Okay.
I regret my words.
Yes, I do regret starting this training since just doing the first training session is hard as hell!
"Gah! Why can't I do it?!"
I yelled, mostly to myself.
Astoria answered.
"You're too hasty."
"Hm?"
I turned to her.
"Hasty?"
"I mean, you're not properly concentrating on your meditation."
Yup.
The first training session is to acquire skills called Advanced Depth Perception and Calm Mind. Currently, I'm trying to get Calm Mind and it is very hard. The reason it is hard is because your head needs to be cleared and it changes your way of thinking under pressure, making sure you make the most rational decisions, no matter what.
"My advice is to focus on places that make you feel calm. Of course, this may take a little over 4 days. I can tell by looking at your progress."
Two hours of progress makes her assume that I'll be overscheduled.
Probably will.
Well, let me try this again. So, she said that I began meditating and attempting to clear my mind. Then, I should be feeling mana slowly gather in me.
Now, let's try.
I began meditating and I focused on peaceful things. Things that would bring peace to me.
Like a waterfall.
Suddenly, my mana nexus felt like it exploded, causing my chest to burn and cough.
"That scenery you thought of doesn't truly bring you to peace. Choose another."
Really?
And I thought that a generic one would be good.
Guess not.
Again.
This time, I thought about something else. Something else that I would've never expected to comfort me.
The darkness.
It's just like the thought simply trickled into my mind and took over. I could feel myself absorbing the surrounding mana particles.
Though it felt slightly different from what I learned in Magic Theory. Absorbing the mana particles from the atmosphere usually is just a way to replenish my mana, however, here, I'm starting to feel almost... calmer.
When I opened my eyes, I observed the room. Everything was the same. Not a single thing was different. Though, there was no spiking mana nexus pain.
"You did it."
"Huh?"
"I said you did it."
No way.
"No way, I did. I couldn't have done it just like that. No way."
Astoria smiled slightly.
"It may not seem like it but even I'm surprised. I never expected you to complete it all of a sudden."
"But I don't feel any different."
I told her.
"That's because Calm Mind is a skill used passively. You don't realise you're using it. Though I can say this now, it's definitely not active."
This skill is way more confusing then.
"When will it be active?"
"Remember. You won't even notice it when it is."
"How does that make sense?"
I understood the principle of the spell but I didn't know how to activate it. Well, who knows, maybe it's already active?
"My most troubling problem is that you figured it out so quickly. Too quickly, in fact."
Astoria looked slightly troubled as she took off her monocle and put it in her waistcoat pocket.
"How long did it take me?"
I asked.
"Surprisingly, I thought you'd complete it the first time when I saw you meditate for an hour. Then you flopped. You did it again and got instantly rejected. Now, you did it in barely any time. I'd say around an hour and 20 minutes."
Wait, when I first meditated it was for an hour?!
It did not feel like an hour! Felt like 5 minutes at most!
"So, when will we start the training on Advanced Depth Perception?"
"Not yet."
"Hm? But I just finished this train--"
Suddenly, I lost my balance. I regained it quickly but I was thinking of how I lost my balance. My head isn't hurting or anything.
"Your brain is still adapting to Calm Mind."
Still adapting?
What? I don't feel anything though. My mind still feels the same. Does mental training not affect me like how physical training does?
Or... does my body just not realise yet?
"For now, I recommend you relax for a day or two. But, seeing you get Calm Mind in under a day, much less, 2 hours, it may be less."
I stood up.
My body definitely doesn't feel different neither does my mind. This Calm Mind thing is trippy without it doing anything to me.
Will it change my train of thoughts over time or...?
"Just explore Olympus if you want."
"I guess... I'll do that..."
---
Astoria kicked me out of her room and then I found Fin on the way.
"Master? Are you okay?"
What the actual fuck.
Why is it doing now?
It's not like I'm hallucinating or anything. Nothing is spinning or distorted.
I won't even notice it my fucking arse, things are looking weird. Not even in a bad way, it's just that... everything seemed so... refined.
"Y-yeah..."
It's not that I can see numbers and distances but I can tell what's what distance from what. I looked at Lin.
The distance between us isn't that far. It's exactly a foot. She's purposely trying to keep her distance from me.
Suddenly, I blacked out for a second.
"What the..."
"Master?"
Fuck Astoria. What's up with this 'won't notice it' bullshit?! My head is going wild right now!
This Calm Mind bullshit is evolving into Advanced Depth Perception, isn't it?
"So, would you like to have dinner, Master?"
"Uhm, yeah, sure."
I looked up at Fin.
Her expression is showing definite worry but also fear. What's there to fear in me?
For a second, my eyes became blurry but returned to normal. Fuck.
My mind is going on overdrive.
"Actually, I'll think I'll pass on that."
"Huh? Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
I covered my right eye, trying to limit the information given to my brain.
In doing so, I saw her sigh ever so slightly.
For some reason, I felt my heart skip a beat.
Are all people like this when dealing with Emperors?
"You can go now."
I told her.
She left, a little hurried.
This new vision thing is kind of useful, a little, but too much on my brain. I feel like my brain was running automatically.
"Oh, it's you, the Vessel. Was your name... Shoya?"
"Hm?"
A girl, a little younger than me appeared in front of me. It was the Purple Emperor. I don't remember her name because my mind is running too fast.
"Are you... okay?"
She had a lollipop in her mouth. She looked like a child with it in her mouth.
"Yeah, I'm--"
"Come with me."
"Huh?"
"You're so dumb."