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A man runs on a treadmill covered in all kinds of wire and a mask. All of them measure everything from his vitals to his oxygen intake, even sensors weighing and analyzing his sweat. They even had him in some kind of special white paper one-piece outfit they were to take and analyze after. A familiar scientist stands next to him with a clipboard. While another scientist led a group of five other individuals, Zephyr was informed that they were grad students monitoring the equipment and data.

One month had passed since the awakening event, as people had started calling it. There was some discussion, or more arguing on what was actually happening to people; other terms thrown out were going through judgment, blossoming, experience their rapture—which was popular among the more religious people—, ignition, opening the third eye, none of which gained popularity, and before long everyone was already referring to it as an awakening or the awakening event. Except that was a misnomer, as people were still awakening all over the world. However, it had now slowed to a trickle, only a few thousand a day compared to the first day, when nearly seventy percent of the world experienced the event.

While the world was still reeling from the chaos created, everything was different and, oddly, still the same. People had been scoured to their core, their personalities drastically changed, and then the world went on—the same yet changed. People still went to work; school had started back up for the children the week before.

It was strange how normal everything was. The only difference was people now went through a rather forced and invasive therapy session with themselves, around the ages of twenty-five and twenty-seven, and could feel something deep within their souls, which has most popularly been called a skill. This was the exact reason Zephyr was there; at the moment, all he knew was his had something to do with running.

Zephyr had done a lot of soul-searching after his little…episode, and he wanted to do something about it for once. Not just wait in the background while information trickled out. Not to mention, he suddenly had a lot of time; it turns out punching your boss, no matter how traumatic, makes finding a new job hard. Not to mention remembering that most scientific studies happen not at some shady off-grid building but at research colleges. He called around, and after a few administrators laughing in his face, he finally found himself on a treadmill hooked up to all these machines. All in the effort to see what his skill did before and after he leveled it.

They were going all in on the game terms for now. Will it be Mana Core or something next week? Though he doubted it would change, as the lead scientist, Tim, explained, “Skill makes the most sense so far. It’s different for everyone and seems to also be triggered by different forms of stimuli. In your instance, running. Mine is meditation. As for the game terms, it's simple: people easily have a frame of reference, it’s easy to understand, and so far, there is a clear delineation between levels that we are able to quantify. That and we’re all nerds, so why not?”

The last portion made him laugh.

“How you holding up Zephyr?” Tim asked.

He hated this portion it was taking everything to just keep breathing while running on the damn thing, “Fine.” One-word answers so he wouldn’t snap and could keep his breathing pattern, never mind the stitch in his side.

“Only thirty more seconds.” Tim tried to say reassuringly. Zephyr, for his part, was staring down at the countdown on the screen. He’d been running for the last ten minutes. His body was not in shape for running that much.

“And time.” The sound of the treadmill slowed as Zephyr stumbled to a stop. Gulping deep breaths of air, all the grad students moved quickly, checking machines and removing all the tubes and wires. Another started to take more accurate readings, and another began to draw blood while he was still on the treadmill.

“This is getting us amazing data, Zephyr.” Zephyr looked up, blinking away the exhaustion. “You are one of only a handful of people we could find that had not yet leveled or reentered their rift, or is its portal?” Tim turned to the other lead Scientist, who was looking over a screen. “Jake, did we settle on whether we’re referring to it as a rift or a portal?”

The only reason Zephyr had actually been accepted into the study was he had yet to increase his skill level or body because, apparently, there was an option to level yourself up. Zephyr had been floored when he learned that. He just thought he would re-experience that horrible event, leaving him justifiably paranoid despite the fact that it seemed to be building like a building pressure in his stomach. The scientist, Tim, was extra excited about this pushing for him to get into testing as soon as possible.

Jake stared at the screen as he answered, “Right now, for people, we are calling them portals.”

“For people?” Zephyr asked, confused.

“Just a precaution for now.” Tim waved away the question.

That did little to ease his worries. While he was waiting for the grad students and another scientist to get their data, “So, I've been curious: what does my skill actually do? I mean, I know it’s something with running, but—”

“Doesn’t feel any different?”

Zephyr shook his head. “And the Internet is all over the place.”

“That’s about what we’ve gotten from most people. So far, all we’ve figured out is that each skill has more to do with breathing than whatever you think it is. Running, you breathe better, meditate, you breathe clearer; training, like Jake over there, you control your breathing better. It’s just which activity you breathe better doing.”

“Breathing?”

“It’s very important to breathe right for extended physical activity. As to why? Still figuring that out.”

“Cultivation!” Jake yelled.

Tim rolled his eyes, “Magic!” He bit back.

Turning back to Zephyr, Tim excitedly said, “You are a rare specimen. You are the first one we have for a real baseline test. Before and after a skill level up.” He shook his head, “I only wish we also had a baseline before the awakening. And —no offense— with you being overweight, we can get more Data just on if skills will affect weight loss or leveling.”

“Tim!” Jake reprimanded.

“What?” He said, annoyed, “It's not going to affect his data. We aren’t testing that with him.”

Zephyr laughed. Obviously, he was overweight, and if it helped people, then that was even better. “I’m just glad I wasn’t the only one who awakened. I thought I was going insane when it happened.”

“I know, right? I was streaming, so I knew people wouldn’t fully think me insane. I just wish people would believe us. Hell, my own brother actually thinks this is some weird hoax or prank I’m somehow playing on him. He’s only twenty-three, so he doesn’t get it yet. No matter how I try to explain it.”

“That has to be tough.”Zephyr commiserated.

“Well, what can you do? Now.” He said as the last of the equipment was taken off Zephyr. “Now that we have all the baseline information, let’s get you changed and put into your portal.”

Zephyr felt a chill at the idea and thought the scientist was way too cheery for what was in the portal.

#

A video shows a man standing in a completely white room wearing a fresh white thin cloth outfit. With nothing else around. The screen shows only the man, who is standing there fidgeting nervously. The screen paused.

From off-screen, Tim’s voice said, “He was unsurprisingly nervous for his first opening. But could you blame the guy? Oh, and yes, I got permission from the subject himself to post this. So don’t worry.” After that comment, the video continued.

-Click-“Please state your full name. Your current body level, skill level, and name, and what you’re doing.” -Click- Tim’s voice echoed in the room.

“My name is Zephyr Rye. Body and skill level one. Skill is running. I will be opening my portal, and instead of funneling the…” He turned directly towards the camera, “Are we really calling it experience?”

-Click-“For now. Energy is also accurate if you would prefer that.”-Click-

Letting out a sigh, “No. If we’re going with game terms, then at least it’s on theme. Ehem I will funnel experience into my skill instead of my body. Which I have been informed will be something I will instinctively know how to do?”

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Zephyr stood there breathing shakily, “You know I could be the one you test how long before we’re forced to open the portal.”

-Click-“Sorry, we have a different test group for that. But I imagine the pressure right now is pretty unbearable.”-Click-

With one last big inhale, “Opening portal in three, two, one.” A timer began as the portal engulfed, taking Zephyr with it. Leaving only a white room behind. The video paused again. “This is just a bit of dead air here. And now.”

The video resumed at normal speed as Zephyr Zephyr reappeared looking confused, with the timer stopped at exactly five minutes.

“Why is it always five minutes?” The off-screen voice of Tim commented. “We have no idea.”

#

The video cuts to a new, less sterile room, looking more like an empty office with a table and two chairs. The camera focused on the table and empty chairs. A clipboard sitting in front of one of the chairs. Tim enters the frame, helping Zephyr into the room. Zephyr looked more annoyed than in pain. His feet seemed to stumble and fumble as he tried and failed to walk.

Zephyr was no longer in the white paper onesie but now in a regular pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoodie, as Tim was in his same lab coat and casual wear underneath.

The two settled into the chairs, and Tim smiled, “Thanks for your patience.”

“Thanks for letting me put my clothes back on.” Replied tiredly.

“All for the Data. Speaking of—now, it has been approximately five minutes since you have exited your portal. Would you please detail your inside experience?”

“That—That is a bit hard to explain.” Zephyr struggled, “I honestly don’t know if it is possible to describe what it was like.”

-Scritch-scratch- “Please just do your best.” Tim replied, writing something down on his clipboard.

Zephyr gathered his thoughts as he started slowly, “When I entered my portal. I…Felt—Well? Me.”

Tim raised an eyebrow, “You? You met yourself?” -Scritch-scratch-

“No—Yes? Kind of. Ok sorry. Let me start again. When I entered my portal, I felt like I was both inside of myself and outside. Like—oh! I know. It was like a version of me was sitting there, and I was a ball of energy sitting inside, or maybe my consciousness was.” Zephyr shook his head. “Either way doesn’t matter. As that ball of energy, I felt I could either let myself expand—No. Saturate? Or maybe fill? The entire version of my body, or there was something there deeper inside, something much smaller.”

-Scritch-scratch- “And would you know where that might be located?”

“Maybe. It was all abstract, but…my best guess is somewhere around my belly button.”

-Scritch-scratch- “Thank you. Please go on.”

“Since I am focusing on the skill, not my body, I pushed, well more guided, the energy inside the skill. Then it got weird.”

“Weird?” The scratch of the pen stopped for the first time, “Did you not experience your memories since you last entered?”

“No, I did. Except, it was like every memory was hyper-focused on running.”

Tim leaned forward, an excited gleam in his eyes, “Could you elaborate?”

“It was like…showing me how my every step was either right or wrong. How the step felt, from the way I bent my foot to how each toe curled, how high my legs lifted, to how and when I bent my knees. It even showed how my body itself moved, compensating, down to how I tensed or relaxed my muscles. Not to mention how, where, and when my eyes focused on something. Every little thing was about how I was running or walking. Everything.”

-Scritch-scratch-scratch-scratch-Scritch- Tim frantically wrote on his clipboard before looking up. “What about the things that had nothing to do with running over the last month? Like when you spoke with someone or lazed around the house?”

“That’s where it gets odd. It was like the energy hyper-focused on running; the others were there but—faded.—yes, faded or muted. Like they just weren’t as important.”

“Fascinating. And you leveled your skill?”

“Yes, twice.”

-Scritch-scratch-“And what was leveling like?”

“It was—” Zephyr’s voice trailed off as he struggled to explain, “Wait. Let’s start with imagining the skill as an orb inside. It was like…as I examined myself through the skill, the orb seemed to fill up with knowledge and energy. Until it popped or leveled, only to find the orb was also inside another orb. All the experience expanded into the new orb. At least, that’s the closest example I can give. Then it repeated when I had enough to fill it again.”

-Scritch-scratch- “Now you said energy and knowledge?”

“Yeah. It was like the energy was only part of it; the closer I examined my movements, the denser my core became. Like I was priming the skill with energy, and then the knowledge was a multiplier— no more like a catalyst? Or maybe the other way around? Honestly, Experience is probably the best description.”

-Scritch-scratch- “And if you had a bunch of energy but sat around for a month, do you think it might still level?”

“Maybe?” Zephyr sat there in quiet thought before, “But I feel it would need to be a lot of energy. If at all.”

Tap-Tap-Tap- The sound of the pen on the clipboard emphasized Tim’s thoughtful look, “With all that said, seeing as the memories were more focused, would you say that the same phenomenon of impartiality was there?”

“It was. It was like an intense study session that I now can’t get out of my head. Now, I’m having trouble moving because I can’t stop thinking about every little thing I’m doing wrong. I feel like if I were back in college, I could probably write an entire paper on what might make their perfect run…for me.” Realizing what he said, a look of horror passed over him. “Please don’t make me write that.”

Tim laughed, “Don’t worry, we won’t. Now we just need to run a few more tests.” -Scritch-scratch-

The door opened as Jake walked in with a wheelchair. “Figured you might need some help.”

#

The video cut to Zephyr rag-dolling off the treadmill again on the treadmill before getting helped back up. “Maybe let’s start a bit slower.”

“Just stop thinking about it.”

I can’t. It’s like when someone points out there's no comfortable place for your tongue to sit in your mouth. Suddenly, you can’t stop noticing it.” Two of the grad students in the background visibly paused what they were doing. Their mouths moved like suddenly they noticed their own tongues. “I just need to move; I’ll get it in a minute.” Zephyr finished stumbling to stand back up.

The video cuts to Zephyr barely walking before freezing. “It took us almost ten minutes of constant attempts for him to be able to walk again barely. Running was even worse. It was not what any of us expected, but that’s what makes great science.” Tim’s voice came from off-screen.

The video began to play again, “Time.” Everyone in the room moved, unhooking Zephyr. He looked more frazzled and disheveled than he had after his first run.

“So what’s the diagnosis, doc? Will I have to relearn to walk every time I level my skill?”

“I don’t think so, but it is possible.” The smile on Zephyr’s face turned to concern as Tim continued, “I think there will be a bit of adjustment, but we don't believe so. Since you will be building off this.” Tim turned to Zephyr. I’m no expert at the proper form for running, but I could tell you everything about your walk and your failed running attempt. I believe once you’re able to get your feet under you, you might even be faster and more efficient.

“Neat. Any idea’s how much faster?”

“All depends on you. Like everything, it will require practice, but if you do, I imagine that what you described is accurate. It will be like your training with the most dedicated Olympic coach.”

“That’s pretty cool and all, but…why? What’s the point of being able to run better.”

“No idea. We still don’t know why this is happening. We may never know. Right now, we’re just trying to get on top of the changes.” Tim looked at Jake before leaning in with a smile, “But I should also tell you, other than your weight, it actually looks like you're healthier than when you went in. Although it is very minor and will need further verification. But otherwise, very promising.”

“Wow,” Zephyr replied sarcastically.

Missing the sarcasm, “Exactly! This is going to revolutionize—probably the wrong term— everything. If the growing pattern continues, people will live longer, healthier lives. It’s amazing!”

The video seemed to fast forward as Tim’s voice came from offscreen, “Ok, this is just a lot of questions and answers and other information. But really exciting, right? What other kinds of benefits are we getting? ” The video zoomed through, showing the two conversing as Zephyr was fully unhooked. The two laugh and are deep in discussion. “I should just cut to the next portion, but this is more fun.” The video slowed after blood was taken from Zephyr, “That better not get me demonetized.” Finally, the video started back up with only Tim and Zephyr left.

“Now for this study.” Tape Tim began. “Please do not open the portal until you come in for more testing next week. Go about your day like normal, and jog for at least…” He paused to look at his clipboard. “Thirty minutes a day. Do you think you can do that?

“Is it ok if I do more?”

“Yes, that’s fine. Just at least thirty minutes. Now for my new favorite part.” Tims's hand seemed to warp reality as his hand moved, prismatic energy dancing along his fingers before a small crystal formed in his hand.

“Holy shit.” Zephyr was wide-eyed as he stared at the crystal.

“Let me give you a quest,” he said, slightly out of breath, his hand a little shaky as he held it toward Zephyr with a smug smile.

Tentatively, he reached out and touched it. Zephyr seemed to freeze, his eyes growing even more expansive. Then, the gem floated out of his hand and into the air behind him. Zephyr stood and fumbled, moving around as the crystal followed. “Holy shit.”

Tim laughed, “Yeah, I thought the same; we stumble on it. Just strongly desire whatever you need to be done, and then reach out. I know it doesn't make much sense until it does.” He said cryptically before the video cut to Tim alone in his lab coat, with a sizeable floppy wizard hat on his head and standing in an office.

“That was quite fascinating, wasn’t it? This was the first-ever video record of what leveling a skill was really like. I forgot how much we recorded; now I‘m sure many of you lovely people are wondering what that little bit at the end was, and others may already know.

“Now, I thought about making another video solely on quests, but we have so little information that I thought it would be good to recap here, and I’ll split this section for all you lovely people curious about quests.” He pulled out a little box with three little clear crystals lying in a box. Pulling one out and looking through it.

“See, right now, you may see a friend or family member with a little gem,” The camera cut to focus on the crystal. “much like this, floating behind them. Maybe it glows, or maybe it doesn’t. See, when a quest crystal is created by the desire of the quest giver, the gem itself is inactive. That is until you accept the task.” The crystal floated out of his hand and began to float behind him.

“Now, how might one know what the task is? Simple. The goal or task appears in the recipient's mind when you grab a crystal. As impressions of the giver’s desire. So they will always know the quest is.”

The camera zoomed on his face as he exclaimed, “AMAZING! Isn’t it? Although I personally would like a nice tidy screen explaining it, it’s still fascinating. And here’s the kicker. Unawakened people can accept them, too. A bit of magical proof.” The video cuts to him sitting seriously in his office chair. “Now we don’t know the effect on unawakened. So please be careful giving quests to those unawakened until we have more information. As for awakened, when completed, they glow and can be broken. When they do, they transfer a bit of energy to them. Which we believe can be used to level up. Just like a video game.”

He turned serious again, “There is one side effect that we can confirm for the quest giver: it hits like a mule. Costing your own energy, you feel very drained for a few minutes afterward, like recovering after a fast sprint. We can confirm there are no short-term detriments or benefits from giving them. Please proceed with caution.”

Tim bowed with a sweeping flourish of his hat. “With that, I would like to thank you for joining us today, and I hope you’ll join us as we explore our new magical world. +So please like and subscribe and hit that notification bell for the latest and greatest of Cultivating Magic.”

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