had first met and spoken to Aleric a couple of years ago, or perhaps more correctly he was the one to talk to her. He had questioned as to what she was trying to achieve from diving under a table he was sat at, to which she responded almost as if in challenge to him with, “The witch hunters will get me!”

Never the less, the statement then caused a few low chuckles at the time and a few times after that. But as time went on and the two continued to run into each other did the pair become adjusted to each other’s presence. By the time her tenth year came round, Aleric had taken her on as a student and focused on educating her somewhat curious mind outside of books. She watched the man pause, and then spin sharply round clapping his hands together with great enthusiasm.

“So… um… Mister Skyl-“
“Aleric, Fallon dear! Just Aleric is fine.”
“But I was told to respect my eld-“
“Do it…” He loomed over her.
“Yes! Mist- I mean… Uh… Aleric…?”

[Radiant]

OOCAlright, I'm making use of what you told me and this post to determine Aleric's character. If I went too OOC, tell me, mkay?

The child was very spirited, Aleric could give her that. He saw so much potential in her... potential that stretches beyond the ordinary mundane people of Syliras. And now, it was time she began the first step of realizing that potential. He sat down on the ground and motioned for the little girl to sit in front of him.

"Fallon..." He gently smiled and ruffled her hair "Remember about the... power I told you about?" His expression then turned a bit serious, but still gentle.

"It's a magic called 'Projection'. The ability to..." He pondered to form simple words "...detach some of your astral body and control it so you can manipulate objects without even touching them" He hoped Fallon could understand, but she's a smart girl, he was sure she could.

"Let me show you..." Aleric then picked up rock and throw it far away. He then put his right hand to his pockets and began focusing his djed to detach his right arm's astral body. He began dislodging the wrists then proceeded carefully to detach the joints in his fingers. Once he had done so... he sent his ethereal hand to pick up the previously thrown rock.

The rock seemed to float up by itself and slowly made its way back to Aleric an Fallon, it bobbed up and down in front of Fallon's eyes. "See, Fallon? My hand is holding this rock right now..."

He smiled, trying to impress the girl "I can grant you this power... are you willing, child?"

[Fallon]

Fallon obeyed his gesture, perching quietly on her haunches whilst her fingers played with the fallen auburn leaves. Autumn, it always produced such clear, vivid colours. She twirled the stem of one of them round between her forefinger and thumb, before dragging her eyes onto her mentor. There was a blink, a gentle tilting of the head before she gave a strong nod, “I remember.”

She straightened up her hair whilst he explained, cheeks puffing as she tried to comprehend what he was trying to get across. Following the stone, the girl clambered up to her feet and hovered over it as she watched with a strong set curiosity. Hands on her hips she leaned in to inspect it, taking slow pace round before finally pulled away. There was a strong look of dissatisfaction on her face as she pondered upon the hovering stone.

With the foot tapping away she turned her head back to Aleric. Something else was on her mind other than the potential of receiving power. The strong, relentless, thirst of knowledge.

“Astral body?” she questioned, “What’s that?”

The girl eased herself back down, eyes drilling into him as she waited for an answer. It was something she had never heard of before. Of course, she’d heard of the soul, and of ghosts. Everybody knew of those. But this ‘Astral body’ well, it seemed a bit odd. The offering of this power however took a few chimes to sink truly in. There was a sharp intake of breath, eyes turning up to the forest canopy.

Power. It was something that was there for the taking. But with it came responsibility, among other things. She was already aware of how the others treated mages and witches, a strange dislike because of their abilities. There was no trust between them, or at least there seemed to be very little.

“I’m willing but…” her lips twisted and her cheeks turned to a pink hue, “It’s not going to hurt is it?”

[Radiant]

"Hmmm..." Feeling that the show was enough, Aleric gently dropped the stone back to the ground. He inhaled and began attaching back his limbs, staring with his extremities then slowly moving to his wrist join. Once the process was completed, he exhaled to relax himself.

The expected question was proposed by the girl, Aleric opted to just explain the whole concept like how a teacher to his student. "I think you already know that every living being, perhaps even the Divine themselves, have something called 'Souls'... well, I have taught you the basics about them. They are the spiritual essence of a living being, it's the purest of of Djed known to exist" He then paused, forming his words for his next explanations.

"Soul is not one solid thing, it comprised of layers... from the innermost is the "Soulcore", it's the deepest part of the soul. It is what gives the soul the property of being this soul. This part is responsible for the concept of self but carries no other information" He paused again, giving Fallon a chance to receive the information, if the girl already knew this then it wouldn't hurt to remind her, what he was about to do to the girl was once-in-a-lifetime moment.

"The second layer is "Persona", containing the soul's personality, feelings, skills and memories. And now... the third layer, the Astral Body, which is responsible for interacting with the world. The astral body maneuvers the physical body like a puppet, and is synchronized with it... understand, Fallon?" He smiled and showed her his hands, making a waving motion to accentuate his explanation.

"We actually command our astral body to move our physical body. Projection is the art of detaching the astral from the physical and moving them independently..." He hoped his explanation sufficed. He then both of his hands to each of Fallon's shoulders, reassuring the girl "Fallon... no, it's not going to hurt, you have to relax, trust me, and don't panic".

"Child, are you ready?"

[Fallon]

Fallon listened, her young mind remembering the lessons she had before finally began to understand what he was on about. She gave a nod, her hands coming together as she imagined something it would relate to.
“So like an onion?” she cocked her head to one side before she explained herself with a bad analogy, “I mean you have the whole piece then the layers of it. Each of which make up part of it. The seed being the soulcore, the middle fleshy bit being the persona, and the astral body being the outer surface? Except… well the layers don’t make you cry when you cut them.”

It made sense to her, though to her mentor she was not so sure. Satisfied with his explanation she gave a nod, “So the astral body is a bit like a puppet string? No… Like a stick in a glove. Or…” there was a pause, “Well like lots of things really. I guess.” She watched the waving hand as she tried to comprehend what he was saying about manipulating things in the real world without the physical. She scratched at her cheek, before her young head shook. It was an alien concept she could not quiet get her head around no matter how hard she tried.

Thus, she retreated to the idea that it may simply be better to try it herself. The weight of an adult’s hands rested upon her shoulders, that gaze of reassurance reaching out to her. She gave a swallow, fingers lacing together.
“I’m ready,” she put on a brave face, “And I trust you. You’re my mentor after all.” She gave a smile, and readied herself for what was next, “What do I need to do? If uh… I need to do anything? Instruct me.”

Just relax. Just stay calm. Deep breaths as he taught you. In and out. He is your mentor, he won’t hurt you, she exhaled, Find it. Find the calm. Nothing will go wrong, right?

She gave a swallow, and lowered her gaze. She was ready, there was no use putting it off any longer behind questions and curiosity. The next stage in her learning was to begin after all; to do and to understand.

Please don’t hurt…

[Radiant]

"Yes, Fall, like an onion, ahaha..." Aleric chuckled, trying to ease the situation, for they would all need it in facing what's to come. Layers... make us cry when you "cut" them, Dear... Messing with your soul is never a completely safe thing, Aleric knew that much, but he would not say that to the girl right now, it could break her spirit.

"Yes, the Astral body is analogous to a puppet string, these are the strings that control our flesh here... Projection is the art of detaching those strings and manipulate them directly" Aleric smiled, the girl looked so adorable when she scratched her cheek. He could only hope that the Divines don't condemn him for he was about to do to the girl.

“I’m ready”

Those are the most important words Aleric needed to reassure himself, when Fallon asked her question, Aleric just nodded and said "You just need to keep calm, relax, and whatever you do... don't panic. You said you trusted me... trust that I would not have the heart to do harm to you" With that, he gently lay Fallon down on the ground, her eyes gazing at the sky. "Just lie down... and relax..." He then took his position beside the girl, sitting on the ground on her left.

With a deep inhale of his breath, Aleric began detaching the astral in the length of his whole arms, both of them. Starting with the larger joints... his shoulder, his elbow, his wrist, and then to his finger joints. It took him five chimes to properly dislodge both of his arm's astral body... and then...

"Fallon... close your eyes..."

He struck out, his ethereal limbs charging and piercing the girl's body, making contact with her astral. ".............." Aleric kept silent, he needed full concentration. He then began making his way to the girl's layers of soul. Fallon would feel an alien presence entered her very being, sudden, uncomfortable, and just utterly wrong. It felt like being possessed by a ghost, only that the "ghost" was not trying to take control of her body, but grabbing her soul.

Aleric inhaled, getting two solid grip points, Fallon's wrists, then... he pulled, pulled, and pulled... the girl's soul starting to be forcefully ripped from her body. The very thing that made Fallon... Fallon was being evicted from its home. Little by little, Fallon was in the process of being turned into an ethereal being.

Relax my girl... don't panic... don't panic, it would be over soon... Aleric didn't say that out loud, he could not. It was up to Fallon whether this would succeed... or fail horribly.

[Fallon]

Stay calm. Stay relaxed.

Her brow gave a slight crease as she put her trust into him, closing her eyes and going with the flow the best she could. She felt the crisp floor beneath her, the fallen leaves of autumn caress her skin. She could smell the fresh, damp bark of the trees, the knotting branches overhead fixed within her mind. The world held its breath for a tick, hovering on the edge for a moment before a mighty gasp was released and the tension was slice cleanly.

The ethereal hand reached out, it grasped and wormed its way in. Fingers pulled and plucked, teasing at her very ego, her very soul and luring it out of its deep set wrap. Intrusive, uncomfortable, it came at first as a sting sharp and unpleasant, but quickly numbing down to a cold chill. She tensed, it was hard not to, the jaw tightening then growing slack. Muscles went limp, steady breathing remaining as she was pulled out. She had to put her trust in him. She had to.

Got to stay relaxed. Stay relaxed.

Doing her best to stay calm the girl let Aleric do his work. She gave a gentle swallow, numbing lips trembling as she was removed from what she was most familiar with. Her very shell, her very flesh and the one thing she had always known. Her body. Strings were pulled, the soul manipulated and tugged free from its casing. She felt the ethereal grip around her wrists, gently taking her by the hand and leading her out for a new look on the world. A new one to look at and to accept.

I won’t panic. I won’t panic. Got to be brave.

Fallon had to if he wanted to succeed after all. She resisted a squirm and the urge to struggle; nothing would be gained from it after all. He had begun now, and there was no turning back. The girl took the plunge, and placed her faith in his hands. For better or for worse.

[Radiant]

See the world through your true eyes...

Ever so slowly, Fallon's soul was freed from its mortal bindings, the ghostly translucent form of the girl being rose up from her physical body. Everything looked so different, Fallon would feel so free, able to defy the laws of gravity at will, no feelings of physical pain or ache, no limit in manipulating her limbs... free at last. Aleric smiled at the ethereal soul of the girl, he gave her a few ticks, letting her feel what it felt like to be a ghost... before slowly began the process of caging her back into her mortal bindings.

The crisis was not over yet, if he failed now, the girl would be turned into a ghost... and nothing was more heart-wrenching to see a child so young being torn from her mortal coils when she still had so much room to grow, no. He would not fail. His ethereal arms now slowly pulled the girl's soul back to her physical form, aligning her ghostly form over Fallon's body and gently pushed it downwards, the girl's soul began to seek its home once more, the astral strings picking up the puppet's limbs, one by one...

...........

.......

...

After what felt like an eternity, it was done... the soul was back right where it belonged. Aleric inhaled and exhaled to calm himself down, he then began reattaching his projected arms back, starting with the extremities, wrists, elbows, and then shoulder. He felt the nerve revving up to life once more, flexing his fingers just to make sure. He stared at the laying girl... her eyes closed. Aleric didn't know if he succeeded or not, he approached Fallon and knelt down beside her, caressing her hair and leaned down to whisper.

"Fallon... can you hear me? Open your eyes, please... open your eyes..." He must succeed, he would not be a child killer, he couldn't live anymore if that was the case.

[Fallon]

Odd, that was how she would describe it. Just odd.

Eyes turned and looked about, a strange breathlessness consumed, the lacking weight of her physical chains. For a moment there was a flare of concern, the lacking feeling and numbness. There was a squirm, before her eyes set themselves to blinking at him. The smile calmed her, the gentle ethereal hands gently guiding her backwards to the safety of her mortal bindings. Strings reached out and attached, fingers worked on lacing the pieces together whilst the rest quickly followed suit in moulding and fitting into place.

It returned in a rush – to her at least. Sharp and sudden, head spinning and roaring with noise. Information flooded in, sensations grasping and clinging to her. She gave a choke, lips gasping and moving as she sucked in the air. Nausea was the next thing to hit, sharp and clenching as things begun to adjust and line themselves up. Brightness filled her sight, the brief overlying shadow of Aleric reaching the pupils. The distinct static noise reached her ears, words becoming little more than a mumble in the back ground. Arms twitched, becoming animated as her body screamed at her to move.

A hand clawed out, the forced movement to sit up and stand showing that she was conscious. The hand was knocked away, her own reaching out to grab at something. Not that it succeeded. Torso twisting her forearm hit the earth, her shoulders rolling and rising. Long laboured breaths commanded her, the taste of bile filling her mouth as a second, stronger wave of dizziness hit her. She cupped a hand over her mouth as the nauseating feeling that once consumed her grew worse.

There was a choke, the colour draining out of her features as she tried to resist the urges that her body demanded. Her arms shook; a cold sweat consuming her as the texture of the earth became more apparent in her mind. Her sight rolled, her hearing gradually returning whilst that ever present feeling loomed over her. With a low mumble, her hand still cupped over her mouth, a low, hissing voice spoke, “I want to be sick.”

[Radiant]

She lives! That's a good sign, a very good sign. She was nauseous and sick, it was completely normal, she was basically "dead" for a few chimes there. Aleric flopped down to the ground beside Fallon and rubbed his forehead, sweat trickling down, extremely relieved. He patted Fallon's back to help her belch whatever breakfast she had this morning "Sssh... sssh.. .it's okay, you're okay now...".

Aleric let Fallon recovered herself first before coughing and began the "not-so-dangerous" part of her initiation, to see that she was capable or not. "Alright, Fallon, you now wield the power of Projection, know that this is only the beginning, only with practice and wisdom can you master your astral" His tone was not so worried anymore, the worst had passed. Next would be her learning how to do her first "projection".

"Fallon, I want you to close your eyes and concentrate... can you feel the presence of your astral more clearly now? Yes... try to feel your wrist's astral and... began slowly, remember, slowly... manipulate them, free them from your physical body, this process is called 'detaching' " There was no sure way of telling her "how" to do it since every person was different and only the person themselves know how their astral exactly feels like.

"No rush and take your time... after you have succeeded, try.. slowly, slowly detach every finger join in your hand... after that, I want you to pick up a small pebble in front of you. If you have any difficulties, I'm here for you, but remember that only you and you alone have control over your astral..." He patted the girl's shoulder. "Once you have done that, I will teach on how to 'reattach' your astral..."