MIND OVER MATTER

  Tanner and Claire stagger to their seats for lunch. Claire slumps into her chair, moaning over her sore body. “Oh Goddess, I think she killed me and I am in the Hell of pain.”

  “My stomach muscles hurt from throwing up so much. I think I tasted my socks.”

  “Eww, Tanner, I don’t think I needed to know that.” Laughing, Claire grabs her stomach. “Ow, that hurts too.”

  “I just had a thought. Today was the simple day, right?”

  Claire looks at him in horror. “What did you get me into, you horrible person?”

  “This isn’t funny don’t make me laugh. You wicked retch.”

  The couple hug. Claire says, “I have your back.”

  “And I have yours. We push each other.”

  “Yes.”

  “Lunch is here. I brought plenty so eat up” Celeste sings and directs the meal placement.

  Claire and Tanner settle down for the meal. Rhys enters the room and lays hands on the bedraggled couple. “This should make you feel better.” He smiles, “I can not have my victims, uh I mean my students, suffering such Physical anguish. It will take away from all the Mental anguish I plan to inflict.”

  “Thanks Rhys.” Claire says.

  “Yes, thanks.” Tanner chimes in.

  “Penny told you both to turn off your status sheets, right?” Rhys asks them.

  “Yes, she did.” Tanner answers.

  “Can I ask why?” Claire asks. “She didn’t explain.”

  “Turning off your status sheets helps minimize the distractions from training, so no turning on your status until we tell you to.” Rhys looks them over and then reminds them to ask questions if they receive instructions they do not understand. “This is part of your training. Do not wait for your next instructor. Ask when the question occurs to you. Got it?”

  “Yes, Sir.” They both chime.

  “Good, eat up. While training over the next few weeks, you’ll need all the nourishment you can get.”

  “Yes, sir.” They say as they dig into the lunch set before them.

  “Rhys, what will you be doing to us?” Tanner asks.

  “We will do guided visualizations, positive self-talk, focusing skills, goal setting, and cognitive restructuring, to name a few. Eunice will assist you with the soul-related aspects. You will also notice some skills will overlap into body. Penny will help there. I will have you working puzzles, looking into subjects you have never studied to expand your minds. Prepare to be pushed in every aspect, mind, body, and soul. We all want you able to protect yourselves. The dean is a potential issue. We need you to have the strength to seek help if needed. It’s possible she won’t be a problem. This is the Imperial family’s life. We train and prepare for the worst.” He smiles, “Then when it turns out all right, it’s a pleasant surprise.” He laughs at his own joke. “Done eating you two? Then off to the library. I have set everything up for us there.”

  One week of grueling training later. Hidden in an out of the way corner of the courtyard, Tanner and Claire watch the moving chaos. Servants are loading boxes and containers for shipment, accompanied by shouted orders from overseers. The sounds of laboring men and women moving boxes onto wagons and carts. Their names, loudly called, cut through pre-departure bustle at Madison. “Guess we better head to the air carriage.” Claire says.

  “Maybe we will get a day off.” Tanner says with some optimism

  “Doubtful. I am sure they will find something for us.”

  “It’s wishful thinking, I suppose.”

  During the trip back to rejoin Tolbur at the Dungeon, the pair spend their time in meditation practice with Eunice. Intense study with Rhys and seated physical exercise with Penny. Getting occasional input from Bree and Harold when the two take breaks from working on imperial matters. While the air carriage descends, Penny smiles at her victims. “After a week of warm-up, we can intensify the pace.” Tanner and Claire look back at her in horror. “Your attributes will grow immensely working around the dungeon pillar. The Essence given off from it will push you both higher than anything else we can do. Keep in mind, you’ll become monsters.” She laughs.

  Tanner climbs down from the carriage. The first thing he discovers is a swarming madhouse of activity, people moving everywhere. He sees a small building near the pillar. He also notices a tall retaining wall being built to enclose the area. Someone has cleared the trees around the Dungeon pillar for several yards. They have also established a small tent city with the adventurer's guild banners flying. While scanning the area, he witnesses Eunice and Tolbur sharing a very cool greeting. “Huh, never would have expected that, I thought they were all friends.”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “What?” Claire asks, looking to see what he’s gazing at. Claire frowns. “I know what you mean. Sometime the Imps all act like brothers and sisters. Other times, they can all be very cool toward Eunice. I could never figure out why. Prolonged togetherness, maybe? Uncle Tolbur and Eunice have always had a very odd relationship.”

  “It seems funny they are both so reserved. I noticed you never call her aunt unless your mother makes you. Why is that?”

  “You know, I am not sure. I have never felt like that about her. I had a terrible crush on her when I was younger. I followed her around when I was a little girl. She has always been more of a friend, I guess. Mother has always insisted she be treated like an aunt. Penny and the rest are like aunt and uncles but not her. Mother gets kind of strange about it.”

  “Sorry, I think I’ve been told all of this but with everything going on I don’t remember the details. The Imps are a six person party right?”

  “Yes, Father came up with the party name while they were all attending Darton. He thinks it is funny,” Claire shakes her head and says with an exasperated expression. “The Imperial Imps.”

  Tanner smiles and shakes his head. “They are all level 265? to 266, right?”

  “Yes, they are going to run the Dungeon. Finding a new Dungeon at your level gets you the first Clear, which means better than Uncommon loot drops and twice the experience. This is an excellent opportunity to advance.”

  A loud shout of “Tanner and Claire. Front and center.”

  Tanner sighs, “I used to like her.” As he runs over to Penny, followed by a giggling Claire.

  Penny is with three new individuals. To her left side, an averaged sized, blonde hair, hazel-eyed man in priestly robes. Along with a short, blue eyed, dark-haired, thin woman, wearing a guild badge. On her right side is a muscular, brown eyed, handsome man in a sergeant’s uniform. These three accompanying me will serve as your trainers. Sergeant Seawell will train body. I have briefed him on expectations. So no slacking. To his left is Grace Chandler, Guild Scholar. She will be your mind trainer. Last is Deacon Vines who will train soul. Take time today to get to know each other. Tomorrow, you will get back on schedule. Expect to work hard, so give maximum effort. Training next to this dungeon pillar will give you both an extra boost in Essence saturation, which will give better Attribute gains. Questions?” Tanner speaks up and asks, “Why doesn’t everybody train next to pillars then?” “First, this only works for level 0 through 10. Level 0 is the best time to get the most gains. Your attributes will still go up after you reach level 10. Once you Tier up, you can still make gains by training, just not as much and you have to train in the Dungeons. Level Zero to Level Ten is like a foundation. The better your attributes, the better your class choices will be. So this training is best done at Level Zero. The Academies all have dungeons on campus and the grounds ward the Essences to concentrate and create a rich training environment for first years. Most level zero characters, on average, double their starting attributes by the time they level up. Any other questions?” Penny asks.

  “No,” Tanner says, while Claire shakes her head.

  “Good. I need to go get ready. Before we go in met us at the pillar entrance.”

  Claire steps forward to talk with their new trainers. Tanner hangs back and observes them. Grace seems irritated at their refusal to show their status sheets, grumbling about effective training without all the information. The Sergeant is professional and courteous and assures them he will treat them just like new recruits in a firm but fair manner. While the Deacon has a warm, friendly, caring aura about him.

  It’s time to delve the Dungeon. Tanner and Claire say their goodbyes. Claire gets hugs and kisses from all. She becomes teary eyed by the end. Three women bypass Tanner’s handshake attempts, opting for hugs and kisses. Rhys gives him a hug and a slap on the back. Harold gives him a hug that starts out awkward but firms into a father’s embrace, he whispers. “Look out for Claire, please.” “I will Sir.” He whispers back. Unexpectedly, Tolbur hugs him and says, “We’ll have a chance to know each other more. Everyone says good things about you.”

  “I’d like that.” He replies in a choked voice. At the end of the goodbyes, he finds himself much more emotional than he expected. He realizes he will miss his new family. Claire comes over to stand beside him. He puts his arm around her, while they watch the party enter the Dungeon portal. After the last one enters, Claire gives soft sobs. Tanner turns toward her and hugs her tight. With her head on his shoulder, his arms around her waist, and watery eyes, he finds that in the short time he has spent with her. He adores this girl.

  To the Sergeant’s amazement, the two are working hard at body weight exercises and agility drills before the scheduled start of training. Their dedication to improving amazes the other trainers. When the Imps return a week later, with smiles and Loot, the three trainers have nothing but compliments for the two dedicated young people. After loading up on the air carriage, the group returns to Volks Harbor. There they board ship for the trip to the Imperial City. Hard at work during the entire voyage. They break for the ships docking. Then all return home to the Imperial Palace. Tanner feels welcome upon entering his new home for the first time. Only two weeks until school starts for them. Tanner settles into his new suite of rooms, exploring his bedroom, the bed the softest he has ever felt. A wardrobe filled with the new clothes Maggie has made for him. The Library has several shelves loaded with books on Essences, imperial etiquette, and several books of fiction and a few scrolls of various subjects. A small office furnished with a nice desk and chair in one corner. Comfortable couches and chairs occupy a sunlit corner. Almost all his fellow orphans can fit into the spacious bathroom together.

  Tanner and Claire meet with the Imps at breakfast, after having trained with all of them. Tanner feels healthier than ever. He barely recognizes the person looking out at him from the mirror. Harold clears his throat, after everyone has finished eating, and announces. “Claire and Tanner, you’re attending Darton’s orientation in two days’ time. You have come to the end of your Attribute training. Relax by taking the next two days off.”

  [Harold Contigo would like to form a party of eight. Accept YES or NO.]

  [You are now in an eight person party with Harold Contigo, Tanner Alexander, Claire Contigo, Bree Contigo, Rhys Brightstar, Penelope Brightstar, Tolbur Ronel, and Eunice Greene. Caution, only two more members allowed.]

  “Rhys, ward the room, please.” Harold asks.

  “Done Harry.” Rhys replies after a few seconds. “Now for the grand unveiling, Claire, Tanner, please share your Status Sheets. You have had your sheets turned off all this time, so we will give you a few minutes to process everything. Expect numerous notifications. Show them when you have processed all the information, please.”