Safe Space

I don't know where the voices in my head are coming from, or how I understand their strange words. But one thing I do know is that there are many secrets about myself that I have yet to uncover. It seems that this journey with Lena will be full of surprises.

I looked at her and smiled cautiously, not responding to her words. I was distracted by the words I had read on the wall.

"It seems that behind these walls there is a great treasure," she said.

I nodded. I was intrigued, but also apprehensive.

Lena looked at me and said, "Let's go."

We started walking forward, our footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. The walls were cold and damp, and the air was thick with dust.

Soon, we came to a large iron cell. It was about the size of a small room, and it was filled with a variety of traps and obstacles.

"I've been here before," Lena said. "But two out from the five people who entered here with me didn't make it out."

My heart skipped a beat. "Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked.

Lena smiled. "I'm sure," she said. "But we need to be careful."

She put her hand on a prominent button on the wall and said, bowing her head, "When you press this button, a series of arrows will be shot at you at different times. You need to be quick and agile to avoid them."

I took a deep breath and nodded.

Lena pressed the button, and a loud clang echoed through the hallway. Suddenly, a series of arrows shot out from the walls and ceiling, flying at us at lightning speed.

Lena lifted herself up with surprising speed, and I barely caught myself in time. I felt myself falling like a ragdoll, but at the last second, I managed to regain my balance.

"You don't know how to use your grace to sense danger?!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the dark chamber.

Before I could say anything, she barked, "Jump!"

I reacted instinctively, leaping into the air. The arrows flew past me, so close that I could feel the wind of their passing on my skin.

I landed gracefully on my feet, and turned to see Lena lying on the ground, her head cradled in her hands.

"Damn it," she muttered. "How did your tribe allow you to come to this tower when you don't even know the basics?"

She raised her head and looked at me with piercing blue eyes. "I must first train you in how to sense your surroundings," she said.

She turned off the light that came from her hammer, and the chamber was plunged into darkness.

"Don't use your eyes," she said.

I closed my eyes, and the world around me disappeared.

"Grace is energy, as I told you before," Lena's voice said out of the darkness. "And energy is something we can use in the way we want. In the world, grace is everything."

Some may believe that grace is simply a matter of physical endowment, but the truth is far more complex. It is the ability to harness and control the energy that flows within us, to direct it with purpose and precision.

As Lena spoke, a ball of pure light began to form between us, its brilliance illuminating the darkness. It was a manifestation of her grace, a testament to her mastery of this ethereal force.

"Control is key," she said, her voice calm and assured. "Too much water without drainage will flood the land, rendering it useless. But a small stream, carefully channeled, can bring life to an entire village."

She reached out and touched my shoulder, her fingers sending a tingling sensation through my body. "Those with grace do not need eyes to see," she whispered. "Our grace acts as our sensors, sending out waves that allow us to perceive the world around us in ways that others cannot."

I closed my eyes and concentrated, trying to tap into the wellspring of grace within me. I imagined a wave of light emanating from my body, surrounding me in a protective aura.

At first, it was difficult, but with Lena's guidance, I began to gain control. The light wave grew stronger and more vibrant, until I could feel its warmth and power coursing through my veins.

"Excellent!" Lena exclaimed, her voice filled with pride

I felt a surge of pride. I had finally learned to control my grace.

"Now," Lena said, "let's try something new."

She led me to a nearby wall and placed her hand on it. I could feel her grace flowing through the wall, and I saw a faint image of what was on the other side.

"This is how we can see beyond walls," she said. "Our grace allows us to sense the world around us in ways that others cannot."

I placed my hand on the wall and began to implement Lena's teachings. I felt my grace flowing through me, passing through the barrier and revealing what lay beyond.

To my astonishment, I saw a group of strange creatures carrying swords and weapons. I recoiled in surprise, but Lena laughed and said, "Well done!"

"Most warriors create a safe space around themselves to avoid danger," she explained. "The distance of this space increases as you and your grace develop."

"Today, we will continue to practice using your grace in this way," Lena said. "Tomorrow, we will begin the test. Once we start, there is no turning back."

*****************

In the rabbit palace

 a shadowy figure moved through the darkness, carrying a large bag. The figure had an evil smile on its face as it approached one of the huts.