Warrior Genius by Michael Dante DiMartino

Author:Michael Dante DiMartino
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

22

LAMENT FOR THE LOST

“To get to the root of your fear, you must first sit with it,” Guru Yaday said.

Giacomo sat cross-legged in the grass opposite his new teacher, who had taken him into the gardens to meditate, hoping the fresh air would help clear his mind. But Giacomo was replaying his awkward encounter with Milena in his head. He had wanted to tell her more about his studies with Yaday, but she still seemed hurt about being replaced as his teacher. He figured she would disapprove anyway, so Giacomo had hurried away before she had been able to question him further.

Yaday picked up a small, two-headed drum that had a bead tethered to each side. As he spun the drum’s long handle, the stones beat out a steady rhythm, and Giacomo’s distracted thoughts immediately began to settle. “Breathe in … Breathe out…” Yaday said gently.

Giacomo closed his eyes and repeatedly traced the five sides of a shimmering pentagon, attempting to find focus and calm. Yaday had taught Giacomo a little about the pentagon—a symbol of the pentad—and how it was the most spiritual of all the forms because it urged the meditator to move away from the material world and tap into the infinite world within. Or something like that. Giacomo still didn’t grasp all of what Yaday had said, but if picturing a pentagon would help him deal with his fears, he was willing to give it a try.

The problem was, his imaginary line kept trailing off, squiggling this way and that. Giacomo re-formed the pentagon over and over until, finally, its shiny surface cast back his own image. He thought he was getting somewhere, but then his reflection began to transform—his skin turned marble white and his hair shortened, then his body sprouted two more arms and two more legs. The reflection lunged forward, shattering the pentagon.

Giacomo gasped, startling himself from his meditation.

“What did you see this time?” Yaday asked.

Giacomo reached out his finger so Mico could land on it. He stroked the tuft of hair that sprouted from the top of his Genius’s crown. “Someone I’ve been trying to forget.”

“A friend?”

“His name is Zanobius,” Giacomo said. “He’s also a Tulpa.”

Giacomo wished Zanobius was with him now, and not only because two Tulpas against Vrama would be better than one. Zanobius was the only one in the world who could truly understand what Giacomo was going through.

“Another Nirmita?” Yaday said, sounding surprised. “Why didn’t he come to Rachana with you?”

Giacomo explained the violent events that had led to Zanobius’s departure. “Even though it was Zanobius’s decision to leave, Milena and Savino wanted him gone,” Giacomo said.

“And you’re afraid they’ll turn on you, like they did on Zanobius?” Yaday asked.

As soon as Yaday said it, Giacomo realized the truth in the guru’s words. “I guess I’m scared I’m going to end up alone again,” Giacomo admitted.

“I understand,” Yaday said. “Now, settle your breathing, and sit with that fear some more.”

But the meditation was cut short when a pained whinny pierced the air, sending a chill through Giacomo.

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