Heartskein by M.C.A. Hogarth

Author:M.C.A. Hogarth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Studio MCAH

10

Reading the Glaseahn primer was an experience balanced between wonder, heartbreak, and whimsy. The first, to see all that his people had turned their faces from so clearly explicated in a fashion that normalized its existence. Practical exercises in focus and concentration alternated with cheerful explanations of the ethical and mannerly use of the mind talents; the authors of the primer typically framed these latter sections as roleplaying exercises designed for their young audiences. “Your parents are upset at you. Should you influence their mood?” “Your best friend seems sad today, but won’t talk about it. Should you use telepathy to find out?” “Difficult topics you want to keep private should be discussed: 1. In public, with your voice. 2. In private, with your voice. 3. In public, but mind-to-mind.” It was all so matter-of-fact that it led to the heartbreak, because in a way the strictures set on Eldritch powers had been an attempt to enforce the same social courtesies. Vasiht’h would insist that the greater Eldritch abilities were a reason, if not an excuse, for the extremes to which the Eldritch took those strictures; Val would call it paranoia or laziness or a quasi-religious conspiracy to keep people afraid, depending on the day of the week. But Jahir couldn’t help wondering if things would have worked out differently had they set out to draft rules and customs and exercises for the proper use of their talents as pragmatically as the Glaseah had.

When those thoughts weighed too heavily on him, the whimsy saved him, for the girl Chendra had written all her thoughts all over the primer, including her pithy responses to the ethical scenarios: “dami would know before I even tried if I was thinking of influencing her, and I bet she’s using mind powers on me and how is that fair?” or “my best friend would want to talk to me about her problems, because isn’t that what best friend means.” Now and then, Jahir would touch the written words, feeling the dent in the paper where the childish hand had pressed with clumsy intent, and receive from the page an impression of concentration and pique and enthusiasm.

It was a precious object, in more ways than one.

The primer had been divided into sections; the first, “Etpesk, Sizht, and G’ht’j”, covered the first through third levels of mastery and were intended for early primary school children. The second section was devoted to the ‘mind apprentice’ level of mastery, called q’znth, and appeared to occupy children until they became youths and maidens. A page at the end of this section discussed the criteria that qualified one for mind-mastery, the nva’shec’k rank, and encouraged the reader to seek a mind-master in order to be tested. Jahir ran a finger over the requirements: ‘to be able to hold a conversation, mind-to-mind, with a known person over range; to be able to maintain that connection under duress; to be able to identify concrete facts in the environment of a person at range; and to be able to resist influence from a master-level power.

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