Of Realms and Relics

Of Nature, Life and Shadows

Lyn sat cross legged, her hands clasped in her lap and eyes closed. Her head tilted down and her brownish red hair hanging in front of her face. Breathing calmly, she unclasped her hands and positioned them palm up on her knees. The forest around her began to shimmer slightly, a phosphorescent haze almost invisible to the naked eye.

"Good, Lyn. Continue to concentrate on your realm. Find your grounding point. A flower, a tree, a bush. Picture yourself there." Said Instructor Pria. Slowly walking around Lyn and inspecting the enveloping haze.

Lyn exhaled as her brow furrowed. The haze beginning to dissipate. Instructor Pria stopped and regarded Lyn with a look of disappointment.

"Lyn, do you believe in your powers? Do you believe in the realm of nature? You've shown more promise than any naturist in over a hundred years but this mental block you have...you have to find a way to overcome it." Said Instructor Pria, kneeling down and using a finger to lift Lyn's chin. A single tear gracefully gliding down Lyn's smooth cheek.

"I know, Instructor Pria. I can get so close, I almost feel myself leaving this dimension. I can smell the soil and the foliage of the nature realm. I can begin to see the woodland fairies dancing, but then...I just lose it. I don't understand." Said Lyn as she wiped the tear from her cheek.

Placing a gentle hand against Lyn's cheek and caressing her face with her thumb, Instructor Pria leaned into Lyn and whispered in her ear.

"You see more than anyone else has in so long. You have to believe in yourself. You have to know you belong to the realm of nature. You were chosen."
Grabbing Instructor Pria's hand and looking into her eyes, tears beginning to form at the edges of her eyes.

"I'm so close. Five years training and I feel I'm so close. It's hard letting go of this vessel. Understanding that I'll be transferred to the nature realm and knowing that I'll be whole there too...it's hard to wrap my head around."

"My dear, it's not for you to understand. It's for you to simply believe. Hundreds of years ago, masters could instantly transfer between realms. Bringing seeds to plant in return for taking healing herbs. It was common place for them." Said Instructor Pria as she stood up.

"That was hundreds of years ago Instructor. What if that magic has faded? What if we just can't travel anymore?" Lyn said as she picked at the grass surrounding her.

"Nonsense child. We simply haven't had a presence as strong as yours in that time." Instructor Pria said as she offered her hand to Lyn. Pria's silver and red instructor robes catching the sunlight through the rays in the breaks of the forest canopy.

Lyn used Pria's offering hand and stood up herself. Dusting off her brown linen pants and straightening her green tunic. As she did so, she pulled a red cloth pouch from her left pocket and inspected it. Her eyes widening in surprise. Quickly, she emptied the pouch into her hand. Three small, white blooms of Apostles Touch falling into her palm. Instructor Pria smiled as she tucked back her gray shoulder length hair behind her ears.

"My child, do you know what you've done?"
Lyn met Pria's light violet eyes and said, "I had seeds in this pouch. Three Lion's Blood seeds." She further inspected the pouch, no longer seeing the seeds that were there before her meditation training. Reaching out, Pria plucked a bloom and held it up to inspect it. "You may only take what you give in return. Three Lion's Blood seeds, for healing the illness of blood fever. In return, three blooms of Apostles Touch for healing minor wounds."

"I, I know what they are Instructor...but how?" Lyn asked softly.

"You underestimate yourself Lyn. You were deeper in the Nature Realm than you knew or gave yourself credit for." She carefully placed the bloom back in Lyn's palm. "Come now child. I believe you have something to tell your father." The two beamed at each other as they walked side by side down the forest path. In the distance, castle Noss stood. Elegant in its white stone appearance against the bright blue skies. Reaching high above the horizon of forests surround it.