Chapter 14. Connected "Runes again," I was trying to sit down and meditate because I wanted to feel what had changed after the skill evolution, and was the recovery function from mana circulation was still there. What I found after closing my eyes were more runes. Not runes exactly but more like an unknown language as the four runes around the seed gave more of a magical, mysterious feeling and this was like when I first saw letters of a different language much more complicated than the ones I knew. Even though I did not understand shit regarding the letters or the 'art' before me, their meaning was perfectly conveyed. It was not something that I could put in words but I knew what to do. A certain set of movements, an ancient dance that had to be performed very slowly while breathing in a certain pattern, rhythm. The dance moves were more like fighting stances but impractical and something that would be useful very rarely. But this was a way to meditate not a method to fight, so I started doing those. A total of thirty-two positions each putting my flexibility to the test as I continued and just after the first cycle I felt pain. Needles, poking through every part of my body, in and out, everywhere. "Ack." 'I should probably read skill descriptions before trying them out, figure it out myself won't give me a bonus reward.' [Mantra of ???] [Achieving a perfect body is not the end, the next step is to purify it to its utmost. The mana that is taken in while breathing is used to slowly purify hidden impurities and bring the body to the next stage by moving in a certain pattern. Helps in building a better foundation.] Again with the foundation, circulation also helped with that, and now this unknown mantra. Purifying, was that why it painful? But what is it purifying, it did say that during the class up I now have a perfect body, so what was being purified? I have so many questions but no one to answer, even that old man had to go. I continued to perform the 'Dance' and after a total of five cycles, my body would not move an inch. I lay on the floor breathing heavily, trying not to grunt because of all the pain I was going through. 'Who discovered this M training method and am I an M for following this through? I hope not.' My body was still sore, but now the only thing that was left was to check out the masteries, after which I could rest for the time that was left. The avatar would only move when I was recovering or if I was in a condition that allowed me to focus on its movements and the common denominator between these two was my concentration level, so if I concentrated enough it should start its practice in theory at least. And when I did concentrate, lo behold, it really got up and left me in shock. The avatar was still moving, and this time it had opponents. Shadows, in a shape similar to humans, kept on attacking my 'teacher' but he took care of them fluently. The mastery first taught me how to take stances that are useful in battle, and now was the part where I learned to use them in live combat while connecting every stance in one motion. The surprising thing was when I started to follow the avatar, shadows formed in front of me and attacked me the same way they were attacking the avatar. As expected I could not completely follow and was hit. It hurt, not the same as being cut into, or being smashed against, but more like the part that was hit lost all of its energy. One hit and then another, my body slowly started to lose more and more energy. One became two, two became three and after five minutes I lost all of my energy. My eyes stayed open, probably for a minute or so, and then I lost my consciousness. "Honey, you think Ray is ok?" I heard my husband ask in a worried voice. "You know he will be alright. He has been so used to holding back his emotions, even he does not remember that he is holding them back. You remember when he got mad over someone teasing him about his new hairstyle?" "Was it when he was five or six? He beat up a boy double his age and did not stop until seeing the first signs of blood. We were so scared for Ray back then, should he do something big and get into trouble that would scar him forever." "I just hope he finishes the things he starts, people are not to be trusted in these times and will only act for their own benefits." The hate, disgust was oozing out of my voice even though I tried to control it. Robert did not say anything for a few seconds, knowing that I was right. "Come on Julie we have to go, they won't just stop because we are not there. People are slowly starting to lose confidence in our way." "But some are also coming to our side." "Yes, but it is still a net loss. Let's just go, sitting here will not help." "Are you prepared for another day full of schemes?" "As long as you stand beside me, my love." "My, such a smooth talker. No wonder I fell for you." I said chuckling as I picked up my sword and moved out of the tent that we were currently staying in. "Ahhhhhhhhh!!!" "Hehe, I love it when people scream in fear. Scared by me. This world is going through such a wonderous phase, everything is like a game you just feel everything as if it was real." "Please, please spare me! What have I ever done to you, why are you doing this. *Sob* Please just leave-" "Tch, it would have been better if you just kept screaming, annoying." I cut his neck with the dagger in my hand. Every time after my new toy started to plead it just got so boring and then I have to go out to hunt for a better one. But it in the everyone was the same, they either asked to spare them or kill them and stopped those sweet sweet screams. "Ah, it's such a drag. Now, do I want a male doll or a female one?" "Brother are you ok? The wound is too deep this time, you are losing too much blood." My sister hurried as she tried to stop the bleeding. "It will be fine Chloe, It's just a small wound now. I have enough vitality, this will heal within a day or two." "Is this why you add so much in vitality, just to jump in every time I am about to get hurt. How will I ever learn to fight if you protect me every time?" "You don't need to fight. I'll always be there to protect you, no one will harm you." "Just leave me, every time it was because of my mistakes that you get hurt. I hate myself for that. *hick* You would be better off without me." I heard light sobbing as tears fell. She did not look up and just kept staring at the ground. I sighed and hugged her, "You are my only family alive, if something happens to my little baby sister do you think I would be able to live? So I do everything I can to protect this little one." "What little, and baby?! You were born only a year earlier, Hmph." I could finally see a smile on my sister's face. This was the reason why I get hurt, if it was for you I would happily give up my life. The two people before me are the strongest people I have ever known. Be it politics, managing people, fighting techniques, anything they were best at it. It was only because of them that we have survived up until now. Father and Grandfather. And these two people were now fighting before eyes. "You are a lot stronger than you look, geezer. Did this new world cure you of your back pain?" "It did but I see you are still the same, as stupid as ever my son." The next thing my dad was on the floor. Another spar that dad lost, and this wasn't the first time. Grandpa would spar with him every day and he has never. Not even once. "If I did not have this family to lead, I would have never selected this path. Hurry up and beat me, so that you can take this position and I can be freed from all this. It was fun at first but now it's just stupid old men fighting over something useless." "Like you aren't one of those old men yourselves." They kept bickering but you could see they loved each other. 'Family above everything else,' that was the motto that we have followed. The first teachings of the 'Founding Father.' I was too young to know or discuss criminals but I knew they were never forgiven. I will become as strong as my father and grandfather, to become the next head of the family. "Aghhh," My head hurt. It was like I woke after a full night of drinking, a terrible hangover to say. I should probably stop the next time I do this, blacking out in hostile territory is not something that I wanted. [Axe mastery has gained a level] [Dual wielding mastery has gained a level] [Mantra of ??? has gained a level] [Mantra of ??? has gained a level] Only one level in each mastery. It was getting hard to level up the masteries. Earlier for the same amount of practice, each skill would've increased by at least four levels but now it was only one. And it was only going to get harder.