Somewhere in space.
About 6 million kilometers outside of Earth. A house was floating around aimlessly. The house was similar to those of medieval time with 2 floor and a small chimney. When one went in the house, they'll find it strangely spacious and empty. One would always felt like there's something missing despite the house being full of decorations. Inside the house, a clown suit appeared on the coat rack right next to a boar mask.
A woman walked next to the rack and takes out a small piece of paper. Soon the two attire was sucked into the paper, displaying a laughing clown and a raging boar.
"They failed?" [?]
A metallic voice echoed inside the home. The woman smiled and didn't replied. The action seems to irritate whoever spoke up and soon another voice followed.
"We had a deal. If they fail, we'll take action." [?]
The voice was full of anger and animosity towards the woman. This time she did reply. A sweet yet cold voice was heard.
"If you want to get yourself killed, go ahead." [Her]
Like a dam being burst open, countless voice started to criticize the woman, the outer layer of the house started shaking. She madly laughed at these fools trying to do something they would always fail at. An elderly voice joined the fray which soon overpowered all other voices.
"Non of you haven't even faced Rank 2 anomalies and yet you still try to take control of that world?" [?]
The woman nod as if finally hearing something sensible.
"Besides, the plan was a success." [Her]
After speaking these words, she lovingly stroked a giant eye painting on the wall. The eyes on the painting seemed to get more lifelike as time goes on.
Soon she'll have her own Rank 1 anomaly. And with it, she'll finally be able to advance to Rank 1!
* * * * * * * *
23rd of June.
After 2 days of lazing around I finally decided to be productive.
Today was a peaceful day. There wasn't much I needed to worry about thus I sorted out my gaining of the last mission. I should have done this sooner but my body just wasn't having it yesterday.
There was no notification for mission complete despite the fact that the task bar has been crossed out. Since the trivia stated that there's extra rewards, the mission doesn't officially end until the time limit runs out?
I'm fine with that since I still got the normal rewards on time. A creation card and 1000 points, 500 after the debt. These much should be solid enough as a foundation. However I choose to save them for now.
If I'm asked whether or not using the first creation card right away was a good idea I would absolutely say yes. After I still think luck is the most important thing I need right now. But now I've got a lot more leeway with no mission for at least one month, I can practice my abilities more.
One thing I should mention is that the basic abilities were a lot better than I imagined. Back when my mind was overwhelmed by that clown, [Easy breathing] keeps me from choking and [Athlete's boost] has saved me.
Thanks to that I've got a good grasps on the basic rank in general. Basic rank is simply good foundation for any other rank. They can't scale well but it's basically a buff for everything I can get in the future. Due to that, I wanted to buy more basic abilities however...
Where's the basic abilities shop? I rechecked it several times but no matter how hard I look the basic abilities section was gone from the shop. Is this a scam? A real time nerf?
Needless to say I was incredibly disappointed. There goes the opportunity for cost efficient abilities...
I stopped dwelling on it and move on to the fragment I got from the illusion space. Truth be told I have no clue what to do with this thing. I tried seeing how much points it would give me only to fail miserably. I didn't fail because it doesn't belong to me but rather it's rank is too high. Even if it's high rank what's the value if I can't use it...
As for something that's better than a rank 7 creation card Plush told me about, I guess a connection with Anderson counts? I'm not too happy with what I got but beggars can't be choosers.
After I'm done sorting out my rewards the instructor that Velorica told me about also appeared. He looked like an average salary man with an easy going atmosphere.
"Excuse me, are you by any chance Lavender Dummy?" [?]
"Yes I am."
"Great! My name's Tatsuki, nice to meet you. I'm here to fill you in on some basic information of the supernatural world." [Tatsuki]
After greeting each other I let him inside my house and brought out some snacks. I was excited to finally get some basic explanation on things but Tatsuki seemed slightly hesitant about something.
"Is everything alright?"
"Excuse me for being noisy but you are only 19 right? Shouldn't you be going to college at your age, you don't seem to lack money so..." [Tatsuki]
Ah that huh. It's true that I didn't go to college now. I have dropped out only after 2 months there. The reason was because Plush. I've said before that Plush annoyed me a lot in the past and it wasn't an exaggerated.
Back then, I was in a state of constant exhaustion. I couldn't sleep much at night and even when I go to school I couldn't pay attention to class. It was so bad once that I have fainted in the middle of the class. Afterward I quit college all together and spent weeks resting.
I couldn't tell non of these however in case the instructor relay this back to whoever he works for. I don't want to be look at like an insane person again and worst yet I don't want to be mistaken for one of those so called anomaly.
In the end I just gave an awkward laugh and give a random reason. After some more small talk, Tatsuki reconfirmed my choice to join the supernatural world. Of course I agreed.
"I see. It's a pity that you're so young. Since you've resolved yourself already I won't try to talk you out of this. I just hope you won't regret the decision you made later." [Tatsuki]
"Before we get started, I want to ask if you already have any supernatural abilities?" [Tatsuki]
"Is that important?"
"Not at all. I just want to know if you got the basics down or not. It's ok to not tell me." [Tatsuki]
Since that's the case there's no reason for me to tell my abilities here. After all, I still don't know the basic even when I have them!
"I don't have an ability."
"Ok. I'll give you a brief run down of how our supernatural world and abilities actually works.
Any supernatural force uses Karma as it's base energy. Karma is present in almost everywhere and is generated through our every actions. That's the present explanation.
To manifest the supernatural force one must learn how to absorb and control Karma first. If not one will never be able to use any supernatural abilities. Today I'll teach you how to absorb Karma, do you understand?" [Tatsuki]
Finally! From the explanation alone I could understand how important Karma is. It's basically mana from games. If you want to cast magic you'll need mana and similar concepts.
I don't understand how I use abilities from the phone without having control of this Karma but that I can learn later. For now I can learn how to absorb Karma.
"The reason why normal people can't use Karma is they don't feel it. It's impossible to accumulate Karma inside your body without proper understanding.
Since you already have some Karma thanks to the Sage of light, this should be relatively easy." [Tatsuki]
Sage of light? Is that Anderson title?
Wait I should focus.
"I'll stir up the Karma inside of you. Close your eyes and try to feel the changes inside your body. This process usually takes up to 2 hours and you won't be able to move so lots of patience will be needed, is that ok to you?" [Tatsuki]
Patience? I have plenty of patience, bring it in!
"Yes!"
"We'll be starting in 3, 2, 1." [Tatsuki]
* * * * * * * *
30 minutes has passed.
I gave my watches a quick glance before closing my eyes again. Although I would like to say something is changing inside of me, I felt nothing has changed at all.
* * * * * * * *
1 hour.
Still nothing. I started to get bored of sitting in on place. I wanted to start a conversation with Tatsuki but seeing how concentrated he is right now I'm not sure if it's a good idea. I started counting numbers in my head.
* * * * * * * *
1 hour and 30 minutes.
I'm starting to feel that this might go on for more than 2 hours. I still don't feel anything thus far and the silence is starting to get on my nerves. Just slightly though as enduring that idiot plushie was more intolerable than this. Back to counting numbers it is.
* * * * * * * *
It has been 2 hours...
I felt nothing! Still nothing! I can endure the silence and my boredom. However I start to feel like I'm doing something wrong. Am I just bad at this? It's not like I can ask Tatsuki if something is wrong because I can't even move my mouth. My body is getting cramps too...
* * * * * * * *
I felt something! It only took 2 hours and 23 minutes but I felt something!
It was the feeling of being under a river, feeling the stream going from one side to another. It's refreshing.
* * * * * * * *
The feeling was now more suffocating then refreshing and the stream was now constantly changing, moving in an erratic way that shouldn't be possible. Thankfully, the effects of [Easy breathing] help ease the stress of suffocating. I tried to mentally swim up this 'river'.
* * * * * * * *
The suffocating feeling was gone but now the stream flows with a much faster speed than before. I feel myself being pushed back and couldn't resist the flow.
* * * * * * * *
I was out of the river. I was now at the ocean. At this ocean, I could direct the flow back to 'my river'. However it requires a very delicate control.
Slowly and steadily, I direct a small amount of 'water' back where I came from. The river as if sensing this started to calm down and also helps me guide back the 'water'.
"Phew." [Tatsuki]
My body was able to move again and an incredibly invigorated sensation spread out my body. Now, I could get to the 'river' and 'ocean' whenever I focus on them.
And all it took was... 4 hours.
Tatsuki looks at me embarrassed.
"Did I do something wrong? It took much longer than you said."
He looks even more embarrassed now?
"Actually, this job was supposed to be done by whoever share the Karma with you... but we couldn't bother Sage of light when he's testing the anomaly so they settled on me...
Since I'm not the one who passed the Karma to you and the Karma belonging to the Sage is at a much higher than me it ended up like this..." [Tatsuki]
"I see. It's fine, you don't have to beat yourself about it."
I want to file a complaint to this so called sage! Please take responsibility till the end!
"As for control practice he should be able to comes next week so please bear with me until then..." [Tatsuki]
He looked really sad right now, like someone who was forced to take responsibility for things he didn't do. Please don't look at me like that! Go complain to Anderson if you don't want to do this job!
...I think I'll have a depressed teacher if things continue like this.
"H-hey, since we are done why don't we get some fried chicken as a break! It's my treat!"
"I do like fried chickens..." [Tatsuki]
"See! Let's go."
As expected, food is the best solution for awkward situations!