Lukas began to use his power more often. He exhausted his power several times daily whenever he could find a safe place to do so. As he used his power more often I began to think of different ways to help. The options were so many that it was difficult to find any one that would help him. It was also an issue that it would have to be something that would take only a minimal amount of power.
I could increase his strength, agility, speed, give him super powers, or even outlandish skills and knowledge, but they would all exhaust me again. I was frustrated with all the games I played what was one thing I could do that would give him an edge? The answer continued to elude me, until I hit on a simple solution. It might work, but I would need more power to pull it off.
Now my thoughts turned to how to get more power. I knew I could absorb Essence through Lukas from objects and beings that were imbued with Essence. The only problem was that people here used their Essence like a blunt instrument not a scalpel. They didn't store Essence in items as a rule. They simply used their Essence to empower things as they needed them. Need a healing potion, use a large amount of Essence and any glass of water could heal you. The lack of items existing in this world was kind of limiting on how I could power up, but I did have one idea.
One of Lukas's bullies wore an amulet that had a faint trace of Essence in it. I had detected it when Lukas was being beaten. He was a firstborn son of one of the wealthiest family in this area. I began to hatch a plan.
I waited for night to fall and then contacted Lukas, "Hey I need you to do something." I told him.
"What's that." Lukas wanted to know.
"You know that guy who leads the group that likes to beat you up. The son of the wealthy family. I am going to give you a skill. I need you to practice his skill and get very good at it. Then when he beats you up in the future I want you to take his amulet." I explained the plan to him.
"I couldn't steal anything from someone!" Lukas was shocked.
"Lukas he beaten you senseless and nearly killed you on multiple occasions. He owes you this and much more." I reasoned.
"But what would I do with it. I couldn't wear it or I would get caught and executed for sure." He worried.
"No, we won't sell it, nor will you wear it. I am going to consume it to get the Essence from it to help you get stronger. I will absorb the Amulet and use that power to help you get stronger." I urged him.
"I'm not sure about this. I think I will get caught and killed." He was still worried.
"I'll give you the skill. You just practice it. and then we'll see how things work out." I wanted to bang my nonexistent head on a nonexistent wall in frustration as I told him.
I went to my list, and I selected the skill Pickpocket. It was a simple and cheap skill that allowed one to lift items from the person they touched. It involved a myriad of techniques and tricks to distract a person's attention, and it included the muscle memory and knowledge to take items off them without them knowing. It had tricks like the pat, the two-finger lift, and the bump, where you could literally take the items from a person's body without them knowing.
I sent this knowledge directly to Lukas and watched as he began to grimace in pain. IT hurt to receive this amount of knowledge so fast, but the greatest pain was in the changing of his muscles. His body looked a little sleeker after the transformation. It made me realize that a skill could also increase his attributes maybe. It was also draining on me. I used up the majority of my excess power I had saved, but I was hoping to reap many times more power in return.
"Lukas, you ok?" I asked.
"That hurt. Why didn't you tell me it would hurt?" Lukas complained about the pain.
"Of course it hurt. Nothing comes absolutely free. Everything has some price to pay. The pain of a new skill comes from the sudden absorption of knowledge and sometimes with the alteration of your body to better use that skill." I spouted out an answer as best I could. I didn't want him to know I had no idea it would hurt, but my answer seemed logical enough.
"OK sleep tonight. Tomorrow, you get to practice your new skill." I stated.
Lukas got up in the morning and was amazed when he looked in the mirror. His small frame was no larger, but his arms were a little bit sleeker. He felt like he could move a little smoother. He was quicker too he noticed.
"Wow you are really amazing." he exclaimed.
I didn't answer him and just looked through his eyes at his reflection in the mirror.
"Now we just have to practice your new skill." I told him.
"What do I need to do?" he asked.
"Simply take things from the people you meet today. If you get money or items then just give them to orphanage by dropping them in the donation box." I explained.
"You want me to steal stuff?" Lukas was kind of shocked at what I wanted him to do.
"You can always return it but wouldn't the orphanage benefit from what give them." I urged him on. "Only take things from people who look like they have plenty to spare, but are too greedy to help willingly. Think of it as helping them to give back to those less fortunate than them."
Lukas seemed to be deep in thought for a few moments as he finally agreed to work on his new skill. I knew now I would have to slowly teach Lukas a new way of looking at the world. He was too naive and kind for this world.