3 Beginnings (3)

The 'real' training, as Master called it. Turns out it was the regular training, times ten.

Days moved slowly, and with them, the pain became more bearable. The first week was the worst, I was only able to move thanks to my willpower. It was the second week that it finally got easier, as my body got used to the constant torment. The third week, it was then that my mother came to visit, meet Master. After I postponed the visit three times, she snapped, and just got into her car and drove here.

It was hard to make her let me stay here, but the same day I finally had some success, for the first time since I started, for a brief second, I found my soul. I relaxed for a second and the pain got the best of me, I fainted again.

During training, I noticed white light spots showing on my skin. Master said that it was the soul energy sipping through the remaining awakening that was in my body. He said that it means that the soul is getting 'closer'.

Week four, it's hard, but I'm able to find the soul consistently now. The training continued, and my physique got a lot better, my ability to fight it was not just better, Master called me a monster. I learn fast, supposedly to fast. He thinks that I'm a natural fighter, but I think he is wrong.

It was Wednesday, five weeks after the 'real' training started. Sitting on my bed in a lotus position, with my eyes closed, focusing on finding my soul. It was hard, I began to feel the pain an hour or so ago, I found my soul in this hellish state. My emotions were calm, as if non-existent. I focused my mind on the soul, I didn't try to search it or look at the details, I imagined my mind enveloping it and closing on it like a flower.

This was the closest I have ever got, but there was no excitement, the calm mind was the key to success. I started to move it, ever so slightly bringing it closer to my body. It was then that I realized that there was something wrong, I couldn't feel the pain anymore.

The soul was closer and closer, and with it, I felt I was becoming less and less. I couldn't fell the pain, nor my body at all, I couldn't open my eyes or move a finger. I couldn't hear, see or do anything. I don't know how but I knew I wasn't breathing neither was my heart beating. All that was left was my mind and my soul in front of me slowly coming closer to me.

Was it because of the soul being removed? All the other known cases of people trying to do the same thing ended with death. Was that my fate as well?

No. There is Master, he said that it will work, his reasoning was sound and made sense. If the people die when the soul is moved and then get back to life when it is placed back… it would fit with the fact that no one was doing this the way master told me.

This means that I have to die? Then I need to place the soul in my body! And it must be quick!

I need to remain calm. If I get too emotional, I may fail, and failure means…

Don't think about it. Suppress the emotions and focus on the soul.

The soul was moving closer and closer, seconds, minutes, it didn't matter, it was my only chance at this point.

I felt it, something moving in my chest, I could 'see' it glowing inside of my body like a small star. With my heart, jolted back up.

It was done. I moved my soul into my body. But I couldn't celebrate, I could feel my thoughts slipping away slowly, as my conciseness faded. The strain on my mind was too much, I passed out.

---

'Splatter.'

Feeling the cold water on my body, I knew that Master was there. I opened my eyes and looked around. And there he was looking down on me.

"You overslept."

"… Shor…y-y"

"Huh? What's wro… did you succeed? You don't have to talk just nod."

I nodded slowly, but it was hard, my body wasn't exactly doing what I wanted it to. It was heavy and sluggish.

"…"

Shock. It was the most explicit expression that his dumb face ever showed. This Master of mine with his stupid looking face was very hard to read, but this time it was clear as day. He was shocked.

"Wthhat wizz?"

"Sigh… don't talk, you will have a problem with it for at least a few hours, your body and mind were severely strained. It will take a day before you will be able to move properly again."

'That is not what I want to know! What was that with the process of moving the soul?! You didn't tell me anything about that!'

"Ygoghh"

"Now, now, don't try to move, just lay down and rest. Since you succeeded, you don't have to exercise today. And tomorrow, you should go visit your parents. Your mother almost shredded me down to pieces the last time she was here if I hold you here any she… either way, rest up and go, I have some business to take care off, I'll be back in two… three days."

'What?! Business? What business?! He is running away, not doing business! Wait… is this about the moving of the soul? He didn't mention anything about what will happen during it, while when compared to the normal awakening it was a difference between heaven and hell.'

'But if he wants to run form me asking about it… the question is if he didn't tell me on purpose or did he… forgot? This stupid Master of mine forgot to tell me about something like this!'

"Youggghh!"

"Ok. I will go now, see you in… four days! Bye! Oh wait, one more thing, congratulations, you are now a soul artist."

"…"