"...Under your light, the obstacles and unattainable shall be no more. Your mighty powers pierce the path to Soulscape..."
A drop of sweat runs down my forehead, while the swirling golden vortex in the middle of it reaches peak velocity.
As it peaks, the energy absorbed suddenly doubles, but I manage to not falter. I maintain control of the vortex as the scripture continues.
"...and illuminate it with righteous glory. For this servant pleas to his Lord Elat of the Rising Sun."
Finally! My first complete cycle of the prayer!
The sudden doubling towards the end made it sooooo hard.
"Whew! Alright, I'll end it on this good note."
I open my eyes to pure darkness, but as the vortex dissipates light returns.
Oh! this is dope. It absorbed all light in the vicinity like a blackhole.
"Ggrrrrrrrrr!"
Wow, calm down stomach. I'll go eat alright?
Who would have thought that nonstop cultivating from 3 o'clock to 6 o'clock is tiring?
Today I'm going to treat myself to two glasses of chocolate milk.
First, I got to shower though and wake up my legs. I've been sitting cross-legged for so long that they fell asleep.
————————————
My breakfast in hand, I look for a seat in the cafeteria.
This is why I always come early, now I have to socialize with little kids.
I already have a reputation for being aloof and antisocial, so every group of kids I walk by protects their seats.
"Tsk! How annoying."
I reach the back of the hall with no open seat insight. Seems I'm going to have to force myself onto a table.
"Hey! Hey! Alex! Do you want to eat with me?"
Surprised, I turn around to see my chubby, red-haired desk neighbor, Hugo, sitting at a small table in the back.
"You look like you could need a place to sit."
His astute, emerald green eyes seem to see right through me.
"Yeah, sure I'd love to."
"Nice, it's boring to eat alone."
I sit myself down on the other seat opposite him fascinated by the shrewdness in his eyes.
Is this really the stupid boy from class?
"You also got chocolate milk, it's the best, isn't it? I already finished mine."
He points to his empty glass with his innocent smile.
I'm starting to like this kid.
"Yup, people who get juice have no taste."
"Exactly, so why do people not want you sitting with them?"
Hugo looks over at the people around us who were apprehensive of me sitting with them.
I shrug.
"They don't like me and I don't like them. I usually come early, so I don't have to bother with anyone. I'm very cool like that you know?"
"But today you didn't because you were cultivating?"
Wut? Rewind that, please.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?!"
"Because you were cultivating. You feel like those that just did it."
"I feel like?"
"People who just cultivated give me a feeling similar to what I'm getting from you now. Brother Hansen said I can feel it because I'm something called an empath."
"An empath?"
"I can't explain it since I didn't really get the Brother's explanation. I just get 'feelings' from people, you know? For example, that blond guy over there is about to punch the guy to his right."
I follow his gaze to an older blond kid with a scar on his forehead who suddenly stands up and punches the guy next to him who is flung across the hall from the powerful punch.
"Awesome!!"
"I know right?"
I look back at Hugo while we're both stupidly grinning.
I think I found my first friend in this world.
"So, what other 'feelings' are you getting?"
"You see that girl..."
_____________________________________________________
In the classroom, I am trying to explain to Hugo the gist of yesterday's theology lesson, despite all his other cunning he's still academically struggling, when the door swings open.
"Alright class, that's enough chitchat, follow me were switching rooms for today's class."
What's going?
With the rest of the confused class, we follow behind Brother Hansen. Only Amy seems to be aware of what's going on.
"Those among you that bothered to look at the schedules I handed should know that today is combat training."
Oh, so that's why only Amy knows.
"Combat training will always be held in the room I'm bringing you to now, so for every Wednesday and Friday of this year class will start there, don't go to the usual classroom."
"Yes, Brother Hansen!"
"Alright once we get there you'll get your training gear, bring it every Wednesday and Friday."
We follow Hansen as he descends into the basement where he brings us to a large matted room.
"Okay everyone this will be our training area for this year. Please take off your shoes when inside Mr. Koch hates cleaning these mats and neither you nor I want to feel his wrath."
Amen Brother, that man terrifies Satan himself.
"Training gear and changing rooms are to the right. Each person gets one bag."
"Once you are changed form a circle in the middle of the room."
Inside, I grab one of the leather bags and go change.
The training suite is a rashguard composed of a gray t-shirt and shorts. Both pieces are originally loose but their unknown magical material tightens around the person once it's put on.
the shirt also has a cool rising sun on its back. Branding is important, people.
When Hugo and I arrive at the circle. I get a look from Brother Hansen that I have begun to dread.
"Alex you and I will be in the middle to demonstrate."
Why!? I appreciate you wanting to help me out of pity, but I'd be very much good if you didn't. Pick Amy she'd gladly do it.
I don't need this kind of extra attention...
He makes me sit in front of him in the middle.
"Wednesday we'll be doing grappling and Friday's it'll be striking. Fighting with weapons will have to wait till next year."
Does he mean grappling as in wrestling or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and striking as in boxing or kickboxing?
"Grappling is a form of fitting focused on controlling the opponent's body to submit him or her."
Yup, that sounds like BJJ.
"Someone is submitted once their unconscious or have sustained a severe injury rendering them helpless this is done by either choking or breaking various joints."
A bit brutal for six-year-olds don't you think boss.
"Of course we won't be breaking or choking any classmates you'll surrender before that happens by tapping out. Any questions about what I just explained?"
Having gotten no question, he signals me to stand up.
"Ok, today I'll be teaching you takedowns. Two takedowns to be exact: the double-legged and single-legged takedown..."
Oh, no...
"...First the double-legged, it consists of crouching down like this and then shooting your knee over your ankles and in between his legs..."
No no no no
"...Now when you have your knee here you'll step with your other foot past his legs while grabbing his legs and then drive into his hips with your head like this."
"BAM!! Ow!!"
"Oh no! Sorry Alex, I completely forgot to teach you guys how to fall first."
You motherfucker! You forgot?!
"Look carefully with Alex as an example your going to want to know how to fall. So you're goin..."
Please have mercy Elat!