Chapter 53: Chapter 53
Belissar met Chief Rohsuak the next morning, while Metsaitti’s group passed him by. He didn’t say anything to them, but he did glare at the spearman who wanted to mess with his bees. Chief Rohsuak let out a sigh.
“Tyhgak’s got more courage than sense, but Metsaitti will keep him in line.”
Belissar’s expression didn’t change.
Chief Rohsuak shook her head before taking a look at Belissar. She raised her eyebrow.
“You seem to be doing well. I expected you to be in much more pain after yesterday.”
Belissar glared at her and she just smiled.
“You grow the most when pushed past your limit.”
He sighed and then shrugged.
“Have you been taking it easy on him?”
Chief Rohsuak smiled.
Metsaitti looked to Den Master and straightened his back somewhat. He knew now he was facing a man of focus, commitment, and sheer grizzly will, whatever his appearance or demeanor might otherwise suggest. He was also unaware that Den Master was used to doing what he was told without complaint regardless of how unpleasant it was, and that it hadn’t occurred to him that he could quit.
Tyhgak the spearman, on the other hand, stared openly with his jaw wide open.
“You’re surviving the demon?! Is that the power of a Sacred Den Master?!”
Of course, everyone turned to look at Tyhgak when he shouted. The Den Master’s eyes narrowed. Tyhgak took a step back and started to sweat.
The Den Master continued to glare.
“Don’t touch my bees.”
Tyhgak gulped. Metsaitti sighed.
“Told you he could hear you.”
Chief Rohsuak smiled as she walked up behind Tyhgak and placed her hand on his shoulder.
“Worry not, Den Master. I’ll make sure to give Tyhgak here some instruction. The demon will certainly whip him into shape.”
Belissar winced as he sat on the ground. His muscles ached, and he had bruises all over. Niobee and the soldier bees nearby started to hover around him before he assured them he was fine. Chief Rohsuak, despite all the sparring, seemed no worse for wear. She smiled as she sat down in front of him.
“Now should be a good time. Let’s work on mana control.”
Belissar sat up as well as he could, fixing his eyes on Chief Rohsuak. This was what he was ultimately working for.
“As I said, I believe mana to be a part of the body, or at least heavily intertwined with it. Your body is already subconsciously moving it around, sending towards the parts in need of healing. Try to focus on it and feel it moving.”
“From what I’ve seen of you, it should be easy.”
Belissar nodded and focused on himself. He could indeed feel streams of mana flowing through his body, concentrating on the sorest muscles and the worst bruises. Chief Rohsuak nodded.
“Looks like you found it. Now, pay attention to how the mana is moving. Try to remember that feeling, and see if you can replicate it. It may help to move around your limbs to get a feel for how the flow changes.
“The more sore the limb the easier the changes will be to notice.”
Belissar winced at that but did as she suggested, moving his arm around. He winced as he felt the bruises on it once again...and then felt the mana surge slightly towards that exact area.
Chief Rohsuak nodded.
“It looks like you got it. We’ll end our time together here for today, then. Focus on remembering that feeling for the rest of the day. Once you’ve healed, try to see if you can replicate it.”
Belissar nodded and the two parted ways. This time he declined the help of the medicinal bees so that he could focus on his own mana. It certainly made the rest of the night more painful, but the Tower’s powers were as impressive as ever, and he had made a full recovery by the next morning.
As he sat up in his bed, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
Belissar tried to make his mana move like it had the previous day...
His eyes shot open. The mana now flooded into his arm where he once had a bruise. He tried to make it flow to the other arm and it responded immediately. It was so easy Belissar wondered why he couldn’t do it before now.
Niobee flew before him to greet him. Before she did, Belissar grinned at her.