We're really gonna do this huh?

Yea.

Jake you ready?

Evelyn, I think that's the first time you've called me by my name.

Well, I felt the need to do so once before dying.

Valid.

Evelyn and Jake are both tied up with soul energy being dragged along by Lela as she puts them down facing the headquarters for the law enforcement which looks about as big as a mansion despite being over a kilometer away.

Hey come on guys, why do your faces look like they're losing color? Evelyn, your face still looks pretty normal and expressionless as usual, but Jake why do you also look like that?

Hello? Anybody there?

Well don't worry, even if you two died I will still drag your bodies in to honor your wishes of wanting to visit.

N–no… I never wanted t–

Hush Evelyn, I get your enthusiasm but no need to be so dramatic. You ready Jake?

No not really n-

Wow, you two are particularly enthusiastic today huh? Lela smiles as she keeps dragging them towards the building.

Don't worry guys, it won't be that bad.

Really? Evelyn and Jake both ask at the same time sounding even more lifeless.

Yea, worse comes to worse, Jake gets imprisoned, his memories read and labour for a couple years, and Evelyn don't worry, even if they experiment on you I'll make sure they don't kill you.

You know, if we weren't in a novel, I bet your lines would disappear too.

…

Suddenly a black goo appears and kol materialises again.

Hey, my dear employee, I gotta borrow them. Kol says while using his goo to grab us from Lela's hands.

Don't you dar-

Lela tried to shout but kol transports us away before she can finish her sentence.

Oh wow, she really screwed you both huh? Kool looks at Evelyn and Jake still lifeless and staring into blank space.

I'll just leave Jake here, we'll be in the next room, come look for us once your uh… fixed? Kol says while dragging Evelyn into the nearby room, which looks similar to the ones Hansoo has with white tiles on every surface.

Hey Evelyn, wake up.

He knocks on her head.

Right… this isn't the first time this has happened, let me just…

He pulls out a picture of the headquarters of law enforcement and shows it to Evelyn but no reaction.

Still nothing? Then how about…

He pulls out a picture of Lela making Evelyn wake up immediately.

Crap!

Huh? Where am I? Evelyn looks at kol.

Soul energy training.

Yes, but wasn't I about to…

Yea, I saved you, you owe me one.

You are my god.

Okay, tone it down.

Fine, but what happened?

Well… I assume while you were using your soul energy to pretend to be a ghost, and your.. encounter with Lela, you messed up and some of it went into your brain.

Isn't that bad?

Yes, but not too much went in so you kinda just blacked out with your eyes open.

Oh, where's Jake?

He's in the room beside us.

Isn't he back to normal?

No.

Why?

A ghost soul energy basically makes up their body and consciousness so it's basically like their brain, so when he was pretending, he messed everything up.

Why would he pretend? He's already a ghost.

He tried pretending to be another ghost.

Who?

I don't know, I assume just anything he could get to work.

Oh anyways, what are we doing first?

First let me introduce you to a mutual acquaintance. Who?

He opens the door on the opposite side of the room, and Hansoo steps through it.

Why are you here?

Great testing opportunity.

Anyways, our training today will be based on a theory he has.

Which is?

Well, I suspect that your cells are partially made of soul energy.

Huh?

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Due to being exposed to such an excessive amount for so long, I believe that your soul energy entered your cells, causing them to adapt and become similar to soul energy.

Right, so how does this benefit me?

This is the part where we can use Hansoo's current hypothesis to try getting you to fly.

Huh?

Yes if what he says is right and your cells are similar to soul energy you could make your cells slightly lighter but changing it to a half liquid half solid form on the inside of each of your cells, leaving the outermost layer as solid.

So skin and hair solid, make everything else that's not an organ half liquid half solid stateish?

Yea, that's about it.

I'll try. Evelyn says while closing her eyes to concentrate as Hansoo prepares to take down notes.

Am I doing it?

Not yet. Kol says looking up at Evelyn flying.

You sure?

Yea, keep trying. Kol says while continuing to watch her float and nearly reach the ceiling.

Hey Hansoo, you nearly done with your observation?

Yea, and… done.

Evelyn opens your eyes!

Evelyn does so and gets surprised by her height causing her to lose concentration and fall allowing Kol to catch her.

Alright, thanks but mind putting me down now?

Sure.

Anyways, how did I float so high?

My hypothesis was right, that's how. Hansoo says without looking away from his notes somewhat in thought.

So what are you going to teach me?

Becoming a real ghost.

Huh?

Well, if your cells are half soul, half human, you can also become a ghost.

Well actually, her cells are 25 perc—

Good enough, at least for an imitation.

But why would I want to become a ghost, or at least an imitation?

Right… how that I think about it, you couldn't go through walls like ghosts can.

Ghosts can actually go through walls?

Well kinda, we make ourselves into gas or most ghosts do so that wall, or liquid, but you probably couldn't.

I definitely can't.

Then how about we practice your control?

That seems boring.

How about making food with it? But making specific tastes so you can increase your control over soul energy too.

Sure.

You like food and money, ey?

How do you know I like money?

Kol points towards Hansoo who is completely deep In thought.

Oh.

For the next few hours, Evelyn practices trying to make food, but failing to even create a shape to hold the soul energy, let alone the taste.

See, much harder than expected, this will help your soul energy control do much if you can successfully do this. Go back home first and practice before coming back.

Sure.

Oh hello Jake, I see you're finally awake.

Yea, thanks kol.

Why isn't he lost like I was?

This wasn't his first time.

Oh.

So Jake, wanna stay with me and practice soul energy?

N-

And before you finish that, please remember about my employee who's probably fuming due to me taking you guys away, so just stay here for a week ish and let Evelyn deal with the problem, hm?

Hey, I'm still right here you know?

Alright, I'll stay!

Hey Jake.

You're still calling me that?

Think of it as a kinship for having suffered together.

Sure.

Evelyn, I'll send you back, but do try avoiding her as I will not be able to help if she catches you.

Right, got it.

Kol sends Evelyn back, only to see it dark outside and Lela staring at them silently.

Hey, wanna send us back?

On it.

They whisper to each other as lol slowly sinks them in.

Kol, my dear boss, stop that or I'll spread the rumors again.

That was you?

So what?

Fine sorry Evelyn, you're on your own.

Wait!

Evelyn shouts as he disappears before turning back to Lela who has a scary and dangerous seeming smile.

We can talk about this.

No we can't.

Lela starts running at Evelyn as Evelyn runs but much slower than Lela.

Crap!! I gotta think of a way. Screw it, just gotta risk it.

Evelyn makes herself light and uses soul energy to strengthen her legs more usually and jumps very high into the sky while slowly floating back down due to her reduced weight.

I don't know how you can do that, but you aren't running away that easily.

Evelyn watches in amazement and fear as Lela jumps just at least twice as high as she did with seemingly no effort.

Crap…

Evelyn watches as Lela starts diving down at her with no way for her to avoid it.

This is gonna hurt.

Evelyn thinks as Lela crashes into her midair.

Hi Evelyn.

Hi Lela? Have you ever heard the saying that forgiveness Is a virtue?

Yea.

So how about using that piece of knowledge right now?

Don't wanna.

Hey, I know you don't feel pain from any non soul energy related injuries, but I do.

True.

Lela says while making herself light enough to hold both of them into the sky.

Give me one good reason I shouldn't drop you right now.

Uhm, does being your friend suffice?

Not even close.

If you don't drop me, I owe you one.

And you better pay up.

Lela says putting Evelyn back onto the ground.

Right, let's go home now.

Where's Jake?

Oh him, his with your employer practicing soul energy as an excuse to avoid you.

He suggested it?

No, your employer did.

Oh, I assume he left you homework.

Homework? No but he did tell me to practice something.

I knew it, what is it?

To practice making good with soul energy.

Hey Evelyn, you know that making proper soul energy food takes a couple hundred years of experience, even if you exclude all the soul energy needed, it would still take around 50 years.

Oh.. too bad, maybe I just so happen to be a genius?

In your dreams.

Let's just go back to my home…

—----------------------------------------------

Evelyn's home

—----------------------------------------------

Once she gets home, she starts practicing immediately and does so every free time she gets at home for the rest of the week, surprising Lela with the amount of progress she made as it should have taken. 10 years or longer to be so skilled.

It's not as good as those restaurant tones, but this is still amazing having only practiced a week.

Oh it's already been a week, so Jake should be back soon.

You're calling him Jake?

Oh yes, we are basically kin who have suffered the same hell together, so I'm calling him normally Now.

I'm back.

Jake's voice sounds out as he enters the room.

Ok, now go away. Lela says, swatting him away.

Hey, stop being so rude, I'll let you know that I'm stronger.

Hmm, I see my employer taught you part of his technique to naturally produce and absorb soul energy.

Exactly.

What makes you think that makes you stronger than me?

Because he said so!

Fine, let's fight then.

Jake got pummeled in 10 hits with him landing none.

The only reason you lasted 10 hits was due to me holding back to hit you more, so be grateful that I didn't finish it in one punch.

Evelyn, come join me and we'll best her!

Jake calls out as Evelyn approaches and joins the fight.

Evelyn pummeled in 11 hits.

Evelyn, I guess you are stronger, be proud of yourself. Lela says standing over them as they lie on the floor defeated completely.

Just you wait, we'll beat you eventually!

Yea, what he said!

Evelyn and Jake keep training over the next week consistently until Evelyn and properly make food and Jake accumulates enough soul energy to shoot multiple soul bullets. Lela, let's fight now, we are sure to beat you this ti-

—-------------------------------------

Wow, you two got stronger indeed. Lela says standing over them after beating them up.

Both of you lasted 12 hits, congrats.

Lela, don't you have the test with Hansoo?

Jake asks, still lying down beside her.

Oh yea… gimme a sec, I'll get back up eventually.

Later, they prepare and go back to Hansoo.

You missed last week.

Sorry.

Whatever, just come sit down, you know the drill, Evelyn sit at the center, the other two, pick a side.

Today will be a short test.

Nice.

I simply need you to stay still.

Okay?

Lela.

Yes?

Monitor where the soil energy is coming out from when it naturally leaves.

Hmm, it's hard to tell, but it seems like everywhere.

Is it less than or more than a centimeter?

Definitely less.

Okay, evelyn, seems like all the cells in your body help to accumulate soul energy too.

Huh?

Yes, it is what it is.

You sure?

No, I need you to check at home alone.

Why at home?

I'll tell you later.

You simply need to absorb energy in using every cell of your body, and remember to use soul energy to revitalise the cells to increase their sensitivity making it easier to detect.

I still don't see why I have to do this at home.

You have to be naked.

Sorry?

The amount is so less that your clothes would block soul energy from entering.

Fine, where's my payment?

I'll pay you 2500 next week if you bring the results.

Fine. Evelyn leaves reluctantly

—----------------------------------------------

Evelyn's house

—----------------------------------------------

Well, wait here I'm gonna go try it out now.

Evelyn tells Lela and Jake as she goes to the toilet and strips, preparing to try to do so.

Whew, this is gonna feel weird I assume.

She thinks as she braces herself for what's about to come.

Can't be worse than the hell I went through with Jake though.