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anangelicday-mrwolf · 4 years ago

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Wolfsbane : Noblesse Fanfic (post-ending)

(previous chapter)

Chapter 46 – I Heard Nothing

“Don’t kill him. Not just yet. We’d better figure out how big is his dagger and how much he managed to unsheathe and plunge it into our backs.”

Said M-21 to Lunark, who was rummaging her cloak.

“...Can’t guarantee I’ll remember that, but for now I’ll give you my word.”

Countered Lunark to M-21, who was turning away to get his clothes changed.

She was ready to warm up her joints, with nobody to send her away due to her rejection, when a sound stilled her steps.

“Lunark.”

Familiar were both the voice and the name. However, with the two combined Lunark jumped as if she were caught on fire.

It was the very first time having none other than Raizel calling her name.

She assumed only something important would have urged the Noblesse to delay her at such emergency; thus she obediently held her movements and waited for his following words.

Contrary to her assumption he merely stared at her in silence, and Lunark gently crushed her teeth against each other in anxiety.

She decided to ask for his understanding and save whatever it is for later if it falters in necessity. After all, the situation was dire.

Alas, that was when he chose to voice himself.

“At last I have come to see a promise.”

She could determine neither the purpose nor meaning of his words, and her pink eyes flipped like a pancake on a frying pan.

Before she could request for his explanation regarding this promise, Raizel began to retrace his steps back into his home. Apparently he never intended to keep her locked in her place for long.

At the same time, he left something that grabbed Lunark’s steps in their places for good.

“I shall count upon you concerning Frankenstein.”

She could not move for a while even after his disappearance.

She knew that the timing was outrageously wrong for her to speculate so, but it was as if she was watching a father who is sending away his treasured son to be someone’s husband.

‘Husband my behind. Snap out of it, Lunark.’

She had to shake her head to free her mind from idle thoughts. And by doing so, her brain brewed a duty that awaits her, sharpening her concentration to maximum.

Next up came rage, upon picturing a certain white-haired man; now she felt like punching herself in the face for not finding herself an opportunity to use his head as a shovel to dig up a grave for him when they were both elders of the Union.

With her fury driving her, Lunark finally kicked off and threw herself in the air.

Her mind was still keenly reverberating with wrath, shock that did not fade a bit, and hurried commitment.

On the other hand, a corner of her mind was echoing with desperation, and Lunark minced her lips as if her life depended on the action.

‘Please stay safe, Frankenstein... Please hang in there!’

*****

Few days later, Frankenstein’s island

“Welcome back.”

Frankenstein merely flapped his hand to 3rd Elder’s greetings and walked past him, which whipped the latter’s heart with cold biting sensation.

‘...He didn’t notice, did he?’

He knew, of course, that there was no way Frankenstein would know.

Because now he knew the recording device and camera Frankenstein implanted in him are no good.

And he wanted a word with the man regarding the matter.

He watched how Frankenstein was tramping forward, looking too exhausted he could bet the lord of the island would fall by simply having his name called, and he could feel guilt kicking and wrenching his conscience.

Are you sure it’s simply because you’re about to deny an exhausted man of his rest?

Muffling a voice whispering from a corner of his heart he could not pinpoint, 3rd Elder decided to speak.

“...Wait.”

Frankenstein, whose steps were weighed with fatigue, turned his head with much struggle.

Based on the fact that such ridiculously simple gesture was embedded with struggle, 3rd Elder could clearly see how serious Frankenstein’s state was.

That did nothing to make 3rd Elder change his mind, for this was the only chance he had.

“There’s something I’d like to ask.”

“...Be quick about it. I have a long way to go.”

Now that he was handed with the mic, 3rd Elder could not help but gulp.

‘...Just how did things turn out like this?’

The original plan was supposed to end with his immediate evacuation, instead of this confrontation.

‘...Who would’ve known our encounter would be led to this?’

Just a day ago, a weapon against heads of noble clans – or Sol, who has made the body his house and ride – presented himself at the island.

Here. Take it.

What’s this...?

It’s the chemical Union has been keeping. You know, the one that renders a substance its countersubstance. I believe I wouldn’t have to brief you about its use.

The man nodded, and that was supposed to be it.

Yet he asked Sol how he found out about this place, which ultimately rolled a snowball that raced all the way towards his conversation with Frankenstein.

I tracked down your whereabout. Do you remember what happened when you first ran into Ms. Helga?

Yes, but nothing in particular ha... Wait a minute. She did land a blow on my torso as soon as we recognized each other. Is this what you’re referring to? Speaking of which, after that Frankenstein did announce that my camera and recording device were jammed. Though he soon replaced them with functional ones.

Actually, that’s when Ms. Helga planted something in your body, and that thing is equipped with tracking feature. Forgive me for telling you now; she believed we shouldn’t tell you until we are assured that you’re with us.

There’s something inside me...? What did you do?

It’s a sort of distractor. We figured Frankenstein would leash you with a surveillance kit or two, so we requested our conspirator to come up with an anti-kit.

Conspirator? You mean...

Yes, he’s the inventor. It’s a mixture of a stealth device that absorbs sounds above certain decibels and a device that emits special signal to cause only noises for every type of footage-recording device. Both devices distract instead of destroying or freezing, so it would prevent Frankenstein’s knowledge, given that he calibrated his devices so he would pick up as soon as they are unavailable in function. And it’s a unique invention from its proposal to completion.

Shortly expressing marvel at devices that flaunted creativity, 3rd Elder feasted upon the thundering pounds of his heart.

If Sol’s words are as authentic as they could be, Frankenstein has been left in the dark concerning his behaviors ever since he met Helga.

Simultaneously, he could feel question nudging his cognition.

If his camera and recording device did not work properly after replacement, there is no way Frankenstein would not have pointed it out.

Nevertheless, the blonde scientist has never once sought him after replacement.

One excuse he could think of was that Frankenstein’s judgment is now fatally clouded, thanks to the sleeping issue he has been suffering.

Notwithstanding, his past history at Union was telling him there must be more than it seems behind this mystery.

And it was coercing him to find out more.

Sol, I know this is out of nowhere, but I need your help.

My help? For what...?

I’d like to find my voice and footage files Frankenstein would have collected so far.

With Sol’s hands in action, 3rd Elder could sneak a peek into Frankenstein’s personal files.

The firewall failed to stand against their infiltration, perhaps the network security compromised due to loss of connection during the failed activation of QuadraNet.

At the end of his navigation, 3rd Elder was turned speechless.

‘...How can this be?’

He could find records of his words and actions only from the times when he was beyond the shorelines.

The counterparts from the times when he was tucked within the boundaries of the isle were nowhere to be found.

‘Was he lying when he said he’s got his eyes on me on this island?’

Impossible.

That devilish homo sapiens will never do that.

We were adversaries to start with, and he’s keeping me alive just because he can make use of me.

Despite his uncertainties, 3rd Elder could not stop himself from dispensing the topic now that he was faced with the man of interest.

“Am I free of surveillance while I am on this island?”

In a flash, Frankenstein’s face marred with exhaustion and a bit of annoyance was sparked with icy glare.

Though the change did nothing, other than lightening the shade of the bags under his eyes by a tone.

“Don’t get me wrong. Before your return, I was reminiscing my days at Union and... Uh, I muttered something that you might take as a hint that I’m waiting for an opportunity to stab your back. Yeah, that’s right. I’m turning myself in, so you wouldn’t make a Dark-Spear-skewered meat out of me.”

The man did not miss how Frankenstein flinched albeit very faintly the moment he mentioned the cursed weapon.

Exhibiting none of his observations, he continued on.

“There’s a possibility that you didn’t check my voice print yet, but allow me to dare ask you, since you hadn’t burst into my room to throw a fit at me so far. Is this voice recorder inside me actually working...?”

Before either of them knew it, Frankenstein had fully turned to gaze at the speaker, who could feel his throat clenching as he witnessed how the master doctor was not even blinking.

I shouldn’t have asked. If only I can go back in time. If only I can have a word with the past me.

As 3rd elder was winding up bunch of thoughts, Frankenstein muttered, “...This is something students from my school used to say at a time like this: there’s a reason why sometimes it’s better to walk around in underpants than with smarty-pants.”

“...Beg your pardon?”

“That’s right. The voice recorder and the camera are off when you are in this island, via my judgment.”

The 3rd Elder’s face scrunched up so hard it almost looked foul: the one person ought to stay vigilant upon him was practically playing vigilant all this time.

“...But why?”

“Why? Isn’t it obvious? I’m not like Union, that’s why. I have no intention to keep tabs on each and every word and action of someone sharing my roof, like the Union lot had done. Most importantly, I happen to have a family. A family that had to go through horrible manipulation of body and mind under the Union. So there’s no way I’m doing what you have in mind. Now, if that answered your question, please excuse me.”

Frankenstein did not even wait for 3rd Elder to thaw from his mute stupefaction and promptly left.

That did not release 3rd Elder from his petrification.

‘He’s been neglecting me so far...?’

No, he was not neglecting me.

He was trusting me.

Perhaps it was too soon for him to employ the synonym of faith, but at least there was no doubt the way Frankenstein is treating him is different from the way he treats him.

When he explained why he was not keeping surveillance on him, the vocabulary he pulled out was ‘Union.’ Not ‘you Union folks.’ Or ‘your people.’

Which was a proof that Frankenstein no longer identifies him as part of the Union.

He thereby showed how he unconsciously crossed off 3rd Elder’s name from his list of foes.

As soon as he relished in the fact, he could feel something straining his heart.

And then he recalled what he had done at Frankenstein’s lab before his return.

Feeling something striking his chest, he turned halfway towards the lab, only to stop dead not after long.

The table was toppled, and the pieces of what used to lie on top cannot be restored.

‘...There was no other choice. This is for the Union. For the humanity.’

I heard nothing.

I. Heard. Nothing.

He endeavored to cover the fact that his hands are bloody, tagging definitely-not-nothing as nothing.

And he sprinted to get away from the crime scene on the double.

(next chapter)

Yes, 3rd Elder did feel guilty; yet he decided to stab Frankenstein in the back. :’( And this isn’t the end of his appearance. Of course it’s not! Please stay tuned to find out what he does after this what his betrayal will bring about; I can guarantee that the result will be nothing close to meaningless.

#korean webcomic #korean webtoon #fanfic #noblesse #frankenstein #lunark #frankensteinxlunark #wolfsbane

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paleorecipecookbook · 7 years ago

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5 Ways to Turn Daily Habits Into Acts of Meditation

Mindfulness meditation has long been recognized as a healthy way to relieve stress, but emerging research suggests that it may affect your physical health and DNA, too.

Recent studies show promising connections between mindfulness meditation and the reduction of physical inflammation. (1) While more clinical trials are needed, initial results found that adults who participate in mind-body practices have reduced activity in the genes related to inflammation, thus lowering their risk of developing inflammatory disorders such as asthma, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and even some types of cancer.

Similar research found lower levels of Interleukin-6 (a protein that is produced at sites of inflammation) and better functional connectivity in participants who were taught basic mindfulness meditation techniques. (2)

While the science is very new, these initial discoveries offer exciting possibilities for long-term health and happiness. Of course, there is one caveat—you need to start a daily mindfulness practice in order to reap the benefits.

What Is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the act of paying complete attention to your experience in the present moment, rather than being distracted by your thoughts or what’s happening around you.

The goal of “being mindful” is to simply stay focused. This means that whatever you’re doing deserves your whole attention, without thought for what comes next or what came before. By keeping your attention on the here-and-now you can calm your body and mind and are better able to cope with illness, pain, and stress. (3)

The most common mindfulness practice is mindfulness meditation. This very gentle meditation practice simply requires you to sit comfortably with your eyes closed and to focus on your breath and the feeling of your body, for a set amount of time (usually two to 20+ minutes). Any time you catch yourself with wandering thoughts you just softly steer your focus back to your breath.

Do I Have To Meditate?

The physical and psychological benefits of meditation are well documented, but I can also appreciate the challenge of making this a habit. Despite acknowledging the pros of the practice, many people struggle to dedicate time out of their already busy day for meditation.

As a health coach, I’ve spent the past five years helping clients incorporate mindfulness practices into their daily routine, but you may be surprised to learn that I never suggest that they start with meditation. Instead, we focus on turning simple daily habits into mini-acts of mindfulness, so that they can reap the relaxation benefits without having to learn an entirely new skill!

5 Ways to Bring Mindfulness Into Daily Habits

Meditation for beginners can seem overwhelming, but instead, you can start with these five common daily habits and transform them into acts of mini mindfulness.

1. Showering

Showering is a wonderful entrance activity for your mindfulness training, as, unless you have a Bluetooth shower head, it’s unlikely that you can be distracted by your phone or other people.

Begin your practice from the moment you step into the bathroom. Hear the click of the door as you close it. Notice the order that you take off your clothes. Listen to the water as you turn on the tap.

Once you’re in the shower, stand for a few moments with your eyes closed. Pay attention to how each part of your body feels; from your feet to the top of the head, take a mental scan to notice each sensation in your muscles and on your skin.

Next, focus on the cascading water. As the water travels over your body, running across blades and dipping into creases, it reminds you that your body is whole. To be even more present, explore how different sections of your body feels under the water: How is the pressure? How is the heat?

Continue with the showering process, lathering soap and shampoo, all the while acknowledging each action that you take. Mentally say to yourself: I am washing my hair, I feel my fingers on my scalp, I smell the shampoo…

Finally, look at your hands as you turn off the water and feel the friction of your towel as you dry off. Moisturize and dress with the same intention that you’ve been holding, and then continue on with your day, feeling a little more present (and much cleaner)!

2. Driving

While driving should also be a relatively distraction-free environment, that’s usually not the case, so you’ll have to be vigilant in staying mindful during this activity.

Cell phone use is a no-no, both for driver safety and your mindfulness practice. Keep your phone in your bag (preferably in the back seat), or in the glove compartment, and if you’re using it for GPS then commit to that being its only purpose.

Begin your experience from the moment you unlock the car: hear the click of the lock, feel your body take a seat, and notice the sensation of buckling your belt. As you turn on the ignition imagine lighting a powerful tool that needs 100 percent of your focus.

To stay mindful, the radio must stay off. Your attention is on your hands on the wheel, your position on the road, and the speed of your car. Be intentional as you indicate and make lane changes, and consciously acknowledge where you’re going…even if you know the route like the back of your hand.

Once you arrive at your destination, take a moment to turn off the engine and just sit. Offer up thanks for another safe trip, and mindfully exit your vehicle and move on to the rest of your day.

3. Running

Running and walking have already become popular mindfulness practices, with coaches, courses, and techniques that teach mindful movement.

The benefits of mindful running include:

Natural breath formation

Relaxed mental state

Present-moment focus

The ability to discover your natural running stride

Feeling how to run faster, lighter, and with greater ease

Reducing the risk of injury

As with other mindfulness practices, the goal is to pay close attention to what you’re doing, without judgment. I think this is especially important to remember during physical activity, as we’re often quick to self-criticize if we feel like we’re not reaching our personal best. Mindfulness running lets you get back to the simple joy of running.

Running and walking have three main aspects that keep you anchored to the present moment, and it’s quite easy to train your brain to focus on them:

Your breath: Feel AND hear your inhalations and exhalations—notice when they are easy and when they are challenging. Experiment with different types of breath patterns to bring more ease to your lungs by filling and emptying your diaphragm at different rates, and practice breathing techniques that offer quick cardiovascular recovery, such as nose breathing.

The sound of your feet hitting the ground: Again this is a sound and a sensation that keeps you connected to your activity, your body, and the earth below you. Focus on your stride length and what section of your foot strikes the ground first.

Body sensations: This is both an internal and external experience. Listen inwards to find out what’s going on with your knees, hips, and hamstrings, etc, and focus outwards to feel the weather against your skin.

As with the other practices that I’m sharing, make this a mindful activity from start to finish. From the moment you lace your sneakers until the moment you take them off, your focus is on running.

4. Cooking

Mindful cooking is one of my favorite practices as the variety of external tasks makes it easier for me to stay focused.

Say, for example, that I’m chopping a carrot. I choose the carrot from the crisper, I feel the texture as I wash it in the sink, I notice the thin ribbons that fall away as I peel it, and I hear the crunch and crack with every chop. These are a lot of different components to keep my mind interested, but they are also all related to my current task.

Simple activities in the kitchen can be very rhythmic. Cutting, rinsing, stirring…if you’ve ever made a risotto you’ll know that it can put you in a trance-like state! But keep in mind that mindful cooking tends to be simple cooking. Unless you’re a master chef, it’s a lot easier to stay focused and feel calm when you are only dealing with one or two dishes at a time.

5. Having a conversation

I love the art of mindful conversation. Like a good game of tennis, where the ball is hit forward and back across the net, the conversation should also be thoughtful, received, and two-sided.

I’m sure you’ve spent time with someone who drones on and on with little regard for your interest in their topic (or that dentist appointment that you’ll now be late for). Similarly, I’ll bet you’ve experienced speaking to someone who constantly interrupts you, or worse, keeps checking their phone while you’re talking! So frustrating!

While you can’t do much about other people, you can set an example by practicing mindful conversations. All this means is that when you’re talking with someone, you give them your complete attention. Rather than thinking about what you want to say next, or what you’re going to be doing later, you listen to the words that they’re saying and you respond thoughtfully. When you’re the one speaking, bring enthusiasm and energy into your voice (sharing your words like a story is much more engaging), and stay mindful of the fact that it is a dialogue and not a monologue, so be willing to pass the conversation back, perhaps with a question.

Bottom Line

As you can see, it is easy to bring more mindfulness into everyday activities that you are already doing. Start by focusing on one of the habits that I mentioned today and see how it feels for you. Just remember that the ultimate goal isn’t to be perfect at this whole meditation thing, rather, it’s simply to relax your body and mind by focusing on the here-and-now.

The post 5 Ways to Turn Daily Habits Into Acts of Meditation appeared first on PaleoPlan.

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