BDS: Chapter Twenty

A warm nighttime breeze ruffled Gyan's hair as he stood before Kesól in a field of monarosias. Beams from the Elsarian moons highlighted the flower petals and boulders scattered throughout the field. He wiped his forehead and tugged at his sweat-soaked training uniform. A wave of nostalgia hit him as he breathed in the sweet fragrance wafting through the air.

"Can you focus more now?" Kesól said. His yellow eyes gleamed in the dark.

Gyan nodded. Sprinting at the beginning of his sessions with Kesól seemed to help lessen the desire to go to Jalena when his Shanlo abilities were triggered. "Yes, it subsided faster this time."

"Good, that means your body is acclimating well. I was hoping you could focus better, so I can teach you more Kystalian knowledge concerning energy variations during our session this time. I chose a night simulation so that you will be able to detect the differences in magical frequency with your eyes without Relasu. If you ever find that you are without the ability to use Relasu, there is always a way to tell how powerful a spell is once you know what to look for. The surroundings do not have to be dark, but it is easier to begin this way." He held out his hand to Gyan. "Before we start, however, I wish to give you a gift from Sir Malik and I."

Gyan took the glowing silver chain from Kesól. A shimmering silver-blue crystal marked with a white spiral in the middle hung from the chain.

"It is a single crystal pendant that embodies the starlight from Malik's stone. It will light up as your energy starts to heighten and will help you stabilize the Shanlo effect when you gaze into it."

Gyan smiled as he turned the pendant over in his palm. The silver-blue light within the crystal twinkled. "This is so great." He bowed. "I have been meaning to thank you, Sir Kesól, for all you have done for me. I have been truly honored and relieved by your presence here." He slipped the pendant around his neck.

Kesól smiled. "The gratitude accompanying our interaction is not one-sided, Master Gyan. It has been years since I have felt as alive as I do now. I owe that to our training sessions just as much as I do to Sir Malik's hospitality.

"Now, let's begin. As I stated before, in order to get more familiar with fighting against magic, you must learn the difference in frequency and power between spells. Tell me what you know so far."

"That our gladaés are less effective in fighting it—at least for powerful magic."

"How have you learned this?"

"Akila. Hoshi tried to stop more than one of her attacks with her gladaé when we fought at Mordán's palace. Her sword moved through the attack but had no effect."

Kesól put a hand on his chin. "Hmmm… Did Akila tell Hoshi that her sword was useless?"

"Yes. She warned her in the beginning."

Kesól smiled. "That was part of the spell."

"You're serious?"

"Quite so. Any statement that contradicts or suppresses the use of personal power or feels like a limitation, is an illusion. No matter if the words are coming from a wizard or someone else. Words that feel limiting can be viewed as a type of spell someone is attempting to get you to internalize. The power of suggestion is one of the most powerful forms of manipulation that exists."

"So, the only reason that Hoshi's gladaé didn't block Akila's attack is because Hoshi doubted it would."

"Yes, for the most part. In a sense, she yielded to or accepted what she was told. If you do not accept what magic is spoken to you, then the results lose their power." Kesól took a seat on a small boulder among the flowers. "For example, what if I told you that Master Jalena didn't want you near her, to protect her or otherwise?"

Gyan's eyes widened and his brow furrowed.

Kesól gave him a small smile. "Rest easy, Master Gyan. I'm sure there is no truth in what I speak." He raised an eyebrow. "But, just like what Akila did to Master Hoshi, it is merely a suggestion. Your response—your acceptance of what I speak—is what gives my words potential. If my words amplify any doubt already seeded within you, then the suggestion has gained even more power to manifest.

"We grant or diminish the power of words and proclamations. In the same sense, if the elder masters had told you from the time you were young that your power would fade in time and you trusted their words, then you may create an energy block that oppresses your power at a specific time due to your trust in their wisdom."

Gyan nodded. "So, this is true of any perceived limitation?"

"Yes."

"Even the fact that a warrior must be in danger to teleport?"

"Yes. The very word 'fact' is representative of an absolute, providing no means of alteration. Any perceived limitation begins through suggestion or an experience in which a desire was not fulfilled. Meaning in the past, a warrior found he could teleport out of harm's way but could not recreate the same frequency to do so without the threat of danger. He told others, and as a result, the concept or belief that light warriors could only teleport while in danger formed and spread until there was one to challenge the idea."

"So, I can teleport anytime I wish if I believe I could."

"You already know that the key to utilizing your warrior power is belief. Of course, the dynamic must be able to support your desire, but it all begins with belief. The same idea holds for anything you wish to create. All evolution occurs by rejecting a part of what already is and making a different choice. You must exercise a new way that departs from the path of the old, including any limiting ability. To move beyond the limitation you have experienced so far with teleporting, you must alter your mentality around it.

"The smoothest method to this process is to take what you know to be true from experience which is how teleporting ignites within you. You would recreate the feeling and thought of the experience. Then, you would attempt to recreate that frequency without danger near you. After practicing this, you may discover that the ability ignites with less effort and in varying circumstances than what you first believed."

"Why have the elder masters not tried to practice a more effective way?"

"Most likely for several reasons. Time for one. As you have experienced, the demands of the Order are heavy. There is not much time for researching how to evolve abilities. There also is a period of fatigue that follows any change or upgrade in power. Another reason could be the motivation to improve one's ability. If the need for change is not immediate then we become comfortable with what is."

"So basically, laziness?"

Kesól laughed. "That's one way to put it. However, if the need is great, a circumstance can often trigger the evolution of a skill when the necessary components are aligned. In a moment of need, you already know that one's ability can expand or evolve at the right time, surpassing any perceived limitation."

Gyan nodded in understanding, thinking of the first time the team formed the Lumfáinne.

Kesól clapped his hands together. "Okay, now that you have been reminded that you're limitless, let's talk more about your gladaé and fighting magic. Tell me where the power of your sword comes from."

"A combination of star and moonlight that intertwines with the will of a warrior."

"The combination of moon and starlight is simply what makes the sword structure strong enough to withstand the frequency of a light warrior. The elder masters must have told you that the gladaé is an extension of a warrior?"

"Yes—a channel for our light energy."

"Exactly. The power that flows through the gladaé is your own energy. Some of this power is embedded within the structure of the blade each time you use it, but it is not separate from you. Your energy, whether it is flowing through the gladaé or not, is sufficient to fight against magic as long as you believe that it is. As you learn to read the differences in magic vibrations, you can adjust your power accordingly and the tool, which in this case, is the sword, will work for you in ways you have never seen…even as a way to flow your charisma."

Gyan raised his eyebrows. "Never thought of that."

"So, the other reason Master Hoshi's sword was ineffective against Akila—"

"—is because the frequency of Akila's fire is different than Hoshi's light energy?" Gyan guessed.

Kesól nodded. "Good. There is always a way to expand your abilities. You just have to look for the open path to do so." He held out his hands, palms up, before him. "Now, I will show you the difference between vibrations of my magic." His eyes lit with a bright yellow glow. A swirling ball of gold glittering light formed above his left palm. "This is the magic I gave you to focus on the first time we trained together. It is often used to distract or calm a person by creating an aesthetic effect. It is not harmful."

A thick beam of gold, yellow, and silver light shot up from Kesól's right palm. "This, on the other hand, is magic used to defend or attack. Note the density difference between the two. One is light, with an easy feel, while the other feels and looks heavier. Now, use Relasu to study both types of magic."

Gyan inhaled and focused his vision as he ignited Relasu. "The patterns within the magic are different. The molecules are more scattered and move differently above your left palm."

"Good. If a wizard can alter the amount of power within an attack or utilize different spells to create different frequencies or outcomes with their magic, you can also adapt your power. Being able to transform external energy to counter an opponent allows you the upper hand."

"What do you mean?"

"That the same alterations in magic can be done with light energy too. Think of your charisma…. Have you ever tried to formulate different types of shields rather than just one that blocks an attack?"

"Eh," Gyan scratched the back of his head, "not really. I mean, Tarak manipulated my light so that it pierced through the Vaznaun on the wall at Mordán's palace, so I guess it can be used as an attack source."

"Okay. So, you know its property can be manipulated to attack. But, you already have seen your power used as an attack source as it flows through the gladaé."

"But, isn't my charisma different from the light energy within the gladaé?"

Kesól raised his eyebrows. "Is it?"

Gyan narrowed his brow in thought.

"Do they not share the same source?"

"They're just different versions of the same source," Gyan replied in understanding.

"Yes, the molecules are simply arranged differently. Just like the magic I just showed you. They are malleable depending on the intent of the wielder. If a shield is meant to protect, it can do so in more than just one way. Now, think of how."

"I guess it could alter a course of attack, rather than just block." His face brightened. "So, if I change the properties of my shield, I could reflect the attack so that it ricochets in a different direction."

"Good…. How else?"

"I could absorb an attack or alter it to where it disintegrated certain frequencies of the magic or weapon."

Kesól smiled and nodded. "There are many ways a power can be transformed, in both magic and light energy. Just as you alter your moves in the Damsé according to your opponent's energy, so also can you alter a defensive light vibration in response to an attack—all referring back to the idea that your power is utilized most in yielding and adjusting accordingly to what is at hand to gain the advantage."

"You are a genius, Sir Kesól."

Kesól laughed lightly. His eyes lit with a yellow glow again as gold and silver light began to swirl above his hand. "Do this genius a favor then, and let's put this knowledge to practice."