Chapter 58: Training with Abilities Part II

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Training with Abilities Part II

Penelope’s heart pounded.

She had felt it.

The door.

Ancient.

Heavy.

Made of stone.

And beyond it—

Earth.

Stable.

Unmoving.

Powerful.

She looked toward Erik.

"I found it."

For the first time that morning, satisfaction flashed through Erik’s eyes.

"Good."

Then he pointed toward Ben.

"Now try to enter."

Ben’s expression immediately changed. "Enter?"

"Enter." Erik repeated.

"I don’t like the way that sounds." Ben said worriedly.

Unfortunately—

Nobody cared.

Not even Kai.

Who was enjoying Ben’s suffering far too much.

"Good luck."

Ben pointed at him.

"You’re a terrible friend."

Kai smiled.

"I know."

Ben looked betrayed.

"At least he’s self-aware."

Erik ignored them all.

"Penelope."

She immediately straightened.

"Try again." He said in an commanding tone. He was not negotiating. He was ordering. Gone was the big brother and in was the Commander of the group.

Taking a deep breath, Penelope closed her eyes.

The warmth within her body responded immediately.

The sensation no longer felt foreign.

Instead—

It felt familiar.

Like a river flowing through invisible pathways.

Calm.

Steady.

Alive.

She directed the energy outward.

Searching.

Reaching.

Then—

She found it.

The stone door.

Without hesitation, she pushed. She expected the doors to open. However, nothing happened.

The door remained motionless.

Penelope frowned and reached again. Trying to push harder.

But suddenly, Ben flinched.

His face immediately turned strange.

"What was that?"

Penelope’s eyes snapped open.

"What happened?"

Ben rubbed his chest.

His expression became uncomfortable.

"It felt weird."

"Weird how?" Erik asked.

Ben struggled to explain.

"It felt like..." he tought for a moment.

Then finally said:

"A harrowing sensation all over my body"

Kai immediately laughed.

"So Penny invaded your personal bubble."

Ben glared.

"That’s not funny."

"It kind of is."

"It isn’t."

"It really is."

Ben looked ready to throw a rock at him.

Erik pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Again."

The two immediately became obedient.

Penelope closed her eyes once more.

Found the door.

And pushed.

This time—

Ben grimaced.

His shoulders tensed.

The discomfort clearly worsening.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Hours passed.

The sun slowly climbed higher into the sky.

Penelope’s face grew pale.

Ben’s expression became equally miserable.

Meanwhile—

Kai had long since stopped laughing.

Even he could tell something wasn’t right.

Another attempt.

Failure.

Another attempt.

Failure.

By the fifteenth attempt, Penelope wanted to scream.

By the twentieth, Ben looked ready to run away.

By the twenty-fifth—

The young man finally bent over and vomited. He was dry heaving.

"I feel violated." he said.

Silence.

Then Kai doubled over laughing.

"Kai!"

"I’m sorry!"

"No you’re not!"

"No, I’m really not."

Ben conjured up a stone made of earth and threw it.

Kai dodged easily.

Still laughing.

Penelope rubbed her forehead.

"I’m sorry."

Ben sighed.

"I know, it’s not your fault."

He paused.

Then added:

"But that doesn’t make me feel any better."

The training grounds fell silent.

For the first time all day—

Erik stopped giving instructions.

Instead, he simply watched.

Observed.

Analyzed.

His blue eyes moved between Penelope and Ben.

Thoughtful.

Calculating.

Searching for the problem.

Then—

Understanding flashed across his face.

"Ben."

The young man looked up.

"What?"

"Stop resisting."

Silence.

Everyone froze.

Ben blinked.

"What?"

Erik folded his arms.

"You’re resisting."

"No I’m not."

"You are."

"I literally haven’t done anything."

"Yet, you haven’t relaxed one bit while she tried to enter"

Ben stared.

Completely confused.

Erik sighed.

Then explained.

"Imagine a stranger suddenly walks into your home."

Ben frowned.

"Okay."

"Would you welcome them?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because they’re a stranger."

Erik nodded.

"Now imagine it’s family."

Understanding slowly dawned on Ben’s face.

"Oh."

Kai’s eyes widened.

"Oh."

Penelope looked between the three of them.

Feeling left out.

"Can somebody explain?"

Kai immediately pointed at Ben.

"Your consciousness thinks Penny is breaking in."

Ben grimaced.

"That sounds weird."

"It does."

"It really does."

Erik ignored them.

His gaze remained fixed on Ben.

"Your consciousness is defending itself." Erik stated.

"But I’m not doing anything." Ben replied defiantly.

"You don’t need to." Erik shook his head. "Your instincts are."

Silence settled over the group.

It made sense.

Ben wasn’t consciously fighting her. His spiritual consciousness was. It was protecting itself from an intruder.

Erik looked toward Penelope.

"Again."

Then toward Ben.

"This time, allow it."

Ben looked uncertain.

"How?"

Erik thought for a moment.

Then answered simply.

"Trust her."

The training grounds became quiet.

Ben looked toward Penelope.

Then sighed.

"Fine."

He sat down cross-legged.

Closed his eyes.

And relaxed.

The tension gradually left his body.

His breathing slowed.

Steadied.

For the first time all day—

He stopped preparing for invasion.

And simply allowed her presence.

Penelope watched him for a moment.

Then closed her eyes.

The warmth appeared immediately.

Flowing through her body.

Responding to her call.

She followed the invisible thread connecting them.

Found the door.

And froze.

Because it was different.

Completely different.

The heavy pressure was gone.

The resistance had vanished.

The stone door that had stubbornly refused to budge all morning...

Was already open.

Penelope’s breath caught.

Slowly—

She stepped forward.

Her consciousness slipped through the entrance effortlessly.

Like water flowing through an open gate.

Then—

The world changed.

Penelope gasped.

Mountains.

Endless mountains.

Stone cliffs stretched beyond the horizon.

Massive pillars pierced the sky.

Everything felt ancient.

Steady.

Unshakable.

The entire world radiated stability.

As though nothing in existence could move it.

Nothing.

At the very center stood a colossal stone pillar.

Covered in glowing runes.

Radiating immense power.

Earth.

This was Ben.

Stable.

Dependable.

Quietly strong.

And somehow—

The realization made Penelope smile.

Outside—

Ben suddenly relaxed.

The discomfort vanished instantly.

As though it had never existed.

Kai immediately noticed.

His eyes widened.

"Did it work?"

Ben blinked.

Then slowly nodded.

"I don’t feel anything anymore."

Penelope’s eyes opened.

Excitement filled her face.

"It worked."

Kai immediately jumped to his feet.

"It worked?!"

"It worked."

For the first time all day, genuine excitement spread across the group.

Even Erik looked pleased.

A small smile appeared on his face.

Brief.

But unmistakable.

"How?" Kai asked.

Penelope looked toward Ben.

Then answered honestly.

"It felt like he invited me in."

Silence.

Erik nodded slowly.

As though another piece of the puzzle had fallen into place.

"Trust."

Everyone looked toward him.

"The stronger the trust."

"The easier the connection."

Penelope looked down at her hands.

Thinking.

Because she had just learned something important.

Very important.

Her ability wasn’t simply imitation.

It wasn’t theft.

It wasn’t force.

At least—

Not naturally.

Its true nature was connection.

And for the first time since awakening—

She felt as though she was finally beginning to understand herself.

Then, slowly, she turned her head towards Erik and asked the million dollar question.

"So, how do I copy his ability?"