At this point all the sounds coming from the creatures that had previously surrounded Fen had disappeared, and he couldn't see them anymore. They no longer flickered in the edges of his vision, but Fen did catch that the black mass periodically swept it's vision behind Fen's back, where he couldn't see.
But it's presence did make him feel safer, almost like he was back home... Well, maybe not that safe. Even if he was back on Earth, he didn't have to worry about being torn apart; here, anything could happen and he could do nothing to prevent it. His life in this reality wasn't in his own hands.
...his life was much simpler before he was tossed into the program. Damn Foundation.
In front of him, the gigantic mass appeared to be watching Fen's expression, moving it's head occasionally, observing him.
"What? Why are you still here anyway, I thought you'd leave after you gave me this... gift." Fen tried and failed to find a more proper name to what it had 'gifted' him. He still had yet to check what it actually was, but he could feel his energy being stimulated near his chest area.
"Check..."
"It..."
Fen wondered what it wanted, it's goal. He knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch, there must always be some sort of price to pay. He should know; Fen had only helped others when he needed something from them.
Miko was the only exception to this fact of life. Out of all the people Fen had met in his life, she was the only one who had constantly approached him with no other intention other than to befriend him. Everyone else had stopped after the first time, but not her.
Others might think his life was sad but that was how he lived; nothing had proved those ideologies wrong since his birth.
Nearly 18 years old, and it was only now that those beliefs were gently shifted by none other than his beloved Miko. However, they haven't been changed enough to make him drop his wariness towards others, and especially not towards this imposing and-yet-somehow familiar mass of darkness.
Even if it did give him a gift.
But, seeing that there was nothing else to do, Fen lifted his shirt which had followed him into this reality.
On his left pec was a strange marking. It was a circular mark and just like the Foundation sapling mark, this 'gift' dug into his chest with strange energy tendrils composed of the same black energy mass that surrounded it.
If the Mark on his wrist allowed his body to absorb the surrounding Mana, then the symbol on his chest was like a souped-up version, there was no comparing the amount of energy each one absorbed. If Mana was like an ocean, then the Mark on his wrist was like a bucket, and the one on his chest was a pool that constantly absorbed the magical energy around him.
The amount of energy invading his body gave him some pain, but Fen was able to endure because he could feel the miraculous effects it gave him. Vitality felt much clearer, and was easier to manipulate and use compared to his earlier attempts. But that wasn't all, he could direct the Mana he absorbed to his core, bathing his limbs and muscles in the wholesome energy.
But just like before, his senses were pulled towards other sources of energy while his body craved more. His eyes lit up as he looked up at the black mass that had gifted him this source of absorbable energy, but his movements locked the instant he could sense it.
The difference between it and Fen was too large. A chasm was in between them. Unsurmountable, unparalleled strength. Such power destroyed all of his thoughts to absorb it's power. Fear locked his limbs. Raisen was just a candle next to an inferno when comparing the two beings.
Any past questions of why the creatures from before were hesitant to approach him before were all answered; they were afraid, just like him.
The sense of power disappeared just as sudden as it appeared, and it pat Fen on the head again, unfreezing his actions. With it's kind gesture, all of his fear towards it faded away. He had no reason to fear it; it had done nothing malign to him in this reality, and it had even given him a gift.
Besides, if it was going to harm him, there was nothing he could do to defend himself anyways. He could try running, but then the creatures hiding in the Void would come and surround him when he lost his protection.
"Do...you...like?" Its voice seemed to be gaining strength over time; it was getting easier for it to speak.
Fen blinked, and responded.
"I do. Thank you. But..." He hesitated.
"Why did you give this to me?" Fen's mind was cluttered with the amount of questions he had, and he was going to ask it for answers.
The black mass shrugged, before the reality around him started to crumble.
"Oh, so you think you can run away you sonuvabitc-"
****
Fen jolted awake, and a snarl appeared on his face when he realized that the black mass had truly managed to escape without answering any of his questions. Every answer he got only gave him more questions, and every question he had would be left unanswered! It was annoying!
Fen scratched his head, grumbling the entire time he got out of bed and got ready for the day ahead of him. Taking deep breaths, he pushed all those experiences to the corner of his mind just like he did for so many other things, he couldn't be bothered to be angry.
Anyways, if the patterned continued, then it looked like Fen wouldn't be able to get any proper sleep for the rest of his time in the Program. Not that the lack of rest was affecting him anyway; his body was in peak condition. His mind was the only thing being affected, as parts of his brain unraveled from the lack of rest.
The effects were significant as of now, so Fen could afford to ignore it. For now. He would have to see if he could get a day off from having to visit that reality, maybe by asking the black energy mass. It had no reason to reject him, but then again, it had no reason to agree either.
The entire situation was strange. Anyone who disagreed with that conclusion would immediately receive a membership offer from the VPF; the Foundation seemed to accepting all sorts of crazies.
Fen couldn't be completely sure, but he assumed that there weren't many candidates receiving gifts from strange energies, or at least, they weren't receiving similar gifts. Fen's gift allowed him to grow faster and develop stronger as a Vitul, and seeing that there weren't any other Vituls around learning basic Vitality Manipulation, he believed it was safe to assume he was the only one who received a gift like that.
...Best case scenario, he was the only one with a 'gift', which gave him an advantage over everyone else. Just add it to the growing list of advantages, why don't you...
Worst case scenario, there were others like him, not Vituls but talented candidates who received help from the beings inhabiting the Void, if there were even other beings like it. Which brought up the question; why did it give him a gift? Was it truly benign, or were there other factors that he couldn't even see?
Maybe the Mark on his chest would secretly control his mind, make him lose a couple minutes of each day to do unspeakable things...
Probably not. That'd be useless anyways.
Fen pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking. It didn't feel unfriendly, if anything it felt the opposite, so friendly that Fen was extremely uncomfortable. He wasn't used to receiving such amiableness that had no other motive. He was so certain that everyone had to have a reason for being friendly (Miko being the only exception besides his family), but now this black mass appeared...
"Enough." Fen sighed. "I'll just keep going in circles if I keep thinking about it."
With that final statement, he headed towards Raisen's Training Hall to begin his next Lesson, passing Amelia and Gray on the way. Gray was still exceptionally friendly, but was unable to penetrate Fen's ever-so-slowly disintegrating walls.
Amelia didn't even try to be friendly, and he also didn't want to waste his energy. The two acknowledged each other's presence and moved on.
Erik was already in the Training Hall with Raisen nowhere to be seen. Late, Fen assumed. For lack of a better option, he walked up to his comrade to start a conversation, but the other candidate beat him to it and asked him a question.
"What was that yesterday? Was that your awakening?" His question was actually... quite spot on. Fen didn't think of it as one, but that was the best term for what happened. He confirmed it with Erik, who then sighed.
"Huu, when I awakened my manipulation abilities my teacher said she had never seen anything like it, but mine was nothing like yours. Guess you must have a lot more talent than me, huh?" His guess was wrong, the candidate in front of him had overflowing talent compared to him, they just started at different points.
Erik was completely human, if an extremely talented one, but Fen was a Vitul. The two were never meant to be on the same playing field; the difference was comparable to a shark and a human learning how to swim. It could be the fastest person in humanity's history, but they still wouldn't be able to achieve the fluidity and naturalness of a water-born shark.
Humans excelled at adapting and at learning, but their natural abilities paled compared to the Fallen races who were gifted from birth. If the Sins hadn't interfered in Earth's development, the other now-Fallen races would have quickly dominated over the human race. It could be considered beneficial to humankind that the other races were destroyed, while humans prospered after the higher beings abandoned the planet.
"Haha, no I just got lucky. Even if I did awaken, your skills are still superior to mine."
"Hmm, but that's only because I started learning earlier than you." Erik waved his hands around. "I'm sure you'll eventually catch up."
The youth smiled.
"But that's only if I keep progressing at my current pace! If I start progressing faster, not even you will be able to catch up to me!"
At that moment Raisen barged into the room. Why he was barging into his own Training Hall was anyone's guess; nobody could predict the actions of the Foundation's crazies.
The old man was in a sour mood; he had overheard Fen and Erik's conversation and was filled with so much envy towards the rate at which these two geniuses progressed. What Erik casually mentioned, 'progressing faster', was extremely difficult to do because of the strain it put on their body.
However, because of the amount of potential Erik had, be it genes, body structure, or talent, it might actually be easy for the candidate to accomplish that.
As for Fen... no matter how envious Raisen was, the old man had to accept the fact that he would be destined to eventually surpass him. They hadn't even scratched the surface of his Vitul abilities and talents and yet he already possessed superb manipulative skills towards Vitality, and the ability to assimilate all types of energy into his body to turn into his strength.
If that talent was enhanced, or, Gods forbid, evolved, then Fen would a terrifying warrior on the level of a natural disaster for all armies anywhere; soldiers that used Vitality to strengthen themselves would essentially be offering him Fen a free meal- no, an appetizer.
"Argh, must be nice to be a genius! So you think you can brag about your talent in front of your instructor like this? Fine."
"I was going to some more theoretical Lessons, but because you guys are so confident, we're going straight to practical!" Raisen screamed, rushing to his desk to grab a flat board made from a strange wooden material.
"Get in a line so I can beat you u- I mean, educate you on utilizing your Vitality properly!"
The next five hours consisted of Raisen repeatedly releasing his envy and frustration against Fen and his comrade Erik. Whether or not the two candidates deserved this was questionable, the average individual might agree with this punishment, claiming that they should have known better than to outwardly talk about their skills around people that had lesser talent. Geniuses might claim that this was undeserved; why should talent have to hide itself around the ungifted?
The real answer to this ethical question was this: Might is right, those with power decide what is right and wrong. Anybody who lived away from civilization for a period of time would be able to give that answer; only the weak depended on laws and regulations to protect themselves. Is a rule going to protect you? No, you must be strong enough to protect yourself. Depending on others is necessary at certain points, but when you don't need to, then why would you?
Everyone has the potential to disappoint another person. The best method of prevention is to not get close to anyone in the first place, simple cause and effect.
Fen learned that lesson early in life; after Alex was born, Fen took it upon himself to protect her, helping his parents. As he watched his little sister get hurt by others, Fen's trust in authority vanished, like it never existed in the first place.
Why should he depend on others when he could be much better than they could ever do? He was smarter, stronger, and most important of all, he was there when his loved ones needed him when the rules weren't.
"Are...you...done...yet?" Raisen's breath was enunciated with a deep breath as the old man recovered from his physical exertion (kicking his students' asses).
Fen and Erik were both on the floor, although Fen was in signicantly better condition than his comrade. Both of them were covered in bruises, with smudges of blood in their clothes as their cuts healed from their afflicted wounds.
The 'training' that Raisen had given them mainly consisted of him using his flat board and taking repeated swings at his students. That sounded cruel? Well, there was a method to the madness, the Foundation's crazies weren't instructors for no reason.
When someone awakened to being able to sense and manipulate Vitality, they would slowly become able to use this energy to actively strengthen parts of their body, and would passively become much more powerful physically, stronger, faster, tougher.
In this exercise, the candidates should be able to stay on their feet while using energy to strengthen the parts of their body to tank the hits, getting practice with manipulating Vitality as well as hand-to-hand combat.
Well, if the instructor conducting the exercise had the power of a regular person, that is. Raisen, for his part, was still holding back but he did put more strength in his swings than was necessary; point in case being the bloodied candidates on the floor.
Being a Vitul, Fen was gifted with a physique that should be able to heal from all sorts of wounds and scratches, but his kind weren't the only ones with such a physique, the flat weapon used to train them in the Lesson was created to deal out lasting wounds. The tool was enchanted, specifically to increase the difficulty of healing the wounds it created.
Vitality manipulators would be able to direct energy to heal themselves rapidly, and this was meant to be practice for them to direct Vitality through their body to heal themselves. Fen and Erik were able to do this very well, but when the excess energy inside them ran out, they were forced to dig deeper and deeper inside themselves to heal. And when that ran out, they had to focus on dodging the swings they could, and reducing the impact of the swings they couldn't.
After 5 hours, this was the result. A couple of beat up candidates, and a frustrated Raisen, angry that he wasn't able to last as long as they could when he was their age. But, he was their instructor now, so he was allowed to take out his stress on them as long they could learn from it.
Fen was in a terrible condition, but he still dragged himself to his instructor.
"Bastard-start talking. How difficult is Erudite?" The reason why he still dragged himself up was because Fen realized that Erik was unconscious, put into that condition from Raisen's last devastating blow. His chance to ask Raisen some discreet questions was now.
"Oh. Good, we can talk about that stuff now." Raisen's actions didn't match his words, his hands longingly stroked his weapon's handle before setting it down. 'Should have enjoyed that time more,' the old man thought. Fen was able to grasp the intention surrounding the man shivered, thankful that Erik fell in the time that he did.