The Manipulators

Willier-Chapter 23

I regret many things in life, but one cannot go back in time to change the mistakes... yet. 

...

I trended upon smooth whiteness that my feet would sink into and create the proof of my visit. The sky is gray with storm clouds and white particles in it. Snow, it is even more evil than sand, for its wet and would get into shoes. I moved slow and clumsy, which earned me half a laugh from Ingeborg, who apparently could drift upon the soft whiteness and leave not a trace. The streets are empty except for us, and I trotted after Ingeborg to wherever she wants to take me. 

After the second fight with Trueman and after recovering, I immediately went to bed and founded Ingeborg the next day. I dropped my sessions with Marvick and Ingnius completely and became solely devoted to the magic of the Gelumnatio, as it is the only way and the only area where I could excel in without any unbeatable blockage. The Kunstler don't count, for he still is born mortal and thus stay in it. Ingeborg, seemingly touched by my decision, decided to take me to the land of true holy power: the Outer Sanctuarium of Gelumnatio Territory. 

I had only visited the place once, and that was when we were on a mission, thus I paid no attention to its detail until now. I had always thought of the Outer Sanctuarium as a frozen land of emptiness with houses walling off two sides of the road, but actually seeing it with observing motive changed my lens. The houses are as dull as ever, yet its coexistence with the snowy feature of the territory made it look as if civilization itself abandoned the place and left it to waste away. If one were to look beyond their destination and to slightly raise their head, they could find archways in the sky, connecting towers to towers and made the place look magical and mythical. 

Other than the houses and structures, I found myself in the middle of a vortex, where the construction and placement of the housing made me feel as if the world is round and that I am the center of it. It's the feeling of being important and observed. I was so lost in this wonderful hell that Ingeborg had to slap my face three times consecutively before I completely snapped out of it and focused on her palish face instead. It's oddly cute with her slight grin and wide blue eyes. Her whitish hair only reached around her neck and her slender figure seemed to be well tended. I never noticed any of these and I stared. Ingeborg instantly gave me a frown and slapped me three more times before slipping away and stuck her tones out with a joyful grin. 

Even a Gelumnatio could show more emotion than I. This idea instantly heaved my mood to the same as the gray sky. 

I followed her into a walled area that isn't exactly walled off, for the walls are short enough for me to look over it without raising my sight. She entered through a section with no walls and brought me to a place of emptiness except for snow. Once again, I found myself to be in the center with dead gray branches of lost lives around us. This place could be a courtyard of some kind, but no court. 

Ingeborg smoothly spun in circles effortlessly and her hands motioned me to do the same. I tried to spin my feet among the heavy layers of snow and fell onto my back and into the Outer Sanctuarium's cool embrace. When I got up, I saw Ingeborg giggling. She walked toward me and pulled me up. 

"I forgot you don't know how to walk on snow." She said playfully, her eyes sparkling like diamonds. 

"That is kind of obvious." I said and pointed to my tracks. They are at least a foot deep. 

"Don't worry, you will get it easily." Said she. "God's servants are with us." 

I looked at her with curiosity and strangeness. "Why. God's servants are with you all and definitely not me. I for one am not blue blooded and thinks of science and sense. I don't even believe in his existence."

"God don't need you to believe in him for him to exist. He is the creator, and we are his favored's favored. You are included." She said. "Now, talk less. Feel his grace."

I have no idea what she's talking about, and so I just stared at her while trying my best to feel something other than the dropping whites. "You are doing good." She said. I looked at her in bewilderment but kept doing whatever I was doing. Ingeborg walked backwards with her front still facing me and jumped high into the air and dropped gracefully onto the snow without disturbing it. I considered it illogical, for she had never jumped higher than two feet before. However, as she had said before, she is among God's favored's favored.

Supposedly, I am to be, too. 

"Am I supposed to pray for him?" I asked. That's how Humans do it, but rarely anyone could truly obtain God's grace.

"No." She said bluntly. "Feel it. I could not have described it better than a Dancer." I looked at her with all of my doubts. I began to brainstorm her idea of "feel it". It could mean the natural connection of Gelumnatios with their environment, as nature itself was praised as spiritual and magical by many. If that's the case, it would be necessary to get used to the iciness. The spiral vortex symbol of the Sanctuarium could also play a role in it, as spinning is like walking for a Gelumnatio. 

I could not see the sun when all the clouds were covering it from my view, but it must be getting late. Ingeborg ended our session and skipped away. I tried to do the same but found my feet still trapped in the snow and had to struggle my way out. 

"How unproductive." I sighed once we reached the outskirt of the Gelumnatio Territory. 

"Not unproductive, just unsuccessful." Replied Ingeborg. "But you are getting it fast."

I scoffed and looked at my footprints. It was just a small glance, but I found that, shockingly, the snow only sunk half a foot at most now. I examined the prints and felt strangely powerful. yet it's just footprints. I stared in amazement as Ingeborg nudged me on my shoulder. 

"I told you." She spoke with singsong tone. "You and I are among God's favored favorites." 

It does not make sense at all. "What's the story." I said plainly. "Tell me of it. The entire history of you people and how ice came to be your specialty." Perhaps it could be something to do with science also?

"It is too long for me to repeat, and I am not able to since I didn't really read the trilogy. But it could be simply explained in about a sentence or two." She spoke. As it turns out, Gelumnatio history is quite long for a trilogy. I doubt she could put the entire power obtainment in one sentence. "It's all about sin and redemption."

I let out a silent groan. She is getting religious again. "For simpler context, we obtained the power of the cold through hatred and violence, and we control it by controlling ourselves. It is kind of connected to politics." My face hardened. I do not like politics, not at all. "I will see you next time." She said with a smile, a pretty great one for a Gelumnatio. 

"I will see you too." I spoke. We made fools out of ourselves since we are literally going to the same place on the same road and direction, but none of us noticed at the moment. The moon is half full and the path in front are never too misty or clear. As it turned out, violence and powers are my solution. Oh Pyrrhus, you are perhaps right for once.