[ WP ] If you meditate , you can tap into power from another dimension that can temporarily make you stronger , faster , smarter , or a plethora of other effects . You decide to use this power for good , but the source dimension is a dark one , so meditation always comes with dark temptations .

The sound of the ruler cracking hard against knuckles broke through the otherwise serene garden. It woke Talavus with a start, jerking his hands back from the edge of the platform. Elder Epiu glared down at him and Talavus curled his hands into fists. 
 
 He straightened, his knees aching and face burning with shame. He bowed his head, `` I beg your forgiveness Holy Elder.'' 
 
 She slapped him hard across the face with the ruler and he felt his lip split. He took the full brunt of the blow, knowing it would be worse if he flinched. `` Novice Samalus, pray tell, what a fitting punishment for Soother Talavus would be,'' she did n't turn around to look at Talavus's brother seated in the rows of other students. 
 
 Sam's answer was immediate, `` Since he failed to preform his duty, he should commit to sing until his throat bleeds or be expelled from the shrine.'' Talavus was n't surprised, Sam did n't want him there. 
 
 `` Soother Talavus, I think that's fair. Sing or return home. We all have choices,'' she turned back around to face the class. She knew very well that the second option was n't at all an option for Talavus. He may as well go straight to the nearest slave markets instead of bothering to make a detour back home. So, he opened his mouth and began to sing. 
 
 He honestly did n't even remember falling asleep. He shook his head a little, he needed to focus on his duties even more. Elder Epiu was waiting for him to bring the class back down. He cleared his mind and focused on the melody. 
 
 `` Soother Talavus, I need the red notes for strength, we've already lost daylight,'' Elder Epiu reminded him. He paused and took a drink of water, clearing his throat and singing the soft notes, not focusing on a particular song. The lines finally became clear as his third eye opened. He reached forward, tuning his vocal chords to the red notes, then quickly weaving and tying the strings, dancing them into the foreheads of the gathered students. He saw some of their third eyes partially open, but none of them were quite to the stage where they saw more than a man chirping while waving his hands around. 
 
 Until then, they'd need Talavus to even get close to their potential. Elder Epiu reached forward and stopped the string from going to Sam, glancing back and shaking his head. Talavus tried very hard not to question, just pulling the string back and shoving it down into himself. 
 
 He eased into a traditional chant to set all the students at ease. It did n't matter what he chose, but them being relaxed was as much part of his duty as a Soother. As many other Soothers, he'd been born with his third eye open and was a gigantic embarrassment to his entire family. 
 
 The fact they were identical had irked Sam since they were children. Always getting confused for a freak and not the heir to a powerful Sage. 
 
 Talavus did n't lose much sleep over that. 
 
 He twisted one of the strings back more securely as one student almost dislodged it from her forehead. As much as this was their doorway to the other dimension, it was also their lifeline. Talavus always wondered, when they shoved him around or heckled him, if they knew how much power they placed in his hands. 
 
 They went to seek their strength now. In the evening, there would be fights among the novices. It would be a display of what they had learned before they went home for a break. Talavus would watch from the sidelines and hope he was not the Chosen this year. 
 
 He glanced at the back of Elder Epiu's head. Was n't it time for Talavus to begin tugging them back? He glanced over at Sam and saw frustration written all over his face from being unable to properly connect. 
 
 The lines stayed steady until his voice cracked. His heart thrummed faster as he watched a bubble of blackness start to race down the line. He'd never sung for this long before and had only studied how to correct discordant notes. He fanned his hands out and took a deep breath, holding a long note as he tied off the blackness and pulled them back, tricking it onto a line all on its own that did n't lead anywhere. 
 
 He would have let out a sigh of relief if he could. Elder Epiu glanced back at Talavus and he began to pull them back, reeling in the song and all their notes. He ended it with white notes to dissipate the bubble of chaos aimlessly floating around. Finally, he stopped singing, glugging down the rest of his water immediately. 
 
 It was almost dusk. `` You're all dismissed,'' Elder Epiu waved her hands. They knew that they'd have to rely on whatever they'd found in the other dimension for tonight. He saw Sam still looking down, angry, as the other students cleared the garden. Elder Epiu shook her head at Talavus. `` Do not ever let that happen again.'' That was all the warning she needed to give before she, too, departed. 
 
 A blob of rainbow and black chaos approached Talavus on his right. He tilted his head to the side in confusion until it reached forward and Talavus felt the physical sensation of his third eye being forcibly closed. Cotta gave a breezy laugh and let her touch linger for just a bit too long. `` You forgot to close it. Did you even see much more than all the chaos I broke today?'' 
 
 Talavus rubbed his cheeks to hide his embarrassment. `` We just got done. I was about to do it.'' He was trying not to let his eyes rest too long on the chest she was generously presenting. He never tried to take a Healer's flirting too seriously. It's just how they acted. Sam seemed to finally notice Cotta and stood up, jogging over. 
 
 It was like all his frustration had drained and been replaced by bubbling optimism. `` Cotta, hey, how are you?'' 
 
 Did Talavus look that stupid around girls he liked? `` Oh, I'm just fine,'' she giggled, leaning closer to Sam and pinching one of his cheeks. `` Look at you! You've finally grown your hair out as long as Talavus. Now you two really *do* look the same. Cute.'' 
 
 He really had n't been expecting Cotta to answer his thoughts. He wondered if she was reading his mind again. She smiled and winked at Talavus in response. No wonder she'd closed his third eye. `` Cotta, we're nineteen,'' Talavus complained. He was really complaining about the mind reading, but soothers and healers tried not to talk about that around other people. She'd get it. Because he was thinking it at her really loudly. 
 
 `` I was going to cut it again when I was back home,'' Talavus knew Sam was lying. 
 
 `` Oh,'' she booed, fussing with a lock of Sam's hair, `` how disappointing. It looks so nice. You'll break a million hearts Samalus Velenca.'' 
 
 `` Maybe I wo n't, I was just thinking about it,'' Sam began, `` If you really think it looks good, then I'll let it keep growing.'' He gave her what Talavus knew was supposed to be something passing for charming. 
 
 Talavus started to collect his supplies. He was n't going to watch his brother failing to impress someone whose job it was to be impressed. Cotta cut off one of her real laughs and faded it into a giggle. `` Good! Now, get along. There's a whole ceremony for you to prepare for and Healer Attectius sent me to collect him for his impressive display this afternoon.'' 
 
 He paused. Sam nodded, `` Maybe I can collect a kiss on my sword from you?'' He trailed off, looking hopeful. 
 
 She gave him a gentle smile. `` Maybe, now shoo,'' she gestured and Sam swaggered off looking like he'd won a million coin. 
 
 Cotta turned her attention on Talavus with a frown. `` Tius is really fond of you, Talavus,'' her tone was gentle. 
 
 `` No.'' He knew what was coming. `` I will *not* be a wh --'' he cut himself off before he said it. Talavus saw the disappointment filling her eyes. The same way his parents looked at him. 
 
 She sighed. `` We're not just -- Talavus, being a healer would cement your position here. What will you do if you fall asleep again and get kicked out? Sell yourself into slavery or die on the streets?'' Her voice rose an octave higher and Talavus cringed back. He hated yelling, his third eye always partially opened to it and the black masses of chaos never got easier to look at. `` Those are your options! If you're not planning on dying, then -- Talavus you'll end up as a *whore* anyway. Better to submerge yourself in pretty nobles than -- than --'' She could n't bring herself to say it, breathing heavily. 
 
 His mouth thinned. It was the same argument his parents had given him, with considerably more judgement, when his eighteenth birthday present was being told he was no longer a Velenca. The kindness, they thought, was sending him to the shrine and raising him; for only reminding him he could honorably commit suicide and be buried in the family crypts *once*. He forced himself to relax his fists at his sides. She was saying this because she cared about him, he needed to remember that. `` I do n't even remember falling asleep,'' he said quietly. 
 
 Cotta blinked, then narrowed her eyes. Her whole demeanor shifted to alert, away from the frustration of before. `` Did you get too close to the other dimension?'' 
 
 He ran a hand through his hair. `` Maybe? I do n't know, Cotta, it was like I blacked out. I used to do it a lot as a kid, but not since I started singing regularly.'' 
 
 `` Strange,'' she murmured, thoughtful. `` Tius will know more, of course, than I do, but he wants to talk you into doing the Choosing this year, so,'' she trailed off and Talavus realized with a jolt that she'd followed all of the messy family drama he'd thought about. `` I'll stop now,'' she supplied politely. He nodded. 
 
 `` So, it's not,'' he paused, `` normal?'' 
 
 She shook her head, `` I do n't know, Talavus. I've never met an active soother who has blackouts, but I do n't heal soothers. That's Tius's jobs. So, it could be they just do n't talk about it.'' 
 
 He sighed, of course there was never an easy answer. 
 
 -- - 
 
 More soon if I decide I want to write or people are curious about where this is going.
