Ray - Training (1)

The walls of her room were bare and massive, yet they did not feel confining. A large window gave Ray a view down into the valley, where the pond glittered in the evening Sun. She had withdrawn at once to cultivate after Ormir and Lance had shown her this room, which held nothing but a small cabinet and a velvety white mat. Ormir had said with a bright smile that she lived next door, and Ray was relieved she would not have to stay in some remote wing.

“You can decorate it however you like, although you probably need to understand your Lucidity a little better before you can start with that,” Lance had said. Then he left her with some time to herself.

Ray let her gaze wander across the valley. How many people had already found themselves here? The buildings, with their colorful additions and decorations, testified to hundreds—if not thousands—of Sages and monks before her.

Eri founded it with Stirleo. And still he is on Pilgrimage. How long has it been…? she wondered.

She sighed and carefully opened the door to look into the corridor. Aside from a few torches casting whirling shadows, there was nothing of note except the doors that led to the other chambers. Some were plain like hers, made only of thin brown wood. Others were painted or built of different materials. Ray’s stomach growled, and she felt a sudden craving for food. Quickly she set out to find someone who could show her the way to a dining hall or something similar.

Why am I hungry when I don’t need to eat? This is so annoying! she cursed inwardly, though she also looked forward to finding something juicy.

When Ray left the building and stepped onto the platform, no students were in sight. They were likely in their own rooms or receiving guidance somewhere, moving along their paths of self-discovery. The façades of the nearby buildings were especially splendid and varied. Ray debated whether to go there or instead look for Demoa or someone else who could show her a few things.

She sighed again and soon walked along the unevenly paved path lined with blue moss, enjoying the glow of the evening Sun. Her evening Sun. The valley now lay half in shadow, and she moved to the railing not far away to look down once more. The shimmer of the lake struck Ray as almost hypnotic. She lingered there for a while, breathing in the cool air. Even though people passed her from time to time, she decided to stay alone for now and explore the monastery later at her own pace.

Then she saw Eri emerging from the large building nearby, followed by a young woman speaking quietly with him.

Despite Eri’s imposing appearance, the young woman beside him did not seem intimidated in the least. In fact, she held her nose a little too high for Ray’s taste. She wore a cyan dress with extravagant silver patterns, and her long dark-blue hair streaked with violet practically screamed for attention. The calm expression on her face, however, stood in stark contrast, and her unusual yellow eyes gave Ray the impression she enjoyed being the centerpiece.

“…tell me, otherwise I’ll wither away here!” she was saying to Eri, who looked both annoyed and thoughtful—an unusual combination for him.

“Nobea, I can’t help you. You can leave; this is no prison. Besides, you could already be making changes here, couldn’t you? I saw it the first time we met. You’re talented. So why don’t you take the final test and go on Pilgrimage?”

She laughed scornfully. “No, that’s out of the question. I’m not ready yet. This is my journey, and I know best when I’ll be prepared. Still, I’m stuck, I… oh.”

She broke off abruptly when she noticed Ray.

“It’s not very polite to eavesdrop on other people, don’t you think? You must be new, though I hope you at least understand such basics?” Nobea asked with a sharp tone.

Ray swallowed and looked to Eri, who was also watching her. “I’m only standing here! How is it my fault if you want to tell the whole world your personal thoughts? I mean, of course it’s your right, although…”

Nobea snorted and rolled her eyes before turning away from Ray. “I have things to discuss with Eri that are more important than… well, whatever you were doing here. So, would you kindly leave us alone?”

Suddenly Eri burst out laughing. Ray flinched and looked at him in confusion, and Nobea also frowned.

“Have you finally gone mad from all your traveling?” Nobea asked.

“No, it’s simply… Ray here is probably even more talented than you. So maybe it’s not so wise to dismiss her. You might actually learn something from her.” Eri smiled.

Nobea’s lips twitched. “I doubt that. I’ve been here… how long now? No idea. I’ve never met anyone who came close to me! Maybe that’s why it’s so hard for me to realize my potential—because I have no one to measure myself against? Be that as it may, she may be capable of some things, yet not likely enough, Eri. No offense, Ray."

Her sharp tone slowly drove Ray to the edge of her patience, though she did not want to provoke her unnecessarily. It helped somewhat that there was at least a trace of regret in Nobea’s last words.

“I was there when Elga created that,” Ray said, pointing upward.

Eri flinched. Nobea narrowed her eyes.

“The Sun? You were there? I take back what I just said. Maybe we should talk,” Nobea considered, now looking at her for the first time with real curiosity.

“If I have the time…” Ray muttered.

Nobea laughed shrilly.

“You’ll have time! Though… if you really are as talented as Eri says, which I still doubt, you’ll be gone in thirty days, off on a journey through the Dream. Till then, it might be fun to exchange ideas. The others here are all a bit… dry at times. I’m sure you’ll be craving conversations with a little more depth. Maybe I’ll have time for you then!” she said, as though everything were already decided.

With that, she turned and strutted away.

“Why is she leaving? I thought she wanted to talk to you?” Ray asked in confusion.

Eri sighed. “She’s impulsive. Brilliant, yet impulsive. I think she’s her own worst obstacle. Or maybe… maybe there are simply things we don’t yet know about Lucidity. Her problem could be tied to our ignorance,” the Pilgrim mused.

“In one thing she’s right, though. It’s not proper of me to intrude unasked into other people’s affairs. But tell me, did you speak to Abbot Stirleo? About what we agreed on?” Ray asked cautiously.

“Yes. He’ll spread the Circle’s message and work it into the training. His eyes lit up with excitement; I haven’t seen him like that in a long time. Everything is as we discussed.”

“Good,” Ray said thoughtfully.

“Sparky… I… I must go now. My journey isn’t finished. I may have found in you what I searched for all this time, yet in finding it, I realized I might only have been running away. I have to leave, go somewhere else. And I don’t know if we will see each other again,” he said slowly, struggling with the words.

His black beard trembled slightly, and Ray felt a chill run down her spine. “What do you mean? Not see each other again? Where are you going?”

She had no idea what to do. Eri smiled sadly, his eyes tired.

“I’m going back to where I once came from,” he said evasively.

“Where is that? Where did you arrive in the Dream?” Ray pressed.

Eri only smiled, though his gaze grew distant, as if remembering something that made him uneasy.

““Far away. I’d tell you, if I thought it would bring you peace. But it would only weigh on you. What I want is for you to find yourself. I hope you’ll embrace all that Light, all your Lucidity, to carry it forward. You can bring enlightenment, use this transformation of the world to create something new and good. At least… that would be wonderful,” he said thoughtfully, staring toward the horizon where the Sun was already touching the hilltops.

“I will. For Elga’s sake,” Ray said, and she had to smile.

Eri sighed and tapped his staff awkwardly against the stones.

“It’s time, Sparky. It was good to meet you, and to walk a part of your path with you. I’ve helped you as much as I could. Yet there are others who will also be able to help. Dio, one day, and Demoa. And surely others soon. Please, take care of yourself. Don’t run from what’s within you,” he said almost solemnly, then turned away.

The clack of his staff followed his steps as he departed.

Ray was stunned. She stared after him, dazed. Something warm ran down her cheeks. She wiped it away and saw shimmering light-touched tears.

“Until we meet again, Lone Wanderer. I hope your journey finds its end someday…” she whispered, struggling to hold back a shiver.

Then she turned away.

The wind tugged at her linen clothes as she trudged aimlessly up one of the paved roads toward a cluster of nearby pagodas. There she found a bench and sat down, trying to process what had happened.

How long were we traveling? she wondered, gazing at the evening Sun.

It was impossible to say. There had been no such easy sense of time as the idea of a day. Yet now it was different. She had changed it. She could change even more, this time with greater control and better intentions.