Obsidian Monarchy

Unsteady

The days were beginning to merge together, the duo developed their routine. When they would stop for a rest, Seraphina would stretch and relieve herself. Aster would run off into the woods and hunt a small animal, careful to avoid the fae and spirits.

Seraphina noticed that her body was growing accustomed to riding all day, though every muscle in her body was exhausted. Aster bounded back into view long before she was ready to leave.They continued like this until nightfall, they then found a small cave at the base of the mountain.

They had enough time ahead of Adrian and his crew that they could take as many breaks as they needed as long as they kept this pace. They likely had another week or two before they made it to Talmadir.

When they were settled in for the night, Seraphina had collapsed into her bed again, knowing that she would spend the night with Adrian practicing her mental strength. She was years behind where she should have been magically and physically, and now she was going to have to spend every waking moment building up those muscles.

She'd settled down for the night, she let her body start to rest. Her muscles relaxed and her mind went to ease.

Eventually she was able to keep her emotions calm enough for her to travel back to Adrian's mind space. The now familiar barn appeared before her, the cord around her chest slowly relaxed as her feet settled onto the field.

Today her body was transparent, confused, Seraphina looked down and couldn't see her legs. She could feel the ground beneath her feet, though she couldn't see them. Ignoring this, she walked up to the barn.

There was a tea kettle on a small table paired with two cups, ready to drink from. She walked up, poured herself some tea. Before she was able to sit Adrian walk through the door.

Pleasure crossed his face before he proceeded to walk up to her and pat her head. He then took a cup of tea and held it to his smiling lips, he said, “You are arriving faster, well done. I see that you're a little unsteady today, however.” He motioned with the cup at her invisible limbs. “We need to focus a little more on calming you. Come with me.” He reached down and grabbed her hand, quickly pulled her from the barn. He held her hand the whole time, while he walked to the outskirt of his mind space.

Adrian stopped at the base of a willow tree, quiet possibly the largest she had ever seen. It reached above her by one hundred feet, if not more. The little tendrils trickled down, tickled at her arms. He brought her to the base of the tree and sat her down. Matching her position, he sat across from her, touched her knees to his.

He reached forward and grabbed her hands gently then rested her hands palms up on her knees. Sliding his hands under hers, he cupped them gently on her knees. “What you see happening to your body now means that your soul isn't at rest. It's difficult for you to exist in a mind space or a dream space when you are unsteady. If you are unsafe, your mind will take you back to your body. To preserve your life. When you see that your body is transparent like this, it is an indicator that you are not okay.”

While he spoke, she was watching his hands, she could feel the touch against her knees even though they appeared to be floating. “I feel calm.”

He brushed his thumb against her hand as he spoke. “That can happen, you likely are exhausted. When you traveled here, you had less strength today which led you to not having any legs.”

Agreeing with him, she met his eyes. “Aster and I trained today.”

Understanding crossed his face, it was then that she noticed he was growing facial hair. He had always been shaved; she was surprised for a moment at his current presentation. “I think that is a smart plan. When we have your mind space expanded, I will show you self-defense.” He squeezed her hands while rubbing a thumb back and forth across her skin.

Watching him now, he was more at peace than she had ever seen him even though he physically was unkept. “The next time you are unsteady, take this pose and breathe. Find one singular thing to breathe about, with each breath you take in, you imagine a smell. When you breathe out, imagine the sound. Touch all of your senses. Let it ground you to where you are. Let it breathe through you, exist along with you. When you feel your heart slow, when you feel your mind at peace, you are safe.”

His voice became so soothing, while he spoke, she followed along in his instructions. Part of her relaxed before knowing that it was tense. When she opened her eyes, they locked eyes, it was then that she realized that he was gazing at her. The intensity that he stared at her, but also the peace and almost longing in his eyes made her heart skip. An energy surged through her whole body, and wavered for a moment. He clenched her hands a little bit, meeting her gaze he smiled.

“Come now, that is not peaceful. Think of the breeze, you tease.” Rolling her eyes, she shut her eyes again. Repeating his instructions, another wave of release flushed through her body. She felt every sound, noise, any pressure or scent that was in the air, she could feel it.

Within a few minutes, she could feel her body start to settle. It felt stronger more pressure against her soul. Opening her eyes, she looked down and she could see her feet. They were bare and resting against her legs.

Content, she looked up at him almost pleased with her actions. He opened his eyes at the same moment that she met his. He raised an eyebrow, looked down at her feet, smiled and then reached forward and put a finger under her chin. “Very good, Sera. Now we go to settle your mind space. He then jumped to his feet and reached down then grabbed her by the waist, he pulled her to his feet. With a hand on the small of her back.

He slowly guided her forward until she was walking on her own. It felt like they had done it a thousand times, and yet that was the first time. He had been so comfortable to touch her like that.

Adrian walked beside her and he raised his hand in front of him. A glowing ball appeared. He held it up in the air. And then looked down at her and said, “Touch the ball with your hand. Put your fingers in it and ask it to find your home.” She stopped that and giggled, looking up at this man who in all seriousness meant every word he said.

She batted her eyelashes and said, “You want me to tickle your ball and ask it to take me home?” She tried to keep the humor off of her voice, but miserably failed. No matter how she said it, it could only sound perverted.

He then laughed the purest laugh she'd ever heard. It sounded like it came directly from his heart. Which caused her to laugh and smile because she'd never heard the sounds of a laugh like that. She'd been starved of human contact for so long that. This moment, she just felt like all she wanted to do was hang out with Adrian, and never wake up again. He lowered his hand, the clear white ball with it.

Adrian now almost looked appalled but absolutely amused with her comment. “Miss. You are being a pervert.” He reached down again and put his finger against her chin. Tilting her head up so their faces were inches apart. “We have a lesson to do. I need you to focus.” Smiling at him, she closed her eyes and breathed deliberately for a moment then met his gaze again. “Miss. Please put your hand inside of this mystical orb, and tell this orb to take you home.”

She rolled her eyes and held up her hands, putting her hand in the glowing ball of light. Seraphina then spoke in the most whimsical voice she could muster. “Magical, mystical orb, please. Oh, please, may you take me home.” Much to her surprise, a cord tied around both her and Adrian. Slamming them together and ripping them off into the void.