“Nine.”

  “Ten.”

  “Eleven”

  Sweat glistened all over a man’s body as he strained his muscles for one final push. The man was Eric laying on a bench under a huge machine connected to the ceiling of the gym. Deeply exhaling he mustered all his energy and pushed the weight amidst the encouragement of his friend.

  “12”, shouting in relief as his arms were fully outstretched supporting the full 1 kilo tons of weight the machine outputted.

  The weight machine started producing a humming sound as it retracted into the ceiling. His body let out a soft blue glow. Sitting on the bench Eric madly exhaled and inhaled but a smile plastered on his face showed his joy. His biceps dully ached from the intense exercise he just had and he kind off enjoyed the feeling.

  Standing bare chested in front of the mirrored wall, he flexed his biceps and chest admiring his body. Eric had a lean physique with clearly defined and angular muscles. He had long hair that he had tied in a bun fastened with a hair stick and had its bangs freely hang over the right side of his face. His physique seemed to glow under the gym lights and further highlighted by the blue glow he emitted. It was as if he came out of a separate painting, shaded differently from reality. However his perfect body was somewhat marred by a huge ugly burn scar that stretched across his right arm, chest and covered part of his right face. Running his fingers across the scars on his face he could still feel a stinging slight burning sensation.

  “Dude you’ve just hit your peak record, have you finally reached the peak apprentice level?”

  Kevin was a lean yet well-built young man with a cheerful air about him. His outfit was simple, an unbuttoned shirt that hung loosely over a pair of black pants and a sheathed single edge sword hung on his waist. His short brown hair was tousled, giving him a perpetually unkempt look as if he had just rolled out of bed.

  Eric smiled and responded, “Yeah, I finally caught up to you, you monster.” His mind wandering to a memory three years ago, the day they were taught how to absorb martial energy.

  It was the day their master, Miss Matelda, introduced them to the martial meditation technique. They had just awakened their martial spirit allowing them to sense the energy, using the meditation would allow them to draw in the energy into their bodies. This would allow them to advance from novice warriors to apprentice.

  They sat cross legged, following Matelda’s instructions.

  “Calm your breath, take slow deep breaths and long exhales.”

  “Focus on your heartbeat…”

  As Eric did as was told he felt some sort of veil had been lifted from his mind, his senses expanding into a void filled with countless blue particles floating around. He drew the meditation symbol in his mind, carving it line by line, his imaginary brushstroke making a full revolution when it returned to the beginning of the symbol. With each revolution the symbol became more and more clear, the blue energy particles flowing through the lines before filtering into his bloodstream. With each heartbeat the energy rushed throughout his body bringing him a warm, soothing sensation.

  At this point, he begun to think back to the words their master had said, she told them that it might take multiple attempts before they were able to absorb the energy. Yet here he was, he had succeeded in the first try, he might be a martial genius. Before the seed of pride that had taken root in his mind germinate something happened.

  The blue specks suddenly rushed away from him, pulled violently to his right. He broke from his meditation just to see a terrifying sight. To his right, a miniature vortex had formed around Kevin, madly spinning like a blue glowing tornado. He could even feel the terrifying energy prickle his skin from how dense it was.

  Matelda rushed to Kevin’s side in a flash knocking him unconscious. In the few seconds Kevin had meditated, he had absorbed so much energy that his body had become bloated, his veins bulging unnaturally and glowing blue. Placing her hands over his chest, right above the heart, she controlled the energy in Kevin’s body dispelling as a stream of blue current that slowly dissipated into the air.

  For some reason Kevin was extremely attune to the martial energy, dangerously attuned. Matelda had warned him from absorbing energy till she came up with a solution. However from that one time, he still managed to get enough energy to elevate him into an advanced apprentice rank.

  Eric wryly smiled, “Took me three years to reach what essentially took you a single moment.”

  “What do you mean, it took me an additional year to reach the peak of the apprentice rank making it two years and,” Kevin’s paused, handing Eric a towel and a bottle of water. “I almost died that day, you’ll probably surpass me soon.”

  Eric let out a chuckle while wiping his face, “What are you talking about, master said that if we both reached the peak apprentice level, she would tell us how to advance to the adept rank.”

  After taking a gulp of water, Eric continued, “That means she has found a solution to you problem.”

  “Any way, you’ve reached the peak, do you want to go and celebrate?” His friend,

  “No, am going straight at home.” Eric said, raising his hand, the blue glow fading to reveal his pale skin, “I having homemade breakfast today.”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Kevin immediately turned his face to look at Eric, he even rubbed his eyes a couple of times. “You are not going to order takeaway?”

  “Yes.”

  Kevin’s eyes widened his mouth agape, “No way, you cooking his own meals, are you the Eric I know?”

  “It’s my cousin, Lana, she came home yesterday. She’s the one whose gonna cook.”

  “Oh, that makes sense. For a second, I thought the sky was falling or something,” Kevin said, then paused. "Wait, Lana... Oh, right, it's April. School must be closed by now."

  “Yes.” Eric said as he stood and walked towards the gym’s washrooms.

  “Tell her I said hi. I still have something to do, so I won’t be able to come” Kevin said, stretching his arms before turning away. “Remember, if you need anything, just call.”

  *****

  Eric returned home after his workout in the agency’s gym, he wore an overcoat and had a white mask with cloud patterns on his face. Opening the door he was met with the chime of a cat bell. A white cat, Tommy, with lush fur rushed to him, rubbing himself on his leg. Bending down he picked up his furry companion. His cousin Lana was lounging on the couch engrossed in a book.

  “Morning” Eric greeted her, closing the door behind him.

  “Morning” Lana naturally responded back.

  Pausing what she was doing she glanced at him and said “How come Tommy eagerly rushes to you, he keeps running away from me.”

  Eric gently shut the door “Have you tried to offer him food?”

  “I’ve even tried that but he would still run when I came closer to him.” Lana complained.

  Eric hung his coat, removing his mask and placing it at a shelf on the wall.

  “He would be more comfortable with you if you didn’t wear so much cologne” he said scrunching his nose, “I can practically smell it from here.”

  “I didn’t use that much.” Lana said as she lifted her sleeves and sniffed.

  “I’ve already prepared breakfast, it’s in the dining hall.” She said closing the book she was reading and headed upstairs.

  Eric could tell she was going to wash off the smell, she still was the kind of person who liked animals as he remembered. When she were young, the first thing she would do is to rush to Tommy as soon as her parent brought her.

  Sighing Eric made his way to the dining room, where she had prepared two eggs, a lean beef steak, mashed potatoes and spinach served with blended mango juice. He could feel his taste buds tingle just from looking at the meal. Sitting down he took a bite of steak bringing forth an unexpected burst of flavor making him slump in the chair. He exhaled slowly, savoring the moment, as warmth spread through his body like a comforting embrace.

  “Jingle!” He shifted his gaze to the opposite side of the table. Tommy eyes fully dilated, giving him a ‘look how pitiful I am’ look. He could only reluctantly tear off a piece of the meat and push it towards the feline. However the cat looked at the small portion he was given before casting his gaze on Eric again. Chuckling Eric touched the small piece and it morphed and enlarged to a size similar to what he had.

  Satisfied Tommy using his claws tore of a piece and started eating it like a distinguished gentleman. The two sat quietly at the table enjoying their meal. This scene looked incredible as one of them was a cat that was sitting on the chair and eating almost like a person.

  After Eric finished his meal he took the plates and cup he had used back to the kitchen. Looking at the dishes and utensils that were dirtied in the sink he remembered why he didn’t like to cook in the first place. But it’s all good now, he has free labor… help.

  Just as he turned around he met with Lana who had come out of her room. Moving close he sniffed and commented, “There is still a faint smell of perfume but Tommy shouldn’t avoid you now.”

  Lana’s face visibly brightened when she heard that. Looking at Tommy who was tailing Eric she cautiously moved closer. Him not running away this time made her whole body fill with joy. Stretching her hand she gently patted his head. Feeling her fingers run through the plushy soft velvet fur, the joy in her body seemed to overflow outside her own body.

  Eric decided to go to his room giving her some time alone with Tommy. Sitting on his bed he turned on his smart bracelet, which unfolded a holographic screen in front of him. Looking at the messages it from his uncle asking how he and Lana were doing. Turning to the news app, [Power Struggle Unfolds within the High Council: Tensions Rise in Elite Clan], [The declining numbers of Sorcerers Awakening: is Sorcery a Dead End], [Prison Break: Escape from Westvale Maximum Security Prison]…

  He scrolled over skimming most of the contents and occasionally pausing when an article seemed interesting enough. Finally something caught his eye, [Discovery of the Century: New Material found in an Orange Ranked Rift.]

  Rifts were spherical silvery spatial gates that connected to different worlds. Their danger levels were categorized by color: black, red, orange, yellow and green. Black-ranked rifts were practically a death sentence, while green-ranked rifts were completely safe—so safe that some companies even built hotels and nature reserves on the other side, turning them into prime vacation destinations.

  Turning off the smart bracelet he moved to his desk ready to begin work. Pressing a button on the side of the desk a holographic screen and keyboard unfurled above the desk. On the desk beside the screen was a photo of a younger Eric without the scars and his parents sitting on the together on a couch. Eric picked the photo, running his fingers over the surface and his face becoming gloomy. Taking a deep breath, he placed the photo back and opening an editor, he navigated to a program he had been writing.

  ‘It’s nine twenty.’

  Eric checked the time one last time before he got engrossed in working, all that could be heard was the soft hum of the machine that filled the silent room.

  “Phew.” Stretching he looked at the time. It was forty six minutes past one, he had spent more than four hours working.

  “Jingle! Jingle!” hearing the cat’s chime, Eric looked at his bed and sure enough Tommy was there. Kneading the duvet forming a spot for it to roll into a white fur ball.

  *****

  Lana was reading in the sitting room, she had just finished a chapter and decided to take a break. She looked at the time, it was three in the evening. Looking at the dining room the food she had prepared had already gone cold. She had reminded Eric that he should come and eat but he responded with, “Just a moment.” She felt like he was busy and decided to leave him be but, three hours have passed.

  Storming into Eric's room she opened the door ready to give him a good scolding. At a glance Eric, sprawled across the bed, lost in a peaceful slumber. Tommy, the ever-present feline companion, lazily basked in the warmth of the afternoon sun from the window, occasionally swatting at Eric's face with his swishing tail.

  Irritation sparked within Lana, how could one be so oblivious to the world around him? With a surge of energy, she marched into the room, her footsteps echoing in the quiet house. A pillow somehow found its way into her hands becoming her weapon. With a swift motion, she struck Eric's face, jolting him awake and sending Tommy to darting away in alarm.

  "Wake up, you lazybones!" she exclaimed, her voice sharp. "You weren’t really planning to sleep all day, weren’t you?" She said giving him a stern look.

  “… No”

  “You paused, why’d you pause? You were planning it.” Lana wasn’t having it. Thwack, thwack, thwack! The pillow descended with unrelenting determination until Eric, muttering curses under his breath, finally became fully awake.