A Twitching Kitten
A thin muscular young man laid on his back with his eyes closed on the ground of a strange grayed out world. The light complexion of his somewhat handsome face was partially covered by his messy dark brown hair.
The surroundings were the same as the grocery store he was familiar with, but there was no one else around except for him and a stunned kitten.
The black book, "Book of Mediation and Energy Basics," laid half open beside Ethan as he was in a trance drawing in the energy of the world. A violent surge of mana was being drawn into Ethan and converted into the three main energies used by humans.
Lionel, with his fluffy gray fur standing up in alarm, could only watch on at the bizarre and surprising scene before him.
Not too long ago, Ethan had sat down and started to read the book on meditation and energy basics. Lionel walked and sat a bit away in front of Ethan, observing him.
"The energy of creation is generally called mana. There are many names for the ethereal energy that makes up the universes, however, in this book we will call it mana. Mana can become many things and used in many ways. This book will teach you how to absorb and manipulate raw mana into the three main energies used by creation."
Ethan hummed to himself at the introduction, "Hmmm…okay so far so good," and proceeded on reading.
"To begin, you must understand how the three energies, ki, Prana, and spirit are connected to mana.
Mana is all around. It flows and moves. Or it can accumulate and materialize into crystals. Wherever there is creaton there is mana. Wherever there is no creation there is mana. Mana exists and will forever exist, it is part of the sole creator.
Mana from the world and the cosmic universe outside the body is called raw mana. We harness mana by drawing it through the body first. Ki is the easiest to train as it is the most immediately in contact with mana.
Mana is breathed into the body and is naturally converted into ki, Prana, and spirit. However, ki is the most abundant as it is the most used and circulated within the body's meridians and stored in the daintian. Prana and spirit follow the same pathways but Prana is stored in the sea of consciousness of the mind, and spirit flows into the heart, which is connected to the soul. The soul is where spirit energy is stored."
Ethan took a moment to digest the information before continuing.
"Mediation is the process of mindfully feeling and manipulating the raw energy of mana and consciously converting and storing it to whatever energy the user desires.
Begin by closing your eyes. Notice yourself. Notice your breath. What state is your breathing? Is it fast and shallow? Is it short and haggard? Notice without judgement. There is no right or wrong, it just is."
Ethan took a moment away from the book and closed his eyes. Lionel was quietly looking on, hoping expectantly.
With his eyes closed, Ethan focused on his breath. He noticed the uneven shallow breaths and opened his eyes.
"Ok, no judgment."
Continuing, Ethan read more.
"Relax the body. Relax the mind. Loosen your muscles. Unclench your jaw. Soften the lines of your forehead. Laying down is acceptable for this initial process. Begin to breathe in deeply and exhale slowly and fully. Feel the breath bringing life and energy into your body. Feel the raw mana coming into your lungs and filling you up. Feel how the mana changes. See where it goes."
Ethan broke out of reading and tried to follow the instructions, but he kept looking back to look at the instructions.
Looking at the kitten, an idea popped into his mind. "Hey Lionel, can you help read the book to me?"
"What? Are you illiterate too?"
"No! Of course not! It's just hard having to look back and forth trying to follow the instructions."
"Oh. That is true. Why didn't I think of that! No wonder I progressed so slowly! No one helped me read! Master Melaton was calling me stupid, but I knew that wasn't true!"
"…" Ethan had lots of questions about the character of this Melaton guy, but he restrained himself. He didn't have time. "So can you help me?"
"Meow! Meow! Meow! You are lucky human Ethan! I shall reward you for proving the words of Master Melaton wrong! I will help the illiterate you, read!"
Ethan felt suckered by the cute laughing kitten, and he whispered a complaint. "Lucky you're cute kitty."
"Stop being embarrassed, human Ethan! Let's begin!"
Nudging the book with his head, Lionel turned the book around to face itself and began reading the instructions aloud to Ethan.
"Begin by closing your eyes."
Ethan followed Lionel's deep baritone voice reverberating through the air.
"Notice yourself….Notice your breath…. What state is your breathing? Is it fast and shallow? Is it short and haggard?… Notice without judgement... There is no right or wrong, it just is."
Ethan started to relax and noticed his breathing deepened and slowed naturally. Lionel calmly continued and reached the point where Ethan stopped.
"Feel the raw mana coming into your lungs and filling you up…Notice how your chest expands and your abdomen rises and falls with the breath…feel how the mana changes and splits... See where it goes and flows in your body… feel the subtle heat as it warmly travels from your lungs into your veins merging into your being…notice how it cools as it leaves and flows away…"
A blue pop up screen appeared but Ethan didn't see it with his eyes closed, and Lionel was still busy reading.
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System Notification
Ability activated… Deep Perception, Discernment, Foresight
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"Feel how the energies connect to your meridians as they flow from each point to the next. See how it flows from each organ as it travels down your body from your chest to your abdomen, and then down your legs to your feet.
Feel as each breath pushes the energy around and back up through your chest, your heart, through your neck and to the top of your head.
Finally as you exhale, it falls back again slowly down through the back and kidneys and settles below your navel and above your pubic bone. Your ki rests in this space, in your daintain.
Notice how the other ener…"
Lionel was taken aback by a surge of pressure.
The kitten was dumbstruck as it alarmingly looked at Ethan lying blissfully below a torrential whirlpool of mana.
Usually, mana is unseeable to the naked eye like air. But when condensed, mana can take shapes and forms intended and willed by the person or being. However, natural manifestations of mana take the form of waves like that of the ocean.
The raging swirls of violent mana waves forming a whirlpool was not something a beginner should be capable of creating. Even Lionel questioned whether he could draw in mana in such a monstrous way. Maybe only during times of great epiphanies.
Lionel continued on, not moving to not disturb Ethan. Such an event was a chance encounter that many dreamed of having. It granted great fortune to those who experienced them. Lionel was happy for his partner but lamented his poor luck.
Ethan was deeply at peace and entranced by Lionel's guiding voice. At one point, he no longer heard the words coming out of Ethan's mouth.
He simply lost himself in ecstasy feeling the warm energy flowing through his body. He felt cool and refreshed as it washed over every part of his body.
Desiring more, he saw the shimmering myriad of changing colors, moving and curling in a wave as he drew them in as he breathed.
Breathing deeper, wanting more into his body, he beckoned the mana towards him.
As if hearing his calling, the mana resonated and pooled together forming waves from afar. They accumulated and pushed against each, then causing ripples that turned into surfs crashing and folding upon one another.
The glittering mana rushed and swirled above Ethan as he drew them into his being. Wave after wave continued.
Unknown to Ethan, his stats were changing. A build up of a nasty putrid smell started oozing out of his pores.
The poor kitten had a sensitive nose and made a horrid and repulsed face at the scent. It almost vomited.
It rushed 10 feet back, but the smell was still too strong. Lionel pressed the soft padding of his paws against his nose trying to keep out the smell, but to no avail, the smell seeped in.
A good amount of time had passed.
Ethan had woken in a partially dried brown sludge.
He thought he was being pranked by the kitten because of the terrible smell. A mesh of rotten and decaying shit filled his nostrils. He almost vomited. Everything was covered in disgusting mush.
He glared around thinking of the perpetrator, but the poor kitten was twitching, sprawled out on its back with its tongue sticking out. The smell was so bad, it knocked out the kitten.