Aimless Ascension

A month has passed.

I survived somehow. Not only did I manage to keep myself in one piece, but I kept my sanity as well. Of course, I had help.

The other earthlings—Imani, Cameron, Dele the doctor and his apprentice—helped, exerting as much effort as they could spare for me, but the big winner had been the mysterious woman who came into my room and healed me.

No, not because she had a nigh angelic look. Weirdly, I couldn't recall her exact exterior, but I was sure I would be able to recognise her if I saw her the second time.

The memory of that night was still hazy, and the couple of weeks that passed hadn't made it any easier. It remained in my head like a fading dream. I wished it to be true, but no matter how much I searched, I couldn't find her.

Worse, with how delirious my situation was, I couldn't even remember all the words she had spoken to me. But I was sure she wasn't a figment of my imagination. My healed left wrist was proof of that.

Unfortunately, the evidence ended there.

It was as if she was playing hide and seek with me. And I couldn't find her. As if she was a ghost.

I even asked Imani and the others if they have seen or know anyone of the description of the girl I met.

Of course, I said nothing about the mysterious woman healing my wrist with her magical power, even though she had the slave collar on her neck. The woman was probably hiding from most people and the slavers—which was already a red flag—I acted less of a dick and kept my mouth shut.

She had no reason to help me, but she did, even showed her secret to heal me. I couldn't betray someone like her.

I just wished she would stop playing hide and seek with me. It wasn't even that much fun. Especially when I couldn't find her.

Unknowingly, I had grown an infatuation for that woman. As if she would come again and would save me from this terrible world.

As if. . .

Quoting her, I shouldn't hope for an angel to arrive at my doorstep and help me out of misery. Even though she did, helped me out of my misery.

"Find peace of mind in this insanity," I mumbled, quoting her. "Only then I will be free. Only then I'll find her."

"What are you mumbling about?" Cameron asked, wiping sweat from his face.

We were taking a break from mining. There were still a couple of hours left for the collection. Thankfully, both of us met the quota and hoped to earn some hand change with extra work.

Obviously, the slavers would never give honest wages for our labour. Well, only fools would give honest wages to slaves. This was just nothing but a ploy to make us work harder.

Well, we are doing it, knowing everything.

"Cam," I called the former accountant, "when you know meditation is working for you?"

Cameron lifted his head to shoot me a look. "You still with the notion that meditation will make you wield magic?"

"Just give me an answer if you know," I said with an annoying tone.

"Well, I'm not sure." the former accountant hummed in contemplation. "I guess you'll know it when you achieve something."

"What kind of fuck'd up answer is that?" I snorted. "It ain't like pissing in bed at night and waking up in the stink. Meditation is something spiritual. How do I know if I achieved anything in that?"

Cameron chuckled. "Your tone tells me you have achieved nothing as of yet."

I shot him a glare. He did have a point that I couldn't deny.

I had been trying to meditate for a few hours every day, even though my body was painstakingly tired most of the time after work. So far the only change I noticed was in my breathing.

It certainly had got better and helped me tremendously with my work. However, I was looking for something more spiritual.

Peace, to be exact.

"I'm surprised, though," Cameron said. "I thought spirituality and meditation are things you're knowledgeable about."

"Not really," I answered. "I was put through a few meditative lessons when I was young, but I was too dumb to understand or even remember anything. Most of the time, I fell asleep. It was at that time my mum decided, it ain't for me."

How much I wish she had forced it on me now!

"Then, my friend, you're in trouble if you want to wield magic power through meditations."

I winced. "It was five in the morning," I complained. "Anyway, you know nothing about it?"

"Unfortunately, no, I never had the privilege of being introduced to meditation," the former accountant said. "I know a little yoga and breathing exercises, but nothing about enlightening oneself."

"I kind of hoped you'd know something. You being almost twice my age, you should have thrice of my experience in life."

Cameron blinked, staring blankly at my face. "Twice your age?" he repeated, his expression a bit dark. "I'm only thirty-five."

Now it was my turn to be surprised. "Really?" I said, "I thought you just touched thirty or in the early thirties. You certainly kept your shape well."

"That I did. Wait." Cameron frowned. "Gale, don't tell me. If I'm twice your age, that will you a minor?"

"Nah, bloke, I'm a miner," I laughed, "for all that good it did us, you're one too."

Cameron clicked his tongue, as he didn't appreciate my pun.

"As for your question, no, I'm not," I said. "I'm in my late teens, though."

"Eighteen or nineteen?"

"Will it change anything?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Probably not," the former accountant said.

"Well, I had my birthday a couple of months ago, so, I'm pretty young to be slaving away my life." I sighed as I said that.

"Has anyone ever told you your mentality is a few years older than your age?"

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A big thanks to Quietfuzzball_8 for the great review.