Can You Hear What I Hear?

There are some specialized aquakinetics who could manipulate ink to bind with the flesh in uniformity. How? Well, Ink has water and so does the blood. If both are attuned together, they can work for the benefit of the owner, allowing them to embue the symbols with a specific task that is created by pure will. Sounds great, right?

Well, it is an extremely painful process that is never over because the tattoo grows, shrinks, moves, and changes in a manner that represents the current activity that is being performed. Every change, large or minuscule, acts like it is being scribed onto the skin for the first time. For extremely active users of the Kine, the pain never stops. Personally, I can't picture that pain equating to what I have and will experience from my kine without it.

What astonishes me however is that it is an extremely expensive procedure. More specifically, A smaller noble family would most likely place their entire estate in the ownership of the Centius Royal family just to pay for the service for five people. Why is this so significant? My father is the only one who can make such a decision to purchase this service from the reserves of his estate. That means he has actively invested in me.

"Does this trouble you?" Professor Maggie whispered which promptly snapped me back to reality, and I realized I had been deep in my thoughts apparently for some time.

"Oh, um, no just thinking about my family." I stated which wasn't a lie.

"They've already been notified of this. They've expressed their desire for your betterment with no expense spared. In fact, I believe the words your father used suggested he'd become a beggar if that is what it took." She replied whilst deciding to slowly stand.

Her words distracted me enough that I remained able to withstand the noise she generated. My father was willing to risk everything for me. Why? He could easily have another heir in 16 years. Considering that after one has reached a certain level of enlightenment of their Kine, that they could extend their life by directly manipulating their molecules, 16 years was nothing. So why me? There had to be a level of faith in me. I must not disappoint him or let my people down.

"How long until the procedure?" I asked confidently and enthusiastically.

"The scribe is already on his way." Professor Maggie whispered with a smile.

She then walked up to a panel of the glass and phased through it. She passed through the glass but the glass also passed through her. It was as if she was a spyr.

A Spyr is the after residual energy of a kine after he or she has suddenly and intensely died. A Spyr can be in the shape of a small sphere often radiating very very weakly it's original person's kine. However, that is simply a sub-level 1 version. A fully fledged third tier level five version carries almost a complete replica of its original person. From its image to its consciousness, it can represent perfectly. It is equally as powerful as its original.

However, this was no spyr. She was a highly masterful water Kinetic. She was perhaps at least a third tier level three Kinetic. This meant that the room was not made glass. It was in fact made of water being held so still and in perfect shape that it resembled and was indistinguishable from glass.

'Such a measure of power... to become one with the element that you control... I didn't know this was possible... I really should have paid more attention in lessons...'

Within a few seconds, I was yet again astonished by the sheer might of prowess of the people from the college when another professor materialized through rain drops that formed into a person right next to Professor Maggie. The two nodded at each other and the new professor who was obviously another water Kinetic placed two fingers on Professor Maggie's neck and the two traversed one of the water panes together again.

"This is Professor Siobhan. He is my teacher and one of the greatest, if not the greatest, water Kinetics known. He will be performing the procedure." Professor Maggie whispered.

"It is actually an honor to serve the great-grandson of Urodai Valrsen. He and I once studied together here at this institute a long time ago. Are you ready to proceed?" Professor Siobhan began with a slight bow.

"Yes of course." I responded, although with his declaration of having known my great-grandfather and seeing that he looked as if he was in his mid to late thirties, he had instilled in me potentially thousands of questions, most of which didn't even concern the procedure. I couldn't begin to decipher which question to ask first so I simply stuck out my right arm to signify where I wished the tattoo to be placed.

He smiled softly before placing a hand over my wrist, hovering above my skin about ten centimeters and held there. He then spoke with a sternness detectable even though it was transmitted through a whisper.

"The pain will be severe, but do try to remain still and quiet. I must create a rather large range for this work. The reason for this I shall explain later. Be steadfast with endurance."

I nodded, grit my teeth, and looked away. Then as if I was struck by a flaming sword, I felt more pain than I thought imaginable.