Attending several group training sessions, Afaris understood what his father had told him, which made him trust himself to a greater extent. Indeed, he was progressing faster than most Aorians. If he managed to control an energy shield after one day, the other could not do so correctly even after ten days.
As the 25-day deadline Saraf had imposed his children, Afaris’s brothers and sisters started going back to Saraf-Menom. Everyone, except for Lint, who was too stuck on his idea to be present, let alone participate actively.
Waiting for everybody to arrive, the brothers and sisters present debated the matter of the energy looking for new solutions. Urfius confirmed that the energy could not be stopped at the spill-out point. Several accidents occurred during the attempts, one of them resulting in the death of a young Aorian woman. One of those present lost control and smashed the poor girl’s head with his fits. Nobody could understand where he had got the force, still Afaris and Saraf knew it very well. He was kept under energy treatment and observation for several days, until they made sure he was not a threat any longer.
Thus, Saraf started teaching how to create a mental shield against the energy. Even though it took little energy, it was extremely difficult to keep it activated at all times. And there was another downside to it, you could not communicate telepathically with a person whose energy shield was on.
As expected, Afaris learnt the technique of the mental shield very fast and managed to keep it activated with little effort. Saraf, in his turn, kept his on at all times. Sometimes he even forgot about it.
In the meantime, the famous tournament of the Nymphs started. Akdarosif visited Saraf inviting him and Aorians to attend the finals, as promised. All the Nymphs on the planet were supposed to fight each other and it was difficult to forecast how long it would take before the final battles.
Taking advantage of the moment, Saraf, in his turn, invited Akdarosif together with his peers to join the training session he would deliver to his children and Akdarosif accepted enthusiastically.
The following day, Saraf started training with his children, on the field next to Saraf-Menom. An impressive number of Nymphs and Aorians gathered to attend, even though many knew what it was all about.
Saraf set a goal to teach them what they needed to practise and what they were supposed to teach Aorians in their Menoms in five days.
On the first day, Saraf taught them patiently how to accumulate energy and enhance their energy capacity, despite his children’s impulse who kept saying he knew how to do that.
On the second day, he taught them how to control the energy around them and generate first-degree energo-spirits.
On the third day, he taught them how to defend against various forms of attack.
On the fourth day he taught them how to attack, at least the basic forms.
And on the last day ...
Chapter 9
One mind, two bodies
As during the previous days, the city of Saraf–Menom emptied; its inhabitants were on the plain next to it in order to assist the last training session organised by Saraf. The sun was high in the sky, giving off powerful light.
Aorians and Nymphs were sitting on top of the plain, by the forest, while Afaris and Saraf were at the bottom of it, preparing for training, meditating. Saraf’s sons and daughters were sitting closest to them waiting for them to start. Behind everybody, with a calm and patient glare, stood Akdarosif.
After having relaxed his mind, Saraf signalled Afaris to wait for a moment in order for him to tell the crowd a few words before the training:
‘As you probably already know, when you are in the middle of a confrontation with an adversary, there is the possibility for you to defeat them or for you to be defeated by them. The difference is in the power each one of you has. Today I want to teach you the best method for defending yourself against an attacker. I will show how you can use the energo-forms.’
Saraf took a deep breath and continued his speech:
‘In order to control an energo-form you must first go through all the degrees of an energo-spirit. For the first degree, a small, purely energy entity.’
Saraf stretched out his hand and opened his fist. A small, purely energy bird came into being in his hand. It started flying and it flew over the crowd which was watching it enthusiastically.
‘An energy-spirit is a projection of your mind into an energy creature which you control as you wish. What it sees, you also see. More correctly put, the first degree energy-spirit is your sight in the distance.’
Saraf’s energy bird turned into dust. Beside him, another energo-spirit took shape, this time having the body of an Aorian as tall as Saraf.
‘The second-degree energo-spirit is an energy creature your size. It is not necessarily an Aorian. It can take any shape you want it to. Maybe even a dwarf Nymph. The difference between a first degree energo-spirit and a second degree one is that the second one uses as much energy to be maintained as you are using to control your own body. Therefore, the bigger it is, the more energy it needs and the more concentration in order to create and use it. The advantage of a second-degree energo-spirit is that through it you can use the same energy attacks that you can do through your own body.’
To make a demonstration, Saraf created through the energo-spirit an energy shield in front of his spiritual entity. Then he liquidated the shield and created a fire ball in the open hand of his energo-spirit. Without any warning, the energo-spirit rapidly projected the fire ball towards Afaris. Paying attention, he blocked his father’s missile with a small energy shield made around his arm. The fire ball hit the shield and exploded.
Afaris turned off his energy shield and resumed his previous position, proudly smiling at his father. He produced a short laughter as well looking at Afaris, then looked at his energo-spirit.
The energy creature started accumulating more and more energy, altering its shape. Its light became more and more powerful as it grew in size. Several seconds later, the energo-spirit took the shape of a large size Nymph, still 4-5 times bigger than Saraf.
The crowd gathered there started to cry out upon seeing the majestic energy being.
‘This is a third degree energo-spirit. Maintained with enough energy, such an energo-spirit can directly hit your energy field. Thus, one claw hit, instead of tearing your skin and bones, it hits directly in your energy. It does not seem dangerous when you first hear about it, but such a blow can break the connection between your body and your spirit. In other words, it can kill you.’
The Nymph-shaped energo-spirit started flying, strongly beating its wings over the heads of everyone present there, so that each one could have a good image of it.
After several tours over the crowd, the energy Nymph turned into dust, covering every curious individual watching underneath with a thin layer of energy particles, similar to snow. Children who got caught under the it started to shriek and tried to grab the energy dust with their hands, giggling merrily.
‘Why is mastering the energo-spirits so important? Because it distracts the opponent’s attention. This way you can run and seek help. As I told you before, your powers are limited by your imagination and energy capacity. Anything you imagine, if you are strong enough, you can turn that into reality. But for the best possible effect, here is where energo-forms come in. Let me make a demonstration.’
Saraf turned towards Afaris:
‘Attack me’ he urged him.
Afaris took the attack position focusing his energy on his entire body. This way, his legs were much stronger, more skilful and faster, his fists were like rocks and his look was so sharp that he could see every single blade of grass on the plain dancing in the wind.
Then with his supporting leg he firmly turned in the ground and raced towards Saraf, leaving a hole behind his every step. He did not know what to expect, but he was determined to find out.
When he got in front of Saraf, he tried to hit him with his right fist, but his father blocked it with an energy shield
projected on his left hand. Then he tried a blow with the left foot and failed again, hitting against another energy shield.
While the crowd watched attentively their moves, Afaris continued to attack. He took a rapid spin in order to regain his balance and created an energy ball in his right hand, which gave out a strong light. Then he jumped behind and with all his force threw the ball against his father. When it hit his father’s shield, the ball turned into a storm of lightning, striking against Saraf’s shield and trying to pass by it. Several lightings did manage to pierce his defence, making him shudder.
Despite the result, Afaris was wondering why his father used so weak techniques to defend himself. What was he preparing? When was he going to use his famous energo-form?
Wanting to take advantage of his father’s moment of weakness, Afaris prepared a new attack. He formed around him several fire balls, which were levitating beside him. He was planning on surrounding his father. He stuck his feet into the ground and prepared to rush onto Saraf again. When he was about to start, he heard behind him a whistle. With the corner of his right eye he glimpsed a fist aiming straight at his head. Everything started to move in slow motion. He managed to raise his right arm and create an energy shield in order to block the hit, but it was not strong enough and shattered after impact. The fist hit him straight in the jaw, crushing his bones and projecting him through in the air. Before he got on the ground, Afaris twisted while rapidly healing his wound. Then he landed on his feet and quickly raised his look.
To his great surprise, the fist was Saraf’s, but that was impossible, he was in front of him, how could he be behind him simultaneously?
He did not have much time to analyse the situation as his father rushed towards him. Afaris quickly formed several balls of fire and charged them towards him, but he avoided them while running at high speed. One of the balls almost hit the crowd gathered breathlessly watching the battle, but one of his brothers was on guard and deflected the missile, protecting those behind him.
Saraf got next to Afaris and started pouring fists and feet blows. Not having the necessary time or speed for another manoeuvre, Afaris projected a big energy shield in front of him blocking his father’s blows.
From behind the shield, Afaris noticed something that made his jaw drop. Although Saraf was in front of him besieging him with blows, behind him, camouflaged in the crowd, looking at him with a bold smile, was also his father. There were two Sarafs!
Now he understood what an energo-form was. It was another energo-spirit, only in flesh and blood. An identical copy of the creator, which - of what he could grasp - was able to do absolutely everything its own creator was able to do.
Noticing his son saw the trick, Saraf ordered his energo-form to stop the attack.
After he stopped, Afaris left his guard down and switched off the energy shield. Then the energo-form in front of him told him with the exact voice and tone Saraf had:
‘Surprised?’
Afaris continued looking at him stoned, unable to utter a word.
The energo-form put his arm around his neck and they both started walking towards his father, who, after coming out of the crowd of Aorians turned to the crowd and started talking:
‘This is an energo-form. A material energo-spirit, able to do everything in the power of the one who creates it. As you could see, the attacker was too distracted to be aware of what was going on around him, which gave me enough time to run far away, to a safe place.’
Urfius asked him:
‘This is a second degree energo-form, right?’
‘Right’ Saraf answered. ‘The degrees are the same as for the energo-spirits. However, beside the material aspect, there are several extra advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that you can give your attacker another problem, which does not put you in any danger. As disadvantages now: first of all creating and maintaining an energo-form requires much more energy and concentration. Secondly, whatever it feels, you feel. Your minds, although in two different bodies, think as one. If it is killed, you will feel how it dies, as if it were your own person. Thirdly, the energy of the energo-spirits, once you no longer need them, you can easily absorb it, but in order to do that with an energo-form you must first decompose the matter into energy then ingest it, but you will not be able to do that if you are not strong enough. Furthermore, you will provoke it huge pain when trying to decompose and therefore you will hurt yourself, unless it is not already dead.’
Afaris stopped several steps away from Saraf, while his energo-form continued to walk until it reached him.
‘Another very important advantage of the energo-form is that...’
His energo-form, to anyone’s great surprise, projected a striking coup with his hand, holding his fingers straight, right into Saraf’s stomach, coup which penetrated his body and came out through Saraf’s back, blood trickling on his fingers. Then he pulled back his hand from the stomach of his creator, who fell on the ground, lifeless.
People panicked and got alarmed. Some Aorians rose without knowing what to do. Nymphs were yelling and shouting to threaten the energo-form. Akdarosif in return, was standing quiet behind the crowd watching the scene amused.
Then the energo-form opened his mouth and said:
‘As I was saying, a very important advantage is that regardless who dies - the body that created it or the energo-form - if one survives, you also survive.’
A large part of the crowd started crying out enthusiastically and congratulating him, while many were relieved from the scary moments.
Saraf bowed in front of them, while Afaris, behind him, watched the entire scene, with his jaw dropped. He was amazed, frightened and traumatised at the same time. But he could not help but admire his father’s strength and courage. He looked at the soulless body of ... he did not even know what to call it, his fathers’ or his father’s energo-form’s. Overall, it was a sad and painful image, as well as a beautiful one.
Saraf headed towards his old body, squat down and touched it. The dead body started to decompose into energy, which went slowly up on Saraf’s outstretched arm. Several moments later, it evaporated entirely, without any trace of it left, completely absorbed by Saraf.
‘This, my dears, was the last lesson. Now you know everything you have to do. I will continue training with whoever is interested. If you need me, I will be in the tower every day when the sun is up in the sky.’
The crowd started to cheer and congratulate him enthusiastically. Afaris was standing behind Saraf smiling. He then turned to his son and, as if reading his mind, told him:
‘It scared you, did it not?’
Afaris nodded, continuing to smile and being much more relaxed than several minutes before. Anyway, he was glad that his father was safe and sound.
***
Towards the end of the day, when the sun was setting, Afaris stood on the edge of the tower’s balcony with his legs swinging in the air, waiting for Saraf to return. Saraf was spending the rest of the day with his other sons and daughters.
Afaris was thinking of his training sessions. It was only now that he completely understood what he could do with his mind, with his energy. The more he would train, the farthest he would get. He was more motivated than ever to maximize his skills.
After some time, Saraf appeared behind him. Afaris felt his presence but did not turn his head, he continued to watch the sunset, charmed.
Saraf sat down at his right on the edge of the tower:
‘How many crystals, of the tens of thousands that lie in the library have you read?’ he asked him.
Afaris looked at him surprised:
‘I don’t know, not as many as you hope. I believe maximum one hundred.’
‘I understand. From now on we will introduce in your training sessions two more tactics. The first one is for you to consume the information from one crystal and assimilate it each day.’
‘But, what does that have to do with my training?’
‘Simple. Inspiration.
Let me give you an example, have you ever seen a sword in your entire life?’
Afaris looked at him surprised. He had never heard of the word.
‘No. What’s that?’
Saraf outstretched his arm and in his palm the energy gathered and turned into matter. Then it took the form of a long, straight and sharp blade, with edges on the two sides and with a firm, beautifully ornate handle. Saraf firmly grabbed the sword’s handle and gave it to Afaris.
He curiously grabbed it and analysed it, turning it on all sides. Without knowing, he touched the blade and cut himself in the palm.
‘Ouch,’ he moaned, and Saraf laughed at his son’s clumsiness.
‘That’s what you need crystals for. They offer you inspiration from other worlds, which can make a huge difference when your life is in danger.’
‘Is it a weapon?’
‘Yes, it is.’
Afaris continued to curiously look at the blade in his hand, trying to understand what it was used for. Watching him, Saraf realised his son was unaware of what he was holding, so he generated another sword in his right hand, identical with the first one, then waved it through the air making it whistle.
‘With this you can cut in two an enemy with a simple hand hitch, without using your energy.’
‘Well, isn’t that another form of an energy creature? Doesn’t it require energy to maintain it?’
‘It is an energo-form indeed, but without life. It requires energy only when you make it. After that, it becomes an object like all the others. But you can also create energo-spiritual weapons, which can be even more devastating if you overfeed them with energy.’
‘Wow’, went Afaris. ‘That is unbelievable. When did you learn to do all these?’
‘During my travels through other worlds, obviously.’
‘It is the first time I have seen something from another world, besides your memories from the crystals. I’m not referring to the weapons themselves, but why haven’t you ever brought back anything?’
Afaris: Shadows on Aora Page 9