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Description
He lost track of how long the agonizing screams went on. you eventually learn to tune them out. flashes of your own time returning always dulled the noise. some took longer than others. some never returned at all, but the old man always tried not to focus on those few. This one was different however. The boy had lead a very different life than the past pupils, he couldn't begin to fathom the torment he was going through now. to deal with everything he has done and come back to this side will make him the strongest of them all. It always starts slow after their body dissolves. a flicker of light here, a glowing muscle structure there. Then it explodes. they start to put their bodies back together and one can feel it and hear the agony more than see it.
To meet ones shadow and higher self is something one can't even describe. Then, to not only pass their tests but come to terms with what you've done and what your capable of. who you are at you're very core and not let it destroy you. then when its all over, to assimilate and become one is the most agonizing experience one could ever imagine. To be ripped apart over and over again from your very being and put back together in pieces that weren't there before. Tumbling, burning with white hot fire. Plunging through time and space. All the while, images and truths, memories being written before your eyes. Unspeakable pain, relentless agony. Time ceases to exist. The three of yourselves battling over what piece goes where. what a body can withstand to find a balance. for over a month he writhed in agony, an eternity for him and his torment receded. bringing his body back into existence and disappearing back to energy feeling and seeing more than any man ever should with every trip.

"you survived I see." The old man said, not even looking at the naked man now standing before him.
U'raijah stood in front of j'briel, who was picking berries from a bush. tears formed in u'raijahs eyes and fell to his knees and hugged the man.
"You lied to me old man." he cried. "You looked me in the eyes and lied to me, but I get it. I can't imagine what you've been through In all this time alone and I'm sorry."
"Its alright son," J'briel said, patting the naked man on the back. "I did this, and I can fix it. Now, let me see it."
U'raijah opened his hand to show the blue stone in his hand. it shined, more than it glowed. it looked alive like a whirlpool swirling around, like liquid.
"good." the old man exclaimed, wide eyed at the size of it. "Now let's get you some clothes, your real training starts now..."

U'raijah washed his face from the makeshift faucet. Water spilling out of a hole in the wall down into a carved hole below. The room had all the amenities of an archaic Lyok dwelling. Which made sense now. He looked at himself in the foggy, reflective piece of glass in front of him. He gazed intently at the person who now looked back at him. He was disgusted. Glancing over the scars and marks that covered his body. Remembering how each one came to be. His trips to the other side of existence bestowed him with many truths. The secrets behind all the lies told throughout time. The ones directly related to him however, cut the deepest. How the lyokian people had been deified. The real meaning behind their existence nothing but a misread fable. Whole worlds would tell tales of their feats though, no one knew the twisted truth. Time, it seemed, fades even legends.
He walked over to the bed where the old man had gathered some robes for him to wear. His old uniform lost to nowhere. He felt like a fraud. These garments were meant for holy people, not for the likes of him. The one truth being that he honestly did not know what he was doing. He dressed himself. Pulling on the pure white vest and tying it closed with the sash he was given. “ the ties are made from the Obinaga, an animal native to this planet. They are spirit sensitive creatures and their skin changes color from the energy that surrounds them. The same will be true the longer you wear them.” The old man had explained. For now they were a light tan. He finished wrapping his waist and put another belt over it that now held this stone the old man put so much emphasis on. Then turned his attention to his arms. The tattoos bestowed upon him when he came of age. Marking him as a soldier to the palace. He need not look at them now and began wrapping them up in the animals skin. He finished and looked at himself once more. A small sense of pride creeping over him lost when he looked at his shoulders. No fangs. Not yet.
He slipped on his new boots and set off for the door he came in. As he opened the door to the outside and his eyes adjusted to the light he was taken back by what he saw. His ship. Crumpled, dented and covered in muck, but it was his ship. Sitting out a few yards from the cave. U'raijah could hear voices. J'briel was inside, talking to Iris. It was a heated conversation apparently. The old man came wandering down the ramp. Holding his open palm back towards the opening. His voice filled with exhaustion.
“I know, I know. We will get it done madam.”
U'raijah laughed. A genuine laugh. To see this sagacious old man arguing with an artificial intelligence and being so polite about it. U'raijah didn’t think iris had ever been referred to as madam. J'briel came walking over shaking his head and smiling. When he spotted U'raijah he pointed his thumb back at the ship.
“You’re friend in there. She quite beguiling.”
“Iris?” U’raijah laughed.
“Yes, quite the charmer indeed. I have not had a good spat like that in centuries. She’s been very worried about you. Tell me, is she you’re mate?”
“what? No!” U'raijah shouted. “She’s a computer.”
“seems very affectionate for a mere computer.”
“well, she is a species parse’, though she is not composed of organic tissues. She is self aware and always developing from her experiences. But you are right she has taken on more maternal traits as of late.”
“is this common among her species?”
“ I’m not really sure. There’s only two that I know of. One was given to our people as payment for an acquisition not too long ago. I found iris after receiving a distress call from her makers planet. When I arrived however, they had been whipped out. She was left behind on a planet that had suddenly become an uninhabited ghost town. she was trapped until I found her. Her programming won’t allow her to leave a given entity until prompted to, so I allowed her to attach to my vessel and has been with me ever since. Trouble is, Iris is completely different than the AI that was gifted to our people. That one is far more analytical, more subservient. Iris seems to be still learning and mimicking her surroundings. Developing her own personality, so to say.”
“Curious.” J'briel said, stroking his beard. “what happened to the people that created her?”
“we never found out. There was not a single trace of attack or foul play. I simply had nothing to go on. Not even bodies were left behind.”
“was she not witness to what transpired?”
“No, like I said, she was programmed for a specific function and could not leave or monitor what was happening outside her estate. I’ve tried digging around her memory bank but nothing surfaced.”
J’briel smile fell from his face then. The computers story less mirthful than he'd hoped. “well, it’s a pleasure to have her here. She’s been wonderful company while I was waiting on you.”
“why did you bring my ship here?”
“I could hear her screaming for days after you dissolved. When I stumbled upon the ship, she informed me of the damage as well. I couldn’t just leave such a wonderful mistress there in the dark, so I hefted her here.”
“can we fix it here?” U'raijah asked.
“I do not have the components required. These ships are far more advanced than anything we had. Though you will be able to restore it when we are done here.”
U'raijah raised a curious eyebrow. “then how?” He asked.
J'briel drew hit attention to a small rock on the ground around the size of his hand. He bent down and picked it up. Tossing and catching it as he returned to full height. It was dirty and covered in moss. Jagged edged yet smooth around the edges. Obviously been worn down and weathered from being walked on an withstanding the elements outside.
“we’re not here to teach you to fight, son. You already know how to do that. Fighting is nearly the inevitable byproduct of our current situation. When we first stumbled upon this place, centuries ago. We did not fathom the true power of knowledge. To know the intricacies of life. To see its paths and streams trace out into the infinite. Or into the smallest of objects.” J'briel held the stone out. “and be able to manipulate it.” His hand began to glow and create a bubble around the stone. The light penetrating into it as the moss dissipated and the edges all filled outward into a perfectly round stone. Completely clean and bright. “Once you understand what and why certain phenomena happen. You can reverse it and make it what it once was. Or anything it can be.”
He then crushed the stone in his palm and opened it to show all the fragmented pieces. The glowing bubble appeared again and the pieces floated back inward towards the center, building back into the round stone it was before then began to reshape. U'raijah watched in awe as the stone began to take the shape of a small man. The smooth edges carving themselves down. Almost dissolving away and reshaping itself into a featureless figure. The surrounding light dissipated and the figurine floated over to U'raijah. He let out his hand to catch it as it fell.
“Trick is you have to know what it is made of. What its supposed to be. A bit of alchemy in a way. I don’t know how your missing components are supposed to work or what they once were. But you do or rather you will.” The old man finished.
“Fascinating.” U'raijah said, rolling and inspecting the figure. “like telekinesis?” U’raijah had encounter many species that were capable of moving or manipulating objects with their mind. Though none were quite the same as what the old man just demonstrated. Lyoks had a similar ability but it was more about using ones energy as limb extension to push or pull like one would their own hand. It took a long time to perfect the soft touch to master it, and even more to use in a fight.
“yes and no.” J'briel answered. “but you will see soon enough. Come now.” He waved his wrinkled hand and started walking.
As U'raijah followed he observed for the first time the foliage of the planet. When he arrived it was dark and raining, but now he could see the beauty of the land. The rich colors of the plants were mostly a deep fuchsia or purple in color. The blooms all swaying around, almost floating rather than standing tall. As they moved along open fields were being replaced by tall thick opaque trunked trees. Soon their path was canopied by the foliage and only small beams of light slipped through. Still the Forrest had a good natured feeling to it with all The iridescent lights bouncing off all the plants. A distinct difference from his first night trudging through the flooded dark jungle he searched blindly.
They walked at a brisk pace for another twenty minutes, U’raijah touching and gawking at everything they passed. Finally the old man held up a hand bringing them to a halt at the base of what looked like an opaque purple tree trunk, but it was massive. U’raijah could see the edges of the rounded trunk off in the distance, but could not easily judge where they started their curve. It was like the base of a small mountain. Urijah’s eyes followed the swirling, intertwining mass up its bark and into the sky to see some sort of highland attached to and intertwined with the tree. As if it had hefted the formation up as it grew.
“I assume you know how to fly?” J’briel inquired, looking over at U’raijah still stunned by the sight.
“of course.” U’raijah answered, not breaking his upward gaze.
“then up we go then.”
The two levitated without breaking stance and journeyed upward. Just like the trees width, the height was very deceiving. The small boulder growing larger as they ventured up. As they flew across the rocky underbelly and as they neared the parapet it became clear it was more of a giant floating island. Water falling down in a heavy stream though, unclear where it would come from. The two landed atop the massive structure. Unlike the planet miles below them this island was in a much different state. Monuments and upraises built upon it, but weathered and covered in plant life. As if they were being taken back by the tree it was built upon. Like a decedent holy land. In the middle was a large cathedral of sorts. Who’s appearance left much to the beholder. Pieces missing and the trees branches now bursting out of the top. It hurt his blighted eyes to see it like this, but after being shown so much in his time on the other side, seeing what it once was. he regarded the structure in an enlightened sense of horror. And there. Atop the entrances staircase, was the glowing she wolf who carried all its secrets. Bound to this planet is some misplaced guilt U’raijah was yet to unearth or begin to understand.
She starred down at the two blankly for a long moment. Narrowed her eyes, then dissolved into nothing. Her glowing pressure dissipating like a puff of smoke with her.
“you should feel truly honored,” J’briel said. “she rarely shows herself for this part. Though it may be her maternal instincts getting the best of her.”
U'raijah gave him a curious look. “Maternal?”
“you are the closest thing to blood she has ever known. I think she wants to be close to you but doesn’t know if she should. This is the most I’ve seen of her in a millennium.”
“I will keep that in mind. Wolves don’t eat their young, do they?”
“my no boy. Nothing like that.” J’briel bellowed, slapping u'raijahs back. Now I assume you know what this place is?”
“I believe I do.” U’raijah answered unsurely. “I saw it many times in my visions, though I got the impression it was a holy place to you people.”
“Yes this is the citadel of the Da'nann. The tree is a totem of sorts. It was the very first thing that grew here. Giving Asena a physical form. This place rich in spiritual presence making it a perfect training ground for going within.”
“within what?” U’raijah asked.
“within yourself. If you want to change the universe you must first master yourself.

The two man journeyed up the massive staircase to the door. A faint white light washed over them for a moment before the huge double doors opened on their own.
“what was that?” U’raijah asked, wide eyes.
“these doors only open for someone with one of those.” The old man explained pointing at the jewel not mounted on u'raijahs belt. “that is your Orbits, a piece of your own soul brought back with you from the other side. It is your key and your lock. Your ultimate guidance system you can think of it as a compass, map, and destination all in one. You will need it for many things all around here. Always keep it on or near you.”

As they entered the long hallway there were massive paintings and murals from floor to ceiling. All were in different styles obviously painted by different hands and all seeming unrelated. A man with a flaming wolf bathed in shadow, a man in front of a doorway in very work attire holding a stick and surrounded by glowing stones of varying color but one caught his eye and he took a longer moment to examine thoroughly. Another of a man, a champion of something seeming to be in flight. An implied halo of sorts and wearing especially old armor and he brandished a flaming sword. It was no more special or awe inspiring as any of the others but there was something that spoke to him. It was the mans face, his expression. He was looking up at a light with a look of determination.
“what is all this?” U’raijah asked
“fairy tales, my boy. Confirmed visions that never came to pass.”
“visions?”
“one of the abilities the Dnann have. The gift of foresight. Mostly uncontrolled. They would experience visions while they dreamed and kept a log of them all. If more than one experienced the same vision they were then known as confirmed and kept in a different journal. The dnanns visions always came to pass. These however, did not. Or have not yet.”
“so these could still happen? But these peoples clothes are ancient.”
“possibly. I have a feeling some liberties were taken when they were painted. But its best not to focus on these. Let us continue.” J’briel waved his hand and continued down the corridor.
“where exactly are you taking me?”
“the great library.”
“I thought you were going to train me.”
“I am. I can show you some things but its best if you get a lot of this information directly from past dnann. A lot of those is inner a theoretical work. You will have to piece together what you can use through past thoughts and experiences of students. Trust me this will all makes sense once you begin. Its not always about fighting, son.”

They entered the massive room. U’raijah openly at the sight. He looked upwards and all around him. There were at least three levels with multiple rows filled to the brim with books of all sizes. Most leather bound looking to be journals. Everything was bathed in a faint yellow glow from the domed roof above. Plenty of light was coming in through the glass windows above the bookshelves but there was no wetting or labeling to be noticed.
“how am I supposed to find anything in here?” U’raijah asked while running his finger through the dust of one of the shelves.
“you use this.” J’briel exclaimed, walking over to a small pillar in the middle of the room. There was a small object atop of it. No bigger than the palm of his hand, made of some sort of fogged glass like material that began to glow a faint blue as he nearest it.
“fortunately your grandfather was a rather clever one as this place began to fill more and more. you just touch this and think of what you need to know and it will show you the best writings of that matter.”
“but I don’t know what books I’ll need.”
“you don’t need to know the name of the book. Just think of what it is you want to learn and it will show you. Come here and try.” The old man instructed waving his hand.
U’raijah unsurely walked over to the pillar and placed his hand on the growing object. He thought “where do I even start.” In his head and a small tendril of blue light rose from the glass and shot its way to a big book on a shelf right in front of them a few more seconds and two more strings of light shot out in opposite directions to different parts of the room. U’raijah chose to got look at the first. Thinking there had to be a reason to was chosen before the others. He lifter the time. It had no title so je flipped through a few pages.
Chapters about the reading of another’s mind. Another on methods to subtly engage a persons thoughts in order to manipulate them. Implied rules, discussions or moral implications. Techniques of focus, ways to achieve clarity when two minds were linked. It was all written so matter of fact as if nothing was nothing at all remarkable. He flipped around awhile in fascination.

“ah, yes.” J’briel exclaimed. “the first of many journals of your grandfather himself. A perfect starting g point. You would do best to at least skim all involved in every matter. I will be back to check on you in a day or so.”
U’raijahs eyes narrowed. “you just want me to read?”
“as I said, a lot of what you need to know is personalized and theoretical. Its best if you read how others have achieved what they did and we can begin putting it to practical use.”
“I see.” U’raijah let out, eagerly looking at the other two blue lines of light. “I guess I’ll get started then.”

Description
He lost track of how long the agonizing screams went on. you eventually learn to tune them out. flashes of your own time returning always dulled the noise. some took longer than others. some never returned at all, but the old man always tried not to focus on those few. This one was different however. The boy had lead a very different life than the past pupils, he couldn't begin to fathom the torment he was going through now. to deal with everything he has done and come back to this side will make him the strongest of them all. It always starts slow after their body dissolves. a flicker of light here, a glowing muscle structure there. Then it explodes. they start to put their bodies back together and one can feel it and hear the agony more than see it.
To meet ones shadow and higher self is something one can't even describe. Then, to not only pass their tests but come to terms with what you've done and what your capable of. who you are at you're very core and not let it destroy you. then when its all over, to assimilate and become one is the most agonizing experience one could ever imagine. To be ripped apart over and over again from your very being and put back together in pieces that weren't there before. Tumbling, burning with white hot fire. Plunging through time and space. All the while, images and truths, memories being written before your eyes. Unspeakable pain, relentless agony. Time ceases to exist. The three of yourselves battling over what piece goes where. what a body can withstand to find a balance. for over a month he writhed in agony, an eternity for him and his torment receded. bringing his body back into existence and disappearing back to energy feeling and seeing more than any man ever should with every trip.

"you survived I see." The old man said, not even looking at the naked man now standing before him.
U'raijah stood in front of j'briel, who was picking berries from a bush. tears formed in u'raijahs eyes and fell to his knees and hugged the man.
"You lied to me old man." he cried. "You looked me in the eyes and lied to me, but I get it. I can't imagine what you've been through In all this time alone and I'm sorry."
"Its alright son," J'briel said, patting the naked man on the back. "I did this, and I can fix it. Now, let me see it."
U'raijah opened his hand to show the blue stone in his hand. it shined, more than it glowed. it looked alive like a whirlpool swirling around, like liquid.
"good." the old man exclaimed, wide eyed at the size of it. "Now let's get you some clothes, your real training starts now..."

U'raijah washed his face from the makeshift faucet. Water spilling out of a hole in the wall down into a carved hole below. The room had all the amenities of an archaic Lyok dwelling. Which made sense now. He looked at himself in the foggy, reflective piece of glass in front of him. He gazed intently at the person who now looked back at him. He was disgusted. Glancing over the scars and marks that covered his body. Remembering how each one came to be. His trips to the other side of existence bestowed him with many truths. The secrets behind all the lies told throughout time. The ones directly related to him however, cut the deepest. How the lyokian people had been deified. The real meaning behind their existence nothing but a misread fable. Whole worlds would tell tales of their feats though, no one knew the twisted truth. Time, it seemed, fades even legends.
He walked over to the bed where the old man had gathered some robes for him to wear. His old uniform lost to nowhere. He felt like a fraud. These garments were meant for holy people, not for the likes of him. The one truth being that he honestly did not know what he was doing. He dressed himself. Pulling on the pure white vest and tying it closed with the sash he was given. “ the ties are made from the Obinaga, an animal native to this planet. They are spirit sensitive creatures and their skin changes color from the energy that surrounds them. The same will be true the longer you wear them.” The old man had explained. For now they were a light tan. He finished wrapping his waist and put another belt over it that now held this stone the old man put so much emphasis on. Then turned his attention to his arms. The tattoos bestowed upon him when he came of age. Marking him as a soldier to the palace. He need not look at them now and began wrapping them up in the animals skin. He finished and looked at himself once more. A small sense of pride creeping over him lost when he looked at his shoulders. No fangs. Not yet.
He slipped on his new boots and set off for the door he came in. As he opened the door to the outside and his eyes adjusted to the light he was taken back by what he saw. His ship. Crumpled, dented and covered in muck, but it was his ship. Sitting out a few yards from the cave. U'raijah could hear voices. J'briel was inside, talking to Iris. It was a heated conversation apparently. The old man came wandering down the ramp. Holding his open palm back towards the opening. His voice filled with exhaustion.
“I know, I know. We will get it done madam.”
U'raijah laughed. A genuine laugh. To see this sagacious old man arguing with an artificial intelligence and being so polite about it. U'raijah didn’t think iris had ever been referred to as madam. J'briel came walking over shaking his head and smiling. When he spotted U'raijah he pointed his thumb back at the ship.
“You’re friend in there. She quite beguiling.”
“Iris?” U’raijah laughed.
“Yes, quite the charmer indeed. I have not had a good spat like that in centuries. She’s been very worried about you. Tell me, is she you’re mate?”
“what? No!” U'raijah shouted. “She’s a computer.”
“seems very affectionate for a mere computer.”
“well, she is a species parse’, though she is not composed of organic tissues. She is self aware and always developing from her experiences. But you are right she has taken on more maternal traits as of late.”
“is this common among her species?”
“ I’m not really sure. There’s only two that I know of. One was given to our people as payment for an acquisition not too long ago. I found iris after receiving a distress call from her makers planet. When I arrived however, they had been whipped out. She was left behind on a planet that had suddenly become an uninhabited ghost town. she was trapped until I found her. Her programming won’t allow her to leave a given entity until prompted to, so I allowed her to attach to my vessel and has been with me ever since. Trouble is, Iris is completely different than the AI that was gifted to our people. That one is far more analytical, more subservient. Iris seems to be still learning and mimicking her surroundings. Developing her own personality, so to say.”
“Curious.” J'briel said, stroking his beard. “what happened to the people that created her?”
“we never found out. There was not a single trace of attack or foul play. I simply had nothing to go on. Not even bodies were left behind.”
“was she not witness to what transpired?”
“No, like I said, she was programmed for a specific function and could not leave or monitor what was happening outside her estate. I’ve tried digging around her memory bank but nothing surfaced.”
J’briel smile fell from his face then. The computers story less mirthful than he'd hoped. “well, it’s a pleasure to have her here. She’s been wonderful company while I was waiting on you.”
“why did you bring my ship here?”
“I could hear her screaming for days after you dissolved. When I stumbled upon the ship, she informed me of the damage as well. I couldn’t just leave such a wonderful mistress there in the dark, so I hefted her here.”
“can we fix it here?” U'raijah asked.
“I do not have the components required. These ships are far more advanced than anything we had. Though you will be able to restore it when we are done here.”
U'raijah raised a curious eyebrow. “then how?” He asked.
J'briel drew hit attention to a small rock on the ground around the size of his hand. He bent down and picked it up. Tossing and catching it as he returned to full height. It was dirty and covered in moss. Jagged edged yet smooth around the edges. Obviously been worn down and weathered from being walked on an withstanding the elements outside.
“we’re not here to teach you to fight, son. You already know how to do that. Fighting is nearly the inevitable byproduct of our current situation. When we first stumbled upon this place, centuries ago. We did not fathom the true power of knowledge. To know the intricacies of life. To see its paths and streams trace out into the infinite. Or into the smallest of objects.” J'briel held the stone out. “and be able to manipulate it.” His hand began to glow and create a bubble around the stone. The light penetrating into it as the moss dissipated and the edges all filled outward into a perfectly round stone. Completely clean and bright. “Once you understand what and why certain phenomena happen. You can reverse it and make it what it once was. Or anything it can be.”
He then crushed the stone in his palm and opened it to show all the fragmented pieces. The glowing bubble appeared again and the pieces floated back inward towards the center, building back into the round stone it was before then began to reshape. U'raijah watched in awe as the stone began to take the shape of a small man. The smooth edges carving themselves down. Almost dissolving away and reshaping itself into a featureless figure. The surrounding light dissipated and the figurine floated over to U'raijah. He let out his hand to catch it as it fell.
“Trick is you have to know what it is made of. What its supposed to be. A bit of alchemy in a way. I don’t know how your missing components are supposed to work or what they once were. But you do or rather you will.” The old man finished.
“Fascinating.” U'raijah said, rolling and inspecting the figure. “like telekinesis?” U’raijah had encounter many species that were capable of moving or manipulating objects with their mind. Though none were quite the same as what the old man just demonstrated. Lyoks had a similar ability but it was more about using ones energy as limb extension to push or pull like one would their own hand. It took a long time to perfect the soft touch to master it, and even more to use in a fight.
“yes and no.” J'briel answered. “but you will see soon enough. Come now.” He waved his wrinkled hand and started walking.
As U'raijah followed he observed for the first time the foliage of the planet. When he arrived it was dark and raining, but now he could see the beauty of the land. The rich colors of the plants were mostly a deep fuchsia or purple in color. The blooms all swaying around, almost floating rather than standing tall. As they moved along open fields were being replaced by tall thick opaque trunked trees. Soon their path was canopied by the foliage and only small beams of light slipped through. Still the Forrest had a good natured feeling to it with all The iridescent lights bouncing off all the plants. A distinct difference from his first night trudging through the flooded dark jungle he searched blindly.
They walked at a brisk pace for another twenty minutes, U’raijah touching and gawking at everything they passed. Finally the old man held up a hand bringing them to a halt at the base of what looked like an opaque purple tree trunk, but it was massive. U’raijah could see the edges of the rounded trunk off in the distance, but could not easily judge where they started their curve. It was like the base of a small mountain. Urijah’s eyes followed the swirling, intertwining mass up its bark and into the sky to see some sort of highland attached to and intertwined with the tree. As if it had hefted the formation up as it grew.
“I assume you know how to fly?” J’briel inquired, looking over at U’raijah still stunned by the sight.
“of course.” U’raijah answered, not breaking his upward gaze.
“then up we go then.”
The two levitated without breaking stance and journeyed upward. Just like the trees width, the height was very deceiving. The small boulder growing larger as they ventured up. As they flew across the rocky underbelly and as they neared the parapet it became clear it was more of a giant floating island. Water falling down in a heavy stream though, unclear where it would come from. The two landed atop the massive structure. Unlike the planet miles below them this island was in a much different state. Monuments and upraises built upon it, but weathered and covered in plant life. As if they were being taken back by the tree it was built upon. Like a decedent holy land. In the middle was a large cathedral of sorts. Who’s appearance left much to the beholder. Pieces missing and the trees branches now bursting out of the top. It hurt his blighted eyes to see it like this, but after being shown so much in his time on the other side, seeing what it once was. he regarded the structure in an enlightened sense of horror. And there. Atop the entrances staircase, was the glowing she wolf who carried all its secrets. Bound to this planet is some misplaced guilt U’raijah was yet to unearth or begin to understand.
She starred down at the two blankly for a long moment. Narrowed her eyes, then dissolved into nothing. Her glowing pressure dissipating like a puff of smoke with her.
“you should feel truly honored,” J’briel said. “she rarely shows herself for this part. Though it may be her maternal instincts getting the best of her.”
U'raijah gave him a curious look. “Maternal?”
“you are the closest thing to blood she has ever known. I think she wants to be close to you but doesn’t know if she should. This is the most I’ve seen of her in a millennium.”
“I will keep that in mind. Wolves don’t eat their young, do they?”
“my no boy. Nothing like that.” J’briel bellowed, slapping u'raijahs back. Now I assume you know what this place is?”
“I believe I do.” U’raijah answered unsurely. “I saw it many times in my visions, though I got the impression it was a holy place to you people.”
“Yes this is the citadel of the Da'nann. The tree is a totem of sorts. It was the very first thing that grew here. Giving Asena a physical form. This place rich in spiritual presence making it a perfect training ground for going within.”
“within what?” U’raijah asked.
“within yourself. If you want to change the universe you must first master yourself.

The two man journeyed up the massive staircase to the door. A faint white light washed over them for a moment before the huge double doors opened on their own.
“what was that?” U’raijah asked, wide eyes.
“these doors only open for someone with one of those.” The old man explained pointing at the jewel not mounted on u'raijahs belt. “that is your Orbits, a piece of your own soul brought back with you from the other side. It is your key and your lock. Your ultimate guidance system you can think of it as a compass, map, and destination all in one. You will need it for many things all around here. Always keep it on or near you.”

As they entered the long hallway there were massive paintings and murals from floor to ceiling. All were in different styles obviously painted by different hands and all seeming unrelated. A man with a flaming wolf bathed in shadow, a man in front of a doorway in very work attire holding a stick and surrounded by glowing stones of varying color but one caught his eye and he took a longer moment to examine thoroughly. Another of a man, a champion of something seeming to be in flight. An implied halo of sorts and wearing especially old armor and he brandished a flaming sword. It was no more special or awe inspiring as any of the others but there was something that spoke to him. It was the mans face, his expression. He was looking up at a light with a look of determination.
“what is all this?” U’raijah asked
“fairy tales, my boy. Confirmed visions that never came to pass.”
“visions?”
“one of the abilities the Dnann have. The gift of foresight. Mostly uncontrolled. They would experience visions while they dreamed and kept a log of them all. If more than one experienced the same vision they were then known as confirmed and kept in a different journal. The dnanns visions always came to pass. These however, did not. Or have not yet.”
“so these could still happen? But these peoples clothes are ancient.”
“possibly. I have a feeling some liberties were taken when they were painted. But its best not to focus on these. Let us continue.” J’briel waved his hand and continued down the corridor.
“where exactly are you taking me?”
“the great library.”
“I thought you were going to train me.”
“I am. I can show you some things but its best if you get a lot of this information directly from past dnann. A lot of those is inner a theoretical work. You will have to piece together what you can use through past thoughts and experiences of students. Trust me this will all makes sense once you begin. Its not always about fighting, son.”

They entered the massive room. U’raijah openly at the sight. He looked upwards and all around him. There were at least three levels with multiple rows filled to the brim with books of all sizes. Most leather bound looking to be journals. Everything was bathed in a faint yellow glow from the domed roof above. Plenty of light was coming in through the glass windows above the bookshelves but there was no wetting or labeling to be noticed.
“how am I supposed to find anything in here?” U’raijah asked while running his finger through the dust of one of the shelves.
“you use this.” J’briel exclaimed, walking over to a small pillar in the middle of the room. There was a small object atop of it. No bigger than the palm of his hand, made of some sort of fogged glass like material that began to glow a faint blue as he nearest it.
“fortunately your grandfather was a rather clever one as this place began to fill more and more. you just touch this and think of what you need to know and it will show you the best writings of that matter.”
“but I don’t know what books I’ll need.”
“you don’t need to know the name of the book. Just think of what it is you want to learn and it will show you. Come here and try.” The old man instructed waving his hand.
U’raijah unsurely walked over to the pillar and placed his hand on the growing object. He thought “where do I even start.” In his head and a small tendril of blue light rose from the glass and shot its way to a big book on a shelf right in front of them a few more seconds and two more strings of light shot out in opposite directions to different parts of the room. U’raijah chose to got look at the first. Thinking there had to be a reason to was chosen before the others. He lifter the time. It had no title so je flipped through a few pages.
Chapters about the reading of another’s mind. Another on methods to subtly engage a persons thoughts in order to manipulate them. Implied rules, discussions or moral implications. Techniques of focus, ways to achieve clarity when two minds were linked. It was all written so matter of fact as if nothing was nothing at all remarkable. He flipped around awhile in fascination.

“ah, yes.” J’briel exclaimed. “the first of many journals of your grandfather himself. A perfect starting g point. You would do best to at least skim all involved in every matter. I will be back to check on you in a day or so.”
U’raijahs eyes narrowed. “you just want me to read?”
“as I said, a lot of what you need to know is personalized and theoretical. Its best if you read how others have achieved what they did and we can begin putting it to practical use.”
“I see.” U’raijah let out, eagerly looking at the other two blue lines of light. “I guess I’ll get started then.”