Chapter 326 - Make that Six

Miko felt anxious fidgeting around, unable to calm herself knowing that she was currently in the home of another person and a man for that matter. 

Though she vaguely knew what she's getting into couldn't help but be filled with anxiety.

She looked around the mostly empty place but kept staring at a handprint on the wall. It looked far too recent to be defective and wouldn't be a design choice seeing as this doesn't compliment the place.

Her attention then drawn to the calming smell of hot pouring into a cup turned to look at a young man, Caelum who was preparing herbal tea. 

He displayed an air of elegance filling the cup before finishing then headed his way to her. Caelum placed the cup in front of her before sitting down.

"Drink up, this Tea will ease your senses."

Caelum took his cup while drinking the content while Miko was surprised that it was neither bitter nor sweet and perfectly blended the water and herbs. 

The refreshing sensation courses through her body cleansing the impurities and clearing her mind.

She felt more calm and relaxed upon taking a single sip of the Tea. It was too surreal for tea to make her at peace with herself. 

"First, I know you have many questions but let me answer a few things. No, I'm not some ghost or something, no, I'm not the grim reaper, and no, I'm not king Yama."

"What!? I wasn't going to ask that!?"

Miko was shaken up since that was the thing she was about to receive, receiving doubtful expressions from Caelum who predicted her question. 

She hid her embarrassment by drinking her tea and turning around while inwardly laughing at how cute her reaction was. Caelum took a picture then sent it to Hana who was Miko's close friend. 

He then turned at the door furrow his eyebrow noticing the five individuals around his door intently listening. Caelum facepalms how they tried to hide.

"Wait, don't push me, Nino!"

"Then stop hitting me with your elbow, Itsuka!"

"Quiet or he might notice us."

"Are you sure Miku that Masa-Kun brought another girl?"

"He's like some harem protagonist that isn't dense."

"Yotsuba, your elbow!"

He could clearly hear them with his keen senses and decided to ignore them but place a talisman to make sure they won't hear anything he's about to say. 

Caelum would tell them everything once they accept him to their heart as it would trigger a link between them

"In all seriousness, I can't tell you what or who I truly am for the time being but know that I'm just a traveler"

"Okay but tell me how you would help me control my eyes?"

"Well do you Qi and Mana do all that kind of stuff?"

"Yes?"

"Well, it's true. Qi and Mana existed but they depended on the quality and quantity as this world doesn't have much qi rather have spiritual energy or mental energy which you have an enormous amount. You have a Yin Qi and your friend Hana has a Yang Qi. Are you keeping up?"

"Y-Yes I am."

She wanted to think that he was crazy since mana and qi are only in fantasy but seeing how she could see ghosts made her less doubtful.

It was completely eye-opening for her that those fictional stories have merits in them. Caelum wasn't willing to disclose this information to anyone but his guts told him it was the right thing to do. 

He held out his hand circulating his key before producing a faint light surprising Miko witnessing the strange phenomenon.

"This is Qi, don't confuse it with a Ki. Qi is external energy that could be absorbed by the body through either training or a special trait like you."

Caelum gave an in-depth explanation of the key terms regarding Qi, Spiritual energy, and Ki. 

Qi is most basic as it is just external energy produced by the world itself that is diluted into a human. 

There is a reason why they are called World Qi. That is the densest Qi beside Primordial Chaos Source Qi or Myriad Origin Qi.  

On the other hand, Spiritual energy or mental energy is a type of Qi that directly links to a person's mind and awareness. 

The only reason why she could see grotesque creatures is because of the improper and unconscious use of her psyche.

If she had proper training then Miko would be able to sense the world in a different light. 

Furthermore, the Qi in the world was the third rate that was polluted by greenhouse gases slowly killing the world itself which is why Caelum was unable to bring out a large quantity of Qi and could not carelessly use it. 

Moving on, the Ki is simple enough as it directly links to the vitality of a person and could be said to be the battle energy of a person. The more training and tempering your body experience, the more Ki you would have. 

"Listening closely, this method would help you better control your awareness as well make you stronger at least five times a grown man. Sit in a lotus position and close your eyes while controlling your breathing and clear your mind."

Miko did as she was told, trying her best to clear her mind. She was determined to accomplish goals in at least maintaining a normal life but in the end, knew her fate was different than what she wanted. 

Meanwhile, Caelum could feel her troubled mind and help her calm herself to fight the inner turmoil within her.

"Clear your mind and relax. You will slowly feel a faint mist of light try to slowly grasp it then circulate it through your mind. Just imagine and relax."

His soothing voice was able to calm her senses and let Miko empty her mind grasping the Qi within her body. She was perplexed seeing ominous most that despite the appearance felt compelled to get closer.

"I can see it! A mist-like light is in front of me. What should I do next?"

"Grasping it then imagine it flowing through your mind to your entire body. Don't worry I'll make sure you'll be fine."

Miko reaches out grasping the mist like a light before imaging energy to flow through her mind and body. The more it flowed through her body, the more she lost herself from the euphoric state. 

The cold yet comforting most envelop her entire mind and body unaware of the time passing. 

Meanwhile, Caelum observed to her surprise that she was talented in manipulating her Qi. It would normally take a while but her innate traits help flow the Qi without a problem.

After at least five hours Miko finally opened her eyes and was baffled seeing the world more clearly even the tiniest detail far away was visible causing her to feel a pulsating headache.

"Here this will ease the headache. I must say you're quite talented in Qi manipulation."

"What happened? My eyes seem to see everything to the smallest detail!?"

"That's your Spiritual senses, it allows you to see things a hundred meters away as if they're in front of you and once it nurtures you to see things even with your eyes closed."

"What!? How is that possible!?"

"I already explained it….but anyway do you really think your eyes are only for seeing ghosts? Of course not. You may even understand school lessons much quicker since your mind has been nourished by the Qi."

Miko was speechless hearing his explanation thinking how it was practically a cheat for her to have this ability and felt it was unfair. 

Caelum saw her inner turmoil once more that made him frown as he was the same in the past. 

"Miko-san, you're overthinking things. At least try to use that ability instead of putting it to waste and it's not like you're cheating when you're a genius in these things."

"Don't tell me that you have been reading my mind!?"

"What? Hell no, It's just that you're easy to see through. Anyway, make sure to maintain a routine of meditation."

"Okay but I've read some fiction for those who have Qi are immortal."

"Yeah but you're not immortal, much less those ancient people. At most you would live for 100 to 200 years."

There was one person who was able to acquire a small percent of Qi who had lived for 146 years and that person was Kaku Kaioh that Caelum wanted to fight. 

"A-Are you an immortal?"

"That's a secret until later. For now, do you want to stay for lunch?"

It was then the door burst open and came to the Nakano Sister who took a break between those hours. Now Caelum used a bit of Qi to open the door causing the five women to enter.

"How about you five want to eat with me?"