Simon Fayter and the King Alone by Austin J. Bailey

Author:Austin J. Bailey [Bailey, Austin J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Action & Adventure, Boys, Fantasy, Friendship, Magic, Science Fiction, Space-Travel, Young Adult
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2021-01-22T05:00:00+00:00

The days were long, the settings picturesque. Each branch of the tree led to its own small world and—each wizard having different tastes—each world was different from the next. Xerith’s branch led to a tiny cottage nestled in the woods beside a duck pond. Rellik’s branch led to a single hammock floating alone above the clouds, lit by an eternal pink sunrise (he had to set up a second hammock for me when I visited). Jukaitus’s land was all underground caves, cool reflected light, and the echoing sound of water.

They only had one thing to teach me, it seemed. I had misunderstood Rellik when he said that they would be turning their attention to opening my soul cell. What he meant was they would teach me how to do it.

“I am not being difficult,” Xerith explained on our very first day.

We were sitting beside the duck pond with our legs folded beneath us like Tibetan monks.

“It is like exercise. No one can do it for you. Can I make you exercise?”

“You could tie me to a horse cart.”

“Ah, yes! And so I shall. But I cannot make you run. You could choose to drag your feet, or let your whole body scrape upon the ground. You are in luck, though. Opening the soul cell—the eye, it is also called, and the door, and the way—is very simple, as Cilvoe alluded to yesterday. The soul cell is the gate to the soul body that Hawk spoke to you of. He called it the seat of power, though that is not the most accurate description. Opening the way is simple. It is the path with only one step. The question with only one answer. The door with only one handle.”

“The burger with only one slice of cheese?”

“No!” He held up his finger and began to move it in a slow circle, so that I couldn’t help but follow it with my eyes. “Attention. Attention, Simon, is the great power with which all beings are endowed. Attention! It is the only thing you can truly control, for of course, it is the only thing that is truly you.”

“But…my thoughts—”

“Your thoughts arise out of your mind. They come and go. You are not your thoughts. Feelings arise and pass away, like the flow of magic itself. You are not them either. You are the one choosing where to shine the light of attention. You kill thoughts or give them life, douse emotions or set them aflame, summon magic and give it form, all by directing your attention.”

“But…I don’t even think about what I am giving attention to most of the time. I’m just going with the flow.”

“Yes. You are asleep. We will wake you. You must give your whole attention to locating the soul cell within you. That is the first step. Then you must give your whole attention to feeling the soul cell. That is also the first step.”

“But—”

“No buts, Simon.” He gave me a sly grin. “We are all very old here. Our butts, mostly gone.

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