Ikrei P.O.V.
“Feel the flow of energy through your body. Keep circulating until it becomes second nature. Learn to do it when you walk, eat and practice your arts. Now, let’s try again with the ketar.” Sister Kuyun gave me the instrument.
I set up with the instrument as I had been doing for the past several days. Fingers softly placed upon the strings.
“Now circulate your energy and play a note.”
I dis as instructed trying to delicately transmit my energy from my fingers and into the ketar. The process felt like placing a drop of water on the string and letting it flow through it. I don’t have vast amounts of energy, in fact, my reserves can be summarized as a quarter of a tea cup. Basically nothing, only enough for a couple of proper blows.
TWANG!
I played a single note and the string broke again. This was the 360th time that the first string got damaged. I tried with the remaining six, it happened again each time. Sister Kuyun handed me another ketar while she started replacing the broken strings.
“I cannot impart the technique directly into your consciousness, you must learn to control your very irregular flow as it is. Proper control is just as important as the amount of energy or the quality of it. These three things make a strong foundation for your core.” She patiently explained.
‘I’m driving an old horse with a cart on a high speed track.’
Whatever the interference was, it was impeding the natural flow inside my body. Thus, making everything tens of times harder. We kept at it for several hours, having breaks between playing the strings, learning more chords, a few songs and meditating. Rinse and repeat in a continuous circuit. Whenever I got tired I ate a little bit of jerky or used an orgon dilution. We were in one of the special underground training circles that were used for combat training.
Hours passed, time flew by like the blink of an eye. Somehow, the activity was tedious yet satisfying.
‘I guess I do like playing the little toy.’
The formation of my core was as far away as my awakening was. One would not happen without the other due to the interference. Thinking of one thing while doing another was also part of my training. So while meditating, I did let my thoughts wander a bit. I wanted to ask Iru about core development, magicians and other stuff, especially about the concept of dantians and the cultivators.
I liked sister Kuyun but If I asked her, she would say, “Let’s train some more and I’ll tell you as a reward.”
Like this, even more hours passed.
Eventually, I played a note successfully. The string sounded harmoniously for once. Sister Kuyun gave me a beaming smile. The result of several days’ worth of painful effort.
“About time.” A lotus seated Freslia worded looking haggard.
The time dilation device she was holding deactivated. Over the past days, we had accumulated over one thousand hours of continuous practice.
‘What a monster.’
I couldn’t think of any other adjective to describe her.
“Thank you, lady Freslia.” I politely said.
“Your little shenanigans have caused quite a stir. You still need a couple of more days to recuperate fully from those internal injuries. Keep training your soul music until you are considered proficient by sister Kuyun.” She stood up slowly to depart.
“By your order.” We answered simultaneously.
“Don’t forget to attend the weekly gathering of Ioƛl, communing with the source will help you stabilize a little. Iru will be your training partner until the troublemaker returns. The matter has not been properly addressed yet. The elders are not happy. The itineraries have been changed to account for your little ploy. Sarkan’s class will be in three days.”
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“…And Ikrei, do not pull this kind of shit again!” Walking away with her back towards us she gesticulated a dismissal. Her angry shout reverberated.
I just put my head down, having nothing to say.
‘You better be right muscle mass.’
“Tomorrow, we train on soul music. Your energy control must become exceptional.” Sister Kuyun commented by my side.
“How is everyone by the way?” I asked.
“You should go visit them, it should be a nice break.”
After asking for directions, I headed towards the healing arts chambers, the third tower underground facilities.
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“So what’s going on?” I asked my new training partner.
“Our redhead chick magnet is recuperating. He woke up a couple of days ago.”
We were waiting for our turn to go into his room. We were on the other side of a two-way mirror barrier. The princess was talking to Krigsain. To my right, Ciel looked like she wanted to puke.
“She has been coming every day since our little scuffle.” Iru told me.
‘You got to hand it to Mr. Library here. He really knows how to downplay a life and dead confrontation.’
“You guys are feeling alright now?”
“Core exhaustion, we overextended ourselves considerably, but it is fine coop.” Ciel answered bending her fingers into a fist.
“You did good bookie; I am still alive.” I said to Iru trying to lighten the mood.
“Yes I did, you can trust me with such minor calculations.” He gesticulated a wide explosion with his hands.
“Those unintentional cartwheels were quite eye catching.” Ciel commented with a smirk.
The barrier vibrated signaling that we had been authorized to walk through. The princess and her personal guard exchanged pleasantries with us and quickly disappeared from sight.
“You owe us considerably pricks, I mean, Krigs.” Ciel’s opening line was a doozy.
“A couple of mastercarftsman artifacts. You owe her a bow, chosen. Kletay is under strict supervision, no visitors.” Iru added.
Lying on his bed, Krigsain didn’t look too surprised by it. He simply nodded.
“Thank you guys. Especially you, Ikrei; since we haven’t known each other for too long.” He gave us his signature playboy smile.
“Just come through for me and we will call it even.” I answered.
“I will my man, I promise it will all be worth it soon enough.”
“Those bastards were quite a handful, I hope the one we captured is worth it, as you say.” Ciel was seriously pissed.
“We cannot talk freely here about what we discussed before, not until I regain my previous state.” Krigsain told us.
“How bad is it?” Ciel asked worryingly.
“It’s manageable, I’ll get a four thousand-year herb from the princess. I’ll be good to go in no time.” Krigsain revealed his solution.
The puking face appeared again on our female marksman.
“I’m not sorry for doing what is needed. But I am sorry for what you guys are about to go through, our little excursion has accelerated the plans of the elders.”
The three of us had worried and inquisitive countenances.
“Training is about to ramp up considerably. Say Ikrei, do you know why they call the orgon swallowing beasts, fearbeasts?”
‘Love, peace, hate, fear, regret, desire and the Will. This is the core of true mastery.’
My master’s words, appeared in my mind. Another realization hit me.
“I have a bad premonition about this. The seven precept, right?” I asked our resident connection to the Will.
“Throwing yourself head first into multiple orgonid charges would make anyone think you are a man without fear. They have decided to gauge the depths of your resolve sooner. Get ready.”
I stood there silently observing the man who had caused all of this.
‘The only reason I jumped into an explosion was due to my fear of death not because I am unafraid. This is what happens when your master is not around. Others take attributions they are unqualified for.’
“I’ll see to it your lioness.” I sarcastically countered.
Ciel and Iru laughed without reserve. Krigsain did look pretty well kept inside the healing ward.
‘From the right angle and a little light, he definitively would pass for a girl right now.’
“Hey! I am nothing but a very energetic king of beasts. Male, you numbnut!” Krigsain definitively hated that his manhood was being questioned.
“Lioness do grow manes; I am a hunter you know.” I said as I turned to leave.
I had a small inkling on how the next phase of my training would go, I just didn’t want to acknowledge it. I needed to prepare.
“Let me pass you a glass of water, your lioness.” I could hear Ciel’s mocking tone from a distance.
“No by no means, allow me to clean your precious paws.” Iru joined in on the fun. He casted some form of a spell.
A flash later, a floating image of Krigsain looking effeminate materialized in the room. The trick was so impressive that I just watched rooted to the spot unwilling to depart just yet.
The image disappeared into a crystal like bead Iru was holding. He threw it to Ciel when the process was done.
“Who knew the artifacts I purchased for our encounter, would be used like this. Three hundred Ucra, Miss Thresen.” The bookworm named his price.
“IKREI!” Shouted the convalescing chosen one.
“Let’s go and see my other fellow musician.”
I left with a spring on my step. I felt the immediate need to play my ketar.