*Buurp*
"Goodness me apologies for my rudeness"
Qi Li placed his kitchenware down by the side.
He looked at the crowd of people by the table. Enjoying their meal and each other's company. Quiet and low chatters reverberating across the room like white noise.
Noise that sounded like a family gathered at a kitchen table casually talking about daily mundane life.
'Maybe, if I wasn't invisible to them they would allow me to eat with them if I just asked.'
He looked some more until his gaze lingered on the rabbi.
Unlike the rest, he was seated among the others without a partner to talk to. Keeping to himself enjoying his meal. A sense of aloof casualness could be felt from him.
As the rabbi was done he placed down his utensils and spoke.
"Four suns ago, you've seen a handful of storm Fleers sought shelter in our halls. All me here's ter say is that they's staying here for a indefinite amount of time"
"So my hope that you folks would be kind enough ter be tolerant towards them."
An agreement in unison was voiced.
"Aye, maester Galeon."
Maester Galeon nodded in agreement.
The scene shattered. With the crowd disappearing from the scene.
With an exception taking place.
"Indefinite amount of time huh?" The rabbi's voice dropped. Eyes glinting. "I'm afraid the time is quite definite… and dreadfully short."
With that the rabbi disappeared too.
'Goodness… that's quite ominous.'
Having no one crowding at the table anymore. Qi Li sat at the table and placed the book he got from the lady on the table.
He could only frown remembering what the Rabbi said.
'Time Is definite, and short. What happened here?'
With a full stomach he can finally think of everything he needs to think of.
'Let's start with questions again.'
'How did I end up here?'
'How am I keeping items that are meant to disappear'
'How am I able to consume those food'
'Will investigating and exploring this place give me clues about going home?'
'These movie-like scenes seem to be a recollection of the past. Maybe I can stumble upon something important.'
'Though the recollection of the past thing is still a speculation, it's still the most probable'
.....
'Tsk tsk, okay this is only what I can gather so far .Let's just deal with these one by one'
'Just go with the flow.'
Qi Li leaned on his hand and continued where he left off from the book.
2nd lunation 40th day 200D
Arival at ther temple, thaere happend a mishap to our transport. Upon arival the Dera waent feral Seemingly aeffekted by ther fog. My maenaeged to blind aen eye And incapacitaet the poor creature. By help of maester Galeon, the creature was taken down. May you truly be anbound from this world now, Skythas.
'huh? That creature? Why'd it say it was slain by Galeon? But I killed it.'
'.....'
A number of 3000 people haes been brought apon this sanctuary of refuge and hope .We truly thank maester galeon and the other elders.
'Ooh, 3000? It's unsurprising that this sanctuary can house that many people though it does look like it can house more.'
'Yikes, the rest of the page is just logistical things, let's just skip a bit further.'
4th lunation 44th day 200D
'This one's…. Today.'
A feeling of impending doom haes been gripping on my haert for a while now.
'Tsk, she couldn't finish writing this page.'
'What is up with everyone sounding so ominous?'
"heheh."
A sigh could be heard from the silent room.
Qi Li got up and went out into the main hall with the circle embrasure.
He got out of the temple to glance out at the fog he once saw at the start.
'Is that… The fog talked about?'
With the book by hand, he could only think where to go next.
While in thought he looked away from the outside world Enshrouded In fog and laid his eyes on the temple where he started from.
'Maybe…. a little retrace of steps.'
Walking by every familiar place he came back to the huge court.
Extremely wary now, Qi Li carefully scanned his eyes across the place. Until he came across something familiar. A shield, one that saved his life from the feral Dera. He lifted up to his chest to inspect it a little closely, noticing the claw mark on the metal as a testament to his will.
'So, you're still here huh.'
Qi Li remembered the incident with the Dera that day.
He gulped a little.
"heheh."
Qi Li slotted the leather strap of the shield onto his wrist.
'Well, You shall join me now friend.'
He then walked out of the court through the arch into a junction.
In the middle of a junction contains a fountain. The middle of the fountain was the shape of a bird with a pair of antennae. That was spreading its wings with dignity and pride.
He sat by the fountain for a while. Just to take in the scenery and overall atmosphere of the entire place.
lingering for a while, eyes closed, slightly leaned back with the warm sun bathed upon him. For a moment it seemed that the light breeze was in accordance with his breathing. The fountain's pool of water lay undisturbed, so clear it seemed invisible like glass. Untouched by filth.
'I'm parched. Hope this water is clean as it seems to be.'
Qi Li used his hand as a scoop to drink the crystal clear water of the fountain.
Soon he saw a group of teenagers around his age wearing the same white garments that the ascetics wore.
"Hurry, Master Galeon's gonna start his lesson soon!"
One of the boy said frantically
"Master Galeon's extremely kind, he'll just tell us off only."
Said another one casually
"That's why we should be there on time. If he is so kind to us shouldn't we reciprocate it back appropriately?'
Said a third.
'Oh? Must be another recollection, let's see what we have in store this time.'
Qi Li lazily got up from the fountain and followed.
Following them he reached a training ground full of people around his age. And at the centre stood Maester Galeon.
"It's the third time already, you three's."
"Apologies, Maester it's beca-"
"Don't have to explain. Remember you have four chances, on the fourth you will surely face consequences. Got it?"
"Yes, Maester."
The three young men sheepishly went into the sea of students to receive the next lesson of the Maester.
'Four chances? You're way too nice Master Galeon.' Qi Li also took a spot in the crowd.
"Good mornin lil'uns, we have all arrived to a point where you shall now open your senses. A time where you will feel what the world truly is, hear what the world truly is, see what the world truly is, and finally understand what the world truly is."
"In other words from today onwards, you shall walk the path of an empath."
'A lesson on the power system of this world?! Well ain't this my day.'
A few excited murmurs were heard here and there but he kept on speaking.
"To begin, you will first have to understand the meaning of an empath."
"An empath is a person who understands and controls the laws of the world by using vivaur. While an ability casted out is called an echo."
"Vivaur is controlled and wielded by the senses. Either by hearing, seeing, feeling or other senses. But most people use the first three as a conduit to their power. And those are the ones that shall be explained for this. Lesson."
"Empaths who use their sense of hearing wields vivaur by sound. For example, if one were to make a quick slash, they will whistle in a very sharp pitch or make a sound akin to a sharp blade slicing. Also, every way of casting an echo can be heard as a note of a song, regardless of method used to cast."
As a demonstration, Galeon whistled in a long sharp erratic tune.
SHWIING
A sharp torrent of sharp wind was seen by his side and quickly disappeared.
"Secondly, sight. Those who use this method often draw and aurwheel to cast out their abilities. Though not very practical for battle. It can be really deadly, as drawing an aurwheel dives into the intricacies and specifics of an echo. These users often can see things differently than others."
Galeon waved and shook his hand in the air. For a while. His eyes lit up with a strange green light and a magic circle appeared from where he waved and shook his hand.
WHOOSH
A spirit of wind materialised out of the circle. It took a long look at the crowd and gave a smile and a wave before disappearing.
"Those waving and shaking of my hand you see was me drawing an aurwheel in the air. Though you won't be able to see it unless I finally decide to cast it out. Aurwheels can also be drawn on paper and anything. It doesn't have to be in the air."
"Finally, touch and feel. This method allows a better control of vivaur In the body. Its focus is towards a more well rounded style. With focus on body enhancements and defense. The abilities casted also require control with the body unlike the others which can be done remotely."
Galeon formed a fist, one coated with wind. He opened his hands and pushed it towards the sky.
VOOOOM
A blast of wind was shot towards the sky.
"It should be noted that each method can cast a few of the same echoes."
"Very well Now, I hope that each one of you remembered everything I said. Now we will learn how to use this power."
"Hm?"
Webbed shatter lines encased the Galeon and the listening students. The lines swallowing Galeon's next words.
"Hey! You can't just leave me hanging like that!"
"Damn ghosts and their damn timing."
"Lord, help the poor."
Qi Li whispered under his breath.
Sigh
Qi Li could only feel dejected at the current situation. He sat down in the middle of the training ground and placed his face on his palm.
'Okay, okay calm down maybe they'll have another lesson another day right? Maybe another recollection like this will happen again.'
The crushed head of the Dera flashed across his mind again. The painful and vivid sensation of his body breaking is felt by him again.
Hrngh
He let out a rough short grunt. His jaw tensed, lips tightened. Brows pinched together, forehead wrinkled with strain.
'Will I…. Be able to hang on long enough until something like that happens again?'
'And that damn incident, why do I keep remembering it.'
'This place is messing with my head.'