Page 79 of Magic in My Bones

There was something deeply calming in their words. I felt myself relax a little, like maybe there was a way to untangle the knots in my own mind. “That sounds... nice,” I said, a little unsure but open to it.

Dorian stepped over to the kettle and poured tea into two mugs. “It’s helpful for me when I feel out of alignment. And I think, Ren, you could probably benefit from a session with Rowan if you feel comfortable with it. You’ve been dealing with a lot.”

I stared at the tea in my hands, its warmth offering some comfort against the storm swirling inside me. I hadn’t realized how much I might need something like this until Dorian had mentioned it.

Rowan’s gaze was steady, patient. “There’s no rush,” they said, their tone soft and understanding. “You don’t need to make a decision now. Just take your time. If you’d like, we can start with something simple, a brief check-in to see where you’re at emotionally and energetically. Nothing overwhelming, just a little exploration.”

Dorian settled back in the chair beside me, his presence grounding. “Sometimes it’s good to just... get a sense of where you are, without trying to fix anything yet. We can take it one step at a time.” His voice was steady, warm. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but you don’t have to go through this alone, Ren.”

I felt the weight of Dorian’s words. My throat tightened, but this time, it wasn’t from fear. It was from something else. Maybe... hope?

“I guess it wouldn't hurt,” I said, more to myself than to them. My mind was still racing, but something about Rowan's calm energy made me want to take a step, even if it was just a small one. Maybe this was what I needed. Not another spell or protection charm, but someone who could help me find my way back to myself.

Rowan gave a small nod, as if they'd expected my response. "Good," they said gently. "Have a seat."

27

Unraveling

Ren

I settled into theworn leather armchair, the warmth of the cottage fire at my back. Steam curled from the forgotten tea beside me as I watched Rowan prepare, their movements unhurried and deliberate.

"Let's start with something simple," they said, their voice soft as morning mist. "Just focus on your breath for a moment, and let the rest of the world fade away."

As Rowan reached for their satchel, Eko materialized beside them, each of her nine tails delicately holding different magical implements from a silver bell to crystals and various herbs. The familiar arranged them with precise care, creating a pattern that somehow made perfect sense even though I couldn't explain why. “Eko helps me align the energies,” Rowan explained, noticing my fascination. “She can see the patterns of emotional energy even more clearly than I can.”

As Rowan held up the bell, it made a soft, harmonious chime that seemed to fill the room with a gentle vibration. The soundwas calming, almost otherworldly, and I found myself drawn into it, my mind growing quieter with each chime.

“Listen to the sound,” Rowan continued, their voice steady, “and let it help you clear the fog. Let it draw your attention inward, to the center of yourself.”

I closed my eyes, the sound of the bell echoing in my chest, soothing the chaotic thoughts that had been swirling there. It was like the chimes had a weight to them, pulling me into a stillness I hadn’t known I needed.

Rowan then set the bell aside and reached into their satchel again. This time, they pulled out a small, soft feather that was light as air, with delicate edges. They held it between their fingers, the feather gliding in the air with a movement that was both graceful and deliberate.

“Now,” they said, their voice lowering slightly, “I’m going to read your energy. The feather will help guide me, feel the way the energy shifts around you. I won’t touch you, but I want you to imagine the space between us widening, as if you and I are connected by a thread, a fine line of energy. Just trust the process, Ren.”

I nodded, my breath slowing as I focused on the feather. The air around me seemed to hum, faintly, as if charged with an unseen current. My body felt lighter, almost as if it were floating, and I couldn’t help but wonder if this was how it felt to let go, to release the weight of everything pressing on me.

Rowan moved the feather gently through the air, their fingers following its path as it swayed back and forth. The movement felt hypnotic, like a slow dance between their energy and mine. As they did, I felt an odd pull inside, like something deep within me was being coaxed to the surface, uncovered.

“I can feel the weight of the energy around you,” Rowan said quietly, their voice like a soft murmur. “There’s tension, especially around your chest and shoulders. Some fear, somedoubt. But there’s also strength, latent, waiting to come forward.”

The pressure in my chest eased slightly, the tension softening as Rowan's voice seemed to fill the space between us.

“The feather is picking up the flow of your energy,” Rowan explained softly, their eyes meeting mine. “We can guide it, loosen it, let it move freely. All the old imprints, the weights you carry, they don’t need to stay. You can let them go.”

The room seemed to grow still, save for the faint sound of the feather's movement. I focused on my breath, on Rowan’s voice, and the gentle motion of the feather that swayed in the air as if it were brushing against the very fabric of my thoughts.

“Let the energy move,” Rowan whispered. “Let it be released.”

The room hummed with the quiet power of Rowan’s words, like an invisible current sweeping through the space between us. I breathed in deeply, the rhythm slow and deliberate, feeling the weight of each breath anchor me further into the moment. My mind was still racing, but the fog was starting to clear, as if the sound of the bell and the gentle dance of the feather were unraveling the knots in my psyche I hadn’t realized were there.

Eko moved silently around us as Rowan worked, her nine tails weaving through the air in synchronized movements that seemed to guide and strengthen the energy flow. Occasionally, one of her tails would brush against my arm or shoulder, each touch feeling like a gentle reassurance.

Rowan’s gaze never wavered, their eyes calm but focused as they guided the feather in slow, deliberate arcs. Each movement felt more like an invitation than a command, like Rowan was offering me the space to release whatever I had been holding onto without fear of judgment.

I felt a warmth spread through my chest, almost like the tension that had been there for so long was finally loosening. My shoulders, which had been so tight just moments before, feltless burdened, as though they could relax without the weight of expectation or fear.

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