Cave of Shadows

As Nionue slowly wandered the streets that were lit my street lamps run by magic, he turned the day over in his mind. There were so many questions without answers, and the unknown is what got you killed. That had been another lesson from Cariaro that he hadn't thought of for some time. Thinking of that one brought another one to his mind. If you can't find the answer to anything, then clear your mind of everything. It was at that time that Nionue was walking past the small patch of grass that was in the middle of the square. In the center of grass was the statue of some long dead wizard, holding a book open in his hands. Laus had told him that this wizard had helped the great hero of so many centuries ago. This would be a good place to clear his mind. "What better place to meditate than at the feet of the man who helped the hero I was born to be," Nionue said sarcastically to himself. Removing his sword so that it didn't get in his way, yet keeping it in easy reach, he knelt on the cool ground. With his hands laying limply on his legs, back straight, he began to relax his body. Meditation only worked for him if he started with the physical. He slowed his breathing and concentrated on relaxing the muscles. As the tension leaked from him, he was shocked by how tense he'd truly been. He then focused his mind on the sound of the crickets that had begun to chirrup again as a way to clear his mind of clutter. As he listened, the sound began to fade away into the background, and he felt a warmth wash over his body. Any tension that might have been left in his body vanished with that warmth. A bright light lit up his eyelids like the noonday sun, and his eyes popped open. He had to squint them shut again because of the brightness. His heart sped up, because this had never happened to him before. "There is nothing to fear, Nionue," a voice said. "No harm will come to you while I am with you." "Who are you?" Nionue asked the soothing voice, realizing that he felt completely safe at the moment. It felt as if he could achieve anything with merely a thought, like anything he attempted at that time would be a complete success. "My name is Vianna, and I am a guide to those who are lost along their path." "What do you wish of me?" "The Cave of Shadows calls to you, Nionue, and I am that voice. It is part of your path to leave this land for a time, and return when you are needed. The Dark One hunts you, and you are not yet ready to face him."