THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

I go back to the omega dorm but there is nobody inside. It is so calm, so relaxing. The wand that Cordel used yesterday is still there, on one of the couches.

"I wonder if…" I take it and inject Angas into it. Just like yesterday, the weird machine appears.

"Really weird." That thing really looks weird, no matter where I look.

"This machine is really interesting."

"You think so, Cissa?"

Cissa hasn't said a word at all since yesterday. I thought she would sermon me or scold me after what happened..

"There is no need to."

"What?"

"There is no need to scold you. I told you before, only make sure you won't regret your decisions. As long as you do not, I don't need to say anything."

"I see."

"As I was saying, this machine is interesting. It seems to measure your fighting capacity based on your ability to feel things."

"You think so?"

"Yes, it feels just like something we also have as dragons. The dragon heart training. Normally, our heart doesn't beat. But when we hold on to a certain type of artifact, it activates our heart. The goal, therefore, is to feel the energy flowing in and out of our body, making us more sensitive to our surroundings, the change of energy's flow, and such. It is hard but very satisfying training."

"Hm… Cissa?"

"Yes?"

"I don't understand anything. First, your hearts don't beat. How do you live then?"

"Energy. It is not as if it doesn't completely beat but since we have adapted to our environment through times and start living by storing and consuming energy. Our heart has become an optional organ since we don't need blood to flow in our body anymore. Some dragons pull it out when they are young and throw it away."

"That's scary."

"Anyway. I believe this machine can help us greatly."

"How, I can't feel things."

"You have just lost a sense. It doesn't mean you can't feel anything. You can still feel, with your eyes, your ears, your nose… Hearing and seeing things are just different ways of feeling them."

"I see. Then what should I do?"

"Isn't it obvious? What did you do every time you had to become stronger?"

"Train…"

"Until your body cannot hold it anymore and then restart."

"Of course…"

***

Four hours later, I still haven't get past the hundred on that fucking machine.

"Still only ninety-five."

I went from Sixty-three yesterday to ninety-five today. That's slow, too slow. But I shouldn't be impatient. I should slowly and steadily learn to feel things with my other senses.

"One more go and I stop." I don't want those guys to see me here.

I run and run then hear a weird noise, right after it, there is a slight movement of the carpet on which I am running, I slightly jump and continue. Then I smell a weird odor and hear the sound of something tearing, and once again, the carpet moves, but differently. Still, I manage to keep my balance. Sadly, right after that, a wave comes and pushes me out. I heard it but didn't react in time.

"Shit. Just ninety-eight."

It is more difficult than I thought. But at least, I am sure of it now, I can get stronger.

"Okay, let's leave."

I reactivate the wand and places it back on the couch but right when I am at the door, it opens. Just my luck…

"Eh?" It is the pink panties girl.

She opens the door completely and let me through. But right after I pass by her.

"I thought you left the city. The guards told us they saw you leaving this morning."

"I wasn't leaving."

"Hm…" She whispers something as she enters but I don't pay attention to it.

Soon after her, the others arrived as well. Thankfully, nobody says anything. Though, I notice that Farner and Excia are not with her. Instead, Lanuvel is here. She walks happily, chitchatting with Roxcia without a care for the world. Even seeing her smile is irritating.