The Heathen

Aos enamoured by her achievement couldn't help but profusely smile. The old man having kept a close eye on her, saw that she had begun to smile. He too was beyond happy when he first manipulated energy. This recollection reminded him of a tip that his predecessor had shown him that had helped him when the old man was first learning to store energy within himself.

The old man tapped Aos' shoulder. Although Aos could sense the old man's movements she was still startled since she had yet to trust this new sixth sense. The old man told Aos, "To begin absorbing energy walk with me to the closest tree."

Aos and the old man then made their way towards the nearest tree. The old man grabbed Aos' hand and placed it onto the bark of the tree. He then said, "Aos try as hard as you can to move the energy within the trees network and added it to your own. Distance makes it harder and as you improve you can eventually meditate without having to directly touch a network but for now, you must make do. Each being along the network has its own reserves that although connected to each other are sluggish and slow."

Aos was eager to attempt. She promptly closed her eyes and focused, with all her might she pulled at the energy within the tree. At first, it was less than a trickle as it slowly stabilized and Aos was able to siphon a small amount before she could no longer continue due to the mental fatigue it caused.

Aos having successfully siphoned energy looked at the old man with an expecting face as if predicting praise but before she got carried away the old man said, "Oh, that was decent. Try again in 30 seconds."

Aos was beyond startled as she thought she misheard the old man say that she had to siphon more energy in less than 30 seconds. Never the less, she counted 30 seconds in her head before trying once again. This time around, the energy had begun to trickle somewhat easier and although Aos didn't increase the amount she siphoned the mental strain was heavily reduced.

The old man then commented, "Aos, have you noticed yet?" She couldn't quite comprehend what the old man meant by his statement until he realized that the hunger she had previously felt had been reduced from their severe levels into a more manageable amount. Aos, in order to indicate to the old man that she understood rubbed her stomach and the old man chuckled while saying, "That's right. This energy is what fuels us. Although we can eat normal food, we can survive off of the natural energy present.

The old man then told Aos, "I need to prepare some things for the future. While I prepare, you must practice. Until I call for you at dusk you may not stop. Whenever a trees network becomes too drained, move onto the next tree. If you want to be able to see your mother in 5 years you must train diligently and you must train constantly."

The old man hobbled off into the forest leaving Aos to practice.