Back to School

Ben woke up early in the morning. Today was the day he was going back to the school after he became a Martial Knight. It is going to be hectic. He was a silent person, except in front of his close friends. But the recent events had put him in lime light. He got ready early in the morning. He actually wanted to try running towards the school. But a beginner Martial Knight did not have that much stamina. He had to take the public transport. It felt like he was in a slow motion film when he was in the train. He found it really cumbersome to be so slow. Alas, the martials could not use their power as they deemed fit inside the residential or industrial areas due to potential hazards. He and his sister reached school. He soon went to his class.

When he came to the class, there was a huge ruckus. Everyone came to congratulate him. Everyone had a lot to ask him. People from other sections also came. Ben was literally overwhelmed by all these. He was grilled by them asking for information for about 15 minutes, when their Martial Teacher Mahaansh came to the rescue. He had asked everyone to go away 'politely' and warned them not to ask Ben any thing. He also warned Ben not to disclose any thing.

As the class started, all the teachers congratulated him. Soon it was time for the martial class. He had been exempt from the home works. His works would be different compared to the others. Ben also did not know how to handle the martial class. Right now the students were being taught combat techniques. These included those that concentrated on hand to hand combat, leg work and evasion. The people with weapon based affinity was being taught that also. In this half of the final year, the courses in the class were comparatively relaxed. But the students had to do assignments and home work.

Soon he came to the martial hall and the students were split into various sections and they started to practice. Their performance was evaluated by the use of spars and the development in their training. Ben was now a Martial. He would be evaluated differently. Mahaansh took him to another place. From the outside this room seemed much smaller, but when he came inside, he could understand that this room was much more bigger than the others. This was reinforced for the training of a Martial.

Mahaansh started " From now on you will be training the capabilities of a martial. By now some amount of aura must have been built in your meridians. You will be training in controlling that aura for basic combat purposes. So now, look at me."

Suddenly a blue hue came over Mahaansh. Then it disappeared and was concentrated in his hands. Then it disappeared and then it appeared on his legs. Then it covered his legs. Then the hue completely disappeared. Then it covered his entire body. Then while keeping it in intact, the aura in certain parts of his body flared. First his hands, then his legs, then his head then his torso and so on. Then the aura completely disappeared. Then using a remote he operated a machine to fire energy beams at him. As soon as it reached near him, it was reflected away from him. The aura was there, but it was invisible to ben. Then he flared his aura to the maximum extent. He punched a machine and produced a large force and wind currents that inspired a hurricane.

Mahaansh turned to Ben and said, " This is the kind of control that is expected of you. Don't think it is easy. It is very difficult to control the aura in the beginning. You can concentrate on yourself and imagine drawing out the aura through your meridian channels and then using it outside. Today we will limit the training because you are just a beginner. As we move on, we will turn up the notch. Aura control is also important for a Shamanic Master."

With this Ben's excruciating training began. This room had a gravity mechanism, which increased the gravity in the room. Not only gravity, but the atmospheric pressure in the room was also changed, giving the Body an extra strain. The teacher was fine, but for Ben it was problematic. It was not difficult to simply stand. But as the various exercises started, it became really hell. Knowing the nature of the meridian seed, Mahaansh had increased the lighting in the body so that, Ben can absorb some amount of energy. He did know that Ben already created a method for absorption at 100% efficiency. Had he known he would have adjusted the radiation accordingly.

Ben found it really difficult to unleash his aura. It was not something that was there within him from his birth. It was an acquired power, which he got just a month ago. He had not done aura training in the facility. Only training for the limiting of physical exertion was conducted. Now he was doing the training for a Martial. He struggled to visualize the movement of energy, under the gravity and atmospheric pressure. He could not feel the flow of energy. After some time he could not feel his body also. After about 1 hour , he released aura for about a minute over his entire body, out of sheer frustration. But he could not control its intensity. Since, he did not have much energy in him , it automatically wore off after a minute and then he fell on the floor.

Mahaansh came and said: " It is the first day right. Don't worry. But you need to show improvement everyday. Your progress cannot stagnate. We will training like this everyday."

Ben did not know whether to cry or laugh. On one side he knew that this training would help him. On the flip side, this hellish training everyday was going to be really difficult. He just smiled through his sweat and tears. Mahaansh said : " After resting come and meet me. I have some important matters to tell you." Ben nodded . Then the teacher turned the gravity and atmospheric pressure back to normal and Ben started to rest. Even as he rested, he was breathing rhythmically and absorbing whatever energy was there. But the power placed on Ben ensured that the teacher could not sense it at all. Ben continued to meditate while lying down. He did it for another hour. Then he went and chatted with his friends. He had something to eat from the cafeteria and then he went to Mahaansh's office. 

He reached the teacher's office. Unlike others, Mahaansh's office was different. It had a luxurious style. Not even the principle's office, or Mrs. Sylvie's office had such a luxury. It had to be noted that she was a renowned scientist. Mahaansh was reading something. He did not look from the paper he was reading but said to Ben " Come in and sit Ben. I will get to you in a minute."

Soon Mahaansh put that paper down and looked at Ben. He said " So how are things with your Shamanic Scripture coming along? Have you selected an animal?" Ben replied " No teacher, I am at a loss as to what to do. I was planning on going to some zoo, or other places where animals are kept for cultivators." Mahaansh pondered for a while and said: " If you are free this weekend, you can come with me to a place. I was planning to go to a friend's place. He is a beast master and has connections with some people. We are actually going to Pergos city. Because of the issues there, the wildlife there has become chaotic. A lot of exotic creatures were found there. What do you say?" Ben replied, " Of course teacher. I will try to make time." Mahaansh smiled. He said, "Then come on the weekend at 9:00 am to the school."