Shattered Sanity

Once the Aether began to flow through the bodies of the recruits once again, Garron wasted no time putting them through another brutal morning of training, as for the next several hours the children were made to run, lunge, roll, jump, and perform countless body-strengthening exercises while continuously circulating Aether throughout their bodies.

Although many still felt residual fatigue from the previous three days of withdrawal, the return of Aether allowed them to push through it far more easily than before, as under Garron’s relentless supervision, nobody dared to slow down regardless of how much their muscles burned or how badly they wished for rest.

As by the time the physical drills finally came to an end, the sun had already climbed comfortably above the horizon while sweat covered nearly every recruit present despite the cold northern air sweeping across the training grounds, as only then did Garron move on to the next stage of their education.

”Alright everyone, gather around....”

Garron instructed as the recruits quickly gathered near a large stone situated at the edge of the field while Garron himself climbed atop it.

For a while, he said nothing as though mentally organising his words on how to explain Aether Absorption, before eventually clapping his hands and stretching his neck, as he began with his lesson.

”Aether exists everywhere in the world around us,” Garron explained, as he slowly swept his gaze across the gathered recruits.

”Some locations contain greater concentrations of Aether than others, while some regions possess far less, however no place in this world is completely devoid of it.”

He continued, as he casually waved one hand through the surrounding air.

”You can think of it much like the wind, because even when you cannot see it directly, it is still present around you.”

Garron explained, as many of the children instinctively glanced around themselves while attempting to imagine the invisible energy surrounding them.

”For experienced warriors who have spent years circulating Aether, sensing it eventually becomes as natural as feeling the cold against your skin or the warmth radiating from a nearby fire,” Garron explained, as he rested one hand against his knee.

”Their bodies eventually become so accustomed to interacting with Aether that they absorb it naturally without requiring conscious effort, however none of you are anywhere near that stage yet.”

He added, as several students immediately lowered their heads slightly after being reminded of how inexperienced they still were.

”Right now, most of you can barely sense the Aether inside your own bodies, let alone the Aether scattered throughout your surroundings.

However, fortunately for us, there are techniques specifically designed to bridge that gap.”

He continued, as the attention of every recruit sharpened noticeably.

”What I am about to teach you is known as the Four Corner Absorption Method,” Garron said, as he pointed toward the center of his chest between two ribs.

”Now don’t let the fancy name fool you. This is one of the most basic Aether Absorption techniques in the entire Empire.

Any dim-witted Ascendant can perform it, and even the bottom ranked warriors abandon it the moment they learn something better, however for beginners like you lot, it’s worth its weight in gold.”

Garron added, as several children lowered their heads awkwardly while others nodded in agreement.

”The first step is simple. You start by gathering a small amount of Aether right here in the center of your chest,” Garron explained, as he pressed a finger between his ribs.

”Once you’ve got it stable, you move it over here.”

He continued, as he slid his finger toward the outer edge of his right rib.

”Then down toward your navel, then across to the left rib, and finally back to the center again. Right rib, navel, left rib, center. That’s the route. Keep repeating it until you could trace it in your sleep.”

Garron instructed, as he slowly demonstrated the complete path several times.

Throughout the crowd, many children immediately began copying the motion on their own bodies while trying to memorize the sequence, as some quietly repeated the route beneath their breath while others kept touching their ribs and stomachs to ensure they wouldn’t forget the circulation pattern later.

”If you keep circulating Aether through that route long enough, your body will naturally begin pulling small amounts of Aether from the world around you,” Garron explained, as he folded his arms behind his back.

”And before any of you start getting excited, let me make one thing clear. When I say small amounts, I mean small amounts. Tiny amounts. So little that half of you idiots are going to sit there for hours wondering if anything is even happening.”

He continued, as a few recruits exchanged nervous looks.

”Some of you will probably convince yourselves you’ve succeeded when you’ve actually absorbed nothing. Others will absorb a little bit and mistake it for their imagination. That’s normal. Everyone goes through it.”

Garron said, as his tone softened slightly.

”The important thing isn’t speed. The important thing is consistency. If you keep doing it long enough, those tiny strands eventually accumulate and trickle back into your Soul Vessel. One strand becomes ten. Ten becomes a hundred. A hundred becomes a thousand. That’s how every Ascendant starts.”

He concluded, as a visible sense of excitement gradually spread throughout the crowd, because after spending weeks relying entirely on Garron’s pills, the possibility of obtaining Aether through their own efforts sounded almost too good to be true.

”Ideally, this exercise should be performed while seated cross-legged with your back upright and your palms resting one atop the other,” Garron explained, as he demonstrated the posture while seated upon the stone.

”That position allows excess energy within the body to circulate in a more stable loop while reducing unnecessary leakage.”

He added, as several children immediately attempted to imitate the posture.

”However, for now, the posture is not the important part,” Garron remarked, as he dismissed those concerns with a wave of his hand.

”Your priority is understanding the circulation itself.”

He continued, as several visibly relieved recruits relaxed slightly.

”If sitting cross-legged feels uncomfortable, then sit however you like. If your back aches, adjust it. If your legs become numb, reposition them.”

Garron clarified, as he looked across the gathered students.

”Your only goal today is to complete the circulation pattern over and over again until you replenish even ten percent of the Aether you lost today in training.”

He continued, as anticipation became increasingly visible across the training grounds.

”Because the moment you successfully learn how to absorb even small quantities of Aether consistently, you will have taken your first true step toward becoming an Ascendant.”

Garron declared, as excitement immediately spread throughout the gathered recruits while many hurriedly adjusted their sitting positions, eager to attempt the technique for themselves and experience Aether Absorption firsthand.