Beginner's Luck: Growth

Both the Librarian and Fluke spent the rest of their lunch break manipulating their resonance. By barrowing Fluke's emblem Insight, the Librarian made steady progress and managed to gain an even envelope around himself. Fluke found that after resting and digesting, there was an interesting change to the attributes listed in his mask. Before exhausting himself his read out had said:

Mind: 1

Body: 1

Resonance: 1.9

Mask: 1

After exhausting himself without any use of his divine blessings, or emblem Insight, they had read:

Mind: 1.0

Body: 0.99

Resonance: 1.89

Mask: 1.01

This told Fluke that his physical exhaustion could lower his capabilities. Now they read out as:

Mind: 1.02

Body: 1.05

Resonance: 1.91

Mask: 1.05

Usable Potential Energy Detected- Status: Locked

It seemed the only way for him to gain access to the potential energy was if it was processed in the Liminal. So, every day's work he put in couldn't fully be realized until he slept- that could be problematic in certain circumstances he realized. What if he was deprived of sleep by an enemy? What if he couldn't sleep deep enough? Was there anyway around this obvious roadblock? These abilities made him feel overwhelmed with what seemed like infinite possibilities for growth and more importantly danger.

He wondered if there were instances or abilities that would lower his mental acuity or focus. As well as he wondered if there were an ability that would directly affect the mask he was wearing. Looking up at his mentor, now deep in meditation, he worried for his safety. The man had combat experience and a mask at maximum capacity, and yet yesterday fighting two enemies he had barely won. His mask and Luck had saved them both yesterday, but there was always the possibility that they were unlucky or faced a more experienced opponent who had an ability that they weren't prepared for. A fire lit inside himself, and he felt the overwhelming drive to get stronger and more versatile, so he could be useful.

Fluke stood up and walked over to the axe and picked it up. It felt lighter and more natural in his hands than it had this morning, the slight change in the numbers seemed to be exponentially expressed in his capabilities. Walking the axe to his mentor, he cleared his throat to get his attention.

"Ahem... There's more than just the resonance that helped me chop down that tree. Feel this axe and use Insight to see what's changed." Fluke offered the handle of the axe to the Librarian who still had Insight active.

"This axe is not the same axe I gave you! I see you used your blessing from Lady Luck. Surely this wasn't all that you needed to chop down the tree." He offered the axe back to the boy, who nodded and proceeded to demonstrate his abilities further.

"In my dream I had been able to extend my resonance away from my body, but it didn't work so well. Luckily, I had an idea come to me." Fluke then focused his resonance, down the axe handle and around the head. The Librarian stood and walked around the boy as he held the axe and slowly demonstrated a swing at the air in front of him.

"Your aura slid up from your legs and now is only visible from your waist up. If this resonance helps protect you, does that mean you are leaving your legs vulnerable?" The Librarian crossed his arms deep in thought.

"Yes, I think so, but watch this." With some concentration Fluke was able to divide out the resonance so a thin barrier now still encased his whole body, while the rest was out over the axe head.

"I think if we practice enough, we can keep ourselves moderately protected and still strengthen our weapons and tools. The more I practice the easier it gets to move it around at will." Fluke then began to move his resonance around, scrunching his face in concentration. Eventually, he let out a gasp and his resonance receded back to his body. He sat down and caught his breath, and the Librarian came and picked up the axe. Focusing intently, he moved his resonance down his arms and attempted to extend the energy down to the axe. Sweat began to form on his arms, and his body began to shake, and right before he collapsed from exertion his resonance had reached the tip of the axe.

"You make it look easy! Show me what it looks like again- this time I want you to try and chop down a second tree." The floating quill appeared again and began to work on Fluke's entry. The boy stood and exhaled, upon exhalation his resonance was once again present and calmly enclosing his body. He took the axe back and walked to the next tree that had been chosen for building his home. Before he started preparing to cut the tree down, he made sure to mark it with his good Luck. Fluke got into position and moved his resonance down the axe and pulled any remaining resonance from his head and lower body before swinging two quick and powerful swings. A wedge of wood popped cleanly out and fell to the ground, as Fluke took a step forward and struck twice again this time on a new patch of wood. A second clean wedge was produced, Fluke noted that the normally hard wood now was resisting like a pumpkin gourde instead of timber. Fluke examined the tree and smiled at his results.

Blessed Tree- Increased Harvest yield +5%

750/1000

Putting his hand on his shoulder with pride, the Librarian let out a low whistle.

"Now that was impressive my boy! With Insight and a little Luck, I have a feeling this world of ours is going to change rapidly. Lady Luck chose her champion well! And we are going to abuse that divine blessing maliciously. Chop down the rest of them and I'll signal for our brethren to come and clean off the branches and harvest them for us. But listen... I am worried about your plans with the Outsider. It's too risky boy. I don't like it."

Fluke looked up at the old chieftain.

"What's life without a little risk? Besides... A little Luck goes a long way."