As if that expression was plastered on his face Rice's eye twitched.
Grimroot seeing the scene gave A graveled laugh.
"Oh what a funny interaction. Is this hellrazer new?"
Rice squinted his eyes at Tyler, looking back he responded. "Yes, he is getting promoted soon and I must pass along my knowledge to him.."
Grimroot looked closely. "Your not doing a great job at that.. are you?"
"Well.. it's his second day.. It'll take time.."
"Mm" Grimroot rumbled.
"Well Rice this Is the second time? Iv seen you? Will you come visit me before the new year?"
Rice almost blurted no, Only because the mutating arua was quiet draining to deal with. But he thought about it. "Hmm. sure, I'll invest in some stronger medicines."
Grimroot shook with joy, leaves shedding from his branches as one of them creaked and bent. Leaning down to hand Rice a black shard. "A token then, Return it when you return." The black shard had a still purple miasma on its surface. Looking akin to a black emerald.
Rice felt a burden press down on him, an illusion. He gave Grimroot a look. "Do you want anything from the city, I take it?"
"Ho..ahh.. haha.."
Grimroot laughed, his algmagimated face shifting. "I'll leave that to your discretion, surprise me.."
Rice felt the burden of that wasn't so illusionary now.. he glanced at his wrist watch. They had been here for twenty minutes.
"Grim, I don't want to be erupt but-"
Grimroot waved. "Be on your way, don't leave this old man for too long now. I'll see you in a few months."
Rice waved at Grimroot "let's go kid, we got twenty minutes to spare before that medicine loses its effects."
Tyler hurried alongside Rice, glancing back once to find Grimroot staring intently. He shuddered, soon enough they made it out of the inner Grove. Only then when they passed the intangible barrier that pressed down on them did Tyler speak.
"Since when did that.. tree" Tyler said the last part with effort "and you, on first name basis?"
Rice shook his head "I'm not- oh.. um..mm.."
He did realize the accidentally called him Grim, and though shortening a supernaturals name was sent amongst friends and the likes. you don't do that with certain kinds. Like Grimroot who doesn't have a discernible strength or specific compass.
Well actually the better way to put that Is professionally on jobs or with powerhouses. you Don't do that unless your friends. So in any case he did mess up, but by the looks Grimroot didn't notice. So Rice felt he should leave it that way.
"Let's just keep going. I don't want to be mutated, even if it's a small chance."
The way out was much easier, only with Rice. Had Tyler tackled this by himself, he would have ran into a monster by now.
When they got back to the car, Rice patted himself down checking to see if all the important bits were safe and he didn't change.
Tyler gave him a weird look but Rice shot back a glare iimmediately changing the inevitable subject. "We won't be tackling anymore cases today. Those two were the lesser of the cases. Today we are going to take you to hellrazers private training rooms so I can teach you how to use will and how to manifest intent in your energy."
Rice said as he pulled out of the parking lot.
Back In Grimroot the tree creaked as he turned his head to the side. "And to whom to I owe the lovely visit of the Doctor?"
A figure stepped out into the area around Grimroot. "I only come to talk, Grim. I believe you'll fine my findings quite Interesting."
"Oh? So it's that. Yes, I am curious about it."
The doctor bathed in shadow walked the circumference from his position until he faced Grimroot. "By whom did you talk to before?"
Grimroot smiled, his broken building skull struggling to make the expression.
"A friend from Hellrazer."
The doctor nodded "I see."
Whilst within Dezer, Rice had driven Tyler back to Hq, showcasing him the Three Letter facilities he Will be using and they will be training in. "Alright now that we have more time and not on the job. I want you to focus on your energy. Think about the contract of law and will it to manifest whilst you enact your energy to spread out."
Rice cut straight to the point. Crossing his arms to watch, Tyler did ad he said, thinking about the contract of law and attempting to bring intent. He failed miserably only expending energy.
"So your on the right track, but a little In the grass. You don't just think about it and assume you energy will do the rest. You need To physically input your thought into your energy. Just as when you Learned to use your chains. The same principle applies here. Keep at it until you tap out your energy. Even if you succeed, keep at it. You need to do this subconsciously because frankly will and intent pass this point are requirements to become a three letter."
Tyler nodded, under the guise of Rice he repeated this for the rest of the day.
It didn't take him long to succeed. The idea wasn't hard, it's just not thought of. Most don't explore what they can do with the energy they have. Only what they think they can do.
A real dilemma for Hellrazer when trying to promote from two letter to three.
Despite succeeding, Rice remained indifferent forcing Tyler to do it until he was completely tapped out. Only then did Rice call it quits. "Tomorrow we are tackling a big case. I want you in the morning to find ways to better use your energy. Like how to manifest and combo hellfire. How to use your chains creatively. For most of the day before I pick you up, you need to work on these."
Rice said seriously as he grabbed his keys. "Your going to need to start protecting yourself and getting involved in the cases. No more watching, now it's time to take action. You'll learn faster that way."
Tyler nodded feeling a burden weigh down on him. Rice had one more thing to say before leaving "if you think things are going too fast then slow yourself down in training don't tap yourself out either."
Waving goodbye Rice headed out.