“Done,” I said, signing another waiver before I started resistance training this morning. Healer Melon had checked everything as well and signed as my current guardian.
“Alright, come on to the resistance training chamber. We have come a long way from the days of the Eldarin Empire and have reworked one of their more sinister inventions,” Thoron said.
“That is a soul compressor,” Healer Melon said with a frown as we walked into the room.
“While it looks like a soul compressor and uses similar principles, I guarantee it is completely different. Developed in the College of Advancement for resistance training,” Thoron explained.
“How does it work exactly. Specifically, the safety mechanisms?” Healer Melon asked.
“Justin, strips down and gets in. A specialist has prepared certain Alchemical mixtures to simulate a certain type of damage. The resistance chamber monitors his healing points and overall health on these displays. A tube is connected to his mouth you can administer potions and for breathing, a channeling rod can be gripped here so you can use skills directly on his head without opening the chamber. The release mechanisms are here, here, here, and here. But if there is an emergency, you can pull this red lever while gripping the handle. The entire thing will blow apart without harming Justin. Do not pull that lever unless absolutely necessary,” Thoron explained.
“The Alchemical mixtures?” Healer Melon asked and Thoron handed him a sheet filled out with lots of tiny numbers. “Huh, this is quite professional.”
“Of course, I haven’t had an accident here in all my years. I am even certified as a licensed equipment and professional skill hall by the College of Advancement,” he said.
“I am more impressed by the actual Alchemical chart here than credentials. Even including the baseline for different races and ages. What about stats and fine tuning?” Healer Melon asked.
“This controls the density of the Alchemical mixtures released into the chamber with natural suspension fluid. Changing mixtures is a hassle. So only one per day. Just fill out a sheet with the ones you want. Our Alchemist carefully calculated the initial mixture to use but you can request adjustments based on your discretion as the Healer in change of this,” Thoron said.
“How fresh are these mixtures?” Healer Melon asked.
“Made every morning and checked personally by myself. If you have any concerns let me know. I can also have you speak with the Alchemist if you require. While I understand pushing things, avoiding accidents is important. How close to the edge will you take things?” Thoron asked the last question a bit nervously and Healer Melon looked at me.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“Resistance training is dangerous the closer you get to the body’s limit. Normally a 20% margin of error is used,” he said.
“But the improvement is probably small. The lowest margin of error?” I asked.
“I would feel comfortable handling 3% if I am constantly monitoring things. But the pain will be immense. And you can’t move. You have to remain as still as possible. I will also be refreshing your healing and stamina reserves as well so your body doesn’t give out,” Healer Melon explained.
“You can’t push things further?” I asked.
“If he wasn’t your personal Healer, I would object. The lowest we go is 6% with our healer,” Thoron said, and Healer Melon nodded.
“Any variance in the Alchemical mixture, your body’s reactions, skill levels, will all cause issues and require constant adjustment of the mixture density,” Healer Melon said. I nodded at this.
With everything decided, I stripped down and laid down in the resistance training capsule. It was like a coffin only more rounded. “You can speak once the mask goes on, but I need to focus on your health. The chamber will fill up with water and adjustments will be made until you are floating. Then the alchemical mixture will be added in, to apply to your entire body. You can move your toes and fingers, clenching them and unclenching them, but no more. Questions?” he asked.
“How long will I be in?” I asked.
“Eight hours. Even that is pushing it. Anything else?” he asked.
“Eyes open or closed,” I asked
“Either is fine. Just focus on your resistance skill as much as possible. We are starting with Poison Resistance. Any other questions?”
“No,” I replied. Healer Melon fixed a breathing mask over my nose and mouth. There was a separate tube that went into my mouth for potions if they needed to be administered quickly. But with my high level of Alchemical toxicity it was best if those were avoided if at all possible. He made sure everything strapped on tight and working. My breathing mask which also had a gold and platinum rod connecting from between my eyes to outside the capsule. It would allow Healer Melon to use his skills on me more easily at a distance.
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“Alright, see you in eight hours,” Healer Melon said as he closed the resistance capsule. I kept my breathing steady as suspension fluid began to fill up the dark capsule. Even with my Darkness Vision, I could barely see. The temperature wasn’t uncomfortable, just slightly warm.
The suspension fluid was a neutral Alchemical mixture that wasn’t water. The only thing I knew about it was that it was used to spread out the effects of an Alchemical mixture, a way to stretch potions and other mixtures while weakening the potency.
The suspension fluid went over my head and I was soon floating in the middle of the capsule. I was only 11.5 years old so there was a lot of room in the capsule. It had been designed for an adult human. I still had growing to do. That was when I felt an itch across my body which was followed by a dull throbbing ache across my various joints.
I tried to keep my breathing steady as I felt my healing and stamina reserves begin to decrease. They got very close to bottoming out before going back up. The pain slowly got worse. I just kept focusing on remaining calm and still.
It was a long eight hours. Every second felt like eternal torture. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea? The longer the suffering went on the more I felt that this was a really bad idea. The idea of being resistant to stuff sounded great, but this was the first skill in a chain of three. It would only get harder as time went on.
I felt skills from Healer Melon impact my soul and enter me. My soul automatically pushing back against the healing. Another resistance skill I was training inadvertently.
When the liquid finally began leaving the chamber. It took everything I had to not rip my mask off my face. I knew I had broken through on Pain Resistance and it had become Pain Immunity. But even that skill was overwhelmed at a certain point. When the pain was in every muscle and fiber of my being.
“Easy now, just stay laying down,” Healer Melon said while I kept my eyes shut. He began unhooking the mask from me. “Still there Justin?”
“Barely, that was horrible,” I replied weakly.
“What did you expect? Resistance training really is the worst. You have sensory training tomorrow and you wanted to do studying tonight,” he said as he slowly helped me out of the capsule. There was a wall shower nearby which I used, washing off the remaining Alchemical mixture off my body.
“My head hurts,” I replied. “Pain Resistance became Pain Immunity,” I replied.
“I was afraid of that. Your soul is straining from that tier 4 skill. Especially your mind. You need to keep focusing on controlling your skills, especially your resistances. Hopefully you can unlock the skill, Skill Control. It is tier 3 and should help you,” Healer Melon explained and handed me a towel once I was done cleaning myself off.
“This should be illegal,” I muttered and began getting changed.
“It is in most places. Only with a certified Healer is resistance training allowed. Otherwise the risk of an accident is too much. The pain, it should be going away?” he asked.
“My head still hurts,” I replied.
“What about your soul?” he asked.
“Like it is ready to burst, now that you ask,” I replied.
“Your Soul Resistance skill is helping a lot right now. Let’s get back to the Roaring Furnace and get some food. After that you can work on some of the stuff Tutor Damian left you,” he said.
“Sure,” I muttered, completely wrung out. Healer Melon led me out of the training hall, and we got a magical carriage back to our inn.
We had dinner, but it was hard to eat. “Hey mom. Hello guests, you need a lift tomorrow morning?” Anerac asked.
“Yes, same time,” Healer Melon said.
“No problem, it is when I start work. He, okay?” Anerac asked while looking at me.
“Intense skill training.”
“Ah, I get it. College of Advancement and all that. Everyone wants to look good on their applications. Well, if you ever want to get the Driving skill, I am your dwarf. Best driver in Undercraft that isn’t a professional. I am almost there,” he said.
“Hush you. I made you stew. Let the guests rest,” his mother Borton said.
“It is fine,” I replied, trying to be polite, even if I wasn’t in the mood for a conversation.
“Well, if you say so dear,” Borton said while Anerac sat across from us. This was a new place, and I wanted to learn more about dwarves, now that I was here. Even if I did feel like dying.
“I thought dwarves spoke a different language?” I asked.
“Haba da ra gorsh. Of course we do. But my father insisted I learn Eldarin. Since we get so many foreign visitors her in Undercraft due to the College of Advancement up above,” Anerac said.
“What happened to him?” I asked and then realized it was a rude question. “Sorry, never mind.”
“No, it is fine. Magical compressor blew. Sent a sprocket straight through his head, killing him instantly. Got a large settlement from the maintenance company. Now I have my magical carriage, making money driving people like you around,” he said.
“My condolences,” I replied. “Are accidents common?”
“Not really. Everyone is certified for such work. Even driving people I had to get my skill up to tier 3, Empowered Driving, otherwise I couldn’t legally taxi people around,” he said.
“Really?” I asked.
“For safety reasons. City doesn’t want visitors to get hurt. You drive in the city, you need at least Focused Driving. While it might seem a bit crazy to outsiders, we dwarves know what we are doing,” he said. “What about you? You must have some background to be applying to the College of Advancement.”
“I have already been accepted, just working on my skills before entering,” I replied.
“Wow, a prodigy or a genius. I had thought I might be able to do it when I was a kid like everyone else. But I am not good with studying. The competition is insane. To get an early admission, you have to be super duper smart. Or have a parent who can afford to power level you. I am only level 20. Maybe one day I will save up for some more,” he said.
“It is exhausting. Once I am done eating, I will be studying Algebra and Geometry,” I explained.
“Ah, I am glad I don’t have to study anymore. Just going fast,” Anerac said.
“You and that magical carriage. You are taking care of it?” his mother came over and asked.
“Yes, yes. I treat her better than anyone else, um, well, I make sure it is treated properly,” he said.
“More stew, you two?” his mother asked us while shaking her head at her son.
“No,” I replied. I just didn’t feel hungry after the resistance training.
“Yes please,” Healer Melon said. His bald head was giving me a headache as it reflected the magical lighting of the inn.