[SHADOW DUNGEON]
Today's training with Ammut was especially brutal…as Thalia's strength increased, Ammut adjusted the difficulty accordingly.
She could feel her power increasing…and it wasn't just raw physical strength. When activating MAIDEN'S DOMAIN, she could feel her mana flowing through her body increasing all her senses, reflects, and strength.
Thalia smiled; the last month had been the most eventful period of her life. She arrived safely to earth, applied for asylum, became a licensed hunter, met the Shadow Monarch, met several other Monarchs, made new friends…and grew stronger!
"Well…well…well, someone looks happy today…what happened? A cute boy asked you out on a date?" Arsha teased…like a bug Arsha had the knack for suddenly popping up.
Thalia's blushed slightly, laughed softly and shook her head in response.
"I brought you a gift…a 'thank-you' for all your kindness." Thalia said earnestly as she brought forth a gift from her System Inventory.
"It's an Elysian Rose…it's a very rare flower. I read that this flower produces the sweetest nectar." Thalia said.
Arsha's face changed to complete surprise…she said, "wha…wha…where did you find this? This flower is extremely rare…so rare that in fact it doesn't exist in our universe…it's said that one sip of nectar will give the user peaceful sleep and deep relaxation for years!"
"Aw…I'm glad you like it…I found it in a forest dungeon yesterday…and I thought of you." Thalia said with a smile.
Arsha was deeply touched by such a thoughtful and kind gesture.
She said, "thank you…this means a lot…it really does. I have a gift for you too…"
"A gift for me?" Thalia asked.
"More or less," replied Arsha with a playful smile. "Let me explain, you see in nature many bugs are born blind. Yet they can still see in their own way. Do you know how?"
Thalia shook her head.
Arsha continued, "people often misunderstand their own abilities. Perception, that is to say…a person or creatures' ability to "see" does not depend on eyes…perception is in the mind."
"Do you know what those bodies inside the pyramid are?" Arsha asked abruptly as she pointed at the nearby Training Center.
"I heard other hunters say they are soulless bodies…hunters can connect to them and control them." Thalia replied weekly.
"Precisely…they are soulless bodies. Let's try something…just trust me for a moment. Close your eyes…focus on your mana…feel it. Mold it. Make it stretch out…stretch it like a string. Good…now reach out to the soulless body."
Arsha continued, "now weave a connection with the body…like a spider…good…now open your eyes and see."
Thalia couldn't believe it! She was "seeing" but not with her eyes…she was seeing with the eyes of the soulless body! It felt like an "out of body experience".
!ALERT!
[LUCIDITY has been upgraded to PERCEPTION]
[PERCEPTION - player is able to share senses with allies. Range depends on SENSE stat]
"Thank you," Thalia said as she bowed deeply.