#temple shadowsbane

[shadoloran]

Lessons Pt. 1

Frustrating wasn't even the word for it.

Donavin pulled the shirt over his head and threw it aside, closing his eyes. They were leaving the next morning; going to find their parents. His brother Darnath had been called to the front under his soldier's guise and there was no way Vin was remaining behind in the Temple alone. He concentrated on his breathing and tried again.

Elemental heat boiled at his center and he worked at drawing it through his body. At his source, where once a black void sat and sucked the very life from him, the vortex of magic picked up speed and started converting. But his body screamed out in the ache and he faltered, again. He stumbled forward and put one hand down on the ground as the arcane and fire exploded outwards and singed the runes he stood on. The sound of his own panting echoed back at him once the magic stopped.

Cannot contain it

Despite his aching body, Donavin suddenly stood and spun around to look for the whispering voice. "Who's there?" This place made him anxious. all the memories he'd had of what it had done to his Father made him wary about what it might do to him.

Do not contain it

"Syn? Grandfather?" He frowned and all he could see was his own reflection in the mirrors. It was quiet for several moments before he grumbled. "Don't contain it? How else are you suppose to fucking do it?"

He started with a small amount in his palm and watched the Light safely roll around his hand. It was much safer than fire it seemed, at the moment. He concentrated on it's properties but part of his mind was distracted with the whisper like echo. This place was famous for it and it seemed his brother was leaving him alone that night. It gave him the jittery goosebumps.

"The Temple is right, you know. It knows you better than you think."

Vin nearly jumped out of his skin to turn and see the form of his Grandfather, shimmering into existence. 

[shadoloran]

Adjusting

He stepped outside in the early morning and reveled in the way the soft light from the crest of day spilled over the ruins. It gave it that refreshed feeling; that no matter what had happened out here the night before the whole area got the free pass to bathe in purity and look like gold. He closed his eyes for only a moment and took a deep breath to take part in the moment.

There was still something in the back of his mind that made him feel off. Call it a tremor in the force or what have you, depending on your alignment to the world around them but it was more than just his adjustment to his rebirth. Donavin exhaled, lifting his hand to look down at the palm and tried to conjure again. Darkness swirled between his fingers and he watched it pool there like mercury, begging to be manipulated. He had to be careful though... his control wasn't what it used to be.

For more years than he was alive, he'd been struggling with a handicap that made him cast harder... longer than anyone else and he'd worked damned hard to make it as effortless as he could. And now that the void was gone and no longer eating him from the inside out the efforts could be more than just a little dangerous.

"Donavin."

The black-haired youth turned his attention on the Physician that was coming up the path. He felt a spark of satisfaction with the way Gentil eyed him with uncertainty and stayed clear of that hand.

"Hello Gentil. Breakfast will start soon, Darnath isn't home yet."

Gentil gave a little nod. "I know he... he's picking up some fresh coffee for your folks."

Donavin tipped his hand, letting the shadow pour out and evaporate before it even touched the ground. "You have something on your mind?"

Gentil gave him that little furrow and sighed. "I was just hoping you're feeling alright."

"Why?"

"Darnath seems to have these lapses in his thoughts and I know how close you are."

Vin slipped his empty hands into his pockets and gave him that complacent look that he'd learned from his Father. "I'm fine."

Gentil gave him a little nod and moved to step by him to get to the door. Vin reached out and held his bicep and the physician looked up at him with a slight panic in his eyes for the history they had together and Vin could see the memories growing like a panic in his gaze. He shuddered, as a strange echo from Darnath's brother pushed through him like a magical side effect. 

Vin slowly let go of his arm. "Sorry."

Gentil stepped out of his reach and nodded. "What was that?"

Vin rubbed the back of his own neck and sighed, looked out across those ruins, bathed in light. "Still learning control."

Gentil gave him a little nod, watching the youth and felt bad for him. He didn't know the details of what Vin was struggling with but he could see how it bothered him. "If I can help, just ask. Maybe even something to help calm your nerves."

Vin nodded and thanked him quietly but he said nothing more. there was a few more moments of silence and then he offered to see the other inside, just to be alone with his thoughts for a while.

~Dar, breakfast is almost ready~ 

[shadoloran]

Donavin was still unaware of the world around him. It had only been thirty-eight hours since the void in his chest had been removed and he still lay unconscious in his own darkness, fighting for his will to survive. 

The gaping hole where the void once was throbbed and screamed out for a purpose. But it was no ordinary hole for it had once been in his very soul and eating every ounce of magic that he'd ingested. Slowly... so slowly he worked from within, repairing that hollow. He had no idea how much time would have escaped him as he sewed up the scar with the threads of life. Slowly and subtly, the room around his sleeping form started to repair itself. The runes in the walls dulled and reshaped; glowing with the pure energy of the very ancient shadow that pushed through the veins of Temple Shadowsbane. Magic stabilized, the air cleansed and the supports in the walls began to strengthen over the days to come.