Having 2 Quests I can complete now gave me a more visible path to follow.

Obviously, I will focus my attention on 'My Soul is My Strength' as it has a time limit.

The only reason I can imagine one quest having a limit and the other not is that the limited

Quest has a better reward.

So that's how my new schedule began.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday I went to the boxing gym and worked out while trying to meditate (not while sparring—I learned my lesson the first time).

The other days were fully spent meditating at home to the absolute possible minute. I did take breaks in between meditating though—sitting still so much has a way of making you go stir-crazy.

Normally, you'd assume being constantly on the move would be the better option, but it's damn hard to stay in a meditative state while working out or going on a run with all the noise around you.

Not that it isn't getting easier with every level up, but just sitting at home made entering that mindset a lot easier, even if I couldn't hold it as long as I would've liked.

A month went by like that. Having just finished my workout in the gym, I looked at my progress in the locker room.

[Status]
Name: William Brooks
Class: NA
Soul Realm: Red
Soul Form: Disordered/ [Redacted]
Soul Attribute: Neutral
Sp. Physique: NA
Soul Force: 33
Body Force: 53
Money: $5021

It's solid progress. Normally I would be worried that succeeding the quest would be very close to the deadline, but the skill level-ups should increase my gains.

Talking about skills, they also got a nice bump.

Meditation Lvl. 13

Meditation is all about connection with something—from everything to yourself or the world around you.

Or in this case, your Soul.

Increases Soul Force gain by 13%
While in movement and meditative state, increases Soul Force gain by 6.5%

11 level-ups wasn't that bad. I would've wished for more, of course, but my System apparently didn't come with a growth boost.
Soul Manipulation was lagging behind at lvl 5, but the skill was too low to do anything with, and I didn't have the time to play with it and level it up.

Cleaning up and going out of the locker room, I saw that Coach Laborn was talking with a big Black young man I hadn't seen in the gym.

Seeing me walk away, Mr. Laborn signaled me to come over, and after a second of thinking it over, I went towards them.

"Yes? What is it, Coach?"

With a small scowl, he replied, "What did I tell you about calling me Coach?"

"To only call you that when in training, Coach," I answered. I knew the next training session would be hell, but I couldn't help but needle the old man a bit.
That he only grumbled a bit just told me he was in a good mood for some reason.

"Youngsters these days, no respect." Taking a small breath, he continued,

"Anyway, this here is my son Brian. He thought it was finally time to come back to the gym for once."

At that, I looked to the man who apparently was the son of my trainer.

As I previously mentioned, he's a big man—probably nearing six and a half feet—and has the well-built physique that tells me martial arts runs in the family. He has a big jaw and that rugged look.

It's his eyes, however, that unnerve me a bit—they have a calculating look for some reason…

Is it that weird that his dad introduces somebody to him?

He gave me what I think is a friendly smile and greeted me with his hand extended.

"Brian Laborn. Nice to meet you. It doesn't happen often that my dad feels the need to introduce me to someone in the gym. Well, I know most of them already from the past, haha."

Brian Laborn… Why is that name familiar?

Anyway, I shook his hand and introduced myself.

"Haha. Yeah, I've been coming here for the last two months. I'm William Brooks, but call me Liam."

After giving me a strong handshake, he looked back at his father.

"Well anyway, Dad, I gotta go again. I need to go pick up Aisha."

At the name, I saw a hint of sadness in Mr. Laborn's eyes, but it was gone as fast as it appeared.

"Yeah, you go do that."

At the rather abrupt ending of the conversation, everyone went their separate ways.

On the way home I couldn't help but think back to my short talk with the two men, and why Brian's name was so familiar.

And than it clicked.

A big black young man, a physique that was made for fighting…

And last but not least, his name… Brian Laborn and the name Aisha…

I just met Grue, leader of the Undersiders, or in the future anyway, considering I haven't heard anything on them online yet.

And I have been training under his father the last two months…

Just sitting there, I let all that wash over me.

To be fair, while I don't know how many people have the last name Laborn, I would have never linked the man with Grue.

After all, Coach Laborn looks like the typical white construction worker—maybe a bit more built and fit than that because of his boxing.

Going home, I don't even go into meditation immediately like I normally do. I just take a drink out of my fridge, noting that I'll need to go grocery shopping soon, and just sit in my kitchen. I just met a cape…

While normally people would assume you'd immediately recognize a named character, I've already been here two months and this is the first time I've seen one up close.

Yes, I've seen some of New Wave fly over some buildings before, but I don't really count that.

I live in downtown where capes don't really patrol. The only reason gang violence is so low here is because it's a somewhat better neighborhood in the Merchant territory.

Yes, they have those, even if not a lot.

It's too nice to peddle drugs on the street, but just not nice enough to be worth stealing.

That's also the reason there aren't a lot of patrols in the area. So far as I know, there have only been three in the last two months—and I missed all of those.

After the knowledge that I've met my first cape (that I know of) has set in, I make a quick meal for myself and go back to the grind.

The next few weeks when I'm at the gym, I see Brian more and more. Sometimes just walking around speaking with some people, other times we train at the same time, but we never really talk to each other except for greetings and goodbyes.
Is it because I know that he's a cape that I'm so hyper-aware of him, or does he just have that presence?

I mean, you need quite some charisma to keep a bunch of teenagers in a cape group, shadow boss or not. And smarts too, to survive so long as a cape like Grue did.

And he was active—even if not in Brockton Bay itself. The man was a known man-for-hire in New York, though so far as I know, he isn't currently involved with the Adepts, as I know he will be for a short period.

One time, when I had just finished my workout and was in the locker room, I saw Brian in there just getting ready to train.

"Sup, Brian."

Somewhat surprised—he didn't hear me come in—he looked back and gave me a friendly smile.

"What's good, Liam? Just done?"

"Yeah, I wanted to get home before rush hour."
Nodding with an 'ah of understanding,' he replied.

"Anyway, now that I got you—do you want to go bowling with some of the guys from the gym this Saturday?"

At the rather abrupt invitation, I needed a second to process this. I couldn't help but question it.

"Don't take this the wrong way, Brian, but where does this suddenly come from? You've known me for a few weeks now and never really started a conversation with me, so this is a bit out of nowhere."

He let out a small smile at that, and even seemed a little embarrassed.

"Well, to be honest with you, man. My dad asked me to invite you. He's worried since he sees you so much at the gym but doesn't see you interact with the people here much except for sparring."

Now I had that look of understanding on my face—so it was Mr. Laborn that basically asked me.

"Ah, well in that case, I'd be happy to join if I'm welcome. I basically just moved here and don't know the city that well."

At that, he looked rather shocked.

"I didn't know you were new to the city. Do you know The Dancing Bowling Ball? No? Wait, let's exchange numbers and I'll send you the address."

After that exchange, we did a bit more small talk before he needed to go train and I needed to catch my bus.

On the bus, I reviewed the conversation in my head. Brian seemed truthful, and if it was a lie, it was one too easily checked with just a short talk with Mr. Laborn.

It's true that right now I don't really have a social life, and while not completely happy, I am fine with it—I never was the outgoing type.

This does give me the opportunity to get close to a cape for my eventual debut in this Hero and Villain world.

It also wouldn't be amiss to go and get to know the people from the gym better.

Getting off at my stop, I walked the last bit home and stepped into my apartment.

Putting my gym clothes in the wash, I made a quick egg on toast and went back to meditating.

It's starting to become easier and easier to get into a meditative state, now not even taking a minute.

Granted, the moving version of it still isn't easy, but getting into the 'zone' is becoming more consistent by the day. And I'm dreaming that one day I will never leave that state of pure peace and focus.

It does sometimes get boring though—in the beginning, just seeing my Soul Force move was fascinating, but it's kinda terrifying how fast humans can get used to something.

But for good things and bad.

Trying to use Soul Manipulation in this state has a chance of pulling me out of [Meditation, but somehow I'm feeling pretty confident today.

Using Soul Manipulation feels weird to me. Trying to move my Soul Energy one way can feel so much more difficult than another.

I've been mostly trying to move it in more difficult directions, but today I wanna see if I can basically try to push it in the way it already wants to go.

Grabbing my Soul Force, it feels like I'm basically feeding a rope into something.

Following the energy and gradually speeding up appears to make it more active.

Seeing something new happen, my concentration peaks—and so did apparently something else.

*Ping ping ping*

Being abruptly yanked out of my meditative state is always going to be jarring, but seeing 3 notifications pop up brings my mood right back up.

[Meditation has leveled up!]
[Soul Manipulation has leveled up 2x]
[Skill Created! 'Soul Circulation' Unlocked]

Soul Circulation Lvl. 1

The natural flow of Soul Force through the body has many benefits. That doesn't mean it can't be improved though.

While active, increases Soul Force gain by 5%

What?! This is huge! 5% at Lvl. 1 is insane.

Kicking myself mentally for not trying this earlier, I do the mental math on when I can activate everything at once.

That would be… 24.5% faster Soul Force gain. That's not bad considering I'm basically flying in blind. Maybe I have some more wiggle room than I thought before.

But I can't get complacent—I still need to put my all into completing my quests. It isn't good to get cocky now when I still haven't arrived at the starting line of being a cape.

Getting back on the grind, I meditate for a few more hours and make dinner. After that, I watch some videos online and go to bed.

Before Morpheus takes me, a thought came to me.

What should my cape name be?

AN: No really, what should it be? Because I have no idea. Half the time my writing does whatever it wants and doesn't follow the little bit of plotline I had prepared.

ANN: I've been messing with some AI stuff to help with correcting some spelling and grammar mistakes an it's been kicking me in the genitals.

I think I have nice middle ground now where it's actually useful and I can focus on writing the story without going over it with a comb (which I'm very bad at)

Next chapter will be posted friday!