29: Starting training
Drenak told the group, once away from everyone else, “My current power is based in a chain I wear around my waist. Normally I have it covered with my top. It is made from blessed and astral infused metal. With that attribute, I can use it on Astral based beings. I’m guessing I will develop other powers latter. The job will require it!”
Garion went next. “Limit Breaker is my power. Instead of my body getting knocked out when I receive a lot of damage, I can endure it, but at the cost of more damage latter. For example, people can normally only run so long before they need to take a rest. This is to prevent their body suffering more damage than they can safely endure. I can carry on with willpower. The cost is that it does nothing to stop the damage.”
Drenak whistled. “Damn! If you can get some power to help with recovery, things would be much better for you. In the meanwhile, get to know the Healers.”
Jane was hesitant and told them “My power is Boosted Learning. I already have an edict memory, but this helps me learn faster. It was based on my desires when the evaluation was done. I should have tried for understanding, not learning!”
They all chuckled slightly at that.
Harlen told them “My evaluator actually smiled a bit when I was checked. I think they planned for me to use my power in ways I don’t understand yet. I have low level Flame Manipulation.”
Garion frowned. “I think our powers are based on our personality. I only had stubbornness for me. That is manifested in Limit Breaker. Jane was interested in learning more, and now she can. Drenak and Harlen both already had powers, but are limited to one. They had to pick one of them, and I think they tried for something that suited them. Drenak wanted to avoid being aligned with politics, thus nothing that was part of a Domain. Harlen wants Community and maybe Partying, but is stuck with Hearth. Minor power only as I guess large scale would be too powerful. But why Flame manipulations?”
Drenak interrupted. “Er, actually, as someone who avoided getting involved with messes, I kind of didn’t have much power of my own. I was little more than an ageless man who had a talent for stonework, and that was not a power. The chain was actually the only thing I had that could be counted as a power.”
The other three looked at him in surprise.
Drenak got an idea. “Oh, I have something. Flame manipulation can be used in cooking, but also can be used for cool party tricks!”
Garion looked at him with an expression that showed his disbelief. “I doubt that was the reason they gave her the power. Maybe it’s a side benefit.”
There was nodding, and Harlen frowned. “Maybe I can cover my hands with fire to boost the damage I do in a fight?”
Jane asked “What powers did you have before?”
Harlen told her “Flame manipulation, purifying and preserving food, helping get the tastes right and making food healthier.”
Jane told her with a serious look. “Flame manipulation is the only power you had that wasn’t purely of the kitchen! They let you keep it as a chance to expand your Domain and not get trapped there!”
Garion thought for a bit. “We need to learn more about what we can do. We can experiment back in our dorms, and maybe even together in one. First we need to visit the library and see what books we can find on the subjects.”
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Harlen asked “Where can we find books on all of these powers, specifically?”
Garion frowned. “We will have to look for things that touch on them. Drenak, you will have to learn combat training for chain fighting. Harlen, Fire magic for you. Jane, since you seem focused on learning, try to look into things like investigation, research, or in our case training. Using your skill to help us learn our skills. That would be one way to help develop it. Me, I will have to learn more about the human body, what it can endure and then try it. That is probably going to suck!”
Jane asked “What do you expect for yourself?”
“Pain. I hope I develop resistances to the damage types. Hopefully I will start to recover faster as well.”
They had to concede that his training wasn’t going to be good while it was occurring.
Jane said “I know something else that might work. I my world there are something called comics. They are small books that have stories told mainly using pictures and writing to depict speech. One common type of them is superhero comics, where people have super powers. We might be able to use them to get ideas. With everything the library has, I'm sure they would have some. Finding them would be the problem.”
They were halfway there and just passing the main building when and voice they knew all too well by now called out to them “There you are! Why can’t you leave my club alone?”
The group looked at each other and Harlen asked “We didn’t do anything, I think. What happened this time?”
Sarah told them “I know you lot were involved with Felinia making that offer last night. I dare you to deny it.”
They looked at each other and shrugged. Drenak told her “We did speak with her, asking about the souls of the Faithless. We have no desire to let them suffer unfairly. We were not expecting the job offer, but after our conversation I realized I had to take it. She made me think about what drives me. Then she gave me this opportunity. Talking with her may have hastened things a bit, but I think that is all. Why? What happened?”
She glared at them “Quite a few of my members are thinking of applying as well.”
Drenak nodded. “That is good, but may put more stress on the system here. If they are trying to apply, they will need the appropriate Domains. Those Domains are not likely to match your group’s aim, I believe. Well, Refuge could be one such Domain, and I am sure there are others.”
Before Sandra could go off again, Jane told her, “Listen, we are trying to learn more about powers. However, we only really know our own powers. We think the Evaluators chose our powers based on what they could, what would help our Domain, if we had one, and then on personality and preference.”
Drenak told Sandra “I was effectively just an ageless mortal with only a magic item. That is all I have still. Harlen kept one of her powers from before, but the one most suited to her personality. Garion and Jane both got powers based on their personalities.”
Garion added his part “If the powers you have are based on your personality and Domain, if possible, then learning to use it should help you and your group.”
Jane finished with “We are on our way to the library to research. You are welcome to join us.”
Sandra was shocked by the offer. “Join you? But why would I do that?”
Jane smiled a bit. “My power helps me learn things faster. Boosted Learning. If I find out about what your power is I can practice it by helping you. We also don’t want to risk it causing problems, considering the probable nature of power.”
Sandra froze. “What do you know about my power?”
Jane smiled a little bit. “You want to draw groups together. You want to influence people. You want to change how people think. All powers that would be subtle, yet powerful, and which can massive harm if you mess up while experimenting. You may not have them, but those are potentially powers you may have. Or you might have something more direct and apparent.”
Garion frowned. “Now, now. If she could influence people like that, she would be able to draw people back to her group faster and not be so angry with us.”
Addressing Sandra he added, “You and your group are welcome to join us in studying, if you agree to do so in peace.”
She stood there with her mouth slightly open for a few seconds before her brain caught up. “What are you planning?”
Garion told her “Nothing much. If you work with us, you and your people can get to know us, and understand we mean you no harm. Why would we? We come from different worlds, and must each follow our own courses. When we finish here we may never see each other again. The offer stands, but we need to go before others crowd the library themselves.”
He led his group away from there. Sandra was just standing where they left her in shock for a while until a morbidly obese woman came over to her.