Awakening of Talents

Gareth had been in that meditative position for a few hours now. He could sense that feeling of fullness that was said to be the precursor to awakening.

In the world of cultivation, awakening was something that every being was guaranteed to go through. Some beings went through their awakening as early as ten and some as late as their middle ages. This large difference in the age when people awaken was decided solely by the thoroughness with which world energy circulates through and fill the body.

The ones who awaken early were people who had access to food rich in world energy from a young age. They would then allow the world energy to circulate quickly through their body, usually through the practice of martial arts. This was the reason Gareth had been fighting like crazy all this time while consuming a large amount of food rich in world energy. These were things he didn't have access to as a child. And with him wanting to awaken within a certain age range, he had to be extreme in his measures.

Gareth was already at the edge, needing just a push to step past. This push however was a natural process that he could only wait for. Then right at that moment, it came.

The world energy that filled every nook and cranny of his body began to cycle across his whole body. It started as a gentle flow alike the idle meandering of a stream, then a raging river, and then it peaked. Cycling across his body like roaring waves. At this moment, it felt like something broke, or more like something that had been blocking his view shattered.

He felt refreshed. It was said that the awakening was one of the greatest natural wonder in the world. The energy needed for the awakening was something the world granted. It was the purest, most primal form of world energy. It did not come from the environment, but from another plane of existence where no one could reach.

As he was bathed in this amazing energy, Gareth felt himself being reborn. Over and over again. This was something said to be a once in a lifetime opportunity. He lost himself in the feeling of being reborn until this primal energy that seemed endless finally stopped flowing, his awakening complete.

Gareth sighed, and sighed once again. This was greater than anything he ever felt. Fighting never gave him this same sense of euphoria. It was like he was literally being reborn, coming out more perfect than he ever was.

He came to his senses soon after. His talents were finally awakened, the moment of truth was finally here. Whether the path to an easy life or a path filled with roadblocks.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and peered within. He saw nothing at first, then gradually the sight before his eyes brightened from the darkness that it previously was.

He saw a world that was nothing short of being called marvelous. A pathway of veins, arteries, meridians and vessels, all of them carrying flowing rivers of world energy. Channeling the world energy across all of his organs and into two massive, starlike bodies that dwarfed everything else in this world with both their size and brightness. These were his soul and foundation.

One above, one below. The method by which a cultivator could guage their own talent was very easy. They just had to inspect their soul and foundation. It was said that the higher the talent, the less flaws the soul or foundation had. This flaws were usually in the form of stains that dye the foundation and soul, dimming its brightness.

Gareth looked above, peering through the dazzling brightness of his soul. He looked for any stain whether within or on the surface, but he found none. At first, he thought he had been blinded by the light emitting from it. But looking again after some time, he still found none. He was puzzled.

He looked below at his foundation, but the situation was the same, there was no such flaw.

He wondered, could it be that he had no flaws? The highest level of talent possible? This was a situation he never heard of before.

This put a damper on his mood, but he put this thing he could not understand aside for now. He had awakened, it was time to feel this new strength coursing through his body.

He got up from his bed, or it could be said that was what he tried to do. However, his bed broke the moment he tried to get up. He had just awakened, but he had already gained the strength that automatically came with his talent.

*

Gareth finally left his home after almost pulling his door of its hinges and breaking a few stairs. Walking on the road, it was getting easier for him to control his strength. His body was no longer the same as before, but his control over his body gained from fighting helped him out. He felt like he was more than ten times stronger, faster and a whole lot more. His senses were also sharper by the same order.

When he reached the building where he worked, his senses had to a great extent caught up to his new strength, and he could better control his new strength.

He opened the door, with a smile on his face. He would be leaving this place soon, and this city too. Before that, however, he had to say a proper goodbye to those he cared for.

He went to a certain room, that was the place where Moses and the others usually stayed at hours like this. Opening the door, he found they were the only ones in the room. The four of them sat at the same table.

They turned towards him, and seeing the smile that appeared as if it could not leave his face. They were surprised.

Janet was the first one to speak, guessing the cause of his joy correctly.

"He has awakened, that is why he can't seem to get that goofy smile off his face."

The others at the table were surprised.

"Haha, that's Gareth my man. Come, come. Come join us," Moses said, standing up and gesturing for Gareth to come.

Gareth went to their table. Receiving a warm hug from Moses, before pulling a chair and joining them.

"How was it?" Lisa questioned him.

"How else should it be. If not like every other awakening." Janet snorted as she finished saying that. Her face turned to the side.

Lisa glared at her. Moses and Peter chuckled softly.

Gareth answered Lisa.

"It was wonderful. Nothing like I ever experienced before."

Lisa nodded.

"So, seeing that smile on your face," Peter said as he looked at him. "Your talent shouldn't be too low, right?"

Gareth just smiled, his face calm and collected as if unburdened of all earthly worries.

Seeing that smile, Janet couldn't almost resist. She felt like smacking it off his face.

"Keep that stupid smile away. It's either mid or low. Just say it."

Gareth put his smile away, his face becoming uncharacteristically serious.

He said with all seriousness. "It is actually high."

Done with saying that, he had the smile back on his face. His body seemed to relax further, as his back rested further into the seat.

The four were stunned. Lisa being the first to wake up from the shock, grabbed him on the shoulder. Looking into his eyes, she asked if he was being serious or just pulling their legs.

However, she seemed to believe him as she saw that smile that didn't leave his lips.

"So wonderful. Ha, this is amazing," she said, hugging him tight.

Janet grabbed his arm, holding it tight as she held his gaze.

"You know what? I have a better way of testing the truth."

"What way?" Gareth asked.

"Let's fight."