The Elementalist

9. The Initiation

The InitiationBefore we begin, there’s someone I’ve been expecting…”

Voi frowned as Milia slipped outside the barn. Who else would be invited to such a confidential event? She considered Mr. Callahan, and her stomach fluttered, cheeks flushing. She listened for conversation outside, though there were few words exchanged between Milia and Troy.

“Where is he?”

“Don’t look at me! It’s not like I have a crystal ball lying around. You’ve got the wrong kind of mentalist, if that’s what you’re after.”

“Oh, don’t be so daft, Troy. In any case, he should have been here by now…”

Seeing no other logical option outside of the swarthy agent, Voi’s breathing involuntarily grew shallow, and she clutched the edge of her bale.

A few minutes later, she heard the distant rumble of an automobile engine and the sound of tires crunching on the dirt road. Voi slowly rose to her feet as a car door opened then closed, followed by a familiar man’s voice saying, “Sorry for the delay. I had to deliver some unsettling news to one of my patients. Took longer than I’d expected.”

Then Milia’s curt voice: “Yes, well let’s not waste any more time. Shall we?”

Certain that the male voice did not belong to Mr. Callahan, Voi breathed more easily as she kneaded her hands in anticipation.

Milia was the first to strut through the door, followed by a man in a heavy overcoat carrying a physician’s bag. Milia fell behind him to secure the barn doors with a brace then proceeded to the center of the barn.

Voi tilted her head curiously. “Dr. Moore? What are you doing here?”

The man took off his hat, wringing it as he gave her a pleasant smile. “Hello, Voi. Long time, no see.”

She swallowed, her body temperature rising.

Dr. Moore was an embarrassingly handsome man in his late forties—Voi had gleaned during previous conversations—sporting dark hair, short greying sideburns, and a tastefully square physique. Voi often found herself wordless in his presence, for which he graciously compensated by asking her as few questions as his practice would allow. Sometimes, he would tell Voi stories of his time during the Rapine War, receiving wounded soldiers at makeshift hospitals as he was dispatched along the shores of Tryste.

He always treated Voi with the utmost respect, despite her condition.

The doctor began to approach the two women, though Milia, seeing Voi’s blanched face, held her palm towards the man. “That’s close enough, Doctor Moore.”

With a defeated hand gesture, he retired to a nearby bale of hay, murmuring, “I’ll wait over here, then.”

Voi looked anxiously between them, unsure whether she should look forward to the next part or be concerned.

“Come now, Voi. Sit down.” Milia led them to a pair of bales, specifically facing away from the doctor.

Still, Voi looked over her shoulder. “What’s he doing here?”

The woman smirked. “Have a little crush on the doctor, do we?”

Voi scowled.

“Don’t worry. The Initiation tends to be an exhausting experience. We just like to be safe about things, that’s all.”

Voi took a deep breath, slowing her breathing.

“That’s right, nice and easy…”

When she felt reasonably stable again, she nodded once to indicate her readiness.

“Now,” said Milia, “have you ever tried meditation before?”

“Yes! I do it every morning.”

“Really?” Milia leaned back in surprise. “And just what do you meditate on during these mornings?”

Voi thought back to earlier in the day. “Nothing, at first, but then I start reviewing my schedule for that day: chores, work duties, and the like.”

Milia shook her head. “Then I must make you unlearn everything you think you know about meditation and teach you the proper way—the way the elementalist must center herself in order to establish and maintain a solid, reliable connection with her element. Now, sit up straight on the edge of your bale, feet flat on the ground. Place your palms on your knees.”

Without inquiry as to why, Voi did as she was asked.

“Good. Now, I’m going to explain how elementalism works. You see, each of the elements naturally seeks a state of equilibrium with the others, though they are bound—and in some ways controlled—by one element in particular.”

“Aether,” said Voi.

Milia nodded. “The aether is the glue which holds all things together, so to speak. Its energy reveals itself in many forms: light, heat, electricity, sound, the earthly elements. Even life itself. All things were born of the aether when it was a great, empty void—one which has always held the potential for all things. However, it is the combination of sentient intelligence and willpower which commands and shapes the aether, giving it purpose.”

Voi eyed the triad of crescent moons hanging from Milia’s neck. “You’re referring to the god of Orden, aren’t you? The Maker.”

“Actually, I was referring to elementalists, but yes: the Maker, Vod and his various sub-deities, Zohl, primordial energy… Many concepts exist for one or more omnipotent entities believed to be responsible for the origination of the universe and the aether itself, all representing different aspects of a similar idea. If Orden isn’t your cup of tea, then you may give this entity another name, if you wish.”

Milia’s views seemed more literal to Voi than most other Followers she’d come across, like those belonging to the less orthodox Orden Mysticism—and if there was one thing more intimidating than a devout disciple of Orden, it was a devout Mystic.

“Anyhow,” Milia continued, “the aether is also a medium of communication, the exchange of energy. We as elementalists, and even mentalists, must call upon this energy when we wish to manipulate the elements. It requires a harmonized effort from our beings to do so—in mind, body, and spirit. All of life is a negotiation, Voi, and you and I are naturally attuned to one of the elements as elementalists. Through willpower and our natural affinity, we have the ability to shape potentiality into actuality. Does that make sense to you?”

“In abstract, I suppose,” said Voi, “though it sounds similar to invocation.”

“In a way. However, elementalism isn’t necessarily a religious experience. Not in the traditional sense. It goes far beyond matters of morality or spirituality. In fact, elementalism happens to be a very practical thing.”

Voi knit her eyebrows, doubtful.

“This probably sounds terribly vague to you—which is exactly why you must experience it yourself. I’m not exactly sure how you’ll react to your Initiation. With your element being as widespread as it is, there’s no telling what may happen—which is why I’ve chosen a rather large space that can be closed off to the outside world. A means of containment, if you will.”

Voi gave her an alarmed look.

“Don’t worry,” said Milia, “just close your eyes.”

Voi did.

“I want you to clear your mind and think of nothing—absolutely nothing—other than what I tell you to think. As you do so, I want you to take deep breaths, slowly. Your element is air. Feel the way it flows in through your nostrils then back out again. Heee-hooo, heee-hooo…” Milia continued audibly breathing in and out.

Voi couldn’t help but snicker. She stole a look from one eye.

Milia was staring back at her. “Keep your eyes closed,” the woman snapped.

Voi obeyed then began breathing as Milia had instructed—taking a deep breath through her nose, holding it, then slowly letting it out again slowly. She repeated this until she began to feel a little woozy, much like her morning rituals as the urche wore off.

“How are you feeling, Voi?”

She gave a pleased sigh.

Milia laughed. “You have some experience with this already, don’t you?”

“Perhaps.”

“Callahan did warn me you’ve been a naughty emelesiac…”

After several cycles of breathing, Voi forgot that Milia was there with her. Air continuously flowed through Voi’s lungs, leaving her euphoric. Her consciousness felt as if it were expanding, lifting her to a lofty, unearthly place—an experience she could only compare to high altitude flying without oxygen. Up and down lost their meaning. Reality altogether turned on its head.

An otherworldly tingling overcame Voi’s body, and the hairs on her arms stood on end. A cool air tousled and whipped at her hair, though she wasn’t sure if this was real or imagined; she’d forgotten she had eyes to see with. Soon, a jolt of intense energy shot from the base of her spine to the crown of her head, enveloping her body with a pleasant warmth. A surprised gasp escaped Voi’s parted lips as the sensation overwhelmed her senses.

But the experience didn’t stop there. Oh no, it went on and on, augmenting until Voi’s body or mind—she could no longer tell the difference—was consumed by a rapturous fire. While pleasant at first, the intensity of this exotic feeling soon terrified her.

Suddenly, she felt an immediate, desperate urge to return to the familiar world for fear that this experience might consume her. A great invisible force seemed to pull her into a state of oblivion, whispering incomprehensible yet seductive promises of pleasure and power to her vulnerable mind while threatening to erase any ties to her previous self as she melded with… well, she wasn’t sure what it was.

Still, Voi felt she almost belonged to it, that this thing or essence or whatever it was actually was jealous that they couldn’t be joined indefinitely.

“Don’t let it keep you there, Voi. That could lead to a coma, or… Voi, can you hear me?”

Milia’s voice was audible, barely, though Voi found she couldn’t reach it. Rather, she felt trapped within the confines of her own consciousness. Struggle as she might, she couldn’t fight the immense gravity of it all. The experience was a grueling tug of war—one she feared she was losing. The pressure of being dominated by this great power ultimately translated into the familiar sensation of suffocation.

Panicking, Voi wrenched her thoughts from the hypnotic abyss, determined not to lose her mind. Reality came back to her with a lightning-fast sense of vertigo, and her eyes snapped open. She gulped in air and was wary of releasing it for fear she would lose this precious source of life forever.

“Breathe, Voi!” Milia was shaking her by the shoulders, staring back at Voi with equally large eyes.

Voi let go of the air she was hoarding, though apparently, this wasn’t all she’d been holding on to. With a sharp rise in temperature, a shock of energy exploded from Voi’s core and expanded in all directions, leaving her breathless. The wave sent Milia careening off her bale, clear across the barn. She collided with the wall then fell limp to the ground.

An incredible fatigue overcame Voi as the world started swirling.

“Voi,” called Dr. Moore, “are you alright?”

Her legs grew weak and she collapsed, falling into someone’s arms. She heard her name again—once, twice—just before she lost consciousness.