Augmented Aspects: Chapter 129 A Bit Too Enthusiastic (Patreon)

Chapter 129

A Bit Too Enthusiastic

“All right, thank you for coming here and taking a chance on my training. I know this is new for all of you, but by the end of this Introductory class, you should be able to gain two new skills, and those are.” I begin, but then hold up a signpost with writing on both sides that clearly states the objectives for this class.

Qi 101

Objectives:

New Skill: Qi Sense

New Skill: Qi Manipulation

“Sounds easy right?” I ask.

“Yeah, shouldn’t be too much of a problem.” A few of the more enthusiastic students call out.

“Good, now we just need to do a few light exercises to generate some Qi, then we can begin.” I say, as a devilish smile fills my lips as I am prepared to get my own workout in, along with my students.

***

(Four hours later)

Huffing.

“Oh, my gods, she is going to kills us all.” One tired soldier complains in between deep ragged breaths.

“I am going to die. I swear, she is going to kill me right here and now.” A second soldier cries out.

“Let me get this through your thick skulls! You are not going to die, because I have not given you permission to die!” I shout at the two soldiers who had snuck off to a dark alcove and tried to rest for more than a minute. I gave them thirty seconds, but once they didn’t get back out to running, I Teleported over and overheard what they were talking about.

“AHHHH!!” The two soldiers cry out in unified terror as they both begin to run again.

Smirking to myself, I can’t help but think that this is a little more fun than I thought it would be. Once they are back and everyone took a moment to see that I meant they would run for as much as possible, before lunch, I meant it.

I can see everyone’s eyes upon me, but I make sure to scan the field point at people who I think are going slower than their fastest speeds. Once they see me, they immediately get a jolt of fear and speed up their pace.

Satisfied that the class is at least going faster, I Teleport back to the center of my training area and stand next to Mallory.

Mallory is in something like a bathing suit, just sunning herself languidly at the center of my training pavilion.

“Do you mind?” I ask.

“No, actually I don’t. You can yell at the men all you want.” Mallory states from a position on her stomach where she is clearly letting her back get tanned.

“You know what I mean.” I state, gesturing to her whole exposed back.

“Oh I know. I also think it is delightful when you blush.”

“I don’t blush.” I shout.

“Yes,” huff, “you do.” Gwen says, panting as she too is partaking in these exercises.

“Are you just there lurking to add in a comment?” I ask. Then I realized something else. “Also, if you have that much energy to tell jokes, then you likely have enough energy to run faster.”

Eye roll.

Yes, even in a virtual world, even in a world where she is playing the older avatar, my daughter still gives me sass. I will say that seeing a vertical eye roll from a vertical eye is a bit odd, but interesting to note, at least the first time. After that, it all becomes sass.

Apparently having had enough of tanning her back, Mallory grabs her bikini top and proceeds to sit up. This activity does not go unnoticed as quite a few traffic jams occur as gawkers from all over the place stare up at Mallory, causing some to slow down, while others to run into each other, and then more run into the other piles of bodies.

In short, it is complete chaos, just as Mallory apparently intended.

Seeing the activity Mallory smiles coyly and chuckles to herself.

“Are you happy now?” I ask.

“Me? I have never been so content. My guild is flourishing, we have the best talent, the best training, the best leveling grounds, what isn’t there to be happy about.” Mallory answers with a sly grin on her face.

Shaking my head, “no, I mean with causing the distraction.”

“Oh come on, they needed a break. What exactly are they even working on right now.” Mallory asks using her hand that had been holding up her top to gesture at the number of students. Once again everyone gawked, but then were shocked that she had snaked her other hand around to begin tying a bow in the back of her swimming suit with just one hand. That just shows what a high Dexterity can get you.

“Is that it? Is that why you are all getting angry, the fact that I haven’t told you all why I am forcing you all to work out?” I ask loud enough for everyone to hear.

Silence.

“Yeah, basically.” Well, there was one voice that dared to speak out, and that of course would be Gwen, my daughter.

Then with that, quite a few others began nodding in agreement.

“Fine. Everyone sit down at your spots, and I will explain what we have been doing.”

There was a long awkward shuffling of people to spaces. Some had the right number but couldn’t remember whether they were on the north side, or the south side. Others could remember which side and number but couldn’t tell north from south with a compass and a setting sun for reference. While others apparently had their minds fried from doing a few exercises.

Finally, once everyone was in place, or at least over ninety percent of the people were in place, I began.

“Today you were working on improving skill levels. In particular you worked on Running, Calisthenics, Second Wind, Weightlifting, among others.” I state, then pause. “Everyone did notice those skills increase at least once while working today, right?”

With that most of the people gathered began to nod.

“Okay, it turns out learning skills produces Qi, thus everyone of you who had levels or multiple levels in skills increase should all be able to find a new source of Qi floating within your bodies. Today, all we are going to do is focus on finding that energy within your body. For many of you, you will find it at the top center of your chest, just below your neck and along your sternum.” I state, while pointing to this very part of my body. Then I create a mirror projection of me behind myself that shows the exact spot I am talking about. This would be so much easier with a Simulacrum, but currently my Simulacrum are busy, reading, still jealous.

“Now once you find this energy, you should get new skills, related to sensing Qi. This will help you produce more Qi, and subsequently make it easier to find your Qi. This is good as you will need it to improve. This class, as stated at the beginning, is to learn two skills, Qi sensing, and Qi manipulation. Hopefully with this you can start to see the free Qi that we have just generated.”

There is a slight pause as I let everyone mostly find their own Qi. Some have tiny embers of Qi, while others have Qi the size of burning candles, none are particularly impressive at this point in time.

“Now you might be wondering, if skills generate Qi, and you have been working on skills for a while, why don’t you have Qi?” I ask.

With that, a number of the students look up to me with confused faces and tilted heads as they just realized this truth now that I have spoken it out loud.

“Well, I can explain.” I say, then point to a man in the front row on the south side.

“You there, number six. Please stand up.” I state.

The guy, despite being called out, still places his hand on his chest as if asking for confirmation. I nod, and he reluctantly rises to his feet.

“Will you please tell us your class?” I ask.

“Me, I’m a Sharpshooter.” The man says.

“Would you mind if I use you as an example? This should help you find your own Qi, but I wish to present your image so everyone can see your bright Qi and your current build.” I state.

“Um, okay?” He states with a note of confusion in his voice.

With his confirmation, I create a giant silhouette of him in the air, one that shows his current Qi that he created, along with various pockets of Qi that were produced all along his body.

“As a Sharpshooter, you are predominantly right-handed, though you have recently been making moves to incorporate your left hand into more of your attacks.” I state.

“Tha, that’s right.” He stammers, clearly surprised that I could get that from just looking at him.

“The way I can tell this, is that in your right hand you already have a large build up of Qi that is densely packed into tightened layers.” I state and cause the ball in his right hand to be highlighted so everyone can see what I am talking about.

“Then in your left, you have newer layers of Qi that aren’t as tightly compacted but are still there. Likely an off-hand attack of some kind.” I state.

“Yes.” He confirms, again admiration in his eyes.

I nod.

“To be clear, you have at least one and likely multiple marksmanship skills that you use as part of your class?” I ask.

“Yes, I have Mark…” He begins, but I quickly cut him off.

“No need to give everyone even more of your secrets. I am already exposing you more than Mallory has this whole afternoon.” I state.

Chuckles.

Mallory for her part pretends to look indignant, but I know she is just preening under the attention of everyone.

“Now to quickly note, you also have a few vision related skills that show the Qi in your eyes, along with a few others for your lungs, likely to hold still for the perfect shot.” I state, going through and noting all the major nodes of his body that have been enhanced with Qi.

“Yes.” He confirms again.

“So, it is safe to say, that before today, every skill you worked on improving went directly towards improving a particular function you need or wanted to improve on for your class?” I ask.

“Yes.”

With that, some of the people in the audience’s eyes went wide with understanding. But I was teaching everyone, not just the Intelligent ones.

“This means that up until now, had you not gained this extra Qi from your skills, you would not have any to notice to this point, is that correct?” I ask.

He pauses, and I can see his jaw working for a bit, before he answers. “Yes, I suppose you are right.”

“Don’t sound so astonished, I might know what I’m doing up here.” I say.

Chuckle.

It was a sympathy laugh, but my students who had been quite angry moments before now began to relax slightly at the new revelation.

Finally after a moment, the Sharpshooter asked. “So, what do we do now?”

“Now, you try to find your untapped Qi that is inside of you.”

“Okay, then what?”

“Well you try to move it.”

“But how?” Number twenty-two south asks.

Hearing that question, I just shook my head, “not how, but where. That is the next question you all need to ask yourselves.” I state. “Number six, since you were so kind as to let me use you as my model. I will help you find the areas you need to focus on moving your Qi to first. Everyone, look up here to these black dots.”

With that, I highlight a few black spots that are right in the middle of key muscles groups.

“These are your sore spots, by cycling your Qi to these areas you will lose a bit of Qi, but you will also reinforce the strength of your body. By doing these rotations enough times you will begin to form a foundation for your cultivation, and eventually learn to be actual Qi users. Then you won’t need me to make you sweat, you will be able to generate additional Qi on your own.” I state.

With that, the others begin to relax and meditate, though some quickly fall asleep, causing the Qi they generated to begin to go to automatic gathering points.

“Just so you know, sleeping now will only make it tougher on those who wish to actually learn to detect and move their Qi around.” I state loudly, making sure to echo my words so that everyone hears them.

Silence.

With this, I begin taking my own internal Qi and cycling it over and over. Just as expected at first there is a bit of loss due to some of my Qi being absorbed into my muscles that were damaged from normal wear and tear of working out. Then after that, I actually began creating Qi that filled me with enough energy to run through walls. Not that I would, knowing Mallory even if I fixed it myself, I would still have to pay for materials.

“Um excuse me? Teacher?” Number Twelve from the northern side asked.

Not even turning to face the student, I answer “Yes northern number twelve?”

The student paused, apparently wondering how I knew who was speaking, but then quickly regained their composure.

“Is there anything else to this training?” Northern twelve asked.

“Other than meditating and finding your inner self, no. Though I take it you would like to be done for the day?” I ask.

“Well, could we go eat and come back?”

Sympathetic gurgles.

Then with that one question suddenly there was a lot of gargling stomachs that all apparently were starved for food.

“Yes, you may go. Practice finding your Qi and circulating it on your own. Though come back tomorrow ready to actually put in effort.” I state.

“We can’t come back after lunch?” A student asks.

“You can, but you will have to pay for a spot with the Mage Class I will be teaching.” I state.

At that, the students raised their heads in semi-excitement and then dropped in sadness. Well, some of the overachievers that already managed to find their Qi did. Though to be fair, those that were finding this task easier were doers, or people that naturally worked on crafts, and trained in their spare time and had extra Qi before we began our exercises. The others that were miserable were the ones who hated moving apparently, which I don’t understand why they would join the Qi class if they hated moving.

With that a surge of people left. Most I assumed would be run away by my teaching methods and never want to come back. While others would likely enjoy the reprieve that I offered, effectively giving them the afternoon off. Though like most students, they failed to realize that I technically worked for them, as they paid me, maybe. Still trying to see if Mallory was pulling my leg about the whole owing money to the guild thing.

Finally, once most of the students left, only a few die-hard students remained, and those were students that had purposefully taken up spots on the northern side of the training yard, indicating that they wanted to be dual masters of Qi and Mana.

“Master.” A student who had been mostly silent to this point called out from behind me.

“Yes, northern number three?”

“Is it okay if we eat food that we brought with us?” He asks respect oozing in his words. As he spoke, the others that were already shoving food in their faces looked at him with disdain, like he had somehow broken an unspoken agreement between them. One that said they were all in this little oversight together.

“So long as you all clean up after yourselves I have no problem with you eating or drinking while in class. Though I will be mad if you leave your trash on the ground like northern fifty-seven is demonstrating, so you know what not to do.” I state, again not looking back, but the student at seat fifty-seven looks chagrined at first and then grabs the wrapper that was about to blow away from her, as she picked up the soiled napkin and put it neatly within her storage bag.

There was a moment of silence as I let the students eat their meals.

This was technically my time to eat as well, but since I didn’t need to eat, thanks to my class spells, I just continued to cultivate and practice on the sensations so I could better explain them to others.

Once everyone finished eating, the few students who remained for my magical lessons either relaxed, or began talking silently to each other. Since they were the ones who had apparently signed up for and paid for both classes, this was not unexpected. What was unexpected however, was the fact that the first one to speak, the one who called me Master of all things, he was already back to finding his Qi and trying to circulate it around his body. He was slow, almost painfully slow to watch, but his little spark of Qi within his body did flutter and eventually roll around his body. Seeing his progress, I had a feeling he would be here, until he got everything from these classes. Not because he was gifted, in fact he was far from what I would call being gifted, but he was driven and that was something that was exceptionally hard to harness.

“Northern number three.” The words were out of my mouth before I could think better of stating them.

“Yes master?” Northern number three asked, his tone still formal as he addressed me. Honestly, it felt odd, but I guessed I would have to get used to this, as some people really liked to role play while here. Also with teaching Qi and other esoteric arts, such formalities weren’t too unheard of.

“What is your name?”

“My name? Its Jhonny,” he said, then paused before adding belatedly, “master.”

“And there we go again with making it awkward.” Mallory said.

“Don’t you have funds to collect before our afternoon classes?” I hissed.

“I don’t take guild dues; I only give out money earned.” Mallory states with a smug tone.

At that, I can once again see how Mallory is brilliant with finances, as I would never think to not take money directly from people. Instead, she got her guild employees and guards set up in booths outside taking the payments and queuing lines of eager mages ready to be taught by me as well.

Come on guild fun bucks, let’s do this. This next class is super easy, it’s only magic after all…