#auxilus

Volstag’s brother approached me two days ago and asked me to be his teacher of elemental magic. Firstly I didn’t want to have an apprentice, however Galinn is a brother of Volstag, a brother of Raven Shaman, who helps me with Odiniya. If I can somehow repay my gratitude, then to teach Galinn is the least I can do. And being completely honest… Galinn might help me to have more time for myself as well. We both can benefit from this arrangement.

I already gave him his first task. And I recommended to find a mesmer who can help him with that. Galinn may not know that, but finding a mesmer will be more valuable and important for his learning than the task itself.

Galinn has to think about the connection between elemental magic of his and mental magic of mesmers. He needs to start to work on his mind, because this is the opening gate and main source of any magic in the world, no matter what kind of magic it is. Our mind is not just a guest in the realm of matter. Our mind is the creator and governor of the realm of matter. The universe is shaped by our minds and therefore the magic comes out of it. All the weapons and talismans we use, are rather tools how to magnify or direct our own magic.

When Galinn starts to understand how his own mind works, and that the magic has no limits, he will find A way to his elemental one. And then, he will be able to find the right person who can help him with the task, he finds the compatible magic he needs.

This personal accomplishment will lead to deep inner satisfaction. It will give Galinn the right opening starting point to trust his own abilities and hopefully some desire to try more, experiment and discover beyond common limits of ordinary elementalists. He needs to be open and flexible to options offered by his magic.

The storm of hectic and stressful times is getting weaker. I don’t want to smile and celebrate yet, but I hope the outlook is positive. We’ve finally saved Ataksuru. After several weeks of missing the boy, he’s finally back in Hoelbrak. And the best thing about all of it? Brandon is alive as well. My vision of corrupted Brandon was true, however my vision was not complete and rather misleading. Well, I should say my own interpretation was misleading. I didn’t expect Brandon’s gift to be developed in such scale already. But I’m most grateful about that. I believe, soon I have to talk to Brandon about his gift.

And the gift is not the only thing I will need to talk to him. His incredible lack of his own responsibility is alarming. He was afraid of Ataksuru like every loving brother would be, but he’s too young, too irresponsible and still too weak to be a leader. Why? He just let Ataksuru to walk and fight immediately after the basic healing, even though Ataksuru was tortured for a month, suffering from hypothermia, underfed, unconsciousness… He has much to learn. He could simply let Ataksuru die because of his reckless decisions and euphoria of saving his brother, and all the risk, all the time, training and all the scarification of mine and Tien’s clan would be for nothing. Ataksuru might be stubborn, but Brandon should be the strong and responsible one. If he cannot handle his own family, how the hell he can handle anything else?

Faolan has come back as well. I don’t know why she left without any word, but now she’s back. She and Brandon met in Hoelbrak once Ataksuru was taken care of. It was obvious that the meeting was a bit awkward and I blame the lack of communication between them. Faolan is young and reckless as well, it seems.

Is it the age what is the issue everywhere? Or is that some kind of new Norn characteristics I wasn’t aware of? I saw Ataksuru, Brandon and Faolan… each one of them would deserve some proper discussion. I can think about Odiniya and Zsinya as well to add to that group. But maybe I really care too much. Maybe it’s time to give them all more space without my inputs. Maybe I put myself into their lives too much. Maybe I intervene too much. Maybe I’m just too old and see everything from a too much different perspective. After all… mistakes are the best way for everyone to learn. Ataksuru, Brandon, Faolan, Zsinya, Odiniya… learn from your own mistakes and bear all the consequences of your actions.

Speaking of Odiniya, we made some progress. Doctor Xil, got some blood purified by ser Varden and we believe it may help Odiniya to gain some more strength to fight with the demon inside her. How to get rid of the demon? We still don’t know.

But what I already know is that doctor Xil is probably sorting her life out. Finally. I’m very happy for that. It seems there is a man in her life, Alkir, who has some positive influence on her. She said she trust me, she calls me her brother and I… I keep my distance. Why? I felt like I was in the middle of some storm and my life and issues were twisted my body in all directions. Dhuum’s lakey, Brandon’s possible death, Ataksuru’s possible death, spider demon, spider attacks, sacrificial rituals with the Tien clan, all the sad encounters where Xil was involved, kidnapping of me, stalkers, people killed by Odiniya because of me, all the people I put in danger because of holding Odiniya near the manor and Divinity… and I haven’t started yet… I feel like I need to explode and scream all day just to get all the anger, disappointment, stress and frustration out of me… I just don’t know what to think any more. It’s the phase of my life when I hate what I am and when I wish to be an ordinary human with ordinary issues. I hate seeing mortals being so reckless and I hate being me right now.

Doctor Xil, shaman Volstag and demon Vrain are finally coming to examine Odiniya. I wanted to set up an examination group for her, to find out what we are dealing with first, before we know what to do. Xil is perfect as she’s Odiniya’s friend and a doctor. She knows what is best for Odiniya from medical perspective and I also hope she will solve the fact, that I need to keep the demon influence weak, and at the same time we all want to keep Odiniya away from any health danger. Volstag is the Raven Shaman and a Norn with some knowledge of demonology, he’s perfect for Odiniya, because he’s from the same culture and his shaman abilities can have positive influence on her. And… Volstag cares for Odiniya as well and would protect her, if Vrain will try to kill her. Yes, Vrain doesn’t like the idea of a demon trapped so close to his friends. Vrain is also a demon, but a demon I can trust and who’s my ward as well. His origin gives the examination group another valuable attribute. I hope he will be able to see the real demon in Odiniya.

Xil, Volstag and Vrain… three souls I believe can start the process of freeing Odiniya. Together they should give me the right answers and beat the monster in her.

I’m not going to join them. I have another task to do. Right now I’m secretly watching them from the window. Xil is trying to pick the lock of the house, where Odiniya is held. How the hell is Xil able to do that? Hmm… it seems like Vrain isn’t patient and kicks into the door. They are in now and it’s time for me protect them…

I’m going outside closer to the hills behind the manor. I can see the building with Odiniya and the group behind my back. It’s getting dark and I know once they will start, the demon will be pissed. A pissed demon trapped in the corner means troubles… I’m watching the hills for any sign of movement… I’m not a demon expert like Vrain or Volstag, but my visions and my own observation gave me enough hints to know, that… the sun is gone and the darkness of the night is spreading; stars are dotting the sky; the shadows merge together and the hills are covered in the dark… I know that the demon is not a lesser one and therefore has its own devilish minions… I’m trying to penetrate the darkness and recognize any movement from just a simple wind playing with branches and leaves… minions of many legs and mandibles… I’ve heard some rustle and quickly turns in the direction of the sound. I’m trying to narrow my eyes to focus on the dark, to see through.

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Another rustle sound, this time the opposite side… and another one coming from other part of the hill. I’m not fast enough to follow all the sounds. Lights coming from the manor’s windows are not sufficient to illuminate the hills. I immediately transform into my owl form, my clothes and staff falling on the ground and the feathered bird, me, is flying up… to fully see the the hillside with better eyes – eyes of an owl adapted for the night.

What I see is… oh Gods… even in my owl form the view gives me the shivers. I’m trying to land as fast as possible and grab my staff. The minions are here. The whole hillside is moving like a black avalanche. The whole hillside is covered in spiders of various sizes…

Time is running out. We all know it, but we have to wait… the right time is essential. Ataksuru is in danger and his life depends on our quick, precise and success action. Me and Grim were able to find out, he’s somewhere in Frostgorge Sound imprisoned by some nomad Svanir clan moving all around. It is more than certain they will stop in the Barrowstead in the next few days. Brandon must be ready to save him and I have to go with him…

…and I have to choose… to save Brandon… or… to save Ataksuru. The vision was clear. During the rescue mission Brandon will be touched by a Svanir shaman spreading Jormag’s corruption. And Ataksuru? Right now his fate depends on his strength and our faith that Svanir won’t try to corrupt him as well. Ataksuru wouldn’t survive that, he’s a human.

I hurt one of my wards yesterday. I hurt Odiniya a lot. I promised myself I would never cause any harm like that but I did. I had to and I’m really very sorry for that. When I found out she’s back in Divinity, I immediately left the hospitality of my friend and headed for the Sun, because that was the place where she was drinking, smoking and preparing for something awful.

To lure her out was easy. To hurt her… was not. I wasn’t gentle, I couldn’t be, I had to be sure… the first lightning bolt… she hit the wall next to the statue of Grenth. Bricks were broken and she was bleeding, but that was not enough. The second lightning bolt… the third lightning bolt… she lost her consciousness. My heart was aching, seeing my wards suffer is painful, seeing my wards suffer because of me is even more painful.

I did what was necessary. No one has to know she was in Divinity, possibly not even her. Dragging her out of Divinity was not an option. I’m a strong man, but 600 lb is not in my scope. My earth elemental helped me and my dear innocent Jarred as well. Earth elemental brought his strength, Jarred brought his stealth, and we left the Divinity Reach without being spotted.

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