Aura of Creation and Destruction

Chapter 7

           Even once you know yourself, tomorrow you may wake up to find someone new in you.

The days of Gaito's grew busier with unrelenting work. Training and paroling, feast and famine; days marched on with the sun's rise and fall over Alabastro's ironclad streets. There was not a free moment to ask the questions he had lingering. Oddly, though his work was just as exhausting, sleep was getting worse. Dreams became heavier and more frequent, and they seemed to take over his conscious, keeping him up at night. His will became weaker, lashing out at Faosha over a session of scheduled meditation.

Faosha took notice. "Gaito, I'm going to modify your training for a bit."

She remained focused on her balance of him as part of his work as opposed to a friendship. He remained distant.

His brother Ghomat offered his assistance. "Something seems to be bothering you. I'm sure there's a lot going on right now, so do not hesitate to talk about it with me." Gaito nodded, but he wasn't quite sure what was going on either.

Ghomat, went about his own ways, attending the local library to research his brother's problem. Knowledge from the past, surely, would reveal itself to be useful somehow.

To the group's surprise, Maggi decided to throw a celebration at the town bar for their group. She sent spectral invitations to Ghomat, Gaito and Faosha. Gaito naturally had Kirek invited along for the ride since they were ready for any other excuses to celebrate their unity. As soon as he was done building for his day, he'd be there.

They met up at the town bar. Along the way, Maggi decided to start singing.

Gaito waited at the eastern gate, talking idly with the guard about today's work, and his guests arriving shortly. From the thicket, emerged a yellow-clad warlock looking fellow. The turtle-shelled guard stood aside, allowing the travel admittance to the still locked down townstead.

Like a bard, Gaito walked, hands raised, to greet his companion. "Fancy meeting you here, it's as if we had something planned for today, like a constructed plan or something?"

Kirek struck a smile, confidence radiated back at the fighter. "Nah, if there were a plan you made, I'd be sure to put a hole in its wall. I'm pretty good at that."

Pride clashed, and the two were in a wrestler's tussle of words. "Oh you scoundrel, the wall would be filled in and you'd find a shovel in your face before you knew it."

Shoving a fist into each other, they bumped hands, and carried on into town.

"So who's coming along today? I know you have quite the squad back here." Kirek inquired.

Gaito went over his crew mates. "Ah not any of them, they're just work friends. I'm having my teacher, my brother, and my closest specter friend along. You try anything funny and we've got a hex with your name on it."

"Ah well bring the muscle, maybe your brother is a better builder than any of my workers are. He could be one of the best if I were to train him on my chasms. Would make his old home look feeble in scale. Why, I'd seen at least 3 center-of-the-world spirit dwellers in my lifetime." His fibbage was apparent, but he still had his reputation to uphold, so Kirek babbled on and Gaito simply laughed at the crass comments.

They headed south, Gaito gave a tap on the door of an unsuspecting hut, straw roofed and small. From beyond the door, no opening, but a being floated outward.

Kirek acted in shock. "Is-is she dead? How can she pass through matter?"

Gaito explained a bit. "So ghosts aren't actually dead. They're born from their own group. They can touch each other, but can't really touch us. Maggi just liked in here in Alabastro and nobody could figure out a way to get rid of her, so she stayed. She's great though, and anyone who misjudges her is just mean."

Just as Gaito mentioned that, he became enveloped in her floating robe. "Oh but I can touch you just fine ehehehe." Maggi drifted around the fighter, dragging her robed cloak over his muscular form.

"Hai Gai." She said, playful tune to her voice. Kirek, only a little jealous of the intimate moment, gave a cough.

"So where to next?" Asked Kirek.

"Northward!" Maggi said. The group marched on. At the head of the temple, Ghomat and Faosha stood, having heard of the event prior and intending to get a quick introduction before they all join together.

"I would normally object to your festivities, Gaito, but since Ghomat invited me, I guess I have to be polite and ablodge." Faosha said, a bit more spiteful than usual.

Ghomat, just as stern as her, gave his bow and salutation. "Hello there, I am Ghomat, I believe your name is Kirek if I recall from my brother here. It's very nice to meet you."

"You as well sir." Said Kirek politely.

"Come onnn! We're all together now, this is exciting!" Maggi announced, circling the group in support to their unity. She guided everyone around as they walked to their familiar destination at the center of town.

As they slowly moved, Maggi began to make noise. From her place in space, a hum, another, it echoed. Gaito had begun of hum along with the tune. He swayed to the beat. He turned to Faosha to see if the song had any influence on her. Though she kept her stoic exterior, her walking was to the beat.

Ghomat hummed back, looking at Faosha and asking if she was enjoying the walk. "Hm, I guess it's pretty nice. Still, what if we get attacked out here, we're sitting ducks for the enemy right now."

Faosha asked. "Is this really the best time for you to sing Maggi? There are monsters, beasts out here. And all you can do is celebrate?"

Maggi replied. "Well Yes, whenever you're scared you sing a song and it makes everything around you a little warmer!"