TWC: 3,500
Solo Thread Cap: 10,000words!
Previously: 0 / 10,000
Currently: 3,500 / 10,000

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The room at the top of the tower fell silent, with only the breeze of the high altitude air giving any sign of time’s flow. Rhapsody was baffled, trapped, breathless; the bipedal cat before her had introduced himself as Korin, the Guardian of the Forest below. The tower the two were within was his, and from what the Karinga Tribe below had mentioned to her prior, this had always been the case. Yet, for Rhapsody, this wasn’t the case in the least; the cat she knew was the Grand Elder of her village, a kindly old man who had trained her for years of her life and was the guardian of said village.

Rhapsody’s eyes darted from here to there as she tried to make sense of the situation; the Grand Elder was his usual, happy self and didn’t seem too overly concerned by the situation. And why should he? He was the Guardian here, he always had been, and he’d always been the guardian of their village; to him, all of this was common knowledge.

“But… then why?” Rhapsody would mutter beneath her breath as her mind began to piece together the situation she was in.

“Oh?” Korin would respond, “Why what kiddo?”

“You… how did you even get here? Have you abandoned the village?” Rhapsody would question, “What about the magic? The fog that keeps our village safe? Without you there to maintain it-” She’d say, cutting herself off and shaking her head as she focused on the question she truly wanted to ask, “No… no… that’s not it…”

“Rhapsody, it’s okay.” Korin would begin, “I know you don’t really care to ask those questions, but let me first assure you that the village is fine. Even from here, I’m maintaining it with my magic.” He’d explain, stroking his chin as he maintained a rather big smile, “Now, just this once, go ahead and speak your mind. Be selfish for a change, I’ll allow it.”

Hearing those words from the one she still perceived as the Grand Elder of her village sparked something within her. She was being given permission from an elder, and yet at the same time, he might as well have been an absolute stranger. Nothing was making sense, but what was said was beginning to make sense as it trickled through her thoughts.

Selfishness…

There were things Rhapsody wanted, power, knowledge, truth, safety, satisfaction, the list could go on forever. She was selfish; the heavens saw fit to attempt claiming her fathers life, and she wanted to save him. Was it for his own sake? Or simply because she didn’t want to lose another family member? She had no idea, but through her selfish thoughts, she believed it to be the ladder. Yet through her logic and reason, a war would begin within her mind; she didn’t seek power for the sake of power itself, nor did she seek it for the sake of herself. Whether it be knowledge, power, or anything else, she sought it for the sake of others, and that in itself wasn’t selfish.

In this moment however, she was selfish; Korin owed her no explanation, but she was determined to learn the truth. The trials she’d endured, the time it’d taken for her to reach the point she was at now, she couldn’t simply continue without learning the truth of it all. Her fist would clench in apprehension as she struggled to get the words she wanted to say out; it went against every fiber of her being to act solely for the sake of herself, but her mind simply wouldn’t cease racing as thought after thought assailed her.

“Why…” She began lowly, before lifting her gaze and focusing on Korin with a sharp gaze, “Why did you send me on this journey!?” She would question aggressively, “The tower was so close to our village, and you KNEW the Guardian lived here, didn’t you!?” She’d exclaim, her voice clearly indicating her anger with every breath, “The Karinga already told me that you and the Guardian I seek are two different people, but the fact that you’re here means that you knew… This is Korin’s Tower, YOUR tower!! For how long has this been the case!? For that matter, why did you send me to the complete opposite side of the planet!? My dad’s in danger! He’s hurt! I need to help him, I need to find the Guardian, and you just-! You-! I…”

Tears had formed in Rhapsody’s eyes as she yelled at the man she had looked up to for so many years; equal parts confusion and betrayal had overtaken her. Through gritted teeth she tried to speak further, but had lost any idea on what to say next. She would drop to her knees as her protests devolved into light sobs, clutching her face with both hands to hide her pained expression while her ears and wings drooped in a sorrowful display.

The smile Korin had would vanish, replaced now with a look of concern of his own. His tail would swish back and forth curiously as he stroked his chin further before finally giving a sigh. It was a rather heavy situation to say the least, but he knew that Rhapsody was deserving of the truth, even if that truth wasn’t one she would like.

“Rhapsody.” Korin would begin, approaching Rhapsody and standing beside her before he began to speak further, “Throughout my life, I’ve seen a great deal of people and trained plenty of aspiring warriors. There were some who simply weren’t cut out for it and would give up part way through, then there were those who surprised me with their ability and went on to be masters of their own.” He would explain, his voice giving away the nostalgia that was piercing his mind, “When you came into my life, I’ll admit I was at a bit of a loss. This old cat wasn’t looking to be a father or anything, yet there you were, a little kitten without a family of her own just sitting on my doorstep. I didn’t have any aspirations or nothin’ for you, I just pawned you off on a couple of cats who wanted a kid of their own and called it a day!” He would explain, laughing a bit as he recalled the memory.

Rhapsody’s ears would twitch as Korin spoke, and her sobbing would cease. Never before had the Grand Elder ever given her the information she sought in regards to her origins. She’d asked once as a child, and had been told that “when she was older” she would finally be told, yet she didn’t expect that to happen here and now. Korin had clearly picked up on Rhapsody’s surprise and had paused his explanation, giving Rhapsody a moment to collect herself properly as the new information sunk in. Once enough time had passed, Korin would begin to speak again, this time moving closer towards the tower's edge.

“Your village, the Karinga village, and many more in this forest; I’m the Guardian of all these places, so you could have ended up almost anywhere depending on my mood that day.” Korin would begin again, “I had no idea where you came from, and you looked so different from the Zoanthropes here on Earth. Instead of looking like a full animal, you looked like a normal human girl save for your cat ears and little pink wings at the time. You weren’t like anything else on Earth, I had no idea what to do with you! Do I give you to a human orphanage? Put up some lost cat posters? I really had no idea-” Korin would explain, cutting himself off with a small laughing fit at his own bad jokes, “-well, then I heard news from one of the villages in my care.” He’d begin, adopting a more serious tone, “A young couple who had tried and failed time and time again to have a child, had finally managed to succeed… only for illness to take that child before it even left its mothers womb.”

Rhapsody would freeze as Korin stopped his exposition on such a heavy note; she would rise to her feet, no longer concerned by her own troubles. The truth that came to her was more than she had asked for, and while it involved her, it felt more akin to a backstory about her parents rather than she herself. She’d known that her parents weren’t her true parents for most of her life already, but she’d had no idea that they’d tried to bear a child of their own before she came into their life. Rhapsody would process the information, but would ask nothing, merely looking back towards Korin, ready to hear more.

“This is perfect! I thought so callously to myself.” Korin would say, continuing his story, “I’ll just give the kid to them, that’ll be fine! And so I did so, and then I cut myself off from you… or at least I tried. But look at me, I’m a cat, I couldn’t just stop thinking about you. Curiosity got the better of me, and I was left wondering where you came from, why you looked the way you did, and why the heck you ended up on my doorstep. So I decided to pay your little village another little visit, and then… there you were.”

Korin would approach Rhapsody, holding his paw out before him and placing it at roughly chin level to himself. Tears began to form at the corners of his eyes, but a smile had returned to his face in spite of that.

“No longer a baby, but a little girl around the age of two or three.” He’d say, choking back a bit of emotion, “How did I miss this? How could so much time have passed in the blink of an eye? I’ve watched as those I knew came and went, leaving only me and few others behind. For hundreds of years, I pushed aside the idea of forming bonds, and yet when I looked at the little girl you became, playing with her friends, I felt only regret for abandoning you. I had no idea why, but I knew I didn’t want to continue that way… and so, I installed myself as the Grand Elder of your village.” Korin would admit, taking a deep breath to calm himself down, “There were already village elders, and they were all aware of who I was, so Grand Elder ust made sense!” He would laugh, tapping his cane on the floor a couple times as he allowed Rhapsody to absorb the situation.

Confusion was an understatement at this point, to hear of her origins during such a moment had caught her completely off guard, and yet at the same time had effectively brought her peace during her moment of stress. She felt it impossible to be upset now after what she’d been told, it was entirely unfair for Korin to speak the truth on such matters now, but he was certainly a conniving old cat with years of experience who knew how and when to play his cards.

“Grand Elder-” Rhapsody, would begin, shaking her head before giving a bow, “No, Korin. I’m sorry.” She’d say in apology, “I shouldn’t have had such an outburst, not even knowing your situation, it was wrong of me.”

Korin would break into laughter at Rhapsody’s apology. “Are you trying to be considerate?” He’d question, “Kid, even if you DID know my situation, that wouldn’t have made things any better!” He’d explain before taking a deep breath as he quelled his laughter. For a few brief moments, there would be a pause as the situation straightened out; once sufficient time was allowed, Korin would begin to speak once again.

“So kiddo, I watched you from afar as the Grand Elder for a little bit, but to my surprise, you show an affinity for magic almost immediately!” He’d continue with an excited tone, “No, you were different, and I was ashamed of myself for not noticing it sooner. Most kids show signs of their affinity as they enter their teen years, but you were showing signs before you were even out of diapers!” He’d say, before suddenly taking on a serious tone and expression, opening his eyes to look upon Rhapsody directly, “Kid, you’re not like the people that live on this planet. In all honesty, you’re probably from some alien world. And more than that, you don’t just have an affinity with magic, you’re MADE out of magic.” He would admit, dropping the biggest bombshell of the conversation; something that caused Rhapsody’s expression to be completely overtaken with surprise, “Yeah! I don’t blame ya! I was a bit surprised myself when I came to realize it!”

“Made… of magic? But, that’s impossible, magic is invisible like energy, and I’m a human in pretty much every sense!” Rhapsody would exclaim, before immediately calming down, “But… maybe I’m wrong.” She’d say, her gaze lingering on the floor before looking back up towards Korin, “You would know me best after all. I’m… not sure if I believe the idea of being made out of magic, but I’ve learned a lot in my travels. And to hear that I could be an alien? That… possible.” She’d say plainly, mulling over the situation.

“Of course it’s possible!” Korin would remark, “What a silly thing to say, but now, it’s time I tell you about your trial.” He’d say as he began to move over towards the center of the room, using his magic to poof into existence a table with snacks and drinks and a pair of chairs.

“My trial?” Rhapsody would question, “Ah! This journey!” She’d say as she quickly followed after Korin, sitting down in one of the chairs once Korin had jumped onto his own chair and gestured in offering, “How did you get here!? I doubt you walked!And if you knew where the Guardian was, even if you weren’t going to send me here, couldn’t you have at least given me a hint?” She would question curiously, this time feeling a lot more at ease than she’d felt prior.

“In truth-” Korin would begin, taking a sip of his tea before continuing further, “I thought about just sending you here to begin with. But then I thought about all those who had climbed this tower in an attempt to gain power. Foolhardy individuals who sought to take the easy way in life; very few were actually capable of following through with their convictions.” Korin would explain, “A young man with glasses who would go on to become an old hermit, hehe, I don’t think you’d get along very well with him. A boy with spiky black hair, and an overly upbeat personality; you might like him more, but who knows-” He’d continue, clearly reminiscing once again, “Well, I didn’t want you to become like those who dropped out. When I realized your potential, I took you in to train you personally. What I did with you was no different than what I did with those that climbed the tower to seek my knowledge. The only difference was that you got started at an incredibly young age in comparison, and then… that bear attacked.”

“The Spirit Bear-” Rhapsody would chime in, nomming down on a cookie and sipping her tea, “It’s those poachers fault! It just wanted to protect its cub, but its feelings became twisted and vengeful. I don’t blame the bear for what happened to my father, she acted on instinct…” Rhapsody would finish somberly, closing her eyes as she offered the Spirit Bear a brief prayer.

“Of all the days for it to happen, it had to be on your birthday.” Korin would remark, “And in my selfishness to surprise you with a gift, ironicall, I stopped looking at the world around me.” He’d continue, bringing a look of confusion to Rhapsody, “By the time I saw what was happening, it was too late; I thought I’d lose you and your father both, but you stood with your own power and protected him. In unleashing such incredible power however, you strained yourself and your potential was sealed. I thought all the progress we’d made throughout the years was lost, yet, despite the weakness you yourself realized you felt, you didn’t relent. You pushed through and held strong to your convictions, and it was then that I decided to leave a trial for you.” Korin would pause for a moment to down a bit more of his drink, clearing his throat from all his talking before continuing on, “Rhapsody, your encounter with the bear left you without the power to help your father, and that’s what led me to send you on a journey. And through that journey, I watched you. I watched you grow, learn, train, make relationships and become the woman you are now. And only now, do you have the power to achieve the goal you sought when you left your village, and you did so with your own strength.”

“You…”

A realization suddenly hit Rhapsody with the words Korin spoke, she might have left her village, but her training hadn’t ceased. Every encounter had been a part of her trial, and every moment of training was a necessary one if she’d hoped to have the strength worthy of the Guardian’s favor, just as she had thought, and even more impressively, just as Korin had planned.

“But, what do you mean you watched?” Rhapsody would question, her own tail swishing about curiously as she picked up on every mention Korin had made about watching from afar.

“It’s simple-” Korin began as a sharp smile stretched across his face, “The Far Seeing Arts, technique that allows me to see anything, anywhere in the world.” He’d explain, opening his eyes once more and turning his head off to the side to peer over the horizon's edge, “Like your father, laying in his bed right now, sleeping peacefully as your good lion friend checks over his condition to ensure his health.

“What!?” Rhapsody would exclaim, choking on her cookie as she stood up and slammed her hands down upon the table, “There’s -cough cough- such a technique!?” She would question, in shock before drinking her tea to clear up her coughing.

“Of course there is!” Korin would respond, “You always ask such silly questions, I said there was, didn't I? And so there is!” He’d say firmly, “But surely you knew this, you’ve been using it yourself after all. How else could someone be so aware of their surroundings and seemingly arrive at places in just the nick of time? You felt a disturbance in a forest, you went to check it out, heard the screams of the trees and prevented deforestation! You arrived in a city where you met a woman who would arrive from a portal, and did so before it even happened! You found children that were taken captive in a facility you’d never been in, peered through the illusions of my magic, and so much more! Rhapsody, after all these things you’ve been able to see, how can you NOT see that you’ve been using this technique of mine all this time!?”

Silence would fall between the two as the realization set in, leaving Rhapsody in utter disbelief. Her gaze would turn towards the side of the tower, focusing on the horizon's edge just as Korin had been doing.

“You wanted to do it when you were flying up the length of the tower, right?” Korin would say, “Focus, it’s just like what you think, you can really see your house from here.” He’d say with a laugh.

Rhapsody would approach the tower's edge and peer off into the clouds below. She found it nearly impossible to believe, but only nearly, such wasn’t enough for her to dismiss the idea from her mind entirely. She would think back to the many instances of seeing what could not be seen, feeling what would normally be impossible to feel. Her focus, her sight, her understanding and senses were all attuned in this one moment.

As she peered off towards the distance, towards a completely random direction, unsure if her village was even in that direction or not, her eyes would close, and she would see more clearly than she had before.

“D… Dad…” She would mumble as tears came to her eyes, “It’s my dad… and Aiden, they… they’re-!” She’d say, before suddenly cutting herself off and taking a deep breath.

In this singular moment, her resolve was further steeled; she didn’t care for the reasons as to why she’d be sent on the journey she had, all she knew was that her Father was still waiting for her.

“Hoho, looks like you figured it out kiddo.” Korin would say as Rhapsody wiped the tears from her eyes and turned to face him with a determined expression, “There it is, that’s the face I want to see.” He’d express as he walked over to the tower's edge and looked upwards, “Well then with that, I think it’s time for you to finish this journey. Fly above, and meet the real Guardian, the man that watches over the entire Earth itself.”