Chương 14: Book 1; Chapter 13; Seat of kings (3)

Rainee was watching the sunset, but her mind wasn't that much occupied with it. Why would it be? To appreciate the beauty of nature, the mind wasn't needed, or rather was incapable of performing such a task, so it could wander freely while the soul admired the view. This small girl at her side was truly a proper worry generator. It wasn't that often that Rainee would help people directly with it. Not anymore. She used to do it a lot in her youth, but not that much lately.

It was not because she couldn't do it or didn't want to help. It's just that people loved their worries. Somehow, it was widely believed that the things they worried about strengthened them, made them better and more considerate people. So after countless attempts, she stopped fighting this battle. At least not directly. Now she was educating instead of providing direct help, so people would know more and could help themselves. And it brought more success.

Those who didn't want to change didn't learn anything and stayed the same. Those who wanted to change could apply what they had learned to their own lives and help themselves or seek help. A seeking person is open to reception, and only a person who is open to reception can accept help offered. Since Rainee took the girl's hand, she had offered direct help. She could swipe all these worries away by clearing them instantly, leaving the girl worry-free and carefree.

But it would feel very unnatural and could easily scare someone who is not used to knowing what this condition feels like. So she just allowed all of it to drain naturally. It worked as a little invisible draining channel that allowed all these worries and anxieties to flow from Anniet to Rainee and from Rainee down into nothingness, where they actually belonged.

By doing so, Rainee allowed every worry that rose in Anniet's heart and mind to flow through her and then drain out, leaving nothing, not even a trail behind. It couldn't be happening any other way, as every fear, every worry, every anxiety was created from nothing but imagination. All fear is just future-based imagination that sometimes can become reality, and most of the time does not.

As soon as a person has hit the point he was afraid of, in real time, all of the fear is gone, as there is no fear in real time – it is a physical impossibility. There is no fear in the past either, as things there have already happened, and there is nothing to be afraid of anymore. It can cast a new fear about the future by making a person afraid of something that might happen again, or might happen where it didn't even happen in the past, or where someone else might find out what happened in the past.

So fears can be based on past events, but just based on them. Fear itself will always be only about the future. Even a person who says he is afraid at this very moment is not telling the truth, as he is not scared of this moment, he is afraid of the next moment, what is yet to come, maybe in a split second, but it is still about what will happen, not about what is happening right now or already happened.

So fear is always based on nothingness, as it hasn't happened yet, and a future that didn't come to be reality has no weight. When released, it truly feels like "puff" and nothing comes out of this inflated balloon, not even a smell. And to think that this nothingness, or rather to say these fears have such a tremendous power over people, holding them in such a firm grip and influencing them so badly in every moment and decision of their lives… What a tragedy…

Same worries this girl has – all just a bunch of nonsense based on somebody's sayings, on false beliefs, and on a pile of lies. Still, it feels so real to her. Much more real than the reality happening around. But she was a fighter! Such a strong character hidden deep inside. This strength can be a huge help to her or can bring proper doom depending on what direction it is used in. If it is used to break out of a prison, it will be the strongest ally.

If it is used as its own prison guard, it will be the strongest foe. One worry after another got drained, and one worry after another was created anew. Like a never-ending game. Someone else can help to get rid of these worries, but nobody can forbid you from making new ones. Someone else can point out what incorrect beliefs are creating these worries, but no one else but the person themselves can choose to let go of these controlling beliefs and look for something new instead.

Luckily, this girl was willing to free herself of these false understandings, and after a while, she finally started to relax and notice her surroundings as it was in real time, not filtered through these beliefs that were ingrained in her. People are so predictable but also so unique. It was proven to Rainee once more that no matter how accurate her presumptions can be most of the time, there will always be someone who will surprise her time after time.

She was prepared to wait for a considerably long time until Anniet would finally relax, but just now, in an instant, she stopped all her worries, and surprisingly, the reason for it was Rainee herself. Not just the help she provided, it couldn't be expected that Anniet would even understand this sort of help. No, it was the girl's attitude towards her. As soon as Anniet's thoughts were transferred from Anniet to Rainee, all worries dispersed suddenly, completely surrendering to appreciation and trust.

A really touching addition to today's events. Such trust, no matter how short-lived and temporary, wasn't easily or often obtained. To receive such trust from someone was the best reward possible for any effort, and to think she hardly did anything for this girl at all.

"Do you think we have met before?" – Rainee asked aloud. This feeling that she had already met this person kept lurking around. Anniet immediately shook her head in response. She didn't have to think or have any doubts about it.

"No, I haven't met anyone like you before."

"Maybe I have travelled by? I used to do lots of travelling." Anniet just shook her head again. She could remember every traveller she met; there weren't that many. Most of them were men, and just very few women. But none of them resembled Rainee. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"Have you ever been in the Capital?" – Rainee kept questioning.

"No, only to the nearby town. I don't know anyone from our village who would ever travel to the Capital. Have you?"

"Yes, I used to live there."

"Do you belong to the King's Army?" – Anniet asked.

"You are very smart," – Rainee smiled to herself. – "Why would you think so?"

"People say that everyone in the King's Army is very special and kind. That they fight better than any other swordsmen could ever do. And that they are also very smart and educated. And very helpful. I cannot think of anyone fitting this description better than you."

"It is good to know that people have such a good opinion about the King's Army," Rainee smiled again.

"Yes, you are right. I used to belong to the King's Army."

"Used?"

"Yes. That part of life for me is over now."

"I didn't know that it was possible to leave the King's services…" Anniet was surprised by what she heard.

"Why not? What? People in your village believe that the King keeps everyone for himself until death?"

"Yes," Anniet nodded her head, "or at least until they are old and not useful for him anymore."

"Hmmm. That's not entirely true, but I can see why such a belief was born. No, you can leave the King's services at any time you want, but by leaving it, you will lose all the support that is given to you. Sometimes, in exceptional cases, you will not even remember all the information that was available to you. So people don't want to leave the King's services until they die or, in some cases, until they become old and not interested in serving the King anymore, or for some other reasons."

"But you are not old."

"No, I am not," Rainee laughed.

"You could say I had other reasons to leave."

"Have you seen the King?" Anniet asked.

"I have," Rainee confirmed.

"Have you?"

"No, I didn't. I haven't seen anyone in the King's services either."

"Not even anyone from the King's Army?" That would be a bit unusual, but Anniet just shook her head in reply.

"Not even on parade?" Rainee asked again.

"No. Nobody ever took me to town on the days when there was a parade."

"Your parents must be very strict," Rainee said.

"I never met my father, and my mum was strict," Anniet agreed. She thought for a little bit and added.

"Somehow I don't want to talk about her… Is it very bad?"

"No, it is not bad at all. If anything, it is good that you admitted it. And it is very good not to talk about those you don't want to talk about."

"It is getting very dark," Anniet said, "how will we find a way back?" She was right. The sun was already gone, and darkness was rapidly falling upon all surroundings. Lights in a distant town were getting brighter, but it was too far to help them see any better.

"I will take you back, don't worry," Rainee comforted her, "do you want to go now?"

"Can you see in the dark?" Anniet was curious.

"A little bit," Rainee confirmed.

"Then maybe we could stay for a bit longer and look at the stars?" Anniet suggested, hoping that it was not too audacious.

"I love stargazing," Rainee said.

"Let's stay then for a little bit longer." So it did seem that after all, it was the first time they met. Anniet's replies were honest, and Rainee didn't have any reason to doubt her. Even if they had met at a very young age before memory could reach it, it wouldn't leave those feelings of recognition. The feeling she had towards Anniet was one of knowing a person. There is not much to know about babies.

They might be all different, but they still are not developed yet in who they are, so the feeling could only be about who they could become. Now it really started to bother Rainee. She laughed inwardly at herself and pushed it aside. If she cannot remember, she cannot remember. There must be reasons why. And as she didn't know these reasons, there was no way to resolve it now, so there was no reason to linger and ponder over it.

The night was getting darker and darker, revealing more glittering stars in a clear sky. The lights in a town started to fade slowly, and soon there was pitch dark around. Darkness wasn't something that would bother Rainee. Sight was one of the dullest senses in the human body. For her, it wasn't easy to understand why people chose to rely on it so much. Surely being able to see has its own advantages, especially in seeing and exploring the beauty around. Like this sky full of stars.

Without sight, she would never be able to see it. So no, she would never underappreciate the benefits of sight. But rely on it for survival… That's really something crazy. She was still holding Anniet's hand, not because she needed her help anymore, no, that worry generator was off for the time being. Just the girl really liked it, so she left it as it was. Now she decided to take advantage of it and, slowly, little by little, shared with her what others used to call enchanted vision.

The name didn't match the truth at all, but to some degree it allowed others to understand the effect of this sharing. The effect was that the person would see better, in more detail, even in more colours. But it wasn't enchanting anything. Every human, without exception, had the ability to see it that way. It was just… let's say clad, or a better description would be – refused. Refusing to see that, refusing to admit something, forbidding oneself to think that way, keeping a blind eye on other things.

All the daily things of a regular person, considering that there is not too much harm in it, but reality was that you cannot refuse to see one thing and still be completely open to see another, you cannot keep a blind eye on one matter but not on another. That's how people were leaving themselves with basic physical eyesight, denying themselves the opportunity to see the true colours of the world available and freely given to them.

Luckily, physical sight wasn't that dramatically or rapidly affected by the inner state, as otherwise the whole world would be full of blind people. Sharing enchanted sight was a temporary thing, and it really wasn't sharing; it was just awakening these abilities in a person themselves, and dimming all that was opposing it. Like pulling on a scene an artist who spent all of his time behind curtains.

The problem with doing so is that the reasons why this artist was hidden behind the curtains didn't disappear, and when external interference vanishes, the same actor that brought all these enchanted experiences is pushed back behind the curtain, and all returns to the place where it was before. Rainee chose to do it very slowly and just a little bit, not to its fullest capacity, to prolong this effect. It was more like luring out that hidden actor, not pulling it out.

When done this way, it will take a much longer time, but it will also last much longer. Hopefully, until the time they will leave these hills.

"Stars are so bright here," Anniet said.

"I have never seen them like this before. It looks like if I stretch my arm I will reach them. I am so glad we could stay for a bit longer. You were right, this place is really special. Never before have I remembered feeling so peaceful and happy." Rainee didn't say anything, just squeezed her hand in return." You know so little yet about life if such a small drop brings you so much happiness," she thought to herself.

They stayed like this for a while until Anniet realised that if she would stay there any longer, she would simply fall asleep. She wouldn't mind it, but the place didn't seem very suitable for having a nap. Also, there was still a long way home. She looked at her companion, who was peacefully gazing at the stars, and with little regret asked if it wouldn't be time to make their way back.

"Good timing, as I was thinking the same," Rainee said, smiling at her and letting go of her hand. It was so good to be held like this. Anniet wanted to say how much she appreciated it, but didn't know how to say it, so she just kept it to herself. Deep in her thoughts, she easily walked that treacherous ledge that scared her so much on her way there. Now it didn't frighten her at all; in fact, she didn't even notice how she walked it.

The night, after all, turned out to be pretty light despite there being no moon, and it was easy to see the road even in the parts where the path took them through the woodland. Anniet wanted to ask so many things, but at the same time, it was so good just to walk like this with her new friend in this silent night. This place at night smelled so different, and it was full of night sounds. She could even hear an owl flying by and even fish swimming in the river. This place was really enchanted.

Or maybe it just seemed like this because she was really happy. By the time they left the mountains and approached the town, Anniet was exhausted but very happy.

"Can I come to your class tomorrow?" she asked in a low voice while walking across the silent streets.

"Take it easy tomorrow," Rainee said.

"It is nearly morning now, and you need good rest. If you want to join my class, then you can come the day after tomorrow."

"Will you be there?" Anniet asked, remembering that not so long ago Rainee said she was hiding from her students.

"I will be there," Rainee promised, stopping by the house where Anniet lived.

"How do you know where I live?"

"Until now, I didn't know," Rainee laughed silently.

"But as you led us there, I presume this is where you live. Isn't it?"

"Yes, yes it is," Anniet confirmed, a little bit confused as she thought Rainee was leading the way. Apparently not.

"Do you live close by?"

"Not too far away," Rainee said, "but the town isn't that big, so everything there is not that far away. Make sure you allow yourself to take a good rest, as it is needed after an exciting day. And if you want to see me again, come and join my classes or find me somewhere else, just as you did today. For now, I am going to wish you goodnight. It was a real pleasure meeting you."

Anniet was trying to find the words to say how grateful she was for today, but she must be really tired as nothing came to her head, so instead she hugged Rainee tightly, putting into this hug all the gratitude she felt. Rainee just laughed silently at it and hugged her back. Then, as soon as Anniet released her, she moved down the street, turning once around to wave back at her, and soon disappeared into the darkness. Anniet was standing for some time looking in the direction Rainee walked away.

Somehow, with Rainee gone, the night started to become not as light as it was before and was getting darker and darker with every minute she stood. How strange, Anniet thought to herself while getting inside, it was really nearly a dawn break, shouldn't it be lighter now than before? Maybe the tiredness was the cause, as she really was exhausted. She fell asleep as soon as she put her head on a pillow and had such light and vivid dreams as never before.