Chapter 9: Preparations
Early in the morning, as the sun began to rise, Tom stood facing Vista in a training room inside one of Vista's hidden houses. The house was situated behind a mountain, nestled deep within a forest, miles away from the city. Vista had built this house as a place for quiet training, away from the noise and troubles of the city. Currently, it served as Tom's hiding place until he finished his preparations for the Trial of Power.
The training room was vast, designed specifically to enhance Tom's physical and mental abilities. It was equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including hologram simulators for combat practice, training machines to strengthen his body, and etherium sensors to track his development.
Tom stood there, dressed in training attire, facing Vista, who said, "We don't have much time for your training, so I'll focus on teaching you the basics of hand-to-hand combat and how to harness etherium to enhance your physical abilities."
Tom replied, "Okay."
Vista continued, "What do you know about etherium?"
Not entirely confident, Tom answered, " It is a special energy that one can perceive through training, even without unlocking their powers, but that can only be manipulated after unlocking the first seal of our potential. It is an energy that can be used for both offense and defense, and it also allows us to use spells based on our affinity."
Despite his decision not to undergo the Trial of Power, Tom had diligently researched everything about powers and how they functioned, wanting to be prepared to protect his sisters if they were ever threatened by power users.
Vista nodded approvingly, satisfied with Tom's response, and began teaching him the basics of hand-to-hand combat.
Vista then said to Tom, " I'll still teach you the theory of how to use it so that when you arrive in the world where the Trial of Power takes place, you'll know how to harness it." Tom nodded, and Vista began his explanation.
"The first thing you'll need to do upon arriving in the Trial of Power's world is to establish resonance with etherium." "Resonance?" Tom asked curiously.
Vista continued to explain, "The first step for an individual to tap into the power of etherium is to establish a connection with it. This connection is called resonance, where the body and mind of the individual attune to the frequencies of etherium. My training will focus on teaching you how to open yourself to this energy and let it flow through you."
Tom understood what Vista meant by resonance, and the training began. Throughout the first week, Vista explained various theories on applying etherium—how to use it to boost physical abilities, how to use it for healing, and many other aspects of etherium usage. The goal was to impart as much knowledge about etherium to Tom as possible, so he could use it effectively as soon as he arrived in the world of the Trial of Power.
During the training, Tom learned about different ways to channel etherium within his body. He practiced deep meditation and visualization techniques to attune himself to the energy's vibrations. Vista guided him to imagine the etherium as a luminous and fluid energy, flowing through his body like a gentle stream.
As the days passed, Tom could feel a faint connection to etherium, like a distant hum that grew stronger with each session. He started sensing the energy's presence around him, and although he couldn't yet manipulate it, he could feel its potential coursing through him.
Vista also taught him to focus on specific body areas during training, such as his muscles, bones, and internal organs. By visualizing the etherium's healing and strengthening properties, Tom could stimulate his body's natural regenerative abilities and reinforce his physical form.
In addition to the theoretical training, Vista had Tom perform physical exercises to enhance his body's receptivity to etherium. These exercises included controlled breathing techniques, precise movements, and energy-absorbing drills.
The second week, Vista trained Tom in hand-to-hand combat. He made sure Tom learned all the essential basics, including footwork, stance, and proper striking techniques. Tom practiced various defensive maneuvers such as blocking, dodging, and parrying. Vista emphasized the importance of maintaining balance and control during combat, as well as the significance of exploiting an opponent's weaknesses.
Additionally, Vista introduced Tom to swordsmanship. Although Tom didn't become an expert within a week, he could now defend and attack proficiently with a sword. He learned how to wield the weapon, execute strikes with precision, and engage in swordplay effectively.
Finally, in the last week, Vista said to Tom, "Now you must meditate on your desire to undergo the Trial of Power and prepare to materialize a portal that will take you to the Trial world whenever you wish."
Tom looked at Vista and replied, "I could already materialize the portal long before the incident at the café, so that's not an issue."
As the voice in the message had said, a few months after the message, the portals created by the person to whom the voice belonged vanished.
Now, to enter the Trial of Power, each individual who reached the age of 15 must meditate on their desire for the trial for an extended period before a portal leading to the Trial of Power manifests. Despite not intending to participate, Tom had prepared himself to be able to materialize the portal for a long time.
"Oh, you're already prepared to materialize the portal? Then let's move on to the next step of your preparation," Vista expressed surprise that Tom had already prepared himself to undergo the Trial of Power before the café incident, as he knew Tom hadn't considered it before.
However, he didn't comment further on it. Vista said to Tom, "Since you can already materialize the portal, the last week of your training will focus on preparing you for survival in different environments and finding shelter—essentially training your sense of survivability." Thus, throughout the final week, Tom was trained in surviving various environments.
Vista exposed him to harsh weather conditions, dense forests, and arid deserts. He taught Tom how to forage for food, find drinkable water, and build temporary shelters. Tom learned how to start a fire, navigate without modern equipment, and make use of his surroundings to his advantage. Vista also taught him essential first aid techniques and how to treat injuries in the absence of medical supplies.
By the end of the intense training, Tom felt more confident in his abilities to resonate and harness etherium, fight with proficiency, and survive in challenging circumstances. Vista had given him a comprehensive foundation to face the Trial of Power.
On the eve of Tom's departure, Vista said to him, "I believe I've taught you everything I could in these three weeks, but there's one last thing you must know before you leave. I haven't mentioned it until now because it's crucial that you remember this." Tom sensed the seriousness in Vista's voice and focused his attention to listen carefully. Satisfied with Tom's attentiveness, Vista continued, "Now that you can sense etherium more clearly around you, you'll be able to quickly resonate with it. Normally, once the resonance is complete, a person can see their first seal, and all it takes is guiding the etherium to unlock it. However, in your case, it's different because we don't know for sure if your first seal is unlocked or not. So, you must quickly verify its status."
Vista paused before adding, "I know you're uncertain, but I am convinced that the power that slowed down time came from you. Therefore, I believe your first seal is unlocked, and even if it's not, I think you might have managed to use the power of time control despite it being sealed."
"Okay, I'll do as you say," Tom responded.
With that, Tom went to bed, ready to face the Trial of Power the next morning.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone