Statera: The Balance of Yin and Yang

From the Shadows

He had been pleased, as expected. Had even given me a pat on the back and smiled, the cold, calculating lift of his lips and I'd felt a surge of pride. Finally. After so many months of training, I was finally useful.

Everything seemed to be going to plan so far. He was immensely pleased when I told him that I had managed to find out that Elora was likely to be naturally strong in Yang, but less so that she regularly hung out with Aletheia, who was very strongly Yin. Though Elora was required by her Supplicancy to train in Yang, it was important that she was naturally strong in it. After all, she was key to the plan.

A union between the offspring of two ex-generals, the union of strong Yang bloodlines. The uprising of Yang and the downfall of Yin.

He would not let anyone get in the way of the plan.

For reasons I could not understand, I had not told him much else about Aletheia. Perhaps I saw myself in her. And wanted to help her the way no one did for me, by giving her some privacy, in whatever small way I could. Even if it was inconsequential. Even if both of us were corrupted.

Neewa, what exactly was I trying to do?

My orders were clear, I was to be his eyes and ears in the Congregate – infiltrate, listen and retreat, not drawing too much notice to myself. After all, I did not have much Yang ability at all, much to Father's disappointment. But he had soon found me another calling. A way to redeem myself from my corruption.

I was to be a spy, so to speak, one that walked among his enemies without their knowledge. A hidden dagger. After all, who would suspect Father, Yang exponent, to have Yin offspring?

Even though I had his hair, it was not so uncommon amongst the congregants. I knew several other congees in the other Faculties with the same colouring.

So here I was, observing quietly, hidden in the shadows, nursing a drink that looked alcoholic but was actually just kafeh, a green stimulant that was bitter and strong.

Using Yin energy to augment hearing in certain directions – I didn't want to blow up my eardrums by amplifying all the sounds around me in this noisy place – I eavesdropped on conversations around me.

Most of it was trivial – discussions on future jobs, gossip about which congregants were carrying on, about the new training year and the immense workload. But some of it was more important; meaningful comments of the current political climate, of allegiances and religious standings.

None of it was said outright, but you only had to listen to hear the hesitant pauses over certain words, and the unsaid questions when people trailed off at the end of sentences.

It was evident that people were cautious, and were here exactly because of that – they did not want to snub the prospective general by not turning up to his party.

I took a sip of the bitter brew and looked over to Elora, and noticed that Aletheia had left them since the last time I looked. My heart twisted.

It seemed like the plan was in action.

~~~

A/N: Who is this mysterious character????

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