“Get the fuck out of the way.”

Rak is currently daydreaming, staring blankly into the midnight carriage traffic. He was on his way to a random hotel for the night when the sudden shouting shook him out of his reverie.

“Are you deaf?”

Four very well dressed men and three exquisite women were all staring at Rak with disdain, except for one person who is entirely disinterested but still paying attention to the situation.

“Get out of the way, you vagrant.”

In his time, Rak has had to deal with numerous rich and arrogant people, especially since he wanted to strike out on his own. Certain things require personal attention and so Rak attended numerous social gatherings.

Considering Rak’s age, these gathering usually meant people were a few years older than him, making Rak look out of place. In addition to this, Rak did not make his Devion background obvious and instead tried to look like a ‘nobody’.

In an atmosphere where people’s worth, especially the younger generation, were tied to their family standing, Rak was mocked relentlessly and put down often. This gave Rak certain abilities to not only retaliate but also to endure, in some ways it made him more mature. As mature as a young man like him could be.

“Ah, to think even dogs are allowed out on a night like this.”

Rak held his rather distant gaze, as if he were lost in the bustle of city. But his words caused the rather handsome man to fume in anger. Very few people can match up to the young master of the paper business.

Paper is required in a lot of things and this young person’s family has a light monopoly within three cities, hampter, Trove and Withering. They also have roots stretching further than that but they can only be said to be expanding outside these three cities.

“Are you talking to me?”

Seething with anger, the previously mocking tone has become one of genuine anger. Who knows what gave Rak the courage to speak the words he did earlier.

“You can hear it still the howls of a mad dog.”

Rak’s words caused the three girls and even one of the guys to let out a small laugh. This small laugh of theirs caused the young master to flush red with humiliation and anger. If it wasn’t for Rak’s sudden atmosphere, this person might have directly attacked Rak.

“Who are you!?”

Finally Rak’s gaze moved away from the bustling streets, Rak glanced at the group of second, third or whatever generation rich people and then directly ignored them. What Rak learned over some conflicts in real time is that often ignoring these ‘important’ people gave the best results.

Sure enough Rak’s aloof attitude didn’t only garner even more hate from the young paper empire heir but also the respect of the other little heirs. Rak´s air of mystery stayed with him as Rak slowly walked away.

In truth, Rak wasn’t really in the way, only that they were seven people and they were walking side by side. They took up most of the street and everyone would walk to the sides or even directly move into the road, and yet Rak had stood there in a daze, ‘blocking’ their way.

“Who was that?”

“I’ve never seen him before.”

“Who cares who it was!”

The young paper heir let an indignant shout, but to his dismay his companions gave him an annoyed glance. This little paper heir could throw his status around other people but not them, if anything he was just average among them.

Rak didn’t look back and kept walking without looking back. It would be a lie to say that Rak didn’t enjoy that moment, if anything Rak exclusively attended those high ranking social events to throw peoples faces. That being said, he only attended them when he was forced to, due to that he developed this hobby of throwing other people's face.

It might be hard to see this side of Rak knowing his exploits in Chaos theory, even just speaking to him in real life one wouldn’t connect these things to him. But if one looked way back, back to Abalon Devions days, one would see a very spirited Abalon meticulously ‘insulting’ the high born.

One has to know that during those days the Devion family was on a long sliding path and nearly becoming destitute. In those days Abalon had to endure quite a bit of abuse before finally returning the family to its former glory. This was another way which the two father and son were alike. Only one of Rak’s sisters had a similar spirit and every other sibling leaned more to their administrative mother.

Rak did some thinking as he slowly explored the beautiful city scenery, eventually casually finding a hotel. The price was twenty five silver for the night, if not for Rak’s pride and knowing he’d have to waste time finding a cheaper hotel, Rak wouldn't have been willing to pay the price.

The good thing was that Rak had eighty five percent fatigue value when he woke up and the breakfast food was even a step above the other middle tier hotel he slept in the first night in the city.

Rak’s first destination after eating at the hotel was the alchemist place city offices directed him to. In reality, the city office has over six alchemist workshop on its register, but only this workshop is low enough on the totem pole that a non-citizen like Rak can request information on them. There are still unregistered workshops that City offices don’t know about.

This time Rak was forced to once again to pay for his horse and carriage. This cost never seemed to end, fortunately Rak found a place cheaper than the hotel's parking lot, not unsurprising since the quality of the neighbourhood was just below average, not even comparing to the hotel he stayed the first night.

“Clever dust.’

Similar to the formation workshop Rak visited yesterday, this alchemist workshop was on a single floor of a multistorey building. The inside were also multitudes larger than the outside would have indicated. It was still not too large for a workshop but adequate.

“Can I help you?”

Rak made his way to the seventh floor and was greeted by a very unnerved young man. Everything from the tips of his hair to his shoes was covered in various chemicals and dust. Like the formation workshop they had no secretary as they didn’t really interface with customers and only supplied various specialty shops with products to sell.

“I was only stopping by, did a woman and boy come here recently for a apprenticeship? Family name Medin.”

After a very nervous and uncertain response, Rak could only shrug his shoulders and move on. Rak didn’t know which alchemist the Medin mother and son went to, and was only trying his luck.

It is good that all of Rak’s destinations except for one are in the north-west districts. They aren’t too close together but still close enough that Rak can casually stroll to them, even if it takes a few hours, it is only comparable to a busy day in Alp town.

The other two ‘nearby’ places were two manipulator places. These places are not workshops and more like combat training areas. Manipulators are recognized as ranged fighters just like archery and they take up mercenary type work. Most commonly these types of places act as personal guards or escort merchants.

There is an organization that deals with these sorts of places, the one in Trove is called All or nothin’ and they deal with miscellaneous fighting jobs. Similar to a tourist conglomerate they deal with many individual groups and set them up together.

To put it plainly, they talk to manipulators, archers, warriors or whoever relevant to the quest and gather them for the clients. These are strictly middle men and also act as information hubs due to their pressing needs to be in contact with every relevant organization.

Soon Rak is is outside a Manipulator training yard. Exactly like the workshop he has visited they are holed in a multistory building. This place is far smaller in comparison and a lot cleaner as well.

“A thought and motion.”

Rak casually made his way up the third floor and walked into the training area. There are seven rooms in total but Rak entered from the stairway into the largest room. This room is empty aside from various items stacked on racks.

There are four people fiddling with small items, one of which is making it float. The item is swirling in a circle. The other tree are sitting down with closed eyes, their items in the palm of one of their hands.

“Hello.”

The four people are deeply concentrating and even the door opening and closing didn’t distract them. Rak’s voice similarly has no effect.

“So this is a Manipulator?”

Due to Rak’s being not only a non-citizen but having zero renown and even being without a job, he can only request information on unranked places like this. The people here are not strong and can only be considered novice Manipulators, save for their leader who is an Advance Manipulator.

In truth these four people all heard Rak talking to them but they also all assumed that this was a test of their concentration, as such they all ignore Rak as he circles around them with a pensive gaze.

Some of the item begin to hover in the air before abruptly falling down. Some manage to rotate slowly or move up and down. There are numerous targets on near the end of the wall but no one is actually using them to train at the moment.

In the room are numerous wood circles hanging from the roof, all tied to a string. Each has a colored mark on them and a number. These are used to guide item through as to train their basic Manipulator ability. In the case of the hanging circles, it is a practice in maneuverability rather than precision or stamina, though it does benefit these two.

After getting bored of what some would think was some sort of street magic, Rak turned his gaze towards the walls. The walls depict various images of a person shifting energy about wantonly. Their items range from chaotic fires, small knives, a large spear and even another person. Though this person might be an autonomous puppet or the like.

The most eye catching, in Rak’s mind is the person standing on a flat circle hovering slightly above a pond.

“It’s possible to fly?”

There are six doors in this open training area but without being invited, Rak refrains from exploring them and eventually goes to pick up one of the small training objects. These objects are on small shelves in one of the corners, there is also a table and twelve chairs surrounding it.

Stone

This normal stone has been alchemically enhanced by a novice alchemist

“Alchemically enhanced?”

The description doesn’t explain it, but these stones are used by novice alchemist to train their basic abilities and in turn they are sold to Manipulators. The stones have higher than normal durability and have been made decent receptors for energy.

Holding the stone in hand Rak can already feel a sensation similar to cold but still somehow unfamiliar and foreign.

“Strange.”

On the table are numerous books, all copies of the same two books. They can be said to be pamphlets rather than books. One is Clever dust’s rulebook and the other is beginners guide to transferring energy into an object and then exerting the energy from within the object.

After picking up one and seeing is a rulebook Rak was about to open it up but then the words ‘Manipulating: Novice’, forced Rak to pick it up instead.

“Is this considered stealing?”

Looking at the four people training monotonously Rak steels his mind and opens the thin book. Instead of paragraphs of text there are images, in the same style as those that are on the wall. The energy is depicted as something like wind or water.

“This doesn’t explain much.”

Just like breathing or moving your limbs, manipulating your own energy is an innate ability of all living beings. If one was pressed to explain how to move your legs, it would most likely be in a similar way as this picture book.

“From what this book shows, energy is everywhere in the body and is constantly but slowly moving.”

The few words in the book explain that the beginning stages of manipulating energy is similar to practicing breathing. That energy can move in slow stream like a slow breath or like a burst, even going so far as to depict a person sneezing.

As for how to actually manipulate an item once its been infused with energy, it recommends imaging their entire body move rather than moving the infused item. Supposedly this will trick yourself into moving the object and give you a better sense of it.

The four people training out on the floor are all sitting still and are past this initial phase of connecting with external energy.

Closing the book Rak picks up one of the smaller stones and attempts to channel his energy into it. The sensation similar to cold only not cold returns and only when it stops does Rak begin attempting to manipulate the stone.

In the book this is exactly the process he should begin doing and is considered trivial to do. Only the next part can be like standing on clear ice and wondering why you aren’t falling into the water below.

“I don’t get it.”

Few minutes passed and Rak felt impatient already. This type of impatience is exactly why Alley thought Rak wouldn’t be a good fit as a hunter. Rak is experience a feeling similar to a paralyzed person attempting to move, all effort feeling futile.

Rak peered his eyes open and looked at the group of four still training and let out a sigh. At this point Rak was sure he had infused the stone with ‘his’ energy and he could vaguely feel that indeed this little stone was like one of his fingers.

In some ways using this energy is like moving a muscle that is usually not moved. Some people can wiggle their ears and noses. Some can elaborately move their eyebrows or move their pectoral muscles, all these things are something they are innately capable of doing but not everyone else can do them.

Half an hour went by at a very slow pace, Rak attempted to get the four people’s attention a every few minutes but never got a response. At this point Rak was certain he was doing something wrong or that he didn’t have talent for manipulating energy.

A very slow and painfully boring hour went past and Rak was bout to call it quits and visit the other Manipulator training facility to try his luck there instead. At that point Rak felt a movement, very subtle, so subtle he wasn’t sure anything had actually happened.

Rak’s log illuminated the issue.

Unlocked Novice energy manipulation

Unlike Novice horse rider, Novice energy manipulation is something everyone innately possess and just requires a bit of effort to unveil.

Character

Status

Abilities

Active

Passive

Basic stamina

Novice horse rider

Novice horse carriage driver

Novice energy manipulation

Increases base energy by: 71 points

Increases energy recovery by: 0.2%

Inventory

“That’s it?”

Confirming the ability was there Rak begins trying again, this time the little stone immediately begins gently wiggling. The existence of the stone feels a lot clearer now, so clear he feels the energy being used up with every tiny wiggle. As the stone is directly in contact with Rak the feeling of foreign coldness returns, infusing the stone once again.

The draining feeling is Rak’s energy being used up, with every exertion on the stone’s energy, both the stone’s and Rak’s energy dissipates slightly. This can now be viewed directly through the status window.

Character

Status

Constitution: 91/100%

Fatigue: 85/100%

Hunger: 70/100%

Clarity: 89/100%

Stamina: 99/100%

Energy: 99/100%

Abilities

Inventory

Just below stamina, energy has now appeared. This energy bar would similarly appear if Rak unlocked any ability that requires repeated or sustained use of energy. Currently energy is practically the twin of stamina and acts in the same way.

Any use of energy drains the percentage and once not draining it immediately begins recharging. And Just like stamina, if Rak continually uses his energy it will begin draining it at a faster pace. Right now Rak cannot realistically waste all his energy as he cannot do the energy equivalent of jogging so the base energy regeneration covers the little he does use.

Energy increased by 3 points

Novice energy manipulation increased slightly

After a few minutes Rak has already gotten a new log entries, however Rak has little knowledge of what they mean, but just seeing solid progress being made makes him feel like he’s accomplishing something.

“With this I should just need to trigger an advancement quest.”

Having already read up on a few job requirements, and already knowing that Manipulators are a base archetype, all of which follow a similar pattern, he should be qualified for the job.

“Do I have to go shake those guys awake?”

Feeling bored and impatient again Rak turns his eyes towards the Clever dust rulebook.

“Ah. So it’s training?”

The mystery of the concentrated trainees has been lifted. As it turns out, these four are scheduled to train and according to the rules they cannot be distracted no matter who calls out for them. Glancing at the time Rak feels uplifted as their training should come to an end in less than ten minutes.

“Hmm.”

Reading further Rak finds that this place charges twenty five silvers a month for membership. With so few members it cannot cover the cost of the rent but the owner already inherited this apartment from their family so he is only losing potential profits of renting the place out instead.

The main reason to join a training facility like Clever dust isn’t just to get access to guidance and training equipment but also to take up jobs Manipulators might do. The Clever dust Training facility is paid and they give their members payment, after taking their cut. This arrangement is common for most workshops or training facility like this one.

Now the Manipulators in this training facility have about the combat prowess of a skilled archer but their range is shorter. This lacking range can be made up for with flexibility and attack rate. What they are currently training in is their baseline energy consumption.

Just like running every day increases a person’s stamina, they are similarly continuously using their energy through manipulating small objects. This means making it hover in addition to rotating it or making move up and down, all to increase their energy expenditure.

At some point they will no longer lose energy as continued practice not only strengthens their total energy pool, their energy recovery rate but also lowers amount of energy the actions are costing them. Just like breathing isn’t a cumbersome thing, later these sorts of small scale manipulating will become trivial and perhaps even unconscious.

The work these Manipulators get are usually as guards for some gatherers, this is only possible because of the Mystic forest in Trove city. Manipulators are very good at defending people at their current levels as they can do so from afar.

Many creatures, plants, beasts or humanoids often use ambushes to attack people and this is why Manipulators who are one of few jobs that can use a force-field like defensive barrier are popular. Of course strong fighters are always welcomed no matter what their abilities are.

Seeing as the rulebook was only a few pages Rak finished reading it in less than three minutes so he picked up the small stone again and began wiggling it about. This time he didn’t close his eyes and just watched it make these small tremor like movements.

“This doesn’t seem to useful.”

If it wasn’t for that Rak already read up on some of Manipulator abilities he might have given up on this venture completely. The stone stopped moving and Rak looked up, he heard one of the doors open up. A man with hair down to his chin just stepped into a room and immediately noticed Rak.

“This must be the leader.”

“Oh? Whose this friend?”

The four people training shook, the man glanced at them and let out a snort. According to the rules he’d fine them a few silvers if they stopped training or punish them in some other way.

“Good to meet you, I am Abstinence, I came to visit your Clever dust studios.”

“Good to meet you, I'm the owner of this little place, Holden Fartherer.”

Fartherer is Holden’s family name and they are a little family that have always trained as Manipulators. Currently his father and mother are somewhere unknown within the Endless mountain range.

Holden glances at the two books on the table before turning back to Rak.

“Are you planning to join our studio? Are you a Manipulator?”

“I’m not a Manipulator I’m interested in becoming one.”

Taking on a pensive expression Holden notices that Rak is holding onto a small stone.

“Have you unlocked Novice energy manipulation?”

Rak only nods and demonstrates the small stone shaking in his hand.

“Then this is easy, will you join the studio as well? You don’t have any other job, right? What level are you?”

At level ten Rak’s experience seemed to come to a crawl, even if he got experience for simple things like eating better food, riding his carriage, exploring the city and so on. This is because level ten is a pivotal point and it is expected people take up a job of some sort.

“I don’t mind joining the studio, I got no other job and I’m level ten at the moment.”

“Good, good, good.”

Suddenly Holden begins waving his hand in the air, presumably navigating some sort of system interface. When finally pushes his open palm towards Rak, Rak is prompted by a familiar looking holographic screen.

Holden Fartherer has invited Abstinence Absolution to join Clever dust.

Cost: 25 silver.

Accept | Decline

Rak immediately accepts and is prompted up by another window.

Abstinence Absolution has joined Clever dust

Experience: 55

Before Rak became level ten, this amount of experience would have been alright but right it is a drop in the bucket.

“Alright, good. Welcome to Clever dust Abstinence.”

“You can call me Abs, and thank you.”

Seeing Rak’s expression Holden lets out a laugh.

“Don’t worry, we’ll deal with your advancement quest issue in a few moments.”

Feeling relieved Rak finally relaxed in the chair. The four people training finally stood up and were walking towards Holden and Rak.

“Teacher!”

One of the members let out a low shout and nodded their head towards Holden.

“Good job everyone. Today we are lucky we have to quests. Darv and Olenia, you form a team. Forth and Keiming form the other.”

Once again Holden begins waving his hands wantonly. Before long all the members are gazing into the middle distance inspecting their new quest.

“Alright, greet the newest member, Abstinence.”

“Hello everyone.”

“Hello.”

“Hey”

Soon all members have expressed their greeting and quickly excuse themselves into one of the rooms to prepare for the quest.

“Now your advancement quest. Just follow my movements and commands.”

Holden has pulled out a chair and a fished out a small stone from his own inventory.

“I can see you’ve already infused this stone but lets do it again. Here take this one.”

Just as Rak reaches out and picks up the stone from Holden’s hands, Rak is prompted by an alert.

Holden’s guidance

Follow Holden’s instructions

Rewards: Qualification to become a Manipulator.

Experience: 150

“Have you gotten a quest?”

Seeing Rak’s expression Holden assumes his actions have resulted in a quest. As a Manipulator himself and an instructor it is not strange that he knows the processes inside and out.

Seeing Rak nod, Holden continues.

“Alright slowly, as slow as you can, let your energy flow into the stone.”

Rak’s are staring at the small stone in his hand and as it fills up Holden speaks up again.

“Alright, now try to lift up the stone as if was the tip of your finger.”

No movement can be seen, it doesn’t even tremble lightly.

“Don’t worry, this takes a bit of time.”

As the words stop the stone hovers a centimeter above Rak’s palm.

“Huh?”

Feeling a bit shocked, Holden wasn’t expecting Rak to so quickly lift up the stone.

“Seems you’ve got some talent for this. Alright that’s enough let it fall back down.”

Just as Rak lifts the stone up he also has to ‘let go’ off it. It is something like relaxing a muscle or letting your hand drop down after raising it.

Holden’s guidance guidance completed

You receive: 150 experience

You receive: Manipulator qualifications.

“If you got the qualifications already go ahead and use it.”

Manipulator qualifications

Use: become a Manipulator.

Rak immediately uses it.

Are you sure you want to become a Manipulator?

Yes | No

You have become a Manipulator

You are no longer an untiered level 10 and have now become level 0 Manipulator.

Holden has a interface up and on his Clever dust register Rak’s name appears as “Abstinence Absolution: Level 0 Manipulator [Novice]” There are also a few other Manipulators all of which have support occupations as well.

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“Would you like to learn your novice abilities?”

“Of course.”

“That’ll be ten silver for each ability. A total of thirty silver.”

Rak has no hesitation and hands over the silver. Holden fishes out three pamphlets, each two to five pages. All images and one or two sentences below.

“Read these until you’ve grasped the abilities and then return them to me.”

Holden rises from his seat and walks back to the room he came from earlier. Rak is already reading the book with great interest. The first one is called Novice Manipulator: Basic circulation. It depicts a way to move energy in the body. After copying the book Rak is prompted by a familiar alert.

Basic energy circulation

Passively recover 13 energy

Can increase base energy by 3

Can increase base energy regeneration by 0.2%

Rak’s connection with his energy has increased and he can now feel it slowly move according to the images in the book. If Rak doesn’t actively stop it from flowing it will continue its cycle. If Rak concentrated on circulation his energy he can increases its speed slightly.

Rak’s previous energy regeneration was at thirty nine and has now risen to fifty two, and can be increased further if he actively speeds up the energy circulation. This sort of ability will gain experience and level up by itself, becoming stronger with every level.

Rak put down the book and looked at the two remaining skills with hunger in his eyes.