I was walking together with my group looking for a spot to have breakfast. Yesterday I wasted most of my time following Lucien's aunt Mary. She took her time to figure out the best way for me and start a different training schedule. To be honest I was pretty happy to have another thing to practice.
The training focus on control but rather utility. Mary explained to me that whenever I used Karma it'll use the one inside my body and forcefully take control of the Karma outside. Afterward is what I called the dome, a radius where I can control my Karma.
Apparently that's a very inefficient way to use Karma as nearly 60% of the Karma used doesn't return back to my body. As for what happen when I run out of Karma... let's just say things won't be pretty. Because the vessel is essentially created out of Karma, when we run out it'll break causing massive damage to the body and the vessel itself. Karma is always regenerating though and is unlikely that one would ever run out in a lifetime.
Back on topic, the training is to forcefully hold the Karma inside my body whenever I use it. Although it sounds simple enough, I failed to make any progress yesterday. Karma when activated takes too much space inside the vessel causing strain in the body instead. My body is still aching from yesterday... Anyway Mary told me that as long as I do it twice a week it'll get better.
The first event is the local celebration. From what I know in this place tomorrow is new year and there'll be a big event. We are all excited for that.
Since we're free today Lucien wanted to take us to a ability center where we can get our 'first' ability! First we were introduced to a woman who started explaining us in detail what abilities are.
"Abilities are for the most part a necessities for anyone planning to be active in the supernatural world. As you may have realized already Karma can be activated and controlled. However it's incredibly hard and inefficient to do so. Our ancestors know that and created a shortcut which is now called ability.
Abilities are usually used through a medium and anything can be one from your body part to a book or a weapon. You only need to transfer Karma into those medium to use your ability and thus is much more easy and efficient.
Learning ability is even more easy as it's made into a condensed form. You just have to let your Karma in and you'll automatically know how to use it.
As for how abilities are created it's unknown as most of the process is lost in time."
"Say what's the different between activated and passive Karma?"
"Passive Karma can only strengthen your body and vessel. Activated Karma can do practically anything with sufficient control and Karma."
It took us some time to digest the information while Lucien bought us out a basic ability. It's in a form of a pure white marble, barely the size of my palm.
"The ability is haste which just increases your speed. It's quite useful at your rank." [Lucien]
I tried pouring my Karma in but I didn't felt anything. Confused I tried again but before I could do anything the marble disappeared. Others marbles also turned into nothing and amazement can be seen from their faces. Strange.
I tried to hide my confusion and ask the nearby Harold in a fake excited tone.
"Hey you felt that too?"
"Yeah it's amazing. It's like it was always there in my memory. I think I can do it right now." [Harold]
At this point I can guess that only I had a different reaction compared to everybody. And if there's anything out of the ordinary I can only have one guess...
I went to the restroom and toilet and took out my phone. On it a message could be seen from the plushie.
[Plush: you won't be able to learn any ability outside of the phone.]
I don't know whether to laugh or cry anymore. This was my biggest advantage so I expected some drawbacks but this... I guess it's fine but I'm still confused as to why?
[Dummy: why can't I?]
[Plush: your aptitude is preventing you from learning any ability. The phone was made because you are handicapped.]
There's just too many new stuffs for me to learn. I still haven't figured out what authority is and now aptitude? What does it have to do with learning ability?
[Dummy: what's aptitude? What does it have to do with learning ability?]
[Plush: you don't expect for me to tell you everything do you?]
What? You already told me half the story so just finish it! Though I know complaining won't help, the plushie is always like this.
As frustrated as I was, I still have to pretend that I am excited outside. I'll look for another way to obtain more abilities later.
Going back outside it seems like they have already finished testing. I was curious to see how effective the ability is but it didn't do very much beside making one run slightly faster, that's what they said anyway.
After we're done with the shop, Lucien led us to the main street where the event will be taking place. It was then I could truly experience the different world culture. Shops were set up hanging from the buildings with several different layers where one could go to shop.
You can also go in the building itself as they are also shops. On the road is where a dragon will go through and afterward bonfires will be lit around the street. Apparently there will be free food for the first few people to come to the bonfire.
There is still another day until most shops are opened though so we are mostly just walking aimlessly.
"Lucien, the training that your aunt gave me did you do it too?"
"Ahhh that? No I didn't, it doesn't fit my style." [Lucien]
"How do you know?"
Lucien was slightly confused at my question before realizing that his common sense and mine is still very much different.
"Right. As an Extraordinary you are categorized into 3 main branches. The Karma users, the abilities users and the artifacts users. The Karma users and abilities users sound similar but they aren't the same. Abilities users passively use their Karma to power their abilities while Karma users actively control their Karma with or without abilities.
It's hard to put them into words without demonstrating it." [Lucien]
Our conversation managed to peak the interest of the rest of the group.
"Can you give an example then?" [Harold]
The idea was quickly accepted by Lucien who then lead us to a training grounds out of the main road.
The training ground was as big as a sport stadium with different area for people to train. Lucien didn't go to those open field however and continue walking to the counter.
"One private room please. Medium size is ok." [Lucien]
The staff quickly led us to a room below the ground and left just as fast.
"Why a room? There's plenty space outside."
Rather than answering, Lucien put his finger above his lip, an action he often does when he's planning something mischievous.
Of course as the only person who knows this I could only shake my head in defeat.
"Now I want you guys to listen carefully if not the next process is going to take a long time. I want you guys to activate your Karma here.
Since we are in a closed space something called the Karma overlaps will happen. I want you all to control it so that none of your Karma fight each other. Try to activate one at a time." [Lucien]
Currently there's 5 people in the room including me. There's Harold, Shina, Lena, Lucien and myself. We choose rock paper scissor to pick out the order.
I don't know if it's lucky or not but I'll be the first. Focusing my mind, I activate the Karma inside me letting them spread inside the room. I didn't try to reduce the dome size as it was too tiring to do so.
Afterward it's Lena turn. She quickly activated her Karma also spreading it in a rather big radius. It was then that I understood what Lucien said by overlapping Karma.
The previous all seeing feeling from the dome is gone and replaced by a sticky feeling instead. It's blocking my senses and my Karma fighting for the control of the space. Perhaps Lena also felt the same thing as her face reveal how uncomfortable she was.
In the end we managed to keep it in harmony with each other. The feeling of all seeing never returned and we still felt restricted though. Next was Harold and the moment he activate his Karma the balance we made fell apart. The mixed Karma fought each other and in just 1 minute all three of us deactivated our Karma.
Looking at Lucien expression I managed to figure out what's the purpose for this room. It's another training session!
It wasn't bad though as there's something I was able to grasp when overlapping Karma with other. I could see the way to harmonize the different Karma. Is this another effect of the [Karma's control]?
We tried again with the same order. I forcefully change Lena's Karma direction with enough force so that it won't turn into a fight, directing her to a different flow, not interfering with my own Karma. The changes were huge as the all seeing feeling returned for both of us.
I did the same for Harold and although it was a bit harder I still managed to work it out. The addition of Shina was too much however as I couldn't find the balance for all 4, deactivating our Karma. The process repeated 3 more times until I finally was able to harmonize all 4 of us.
When Dummy was guiding the Karma no one here could understand the true growth of his. If Jester was here he would be very very surprised but unfortunately, or fortunately for Dummy he wasn't.
Lucien despite not noticing what happened was still amazed by their progress. He expected them to take at least half a day to get it right but it has only been 20 minutes. Nevertheless it was time for him to do his part.
Inside the dome, another present appeared. This time there wasn't anything uncomfortable feeling nor is there any fighting. The presence felt like it has been here for a long time.
"Everyone can feel my Karma yes?" [Lucien]
"Y-yeah" [Harold]
Harold voice contained awe. I understand his amazement. His Karma surround his body tightly as if he's intentionally letting them out, which he probably is.
"Lucien, you told me you didn't do your aunt trainings right? Are you lying?"
"Haha, I'm flattered but it isn't the same thing. The foundation is the same but the training after is different." [Lucien]
"Wha- she never told me about this!"
Lucien made a troubled laugh.
"She probably find you not good enough for the real technique. She's a Karma user while I'm an ability user." [Lucien]
Kugh. Not good enough!? That's... true. I can already tell with this basic exercise. There's nothing I can do about it but to train harder.