Alexander and Roman took the camera and went into the yard. The surroundings of the city seemed calm, ordinary, but they knew that this was only the surface appearance. Alexander and Roman began recording their workouts, experimenting with new abilities. Alexander showed how he could manipulate the wind, and Roman tried to repeat it, but like last time, nothing worked. But the result of Alexander himself was significantly better compared to last time. Now, with the strengthening of his soul, he could knock over a log from a woodpile with just the power of the wind.
- As I said, wind is clearly not my element, what about fire? - Roman put the digital camera on the pole, checking that it was recording, and then approached his friend in anticipation.
Alexander carefully removed the artifact from his body, and Roman involuntarily recoiled in surprise when he saw a skull with pins slowly crawl out of his friend’s head. The scene was both eerie and mesmerizing. The process itself was short-lived, but the guy was impressed and asked the camera to explain how it works and to show the gift itself on camera.
- Fine. - Alexander approached the camera, holding the artifact with his bare hand, or so it seemed. In fact, the skull was packed with soul power that was simply not noticeable. - This is the gift of Fireball. I found it in Grani. Anyone can find such gifts. Also, creatures of the Edge can offer you any gift. In my case, it's an old man in sunglasses. His name is Charon. I don’t advise you to agree to everything, he, like all merchants, will try to deceive you. The gift itself, if you want to absorb it, you just need to take it in your hands, then it will be absorbed into your body. I think this will be more clearly shown on Roman. But if you want to give it to someone. Then you need to wrap the object with the power of your soul so that it does not touch your body and simply wish for it to take its place in the repository of souls. I will talk about this and everything else in the process. Are you ready?
Of course I'm ready, thanks for the detailed information. - Roman commented, looking steadily at the skull.
Alexander, holding the skull in his hands, began to explain:
“When you swallowed it, you had to pay close attention to how it moved inside your body.” This is important for the further development and control of the gift. Leave everything behind and watch him.
- Listen, why did you decide to give it to me? This is an opportunity to create fireballs. A power unknown to ordinary people, isn’t it? - Roman asked, looking at his comrade.
- You said you wanted to do cool things. - Alexander smiled. - What could be cooler than a fireball that you can control? You will be like your favorite superheroes.
Roman responded with an enthusiastic look and gratitude. He took the skull in his hands and began the process of absorbing the artifact. At first it was strange and a little scary, especially when the veins in his body turned black, but Roman concentrated on the process, following Alexander's advice.
- Watch the flow of energy. Imagine and feel how it passes from your hands to your brain. How new energy is concentrated there. - Alexander directed him.
After a few tense minutes the process was completed. Roman opened his eyes, and something new and powerful flashed in them.
- Do you feel it? - asked Alexander.
- Yes, it's incredible! - Roman exclaimed. “It’s like I have a whole new source of strength.” I feel its vibration in my brain.
- Now you can control the fire. But remember, this is a big responsibility. I mean, don't set the house on fire. - Alexander warned, after which he laughed.
- I'll be careful. Things don't matter. It would be nice if I didn’t incinerate any people. - Roman said, his eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation of new opportunities.
Roman began experimenting with Fireball. At first he tried to concentrate, slowing his breathing and imagining fire in his palm. Several times nothing happened, only warmth flowed through his veins, but then Roman felt heat arising inside his hand.
- Alex, something is happening! - he exclaimed, looking at his hand in amazement. The skin turned purple, as if it had been scalded. - It's hot!
- Don't panic, just relax and try to channel that heat. - Alexander advised. - Imagine that you are throwing a ball.
Roman concentrated and waved his hand as if throwing a ball. A small ball of flame shot out from his palm and headed straight towards the woodpile, causing an instant explosion of fire. Roman screamed and shook his hand, trying to cool it from the subsiding heat. A small flame managed to create such an explosion. The woodpile had scattered and was now burning and smoking
- It was amazing! - he exclaimed, looking at the fire that was now burning near his house - Yes, now I’m definitely a super hero. Call me Torch.
- I'll make do. - Alexander walked up to Roman and put his hand on his shoulder. - This is a powerful gift, Roman. But be careful. We do not know all the consequences of using such force. We need more understanding and control. Otherwise, one day you will burn out and burn yourself. So more training!
Roman nodded, still feeling a slight heat on his hand.
- Understood. I'll be more careful. But this is incredibly cool! Tell?! Oh, we need to put out the fire!
With these words, Roman and Alexander ran to get water from the barrels, putting out the flaring fire. Afterwards they had a snack, looked at their handiwork and returned to training.
As their training continued, they began to discover new aspects of their abilities. Alexander learned to direct the wind so that it muffles the sounds around him, creating a kind of isolated space. Roman could not shout to Alexander, just as Alexander’s words did not reach Roman’s ears. Wind was a good tool in this regard, being surprisingly easy to control and able to create a small storm zone around the user.
Roman discovered that the strength of the flame directly depends on how much energy he contributes as a gift. Of course, at first Alexander said that it was generally possible to do this, which yielded the first results very quickly. On his first try, Roman created a ball twice the size, which is why there was nothing left of the woodpile. Only smoke and ashes.
- Well, you told me to take the power of the soul and direct it as a gift, and then immediately transform it into fire! So I did it. - Roman made excuses not because of the woodpile, but because of the injuries and burns that he received after passing so much force through his body. They had to urgently put out the fire, then treat and bandage Roman’s hands. And the worst thing is that the guy spent all his reserves of souls and could no longer train. He tried several more times, but his reserve was empty and he went to the camera, deciding to see what they were filming.
- It all looks incredible! - Roman exclaimed, reviewing the recordings on the camera. - We can really make a difference. I'll prepare the notes. I’ll create a forum and make manuals on strength. Alex, we can really change the world and help many people.
Alexander nodded, looking at the sky, which seemed the same as always, but at the same time so alien that it was even strange.
- Yes we can. And we must be prepared for any changes. The world will no longer be the same. And people will not be the same.
After Roman ran out of strength to train, Alexander decided to explore his new abilities alone. Returning to the house, he went to the mirror, peering into his reflection. He tried to concentrate, remembering how he had hidden in the Edge. How he hid the Skeleton Executioner and how he didn’t see him. Gradually, he found that feeling and mood from which his gaze stubbornly eluded his own reflection. It was strange and made him feel out of place.
- For some reason it’s not pleasant... I wonder how it works with the camera? - Alexander ran out into the street, where his friend was still reviewing the recordings, thinking about the future editing. - Roma, let's try something new. I have the ability to slip under the radar. I want to know how this will work electronically. Film me!
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Roman, still smiling from the previous delight of watching the recordings, pressed record. Alexander concentrated and tried to activate his ability. Frames flashed on the camera screen, but when Alexander used his ability, the image on the screen seemed strange and incomplete. As if the technology itself could not catch the young man. Roman looked as shocked as possible.
- Dude. You found a forest of gifts there. Where do so many cool things come from?!
- There are only two of them, I just use them differently. Show me what happened.
When Roman stopped the recording and started playback, they both watched as the frames where Alexander should be seemed to be skipped, slightly distorted. In general, it seemed that they had worked with the recording, and in a very rude manner, removing a person from it. It was incredible and scary at the same time. Alexander was in the video, but his presence was seemingly erased.
- This is incredible. - Roman muttered, digesting what he saw. - Your ability makes you invisible not only to the eye, but also to digital cameras. Damn, if we were bad people, we would take advantage of such a gift. But we're not bad people, are we?
Alexander shook his head, thinking deeply about the possibilities and consequences of his gift.
This might come in handy. With this ability, I can not only find Dusk, but also get closer to him without any problems. And Berezovsky cannot hide from me, even under the protection of hundreds of police officers. They just won't be able to see me...
Lost in thought, Alexander focused on his brain, where he felt two different vibrations in different parts of the brain: one in the back, the other on the right above his ear. He wondered which ability to improve. Charon told how to do this, the undead cat gave a sufficient number of souls. So leaving this for later would be stupid. Gift
- Cassandra is able to predict the future, and the Lost One’s gift allows him to become invisible and evade at a critical moment.
After thinking, Alexander decided that Cassandra’s gift had saved him many times, and it was worth improving.
Turning to the source of souls, Alexander ephemerally took the compressed lump of souls. He felt how difficult it was for him to transfer this light of power from one part of the brain to another. It was as if he himself carried her on his shoulders to the place where Cassandra’s gift was located. When the energy reached the desired point, where the vibrations came from and where he felt the presence of something otherworldly and powerful, Alexander felt sharp fatigue. He knelt down, still holding control of the soul, which began to tremble and crumble into pieces, going into the bottomless abyss of Cassandra's gift. The process drained him, but he felt his abilities become more powerful. But there was no visible progress, which means, as Charon said, that improvement has not yet occurred.
Concentrating on improving Cassandra's gift, Alexander felt another bundle of souls begin to be absorbed by this ability. With every moment his brain seemed to expand, accepting new energy. He felt his perception of time and space begin to change, as if he had tapped into an invisible network of events and probabilities.
When the last soul flew into the bottomless abyss of his brain, Alexander suddenly felt a surge of strength and clarity. Everything seemed sharper and more detailed. The sounds became clearer and he seemed to be able to see all the branches of reality. He began to sense the flow of events, understanding how one decision could create a cascade of consequences. But it was only mild euphoria.
At this time, Roman, who was watching the process, exclaimed:
-Are you okay, Alex? You turned pale...
“Yes, I feel different...” Alexander answered, hesitating. - It seems that I have improved my Cassandra gift. It's like I can see more now... Or not, I'm not sure. Everything is complicated... Let's test my new abilities?
- What do you mean? – Roman raised his eyebrow, expressing doubt.
- Take a knife and try to stab me in the back. – Alexander said, turning his back to his friend.
- Are you kidding? – Roman looked at him in bewilderment. - I can't stab you with a knife! You could die!
- Trust me. - Alexander convinced him. - I feel like I can prevent this. And if I die, what difference does it make? After all, we are essentially immortal and now I can get out of the Edge at any moment, safe and sound.
Still doubting, Roman went to the dressing room, took a knife and came back. He raised his weapon to strike. At that moment, Alexander heard Cassandra whisper: “It’s in vain, you’re not ready yet.” He frowned, trying to figure out what it meant, when a vision flashed before his eyes. He saw himself from above, as Roman plunged a knife into his back. Time seemed to slow down, and he, absorbed in the awareness of the vision, did not react in time. A sharp pain in his back pierced him. He felt his legs give way and the world went dark.
“Roman... I...” he muttered, falling to the ground.
Roman, horrified by what happened, rushed to Alexander.
- Alex! Damn what I've done! – he shouted, trying to provide first aid.
But it was already too late. Alexander lay motionless, his eyes were closed and lifeless. Roman, sitting next to the motionless body of his friend, felt completely lost. Alexander could no longer see what happened next; he fell into the abyss.
Alexander suddenly came to his senses. He was back in the Edge, surrounded by endless emptiness and the lights of portals scattered across the ground like stars in the night sky. He stood on an overgrown leaf platform surrounded by bursts of lightning. The air was highly electric. The guy quickly jumped to the side, expecting the elements to hit him, but nothing happened. The crackling and lightning seemed stuck in time.
Alexander noticed the nearest portal and, without wasting time, ran towards it. People who got in his way were pushed away without any hesitation. Alexander's every step was full of determination. He had not yet managed to do so much in reality that a new round of adventures in the Edge could simply absorb him. Having broken through the people crowding around the portal, the young man jumped inside and ran on.
Running through energy vortexes changing in time and space, the guy heard Cassandra’s familiar whisper: “You can’t run mindlessly.” As soon as the phrase sounded in his head, he saw a vision - a young man in a sweatshirt and shorts catches up with him and stabs him in the back with a dagger. Alexander turned sharply, holding out a glowing blade filled with soul power in front of him. He did it a little early. The attacker just ran into the tunnel and they were separated by either a meter or ten. The space was constantly in motion.
In the short battle, Alexander turned out to be stronger, and his weapon was much longer. The guy was cut in a neat line from ear to thigh, and his body then crumbled to dust. The love of his soul smoothly passed to Alexander, enveloping him in a faint glow and going into the solar plexus. Having dispelled the blade, the young man ran further until he reached the end point.
After that, Alexander passed through the white curtain of the portal and returned to the real world. He appeared on the damp ground, breathing heavily from fatigue and tension. At that moment, Roman was dragging him across the yard. “It’s probably dragging him to the basement again. In order to be better preserved... It will be necessary to get rid of the major's body. He definitely won’t come back.” - flashed through his head fleetingly. Mostly, his mind was occupied by Cassandra's words, which echoed in his head, reminding him of the need for caution and a reasonable approach to any situation. He felt that he was not ready yet and needed more practice. And then he will find the twilight and return his mortal debt.