Ghost Monkey, стр. 54

He said, "These memories are old. Why let them plague you?"

"Long ago is relative. Do you remember moments long ago as if they were yesterday? You replay them over and over again?" He nodded. "Like that. The feeling of his loss will linger with me the rest of my life, which is rather long."

There was a sound coming from down the hall, like a mudslide rolling over the stones. It reminded him of the demons slithering, but far slower. Ishva heard it too. She conjured a small light, then sent it down the hallway, but it revealed nothing.

"I will go check what that sound is. It is likely nothing." Ishva smiled, went to Sugriva, and grabbed his hand gently. Then she let go and went down the hallway.

Sugriva, concerned that he could barely see in the dark without her, followed. Then the light went out with a hiss.

"Ishva," he called, nearly blind. "Ishva, what is it?" No response. Monkey's heart sped up until it felt like it would burst out of his chest. Then he breathed and spoke to himself. "Sugriva, you are a warrior, and warriors don't have fear. You faced demons when they were the unknown. You will face this." He muttered to himself, "But I could see the demons, and they did not extinguish an Ashtadash in front of me."

The stone floor was uneven and difficult to navigate, but he did his best. There was a torch, which he picked up. With flint and iron, he was able to create a spark to light his path. The hallway was empty, but he could still hear that sound. He walked down, the murals extending, showing the history of the demon war. Fangs were included, though he was sure at some point General Humbari preached about that. Rooms jutted off the corridor, but he remained focused on what was in front of him. Exploring could happen when he found Ishva.

A blob sat in front of Sugriva. It was gelatinous, with a variety of bones inside. The blue body rippled when he was close, as if someone tossed a pebble at it—or like it trembled in anticipation.

"Ishva, I don't see you in its body. Where are you?" He stepped back. At least it moved slow.

Then, to taunt Sugriva, the blob pointed up. He looked up to see another on the ceiling. "This is how I go? I die—" and the blob fell from the ceiling to the ground, absorbing Sugriva before he could act. The water was definitely sentient to some level, he thought as it poked and prodded, instantly ripping his staff away from him. The fire went out, and he was immersed in darkness and water. He struggled a little, but any time he got a hand out of the thing's body, it pulled him back in.

Then there was a light. Ishva stood there, laughing so hard she doubled over and held her sides. "You should have seen the look on your face."

The blob burst, then formed into something loosely humanoid. She did not take on any human flesh, but instead remained as liquid, having no discernible features. It sounded like she gurgled as she spoke. "That was great. Ishva, I'm glad you talked me into that." Then she went up to Sugriva, hugged him with wet arms, and kissed him, making her lips flesh for just a moment. "Are we starting his training in earnest now?"

Ishva responded, "Yes. He's moving onto the cauldron."

The water woman said, "My name is Wuzi. I am the water Ashtadash residing in Ramaswam. I look forward to drowning you."

SUGRIVA NEVER REALLY looked at the cauldron. It was made of iron, he assumed. It was thick, at least six feet around, with a lip that curled over. There were four legs, each one as large as a man's torso. The word for each element was engraved on the cauldron, along with a face of a spirit under each word. East was earth. South was fire. West, toward the pond, was water. North said air.

The spirits worked to create conditions for their element, except Wuzi. She hovered in the water as if standing. A bonfire was built and lit by Ishva. A small mound was created where Taro Taro sat. Once the elements were in place, they sat lotus style.

Sugriva asked, "Should there be an air spirit?"

Ishva, eyes drooping with sorrow, replied, "There should be a great many things which are not. There should be eighteen of us, yet there are only three. The others are, fate be good, scattered across Sankive." She sniffled, with a tear sizzling across her cheek. The other two looked away from Ishva and Sugriva.

"Now, get in the cauldron. You will suffer each of us for seven days. We will give you water but no food. This awakens the chakra through an ancient ceremony called the Four-Budded Lotus. The kingdoms forgot it, but they use forms of it."

"What will it do?" Sugriva hopped into the cauldron. He couldn't see the spirits over the edge of it, the vessel seemingly deeper than he thought it could be.

"Torture you. Earth will bolster you with its endurance, as it was the first element. Water will fill you with its compassion, for it was the keeper of the first element. Air would have graced you with wisdom, but we will have to suffice. And finally I will kindle passion in your heart with fire. Once you accept us into your chakra, we will train you in the use of our three elements—a three-budded lotus, if you would. It will take years."

"I have nowhere to go. Let's get started." Sugriva laid on his back in his janaav form, hands behind his head.

The ground rumbled, and it sounded as if a mountain was crashing down. Then earth cascaded over the lip of the cauldron and filled it, until Sugriva was buried to his head. He struggled, but the earth turned to rock, and he couldn't