Nine *Contains Status – Akio 3*

Nine *Contains Status – Akio 3*

I opened my eyes, finding myself lying at my work desk in the dark, head resting on my arms. Oh, so it was a dream after all...ouch!

My thoughts were interrupted by a surge of aches and pains, especially in my shoulder and lower chest. Other places hurt too, but those were the worst agonies. I flicked on my desk light and then looked myself over, and I could see blood on my clothes. Panicked I pulled my t-shirt off to reveal a series of mottled bruises across my flesh, with a series of what looked like bloody bite marks across my shoulder, which were not deep but were tender to the touch. I also had several other cuts and arrays of bruises, overlaying a series of decade-old barely visible scars along my abdomen.

“Not a dream then...” I muttered to myself. “It really happened.” Checking the clock next to my work computer I saw it was only just past four in the morning. I guess time really does flow differently in the Boundary.

Despite the fact I had been unconscious I was feeling bone-weary, so I decided to see if I could sleep for a bit and then I would consider everything that had happened to me overnight under the light of day. As soon as I lay down on my futon I drifted off to sleep, my exhaustion dragging me down.

********

I awoke to light streaming in through the window, the sound of birdsong loud in my ears. Glancing over to the clock at my desk, the time was nearing half past ten. I stifled a yawn and dragged myself up, still feeling a few twinges of intense pain.

“First thing is first, time for a bath.”

Once I had sluiced off the sweat and blood and soaked my bruises I began to feel a little better. Drying myself off I sat down at my familiar desk and decided that the best way to clear my head was to take a crack at the outstanding work I had left. Once I had done that. I could consider my options carefully.

For the next few hours I toiled away on my computer, clearing problem after problem. By the time I was done it was nearly six in the evening. Still, I was all finished. Wait a minute, I thought I had a couple of days’ worth of work left, what with those new jobs that came in yesterday. How did I get it all finished, and so easily?

It seemed that I could think faster and more clearly, easily finding the solution to issues that would have taken some thought before. My hands were faster too, flying over the keyboard and manipulating the mouse with speed and precision. A thought came to mind, one that was impossible to deny.

This must be the result of status. I did gain several levels, boosting my physical statistics. If this carried over to the real... Material world as well, then every level is precious, making me better at everything!

In fact, the wounds on my body seemed much improved too, the bruises starting to fade and the cuts and gouges already having scabbed over. Lifting up my computer I tried hoisting it over my head, and found that, while I still got tired, I was definitely stronger and had more endurance than before.

Another interesting fact was just how easily I had performed the calculations. I had always been good at maths, but the speed of my working out was far faster than I was used to. What with all the data taken together, it was hard to deny that I had definitely gained quite the boost to my attributes.

I stifled a yawn. I didn’t feel too exhausted, perhaps because this was exciting, but there was no point tiring myself out. The final test would be to try the methods for Astral Projection I had discovered online and see if that managed to raise my aether. I would try the ones that more closely matched what I had been doing and would take it from there.

Settling down in my chair I closed my eyes and began to imagine drawing energy through my Silver Cord into my Chakras, trying to feel the prickling heat of aether. I continued doing this for quite some time, having little success.

It was so easy doing it in the Boundary, I guess down here on the Material there isn’t much ether around to convert and draw in...

Still, I wasn’t ready to give up, and continued to try and draw in ether until sleep took me...

********

I woke up again to the warmth of the early morning sun creeping through my window. Looking at the clock I could see that it was getting on for seven in the morning. I hadn’t slept much but still felt reasonably refreshed. As I stretched I noticed the pain from my bruises had faded away to almost nothing. The benefits of having strengthened my physique, I imagine.

Today I'll try a new method to accumulate aether, and also do as much work as possible to... my train of thought was interrupted by the warm prickling of aether within me, concentrated around my lower body. It wasn’t the roaring warmth of my time in the Boundary, but it was definitely noticeable.

I must have accumulated it overnight. My Cord must pull it in automatically. That was the logical conclusion. Still, what I felt was only a puddle compared to the lake of before. I would persist with the training methods until I found one that worked. Only when I had accumulated enough aether could I finally make the decision as to whether I should continue or not.

“Back to testing then!” I said out loud, slapping my cheeks to motivate myself. I quickly made myself a basic breakfast of cup ramen, the breakfast of the lonely single man, and began to concentrate on my wrist, trying to push the aether there to activate my status.

It was a strain, the aether not flowing smoothly as it did in the Boundary, rather feeling like trying to push syrup through a straw. I forced my concentration to a fine peak and continued to imagine the flow, concentrating so hard that I could almost feel it, and after what seemed like hours, but was probably no more than twenty or so minutes, I could feel a prickling warmth circulating to my wrist. As it reached there, a dim silver glow leaked out, and words scrolled across my vision.

It worked! I celebrated what was clear proof that this was actually happening, and I looked at my updated status with great interest.

[Material Statistics] [Intangible Statistics] Might42 46Fortune2Fortitude39 43Majesty1Intellect71 75Charm1Resilience67 71??? Alacrity47 51??? Precision68 72??? Aether89 93??? [Material Skills] [Aetheric Skills] White CordRank 2First Node Base ChakraRank 1Crude Aether ManipulationRank 2[Intangible Skills] [Perceptive Skills] Self-ExaminationRank 4Self-Examination, TerritoryRank 3[Level] 1 3[Territory Rank]0 1