Chapter 11: 11. Choice

 

 Although it took me a while to recover from my rabbit trauma, I resumed my cultivation with great motivation. This time, I focused more on control than on increasing my strength. Uncontrollable power is deadlier than people think. If uncontrollable power kills the user instead of the enemy, that would be ironic. But my case was different. If I use my lightning uncontrollably, I will be a benevolent healer to my enemies.

Limiting the flow of elemental energy in my blood vessels was the first task in my hand. Thereupon followed regulation of the emitted lightning. For example, wrapping only palms or legs with lightning.

I had to change my attack method too. Previously, I would just smash my enemy with everything I have. Currently, I had to take back my lighting before landing my punches. Otherwise, it would rejuvenate the enemy's injuries. So I started sparring with Carl more so often.

And on one occasion, my boring schedule got a touch of liveliness as Carl, and his other friends Mario- an earth user, Nadia-a fire user, and Abid- a metal user showed up to join my practice session. Aside from Carl, all of them were new awakeners like me. So, we all got to annoy the big brother of our friend circle more.

Carl's property was air pressure. He could increase the air pressure around our bodies, resulting in more friction. Against him, I would become as slow as a turtle without my lightning. If he was strong enough, he could even suppress my blood pressure and give me heart bleeding. But that required extremely delicate control over the air. As for controlling air as he wishes- that was simply a pipe dream, as complete elemental manipulation is not something humans could achieve. So, a mere core stage Elementalist couldn't do that one in a million times. He could only hinder my movements by pressuring me. Even though it was a pretty weak property in its early phase, it was effective on me. Running against the airflow while bearing the air pressure from Carl was a logical approach to increase my speed.

Nadia wanted to spar against me, too. But I didn't want to give her any chance as fighting fire users felt like brawling- 'Did you hit me? I will burn you.'

And as for Abid, whenever I invite him for a friendly spar, he simply hides behind Nadia after our 1st match. His metal elemental armor was so conductive that I made him faint by simply touching his face. But I really wanted to spar with him as he was from a family of martial arts experts.

Feeling helpless, we fought without elements to score our pure martial skill. He taught me some fist fighting as his metallic property made him very good at melee fighting.

My training with these three on element control continued. Like a mechanical puppet, I followed my cultivation routine for three months. Sparing with Carl, Mario, and Nadia during the day, absorbing Origin crystals at night, and hunting weak elemental beasts on mountains became my daily activity.

And eventually, my life as a mechanical puppet bore its fruit. By October, I transformed my prototype core into a real core and successfully entered the peak of the Core Formation Stage. Now was a great time to visit the Elementalist association for the Potential Test for Elementalist aka P.T.E. exam.

"So, you are gonna take your PTE?" Carl asked.

"Yeah, I think I have prepared enough. I heard you get a plus point for taking an early test." I answered with enthusiasm.

"Yeah, that's for your cultivation speed. But that point is just a scam, if you become greedy for more points without much preparation, you will just dig your own grave."

"Nah, I think getting some extra points is feasible for me."

"If you are confident enough, be my guest." Carl gave up on persuading me.

"Sure, are you coming with me?"

"It's your test, why would I go with you? I already took mine, I have no reason to."

"Come on, bro. Be more considerate, will you? This is my first time."

Carl looked at me with a weird gaze.

"What?"

"Ahh, nothing. I just need to clean my dirty mind. Sure, count me in. I will go."

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And he reluctantly agreed.

The next morning, we met up in front of the town gate.

"Ready?"

"More than enough."

"Then let's go." He urged.

And we headed towards the Elemental Association in Reiden City. It was just another regular day. But unlike the people from Marlow town where most of the people I saw were chilling and enjoying their life, people here were in a rush as if they were running out of time. I saw kids younger than me, running to school while carrying bags on such an early morning. They were working hard in the hope to become whatever they see in their future self.  

Even though I find the idea of myself carrying bundles of books in my bag and head while running off to school convulsing, I don't look down upon those who do so. This fully functional society isn't only made of elementalists whose primary ability is to destroy things. Other roles in society also have significant effects.

 

But that's the end of it. In the pursuit of momentary life, they lose the opportunity to become something greater. Also failed to increase their life rating and live a life of a short span. If society was a garden, they were daffodils, bloomed to decorate the garden only to wither away earlier than other flowers.

"What's wrong with you?" Carl's sudden voice ended my thoughts.

"What?" I asked not knowing what it was about.

Carl looked at me with a weird gaze."Nothing much." He added, "You looked distracted by something."

"I was thinking, the path of an Elementalist is such a great path, it brings better life, strength, money, honor yet many people are reluctant to become one! Aren't they misleading themselves?"

Listening to my question, Carl gave a hearty laugh, "Not all kids are like you, friend, want to become an Elementalist while wearing diapers. You don't have the right to judge others' life choices. And, I am pretty sure that 80%of those who are filling them up are people who failed to awaken their elemental affinity. And even if they awakened, most would choose a safe and stable job. Being an Elementalist is a dangerous standing full of responsibilities. It requires many sacrifices as the whole council's safety depends on them. That's why, even though the council allows everyone to awaken their element, not everyone can stick to the path of hardship."

"That's it? Just because they have to bear some responsibilities, they choose not to become one?" I couldn't accept the fact that people are so lazy to ignore such a noble profession.

Carl paused for a while and whispered in a low voice, "Of course not. Even if they wanted to become Elementalist, society won't allow them to. Most of the resources are hoarded by noble families or elemental organizations and make them scarce to the general public. Which makes these resources costly enough to make most people give up on being elementalists. Even members in those organizations have to compete for these resources."

I sighed as I thought about how the society we built to protect ourselves became our biggest shackles to personal growth. 

I couldn't help but ask, "How do you know so much?"

Carl answered while scratching his nose bridge, "Even though I am working hard to become an Elementalist, I study at a university you know. I minor in Social Studies, so I read many records documenting the state of our present societies. Don't worry about it, as you get admitted to an academy, your whole knowledge base will change in no time. You will understand that everything I talked about just now is basic. Staying at Marlow town has just limited your horizon."

While we emerged in discussions, the destination was already greeting us. It took us way less time than the day of the Awakening ceremony as there wasn't much pressure on traffic. As I headed toward the association, a long queue made my face distorted.

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