Chapter 7: Mind Over Mind & The Invisible Fist
"I take it that you knew I was coming?" Magnus inquired, hovering near the door, "What with knowing my name and such?"
"Oh yes, I had foreseen it. But not in as much detail as you might think. I merely could sense that a being of great power would come seeking me, in search of something that I can give him. Your name however, I merely guessed at."
"By guess, I don't suppose you meant…mind reading?"
"You don't miss things I see. You are correct. But please," he waved a hand, motioning him to sit. Magnus accepted, stepping up to the rug, and sat lightly. "If we are to talk, we may as well be comfortable. Unnecessary stress clouds ones focus and inner peace. Tell me Magnus, who are you? And what aid do you seek from me?"
Magnus didn't hesitate, and went into the current happenings; saving the world from rambunctious sub-elements, being chosen to become a Demi-God, and searching the world for teachers who could train him in every area of his expertise. It was a strange tale to hear no doubt, being very farfetched and…perhaps even a little demented sounding. When he was done, Master Kual's eyes were shut, nodding his head, listening deeply.
"Hmm, it does indeed seem that you have come into a great power. And now, you have come to me to be taught the secrets of the mind, avenues that you have not yet explored?"
"More or less. From what you've said, and what I've gathered by your…profession, you deal more in terms of Clairsentience and Telepathy. Two areas that I am sorely lacking. Any assistance or training that you could impart onto me would be greatly appreciated…" Kual's face was unmoving, and he gently leaned back, tilting his eyes upward to the ceiling overhead.
"I understand your desire, and you must forgive my skepticism, but a few matters pertaining to your goals are weighing on my mind, making me a bit…hesitant. Perhaps you could answer a question for me. For instance, when one is granted such strength, achieving a place near the gods themselves, and yet to still seek even more power? That is…well to me…an alarming thing. Why are you dissatisfied with what you already have? Is the control of the element of Fire not enough to keep the world around us in balance? For what purpose do you wish to become stronger? Is it for your ego? To be the most powerful in the world, to have no equal, and have no one whom could contest you? Is it for malevolent intentions, or perhaps even to unseat the very lord you have been empowered by? What say you? Tell me in your own words, as to why I should train someone who is already strong, only to make them all the more dangerous."
A valid question, and one Magnus was still unsure about. And so, he answered truthfully.
"Truth be told, I've been wondering that myself. As I said, in terms of Clairsentience, I'm not very skillful; Psychokinetic and Psychometabolism are my strong points. Even so, with my psychic talents, I have been getting these…impressions…feelings if you will, ever since I defeated the sub-elemental creatures. These unfamiliar impulses have been urging me forward on this particular path, almost instructing my destiny. I have no ego to speak of, and to commit atrocities that you are most certainly suggesting would only result in me becoming a permanent residence in Hell. An unappealing outcome, to put it mildly. And as for turning on Zigar, that is an unwise course of action, as if I did somehow managed to dethrone him, I would not be made the new god of Fire. If he goes…I go, as we are tied together. So, to answer…I don't truly know why. I just have this feeling, an urge to acquire this strength, as if I am supposed to do something with it, but have yet to be given the knowledge as to what that may be or why. As a psionicist, I know better than to disregard those feelings. And perhaps with training of this nature, I may finally discern the meaning of these impressions that I feel, and give me a path to follow. That is all I can say."
Kual sat quietly, studying Magnus's face carefully. Kual was indeed a powerful man, perhaps the top man in his field. However, despite being in the position to be a teacher for many years, he had never taken on students before. And never had he divulged any of his own secrets or techniques of his own psionics to anyone. Not even his own followers.
Nonetheless, he felt an unmistakable connection with this stranger claiming to be a demi-god. Such things would normally not be believed, but even without his mind-reading, Kual could sense an almost overwhelming presence from him. There was little doubt that it was true. But Kual wasn't one to be forced into service; not feeling obligated to train someone just because of their standing. It does indeed take a mighty man to defy the gods. Mighty, and perhaps foolish…
Then why was he considering it? Primarily it was regarding the same sort of impressions that Magnus had spoken of. Kual knew them well. Often times, he would get this little twitch just behind his eyes, urging him towards some unforeseeable goal. As it was, he himself couldn't always fully interpret the meanings of these feelings. However, such things had never led him astray before.
"I see…I understand what you mean Magnus, Demi-God of Fire, defender of the Prime material plane. And I have decided to train you. Not because I feel I must, nor because I fear the wrath of your Lord, but because I feel a certain impression coming from you. As well, I have a responsibility to teach you the mystic arts of our powers. Your training shall begin tomorrow. You may sleep in the guest quarters. I trust you will not be offended by our modest living arrangements, or our lack of worldly comforts."
Magnus grinned. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
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The following day…
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The next morning, after a sparse breakfast, both psionicists were outside in the bowels of the canyons. Kual had instructed all of the other monks that Magnus was free to come and go as he wished, and also to have full access to the monastery. Not that there was many places to go, or even that Magnus felt like exploring. He was merely wishing to begin.
"Now then," Kual turned to his first pupil, " Normally I would offer you some opening remarks, reminding you of the dangers of the misuse of our powers, but I feel you have heard such things before in the past, and thus I shall skip it. There are three things I must teach you…First, there is the ability to reach out, and make contact with another person's mind, regardless where they are. To be an accomplished telepath, you must be able to sense and single out a lone entity across the very world. If you can find it, then you can manipulate that person from thousands of leagues away. Secondly, I will teach you an ability that you will find useful. It is of the Psychokinetic discipline, so such a technique shall be easier for you to comprehend. Once those have been mastered then I can take you down the path of extrasensory perception, and begin to unlock Clairsentience. Let's begin."
"First, I shall contact your mind, so that you understand what it is you need to do. Relax and perceive…" Closing his eyes, Kual began to concentrate his thoughts. At once, Magnus could see invisible psionic waves radiating off of him, reaching out, and straining towards him. They circled around his head before settling onto him. He then felt a slight tickle, a lingering sense of pressure behind the eyes. It was then that he heard the psionicists voice inside his head. An unnerving thing to one who had never heard another person's thoughts speak to you from inside your own consciousness. Magnus wasn't unnerved.
You were able to feel the contact?
"Yes, I felt pressure, and a tingle on the nape of my neck."
Good. Each telepath has their own means of contact. Some are even more subtle, whilst others are far more intense, afflicting the contacted mind with a splitting pain. Once you begin to use this power, you may decide how you wish to do so. Now, I want you to concentrate your thoughts, reaching out. Think hard about myself, trying to use you powers as a sort of homing spell, to seek out my own particular psionic signature.
Doing as he was instructed, Magnus closed his eyes, and began to think of Kual's mind, trying to picture him, the feeling of the contact, and his location. He did indeed feel his own thoughts taking form as psionic waves, and they shakily began to waft from his head. About halfway to where Kual stood, they began to waver and break apart, evaporating. He tried again, concentrating harder, but these new thought waves sputtered out even sooner.
You push too hard, you must let things flow from your mind with ease, remaining passive and at peace. You are still behaving like a Psychokinetic, using psionics forcefully. With Telepathy, you must be gentle and meticulous, using a light touch, not attempting to arduously ram your own psychic impression into another's mind. Again.
This went on, hour after hour. It was not that Magnus wasn't good at it, or that Kual was being cryptic, it's just Magnus had always utilized his powers in different ways, venting enormous amounts of PSP to grasp, throw, and disintegrate his targets. To do things with a dainty touch was a switch indeed. However, he was persistent, and by the ninth hour, concentrating deeply and remaining serene, he at last established contact.
He wasn't able to maintain it for very long and quickly lost it, but it was progress. With both masters using their powers to their limits, they retired to eat and then rest, regaining their strength. And again, another hard day of training followed, Magnus pushing himself once again, striving to make contact, and keep it until he severed it.
"Once you have touched a mind," Kual informed him, "Things shall become easier. You have the focus to sift through a person's mind, and I shall teach you about the centers of the brain, the ones you can manipulate, so that you can begin to utilize the wider aspects of telepathy. Of course, one thing at a time. Before I teach you more about this in greater depth, I shall switch focuses. Once you can establish and maintain a contact with a certain amount of ease, then I shall show you a most powerful ability; a fellow Psychokinetic such as yourself will most likely appreciate it."
"With all due respect," Magnus answered, breaking concentration, "I didn't come here to be taught about things I already know about. I'm here to learn about the avenues I have yet to explore."
"And I understand your concern, but I do this for more than one reason. The most important of which is for you to be able to use contact and other Telepathy powers with less trouble. I shall have you master a Psychokinetic ability, using techniques that are more familiar to you, and once you do, I will see how quickly you can change back to Telepathy and use that. Then, back to Psychokinetic again. Back and forth until you are comfortable with it. Such variation is good practice for moments of heated conflict."
This made enough sense to Magnus, who nodded and resumed what he was doing. Naturally, being a master psionicist already, it didn't take him much longer to reach his goal. By the third day, he could reach out and find Kual's mind with ease. This included when Kual was far away, teleporting to a remote area, leagues and leagues away. And going even further, Magnus began contacting other people, the monks at the monestary, people who were unpsionic, and even animals. Though there were not to many thoughts in the horses and other creatures roaming the canyon. Soon he was contacting acquaintances he knew across the world, and touched minds with them.
"Very good," Kual congratulated, "You have mastered the power of Contact. Once you have completed the next phase of your training, we shall return to Telepathy, so that I may demonstrate techniques that are for the master telepath. But for now, we move on to Psychokinetic. Come." He motioned Magnus to follow, and led him around to the back of the grounds, towards an obvious training area. But not training of the mind, but of the body. A group of monks were out training, punching, kicking, and grappling, practicing the martial arts.
"You see, we study more here than just the special gifts that you and I posses. I also teach them the secrets of the age old hand-to-hand combat, a skill you may wish to learn as well…"
"Perhaps," was all Magnus said watching. Kual waved a hand, and after bowing, the students all left, leaving them.
"Now, watch closely…" With this, Kual once again closed his eyes, putting his hands together, palm to palm, and stood, breathing gently. Magnus was keeping an eye out for psionic waves, in an effort to predetermine what this Psychokinetic ability was. He watched as the familiar ripples began to radiate from Kual, but only hanging near him, like a gas. Before he could register any sort of movement, a standing wooden wall across the yard exploded.
Of course, it wasn't a blast of fire and force. No, the wall now had numerous holes forcefully knocked through it, as if some kung-fu master had just delivered numerous crushing blows to it. As Magnus was studying this, to his left there came another crushing crack, and a stone, or more precisely a bolder. was ground down into dust. Following this was the destruction of some sand-filled practice dummies, being shredded and blown away, followed by another wooden climbing wall, and another rock blew to pieces. And to finish the demonstration, the rock face of the canyon itself was struck with extraordinary force, denting the stone and sending a web of cracks running up it.
Throughout the attacks, Magnus, as well as observing the damage, also took note of Kual himself. It was almost impossible to see outright, Magnus had to concentrate far harder than normal to see a sudden wave of psionic force rush from Kual to the target. It was launched at an incredible velocity.
"The Invisible Fist," Kual said finally, opening his eyes and surveying the debris around him. "A highly focused series of blows, psionic punches and kicks, capable of reaching a great distance. A secret technique I've been developing for many years.
"Interesting," Magnus commented, finding this aptitude somewhat familiar. He had an ability in his arsenal called Project Force that would send out a wave of pure force, an invisible battering ram. However, that spread open over a wide area; these blows here were far more focused and obviously considerably more powerful. "Invisible Fist…clever name. And useful for attacking ranged enemies. But I wonder…why does a master of Telepathy and Clairsentience have such devotion to Psychokinetic skills? It is highly unusual."
"It is at that," Kual answered, stepping over and running his hand across the shattered wall. "But in addition to my psionic powers, I am also a skilled martial artist, and somewhere along the line, I wished to develop a power to combine psionics and my passion for the ancient art of fighting. Thus, I devoted my time to this goal, and have spent many long years creating this technique. I have perfected it and I have tested it. It is one of my life goals."
"And what are some of the others?"
"Ha, a nosy student eh? Well, perhaps once you are able to read minds, and shift through memories, you may figure that out. Until then, I'm afraid you'll have to be content with what you know. Now then, you must first master this attack before we move on. Begin!"