Weavebreaker Glimpses

[Weavebreaker]

Tuesday near dusk, all is fairly quiet on campus, with people still recovering from the weekend. A few students walk the concrete paths that are bathed in a soft phosphorescent glow. It is warm outside, though without the humidity in the air, it is easily bearable.

Rolling two suitcases behind her, Anastasia made her way along the concrete paths to the American River Courtyard of the Campus. Taking in the sights and sounds, she cannot help but think of how different California is from Georgia.

This is a huge change...but not necessarily a bad one. I will be able to make myself into whatever I want...

Anastasia counts herself lucky, being able to get into one of the five bedroom / two bath suites where she can have a room all to herself, but there is still the fact that there are four other people in the place.

I wonder what they will be like...

With a key turn she unlocks the door to a darkened living room. Pulling in her luggage, she feels along the wall for a light switch.

Hmm

After a moment, she finds it. The place does not seem like anything to fancy or special, but it is going to be home. The common area has a kitchen with a L-shaped bar and a living room with a couch, table, and TV.

I wonder where everyone is at?

Anastasia takes up her luggage once more and heads back to her room. She was told it was straight down the hall. She makes her way past the kitchen and living room and down the hallway. Passing by four doors to the right and a bathroom area to the left, she sees the door at the end of the hallway.

Must be it...

Cautiously she opens the door. There are no signs that someone else was living in the room, and she feels around for another light switch in the dark. Flipping it on she takes a moment to look around. It is fairly small, with just a bed, dresser, and a computer desk, but it has its' charm.

This will do...

Anastasia closes the door and moves her luggage out of the way. Walking over to the bed she lays down and stares at the ceiling.

This will do...

[Weavebreaker]

It was a warm, humid, moonless evening in Savannah. The old poultry farm fell into disuse after the severe damage it sustained during hurricane Frances back in 2005. It seemed to have been swallowed by nature itself as kudzu encased each and every structure that dotted the property. Nothing resided within with the exception of the occasional possum or other critter, yet all the divinations pointed to this location.

"Stay on guard. He has already killed three..." Kyle said with no emotion lacing his words. He slowed the truck, veering it upon the shoulder of the dirt road. He threw the chevy into park and cut off the headlights. He glanced over to Anastasia as doubt raced through his mind as to whether or not he should be putting her into danger. The Banisher already killed three more-than-capable willworkers, and here he was putting her life on the line.

"Let doubt take over, and it will cripple you..." Anastasia said softly, turning her attention from outside to Kyle. She glanced away, pulling the handle for the door and then giving it a good nudge with her shoulder. The passenger side door always liked to stick.

Kyle did not say another word, pulling out his nine mil and running through the trained steps of checking the safety, magazine, and then chambering a round into the barrel. He stepped out of the truck and started to walk up the dirt road towards the driveway.

The anticipation of the unknown seemed to make the walk last much longer. As the two hit the driveway, they stepped off the obvious route, heading into the woods to quietly approach the farmstead. With each crack of a branch beneath the feet, there was a slight pause between the two to listen if it was noticed. As the first chicken coop came into sight from the brush, Kyle held up a closed fist to pause their motion. They scanned the structure for minutes, though with different sight...

There was resonance, yet nothing to Anastasia's vision that indicated the presence of a willworker. Kyle looked back to Anastasia for a moment as she shook her head. The delicate nature of their mission left no room for verbal communication, but a nod or a hand gesture spoke volumes between the two.

A breeze stirred the woods and the kudzu upon the buildings. A distant rumble of thunder heralded the approach of a storm. Kyle swept his hand forward as he crept slowly towards the closest structure. Anastasia stuck to him like a shadow, following carefully in his footsteps.

A flicker of light filtered its way through the thick overgrowth causing both of them to pause. Kyle and Anastasia locked eyes to confirm to the other that the sign was caught and both pressed forward. As they rounded the corner of the chick coop, they headed to what was left of a screen door.

Kyle pointed the barrel of his gun upwards as he slowly reached for the handle. Something was off, something nearly missed, but Anastasia caught the faint sign of it and quickly reached for his arm halting him from making a fatal mistake.

Kyle stepped to the side, as Anastasia took the forefront. She stared intently at the pattern weaved upon the door. She felt no need to study its nature, as it was merely an obstacle in the way. She waved her right hand from left to right and then pulled upward, unraveling the pattern placed upon the door.

While Anastasia was at work, Kyle circled about and noticed another entrance farther down. It was a window shrouded with vines. He took a deep breath and closed his hand as the vines withered to dust allowing free passage through the window. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise up as the ions in the air became charged. He dropped to the red clay as a blinding arch of electricity leapt outward from inside. His heart raced at the close call, as he rolled to the side for better cover.

Sheet metal, wood, and vine trembled and broke free as the side of the coop shot outwards. Kyle covered his head from the debris and then quickly pointed his gun to the source of the destruction, firing two shots out of instinct.

A blinding flash rippled out from the darkness again, but this time Kyle was not quick enough. The pain was immense, as the electricity coursed through his body. The protective aegis he weaved over his pattern diminished the effects greatly, but he did not know if he could take another hit.

“You should not be!” Kyle could not see the source, still blinded from the light, but the voice sounded like it was only a couple steps away. The Banisher moved in for the kill, with an accusatory finger pointed at Kyle. His other hand clenched with anger and rage. Kyle expected the end as his muscles tightened from the anxiety, yet nothing happened.

Kyle could make out the shape, and that was all he needed. He quickly raised his weapon to the Banisher’s surprise and squeezed off two rounds. The bullets hit their mark as the Banisher clutched his chest, eyes filled with surprise and disbelief. He fell to his knees and faded away quickly.

"You ok?" Anastasia asked Kyle as she scanned the area in case there were any more threats.

”I am fine.”

”He was Obrimos, like us, wasn’t he?” She said offering him a hand up.

Kyle shook his head softly. ”He was a Obrimos like me, nothing like you…” He recalled the doubt he had earlier about bringing her along after such a dangerous willworker. Kyle knew that if it wasn’t for Anastasia he would have been finished, and could not wrap his head around how she was able to shut down the Banisher’s willworking so easily…

”Let’s go home…”

[Weavebreaker]

It was the time of the morning where kids were waking up with excitement and anticipation for what gifts lay beneath the decorated tree. Anastasia had no family in Sacramento and it had been many years since Christmas held its majesty over her heart. It was just another day...

Anastasia stood at the edge of the pool within the Circle. She glanced out over the tranquil water for a moment, wondering how cold that first plunge in was going to be. Drawing in a deep breath, she dived forward breaking the serene surface of the water. It took a moment to register the temperature, but it was a bit warmer then she expected it was going to be. With a furious kick of her legs and strong stroke of her arms, she ascended back to the surface.

The laps were more than mere exercise. They were a distraction from today and a way to clear her head of all thoughts. The was no conscious thought to the kick, the stroke, or the breath of air and there was no room for thoughts of loneliness, longing, and yearning. That in itself was the beauty of it...

It helped make Christmas just another day...

[Weavebreaker]

The Circle of Creation was a bit of a oddity within Sacramento. Modeled after the Westminster it now served as the official headquarters for the Adamantine Arrows and the Guardians of the Veil. It was a imposing sight to behold, yet one that could offer the answers to many questions for curious willworkers...

Geode was one of those willworkers with many questions, questions about the new city he had found himself in, questions about his fellow willworkers in the city of Sacramento and the most important question that really drove him towards this place. Questions about the orders that made up the pentacle. Geode Didn't waste any time on admiring the old structure and just made his way towards the gate. No sense for a mage to loiter around the entrance of one of the HQ of both the most militant order and the one that basically was the internal security of the entire setup. Might be misinterpreted.

The Circle was quiet, save for some music playing off in the distance. It held a classical flair, though with a bit more attention it could be made out as dubstep. It seemed like it would be easy enough to find the source of noise, and hopefully with it someone to talk to...

Honestly, geode hadn't thought that the HQ of two orders would be this quiet, but in retrospect every single mage still had their day jobs or other obligations to worry about. There was no way it could have been fully staffed. He began walking into the direction of the noise. "Hey anybody in here?" Geode yelled, hopefully reaching over the noise that was playing. He didn't want to sneak up on anybody and cause a mess.

Through one of the doors, to what was obviously a sort of training room, a diminutive girl held a cold-iron bokken in a firm and sure grip. Tiny portable speakers played classical dubstep from her phone off to the side of the mat. Her movements were slow and deliberate, as she tried to keep in-sync to the beat. It took her a second to realize Geode was there, but her posture changed with his presence. She straighted up for a moment, holding the bokken to her side as she glanced over at him with a nod of acknowledgement. Stepping off of the mat, she pulled the auxiliary cable from her phone, cutting off the music and plunging the Circle back into silence.

Geode greatly appreciated the silence when the woman unplugged her speakers. He gave the woman a look over, she honestly didn't look like much. Just your plain average girl of college age. Not somebody he would have suspected to be part of the Adamant arrow. Still, just because you didn't look like much didn't mean you couldn't fight. His mentor had beaten that into his head. "So, I'm Geode. One of the new mages on the block." He bluntly stated He didn't think there was any risk of getting discovered or listened in by sleepers in here. The guardians wouldn't have made it their HQ if that could happen. "Who are you?"

"Weavebreaker, Obrimos of the Adamantine Order." She said as she rested the bokken upon the ground next to her phone. Raising back up she gave her full attention to Geode. "Do you need help with anything?" The tone of her voice carried with it a bit more maturity then one might expect from her appearance.

"I have some questions I wanted to get answered, mostly ones that all newcomers to a city have, like things about the orders, who exactly my fellow mages are and stuff about the city." Geode said as he let his gaze fall over the rest of the room, taking in the rest of the equipment set up. A punching bag in the corner, some fitness devices he never saw before and some weights for lifting. "Is it usually this quiet here? Or just the rest on patrol or something?"

Weavebreaker shrugged slightly in response. "Tis the Holiday season..." She cocked her head to the side slightly, churning over a bit of thought in her mind. "I have not been here all to long..." She bit her lip slightly, not wanting to assume, but from Geode's question it seemed possible. "I take it you do not belong to a Order then?"

Holiday season, well that made sense in a way. Probably all visiting family or something of the like. At her assumption he wasn't part of an order he nodded. "Nope, there weren't enough mages to really form the orders all the way back where I came from. Been looking into the orders since I arrived here though. Joining one doesn't seem like a bad idea. Just want to know what I'm stepping into before binding myself to something." Geode bluntly stated. "And unless I'm wrong the adamant arrow was the order which focused mostly on fighting and beating the hell out of whoever threatens the pentacle. I like that idea. I'm pretty good at stomping people into the ground anyway." Geode grinned after that statement.

Weavebreaker glanced down for a moment then back up to Geode. "It is a lot deeper than that. The Adamant Way is divided into five precepts." She held up a open hand and used her other to count off each principle within the Way. "Existence is War, Enlightenment is Honor, Adaptability is Strength, The Supernal is the Self, and Service is Mastery..." With each finger pointed out, it closes until none remain. Then her hand drops down to her side. "It runs far deeper than external conflict..."

Honestly that sounded quite a bit like all the old age bullshit most people associated with eastern martial arts, when all it ended up with was just adding a philosophical statement to beating people up in his opinion. "I get the existence is war and adaptability is strength things." Life was a struggle and being able to make stuff up on the fly and make it work was always pretty handy. "But you are going to have to explain the other three a bit more. Those seem to be straight out of a fortune cookie." Subtlety and tact weren't Geodes strong points. Not by a long shot.

Weavebreaker nods in response, though she almost feels the need to explain the tenets he thinks he has a understanding of, too. "Enlightenment is Honor in a sense that you are your word. If you sway from your vows you essential sway from yourself..." Weavebreaker held honor dear, even before awakening to the truth and the lie. "The Supernal is the Self...simply put...you were given a glimpse of what reality is and what an illusion all this is..." She motioned her hand around the room for a moment. "It does not mean that you cannot learn and grow from lessons in the Fallen..." Weavebreaker considered the last tenant for a moment. "Service is Mastery..." A smirk traces her lips. "What is the greater action...Calling for something to be done or making it happen?"

Honestly, geode still didn't get everything of what she explained, he never was a very philosophical person, keeping his thinking down to earth and mostly practical then high brow theoretical thinking. Which was what he classified the philosophy under, including this explanation. "Right, that makes sense. Sorta. Don't break promises, act on a problem instead of whining about it and don't ignore the natural for the supernatural, both have value. Those things make sense." Geode nodded. Actually hoping he at least caught the gist of it, otherwise he might end up in philosophy 101. "Any other things about the order that have a deeper meaning? Or is it otherwise the idea of. People who protect the other orders and the sleepers pretty spot on." Geode unconsciously stressed the protect part.

Weavebreaker nods. "Everything holds deeper meaning, but yes the Adamantine Order serves as sword and shield..." And much more... She considers internally. "Does the Adamant Way sound like something you wish to pursue?" She turned and moved over to her phone, picking it off of the mat.

"Yes. I'm sturdy and have strength to spare, better make use of that in a way everybody can benefit from."

"I would suggest contacting Vae. She will want to talk to you and should be able to answer more questions then I will be able to." Weavebreaker pulled up Vae's contact information in her phone. She walked back over to Geode, showing him Vae's number. "By the way. What path were you called to?"

Geode fished his own battered phone out of his pocket and entered the number in his phone. "I'm of the path of the warlock. One of the mastigos." He answered her. "You sure she wouldn't mind being called on a personal cellphone by a total stranger?"

Weavebreaker nodded to his answer and then shook her head to his second question. "No, not at all. I will give her a heads-up that you will be getting a hold of her." She glanced to Geode for a moment considering what she learned of the mind arcanum when she was in Savannah. "I am a Disciple in Prime, Apprentice in Forces, and Initiate in Mind." Weavebreaker shrugged. "Maybe I can teach you a bit and learn a bit from you..."

That sounded like a good idea to call her ahead. "I'm afraid I can't help you much with the mind arcanum. I'm a Disciple in Space, an Apprentice in Forces just like you and also an initiate in mind. My mentor was an Obrimos and he didn't have the faintest idea of the mind arcana. And neither did the other mages that lived there. I was the only mastigos there." Geode spoke up at her offer of learning and teaching each other. Glossing over the fact that seeing he was a mastigos he should have figured out mind instinctively. "I would gladly help you figure out the space arcana though. Or exchange a few rotes I picked up if you make a similar offer." Of course, nothing came for free.

"That sounds good. Perhaps you care to learn a bit of the prima materia?" Weavebreaker turned and walked back to where her other stuff was upon the mat, setting her phone back down. "Most of my knowledge within the Prime deals with disrupting the weave..."

Geode shrugged. "I don't think knowing to much has ever hurt anybody in any kind. Adaptability is strength after all." Disrupting the weave, Weavebreaker... seems like she had a fitting shadow name. "Sides, you never know when its going to end up going south and you need to get past some magical stuff." He glanced back towards the training room. "As for my specialty of knowledge in the space arcanum, its mostly seeing whats going on around me and farther away. Always handy. Especially if you use forces to hear what they are saying too."

"That sounds very interesting. We will have to talk more in depth about it later. I will send Vae a text, letting her know you will be calling and hopefully she will be of greater assistance..." Weavebreaker glanced to her cold iron bokken for a moment and then back to Geode. "Is there any other way I can help you today?"

Geode shook his head. "Not really, not with anything that can't wait till I talk with Vae anyway. Thanks for the answers to my questions too." Geode turned around, giving the woman another wave as he began walking out of the Circle of creation

"Take it easy..." Weavebreaker said softly, lifting her cold iron bokken once more off of the mat to resume practice once more.

[Weavebreaker]

Weavebreaker kneels down upon the floor in front of a white candle. Striking a match she moves the flame to the wick until it begins combustion. The flickering flame holds her attention as she clears her mind.

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference."

As she speaks the words, she internalizes them.

"Living one day at a time."

"Enjoying one moment at a time."

"Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.""

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it."

"Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will."

"That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next."

"Amen." Weavebreaker finishes by taking a finger and quickly snuffing out the flame. She draws her hand back to her knee, as she watches the wisps of smoke trail up from the burnt wick. Her eyes sink shut as the smoke dissipates to nothingness. She draws in a deep breath as she clears her mind of all thoughts, letting silence and serenity fill her...

[Weavebreaker]

“Death is not an easy thing to accept. Even under the best of circumstances, death is a terrible thing. Nature has its seasons but death can come to anyone, at any time, in any place. Truly we know not what a day may bring forth…”

Anastasia had no more tears, shedding them all when she first heard the news. Carolynn had called to break the news that Kyle was involved in a fatal car wreck on I95. As best as anyone could determine, there was no foul play, just shitty luck that claimed him on impact. Still, as Anastasia sat there listening to the preacher’s words, it didn't seem right.

"All of us are sorrowful here today but the Bible teaches us of 2 types of sorrow. I Thess. 4:13 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep that you sorrow not like others who have no hope""

Anastasia could not help but look away as her eyes cast downward. She thought for all the power each of them had been given they still were utterly powerless in the face of such loss and with as much as they knew, they were still clueless as to what truly awaited on the other side.

”Kyle,” Anastasia said softly to herself as the gravity of such questions whirled in her mind. ”I will miss you…”

“Some here may have a sorrow with no hope beyond the grave while others have the sorrow of a friend that has gone on a long journey and will be joining that friend shortly. The Christian who dies and the believer who remains will one day meet again…”

[Weavebreaker]

As the sermon drew to a close and people started to mingle and give their condolences, Anastasia drew away from her mothers side to move away and seek solitude.

“Are you alright?” Carolynn said softly placing a hand onto Ana’s shoulder.

What a question to ask at a funeral, Ana thought initially as waves of annoyance moved through her. She was silent for a moment, reassuring herself that Carolynn had nothing but good intentions. The Mastigos spoke again, as if sensing the unease. “He was proud of you and so am I.”

Carolynn glanced down for a moment, her tone changing subtly. “There are times in life that shake the foundations of your beliefs. Ask yourself…do you believe death to be so final or do you think there is something more…”

Ana did not even consider the question, holding up her hands. “I know you mean well, but stop. I don’t care for philosophy at the moment and no matter what I think at the moment, it will not change the fact that I will not hear his voice tomorrow.”

Ana abruptly turned and headed away from the Mastigos. She stopped in her tracks a few feet away and turned back to her one time mentor. “I just need some time…”

To be continued.

[Weavebreaker]

"Do you want to stop somewhere, maybe Chick Fil A? Do they even have those other there in California?"

Anastasia shook her head in response, as she glanced out the window of the car. "No Mom, haven't really had much of a appetite..." As the words rolled off her tongue, she realized the only thing she had eaten in two days was a peanut butter sandwich.

"Okay babe, but I am cooking pasta for dinner tonight and I am not going to take no for an answer." Sarah said sternly to her daughter, inciting Anastasia to reluctantly nod and respond. "Okay mom."

Silence settled across the two as they drove back home. The trip from the cemetery to the house did not take long, but the silence seemed to remain long after they were out of the car and settled inside. Anastasia curled up on her bed, her room the exact same state she left it before hopping on a plane to Sacramento. Meanwhile her mom, Sarah sat in the kitchen grading papers for 10th grade Physical Science. The only sound in the house came from the air conditioning kicking on the battle the muggy summer day in Savannah, Georgia.

Along with a lack of food, Anastasia had found that she could not fall asleep. She had been up for nearly 50 hours, yet still felt no hint of sleepiness, but still felt the full weight of exhaustion. She laid out in bed, trying her best not to think, not to feel, not to cry.

[Weavebreaker]

Anastasia felt her eyes growing heavy, but try as she might not to think, countless thoughts raced randomly through her mind. A strange rhythmic hum set her focus straight, and it took her a moment to realize it was her phone on vibrate. With reluctant curiosity she flipped her phone over to see who was calling. By the time she focused on the liquid crystal display, the phone had stopped vibrating.

Six missed calls... Anastasia read silently to herself as she looked to see who all had called. It was the same number, though it was not one she recognized.

Nine One Two Five Five Five Seventy Seven Eleven...Who... Before the train of thought could even leave the station, the screen lit up and the phone began to vibrate again. Anastasia bit her lip for a moment and then hit the green accept button.

"Hello?" Anastasia was not sure who would be calling from a strange number.

"Anna?" The voice on the other end sounded deep, and strangely familiar.

"You there?"

"Shawn?"

[Weavebreaker]

"Its seems like forever..." Shawn sat at the corner of her bed as he glanced around her room, before he turned to look at her.

"I am sorry about Kyle." He said because he felt like it needed to be say and he really did not know anything else to say.

Anastasia sat indian style at the head of the bed with a pillow resting in her lap. She knew it was him, but could not believe how much he had changed since the last time she saw him in High School. Part of her wondered if Alex looked completely different as well, and figured it would be best to ask. "You still hang out with Alex?"

"Nah...Haven't seen him in like..." Shawn looked up to the ceiling for a moment as he tried to remember the last time. "Shit...You know he had a kid?"

"What?!" Anastasia said in sheer disbelief. The Alex she remembered seemed to be forever tongue tied around girls and she had half-expected him to still be living at home with his parents.

"Ya...saw that shit on facebook. Haven't really talked to him, just kinda fell off. Speaking of which..." Shawn glanced back to Anastasia with a smirk tracing his lips. "What the hell have you been up to, stranger? Can't call anyone eh?" He teased.

Anastasia gripped the edge of the pillow in her lap and launched it at him. "Whatever. Your number was disconnected..."

Shawn held up his hands in surrender. "Ya that kinda happens when ya don't pay the bills..."