Chapter 25 - Meditating in front of a Weirdo

We switched with the soldiers on a 3 hourly basis. Our squad sat and meditated and after 3 hours another squad takes our place and so on.

It was 9:00 PM when we were brought back to the base.

Having only eaten breakfast, our squad ate until our belly's could no longer hold. We were told to shower and rest after dinner.

I couldn't sleep. After experiencing that flow of power through my veins. It was too exhilarating

Drugs truly are dangerously addictive.

I went outside our tent and made my way to a more quiet place.

I had to sneak around as the soldiers patrolling the base will probably send me back if they see me.

I snuck to the corner of the base where the guards rarely went.

Hiding behind a few crates, I sat down and crossed my legs, I started meditating.

It took a while, but I felt the flow of energy start to surge in my veins.

'The time it takes to enter this state keeps on shortening after every entry.' I thought happily

I kept on meditating until the sun rose. Stretching my arms and legs I ran back to my shared tent.

"My speed, while not noticable has definitely increased." I said aloud

"I'm also not that tired, I don't feel like I had just stayed awake for 8 hours last night."

I made it to the inside of the tent before the morning 'alarm' could wake everyone up.

After breakfast, morning training, and chores. We went to the pier to fuel up the machine again.

We spent the rest of the day there until night fall.

When it was time for sleep, I snuck out again to train.

When I walked back to my 'hidden' place. I saw Maria taking a stroll in the middle of the night. The soldiers didn't say anything as she was a lieutenant.

Watching her a bit, I left soon after. I'm not a creepy stalker after all.

'But man, she really is beautiful. Not as much as Jasmine, but enough to be admired.' I thought with obvious bias.

I meditated for the rest of the night. I felt that my use of internal energy was getting better each day.

I opened my eyes to see a beautiful girl watching me intently.

"Wah!" I shouted

She just continued staring at me.

"Do you need something?" I asked, since her stare was creeping me out.

"Interesting." She muttered

"What is?"

"Your internal energy. You never used it before eating the rock candy, correct?" Maria questioned

"...No." I answered honestly

She reached her hand out to touch my chest.

I grabbed her small hand.

"Sorry, I'm not comfortable with other woman touching me." I said

"Hm?" She started twiddling her fingers in my hand

I watched her play with my hands. And I thought 'Is this girl on 'the spectrum?'

Feeling her cold hands inside my own. I couldn't help but notice the callouses on her hand. She must've worked hard to become a soldier.

"You even possess it within your hands..." She muttered as she pulled her hand.

"Possess, what?" I asked

"Internal Energy." She stated

Before I could ask her what she meant,

"Internal Energy is a power that can only flow from your sternum. And once you are longer drawing from it, the energy dissipates." She explained, before taking a deep breath.

"And while I observed your meditation, I noticed that your body seems to 'absorb' it"

"Absorb?"

"Like a sponge" She said plainly

We stared at each other for a second.

Her eyes... despite it being sharp and bored looked really bright as she looked at me.

'No! What am I thinking? I have Jasmine!!! Well not yet, but I will one day!'

I got up to get away from Maria, as she was really creepy. It was like she was looking at some exotic creature instead of me.

After training, breakfast and chores. We went back to the machine. Whenever we come back after having charged it the day before, it always seems to return to it's original state.

While Mark and the others were charging the machine.

"Not enough!" The Colonel said exasperated

"What do you mean, Colonel?" Captain Briggs asked

"....The machine. Even after including squad 6 and 7 with yours, the machine won't stay strong enough to hold that monster down." The Colonel sighed

"What even is this monster?" The captain asked

"A monster crocodile" He stated

"A-A monster crocodile?!"

"Those aliens couldn't handle to send anymore fodder to die, so after sending an army of fishmen. They sent him." He explained

"It's size is at the very least the same as an entire skyscraper." He gnashed his teeth as he said

The captain gulped.

"Will the snow globe hold?" The captain asked

"No. It most likely won't." The Colonel clenched his fists.

After our daily charging. I sat down behind the crates and meditated.

Maria soon came after to watch me meditate.

"Why are you here?" I asked, uncomfortable with her focused stare.

"..."

I opened my eyes to see her sitting in front of me, intently watching me. It was almost like she was watching the internal energy flow through my body.

"...you truly are a unique person" She quietly said, raising her head so our eyes can meet.

"Am I not allowed to watch?" She asked plainly

"It's... uncomfortable." I said

She looked at me for a few seconds before sighing.

"I apologize." She said before getting up to walk away.

Seeing her disappointed expression, I felt bad.

"Wait." I called out

She stopped and looked at me.

"You can watch me, but don't disturb me." I said before closing my eyes.

I didn't hear a reply, only the faint sound of footsteps coming closer.

I meditated for the remainder of the night. I opened my eyes to see a dozing off Maria.

"Maria, I'm done for the night" I said shaking her a bit from her awkward posture.

She widened her eyes.

"I apologize!" She quickly said

"Do-Don't worry about it!" I said, seeing her frightened expression.

She blinked her eyes a bit, before realizing where she was.

"Let's go back to our tents." I said getting up

She stared at me before she got up too.

'She's a really weird girl' I thought.

"Will you give me your seed?"

I hurriedly turned my head to look at Maria.

"W-What?!"