The master's dwelling was surprisingly cozy and no so very different from the nests on Uxel's homeworld. Uxel was slightly comforted by this. Perhaps it would make her stay feel like less of a chore. Achushnet poured two glasses of amber colored liquid and handed one of them to her. Uxel took a sip. It had an earthy tasted and burned going down but creating a pleasing warming sensation inside her stomach. Interesting.
Achushnet pointed to a chair and sat down on the piece of furniture opposite. "You are not used to alcoholic drinks I take it. How old are you, Uxel? You seem young."
"By my people's standards I have been an adult for several years. According to the Standard Timeline I am seventeen." She looked at the indicated chair. "Do you mind if I perch? Sitting like a human is... uncomfortable."
"Make yourself at home. So tell me, what do you know of the tuning system?"
"Just rumors and legends mostly. I'm sure none of it is accurate."
"Rumors and legends can usually trace their source to fact. Tell me anyway."
"Well, just that tuners are masters of an ancient power. They have learned to control themselves to tap into this power. They usually wield weapons called resonators. They have their own code and are usually admired but also sometimes feared. Certainly a force to be reckoned with."
"On a very basic level, everything you have said is so far correct."
Uxel was intrigued. "So you can control an ancient power?"
"Not exactly control. We learn to work with the power behind the universe."
"What do you mean?"
"We long ago discovered that everything in the universe has its own natural vibrations, no matter how faint. You, me, a rock, this planet... we all vibrate with energy. These vibrations are part of what makes us what we are. For example, every species vibrates at a different frequency. So in that sense, a species is the same. But every individual will have slight variations."
"Frequency?"
"How fast or slow the vibrations are. Fire has a very high frequency, it's particles move quickly which is why we feel its warmth. Ice has a lower frequency, it's particles have slowed down in the freezing process."
"How can tuners control this, though?"
"I said already, we don't. But we can work with our surroundings. First a tuner must master themselves. You will have to discover your body's natural frequency. Once you know that, you can learn to temporarily increase or decrease that frequency level which will allow you to interact with objects in different ways."
Uxel puzzled over this. "How would it be different?"
"Well, if ice has a lower natural frequency and you apply a high frequency force to it, what would happen?"
"I could melt it!"
"Or shatter it. Or make it change to steam. It depends on how precise you are."
"When do we start?"
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