The Apprentice by Pent Ghelsburg
Disclaimer: All characters in this story are fictional. They are my creation and intellectual property. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely a coincidence. They are not meant to resemble anyone else's characters. This piece contains underaged characters. Some details have been fictionalized for simplicity sakes. You have been warned.
Time is often fleeting. A wind that cannot be stopped nor can it be avoided. The constant breeze that is an ever-flowing motion leading toward tomorrow is ever-lasting. One must do what they can to prepare for the inevitable. For what is today….if one cannot prepare for the possibilities of tomorrow. Yet while preparation is key, it is best to live life to the fullest and not let the worries of what may be to come weigh one down.
Miraj had been tossing and turning the entire night. The possibility of him becoming Oracle was something that did not sit well with him. The idea that he could ascend to the position was something he had never considered. In his mind, he hoped that the Vizier was mistaken. That someone else could be chosen instead. After all, Miraj was still young and he still hadn't seen as much of the world as he wanted to.
The morning came before long with the blazing hot sun peering through his window pane. He yawned groggily as he looked outside. A dust storm seemed to be passing through the area as brown dirt was scattering across the wind around his home. The pooka picked himself up from bed and dragged himself out of it. Wiping his eyes brought him no amount of solace. He felt as if the weight of the world was upon him.
The teen made his way out of his room, not bothering to change out of his pajamas. After all…he knew that the Vizier's cronies would likely show up at his doorstep. He knew he likely didn't have much time before that happened. The rabbit made his way to the kitchen to make himself something to eat. He hoped that a bit of food would settle still ever-present anxiety. He began making himself some fruit and granola.
Miraj was all too eager to eat, taking a sip from the jug of juice that he'd squeezed a few days prior. As he was eating the food, he heard a knock at the door. The pooka's heart sank as he assumed the worst. Yet he knew there was no avoiding it. Taking a small bite of his food before picking up the bowl he'd placed it in, he made his way to the door. Opening it he was greeted by the two jackal guards who served the Vizier.
"Good morrow, we hope you find well this fine morning." The larger of the two jackals held a moon staff which Miraj recognized as the Oracle's former signet.
The rabbit hesitated before responding. "It goes well enough. I suppose you are here for the Rites of Ascension?"
"We are. But we thought you might like to know that we have found another more senior member of the court to take up the role." The smaller jackal stood in a relaxed pose.
Miraj seemed surprised but he wasn't about to complain. "Oh? There is no problem with that. I was not ready to take the post just yet anyway."
"We figured that was the case. Still, we require your presence at the ceremony at high noon. Please come so you may meet the new Oracle." The bigger dog popped the staff off the ground making a light but muffled thud.
The teen nodded. "Most certainly. Count me in. Now if you excuse me…I must finish my daily tasks before this."
The two jackals gave him a stern look before making their exit from the front of his home. Miraj felt a huge sense of relief as he now knew that he would no longer be Oracle. Still…he couldn't help but be curious who it could be. Part of him thought it would be some figurehead personally picked by the Vizier. Time would tell if that was the case. He decided it was an issue that could be ignored for now.
He went back to the kitchen to finish his meal. Eating much more eagerly now than before since there wasn't nearly as much on his mind. Miraj chowed down on his food, eager to begin his day anew. The possibilities seemed endless as the weight of responsibility no longer weighed as heavily upon him. The teen decided that after breakfast he would get dressed and head to the bazaar.
Miraj rushed back to his room. The relief he felt overpowered any lingering sense of fatigue he felt. He changed into his Apprentice's robes so that he did not have to change later and covered his head with a turban in case the dirt storm became worse later. The pooka put on his shoes before heading outside. The moment he got outside the door the swirling sand caused him to squint in hopes of it not getting in his eyes. He pushed his way forward exiting from his home and locking the door behind him.
The rabbit made his way to the Bazaar. The town market was at the center of Karbad. Once he was outside the pooka got used to the dirt spinning around him. After all, it was something he was used to since he'd lived in the area for much of his life. He continued making his way down the thin town streets, avoiding the few wagons and caravans that pushed their way through the roads. Before long he could hear the raucous noise of people chitter chattering a short distance away.
The bazaar was often the busiest part of town. On both sides of the street were vendors that lined up in tents, pavilions, and booths to purvey their goods to potential customers. It was the only part of town where horse or camel-led traffic was not permitted. Miraj entered into it, making his way under the large cloth banner that indicated this was a market. He sniffed a bit as he picked up the various aromas of fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables that were all around him.
Miraj made his way into the bazaar. He had been here plenty of times in the past but each time he went, there was always something new. Though the place had reoccurring vendors and exhibits, a small portion of them were designed to allow smaller merchants a chance at offering their goods to the public. Sometimes there were even foreigners who found their way to the town and they often sold much more exotic and expensive luxuries.
The pooka began looking around for something that might interest him. Smoke pillared up into the air as he passed by a small incense shop. Soon coming onto a weapon and combat equipment. Yet, none of this interested him. Miraj knew he didn't have much spare money to spend and he was hoping he could find a sweets shop or something similar. Eventually, he came across a small bakery with a large wooden stove sitting near the back.
The rabbit approached it. An old leopard woman stood at the small table. She waved him over once she realized the Pooka was coming towards her. Miraj brought himself to the table and looked down. All sorts of baked goods were laid out before him; Pastries, donuts, cakes, cookies, and a few items he didn't recognize.
"Welcome, what can I interest you in?" The woman's voice was raspy and low in tone.
Miraj pointed at the raspberry-filled cookie. "I would like that please."
"Certainly." She wrapped it up in some paper and handed it to him.
The rabbit pulled out a few coins and paid her. "Thank you."
She bowed slightly as Miraj walked away eating his treat. The sweet taste of the raspberry filling mixed with the savory taste of the cookie itself was nothing short of delectable. Miraj continued to walk around for a time looking at the various stands, though he didn't see any that sparked his interest. Soon he came onto a stand with a language he didn't understand. A red dragon fellow stood underneath wearing silk robes that covered much of his scale body.
The rabbit made his way over to it. The lizard looked over at the rabbit. He had a smaller sand cat standing next to him. The large dragon began speaking in a language that the teen did not understand, as he spoke the cat began translating.
"Greetings, Foreigner. What brings you to my shop?" The sand cat wore similar garments to her master.
Miraj looked over towards them. "I'm just looking around."
The woman began translating again after the pooka spoke. The teen began looking around at the various items. A few jade statues and turtle shell scrolls were scattered about. The biggest item is an ivory statue of a dragon. Miraj had never seen the stuff before but he assumed it came from the far east. Of course, the prices on all of it were way out of his price range.
"Thank you, your items are very interesting." The rabbit walked away and went back the way he came.
The pooka started to head out of the bazaar, finishing whatever was left of the cookie he bought. He wiped his snout and began heading towards the Ziggurat. He wasn't certain what time it was but he figured he could start his way over and cool down at the communal wash area. Miraj began the trek following along the adobe houses lining the streets of Karbad. Some of the street vendors offering food tried to get his attention but he was no longer hungry.
Miraj arrived at the communal wash area before long. It was fenced in with a small awning overtop it to provide some shade. The fence split into two paths with signs indicating one half for the males and the other half for females. He proceeded into the men's section of the fence and made his way back. Entering into it he could see some of the other men and boys of the community out and about.
The communal bathhouse was the only pool of water in the entire town and had to be refilled every so often so it didn't empty. After all the arid heat of the desert made rather quick work of most bodies of water. The rabbit headed over to the water. Several wooden benches lined the side of it with furs disrobing themselves to take a dip. He took off his robe and clothing, getting down to his underwear before stepping inside. Miraj cooled himself down a bit, feeling relaxed the moment he stepped inside.
The pooka remained there for some time, emerging himself entirely in the water and allowing his worries to melt away. After a while of just relaxing and lazing about, Miraj got up to dry himself off. Some nearby towels were provided so he dried himself and did what he could with his underwear. Though he knew it would dry rather quickly in the arid environment so he wasn't that worried about it.
The rabbit dried himself
off and got back into his robes. His underwear was still moist but he didn't mind it much since he figured it would keep him cooler. Miraj made his way back out of the bathhouse and started to make his way towards the Ziggurat of the Standing Sun. Its large stepped structure was visible in the distance. He took a deep breath as he made his approach towards the building.
Miraj arrived at the ziggurat before long. The familiar steps to the peak still sparked a sense of anxiety in him. He knew he wasn't to become the Oracle but even still he wasn't sure what to expect. Still, he knew he had to attend as he relied on the money the job provided him and he had no alternative sources of income. He began the slow and steady climb up the ramp to the top of the Ziggurat.
At the top, he found the place to be decorated. Colorful ribbons were hung across the various green life that dotted the spire of the Ziggurat. Several large ornaments were strung along some of the branches, each of them representing a member of the Persian Zodiac. In the distance, he could see the Vizier and the two crony jackals that always hung out with him. Standing next to the tall vizier was another person, one whom Miraj did not know.
Looking at him, the boy was a jerboa who didn't look to be any older than himself. He was small and frail, carrying the staff which was far too large for him. The rodent had visible buck teeth sticking out from his mouth. Miraj couldn't help but stare at him for a moment. The vizier's cronies had told him they had chosen someone who was his senior. The rabbit assumed there was no way this small child was the Orator's replacement.
The vizier soon spotted Miraj from where he was standing. The older man called him over, waving to him to join the group. The two jackals remained at his side, each of them carrying a weapon just in case something was to happen. The pooka made his way over to where they were joining the rest of them. He realized just how small the jerboa boy was as the cub came just up to his shoulders.
"Greetings, Apprentice. Today is a joyous day is it not?" The vizier spoke with a broad chest as if proud of the selection she made.
Miraj looked at the tall woman and nodded. "I suppose this is the boy that has been appointed as Orator?"
"Indeed. As you can see the boy is but a sprouting. He is the only heir to the Orator's family. We thought it would be fitting to pick him as her successor." She patted the small boy on his shoulder.
The rabbit gazed back at the small rodent. "Are you certain a child can uphold the responsibilities of the Oracle?"
"This is not just any child, dear Apprentice. He is gifted with foresight. With your guidance, we believe can become a worthy successor to the Oracle." The vizier smirked at the pooka knowing full well he couldn't turn down the request no matter how daunting it was.
The teen hesitated before answering. "You want me to…train him? But I know nothing of the role of Orator."
"You shall indeed be entrusted with his tutelage. The child will not be expected to stay here as her eminence did. Instead, we think it wise that he learns the way of the world from one who has already experienced it." The older woman remained stern and straight-faced.
Miraj had no idea what to do with the situation. "I suppose I don't have a choice but you know…it's not like I'm that experienced myself."
"Ah, but we have thought about this. We think it wise for you two to grow and mature together. You can be the Oracle's right-hand man if it pleases you. His advisor. Does this sound enticing?" The vizier's eyes sparkled against the sun as she leaned back on her walking stick.
The rabbit knew he had to accept or he would likely deal with consequences. "Yes, my lady. As you wish."
"Very well. Miraj, Apprentice of the Ziggurat of the Standing Sun. I hereby name you Advisor and Mentor to Oracle Samir." The vizier tapped the rabbit on the shoulder with her walking stick to signify his change in status.
Miraj nodded. "Thank you, I will do my best."
"I know you will. I have no doubt you will succeed. Keep me updated on his progress with you. I must be going now…There is a town event I must attend and I am certain you have things to do as well." The woman tapped her walking stick on the floor causing her two jackal assistants to fall in behind her.
The pooka watched as the vizier and her cronies left the top of the Ziggurat. Miraj was now left alone with Samir. He looked back over at the small Jerboa boy and offered his hand out as a gesture of greeting.
"I suppose we are partners now. My name is Miraj." The rabbit said with a soft smile on his face, trying to be positive about the whole situation.
The small rodent boy gazed over at him with a look of uncertainty in his eyes. "Hello."
"I can tell you're nervous. Look…I was taken when I first started as an Apprentice back a few years ago. Speaking of which….how old are you?" Miraj couldn't help but be curious.
Samir gripped his hand tightly on the staff. "10."
"Ah…so the same age when I started. Makes sense. Come on…let me show you to your quarters." The rabbit offered his hand to the other boy as a friendly gesture.
The smaller cub took his hand eagerly and allowed himself to be led around by the older teen. Miraj knew there was only one place on the top of the Ziggurat that mattered but he wanted to give the boy a full tour. The pooka took him first to the Altar of the Standing Sun. This was the place where prophecies were told. A book sat on a podium on the altar with old etchings inside of a language lost some time ago. Miraj still didn't understand the purpose of the book and didn't think it was important to show to him.
"This is the Altar where the Priests and Priestesses will come to tell the prophecies of the gods. It is best to leave this area alone so we do not disappoint them." Miraj wasn't religious but he knew he had to follow protocol or he would get in trouble with the Vizier.
They proceeded back onto the center of the platform to the area known as the rising stones. A waterfall cascaded from above where an aqueduct fed into the top of the Ziggurat. A small pool of water collected beneath with a few fish swimming about inside. Miraj let go of the boy's hand and knelt to place his hand into the water.
"These are the waters of purification. They are said to have magical properties and can soothe any pain and cure most ailments." The pooka said as he straightened back up and dried his hand off the water.
The two of them rejoined hands before Miraj led the cub into the Den of Destiny. A hollowed cave at the center of the ziggurat would serve as the boy's residence. The rabbit had never been inside before as it had always been off limits under the older Oracle's orders. Now with her gone, he would finally have the opportunity to see inside. They went inside together entering into some stairs that led downwards.
Continuing down they went into the heart of the ziggurat, getting ever darker inside. Soon they arrived at the Den itself. A large room with but a single bed on one side of the room and what appeared to be Scrying Stones on the other. Miraj was expecting to be much more ornate. Even the bed was simple at best. It appeared that the oracle was to live a life of modesty. He couldn't help but feel bad for the boy.
"Maybe we should spruce up the place, hmm?" Miraj suggested as he figured this wouldn't be comfortable for a cub Samir's age.
Samir looked over at him, unsure of what to make of the situation. "Is this…where do I sleep now? I want to go home…"
"I see. I suppose that is something that could be considered. Where do your parents live?" The pooka didn't consider the fact that Samir may have been alone.
The boy smiled a bit. "My mom lives on the edge of the town. Does that mean I can stay with her?"
"I don't see a problem with it as long as you continue to your duties. It's not very cozy in here anyways." The rabbit figured the Vizier would never check in on them that much.
The jerboa shuffled his feet a bit. "Duties? What's that?"
"Ah, yes. Let me show you the Diary of Diligence." Miraj knew that the old Oracle had a journal for such things but wasn't sure where she kept it.
The pooka began looking around the room. There wasn't much furniture for storage. Only a small wardrobe of clothes, which had yet to be emptied. He went over to the table where the scrying stones were and sure enough, the dusty old book was there. The old Oracle's name was signed on the top of it. Miraj sat down and dusted it off.
"Is that it?" The jerboa boy peered over the bigger boy's shoulder.
Miraj nodded. "Yes, this journal has a complete list of tasks and duties including the one I just finished."
The pooka showed off the challenge he had completed just a day previously.
"Wow, that's cool. So where do we start?" Samir asked as he wasn't certain what to do next.
The teen thought about it for a moment. "I suppose we can just pick something easy to start with."
The rabbit remembered that the Diary of Diligence was assorted to my challenge difficulty. He sifted through the pages until he got to the first pages of the diary. The first one read; "Give Clemency towards the poor." However, neither boy had money to simply just donate. Miraj thought about it for a moment. While it seemed like a worthwhile task, he didn't think they had the means to accomplish it. He moved on to the next one which read; "Provide community service wherever possible."
This challenge was something that Miraj knew they could do. There was a soup kitchen which he figured could accomplish both tasks in one task. He pointed at the task and showed it to Samir.
"This is what we're going to do. Set your staff to the side. We will return here tomorrow. Come on." The rabbit offered his hand again to the other boy.
The smaller jerboa boy set his staff
to the side and gladly took it. They began heading back up the stairs to the top of the Ziggurat. Miraj led his new protégé back into town. Going down the stairs of the Ziggurat and heading back to the marketplace. By this time of day, it was picking back up. Miraj's stomach growled so he decided they would get a quick bite to eat before they reported in at the soup kitchen.
Samir followed him back to the bazaar. The rabbit figured he could treat the boy to his favorite food vendor. Luckily he had enough money left to pay for both of them. The XXXX greeted him with a smile and the Pooka treated Samir and himself to a falafel. He offered it to the other boy who was more than surprised to receive the thoughtful gesture.
"Thanks!" The rodent happily took the treat from the other boy and began munching on it.
They sat down together at a nearby bench and ate their food together. A water fountain was nearby so they whetted their whistles. Both boys were pretty quiet until Miraj spoke.
"So what is your relation to the old Oracle?" The rabbit asked as he wasn't sure what else to talk about.
The jerboa continued munching away seeming to enjoy the food. "I was her Nephew."
"Ah, she was a good Oracle. I am sure you will do her proud." The teen wanted to keep a positive mindset about the situation.
Samir nodded. "I hope so."
The two of them continued to eat their food until they got up. Miraj led his young charge through the bazaar. The constant beckoning and badgering from both sides of the line of vendors made the area seem much louder than it was. The rabbit took him to the rear end of the bazaar where a large building was situated. Leading inside Samir and his new master found themselves in the mess hall.
The soup kitchen was something of a local get-together. It was one of the only places in all of Karbad where one could get food regardless of their ability to pay. The place was always bustling with people and even offered paid meals for those furs who wished to contribute to the facility's mission. The owner of the establishment was a grizzled old fur who'd lived in the community, an old Arabian stallion named Bakar.
Bakar was a beast of a man who had long since past his prime. An intimidating presence to those who did not know him but friendly to any who might partake in conversation with him. The large horse waved them over the moment he realized they had entered the building. Miraj and Samir made their way over to where the man was standing. The horse was behind a serving station with a big wooden spoon in his hand.
The main mess hall of the soup kitchen was busy with activity. Several furs were about with some of them taking in the daily soup offering with others busy behind the various tables serving up the food itself.
"Are you here for the food or to help with serving?" The man asked not sure of which was the case.
Miraj spoke up. "We are here to help. Where can we be of service?"
"You two can help with the serving station for cubs. It's the colorful one over in the corner. Go grab yourselves aprons and head nets." The stallion said pointing to a much more extravagant part of the establishment.
The pooka nodded and led his protégé over to where the area was. A few large soup pots sat next to some food trays. On the back wall, some hooks where some aprons were hanging from hooks affixed to it. Miraj grabbed one before handing it to Samir. The bigger boy pulled up a small stepping stool for the younger boy. The jerboa couldn't help but smile at him, feeling good about himself.
They soon began serving up food to the various cubs who came to the serving station. Some of them appeared to be quite disheveled with clothing that didn't appear to have been washed in some time. Neither Miraj nor Samir said anything about it as it didn't seem appropriate. Each time the kids took food, the two boys serving them were met with an appreciative smile. Both of them remained there for some time as they worked through the afternoon.
When dinner rolled around, it became much more busy. A line even formed in front of them as they tried to maintain a pace to keep up with the demand. Eventually, they had to get some help from one of the other workers but they were able to manage. As their stomachs began to grumble, it became harder to focus but they still powered through it. Once things started to slow down, they were approached by Bakar.
"You boys did well today. Feel free to treat yourself to a staff meal before you leave." He said pointing back to a rear room sectioned off by a small hallway.
Miraj nodded and thanked the man. He took off his apron and motioned for Samir to do the same. They made their way to the back of the building. All of the workers were now sitting down for dinner. Bakar was still busy working away serving them, being the charitable man that he was. The rabbit felt a little bad and decided to help him a bit, telling Samir to go ahead and grab himself something to eat.
The rabbit helped him serve what was remaining of the food to the workers. Bakar appreciated the help and gave him a larger tray as a reward. Miraj gladly took the tray and joined his protégé at the table he was at. The teen wasted no time in starting to eat. The hearty meal was much more than he could handle and was better than anything he could make. Both boys chowed through their meals rather quickly.
Bakar soon rang the bell, indicating that the soup kitchen was to close shop soon. The two boys and the rest of the workers started cleaning up. The horse remained vigilant in making sure everything was tidy for the next day. After all, he would have to do the same thing again and he wouldn't have it any other way. Miraj and Samir wished him well and began to make their way out of the soup kitchen back to the streets of the Bazaar.
By this time of night, the place was dark. Only the light of the moon and some nearby candle-lit lanterns provided a bit of illumination. Miraj decided it was time to take Samir home.
"Where do you live?" The rabbit wanted to make sure he got home safely.
Samir hummed. "I live near the old lady Nijud's shop."
Miraj nodded as he knew exactly what the boy was talking about. Nijud was a prophet who lived an estranged life. Her prophecies were famed in Karbad as they went well beyond what was considered normal. No one considered her a sage but she was so old now that no one bothered to tell her otherwise. The rabbit and jerboa began to head out together from the bazaar and back onto the main street.
They continued to walk down the now silent streets of Karbad. Only a few wary watchmen and watchwomen were about, doing their due diligence in the nightly patrols. Miraj knew they wouldn't be bothered so long as they got home before curfew. The streets were already quiet so he assumed that was likely the case. So he picked up pace in hopes they might make it back in time before the streets were shut down to public access for the night.
Miraj and Samir soon arrived at Samir's home. The boy's house was a humble abode of a single floor, made of the same adobe material as the other houses around it.
"Good night, have a nice night. I will see you in the morning at the Ziggurat of the Standing Sun, alright? We'll begin your duties anew." The rabbit touched the other boy's shoulder.
The rodent nodded before he went inside. Miraj headed back the way he came, making sure to not waste any time. The various patrols he passed eyed him warily as he continued through the street. He began to run in hopes he wouldn't be scooped up by the neighborhood watch, going as fast as he could. Just as he was outside of his apartment, the final bell of the night tolled telling him that it was time to head inside.
Miraj caught his breath and headed inside. He was glad he had made it before curfew set in. He decided to call it a night. After all, it had been a busy day and he was tired. The teen still couldn't believe Samir had been chosen as the successor to the role of Oracle. However, he knew there was nothing that could be changed as it was ultimately the Vizier's decision to make. All Miraj understood now was that it was his responsibility that Samir would become a fine replacement for the role.
The rabbit headed into the bathroom to get washed up for the night. His mind was still aflutter with everything that had happened that day. Miraj made his way to bed and snuggled under his sheet. Looking out the window, he gazed towards the sky. The night sky was littered with stars scattered across the horizon. He stared at it a moment before allowing his mind to rest and sleep through the night.
The next morning came before long. Miraj got out of bed to the familiar sight of the morning sun peering through his window. The sandy dirt collected by the window panes, piling up near the flat surface of the sill. The teen got up as he yawned and stretched. The pooka was ready to begin the day anew. Eager to see whatever his new protégé had in store for him. Soon busying himself with dressing into his usual temple attire.
Miraj's temple attire was a beige robe with matching slacks. It was designed to be simple and mundane. The life of an acolyte such as himself was meant to be modest. He fixed his robe by tying the woolen sash around it to keep it from opening. The teen's stomach soon reminded him that he needed to eat something. The rabbit made himself some fresh fruit and pastries. It was his favorite meal of the day and he always enjoyed it.
When breakfast was done, he went about getting ready to leave for the day. He looked out the window once more. The sandstorm was still gusting through the area and didn't seem to have let up at all. He huffed as he hated nothing more than having to traverse through it. He began wrapping the parts of his body that were showing in hopes he wouldn't get sand burn. Taking a deep breath
he made his exit from his home.
Miraj headed out the door to start his day. Already the spiraling sand was in his eyes the moment he stepped outside. He lowered his turban as if to shield his eyes. Powering through it with a tenacity that few others could muster. The teen knew full well he had a responsibility to attend to and there was no one else to make up for things that he did not himself accomplish. So with that in mind, he powered on forward through the ever-present dust storm around him.
The pooka angled his head downward in hopes of shielding himself further from the gusting winds of the Arabic Desert. Luckily he did not have to see his way to know where he was going as he knew his way around by pure muscle memory. The sandstorm was so thick with dust that he could barely see the ground below his feet. Yet, he carried on even still seeming all too intent on getting to the Ziggurat of the Standing Sun.
It took him longer than usual to get to the Ziggurat. He almost walked right into the large sandstone blocks that made up its base. He felt his way along the side of it. Even with the large structure right in front of him, the sandstorm continued to push past him. Miraj hoped that once he made it to the top he could find respite in the temple's residence. After a few minutes of wading around its perimeter, he found his way to the stairs.
The teen began to take slow and methodical steps up the ramp of the Ziggurat. Going up it was a much more tedious and trying task than he initially thought. Each time the wind gusted, his body swayed to the side. Miraj ended up having to anchor himself every few moments so that he didn't feel like he was going to fall because of it. With a great deal of effort, he was able to make it to the top of the Ziggurat.
Another gust of wind pushed past him as he scaled the peak of it. He braced himself, knowing that there was nothing to hold onto. Taking slow but weighted steps forward in hopes of getting to the alcove sooner rather than later. He knew he had to be close but Miraj couldn't look in front of him because of how heavy the storm was. Still, he pressed on continuing ever forward in the direction he thought it was.
Miraj soon walked into the familiar shallow pond of the Ziggurat. Even that was covered in a sandy residue. Had the water not soaked through his shoes, he wouldn't have realized it was even there. The rabbit continued along it, not caring about getting his feet wet as he knew the stream would lead him directly to the temple residence. After a few moments of wading through it, he came to the end of it.
The rabbit stepped to the side, his foot angled downward as he felt the decline into the temple residence. He felt glad that he made it to the shelter as the sandstorm hadn't died down at all. Miraj began heading down, feeling all but certain that he wouldn't see Samir today because of the weather. The boy continued his way down the stairs, the dirt storm no longer hitting him in the face since he was now underground.
The pooka took off the wrappings of his turban and dusted off his face. He found his fur was still covered in sand and tried shaking it off instead. Miraj looked around for a moment and lit some of the candles in the room as it was dark even though it was early in the day still. He decided to light some incense as well as he wasn't sure what he was going to do now that the weather had usurped his hopes of training Samir.
Miraj decided that instead, he would practice one of the long-standing rituals of his order. The ritual of resonance as it was called by the previous Oracle. The idea of it was to commune with yourself. A sort of inner soul-searching meditation to better oneself. The pooka had done it plenty of times and it wasn't the most involved of rituals. Additionally, it was one of the only ones that didn't require another person or the oracle themselves.
The teen sat down on one of the large Persian rugs that adorned the otherwise bare floor. He folded his legs and closed his eyes. Meditating was a very simple process. One that required only the innermost peace. A state of relaxation and ease of mind with oneself. The only thing hard about it was trying to rid one's mind of whatever problems or stresses they were facing. Still, it was something no one ever perfected no matter how many times one did it.
The teen closed his eyes and tried to relax his mind. Each breath he took was elongated and drawn out. The incense he was burning made the smell in the room smell much stronger than it was. It took him a few minutes before his mind began to relax. Searching within himself for the state of An-Naja. A symbolic state of mind that was all too similar to the Buddhist inner peace of the Far East.
Miraj relaxed himself and tried to empty his mind. He still didn't truly understand the purpose of it. Sure, it relaxed him but he never found any sense of purpose or meaning for it. Still, he went through it all the same. Besides the previous Oracle had told him many times how Important was and he thought she was a woman of wisdom. He figured that eventually, he'd be able to determine the reason for it in time.
After a while, Miraj got tired of doing it. The sense of boredom he felt from meditation was all but inevitable for him. He opened his eyes and stood up before stretching. Even know he'd only been meditating for a short while, it always made him feel tired. The rabbit thought to himself for a bit, considering what he might do now. He decided to clean out some of the old Oracles stuff in hopes of donating it later.
He collected a small hempen sack and began putting all of her old stuff in it. Miraj figured eventually that Samir would need to take residence here. Though he was probably too young to expect that just now. The pooka made quick work of putting the old Oracle's belongings into the bag. The woman lived a humble life which was all but clear by the amount of physical belongings that she owned.
When he was done, Miraj set the bag to the side. The rabbit began to think again about what he could do. His usual responsibilities were all top side. Things like tending to the gardens and the pool, both of which he couldn't get to because of the weather. He thought about going home as there was little he could do at the moment with the stand storm wreaking its usual havoc. He decided to check to see if things had toned down at all.
Miraj wrapped himself back up in his garments, covering his face before heading up. He left the bag downstairs as he didn't want to carry it if the weather was still poor. He made his way back up the stairs. As he got near the top of it, he could see the sandstorm was still blowing about. It seemed to have died down a bit but still was gusting through the area. The pooka decided to take advantage and head out.
The rabbit went back downstairs and grabbed the bag of donations. He made his way up and out into the open environment. The familiar strong gusting winds were no longer as persistent but still pushed his body every once in a while. Miraj lugged the bag over his shoulder and began heading in the opposite direction. Going back down proved much easier than coming up as the wind was pushing from behind as opposed to against him.
He made his way down the stairs and back onto solid ground. The ever-present wind continued to gust around him. Miraj remained vigilant in his duty to deliver the donations. The local charity office was on the outskirts of town. It was known as the Recollection Office and was a place where the destitute and underprivileged could go for basic needs outside of food for free. The rabbit made his way over to it to do a quick drop-off.
Outside the building was a small bin that was covered in canvas. All he needed to do was drop it off in the box and he was on his way. Miraj did just that and decided he could just go home for the day. There wasn't much he could do with the weather remaining consistent. So he figured he could just take the day off and do whatever he wanted. Besides, it wasn't often that he got to lay back and relax.
Miraj headed home and was all too glad to be out of the harrowing sandstorm. The rabbit took off his turban before going to his room to change out of his temple garments. He decided to go ahead and wash for the day since he likely wouldn't do anything else. It wasn't like Samir was going to go out in this weather and he felt kind of silly for even trying to do it himself. He began to take off his clothes and get ready for a bath.
The teen stepped into his bathroom and dipped himself into the water. The rabbit relaxed himself, feeling much more at ease. The fact the water was cold didn't bother him since the climate he was used to was naught but hot and arid. It was only nighttime when things cooled down so a nice cool bath was always refreshing to him. Miraj found it much easier to relax in the bath than he did while meditating. Within moments he closed his eyes, finding himself all too willing to rest. Time flittered away as he remained there for a while until he opened his eyes again sometime later.
When Miraj awoke, he was surprised that he'd fallen asleep. Looking at himself he found his fur had matted from being submerged for so long. He got up and quickly dried and brushed himself. The teen felt silly that he'd wasted some of the day but it didn't matter now. He re-dressed himself in some comfortable bedclothes and made his way to the kitchen to make some lunch.
Lunch was nothing special. He prepared a few kebabs and a bag of chips to go with it. The food was good, much better than he thought it would be. Not quite as high quality as some of the food carts but he was appreciative of his meal. As he was eating through it, he contemplated what he'd do with the rest of the day. He hadn't had this much free time in quite a while so it was somewhat different to him.
The rest of Miraj's day was low-key. He spent the remainder of it reading a book he had long been wanting to complete. It was one of the most relaxing days that he'd had in a long time. The sand storm would eventually die down though an ever-present gust remained through Karbad. It wouldn't be until nighttime that the sand storms finally went away, leaving piles of sand all around the town for people to clean up the next day.
He would look forward to the next day when he could get back to life as normal. After all, he had to skip out on much of his usual responsibilities due to the weather and needed to take care of them tomorrow. Miraj's mind is still ever present on his role and the upcoming responsibility of training Samir. The sense of the weight of the responsibility weighed upon him as he rested throughout the day, eager to get things underway.
