Taming the Beast [China]

[Nox]

The Atharim contact was oddly quiet. And Nox had plenty of time to sit and think from the comfort of the safe house. It was occupied by other Atharim. None seemed to know who he was, nor cared enough to look up his name or even ask it. They minded their own business and he minded his.

Though, there were some rumors about other gods, but Nox wasn't interested unless Jacob sent him on one he wasn't killing another like him without reason. And even then those reasons needed to be verified.

Nox spent several hours talking with Thalia. They talked about a lot of things. But mostly he just talked. Nox sent Raffe a few pictures of plants he saw. And he sent him progress reports of his growing plants in their pottery he'd made. The were small, and growing well. He watered them regularly, tended to their soil. He felt a kinship with them unlike before. Lily was a gift and he loved her dearly. He actually missed her -- forgotten how much he'd talked to the lotus floating in her little water bowl. These guys were new. They listened just as well. But they had the added benefit of calming the horde.

There were many things to do in China. He'd never been but Nox mostly stayed in his assigned room practicing weaves backwards, and inverting them until he became so tired he passed out into a dreamless sleep. Those were the nights he loved -- nothing in his head but darkness.

His practice was paying off and it was getting easier. The easy weaves were quicker -- still fucking slow but easier. And the complex ones were slowly coming together. He was getting used to twisting and remembering them backwards. It all became part of his daily ritual. Though he moved the exercise to just before bed time as a wind down -- it made sleep better.

Wasn't too long before the Atharim phone buzzed and a new mission arose.