Chapter 6 : The golden goose.

Aside from looking ridiculous in an overly tight button up shirt with a towel wrapped around his waist Maik was on top of the world. There was no pain. The teen felt more powerful in that moment than at any other point in his life, the powers he now wielded and the deference that was shown to the young lilin had him on cloud 9. Partly it was for the usefulness of his knowledge, partly for how freely he shared what he knew to help others but now also in part due to the influence his new power granted him over his students and he was awarded for his efforts.

The use of that influence was not malicious however. The teen used his Auric field in combination with Chi sight to find students who started to experience Chi overflow faster and from further away. Maik found he could use Chi sight from as much a 12 feet away to start diagnosing the problem, but the combination with Aura projection doubled that. His understanding of biochemistry was coming in handy while administering minor healing. Pheromones helped the students be at ease with taking directions form the towel wrapped teen, but those weren't the only traits and skills being used.

All of those present in this first batch had been doing exercises almost none stop yesterday under the head coaches instruction and the effects on the development of their muscles, tendons, bones, respiratory system and everything else involving pure physical prowess was both measurable and fastinating. Maik was using the 'Adaptive physique' trait in combination with his other skills to extract as many small samples of chi from any of his students he could, if time permitted, before the next person required his direct attention, all the while studying every detail his senses could perceive, inspiration for his own development.

Unlike previous sessions, every one of the participants seemed to have determination in spades, as each and every one of them reached the beginner level of the mind body skill before they would allow themselves to rest. This meant that the session lasted half again longer then previous session, with the exception of Boyd's case. As a result Boyd returned towards the end of the session to inquire what the hold up was, as there were apparently quite a few more people waiting their turn, 84 to be exact and that was just the ones who had been part of sports teams. The despairing look on Maik's face didn't even make Boyd flinch as the middle aged man went on. “Pffft that nothing. There are twice that in people with skills that we need to get up to standard as soon as possible. You do still want new pants don't you ?”

With resignation the teen sucked it up and accepted his duties, first by explaining what the hold up was and then assuring the teacher that this was a good thing in the long run. The teen followed that good news up with some bad, insisting that he would need a good 15 minute break in between sessions and the middle aged man groaned with frustration. The last session had taken and hour and 15 minutes. Another 15 minutes break for the instructor would mean a roll over of 1.5 hours per 26 people and it was already 9:30. With nothing to be done for it Boyd went off to inform the waiting groups about the new time table.

15 minutes. Maik hadn't dared ask for more given the urgency of his task but he had burned through a lot of his reserves over the past session. Eventually he found that maintaining an auric effect depleted his reserves at about 1% every minute and had had been using one auric effect or another for pretty much half the time the session was ongoing. The other skills he used such as minor healing, Chi projections and the like also took their toll, but he could usually pull off about 4 of those for every 1% of his total pool expended. Still, collectively they reduced his pool by another 15%. This meant that his reserves should be at 20%, give or take, but when the teen looked at his bar he was actually hovering around 45%. This gave the lilin the impression this his recovery rate must be about 1% every 3 minutes, give or take ? It would help if their were numbers to quantify the bars value.

No sooner nor later then that thought was being projected at the purple bar did it flicker and Maik was given the distinct impression that he could assign the energy in the bar with a numeric value once he better understood just how much the container held and then quantified how much a single unit of that whole was worth. Is this thing giving us homework ? Or are we giving us homework because this things just an extension of us. No need any new minds. Its crowded in here already. I don't believe we have to worry about that primal. The interface doesn't seem to have a will of its own. Its just a tool. All of Maik watched the HUD intently for any sign of disagreement but there was none.

That was all the time Maik had before the next group started filing in. The teen considered putting up an auric field to smooth over the interactions for this first meeting but decided against it. Maik would need to be far more economical with his reserves if he was going to make it through the day without wringing himself dry again like the day before. And, of course, someone had to make a fuss when they saw the towel dressed teen who was supposed to be in charge of their instruction. “Are you shitting me. We've been waiting around for the past hour for captain bathroom here ?”

Maik's own progress was on the back burner while he helped a bunch of other people get a head start on the basics. This fact had been wearing on his nerves with increasing abrasion, not to mention the unclean feeling gnawing at him from lack of a shower last night and his unbrushed teeth only adding to his irritation. Thus it was with a cool tone that lacked any mirth with which this captain bathroom, as he was so being called, informed the complainer just what he thought of the guy grievances. “The door is that way. Send in the next person in line to replace you so that the session can begin.”

The guys retort was even more belligerent than before. “You don't tell me what to fucking do. In fact you can...”

That loud and authoritative voice, clearer, stronger, younger ? It was the coach but he was already looking worlds better as he strode in the room and not just cutting the young mans tirade off but curb stomping the thing into pulp. “Mister Simmons. Front and center.”

Indoctrinated discipline made the youth move before his mind could made the choice to do so and he was instantly at attention before the head coach. “Yes coach. Sorry coach.”

Maik was about to inform Leavery that he could escort the trouble maker out and send the next trainee in, as a way to show that such behavior wouldn't be tolerated but the coach stepped past the young man too approach the towel wearing Chi instructor with clear and grim purpose so the teen simply stood his ground and let the older man make his case. “I would ask that you take it easy on him. He was part of the night patrol on the north side of campus past night.” The dumbfounded expression on Maik's face encouraged the former soldier to elaborate. “According to reports gun fire could be heard from that direction throughout the night with disturbing regularity. I can personally attest to the validity that at least as far as this morning goes there is still a awful lot of gun fire coming from that direction, usually in small bursts.”

Well shit. Not good. Some leeway can certainly be shown then. Definitely. Agreed.

The grimace on Maik's face was plain even to the people behind Leavery but the Chi instructor collected himself and nodded to the coach before taking over with his, all be it far inferior, best impression of the authoritative tone that the former soldier had used. “Simmons was it ?” Stepping around Leavery and over to the young man to address him properly. “God knows I look ridiculous but until I can get my hands on some new clothes this is what I have to work with. Now despite my appearance I am quite knowledgeable in that which I will be helping you all with today.” At this point the Chi instructor figured he may as well bite the bullet and eat the cost of a quick demonstration. With a flex of Chi, an expanse of his aura and an application of will Maik extended out his aura while filling it with the effect from earlier to influence the group, giving them a more positive impression of the teen.

Due to facing the group of students Maik didn't notice the reaction Leavery had to the sudden projection of the Chi instructors aura. If he had, the mix of surprise and realization showing on the former soldiers face would have been clear as day and might have caused the lilin to question if the coach had just realized just how heavily he had been influenced earlier. Such was not the case though and the teen was oblivious to such things. The matter was never addressed. “Now we are far enough behind schedule as it is and I have another...” Maik's tone falters for a moments as he gives voice to the number of people he is scheduled to instruct today before returning to his former commanding tone. “Two too three hundred more people to help through the fast track today, so lets get too it. Please take your seats on the elevated mats and lets begin.”

Thanks to the stingy manor in which Maik used his power and the focus he put into recovery over the 15 minutes breaks the Chi instructor still had 20% in the tank by the time lunch came around. Thankfully the teen had managed to help just about every one of the initial sports students by then so Leavery assented to the teen taking an hour off for lunch after the quick application of an auric effect focused on acquiescence. With that matter out of the way the teen took a moment to go through his notifications before leaving the class room.

Tier 3 skill - Aura projection – Beginner learned

Ones aura is there metaphysical presence in the world, the foot print of a being soul in physical reality. You have learned how to project that field beyond the confines of your physical body. Everything within your aura is more easily influenced by your magical power.

Tier 4 skill - Auric effect – Beginner learned

You have learned how to imbue your aura with an underlining effect. This effect will alter the world in various ways depending upon energy expended and your level of this skill, generally by applying another magic based skill or trait to the aura.

Tier 3 skill - Bio chemistry – Beginner advanced to Capable

Tier 4 skill - Sending – beginner advanced to Capable

Tier 4 skill - Chi sight – beginner advanced to Capable

This auric influence is way more powerful I had, at first, thought it would be. I know right. The world is our oyster. We'll be running the school in no time at this rate. Grow. Conquer. Dominate. Patience. We need to focus. We haven't even tired to cultivate yet and we only have an hour to try.

Maik felt a little out of touch after going into the hallway for he noticed that the trilogy, as the 3 teachers who started this whole movement were calling themselves, had clearly taken over the whole of the second floor of this wing. Supplies, boxes, furniture, equipment and all manor of people were moving about between the various class rooms, even emptying some lockers wile filling others. It was a full repurosing of the space. But time was limited and he had not the time to dwell on such things overly long.

The teen went past the mess hall, as the class room that had been repurposed into a dinning area was now being called, and was stopped by Stacy, her tone curious. “Hay, I was told you were taking a lunch break. Where are you headed.”

Maik was taken aback at how involved people were with his activities but he supposed that was to be expected at this point. Shrugging the realization away, he was just honest with the tallest of his female friends. “I was just headed down to grab a little something extra from the vending machine. I've become a lot more efficient than I was yesterday but I'm still burning through Chi at a prodigious rate so I need the extra calories.”

For her part the tall woman looked a little embarrassed for her fried. “Sorry Maik, but the first group you worked with went out to strip all the vending machines to add to our food stores already.” She jerks her head to motion for him to follow. “But come on. Boyd says hes setting aside some of his rations for you, something about an understanding between you two ?” Her eyebrow raises in the look one gets when their fishing for gossip.

Its good that our teacher understands the mutual benefits of us remaining properly fed. The gesture of gratitude is appreciated. Yeah. Because, hah haa. There's no way that Boyd is referring to that little comment we made last night at dinner.... Right ? Ohh...... Unlikely. It should be fine. We trust Boyd.

Rather than voice those concerns Maik simply assured her that it must be thanks for how helpful his instruction has been. The medically minded woman looked unsure about that answer but moved on from the subject when the Chi instructor asked about recent gossip while the two of them grabbed lunch.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Again there was an extra couple protein bars to go with the meal and while the lilin didn't need it as much as he had last night, the extra food was much appreciated indeed. The teen scarfed down his meal like it was a race while listening to his friend gossip about what was going on. “The principle and head faculty stopped by an hour ago. Seems someone told them that an organized group of students were emptying all the vending machines and relocating whole classes of students. She actually ordered the trilogy to put everything they had gathered back where it belongs and to return to their properly designated class rooms or they were all fired. Can you believe it ? Anyway. Boyd and that coach Leavery ? Yeah that was his name. They promptly told the principle to shove it and that if the principle didn't even want to cooperate then she could just take a walk.”

Her voice looses some if its excitement and gains an edge of dread. “There were a lot of threats thrown around after that. Cutting off the well or restricting access to the cafeteria to cut off our access to the food supplies. In fact that's what most of the people who leave your class have been doing, securing those 'Assets' as the trilogy have been calling them. A lot of people who were on the fence about taking sides quickly started backing the trilogy after the second group you trained this morning went out and I just heard that the third group is supposed to go detain the principle so that the trilogy can take command of the whole school. You've heard about the sounds of gun fire to the north too right ? Word is we only hear it from that direction because there is only woods to the south and east with the high way to the west.”

A resigned sigh left her and her tone changed again, this time to one of exasperated disappointment. “The public broadcast announcement is still playing but it hasn't changed, wiz kids who know how to use the old analog radio say that there are multiple signals coming in from preppers but they all have different stories and a lot of conspiracy theories.”

Having finished his meal just before she finished filling him in on recent events Maik's head and stomach were now both full, one a little unsettled and the other spinning. There was a lot going on. A lot that he wasn't really a part of and had little to no say over. Heck he was the central reason the trilogy even existed or could do the things it was doing and yet he had to be afforded sufficient nourishment by one of the trilogy. He should be getting better treatment than that. As usual it was creative that came up with the interesting idea. Perhaps would could make a further demonstration of how valuable our good favor is and what better way than by helping our friends achieve higher ranking skills than those of the base live we are already teaching ?

The idea had enough merit that Maik changed plans. Rather then make his first attempt at cultivating or even doing further work on his Chi pathways he was going to help Stacy reach new heights. Heck, why stop there. Why not all of his friends. The Chi instructor wiped his mouth off with a napkin while his goals for the day changed. To think. 2 days ago we actually had a 10 year plan for how our life was going to play out. Now our long terms goals are changing over lunch. You plan too much. What happens, happens. Yeah, embrace the adventure.

With a confident grin Maik began his proposal. “Stacy. I understand that your interested in going into the medical field and as it happens I have recently obtained the skill 'Minor healing'. This skill allows me to use Chi as a medium to restore the body. There are other support skills that aid this one and are all more advance then the 'Mind & body' skill you have already learned. How about I spend the rest of my lunch break giving you a quick run down and then you join me for the next session for demonstrations ?”

To the Chi instructors surprise she was reticent, reluctant even. On impulse the lilin started to emit pheromones but quickly stopped himself. Why not ? This is easier. That is our friend. No manipulation. Not even a little ? We've already done a little. Do we really want our friends to just blindly obey us like servants ? No. No.

Still the teen leaned in to inquire. “Whats the matter ? I thought you would be elated at the chance for more power.”

The look she shot back at him took him back a step so strongly that he physically would have, had he been standing rather than seated. There was something akin to hate in those eyes as they started to tear up. Delicately, and the great trepidation, Maik reached over the desk to lay his hand on top of hers before speaking soft comforting words. “Hay..... Hayyyy. Come on now.” She looked away and started wiping her eyes with her free hand but didn't move the hand he was touching so the lilin continued. “Talk to me. Are you okay ? No of course not. How can I help ? As that is exactly what I'm trying to do.”

She took a moment to compose herself, cutely sniffle a couple times and then answered with a shaky voice. “Its.... I just.... I know you've always been into this....” She makes a helpless gestures at nothing in particular. “Metaphysical stuff and your taking too it. Taking to it like a fish to water but.... This shit scares the hell out of me Maik. The trilogy taking over the school frightens me, the gun fire coming from town frightens me, I'm worried about my family, the sports teams are being used like soldiers and here you are talking about getting stronger like this is all some.... Fucking Video game.” She just stares at him for a moment but her friend could tell she wasn't done. “I guess I just.... Wanted to gossip about what was bothering me and that you would understand.”

Maik squeezed her hand and mentally reached for a box which he had not fully realized he had created. Like it had been camouflaged to blend into the background so that he could easily forget about it. Out of sight, out of mind as it were. Inside were oh so many of his worries and fears. His own family, his plans for the future, former plans now he supposed, the utter lack of control over greater events and how the world seemed to be spiraling into chaos. Maik opened the box and let the fears wash over him, overwhelm him and his own eyes watered. Like the tall young lady his voice too was shaky but unlike the despair in her voice his held resolve and this time there was no hesitation about using an auric function. One that empowered and emboldened the recipients resolve. “Oh I'm afraid Stacy, terrified even, but unlike so many I can actually do something about not just my fears but my friends fears. Think of the fear like a spiritual wound that other are afflicted with. One that needs treatment. How would you administer treatment ?”

Her eyes hardened as she focused on the question and the new perspective, breathing more heavily while her heart obviously sped up along with the gears of her mind. “Keep them busy, provide safety, lead them towards a positive future and help them regain control of their lives.”

The Chi instructor firmed the grip on her hand. “My thoughts exactly. Now, are you ready for greater control over your life ?” She squeezed back and nodded.

30 minutes later Maik was wondering why he didn't have a Chi manipulation skill. “You would think there was a fundamental skill for manipulating Chi.”

Stacy just blinked at him with a blank expression like her mind was rebooting. Maik blankly starred back. Her tone was hesitant but assured. “There is a Chi manipulation skill. In fact mine just upgraded from Beginner to Capable.”

The Chi instructor just blurted out. “What ?” And proceeded to open up his character sheet when others who had been listening in on the lesson started giving Maik odd looks.

Name : Make Alphonse Daley

Species : Human / Race : Lilin Young adult

Age :18

Gender : Hermaphrodite

Height : 190 Centimeters

Weight : 80 Kilograms

Strength : 81

Flexibility : 89

Dexterity : 123

Endurance : 82

Durability : 76

Intelligence : 142

Smarts : 164

Wisdom : 126

Perception : 137

Charisma : 110

Chi : 175

aura : 167

Special traits

Adaptive physique – Beginner

Supernatural Charisma – Beginner

Skills 3ed Tier

Bio chemistry – Capable

Calculus – Beginner

Mind & body connection – Capable

Aura projection – Beginner

Stills / 4th Tier

Chi body infusion. - Beginner

Chi projection – Capable

Sending – Capable

Minor healing – Beginner

Chi sight – Capable

Auric effect – Beginner

Not seeing the skill in question, but knowing that Stacy would not lie about such things, the lilin proceeded to undo the filters on the 2ed tier skill and search them, blurting out loud when he found it. “There it is. I had it filtered sense its only a tier 2 skill. Says that my skill level is at Distinguished. Nice.”

A grumble could be heard from everyone who heard that statement. They had all looked at the skill ranking system and found that it was divided into 8 stages. Beginner, Capable, Intermediate, Effective, Experienced, Advanced, Distinguished and finally Expert. Maik's skill with Chi was 5 levels higher than Stacy's own and she had only gotten this far because of direct one on one tutelage from Maik himself with him Expending Chi to lead her through the motions, like how a martial arts master might manipulate a students body through the stretches and forms to give them at least a passable resemblance of the stances. No wonder these higher skills were coming to him so easily. Still, thanks to a combination of using sending to directly send thoughts, images and concepts directly to her mind, Chi projection allowing him to direct the flow of her Chi for her to mimic within her own body, and auric effect keeping her calm and focused through the whole thing allowed the Chi instructor to impart the 'Chi projection' and 'Minor healing' skills to his friend, if only at the beginner level.

This was good because by time the next session was due to begin the Chi instructor was hovering around 40% again and Could certainly use her help to make it through the rest of the sessions. The truth of this fact was only amplified as the majority of this 4th group were not sports players and were far more varied. Nothing made this more evident then the variety of features which signified a good many of these students, and a few teachers, had opted for race changes. Pointy ears, strange skin tones and exotic eyes were strangely common and soon it became evident as to why. The group here was primarily composed of those who were part of the tailoring class and everyone knew that course was really a costume crafting and larping club but damn if they didn't just fit right in with the new reality. The most interesting thing was that their species was still listed as human, only their race had changed.

Maik had little time to be disappointed at not being able to study the various racial types more carefully but he had to be so stingy with his reserves that he could only spare his Chi for the essentials of his task. Stacy helped but with her 'Chi manipulation' skill being so low her efficiency with abysmal when compared to Maik's. For every unit of Chi Maik was using she would have to spend 3-5 to achieve the same effect and she only had 1/3 as much Chi to work with. Granted she was only using it for healing purposes so the pace at which Maik could make his way around the room was actually improved slightly but still.

It was actually the session after that when the Chi instructor found, what he believed to be, the correlation between the numbers on the stat sheet, how much Chi was in the purple bar, and how much a single unit of Chi actually was. More testing would have to be done but Maik figured that the Chi stat represented how many calories of Chi energy he had to work with x10. So when his Chi bar was full he would have 1,750 calories of Chi to use. Not bad. With his basic control at the distinguished level he could really put those 1,750 calories to rather efficient effect too, unlike his friend. Sadly, given the road he took to reach his current proficiency with the basics it might take her years to reach his level. Then again maybe not. There was just so much energy in the air sense yesterday and she was really hitting the ground running due to his instruction. So maybe not. Still the advancements of his skills were more definite.

Tier 3 skill – Aura projection – Beginner advanced to capable

Tier 4 skill – Auric effect – Beginner advanced to capable.

Tier 4 skill – Minor healing – Beginner advanced to Capable.

Tier 3 skill – Chi mastery – Beginner learned

You have gone beyond simply using Chi but understanding the fundamentals of what Chi is.

Tier 3 skill – Chi mastery – Beginner advanced to Capable

Tier 3 skill – Chi mastery – Capable advanced to Intermediate

In the break after the 2ed group which they both had worked on together Stacy was laying down looking like a rung out rag when Boyd and Davis came in. They shot her a stern questioning look but she just mumbled. “Is it dinner time yet. I'm hungry.” The two teachers shifted their gazes to the Chi instructor, who was sitting on one of the raised mats and meditating. Of course it was Boyd who spoke for the the trilogy where Maik was involved. “I didn't know you needed assistance, or that anyone was qualified to assist you with this task.”

Realizing that he was being addressed the teen pulled himself up out of meditation with a deep breath before expanding his aura and imbuing it with his Chi sight skill in an attempt to sense the teachers mood rather than influence them. Then he answered them. “I had some time after lunch and she possessed the medically relevant skills to learn the 'Minor healing' and 'Chi projection' skills, so I imparted her with those skills to aid me with the following sessions.”

There was a pause, as Maik expected there would be but when he sensed there emotions...... They were both concerned, sharing a look and then a little... hungry, no that wasn't right. The hungered. Probably for the same kind of advancement and instruction Stacy had received. Good ! All of Maik's thoughts were in unison on this. The auric field and effect were retracted to conserve energy.

Special trait – Supernatural Charisma – Beginner advanced to Capable.

Boyd clearly choosing his words carefully. “I heard that you requested and extended lunch break because you needed it to make it through your quota for the day. The trilogy talked it over and after reviewing the state of things both in and around school grounds it was decided that helping as many people as possible reach the minimum standard as soon as possible would aid us all the best. Why advance this student beyond the standard when you could have been working on another group ?”

This too was expected so Maik simply nodded. “Originally I was going to try using that time to improve myself. I have been neglecting my own needs for the greater group sense, as you have stated, the greater need is for as many people as possible to be well and capable. After hearing about the situation around campus though....” He opens his eyes to give the teachers a pointed look with an eye brow raised. “From other students rather than the faculty...” then closed them again, returning to the serene expression. “I came to the conclusion that the time would better be served to advance another to the point where they could aid me. It is so much easier to instruct a single person, practically restful in fact, compared to rushing around the class of 26, jumping form one crisis to the next. She has the knowledge needed to learn the 'Minor healing' skill and the 'Chi projection' skill. This combination has allowed he to help me by tending to Chi over flow injuries while I move on to the next student in trouble and it has helped me better understand the issues people will face when advancing further than Beginner.”

Maik, formal Chi instructor of the Mellview high school let those words hang in the air, baited hooks to entice the teachers with promises of hidden knowledge and powers yet to be revealed. It is actually good to be the goose the lays the golden eggs. Doesn't the farmer cut the goose open for more gold in that story ? Bullshit. You don't cut chicken open for more eggs. Yeah. That was a stupid kids book. Anybody with half a functional brain knows better than to cut a golden egg laying goose open for more eggs. Maybe.