I woke up on my bed. It seems that First moved me while I was out. My head throbbed as I rose from my pillow. I sat in silence as the headache intensified, rubbing the bridge of my nose. I find First on the floor with her back towards me wrapping new bandages around her stomach.
" You're awake" First muttered and turned to face me. "you lost concentration again." she scolded.
"You were out for hours, hours that could have been used for training. The deadline was four years or have you forgotten?"
"No....I remember" I answered softly.
"This year is already halfway finished, and you barely been taught anything, your Shimmer hasn't awakened either. I need you to be serious about this, can you do that Faye?"
I nod.
"Good. Now then, you already slept for today so we'll be training all night."
She gestures me towards her and I sit crossed-legged in front of her. First placed her hand on my back and started imbuing me with Shimmer.
The warm energy flowed from my back to the rest of my body causing a invigorating feeling to spread through me. It flowed to the tips of my fingers and toes then retreated back to the center of my torso. First repeated this circulation many times.
"Once your Shimmer awakens, you will be able to circulate it through your body yourself, but for now memorize the paths that the Shimmer takes as it flows."
First moves her hand to the middle of my shoulders.
"Your body has three gates called Dantian that Shimmer flows through as you imbue yourself with it. The first is the Spatium Dantian, it is located in the space between your shoulder blades. All energy within your body flows through this gate and Shimmer is no different. You can erase your fatigue and increase your stamina by flowing your shimmer through it. Shaka is best used with this gate."
First moved her hand down to my lower back.
"The second gate is the Terra Dantian, it is located in your lower back slightly above your waist. This gate is responsible for the flesh, when your body heals or grows this gate sets limits to it, it is also what your brain uses to move your body. By flowing Shimmer through it you can expand the limits of your body as you train it along with increasing the speed of healing as well as granting you regeneration. Tian and Dama is best used with this gate."
First slide her hand up my spine and stopped at my neck.
"The last gate is the Caelum Dantian, it is located in the back of your neck where the spinal cord meets the neck. This gate connects the mind with the soul. Without it you would be as mindless as a plant. Flowing Shimmer through this gate enhances your senses and intelligence as well as fortifies your mind and soul from attacks. Shamu can only be used with this gate."
Another surge of Shimmer flowed into my body as she explained.
"These three gates are delicate, so you should never let anyone else besides me touch them. If they are damaged or destroyed, it will be near impossible to fix and if it is fixed it will never be the same."
"How can you damage a gate?" I asked.
"Focus, you must concentrate on how the Shimmer flows within you. But to answer your question, the three Dantian aren't literal gates. Think of them as your soul's organs, they are marble size spheres that connects your soul to your body and just like any organ in your body, they can be injured. But unlike your flesh, the gates cannot heal themselves so any damage they sustain will be permanent." She responded.
"Your soul is immaterial, your flesh is physical and the Dantian are both at the same time. they take up no space like the soul yet they can still be affected by the material plane."
The Shimmer flowed deeper within me. I could feel it slowly spreading through my muscles. Warmth spread throughout my body as it was strengthened. Using the hearts circulation, the shimmer spread fast through my veins and arteries finding its way to my brain. Trickling down my spine the Shimmer went deeper still and found its way to the three gates.
The gathered at the entrances blocked by a invisible barrier. It pushed against the barrier adding more and more pressure as time passed.
"Those born with Shimmer will automatically have access to the Dantian but those born without it as you have will need to open them manually, I will do this for you."
First continued to press against the barrier, adding more pressure and lessening it when needed. She spun the shimmer into a point and pressed into into it like a drill. Discomfort spread along my spine as First worked . At last First broke the barrier and when she pierced the veil, a intense coldness spread through me leaving my entire body numb.
"That was the Terra Dantian that I open just now. Your training will a much greater effect while it is being used. Next is the Spatium, you'll be able to train far longer than you do now."
First opened the other Dantian a few moments later. I could feel the sweat trickle down my spine as she worked. When the last one was opened she spoke.
"We will see how the Dantian will avail your training."
She sent a current of Shimmer through the Dantian, starting a the Terra and ending at the Caelum. There was a explosion of my senses. I could feel every nerve in my body, my organs shifting, the expansion of my lungs as I breath, the slow growth of my nails, I could feel it all.
The flood of information didn't stop there, I could hear the skittering of beetles as they moved, the gentle breeze blowing the grass outside, the blood flowing within me as my heart beat. My eyes were imprisoned by a myriad of colors I've never known.
I could see the strands of fabric that my clothes were made of, every stroke of paint on my room walls. I could see my fingerprints in extreme detail and the smell. my sense of smell was so strong it burned my nose. I could smell pine from the forest outside, vanilla stained on my work uniform from a month age, and behind me I could smell First. She had this floral scent mixed with something sweet. It gave off a weird feeling of nostalgia.
There was another smell as well. It had a metallic scent to that I couldn't explain. It was something I had smelt before and it was on the edge of my memory. Oh, I remember now, It was blood. It stuck on her like pollen on a bee. It nearly overpowered the rest of the scents in the room.
And as quickly as it happen, the surge of information ended. It wasn't until it ended that I realized I was holding my breath. I inhaled, satisfying my burning lungs, and as I recovered, First stood up behind me. She pat my shoulder as she got up.
"lets go, time to train." I changed into a black hanfu she made me and followed her out of my room. we walked down the rusty stairs of my apartment building. we continued to the parking lot behind the building. I sat waiting as she built a wooden dancing floor. Once she was finished, she made twin blades for both of us.
First tossed one of the blades to me. Catching it I noticed that it was metal.
"are we sparing with these?" First shook her head
"No, we will be working on the star rage. You haven't been applying it well as you fight. So I will show you."
She raised her sword to her right and started slowly dancing.
"The star rage is in essence a dance. Your attacks must flow into each other."
As she spoke First sped up her dance taking larger steps as she spun. Her sword twirled as she gain momentum then she slowed again dragging the tip of the blade on the ground taking big exaggerated steps constantly moving left and right.
She sped up again and started adding sword strikes into it. The twists and turns of her dance gave the blade direction and speed weaving flower petals with each swing. First launched herself into the air and spun as she slid on her knees. She spun once more and ended her dance with her blade pointed at me.
"You understand now?" She smiled as I nod.