15 Imprisoned in Darkness, Again...

"Why is it so damn hard to feel Anima? I thought that this was supposed to be the easy part of our training," grumbled Reed.

Two weeks had passed since we arrived at the Reef; everyone seemed to be getting the hang of shaping Anima. Well, everyone except me, as per usual.

It was a very concerning problem that even made Violett worried. You see, it would have been one thing if I had a problem shaping Anima, but my issue was completely different.

I couldn't even sense the damn energy in the first place. Sure, I felt the physical effects of its presence, but I couldn't see Anima.

Let me make it easier for you to understand; it was equivalent to being completely blind. Yeah, a blind person could feel the heat radiating off of the light bulb, but they couldn't see the light that came off it.

Needless to say, Violett got on my case and tried her best to teach me how to feel out Anima.

The way she taught us involved clearing our minds of and detaching ourselves from our senses. A type of meditative state that would allow us to awaken our inner eye, or some other nonsense like that.

Look, the whole point was to limit our senses and rely on our instincts; we'd naturally become aware of Anima.

After we became accustomed to feeling the Anima around us, we'd move on to the fun part; shaping it and creating something from nothing. Anima skills, essentially.

That's what everyone else was beginning to do while I remained stuck on square one like an idiot. Eventually, even Violett couldn't handle my repeated failures and threw me in this place in a fit of anger.

Where, you ask? I'm currently at the very bottom of the challenge zone; you know, that endless staircase that led down into an abyss. Yeah, that place.

At first, the pressure had been so bad that I couldn't stand up. It felt like someone had put a boulder on my shoulders. I spent the first day lying down on the floor until Violett picked me up at the end of the day.

Thankfully, she wasn't cruel enough to leave me there permanently, but every day after that, she'd dump me in there until the day was over.

She said that for someone like myself, who couldn't even feel Anima, this was the best solution she could think of.

The idea was to toss me into the place was the highest Anima density and let me go at it until the cows came home. It was a simple plan that relied on brute force and persistence... What a fucking joke, right?

Violett tried to make it sound like she was doing me a favor; that because the challenge zone was abandoned, it'd serve as the best place for me to practice without distractions.

Down here in the depths, the only light you could see came off of the floating motes of Anima. Other than that, nothing else could be seen.

It was an empty, desolate area that had no life. Silence reigned supreme down here in hell. I was left with nothing else to do here but continue my training in solitude.

Why was it always like this? I'm sure the gang's having a bunch of fun by the sea while I remained imprisoned here in the darkness.

A lonely howl escaped my lips that no one would ever hear; my sorrowful cry echoed off into the distance until it faded away...

.....

Having resigned himself to his fate, Reed spent his days deep inside the challenge zone. After a couple of days, he finally got accustomed to the pressure and began trying to use it for his entertainment.

Long hours of fruitless practice frustrated him to death, so put his mind to work on other tasks. He'd spend hours mindlessly trying to stand up under the effects of the crushing pressure.

And after a week of grueling effort, he actually succeeded. So he gave himself another task; he'd continue practicing his martial arts and hone his body with the pressure. At the very least, it was a better way of spending his time.

Reed would shut off his mind and simply repeat his techniques in silence. Eventually, he'd fall into a kind of lull that left him feeling empty. He'd long since lost track of time. Too tired to even think, he simply laid down on the ground and absent-mindedly closed his eyes.

Reed thought about what Violett had told him, about giving up control of his body and letting himself go. He closed his eyes and tried again, hoping that today would be different.

Steady breathing, in and out. Empty my mind and let go of my body.....

An unknown amount of time had passed as he drifted into a state of emptiness. His consciousness melted into nothingness, and he felt something change.

...

It was that feeling again; that comfortable warmth I felt that night had returned. I saw a brilliant weave of multicolored light that spread out endlessly; entangled and constantly flowing, it covered everything around me.

I felt it in my gut...this was Anima. The essence of creation.

I stretched out my hand towards the filaments of light and thought of the first thing I wanted right now: light.

As if my request had been heard the Anima around me coalesced and a brilliant spark of light was born.

It really was as simple Violett had said - all it took a was a single thought.

I tried forming several things right after that; all manner of nonsense. I shot out lightning from my hands and with a single wave of my hand, called forth a torrent of flames.

I conjured swords and spears made of Anima and had them dance for me in the air. Anything seemed possible with this godly power, so I might have gotten a little bit...carried away.

Okay, fine. I let my success get to my head and I did something I shouldn't have done in a fit of passion. Everyone makes mistakes, right?

.....

In the residential zone, students leisurely relaxed by the sea. Some slept in hammocks, and others gleefully played on the beach. A picturesque scene of youth.

They'd all finished practicing for the day and were taking a break when something happened.

Dark clouds formed above the island and began stirring ominously as if something lurked within them. The sky continued to darken as fierce winds began to blow, and the waves on the beach turned wild.

Something was wrong and everyone knew it. Everyone hurriedly rushed into the dormitories as they all simultaneously called for Violett for assistance.

Violett suddenly appeared in front of the storm and threw out a single fist. That was all it took to disperse the storm as it vanished into nothingness. It was rather anti-climactic, but that was all it took.

She traced back where the storm had originated from by following where the Anima waves had come from. It had come from down below, far beneath the residential section of the Reef.

A shocked and slightly amused expression formed on her when she realized where the Anima waves originated from. He truly was blessed by the Will of the World, she thought as she warped to meet him.

The way he shaped Anima was beautiful, too, albeit a tad weak. No matter though, it was something she could fix. What she couldn't fix was a lack of talent. Fortunately, he had more than enough talent...

...

I tried to summon a storm like the one that had carried me back in that godforsaken egg, but it didn't seem like it worked. At least, I don't think it worked.

I felt that I had created something far away, but it wasn't what I wanted. Perhaps I didn't visualize the storm well enough and it didn't form?

Gonna have to ask Violett for the specifics of large scale creation, I guess. Hopefully, what I ever I created didn't break anything.....

When her spatial tear opened up in front of me, I knew I'd shit the bed this time.

"H-Hey, Violett. What brings you here? Is it already time to go back home already? Haha...."

"I know what you did, Reed. Don't even bother lying to me; I tracked the Anima waves down here, and there's no else in this place other than you."

"I don't know what you're talking about, milady. I couldn't have done anything from down here. I've been quietly practicing here like you've told me to. Yes, ma'am."

Her stern face softened up as she pulled him into one of her infamous strangleholds of love. Back again into the fray, or rather, this woman's soft pillows. It'd be a reward if I could breathe...

"I'm not angry, Reed. You can see Anima, can't you? Not only that, you've already started playing around with it, you naughty boy. I had to clean up the mess you made up in the residential area, you know."

My mess? ...So I was able to the summon the storm, it was just created in the residential area for some reason. Huh. That's weird.

"Oh, that. Yeah, I just wanted to see if could do it in theory, I didn't expect that'd I actually create it. Sorry about that..."

A weird thumping feeling stirred inside Violett's chest when she saw his embarrassed face. She quickly retorted, "Don't worry about such a small thing. From now on, I'll keep watch over your practice so another incident like this doesn't happen again."

"In any case, since you've awakened your inner eye, you won't need to come down anymore. You can just practice in the villa's training chamber from now on. But for now, why don't you take the day off and relax?"

Relax? If only I could, woman. But I can't if you've got a vice grip of on arm like I'm a death row convict.....

Wait, take the day off? Does that mean I can finally do what I want?

Here I come, guys! I'm ready to play on the beach and see the beauties!~ Heh heh heh...