[Conservatory] A Serene Song

[Arvont]

Fifth Thera, Ponutis, Spring, Era XIV

The first fringes of sunlight had just begun to touch the city when Arvont walked north to the Henges, a part of Natura that held much of its teachers and mentors. As usual, he met a few people along the streets, and birds continually sung their songs in the air. Trees draped the paths, and truly made the city one with the forest and with nature.

The Bardic Conservatory was made of gray stone, adorned with wisps of white and black. Compared to the way its surroundings adapted to the forest, the edifice looked exceptionally and elegantly out of place. However, it mimicked the beauty of the garden before it. Tall columns flanked the archway into the Conservatory, and a pair of graceful spires towered over the building. The intricate wooden doors stood ajar, and beyond it one could hear soft music playing.

Before the Conservatory, however, was a garden of breathtaking beauty. Flowers of all colors and fragrances covered it, and slender trees sprawled the space. A circle of bright stones stood at the center of the path, a work of art and the first course to the banquet of beauty the Bards provided. A canopy covered the pathway to the building's entrance, and here Arvont walked, amazed by the beauty.

Once he reached the double doors, he deftly knocked twice and stood still, taking in the wonders the Conservatory provided. He though he saw movement from within the hall, but he could not see clearly and dismissed it as a hallucination.

[Alphonsus]

"Enter," a musical voice called out from within. As Arvont pushed the door opened, he found a plain looking elf dressed in plain green, holding a small harp. "I wilt have to ask thee some questions before we move on."

The elf led Arvont to a small common wooden hut, with a bed, 2 chairs and a small table which held a small teapot and 2 cups. The elf rested his harp on the table and took a seat. "Do take a sit and prepare thyself, and make thyself comfortable"

The elf studies Arvont, not speaking a single word, and whenever Arvont began any questions, or made any sound, the elf would hushed him up with a wave of his hand. The door opened after a while, revealing a beautiful speciment of an elf, the elf was more ancient than Arvont, with lovely golden skin, eyes the colour of sunlight and hair the pitch of autumn leaves. The sitting elf went quickly to the new comer and had a short chat with him before hurrying away, leaving the newcomer and Arvont together.

"Mine name is Auhren Dhasone, at thy service." The words were accompanied by a sweeping back of the cowl, covered hands arcing in movements so graceful as to be godlike. "Methink thou hasth come here to be trained in Songs, and if I am right, please tell me, is thy interest in the magic of songs, or just knowledge of music?" He paused, but not for Arvont answer for he continued almost immediately.

"And if I am right, please tell, what instrument would thou prefer, unless of course, thy wishes to use thy voice?" Auhren questioned, one brow raised in a display of intrigue as he awaited the other elf’s response. It was a norm that bard would specilise one one instrument, and most student he received would have gave unsatisfactory one word answers which he oft dislike. He wondered whether Arvont would be one of the most, or one of the least.

ooc: Check here if you don't really understand what Auhren is saying. Auhren was suppose to love all these words...

[Arvont]

The music of the Conservatory seemed to pull Arvont's mind away from the current happenings around him, yet he tried to ignore it and listen to the old elf speaking. His style of speaking was new to Arvont, and sometimes he took a moment to process what Auhren Dhasone said.

When Auhren asked him what instrument he would like to play, it took a moment or two for him to find his voice. His mind was torn between Auhren speaking and the soothing music, and when he spoke, his voice was slightly soft.

"I would prefer to use a harp, Master Dhasone. I already have one, after all." He deftly raised his plain wooden harp. Though it looked slightly worn and less elegant compared to the instruments he saw while moving around the Conservatory, he held it as his most valuable possession, for it was a gift from his parents.

[Alphonsus]

Auhren musical voice rang out softly. "I am, but a humble bard. Doth call me Auhren, or plainly teacher wilt do." Auhren smiled gently, portraying a grandfatherly look of kindness, yet from within, a strong power could be felt emitting around him. "Thou hasth not answered me yet. hasth thou come here to be trained in the magic of songs, or just knowledge of harp playing."

The masterbard waited for the answer before continuing. "And a harp, tell me what muscial quality do thee wish thy harp to produce?" A simple question of asking why Arvont chosed the harp, was it because of his family background, or did he truly knew what a expert harpist could do.

"Tell me, how doth thee think meditation could be achieved? Hast thou tried?" Auhren reclined backwards in a very relaxed position. He needed a little time to think, to think of how could he train such a student. It was normal for students who had a family harp to chose to play the harp, but was it his strength? It also gave him some time to think, to think of something he missed.

"Ahhh," Auhren sighed softly. "Forgive me for my lack of proper sense from mere formality. I have not askth for thy name." The masterbard had no need for asking, for he knew everyone within Natura, but he felt it was warmer that someone told their name to him directly.

In an ever patient and gently smile that only an ancient elf could hope to learn, Auhren looked kindly at his new student.

[Arvont]

Arvont blinked quickly at the questions Auhren asked. "Call me Arvont, teacher.", he said, smiling slightly. He even forgot that Auhren had not inquired about his name; the elf had an air of omniscience about him.

"I came to Natura to learn more about the arcanic side of Songs, teacher." He relaxed a little on his seat, and began to answer Auhren's questions with ease and eloquence. "I chose to play the harp, firstly because it has been a favorite among my parents. From what I've heard and seen, however, the harp can also produce soothing tones that can becalm the wrathful and attract the critters of the forest." Arvont smiled slightly as a memory of a harpist surrounded with variouse squirrels, sparrows and rabbits flooded back to his mind.

"As for meditation, teacher, I think it could be achieved by becalming one's mind, and letting go of all emotion. The mind will then be clear from the mundanes of life, and one can enjoy moments of peace and quiet."

[Alphonsus]

The older bard tilted his head and looked closely at Arvont. "Yes, the harp does play heavenly tunes that could calm the wildest of animals, but take heed, do not attempt to contest a harp with a trumpet." Auhren said softly, his tone majestic. If it had being others that said this quote, Arvont would had laughed, but coming out of Auhren, even the jesters with skills of the harp could not help but feel solemn about such warning.

"If thou hath chosen, lay down your harp carefully, sit on the floor away from all obstacles and closeth thine eyes." When Arvont completed what he was instructed, even though he had not idea what was it for, Auhren continued. "Remember, thou shalt not use Songs to destroy the forces of nature, do I have thy promise?"

The moment Arvont agreed, a surge of energy blasting through his mind, and felt that he had just made an unbreakable vow. The last thing he heard was another voice speaking to Auhren. "Let's hope he will survive the ordeal."

ooc: You are now being unbound. Some people will experience unexplained dreams regarding their past, their future, or something else fantastic which you can relate to somehow. Others will find dreams of nonsense, like finding themselves climbing a beanstalk. Your pick, self mod or I can mod that little adventure of yours. You will wake up after seeing a large wave pouring all over you, with a spilting headache.

[Arvont]

His mind became clouded, and mist darkened his thoughts. For a moment or two, all was dark...then, Arvont found himself at the top of a tremendously tall cliff. So high was he that he saw an eagle fly below him, and even the heavenly clouds were beneath him. Still, all was warm. Behind him was a forest of pines, though he sensed no forest creature running about the undergrowth or darting high above on the trees. All was silent and still. Above him, a vast expanse of blue sky stretched from horizon to horizon, with only Sol breaking the uniform blue.

Suddenly, the wind picked up speed. The tall pines began to dance and sway on the high winds, and the clouds accumulated and covered his view of the world below. The eagles and other birds were swallowed by the oncoming clouds. The sky began to darken, and slowly, Sol too was slowly becoming darker.

As the shadows crept, the forest behind him began to wither and die. The once proud trees began to bend and bow, their glistening leaves crumbling to dust. The earth began to shake, occasionally throwing Arvont off balance. As he looked up, he saw Sol being overshadowed by a heavenly body large enough to cover it whole.

The ground gave a final, terrifying tremble and it, too, crumbled. Arvont fell from the tall cliff down, down to the world beneath the clouds. His last vision, before the clouds obscured his body, was the sun completely dark. The world was thrown into chaos - the forest withered, the earth crumbled, and the winds raged.

Arvont expected himself to land on sharp, broken ground. He imagined himself, broken and bloodied, alone in a world where the sun succumed to darkness. However, he fell into the sea, and cold water splashed around him. He dared to look up once more, and saw the clouds hovering ever so low. Far on the horizon, he saw mountainous pieces of rock fall on the ocean. The wind became faster, and waves grew in tempest around him. Higher and higher they rose, until they fell down, in an instant, on Arvont.

He opened his eyes and clutched his temples. Unexpected weakness and a dreadful headache washed over him. It took a while for him to recognize the face of Auhren Dhasone above him.

[Alphonsus]

When he awoke from his unexpected slumber, Arvont would find himself in a small room, on his back, and staring up at a stark white ceiling. Apparently he had been laid down at a new room upon soft sheets at some point of his slumber. The small bed which he laid on took up most of the room. In spite being comfortable, the mattress was perhaps a little too hard.

A beautiful gold harp stands on top of a table, barely large enough for it. He quickly recognise that he was not alone in this chamber, either, for sat in a wooden chair not far from where he lay was Auhren. If it was not for the change of the room, Arvont might had thought that Auhren had not move from his position at all.

The light from the golden setting sun shined through the room illuminating hi, creating a image that all painters would hope to pain. He was strumming a tune with Arvont's harp, oblivious of the perfect picture. The tune was broken as though he were just composing it from thin air. As with his voice, the music from the harp was both beautiful and heavenly and the song being strummed was one that reminds people of the beginning of new life, birds singing, bees pollenating, and children playing. He stopped when he suddenly saw Arvont awestriked face. "Do tell, what did thou just seen in thy mind? Tell me and rest, and leave the questions till the next brightening" After Arvont completed his little tale, Auhren patted Arvont on his head, took his own golden harp and left the room.

The next brightening, another bard, apparently one of Auhren's other students knocked on Arvont's door and led him to the foodhouse, where long tables decorated with live flowers, with accompanying wooden white drapped chairs could be found. There were many fruits, freshly baked bread, several pots of delicious soup and a small plate of vernison could be found on the serving table. A small sign written in elven stood saying: 'Take what you can finish, and keep the place clean.'

Auhren could be found sitting at one of the tables playing heavenly tunes with his harp for everyone to hear. WHen he spotted Arvont, he smiled. "Merry morn! Thou look ready for the brightening. Have thy breakfast slowly, and askth any questions in the mean time. We wilt travel back to thy room after thy meal."

[Arvont]

Arvont closed his eyes and tried to recall the dream he had. It was easy, as the images in his head were crystal clear and vivid. Subconsciously, he related the dream to Auhren. "Well, I was on a tall cliff...so tall, the clouds and the birds were under me and I only saw the sun in the sky." He paused, and took a deep breath. "Then, the sky began to darken. From bright blue, it went to the color of midnight. The wind began to pick up speed, and it became icy cold. The forest behind me writhed and seemed to have been burnt. The ground began to tremble."

"Something came to cover up the sun. It was dark, very dark...I then fell from the cliff, because the ground crumbled. I saw the thing cover the sun completely. It was deathly dark, then." The images flew across his mind as he told the story. "I fell on a vast expanse of water, possibly the sea. The waves were tall, and then, they crashed down on me." Arvont turned to look at Auhren and said, "That was when I regained conciousness."

As Auhren left the room, Arvont looked at the ceiling of his room. Slowly, he began to fall into a deep sleep...

As the morning sun rose, Arvont remembered his dream once more. Shivering, he put on his clothes. Soon, another student came to Arvont and led him to the foodhouse, where he saw Auhren playing his own harp. Arvont returned the merry greeting Auhren gave him, and looked down on the tables.

Fresh fruits, various baked bread and other delicacies were lined on the table. Arvont eagerly sat down and began to eat, while Auhren told him to ask questions about his unbounding. Reluctantly, Arvont asked, "What was that which covered the sun, teacher? And why did the world seem to end when the sun was covered?" His brow knotted, and he sipped his soup slowly.

[Alphonsus]

"Hmmm, why did thee saw such an incident is truly beyond me. It isth a known fact that everyone become unbinded differently. Some, unfortunately like a recent student for another, went on, some became mad as the pain of unbinding became too intense, some experience nothing, while many others, such as yourself, experience a strange dream, one that could tell of the future, or of the past, or of things that happened around you, your personal mentality, your fear and loves, or nothing just something random." Auhren explained slowly. "I am guessing, it could be thy bad past and fears that created such images. If it's up to me totally, dispel such thoughts, work for the future that could stop such things from happening."

Auhren had being thinking of what really happened in Arvont dreams for the whole night, and he had even discussed it with a fellow bard, but to no avail. The conclusion was due to bad past, the soul's fear of difference after unbinding, really something that was about to happen to Natura, or a combination of the two or three factors. They could not tell for sure.

"Take thy time and have thy fill for this brightening, it would be hard work. Meet me after thy meal at thy house of staying." Auhren smiled, packed his harp and left, leaving a possibly puzzled Arvont behind.

~~ Back in the room ~~

Auhren took his seat from the previous day, and beckoned Arvont to do the same. "I have unbinded thee last brightening, if thee did not understand, and thus the beauty of the Nature would no longer exclude you from it, but thee must seek to find it. Thou will clear your mind, and meditate. How do one do that your question would be? Well, close thine eyes, think of nothing and allow thyself to be free! Soon, thou wilt be able to see those weaves of magic around you. Thou might take a little time for thou had just been unbinded, thus relax and do not be anxious it was not uncommon for me to wait for a new bard for half a candlemark"

Silence came over the masterbard for a little while before continuing. "The result of meditation is reaching the state of Clara, and reaching the Astral Planes. Thou wilt learn more of these later, alas, terminology that thou must learn, but for now, free thy mind and experience the magic thyself.!"

Auhren closed his eyes, and reached the state of clara almost immediately. In that state, he would be able to check on Arvont progress.

ooc: In Clara that would take about 15-30 minutes of mediatation for first timers, you would be able to see flowing something, many consolidated something, and a great mass of something. Imagine what you think you will see in the astral planes. Auhren would be a huge yellow aura of something, larger than the rest around...

[Arvont]

Being recently fed and full, it was easy for Arvont to calm himself. Taking a last look around the room and at Auhren, he closed his eyes and darkness enveloped his mind. He tried to let go of his feelings, but a buzzing happiness filled him. It's hard, he thought, to let go of joy, especially after you've eaten a good meal.

He sat there with his eyes shut for who knows how long. Eventually, however, his happines faded away. Silence surrounded him, and he took a deep, refreshing breath. He fully felt the freshness of the air and the peace that lay around him, the Conservatory, and all of Natura. He felt the presence of the creatures of the forest, of the running squirrels, the chirping birds, and the small ants that crawled. Slowly, he also began to notice another, more powerful presence near him. Reluctantly, he opened his eyes.

He gave a small gasp of surprise at what he saw. Instead of seeing normally, colors of all shades were sprayed vibrantly across him. Even the air around him swam with a cascade of color and hues. As he marvelled at the sight, his focus was drawn to Auhren. His teacher was no longer a tall elf, but an immense being of power. The colors of Auhren were vivid and alive, and Arvont saw how much strength the old elf held withing him.

He returned his eyes to the surrounding flora and fauna. Even the small leaves of the plants were alive with energy, as were the birds and other beasts. He saw the ants, unusually full of energy as they collected scraps of food to return to their home. He spotted the birds return some worms for their offspring's food, and he saw how energy was transferred as the winglings consumed the worms. Arvont saw many other wonders, and a small smile formed around his lips as he realized he had reached the state of Clara.

[Alphonsus]

Auhren released himself from his state of Clara as he noticed Arvont had achieved Clara. The masterbard studied Arvont’s in his physical realm and noticed the smile on his student face, as if he saw something beautiful, even though his eyes were tightly closed. That, was the beauty of being unbinded, for even the blind would be able to ‘see’ while they were in Clara.

”What thou hasth seen in clara is beautiful, no? The auras thee see in trees, in animals, in insects, in me in thyself and even in chairs and tables are known as Vis. The ocean of colors that are not gathered, usually accompanied with winds and streams of Vis is known as Ara” Auhren’s beautiful voice would had entered into Arvont mind as though somewhere within Arvont’s own consciousness was giving instruction to himself. ”Next, attempt to draw the Ara and combine it with your personal Vis to achieve a new state and enter the Astral Planes. There, Focus on the Song Astral Plane, Afterwhich, relax thyself for and return to me,”

~ Moments later~

When Arvont opened his eyes, he would see Auhren ever patiently waiting face that could only come from an elf who had seen many things. ”I noticed thee have enjoyed thyself, and truly, you have done well in such short times, but for now, I am required to teach thou some song. Cometh, take thy harp and sit closer to me for I wilt have to teach thou note by note.”

For the next few candlemarks, Auhren showed, corrected and showed again how the two songs he had decided Arvont should know in order to continued to the next stage of channeling essence out into the Material Plane, for without the songs, one could not shape the mana.

”Now that thou hasth learnt the two songs by hard, even though only by fingering position without knowing much of how a proper harp should be played, thou shalt be able to do some songs.” The masterbard smiled gently at his apprentice. ”The first song thou had learnt was the Healer’s Hymn, a song that could aid your teammate by quickening the healing rate. Return back into the Song Astral Plane with the Healer’s Hymn in thy mind if thou hasth no questions that required answering.”

If there were no questions, Auhren would wait patiently for Arvont, for him to spend a quarter of a mark meditating to enter Clara, to combine his Vis and Ara to form Acralysis and to focus into the Plane of Song.

[Arvont]

As Auhren had instructed, Arvont focused his energies to bringing the freeflowing Ara closer to himself. It was difficult, and the Ara frequently escaped him. Soon, however, he had a good grasp on the Ara, and began to combine it with his Vis. He felt himself filled with new strength, and he realized that the energy of his own Vis and the energy of the uncontrolled Ara gave him this strength. Now, he realized, he was in the Astral Planes, as his teacher had explained. He eagerly focused upon the plane he wanted, the Plane of Song.

When he had finally reached the Song Plane, he relaxed his mind a little and looked upon at Auhren. His teacher was, as always, surrounded in his own vast Vis. The elf then instructed Arvont on his first song. He did not know how much time Auhren taught him, yet with all the corrections and amendments his teacher made on his playing, it seemed to last for brightenings on end. While practicing, the old elf explained that with the songs, he could use the essence in the Song Plane and channel it onto the Material Plane, or, the Plane that they were in, the Plane that everyone normally saw.

After much training, Auhren told Arvont that the first song he was taught was Healer's Hymn, which would speed the process of healing. As his mind wandered off imagining the possibilities of using the song, the elf said,

"Return back into the Song Astral Plane with the Healer’s Hymn in thy mind if thou hasth no questions that required answering.”

Arvont once more reentered the state of Clara, once more drew Ara and Vis together, and placed himself on the Song Plane. He looked toward Auhren, and waited patiently for the elf's next instruction.

[Alphonsus]

"Whilst in the planes, thou shalt see many thing. I wish for thee to focus and concentrate, and anon, thee wilt see what thee hasth never seen before. Your task here is to call the essence to thy grasp. Do not fret for it would not burn, but do not be overconfident for it wilt run. Will it over, and let it dance, dance with it, play with in, attempt to embrace it in thy arm while punishing it for its faults. It wilt come and run, patience is the virtue here, for if thee treat it well, it will, like a child it is, rest on thy hand. Take thy time for there art plenty for us to spare."

Auhren had just taught one of the more difficult part he thought would be to Arvont. It might be difficult for Arvont to control the essence and bring it to his hands, and many completed this task after several attempts of leaving Clara for the lack of concentration, or plain frustrations of not being able to bring the essence to the hand. The masterbard pulled the curtain open to allow the gentle light of the sun to warm the room, for Arvont might need the warmth.