Two

Two

“A battle?” I asked. “I don’t think I’d be much good at that. I was always the artistic type. My sister was the sporty one...” Besides, after that one time...

You Can Refuse. Your Fate And That Of Your World’s Would Then Be In The Hands Of Others. Your Potential Is Sufficient To Participate. For Those Who Triumph, Rewards Are Many. Ether Is The Power Over All Things. With Ether All Wishes Can Be Granted.

All wishes? Everyone has wishes, and I was no exception. It isn’t like it didn’t sting a bit when my sister laughs at the fact I’ve never really had a girlfriend. It isn’t like I’m bad with women... after all, I got on really well with Eri-chan, even if she was younger, and at school and university I was hardly a loner. At the last class reunion I spent quite a while talking to some of the girls from my class without a problem.... Oh man, my thoughts are racing. Having a girlfriend isn’t the only thing on my mind. Who wouldn’t like a decent job, a nice car, big house, lots of money and so on...?

“I suppose there is great risk involved though?”

All Life Caries Risk. Should Your Astral Form Be Destroyed Your Physical Form Shall Perish Also. But Death Comes Suddenly In All Worlds. Step Outside Your Door And You May Die Any Day. Or Your Body Could Fail From Illness Or Mischance. Such Is The Way Of Things.

“Well, I can’t really argue with that. The degree of risk might be wildly different though.” To be honest I still couldn’t believe I was having such a conversation with a hollow-voiced glowing figure. Still, if I was dreaming this then it didn’t really matter, did it? Besides, who wouldn’t want such excitement in their lives? “I'm not sure, but... the rewards seem like they would be something special if I succeed, right?”

As I Have Stated, Rewards Are Plentiful For Those Who Succeed. Not Only Will You Save Your World But Powers Beyond Your Imagination Can Be Yours. I Sense Your Reluctance Though. This World Is But Freshly Opened To The Wider Planes. I Have Been Allowed To Show You A Brief Glimpse. You Must Then Decide.

“And how safe is this ‘glimpse’?” It was tempting, but as I thought earlier, I wasn’t much of a fighter. My sister does traditional Japanese archery, Kyūdō, as well as plays on her school volleyball team, so she got all the talent in our family. Father used to do kendo back in his school days and even won a couple of local tournaments, apparently, but me... I take after my mom I’m afraid, and the most energetic thing she ever did was a local fun-run. “I’d be interested if you could guarantee my safety? Seeing it might make me more interested.”

I Offer No Guarantees For There Can Be None In Life. However If You Do Nothing Truly Reckless I Can Return You To Your Material Body Before You Suffer Great Harm. Of Course, I Am Allowed To Do This But Once.

That sounded fine. I wasn’t particularly reckless. In games I was always one to grind up and over-level myself so as to crush challengers. I wasn’t one to get in over my head. Although my sister would probably say taking the safe route is why I’m stuck doing freelance work in a tiny apartment without a girlfriend... man, just thinking that irritates me. “Sure, why not? I’ll take your glimpse since it seems there is little to lose.”

Very Well. A Wise Choice, For One Who Never Gambles Can Never Exceed His Limits. There Will Be Brief Pain As I Draw Out Your Latent Gifts And Activate Your Cord, And Then...

“Hey wait a second...” I interrupted. “Pain? I’m not really good with...”

... You Shall See The Boundary With Your Own Eyes.”

It talked right over me! I was about to say more when suddenly I doubled over, tears streaming from my eyes as a burning pain formed between my legs. It was like someone had simultaneously rammed a hot poker into my guts while also kicking me in the groin. It was far from pleasant. As I crouched down, tears pouring down my cheeks, I let out a ragged breath. The pain spread, my heart and brain started to boil, combining the worst of a severe migraine and heart failure in a series of blinding waves. I tried to throw up, gagging reflexively, but just as I reached my limit the pain began to fade, luckily, as I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. Blinking tears from my eyes I looked up accusingly at the shining figure.

“That hurt! Why did...” I paused. The figure had stopped glowing, and I could now see more clearly. The figure was covered by a shapeless black robe, long sleeves hiding their arms, and a hood shrouding their face so nothing could be seen, except for a faint few strands of what looked like hair, creeping out from under the cowl. The figure was humanoid in appearance, but other than that, no details could be guessed at. Still, if they have hair and two arms and two legs, they are probably not too dissimilar to me... damn, now I’m super curious.

“You must try harder. Feel the flow. Once it begins it should become easier.”

That wasn’t particularly helpful advice. Still, here goes nothing. Shutting my eyes, I concentrated and strained for what seemed like hours. It was then that I felt a little twinge spreading from my lower body to my heart and head, as though the pain I remembered was returning. Reflexively I flinched back and the feeling was gone.

“There was progress. For a moment you were almost there. If you do not succeed in this manner, your performance will suffer in future.”

“In this manner?” I asked. “So there is another way?”

“If it becomes a necessity, I can forcibly open your flow, but that way will cause your growth potential to be stunted. It is much better to allow your own talents to blossom rather than making irreversible changes to your subtle bodies, especially in your case now. That would increase the danger to you over time, and I understand you are very averse to such risks.”

“Well, you aren’t wrong. I’d like to take the safer, better path, even if it's harder to start with. But we’ve been at this for hours. If I don’t get it soon won’t this glimpse be over?”

“Time flows differently in the Boundary world. Sometimes slower, but usually faster. There is still time for you to succeed. However, the amount of aether you have is not unlimited. All intelligent life accumulates it over time, and you are currently depleting it. If you do not succeed before it runs out you will awaken back in the Material and your chance will be gone. If that looks like it will happen I will have to use the surer, yet weaker way.”

Yes, definitely more talkative. Whoever they are, they like exposition a lot. Still, I guess that’s to my benefit as well. Oh well, here we go, adventure awaits if I can grasp this... no hero would take the easy way that limits their growth before they even do anything. Besides, if I did and came up against enemies who took the harder, yet better way...

Dredging up all my willpower, I thought hard. Visualise. Visualise. I do it all the time when I’m programming or doing art for various projects. See the image I want, then feel it... it shouldn’t be impossible!

I concentrated for again what seemed like hours, gradually forming a sharper image of what I wanted. As I did so the sense of discomfort returned around my groin, growing stronger. It wasn’t exactly pain though, unlike the first time. Concentrating harder I formed the image of a silver whirlpool in my mind, drawing in everything around it towards my fragile, near-transparent white cord.

I think... I’m getting it. The sensation was growing stronger, warmth spreading up into my stomach and upper chest. The sensation of pressure was growing, and the warmth reached my throat and spread through my head, until my whole body was tingling. Nearly... there...

With one last surge I focused all of my efforts on the growing pressure spreading through my body, the sensation rising until I felt something give inside me. It was like a dam bursting, and the warmth felt like a tide of fire invading my body, hot yet comfortable. My eyes snapped open reflexively and I gasped in awe at the sight. The multi-coloured lights that my guide had conjured were rushing towards me and being sucked into my body through the white cord, which was again visible and now giving off a faint silvery glow.

“As I expected, you have succeeded.” The figure said, and I wasn’t sure whether I was imagining it or not, but I felt I could hear a small note of satisfaction, and also relief, within its voice. “With such dense ether scattered around, it is much easier to draw it in. Do not grow overconfident and expect such results when you go forth on your own.”

I see, so those lights are made from ether. I guess it makes sense for it to provide more for me to absorb than relying on what is here in nature, since I’m still learning...

As I pondered that, the remaining lights were sucked into my body, and I was tingling from head to toe with a fiery wave of energy. I felt great. “So, what next? Am I ready for this glimpse now?” It was very hard not to get excited about this. After all, if all of this was not a dream then I had just taken my first step to mystical powers. There isn't a man alive who doesn't dream of such things, and I'm no exception to that...