Ch 6- Spiritual power

Rose sat down across from Casey. And she started to read the book and explained as she went along.

"Scientists believe that spiritual power is connected to one's soul and all living beings possess it to some extent".

Casey jerked his head when he heard those lines, noticing his reaction Rose looked over at him and smiled.

"This is just an assumption, one which obviously can't be proven. Scientists also believe that one's life span is directly related to the force of their spiritual power. And although there are people and beings labeled as "not having any" spiritual power they infact possess it. It's just that the amount is too small to be classified or used. But that doesn't mean it isn't there".

Casey carefully listened to the words and fell into contemplation. He wasn't sure how he felt, but he didn't quite agree with everything he just heard.

So for the moment Casey decided not to think about it too much and motioned Rose to continue. The rest of their class went smoothly and Casey felt he had a better understanding of spiritual power and how mysterious it really was.

Meanwhile, Mac had been busy while Casey was at Rose's house. He had walked a few hours journey to the trading market with the other tribes. He was looking for specific parts and pieces he needed for his task. Luckily for Mac, he had a great harvest and found almost all the things he needed.

He returned to the village around sunset, he was in a very good mood. He stopped by his house and stored all the parts in his study. Then he rushed out to pick up Casey.

He knocked on the door of Rose's house and pushed it open. As soon as the door opened a silver dragon flew into his arms. Mac rushed to lift his arms to receive the small dragon.

Casey naturally rubbed his head against Mac's chest and looked at him happily. He felt accomplished after learning with Rose for a whole day. Making him also feel even more grateful to Mac for his kindness and consideration in arranging this for him.

After a simple dinner, Casey told Mac he was going back to his room to rest first. Mac was a bit surprised, as he watched his enthusiastic departure. Mac shrugged it off and went to his study to start analyzing the parts he brought back.

After Casey closed his bedroom door he flopped himself onto the bed and started to break down and go through the information he learned today.

Spiritual power is an innate power that all beings are born with. It can manifest in different abilities and talents depending on race and an individual's capabilities.

One can use spiritual power to connect their mind to other forces and beings either in a harmful or helpful way. There is strength and weakness in using spiritual power, and for many races, it directly relates to their strength in mental fortitude, physical strength, and other powers.

As an example, Casey being a dragon currently has the ability to spit fire from his mouth. In theory, as he trains in the control of spiritual power his ability to spit and control fire will also increase at the same time.

All the power and strengths in one's body are coordinated with their spiritual power. Casey started to wonder if he was weak in his past life because of his lack of spiritual power. He found it a bit difficult to accept but, he decisively threw those thoughts away as it really doesn't matter anymore.

Casey sat brewing in his thoughts for an hour and after he felt like he had gotten a firm understanding of the basic principle of spiritual power got up to shower and go to bed. After he finished freshening up he grabbed his favorite ruby curled into a ball and soon fell asleep.

In the hall, a couple of doors down Mac was still awake working. After he finished handling the parts Mac opened up a book called, "Basic communication systems".

He was studying it intently and would occasionally stop to pick up and tinker with some machine parts. This process of reading and correcting parts continued until late into the night.

After a while, Mac glanced at the clock on the wall and was surprised to find it was after 1AM already. He smiled in contentment. It had been a long time since he had an opportunity, reason, or desire to build so seriously.

Mac sat up straight and stretched his arms above his head then looked down at his work in satisfaction. He stood up, turned off the light, and walked out of his study. He paused after a couple of steps and turned around to walk in opposite direction, moving towards Casey's room.

He gently opened the door and squinted inside and could see the low light reflecting off Casey's shiny scales. Mac saw the small dragon was once again curled into a small ball with a large gem between his claws, right next to his head.

Mac shook his head thinking that this little guy really seemed to like shiny things. This time Mac took note of it in his mind and closed the door, turned and headed to his room to go to bed for the night.

That night Casey had another sweet dream. As soon as Casey entered the dream he remembered everything he saw previously and was a bit lost for a moment.

He looked around and found that he was standing outside the kitchen where he last saw that young couple.

"Is this dream not a continuation of the last one?". Casey was confused, this was his dream so he should be able to pick up where he previously left off, right?

Casey started to look around the house and found himself really alone. He frantically opened doors one by one. He opened one door and the first thing he saw was a large mirror in front of him.

He saw himself in the mirror and was surprised; he saw himself as appearing semi-transparent.

"What a weird dream" he murmured to himself. Closing the door he continued to check the rooms, after affirming there was really no one he dejectedly walked outside the house.

When he raised his head again the first thing that caught his eye was a person. One whom he didn't recognize standing beside the fish pond.

The person looked up and meet Casey's Curious eyes. The man's eyes flashed, then he showed Casey a wide grin. The man had black and grey hair and red eyes, Casey thought he looked familiar but he couldn't pinpoint why he felt that was the case.

"Hello Casey". The man spoke calmly.

"You know my name?" Casey kept his distance as he replied cautiously. The man saw his anxious response and gave a solemn nod.

"We don't have much time so please excuse me for being frank. Do you know where you currently are? And is it possible for you to come to Dalhi star?".

Casey looked at the man his mind blank, he hesitated and slowly responded.

"It's not possible for me to go to Dalhi star right now, and why would I tell you where I am?".

The man paused and then changed into his natural form. Casey's eyes went wide as he watched the middle-aged gentleman in front of him turn into a big black dragon.

The black dragon opened its mouth to speak and at that same moment, the small silver apparition disappeared.

"Damn it". The middle-aged dragon cursed repeatedly before turning back to a man. He turned on his communication bracelet and called his stupid son.

"Your Cub was here again, he disappeared before I got any useful information, all he said is that it's not possible for him to come to our Homestar".

Aki listened to his father's words and felt frustrated. He called Sitka and relayed his father's words to him. Ever since Casey first appeared at their house they called their families and started their search.

They've been combing through the past again, trying to find any missed leads to help direct them towards their Cub. They also arranged for someone to always stay at their house just in case Casey drifts in using his spiritual power again.

Aki and Sitka felt lucky, even for the strong dragon race creating a spiritual apparition and traveling around is an extremely difficult feat and few can do it. The most shocking is that it's a dragon cub who hasn't even gone through a growth phase that is doing this subconsciously.

If their cub wasn't talented they would still be thinking that he was already killed off by the robber from those years ago. Although a bit discouraged by his father-in-law's words Sitka knew that as Casey grew stronger they'd be able to communicate more words to him and explain who they were to him.

So with that comfort in mind, the family continued their strenuous search efforts.

When Casey opened his eyes the next morning he felt very uncomfortable his whole body felt sluggish and tired, and he had no desire to move at all. Mac knocked on his door to call him for breakfast.

Not receiving a response he cautiously opened the door and saw a dazed dragon pancake lying on the bed. Mac walked over and gently touch Casey's head and was startled by the heat.

He felt again and realized Casey was running a fever. He scooped him up in his arms and ran to the tribe's medical house. The Shera held an old medical treatment device and looked over Casey and simply concluded that he had overdrawn his spiritual power and was severely fatigued.

Mac was stunned when he heard those words and stared at the flushed dragon that was asleep on the bed. He started wondering if Casey had been practicing exercises from the book and didn't know when he reached his limit.

Mac heaved a heavy sigh, he nodded his head to the doctor. "Thank you for your help, I'll take him home to rest".

The doctor offered for him to leave Casey in his hands but Mac politely refused and took Casey back home. He gently placed Casey on the bed and went to make the prescribed medicine and grab a glass of water. After getting Casey settled he grabbed the book he was reading last night and sat on Casey's bed and read while keeping an eye on him.

Casey woke up once in a daze and saw Mac next to him stroking his head. In his sluggish state, Casey raised his head and tiredly scooted himself closer to Mac before laying his head on Mac's thigh, rubbing gently and drifting asleep again.

Mac sat there and watched the dragon's small actions and felt a bit stuffy in his chest. He moved his hand and soothingly stroked Casey's back and continued to stay by his side the whole day.

When Casey next managed to open his eyes it was already early evening. His fever had already subsided but Casey still felt lethargic and stiff all over his body.

"Casey sit up, I made porridge. Let me help you eat".

Casey processed Mac's words and then slowly nodded before trying to sit up. Mac gently reached under him and sat Casey on his lap and started to feed him. After Casey finished eating Mac gave him more medicine and stared at his face before he spoke in a serious tone.

"Casey, last night did you go into your room early to practice using your spiritual power?".

Casey felt a lot more awake after eating and at hearing Mac's words he looked at him puzzedly before answering.

"I only went over what I learned with Rose but I didn't actually practice using spiritual energy at all".

Mac didn't believe it, he squinted his eyes. "Really? Not lying?".

Casey looked at Mac blankly not getting why he was asking these things. But nonetheless, he nodded his head. "Really".

Mac watched his face for a moment and stated. "The doctor said you overused your spiritual power which led to your body collapsing like this".

Casey's eyes widened as he heard Mac's words and he instantly defended himself saying he really didn't practice it at all. So one Shira and one dragon stared at each other; neither one was sure what to think or say to the other. Eventually, Mac broke the statement between them.

"Well then, when you do practice in the future be careful not to overdraw yourself. I was really worried when I saw you unconscious this morning".

Casey wanted to argue back that he really didn't do anything but swallowed his discontent after hearing Mac's words and obediently nodded.

"I'll be careful when I practice in the future".

"Good" Mac smiled for the first time today. He then gently touched Casey's head and told him to go to sleep saying that he should wake up better tomorrow.

Mac stood up to leave and Casey wrapped the end of his tail around Mac's wrist. He looked at Mac with shiny, watery eyes and spoke softly.

"Can you sleep with me tonight?".

Hearing those words Mac felt a bit uncomfortable, and was worried Casey may become even more dependent on him. But looking at those shiny eyes he swallowed the "no" that was on the tip of his tongue.

Leaving a small sigh he nodded his head and laid down. Casey saw his resignation and smiled as he climbed into Mac's arms and almost instantly fell back asleep. Mac could hear his even breathing and looked down at him helplessly. His mind couldn't help turning as he held Casey in his arms, even with his fatigued from last night and today it took Mac a while before his mind finally quieted and he fell asleep.