Major Mastery

"Boy, why did you come out early? Are you done? Success?! Did you hurt anywhere?! What's the emergency?!"

Tok Silihan peppered the ugly boy with questions like a rapidly firing BB shotgun. 

The boy was silent as he groggily walked towards the pond to clean himself. His eyes were blank; as if he didn't hear the elder's question. Tok Silihan had pulled him out immediately when he felt the boy making the predetermined hand signal two times although it was an hour earlier than usual. It was a signal for emergency or distress.

"A minute, Tok. Slow done a bit. I'm having a headache now. Let me clean up and rest for some time." 

Tok Silihan scrunched his brow with worry.

He waited for the boy to clean himself while observing him with concern. He did detect the elevated heart rate and the internal ups and downs of the boy while he was deep under, but, as promised, he stayed his hands and did not end the session prematurely. It had taken him unimaginable willpower to stop himself as his instincts were telling him that the boy's life was hanging by a thread. 

...

..

.

The boy surely took his own sweet time!

Tok Silihan tapped his left foot impatiently as he observed the boy scooping water by the small pond gingerly. He was still washing himself at the same spot! The agonizing ten minutes riled the elder up and he had tried hard to suppress his anger! Even the ladies in the village washed faster than this princess!

...

Arash gently scooped the emerald green water with the blue water dipper he stashed over a stunted tree nearby. His hands were trembling, and he did his best to pour water over his head to clear his mind.

Oblivious to Tok Silihan, Arash was in a completely different state; he was currently trying hard to concentrate in between a terrible headache. He felt like his head was splitting and a hand was slowly mixing his brain, making him giddy and bloated at the same time. 

This was the effect of trying to hold on to Hana's SPE within his Soul Core without converting them into his own while simultaneously merging with her Soul Core on the other side. 

They had taken quite some time to discuss ways to improve their 'two-way connectivity' and this method was naturally the first on the list as top priority. They concluded that the best way could be by simultaneously holding each other's will to maintain two-way communication outside their respective Soul Hall Domains. This way, they could be permanently linked at all times, just like being on the phone indefinitely.

Granted, Arash had daringly taken in a bit more of Hana's SPE than usual as an attempt to increase the connectivity's efficiency. He thought he could handle it through extrapolation since his wife's SPE had always been in excess. His bloated Soul Core was smoldering and felt so painful as if a searing fire was slowly roasting it.

Arash had no choice but to soldier it through and preservered; at least until they managed to verify the various suggestions while they were still within the vicinity of a highly concentrated spiritual energy node. 

Hana had no problem since there was a formation maintaining the energy concentration in her sojourn thanks to Shiro, but Arash wasn't so fortunate. He had less than a day to make things work before he had to go back to the village. It won't be so easy to get a prolonged break from work to enter seclusion with the Tok Batin after this.

With difficulty, he whispered under his breath, "How was it, Ayang? Isn't the pool pretty? Can you see it this time?"

It's like a magazine shot with filters, right?

Arash tried his best to open his eyes and look around for the sake of his wife, but even those simple actions were draining him as if a big sack of cement was placed over his head and back. 

On the other side, Hana was thrilled that she finally could receive some sort of 'reception'! 

So lovely, Ayang! It does look like one from the traveling mags! This one is even prettier than the one in Krabi! (1)

She could finally view the fantasy-like scenery through her husband's eyes. It was no less magical when compared to her side. 

Arash winced in pain but was feeling extremely gratified. Hana's response this time was so intense, but he noticed she heard both his voice and his telepathic message. The additional pressure nearly made him faint. 

Lower down your volume, Ayang. Don't be so excited. It hurts my head pretty badly. I don't think I can hold your SPE for long. This won't work for the long term. It's too taxing to maintain your SPE on my side.

Arash response quickly doused Hana's excitement. She immediately controlled herself as she contemplated the details he shared. It seemed that even a wisp of her will might be a bit too much for Arash to handle right now. It became a burden for him and could hurt his soul core in the long term if they pushed for this.

Then, can you see what happens over here at the same time? Hana asked to confirm. 

Arash closed his eyes to see a light greenish glow with giant termites scurrying around. Hana had explained how the humble cave had been renovated into a high-end luxurious-looking chamber with giant pearls as tiles and termites' spit as the wall's plaster. If he didn't know better, he would've convinced himself that he was hallucinating. 

Yes. Please stop picking your nose, girl. Not cute. Arash chuckled under his breath.

Hana blushed furiously before she laughed awkwardly. She forgot that her eyes could see her own finger digging her nose even when they were facing out. Being a married couple for tens of years had made her lose all the shame, but somehow she became quite self-conscious when she hadn't met her husband for a long time. She desperately wanted him to adore her still.

Anyway, why don't you try to stop sending your will together with your SPE to save your energy? As expected, a continuous connection is not suitable for now. It was too taxing for you, right? No matter, let's check if we could continue this when you exited the cave. If possible, let's maintain the energy sharing continuously. Let me supply the Soul Energy you need for you to recycle it back to me, and let us see what changes. However, you should let the SPE-generating chant accumulate around you since it benefitted you. Hana contemplated as she stated her opinion telepathically. 

That sounded logical. Let's try it and see. The electronically-generated SPE could still function autonomously without my intervention, although it won't be as efficient. It is never too much to have more SPE since the energy is consumable. Arash immediately acquiesced to Hana's suggestion. He immediately stopped sending his will and it tremendously improved his constitution. His head didn't feel as heavy as before.

Hana immediately noticed the change. The intimate feeling she enjoyed disappeared, but the connection persisted. The reception she received from Arash reduced significantly. But as long as she concentrated, she could still receive vision from the other side. It was like a 2G one-bar reception when entering remote villages. The images lacked the HD effect, but it was still agreeable. However, she didn't receive Arash's telepathic feedback anymore.

I can't hear you even without your will present, Ayang. 

Arash's will flowed back after a few minutes. I see. That's great. That verifies our discussion. 

Both sides noticed the importance of their will to have telepathic communication.

Hana got an epiphany! Her avatar shone as she ushered Kuro's astral body towards the bridge and gave him permission to extend his senses over it to touch the other side. If she could do it, obviously her stronger pets could do it too. Could she... lend her pet over?

Then, can you hear him? Come on, Ku-chan. Say a few things to your Papa.

Er, hello, Papa? This little one is Kuro. A bashful, young adolescent male's voice resounded in Arash's mind. 

"!!!!" Kuro's gentle greeting felt like thunder striking Arash's consciousness! He immediately coughed blood as he rolled over beside the pond!

Hana was horrified and immediately cut off Kuro's presence within her will! Her eyes misted and she tried to calm herself to observe the other side.

Gnarly old hands grabbed Arash and carried him like a potato sack to a blue sheet a few steps away. It was done lightning-fast. This must be the Expert helping her husband out. She was so grateful to the elder. Arash was mumbling under his breath, but she couldn't make out what he said since his will had vanished. But she could still feel his persistence to supply his soul energy to her through the bridge.

Hana sniffled as she quietly stared into Arash's world with sadness...

Why had she been so reckless? 

...

I'm so sorry, Mommy. Papa's Soul is just too weak to receive me, especially when he didn't have the Lightning Serpent's rune engraved on his Avatar(2). You need to help strengthen his Avatar first to achieve at least the Infant stage for him to withstand the burden somewhat.

Hana was devastated upon hearing her pet snake's explanation. It was truly her fault for inflicting Arash with so much pain just because she whimsically tried to build a secondary link between her husband and her pet. She thought it would be a little tough, but still doable. 

Who knew how bad her action would implicate her husband?

But how can he receive my will? I thought you said I already reached the Adolescent stage. Following that logic, his Soul wouldn't be able to receive even me.

Kuro was quiet. His answer came after a moment, laced with uncertainty.

You are different, Mommy. I think, your souls are so compatible that you could sync with his. It is not the usual Soul Link though, but similar in nature, since I couldn't detect the master-slave rune. 

There was a pause again as if Kuro needed time to think before explaining. He had never been good at this and even had to resort to asking for help from Gramps Alpy. But this time, he had to respond properly since he had to expound on the specifics about the Lightning Serpent's Skills. Other spiritual beasts wouldn't know to explain better than him unless they were of the same species and had higher attainment about the Soul Cultivation Technique.

You did notice right, Mommy? 

That the Soul Cultivation technique we cultivate is more towards the parasitic kind? 

Essentially, the host benefits, while the Soul Slaves obtain minimal nourishment. That was why Lightning Serpents were abhorred by all. 

Everything works around establishing Soul-links for energy absorption and control by the host.

Since time immemorial, Soul-link has been about making a stronger bridge between a host and the Soul Slave. In the beginning, there is none, but slowly, a solid one will be built over time by the Soul Cultivation Chant when the host slowly nurtures the Soul Slave. 

Your bridge with Papa is peculiar. It was built to be sturdy from the very beginning. So, I don't think we could perceive your bridge with him the same way. The level of sturdiness was akin to achieving major mastery of Soul Link. All the present links you have haven't reached that level yet; what you and I have at most is the minor mastery. 

Kuro was genuinely astounded by the current development. 

Is this link permanent, Ku-chan? Will it disappear one day? Will it have any bad effects on your Papa?

It feels like the permanent kind, Mommy. Don't worry, your bridge is more solid than all other bridges present in your Soul Hall Domain. I suggest you keep on sharing your Soul Energy, Mommy. It is of a higher quality and density after all. Papa will improve exponentially with less effort. I believe Papa's Soul Energy will reach the Infant stage naturally in no time and could learn the Soul Guard skill to enforce himself a little. Then, maybe, we could reattempt again. 

Soul Guard?

Let's talk about it some other time. I'll help you master the technique to relay it to Papa once he's ready. Kuro didn't explain why he didn't impart that low-level defense technique to his Mistress. His own presence was a natural guard for Hana's Soul Hall Domain already. 

There was a hesitant pause again. Kuro added stoically.

Before anything, you need to get as powerful as you can first. I will make that happen for you, Mommy. Trust me.

Hana contemplated Kuro's words. She could perceive something out of the ordinary from Kuro's insistence on power. After a moment, she gave a silent nod.

...