Two days later.
Jean was following the martial forms as closely as he could while suppressing his aura. Meanwhile, next to him Tigris went through the same forms, more smoothly than humanly possible, in Jean’s opinion.
“My legs are killing me. Could we take a break?” Jean asked his teacher.
Tigris clearly didn’t want to respond, with his eyes closed he said, “No.”
“Alrighty then,” Jean said with shaking legs. He had been going through the same cycle of motions for the last two hours. Tigris had been most concerned about Jean keeping his aura retracted in various situations; he had been exhausting Jean with exercises, sparring, meditative forms, and an occasional aura blast to force him off kilter. It had been about the same thing for the last two days. Gabe was supposed to be back from a long patrol in 20 hours, and Tigris had been pushing for some sort of milestone.
Fifteen minutes later Jean collapsed. “Sorry, sorry. I’m getting up.”
“This is fine. Your aura remained steady as you fell. I think it’s time for a different training outside of this cell. Follow.” Tigris commanded.
Jean felt a burst of excitement relieve his tender muscles. Three days in a prison cell was wearing him down, even though his cell walls and ceiling have been opaquely transparent giving him beautiful views every day. Tigris walked out of the cell leaving the door open behind him.
Jean stepped onto a white catwalk, immediately experiencing vertigo, viewing the layered city below.
“Come now young one,” Tigris said.
Jean followed at a slow pace. He was excited to finally be able to see a city and more people. He had been interested in seeing different species of people, but he’d only interacted with three humans so far. Well, there was a cloud person, but he found out that it was a familiar of the founder. So, that had hardly counted, interesting as it was.
As Jean walked along the catwalk attached to the cloud dome, he approached the castle portion of the city. The city was named the City in the Sky. The name felt more or less fitting at different moments. Now was one of those moments that it felt like the right name. He walked miles above the people below. However, now that Jean was looking downward he realized that there were very few people walking about the city.
“We are nearly there,” Tigris warned, “it is imperative that you do not speak in the temple halls, and even more important that you do not release your aura. I am bringing you to a meditation hall where many actively meditate. The castle’s senior monk has an aura ability that makes aura training more effective while you are in his aura. That’s where you will start to look into your soul and tame your essence abilities. That is the only instruction I will give you on this matter.”
Jean nodded his consent even though Tigris was still walking in front of him. Jean learned that Tigris was easier to deal with if he just silently agreed to everything. The last couple of days had been fruitful largely due to Jean’s silent submission. There will be a time when I can ask Gabe and my Transcendent Conscience questions. For now, I’ve got to suck it up and shut up. Sheesh, I miss my relaxed lifestyle. Where’s Minecraft when you need it?
They approached the top of the cloud castle, its gravity-defying spires flowing up into the cloud dome. They came to a set of double doors that swung open to reveal a maze of hallways going down deeper into the castle. Tigris strode down one of a dozen halls without hesitation. Jean followed with his neck craning. The hallway was a gallery of war scenes between people, races, and creatures. He could have learned tons about this world if he had had the time.
The halls wound down with doors dotting the path very occasionally until the hall opened up into a vast cathedral. In it, dozens of people sat cross-legged atop pillows and pillars in four lines. Jean gaped at the statuesque figures. Surprisingly there were very few humans. Staggered in form, there were people with black skin with molten vines and cracks, people with salty skin and white hair, lion-inspired people, scaled dragon people, marine people, and at the center of the hall, there was a strange humanoid with shimmering amber carapace and ant antennae. The thing in the middle had very little feature to its face like someone drew a face on a melon with closed eyes.
Jean was getting a hang of identifying auras while he was retracted. This ant being in the center of the room captured all of Jean’s senses. His aura was the most comforting thing Jean had ever felt. Around the person dotted a circumference of gold spirit coins along with several essences and awakening stones.
Your aura strength has been bolstered. You have been blessed with Warming Peace. Your ability to focus on aurae and spiritual forces has increased.
Tigris leaned over to Jean’s ear and whispered, “That is master Fimoe. You may approach him and grab a couple of awakening stones that are beside him, then return to this corner. I will place you, then leave you to work for four hours.”
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Jean nodded nervously while taking steps toward the center of the room, with 100 yards to walk. No one moved or opened their eyes while Jean approached. Jean looked around at some of the different people, but his focus had been arrested by master Fimoe. When Jean was about ten feet away he was close enough to see its face. It seemed peaceful with a light smile on its featureless face.
Jean bent down and grabbed the two closest awakening stones to him, before backing away, his face still staring at Fimoe.
Would you like to absorb awakening stone of control?
Would you like to absorb awakening stone of peace?
Jean waited on absorbing the awakening stones and continued to back up.
As he stared at Fimoe he thought he saw a flitter around him. Jean paused staring more intently to see what was around Fimoe. Focusing, he started to see his aura around him come into existence. Jean wasn’t sure if he was seeing with his eyes or his aura, but his focus increased with Fimoe’s blessing. Jean saw inside of master Fimoe’s aura,
Fimoe kicking a ball around in a yellow field?
Fimoe cracked open one of his eyes to see a human boy, about seventeen with light brown skin, black hair, and almond-colored eyes. He was frozen in front of him, staring. Fimoe’s aura sense could follow magic being used from miles away and could even identify essences and abilities in whomever with a glance.
Fimoe spoke for the first time in 20 years with a voice so soft and comforting it caused Jean to smile, “Hmm, you are peering into my soul? Fun.” With those words, Fimoe closed his eye and continued his meditation.
Jean was smiling until he turned to walk away. His gaze landed on the dozens of people meditating in the room. Everyone had their eyes wide open, even some mouths gaped, fixed on Jean.
Jean kept his mouth shut as he quickly and quietly walked back to Tigris. Jean was staring at the floor to dodge the looks that were being thrown at him. The comfortable silence from before felt condemning now.
Once Jean reached Tigris he looked up at his mentor. Tigris’s gaze was indiscernible as he led him to a sitting pillow the size and shape of a dog bed. He motioned at the cushion and Jean sat. Before anything could be communicated with eye contact, Tigris was walking away to the exit.
Ok. Only four hours of meditating before I can slam my head into a hole in the ground.
Jean thought that four hours would feel like a lifetime, but with the soothing aura of Fimoe, he quickly centered himself, feeling the essences intertwining in his soul. He could feel each ability he had gained like a wild animal inside him needing soothing and care. He focused on his first ability Bone Spear. It felt unruly, so Jean visualized how it was used, and came to terms with what the spear could punch through and how it could cut with its tip.
After some time acquainting himself with the ability, his Transcendence Conscience gave an interesting message.
Bone Spear, Iron Rank 1 has grown to Iron Rank 2. Reach tier 9.99 to achieve Bronze Rank in this ability.
Jean’s body glowed a light blue for a moment and a light wave of his aura pulsed around him.
Unsure if he would get in trouble for letting his aura slip, Jean continued his meditation. Over the next three hours, Jean got several more notifications.
Bone Growth, Iron Rank 1 has grown to Iron Rank 2. Reach tier 9.99 to achieve Bronze Rank in this ability.
Fields of Discord, Iron Rank 1 has grown to Iron Rank 2. Reach tier 9.99 to achieve Bronze Rank in this ability.
Wellspring of Purity, Iron Rank 1 has grown to Iron Rank 2. Reach tier 9.99 to achieve Bronze Rank in this ability.
Cloud Conjuration, Iron Rank 1 has grown to Iron Rank 2. Reach tier 9.99 to achieve Bronze Rank in this ability.
Each time Jean felt an ability rank up he tried to hold his aura in and felt guilty when he couldn’t. The only thing that eased his mind was that near the end of his time he felt a similar, though far higher in quality, wave of aura come from another person on his side of the room.
The time went by very quickly in Jean’s opinion, and so he was surprised when Tigris tapped his shoulder without warning. Jean got up and followed Tigris out.
After several minutes of walking through the winding corridor, Jean spoke. “That was extraordinary. Master Fimoe was so powerful and strange. What species is he?”
“He is an Antinium.” Tigris said, “His race is one of many nearly extinct species.”
“Extinct!” Jean shouted, “But he was so powerful. How could that happen?”
“The continent where his people are from was destroyed during the diamond wars,” Tigris said with sadness. “There are only a few of his kind left, and no female’s that we know of. Fimoe has actually dedicated himself to peace and the art of soulscaping. You are the first he has spoken to in quite a few years.”
Jean was taken aback but what Tigris said. “Really? Why?”
“You tell me. He said you were peering into his soul. But that’s not a known essence ability, at least under gold rank and without complex ritual magic.”
“I’m not sure. I was just staring at his aura until I sort of saw him playing kickball or something.”
“Kick-ball?”
“Yeah. Unless he was playing soccer or something. I bet you guys have all sorts of different sports.”
“I’m sorry, but what you are saying isn’t making much sense. Fimoe was playing a kid's game?”
“Yeah. Just like, kicking a ball around for fun.” Jean said, not understanding the disconnect in communication.
Tigris stopped walking and looked at Jean with serious eyes. There might have been a bit of sadness in there too. “Keep that to yourself, if you don’t mind. Now, look at me like you looked at Fimoe.” Tigris said while they were still standing in the middle of the hallway.
“Yeah, ok.” Jean wasn’t sure what was going on, but he obediently took in Tigris. Jean focused on his aura but worked hard to see beyond it. Slowly an image of a bright sword being pierced into a void came into view around Tigris.
Around? No, the image was inside of Tigris.
Jean said, “I see a light-sword piercing a black hole?”
Tigris looked at Jean with concern. “I’m not sure how you have this ability. It isn’t an outworlder ability I think. At least, nothing like that has happened according to our records. You are seeing my soul. That isn’t a normal thing people can do.”
Jean’s confusion dropped away with his heart sinking to his gut. “I think I know how I got this ability. What do you know about titles?”
Tigris responded, “Titles are given with great or unique feats, similar to racial evolutions. You have gained a title that gave you an ability to see souls?”
“I think I got the title First World Eater,” Jean said with fear.