Beginnings (5)

It had to be checked.

Taking most of the energy from the soul, I moved it to my palm and started releasing it. Like a mist, it sipped out of my skin only to slightly solidify above my skin. Closing and opening my fist I made sure I can still use the hand regularly, and sure enough, it was all good.

I grabbed a mug that was standing beside my bed, holding it in my hand felt weird, I wasn't touching it with my skin, but I could clearly feel its texture. It was clearer then when if I would touch it usually.

But since the mug couldn't touch my skin, then nothing can when I make this shield? There must be a limit. First, I tried to tighten my grip to see if I can do it like this, but it only ended with the mug breaking.

But I noticed that when I did it the energy that I was steadily releasing to my palm was quickly drained and it disappeared. Why was that? Movement? It shouldn't be when I was moving it before nothing like that happened.

Maybe it was a time issue. The consumption of energy increases over time that it is sustained for. But it wouldn't be so sudden, like a sudden spike on a straight line, it would make a curve, increasing exponentially.

Was it the act of using strength? It was easy to crush that mug, but I could do the same with my bare hands.

Should I check it now? There is not a lot of energy left in my soul, and I don't know if there is any risk in emptying it out.

Let's check it.

I moved all of the remaining energy in my soul outside of it and observed it for a while. For a few moments, it was empty without any luster. As I was about to move the energy back, I felt a small pulse in the soul as a small flicker appeared in it, it was the same energy that was there, and it was slowly growing.

It must've been growing before as well, it was just harder to notice with a higher amount. Knowing this I moved the energy to my palm, and again started releasing it.

Moving it about, I couldn't any increase in the consumption, so I proceeded and started to snap my fingers. It doesn't need a lot of strength to do so, but it will tell me if my assumption was right.

With each snap, if I can still call it that since there was no sound made, I felt a small increase in the consumption of energy. This confirmed my suspicion.

But why is it doing it that? Is it compensating for the stress? Or is it maybe augmenting my strength in some way?

With the little energy I had left in my soul there is no way for me to check it now. The house will be empty tomorrow for a few hours when my parents go to work. It should be more than enough to test everything.

---

When I woke up, it was noon already. Hunger… like I never felt before, woke me up. I stumbled my way to the kitchen and started eating.

Having my fill, I went down to the basement. I found my dad's old boxing bag and hung it up.

I started by punching it a few times to get a feel for my strength.

Then I started moving the energy from the soul. I started by covering my fist and hitting the bag. But it wasn't too different. Other than the muffled feeling of hitting the bag it was the same.

Next, I tried to do the same, but with my arm covered instead. It will use much more energy, but a few seconds should be still ok.

I moved the energy, prepared to punch, and hit the bag.

'BAAM!'

The bag hit the floor. The hook holding it was ripped out from the ceiling.

Protection and augmented strength. What else can I do with it?

I have today and tomorrow to experiment, then I can ask Master for the details. And so, I started to experiment with what can I do. With the only limitation being the energy in my soul. In one day, I emptied my soul four times. But I didn't learn much more. It was disappointing.

'Grrrrrr.'

Hearing my stomach rumblings, it was time to stop for today and eat something.

---

"Hmmm?? The fridge is empty?" Was what my mother said when she got back home. At the time I was exercising lightly in the backyard. Remembering my two raids on the fridge in the morning and a bit ago I realized just how much did I eat.

Higher appetite? I guess it could be one of the effects of being a soul artist.

And so, I got hit at the back of my head and had to go buy groceries. That night I started meditating again. I looked at my soul that changed a lot since last time I checked. It was bigger, at least twice the size.

I could be sure what is invoking the grow of it, but it had to be connected to the usage of the energy, and my new-found hunger.

The next day I spent very similarly, but I paid more attention to the soul itself, and I was able to confirm it. The more I use the energy, the more the soul grows and makes me hungry.

But there were still many unknowns, and all of it shouldn't be that simple. There must be techniques or something that can be used with the energy in my soul. There must be!

Tomorrow I will see Master; first I have to make sure he pays for the awakening situation, and then I will get all of the information out of him!