Chapter 15

After the reveal of Aian as the backer of the team and getting over the fact that not only did she look young but pretty as well, the rest of the team got used to her.

For a full week, the team took it easy, recuperating, recovering, and storing up their energies.

They had at first found it hard to believe that the common dream they all had shared hadn't been a dream but a real mission. They were ready to disprove it except for the healed scars on Juma's body.

As Juma didn't have an ichor boost as Howard, his wounds healed up slowly, though the healing sphere that Howard had used on him back at the museum helped.

The reason they found it hard to believe was that they had all passed through into Magnarr's training world. For a full month, they practiced and trained raising up all their defences. 

Though it was close to a full month, the training area had a time disparity of 1:72. Meaning for every seventy-two hours spent in there, it tallied up to one hour in this plane. 

Nike was proud to have access to the plane but one couldn't spend too long in it or else irreversible effects took place. 

They had been in the midst of their training when they all fell asleep abruptly. When they woke up, they were in the living room. 

Unlike Howard who had better clarity of his dreams thanks to the effect of his bond with Aian, the rest only remembered snippets. It also didn't help that Aian had smashed the only physical proof of the mission; Kelch Chanticleer. 

The following day after, Howard and Aian attacked the team to observe their progress. 

Their teamwork was much better than Howard had seen in the dream. Aian unleashed a barrage of mental attacks but they were all deflected or redirected back to her. 

After the practice, Violette suggested that they all attack Howard and Aian. Howard immediately tried to shut it down as a bad idea but Aian agreed. 

{Don't worry we won't hurt them.}

She ducked as Violette threw her dagger and quickly followed it up with another smaller one. Nike struck the ground causing a shockwave trying to disrupt her centre of gravity. Howard jumped forward, his bracelet glowing silver and received the force nullifying it. 

He threw his right hand forward directed at Winjoy whom knew was setting up a barrier. The shock wave blasted her away but Frank steadied her. 

They continued the friendly parry but the team came to realise that Howard and Aian had an unmatched superior collaborative teamwork. They covered each other's weaknesses and blind spots on the fly. They also noted that neither of the two used PSI and Nike pointed it out.

Juma preferred to watch as his PSI was not suited for active battle. Afterwards in the evening over a glass of cold beer, Howard asked what they meant by PSI. 

Violette who had mellowed out to Howard after the museum incident spoke up, "PSI or personal sphere of influence is your personal space where you rule."

{The human version of a God's domain or dominion.} 

"Everyone has a PSI but very few know it exists let alone control it. Once you control your PSI and manage to extend it, then can you do what we do. However, you and Aian aren't tapping into your wellspring."

"For us, we use our PSI to enable us to use the artefacts. As you know I have the eyes of a goddess. Nike has Magnarr, and Winjoy doesn't have an artefact but she does have her defense and barrier skills. Frank is a scout as well as a berserker."

"So PSI is like magic power?"

"In a manna of speaking," Nike replied. "Get it manner?"

"Do artefacts have different levels," Howard rolled his eyes and asked looking directly at Aian. 

{I didn't forget about that, but they have no clue.}

Violette shook her head and explained that artefacts were only as powerful as their wielders. 

Howard saw a smirk on Aian's face but fortunately, no one else noticed it. 

{Assuming you didn't know, your bracelet is the most powerful artefact in this room. Something worthy enough to be worn by a god. Also, she is right in a manner of speaking. The way I use the artefact will be exponentially different from how you use it, even if we use the same techniques.}

Howard looked absentmindedly at his bracelet noticing its features for the first time. It was a simple silver bracelet that resembled more of a bangle than a bracelet. It was moulded in a one-piece mould having no seams. 

Though it was metallic, it fit snugly on his arm and it was always at his body's ambient temperature rather than the surrounding one. It was like it had a living skin on the inner side. 

He also noted the light etches on the bracelet. There were runes as well as the digits 0-9.

"That's one powerful artefact you have," Winjoy said watching him. "I can feel unfathomable power welling from it."

"I found it in one of my trips but since it wasn't compatible with me, I gave it to him," Aian said nonchalantly. 

'Liar,' thought Howard. He knew it was a flat-out lie as there were three clock faces inscribed on it. If anything he guessed this was her item.

Aian looked at him another smirk on her face. He shook his head and turned to look at Frank who was describing his PSI. His PSI was special in that it had two stages, the first was the scouting stage where he sent out his PSI; like radar to determine his environment. That mode had range but no power. 

However under some circumstances, his PSI enshrouded him like a thin fitting layer though it covered him like a cloak, he could literally control anything that attempted to invade his space. It also activated a berserker mode in him where for any injury he revived his attacks grew exponentially.

 As Juma and Winjoy didn't want to volunteer information about their PSI, Howard didn't bother asking. Though he knew if he asked crow, sorry Aian she would tell him. 

Once inside after a heavy supper, the team was relaxing. Aian was reading some manuscripts with weird writings on them. Winjoy was meditating and Violette was reading a book. Kuronike was busy polishing Magnarr with a white rag. Frank and Juma were having an arm wrestling contest. So far Frank had won all five matches.

"Winjoy if you deal with barriers, isn't it theoretically possible for you to stop aging?" Howard asked.

"If you can isolate the specific circumstance or event that starts aging it can work. Or another option how about putting up barriers on every organ, cell and organelle?"

Winjoy opened one eye first, "Are you trying to remind me that I am old?"

Before he could reply she laughed, "I have never thought of it that way, but that will require a massive amount of concentration and energy to pull off, but I love challenges, I shall look into it."

Aian looked up from her manuscript and gave both Winjoy and Howard odd looks. Howard caught the glance and shrugged before turning his attention to the eleventh match between Frank and Juma. 

Violette stifled a yawn before shutting the book. Juma gave up trying to beat Frank and Kuronike had taken his position. The two were almost equal in strength until they both decided to use their PSI to disrupt the equilibrium. 

Winjoy had finished her meditation and was the referee watching closely and limiting their usage by her barriers. Unfortunately, the restricted usage of their powers caused the house to start vibrating and Aian got up slightly annoyed. She approached the two grunting men enshrouded in their auras and placed her pinkie fingers on each of the clasped hands, slamming the hands on the opposite side.

"Let us not forget I'm the strongest of you all."

With that done, she retreated into the bedroom and the rest slowly followed suit.