Target Word Count: 2,000 words
Oras walked through the town with his hood over his head. It shaded his eyes from view of others as he walked among the crowd. He had been... Working towards his own personal training. Not training his magic however. Not training his body either, though both his illusion magic and his physical exercises were a daily thing. This training was something else entirely. And by far the most challenging form of training he had ever been forced to do. Even the lessons of his first master were not as challenging as the ones he faced with today. Back then his master would put him through lessons that were extremely brutal. The mage never once held back when he fought against Oras as a child, and never once gave him any lesson or challenge that wasn't his level. He only gave Oras lessons and challenges that were far more advanced than the stage he had been in. Any sign of Oras giving up or requesting a break and he would essentially be given punishments. It was his job to not only push on despite the pain, strain and stress, but to also succeed within a certain span of time. This time ranging between a few days to a week and a half. Of course there were certain lessons that would require a month rather than one or two days to a week but they were very rare indeed. Yet these lessons still didn't match the training he was putting himself through today.
The training he chose to complete today, was mastering his chaotic and unruly soul.
He was growing extensively tired of feeling everyone's emotions without any say in the matter, simply because his soul was able to do this. He understood that his soul was chaotic but he would like to find some way to control it. After much thought he wondered if the key to controlling it, was to instead let go of control. To instead guide his soul rather than cage it up. It was a worthy note to try and thus he was out in the midst of the crowd. He had never known how to learn a lesson one step at a time. The only way he knew how to was to dive into the deep end right off the bat. Which was why he had chosen a crowd rather than a less occupied street. With all these people around him Oras was completely surrounded by emotions which would make it very very difficult on him. As he walked through the crowds, he didn't look at anyone. He kept his eyes on the ground, or he kept his eyes closed using his other senses to navigate around. He didn't ignore the emotions, he listened to them. He didn't block them out, he let his mind wander and flow among them. And as he did so, these emotions became more sharp, clear, and he could discern them and the meaning behind them a little more. Someone was yelling at a merchant and he could feel anger, but with it a sense of betrayal, being cheated. With another he felt excitement, yet also anxiousness, nervousness, love, which he summarized as a woman who was recently engaged, and judging by the other person's matching emotions, was her boyfriend/fiance.
Just as he learned to control multiple illusions and see through them all simultaneously, so he was learning to listen to all the emotions around him as he passed through the crowd. He could feel the emotions of anxiousness, excitement, nervousness, and greed approaching him, and Oras could tell just by that, what said person's intent was. Before the figure could 'bump' into him he opened his eyes and bumped into the man purposefully, using his hands to deflect the young individual's own and giving him a knowing look before passing on. He didn't stop the pickpocket, as there was also desperation, indicating he had no choice to do so. Sure the kid was greedy, but every child felt that at some point, it was nothing new. Besides, many of these people he could tell deserved to have their pockets picked. He could feel their arrogance, their boastfulness. Their negative feelings towards those they feel are unworthy of them. Just the kind of people who would gladly work for the magic counsel so long as their wealth increased and their pleasures continued.
Even so, there were a few individuals among the arrogant leeches of the crowd. Individuals who were concerned for the welfare of others above their own, making efforts to save up a little jewel for those who aren't able to get a job or make enough. The kind of people who would stop and take a moment when passing someone who was hurt, attacked, or fell into an accident, and take their time to help the person in need rather than going to a meeting or the like. They were the people who lived a decent life while also sacrificing chances to rise higher, to ensure others didn't fall lower in the emotional sense. Helping them stay strong and cling to hope despite the odds or depressive thoughts they so often had. Which of course lead the majority which overwhelmed the first two categories by an immense amount: those in poverty. The ones who have no power of any sort. Even if they had the power of persuasion, without funds or aid one would never rise up unless they resorted to darker deeds due to desperation. Such as working labor for a small criminal group, or revealing some skill that would be useful in a higher underground organization. Resorting to thievery, whether it range from pickpocketing to breaking and entering, to robbing banks. Things that would get them in serious trouble with not only the soldiers and the law, but also wizards if they received a job. Especially since many wizards were not very gentle with their assignments.
All of these emotions. They swirled and mixed with one another. Creating not a crowd, not a mess. It was a complex web, harmony, chaos, confusion, strength, weakness. It was many things and indescribable.
1,023/2,000
Oras walked through the town with his hood over his head. It shaded his eyes from view of others as he walked among the crowd. He had been... Working towards his own personal training. Not training his magic however. Not training his body either, though both his illusion magic and his physical exercises were a daily thing. This training was something else entirely. And by far the most challenging form of training he had ever been forced to do. Even the lessons of his first master were not as challenging as the ones he faced with today. Back then his master would put him through lessons that were extremely brutal. The mage never once held back when he fought against Oras as a child, and never once gave him any lesson or challenge that wasn't his level. He only gave Oras lessons and challenges that were far more advanced than the stage he had been in. Any sign of Oras giving up or requesting a break and he would essentially be given punishments. It was his job to not only push on despite the pain, strain and stress, but to also succeed within a certain span of time. This time ranging between a few days to a week and a half. Of course there were certain lessons that would require a month rather than one or two days to a week but they were very rare indeed. Yet these lessons still didn't match the training he was putting himself through today.
The training he chose to complete today, was mastering his chaotic and unruly soul.
He was growing extensively tired of feeling everyone's emotions without any say in the matter, simply because his soul was able to do this. He understood that his soul was chaotic but he would like to find some way to control it. After much thought he wondered if the key to controlling it, was to instead let go of control. To instead guide his soul rather than cage it up. It was a worthy note to try and thus he was out in the midst of the crowd. He had never known how to learn a lesson one step at a time. The only way he knew how to was to dive into the deep end right off the bat. Which was why he had chosen a crowd rather than a less occupied street. With all these people around him Oras was completely surrounded by emotions which would make it very very difficult on him. As he walked through the crowds, he didn't look at anyone. He kept his eyes on the ground, or he kept his eyes closed using his other senses to navigate around. He didn't ignore the emotions, he listened to them. He didn't block them out, he let his mind wander and flow among them. And as he did so, these emotions became more sharp, clear, and he could discern them and the meaning behind them a little more. Someone was yelling at a merchant and he could feel anger, but with it a sense of betrayal, being cheated. With another he felt excitement, yet also anxiousness, nervousness, love, which he summarized as a woman who was recently engaged, and judging by the other person's matching emotions, was her boyfriend/fiance.
Just as he learned to control multiple illusions and see through them all simultaneously, so he was learning to listen to all the emotions around him as he passed through the crowd. He could feel the emotions of anxiousness, excitement, nervousness, and greed approaching him, and Oras could tell just by that, what said person's intent was. Before the figure could 'bump' into him he opened his eyes and bumped into the man purposefully, using his hands to deflect the young individual's own and giving him a knowing look before passing on. He didn't stop the pickpocket, as there was also desperation, indicating he had no choice to do so. Sure the kid was greedy, but every child felt that at some point, it was nothing new. Besides, many of these people he could tell deserved to have their pockets picked. He could feel their arrogance, their boastfulness. Their negative feelings towards those they feel are unworthy of them. Just the kind of people who would gladly work for the magic counsel so long as their wealth increased and their pleasures continued.
Even so, there were a few individuals among the arrogant leeches of the crowd. Individuals who were concerned for the welfare of others above their own, making efforts to save up a little jewel for those who aren't able to get a job or make enough. The kind of people who would stop and take a moment when passing someone who was hurt, attacked, or fell into an accident, and take their time to help the person in need rather than going to a meeting or the like. They were the people who lived a decent life while also sacrificing chances to rise higher, to ensure others didn't fall lower in the emotional sense. Helping them stay strong and cling to hope despite the odds or depressive thoughts they so often had. Which of course lead the majority which overwhelmed the first two categories by an immense amount: those in poverty. The ones who have no power of any sort. Even if they had the power of persuasion, without funds or aid one would never rise up unless they resorted to darker deeds due to desperation. Such as working labor for a small criminal group, or revealing some skill that would be useful in a higher underground organization. Resorting to thievery, whether it range from pickpocketing to breaking and entering, to robbing banks. Things that would get them in serious trouble with not only the soldiers and the law, but also wizards if they received a job. Especially since many wizards were not very gentle with their assignments.
All of these emotions. They swirled and mixed with one another. Creating not a crowd, not a mess. It was a complex web, harmony, chaos, confusion, strength, weakness. It was many things and indescribable.
1,023/2,000
