Mutual Interest

Selenthiel settled down on the silken cushions that the servants had brought out into the gardens, sighing with satisfaction as she made herself comfortable on her knees. The gardens of the Sunfire Spires surrounded her, the lush greenery carefully sculpted with magic to form little grottos of beautiful bushes and flowerbeds. To her right a marble fountain gurgled as water flowed from the top of a stone maiden who forever poured water into a stone basin before her.

A warm breeze rustled Selenthiel’s head, and she inhaled deeply, enjoying the moment of serenity. She closed her eyes, her hands palm down on her knees before her, releasing the breath she’d taken and entering a peaceful calm. Of late her thoughts had been troubled, various concerns relating to the enemies of House Sunfire rearing up and pointing towards conflicts in the future.

She worried for her family, for the security of their newly joined House, and for the future of Quel’Thalas. Although she had spent some efforts towards setting the House spymaster and Master at Arms, Braeth’el, on a course towards correcting these issues, she couldn’t help but feel a nagging doubt that their efforts would not be enough and that those in her care and protection would come to harm.

Then, of course, there was the matter of her brother, Andithiel. Although she knew he cared deeply for their family, his sullen behavior and frequent disappearances as of late as he went off to sulk gave her just another point of distress on her growing list of concerns. Try as she might, it was difficult to reach him through the shroud of bitterness he’d pulled over himself after he and Kyliska had ended their relationship. It seemed that the more Kyliska became happy with her life, the more bitter the depths to which her brother descended. She knew he would pass through this phase in time, but it was trying to say the least when she had more important matters to consider.

She remained in a state of utter calm, what other races might consider to be a state of prayer. For her, there was little difference between the magic that people like her sister and Biara wielded and the forces of Light and Shadow. The only difference was the way in which one reached them. Where her sister gained power through endless study of the magical tools at her disposal, Selenthiel herself connected with external powers that she wielded and shaped to her will and for the betterment of Quel’Thalas. She tapped into that power now, feeling all of the various prayers she knew as keys to unlock the types of effects she required. They swirled around in her mind and became an orderly list, her meditation preparing her powers for the challenges of the coming days. 

As she relaxed into the power, she felt her mind expand, touching everything around her. She could feel the garden, the trees and flowers and birds who watched her. She could feel the guards that followed her always, their minds distant points around the entrances of the garden. She brushed up against them, feeling their brightness, tasting the loyalty and pride they held within them. And then she paused as she felt a new group passing through the gardens, her meditation nearly interrupted by the newcomers.

Her mind darted towards them, brushing against the edges of their thoughts one by one, as if a bird passing them by. She felt eagerness, the brash boldness of youth, and fierce courage within many of them, and came to understand that they were recruits in training for the House. As she passed by the last she tasted something different, something delicious in the thoughts there. Here was strength, was a bright sparkle of health and well-being surrounded by determination and tempered by a streak of joy and laughter that she knew would bubble forth to bring mirth to those around the mind. He was the leader, was there to ensure that the others learned more of the world. It was enough that she wanted to touch the mind further, although that would be dipping too far into the realm of shadow and, beyond that, was considered rude by most people. Instead she continued to meditate for a time, watching the minds as they passed near her, almost startled out of her meditative trance when one of them spoke close enough for her physical ears to hear him.

“Meditation! Pah! What a waste of time!” a surly young Sin’dorei voice said.

Selenthiel’s eyes remained closed as she felt the presence of the group come to a sudden halt, another voice speaking out over the others. She recognized it at once as the elf named Ketheron, recently hired by Braeth’el to train the many new recruits that House Sunfire had hired. She realized as he spoke that it was his mind she had brushed up against last, it was he that was the leader whose thoughts had been so delicious.

“Shut the fel up and show some respect!” Ketheron barked. Selenthiel nearly smirked, managing to keep her eyes closed and remain in her trance only with great effort. She was startled to hear Ketheron as he spoke next.

“What you see here is neither a waste of time, nor weakness as I suspect some of you lot think,” Ketheron spoke again, his tone firm. “Look more closely at what you see here, and quietly without disturbing her. Note her perfect posture, the way she keeps her back straight, her body angled. Here is hidden strength, the firm, ordered balance of mind that marks a great warrior and leader. You think she is ‘wasting her time’? Let me tell you how wrong you are.”

“Sir, I was just-“ the recruit began.

“Shut it,” Ketheron cut him off. “You all need to learn this. Study her for a moment. Here you see a Sin’dorei of great power and grace. She prepares herself, she unburdens her mind. Part of physical health, part of having the heart and soul of a warrior, is knowing your own mind and keeping it in order. Your mental state is just as important as keeping fit and healthy. Lady Selenthiel is an example to be followed in this. Do you see doubt on her features? Fear? Sorrow? No, you see beauty and serenity. In a battle, her mind will be calm and her decisions well reasoned. She will not order an assault when it is hopeless, neither will she refrain from ordering a retreat when it is needed. A great leader knows when to spare their forces and when to strike, and it is not weakness to prepare one’s mind for such a task.”

“I see sir, I’m sorry,” the recruit said.

“Don’t be sorry, just be smarter,” Ketheron said playfully. “Remember, Lady Selenthiel is a great healer. This means she must make the hardest of decisions in a moment’s notice; she must decide who can be saved, and who must die for the rest to overcome their foes.”

The group paused for a moment, and it was all Selenthiel could do not to smile outright at what Ketheron was saying. She remained still, holding her pose even though she’d stopped meditating. After a moment to contemplate his words, she sensed Ketheron ushering the young recruits away so as not to disturb her further. As she felt them withdraw, she allowed herself to smile finally, her eyes slipping open for a moment to glance behind her.

Ketheron and his recruits were marching in good order towards another exit of the garden, and she took the opportunity to study him. Here was a beast of a Sin’dorei, his rippling form the peak of physical perfection. Not even slightly out of breath as he quick-marched the huffing and puffing recruits that followed him, his face had a look of determination that she knew was directed at ensuring those under his training would be of good mind and body to perform their duties. There was a happiness on his face as he did his work that was admirable and spoke of one who found the simple act of keeping healthy to be one of his most important goals.

She kept her gaze on him all the way across the garden, watching until his shock of red hair disappeared through the far gates. After he was gone she was startled to realize she’d been staring with her mouth opened and a bewildered smile that was not typical of her. She shook her head, laughing at herself and resuming her meditative pose, words whispered to no one but herself disappearing on the warm breeze, “Focus Selenthiel, focus. You’ve too much to worry about right now to think about that.”

And yet, when she returned to her meditation, the smile stayed with her, as did the words Ketheron had spoken.