Chapter 11 - The Harsh Truth About Talent
Tave returned to his own home, as Lily had an afternoon class at the academy. That particular lesson didn't apply to him since he was still in a lower class, with fewer education hours than his sister.
He headed straight to the training hall at the back of the house. It was a spacious room, though the ceiling wasn't as high as the training halls at the Knight Academy. This was where his father had trained both him and Lily in martial arts.
The floor was made of solid wood, polished smooth, with various dummy weapons placed around the room.
Tave settled himself in the center of the space, sitting cross-legged. There were a few things he needed to confirm, his Gaia Stage and the condition of his body.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and focused, reaching out to sense the Gaia Force in his surroundings.
Gaia Force was, practically speaking, a form of natural energy. Something akin to Qi in Eastern fantasy or Mana in Western fantasy. They shared certain similarities.
In simple terms, those who had an affinity for these forces could perceive elemental particles in the air. This typically happened when they were half-closing their eyes, in a semi-conscious state, or fully concentrating.
Once awakened, a person could absorb the forces, containing them within their body. The energy would accumulate and center around their heart.
Yes! The heart was the first part of the body to undergo transformation. That was why, when slaying a monster, one could find a Monster Core. It was a condensed form of Gaia Force, marking the creature's evolution. The same process occurred in humans as well.
Though in most cases, when a human was killed, their core shattered, leaving nothing behind.
The progression of Gaia Stages followed this order: