TS: Second brightening Optia, Summer, Era II, XIV (pf)
Before the rise of the first sun, just before the gods of Aetheria retook the sky from the Aeternians, a young kemite awoke from a fitful sleep and sat up on his bed mat. Sweat beaded down his forehead and his heart was pounding hard in his chest. He grasped desperately for the tail end of the nightmarish phantasms, yet the dreams which had thrown him into this panic had fled from his mind the moment his dark eyes had shot open. No matter how frantically he tried, he couldn't force his unconscious last thoughts back into his conscious and he eventually gave up, as with many mornings previous.
Rather than focus on his failure to bring the images into his mind, Satyata entered what many called the 'Lotus' position and began his meditation. He willed his heart to slow, forced his body to cool, and conjured up what appeared to be a flickering white candle flame. He fed all thoughts, fears, worries, and emotions into the flame. With each item piled on, the fire grew. Starting as a dancing, dying spit of light and gradually becoming a raging blaze. In short moments the brilliant balefire consumed all things conscious, died, and left him with nothing but pure serenity.
Nothingness shattered with the crisp toll of a bell. Eyelids cracked open ever-so-slightly, then jumped to fully agape as he realized what that signaled. With all he could muster, he flew out the door and sprinted toward the training hall. A disapproving glance from one of the Sunn Monks slowed his pace, but he could not bring himself to simply walk. He jumped over several plants in the garden and almost stumbled as he reached his destination. It took him a moment to realize that he had forgotten his sandals, but he shrugged this off and opted to simply wipe his feet outside before entering.
He glanced twice in each direction before getting to his knees and bending to place his forehead on the floor, hands palm down to each side of his head. "I come to expand my knowledge and learn to better live within my own body, Master Kimsan. If you will guide me."