Svarik and the company I :)

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh, he taught you some bits, didn't he?" Sage guessed correctly, with some glimer in his eyes that light have as well been pride of a teacher when bad student proves himself."  That little rascal.. I always thought if anything, meditation is one thing he could not learn... He was terribly frustrated with inability to grasp it fully. It's a nice thought that at least something from it stuck with him. " There was new brightness in Sage's words and demenor, as if king's statement brought him some joy, bright and touchable in the air. He proceeded to explained more mental experciss to Svarik and help guide him through undrstanding them and fighting back panic and upsetness better, teaching him with new enthusiasm.

[Mirach]

The draught of the land was always somewhere at the back of Svarik's mind, but he partially managed to distract himself from the thought with the exercises.

[VisAnastasis]

After he was pleased with Svarik's progres of managing to hold back panicking thoughts and stay in control, lord did not want to make him suffer or endure this for much longer.
" I think that is as much as one lesson can go. You did very well. Remember, most important thing is to seek to see yourself clearly, and to let your feelings flow. And to, of course,  have a calm spot in your mind you can go back to once it feels like too much at once. Explore, but be safe in knowledge you are in control. " He said gently. " Now...  I would like us to focus on water below us, right now, while you are well aware of it. Just to see how it feels and if I can give you tips how to focus on it better while I am gone. " He sugested tactfully. " I understand it is very private part of you you would rather not have anyone meddle with or touch, so we can just try it out slowly, see if it feels too much or not... is that alright? You can tell when you are ready..."

[Mirach]

"I know it's deep and private, but I still don't know what exactly it is... what the water here represents to me. If we try to touch it, maybe I can figure that out," Svarik said. "So let's do it."

[VisAnastasis]

" Alright then, brace yourself. I will start when you are ready... " Sage agreed. He laid fingers upon the stony surface, and closed his eyes, focusing on what laid there, deep below.

He just focused upon it, until at one point, he slowly started to weave it and move it around, stirring it, making waver flow within. Svarik could feel it with sudden awareness of it, as if a hand, no matter how gentle, has reached to the deepest dept of his soul, and enveloped its palm around most fragile, vulnerable part of it. He was feeling the movement of the water like an intimate touch, tracing the surface of essence within him, being painfully aware of it, despite the gentleness involved made it feel unexpectedly soothing.  

[Mirach]

Svarik shivered with it and sobbed quietly, but despite a strong temptation, he didn't ask the Sage to stop, as he was focusing on the feeling and trying to see what the Sage was touching in him and how to be aware of it when the touch withdraws.

[VisAnastasis]

It seemed to have been something that had been so private and concealed from everyone that it was hard to see it's state from a conciousness point - but from here, with Sage moving it, king was aware of something that had been deeply wounded in the last months. It was a confident, bright and warm part of himself that, under so much strain and humiliation king has felt, had been hurt so terribly it refused to come out without a fight. Something in it reminded Svarik on times the crypt has tainted him, and when he would try to play music for others, but it would bring him pain... The same sharp pain he felt when sensing there was water deep beneath, but he could not reach it no matter how thirsty. It was something within him, supressed by all the pressure of darkness and humiliation, so much that it was forced on the inside... But now that darkness was no more, in the back of his mind, that hidden wounded part of himself was lingering unhealthily, with deep longing to just get to surface and flow, but tainted with dark flashbacks, thoughts and fears, so much it was too vulnerable to leave its safety. Even with Sage's gentle moves that reminded him on Solstice 's touch, it  was too unexpected sensation of tending and safety it no longer knew to trust in, as gentlenes  and pleasure it brought was so much in contrast with overwhelming pain it had been through, that deepest part of him didn't seem to be yet ready to recognize such intimate touch as something that is not scary and violating, even when it felt good.

[Mirach]

Svarik endured it for some time, controlling his panic with breathing like he learnt, but as the feeling of violation built up, he recoiled from the Sage as if the touch would be physical. "Enough!" he cried. "Enough! Please, stop..."

[VisAnastasis]

Sage stopped immediately when king asked, and his presence from the dept of Svarik's soul recoiled. It must had not been as easy as he was leading on, to do things like this, as he took few deep breaths to steady himself, and blinked away some sweat coming from his brow, before looking up at meadow king with silent worry.
" It's okay, I won't touch you without permission...  " he just whispered quietly, not moving an inch, as if he felt Svarik's repulsion and fear of him, not wanting to scare of provoke him further, giving him space he cried for.

[Mirach]

Svarik curled embracig his knees, and sobbed quietly while trying to calm himself and regain some measure of composure.

[VisAnastasis]

The Sage was silent. He did not impose himself, or try to talk it out to make it better, letting Svarik deal with his thoughts at his own pace, not wanting to make him feel threatened or obliged to apologize to him for letting the hurt overwhelm him.
Instead of burdening king, he connected his blue hands, closed his eyes, and appeared to be meditating - he seemed to focus on lessening the amount of his own presence that king could feel around himself, realizing trying to reach out for that deep source for that long has passed some line, even if Svarik didn't voice it until damage had already been done.

[Mirach]

With no more touch or intrusion, Svarik calmed slowly. "I... I can feel it now..." he said shakily.

[VisAnastasis]

Sage opened his eyes, and only nodded slowly once he sow Svarik's shaky troubled expression.
" Lot of heavy thoughts weight you down. Do you wish... to talk about them? " he asked then, seeing king's struggle for words, but measuring words carefully, wanting to make sure Svarik can feel he puts no pressure upon him to do so. " It's okay if you do not... "

[Mirach]

"Not now," Svarik shook his head. "Maybe tomorrow, before we do this again."

[VisAnastasis]

" It's okay if we take a little brake. I could leave you for a while. " Sage suggested, careful to inquire about how Svarik feels right now. " I'd understand if you are still a bit overwhelmed and do not want to see me right now. Do you need a moment? "

[Mirach]

"I don't need a moment. I need the water. Please..." Svarik said hoarsely, as if he would be indeed suffering from terrible thirst.

[VisAnastasis]

" Alright... But however I made you feel, it still lingers within you. I don't want to make you feel threatened by my presence again, if it can be avoided. So let's just set some rules before it, alright? " he suggested slowly. " I will get to distance more comfortable for you, so I don't have to breathe by your ear - if you prefer that. And, if it's too much, tell me to stop right away, don't suffer my presence if it hurts more than it helps. Then, hmm.. Maybe it'd be better if you lie down and get more comfortable, if you can. It won't be like touching the deepest part of you, but you will feel my presence upon surface of your soul, through the rain that touches you. It may be easier to deal with if you are prepared and more relaxed. We need to have rules, because I don't want to hurt you like this again. My sea is salty enough as it is.. " he smiled faintly. " It doesn't need any more of your tears. "

[Mirach]

"I do not mind your presence," Svarik explained quietly. "Only the touch on... whatever you was touching. Anyone's, not yours specifically. If you don't do that again, you can stay as close as you want..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Alright then.. But I expect you to tell me if it's too much, can we have that deal, at least? " he asked, and he allowed himself a little warmth of fondness to color his voice. " After all, I borrowed you from Falcon already, so I want to return you in good condition, not tear you up. Your soul is not half as bad as I anticipated... It's not idea, but there is lot of space for growth and healing. However, many different bits are out of tune with one another. I don't want to bring it all to a new extreme and make your healing even harder. I was not born with power to see nuances in healing, only with good niche for reading reflections and finding disharmony within the world. I am an ice cutter, not an ice sculptor. I will never be as good as you, in judging what's too much, and where's the line, and that is why you'll have to tell me. " he asked again, as he needed to make sure of it. " You will tell me, won't you? "

[Mirach]

"If you are not going to try to get deeper, I don't think that just water on the surface would feel too much," Svarik said hoarsely, as the talk prolonged and still kept the longed for rain from him. "But I will tell you," he promised to get it over with.

[VisAnastasis]

" Alright, then we have a contract. " Sage took deep breath, seeing there is no point to set additional conditions as it would just prolong king's suffering. " Get comfortable, and tell me when you're ready, then, and I will start. "

[Mirach]

"I am," Svarik said right away, the question being like asking a starving men when he is ready for food.

[VisAnastasis]

Sage sighed, expecting such speed of reply.
He stood up then, and connected his hands, as if in a prayer, closing eyes in deep focus. He was deep in thoughts, and his stance was confident and solemn, more fit for some sacred ceremony than just standing there. He was holding his hands together tightly, and drawing from a deep well of water, somewhere deep within his soul... As he was doing so, big looming clouds started to form upon the sky, growing bigger and bigger with every moment. The air around them grew colder, and there was fresh scent of wind in the air, bringing a promise of a big downpour. For a long moment of perfect balance, everything was quiet and motionless, in tense anticipation, and then the lord suddenly separated his hands and waved away with them with strength and firmness, as if releasing something of himself into this world...

And the rain, fierce and unyielding, the one this place has not seen in a long time, started as last, its raindrops washing down on every inch of this dry, pain-stained land.

[Mirach]

Svarik moaned with relief, accepting the rain in the parched land with 

[Mirach]

Svarik moaned wirh relief, accepting the rain in the parched land with gratefulness as something that he was missing for a long time.