Ameer held out his left hand with his palm facing upward. He wore a wristband, which then began to project two images. A strand of DNA, and a gear.
“You probably already know this but…” TaeJean interrupts him. “Yeah U.N.S.E.A classifies threats to humanity in the categories of biological and technological. The super hero era, alien invasion before I was born. You got your Stems and Operators.”
“Rude kid,” Ameer thinks. He speaks. “Yes. What most people don’t realize is that there is a third, more ancient threat.” A third holographic image appeared from the wrist band. It looked like a blue flame with a rounded bottom. Instinct told TaeJean what it was. “A soul?”. Ameer responded, “Yes. And it powers magic, which is the third threat. You see, millennia ago, most of Earths magic was sealed out. However a portion still remained, and various 'things' would slip through the seals here and there. Whether it was by their own volition, accident, or some body on the Earth opening the front door.” He leaned back and lowered his hand. The hologram deactivated. “When these situations occurred, Earths remaining priests and sorcerers would take care of it. But alas at the end of the Heroic Decade, the magical population of humanity was decimated by a single force. The man who created this force had a secret weapon. A ‘metal’ that has some very interesting interactions with spiritual energies. He used this to craft his armies and weapons. And this metal is now inside you, in the form of very special devices called the Spirit Agitating Nanite System. I know that’s a long name, but you can just call them S.A.N.S or Soul Tech.”
TaeJean curled his fist, as if he was forming a muscle. He looked down at it. “You feel much stronger, don’t you?” Ameer inquired. “I don’t look any bigger or more ripped than usual.” T.J. responded. “Yet I feel like I have more muscles?” Ameer: “In a way, yes. However, they don’t physically exist. That is the power of the soul, and the spiritual energy it contains. Across humanity it took different forms, properties, and names. The Ba, the chakras, chi, as’e, mana and many other names. However, after the decimation I brought Earths remaining magical population together. Most of them at least. We decided to re-classify all names and known forms of spiritual energy under a new, more ‘scientific’ name. That name is Conceptual Energy.”
T.J. thought for a second. “Conceptual Energy, huh?” Ameer continued. “As for you, you have become one of the deadliest things to ever exist. A living weapon known as a Soul-Borg.” The limo stopped moving. “We’re here.”
The two stepped out from the back. They were at a junkyard. “Is this your secret base?” T.J. asked. Ameer responded. “No, but I own it. Every newly powered person needs to stretch their muscles first before they get to work right? I have places like this all over the world for new recruits.” Ameer continued, “Oh and don’t worry about making noise and breaking things. It’s Sunday. No one is coming by. Plus I have an H.P.B.F.2 around this place.” TJ: “What’s an H.P.B.F.2?” Ameer: “Hardened Photon Bending Force Field. Long story short, it’s safe. Now time for your basic training.” “You’re gonna teach me starter spells?” TJ asks. Ameer: “Oh no. I don’t use magic, despite funding the Soul Force. I haven’t told you about them yet have I? Well we will get to that later.” He pauses. “By the way, is there ‘something’ around you?” TJ looked at the small white spirit on his wrist. “Yeah. You can’t see?” Ameer: “I’ve spent a few years around magical beings but I can still only slightly feel invisible magical beings around me. Perhaps I will see it all eventually. Now time for basic exercises!”
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“Yes sir” T.J. salutes Ameer sarcastically. Ameer: “Get into a square stance.” TaeJean complied. Ameer: “Ok. Now those ‘extra muscles’ you feel? Well, flex them.” TJ: “How?” Ameer: “Just like a regular muscle I hear. Just focus on it like a pectoral? I told you, I don’t use magic.” T.J. focused on his arms. They began to buzz almost like he slept on them for too long. Then suddenly, they flashed in cobalt blue! Sparks flew from the entirety of both his arms. “WHOA!”
Ameer: “That was the first of your 3 basic exercises to get feel for Conceptual Energy. They are called ‘Flare’, ‘Flow’, and ‘Glow.’ The three names are self explanatory. You just ‘Flared.’ A quick small burst of Conceptual Energy. Keep repeating this exercise until you can do it around your entire body in succession. Next is ‘Flow’. You start the spark, maintain it and expand it, and keep it flowing for an extended period of time. Finally is ‘Glow’. You compress the power, and concentrate it in your body. Then you would have mastered the basic step of handling Conceptual Energy!”
“’Step’ as in one? That sounded like 3,” TJ said. Ameer responded. “You’ve had writing prompts in school right? Think of it as outlining your work. There are steps within the steps. Or you can think of it as writing a computer program. As you learn more, your skills will expand. After learning basic handling, you will learn how to manipulate the properties of your Conceptual Energy, and the 9 Expressions of Power. That comes later though, when you meet your actual magic teacher. Now enough talk. You want to get to work right? Well hurry up in your training!”
“Hold on a second bruh! You can’t tell me what to do and not demonstrate!,” TaeJean said. “If my magic teacher isn’t around, there should be someone else who can show me right?” Ameer: “Fret not. We have access to demonstrative videos. Are you a visual learner?” One of Ameer's drones appeared. It projected a hologram of light. This was a video demonstrating the basic exercises. TaeJean saw a model depicting a human. It was see through, and at the center of the head, where the pineal gland would be, was a human soul. Waves radiated from this soul. The video portrayed layers of the body: Nervous system, musculoskeletal, circulatory etc. The waves that radiated out from the soul were pushed from the pineal gland to the rest of the brain, then to the rest of the neurons and finally throughout the body. The corresponding words flashed across three 20 second clips. First Flare, then Flow, then finally Glow. “Oh. I see.” TaeJean now had a full grasp of what he would need to do. He did after all, feel the buzzing of his “extra muscle” as he directed it out of his body.
After the video ended, T.J. had one more question. “You said this was a job right? When do I get paid? What's my salary anyway?” he asked. Ameer responded, “An unlimited credit card to use as you please. Lots of travel and vacation time, no school as well. You’ll start getting paid after you start working. In fact, your first mission could be considered a signing bonus!” “And what will that be?” TaeJean asked. Ameer: “You are gonna take down the boy who blew you up.” T.J. took a deep breath, smiled, and steeled his mind for his training. “Cory, I’m gonna stomp you down for good this time!” he said aloud.