As soon as everyone had walked in, they noticed that there were training mats placed all around the round room. The air was misty, almost like the atmosphere that one would see in a steam bath.
Quietly, each of them sat down on a mat.
"Sit, lie down, stand, be however you want. Just be comfortable enough to forget your body and concentrate on your breath."
Hearing this, some of the kids lay down on the mats which were pretty big and soft to the touch.
Daneel decided to sit in a meditating position. As soon as he did so though, the system sounded again in his head.
[Complexity of development has crossed set parameters. All resources will be henceforth diverted to development. Host must note that the system will be unavailable for this period of time. Would you like to stop the development?]
Daneel was faced with a bit of a dilemma. He could either proceed with the development of the technique or stop it and have the system with him. Seeing Elenav pass by checking on everyone, an idea struck him as he raised his hand, calling to him.
"Whats up, kid?", asked Elenav, coming towards him.
Standing up, Daneel asked the question that had been bothering him.
"Can body potential be improved in any way? Or is it decided from the moment of birth?"
Not expecting such an insightful question to come from a 12-year old, Elenav stared at Daneel a bit before answering.
"Maybe, but only in the rarest of absorption techniques. I cannot even give a definite answer because there are only rumors that some techniques practiced by those in the inner city have this function, although it is said to cause horrible deformations and turn people into monsters."
Seeing Daneel's wide open eyes, he hastened to explain, "Thats why these are rumors. I for one don't believe in them. There are also some materials which are said to have the effect of increasing potential, but these haven't been found in many centuries according to the master. Don't be worried, kiddo. I'm sure you'll have good potential. Even if you don't, it is something that many have overcome with sheer willpower and hard work. Just believe in yourself, Daneel."
Towards the end, Elenav ruffled his hair and gave him a broad smile. For the first time, Daneel wondered if this was what having a big brother felt like.
"The technique in development won't have side effects like turning me into a monster will it?", he asked the system, apprehensively.
[No. The technique will have no side effects.], answered the system, removing all hesitation from Daneel.
"Then begin development. Notify me as soon as it is done."
[Affirmative. System will be unavailable for 1999 hours, 52 minutes and 33 seconds. Diverting all resources to PAM-1.]
Daneel sat back down after Elenav proceeded to check on the others. He had only smiled in response, unable to say anything due to the many emotions he had been feeling at that moment.
With his back straight and legs folded, Daneel laid his arms on his knees palms facing down before closing his eyes and following Elenav's instructions.
He breathed in deep, absorbing the extra ordinary air and visualizing it entering his lungs from his nostrils. After that, he imagined a white substance staying back in his lungs while the rest of the air was exhaled. The energy was then moved to each part of his body from his stomach and intestines to his legs, arms and head before being exhausted and leaving again along with the air being exhaled in roughly the 5th breath after the air was first inhaled.
For a long time, Daneel felt nothing different as he diligently fueled the imagination.
After 10 minutes, he started hearing gasps from some kids who were subsequently extracted by Elenav soon after.
After around 20 minutes and many many breaths, Daneel finally understood why they had gasped.
In one particular breath, Daneel felt his chest heating up as something different started happening. He hurriedly tried to spread the warmth throughout his body by imagining the white substance being carried to different parts of his body, but it was no use as consequent breaths kept increasing the warmth until it turned from an uncomfortable feeling to pain.
Daneel could only stop himself from breathing in a hope to stop this. After trying this for as long as he could, he finally gasped like the others, having no choice but to take another breath in.
Elenav was already by his side and laid a hand on his back. Instantly, Daneel felt the warmth leaving his body in the direction of his breath.
Getting back to normal, he realized that there were only 2 other kids beside him still in the room.
A slightly sad look was on Elenav's face as he escorted Daneel out.
As soon as everyone had walked in, they noticed that there were training mats placed all around the round room. The air was misty, almost like the atmosphere that one would see in a steam bath.
Quietly, each of them sat down on a mat.
"Sit, lie down, stand, be however you want. Just be comfortable enough to forget your body and concentrate on your breath."
Hearing this, some of the kids lay down on the mats which were pretty big and soft to the touch.
Daneel decided to sit in a meditating position. As soon as he did so though, the system sounded again in his head.
[Complexity of development has crossed set parameters. All resources will be henceforth diverted to development. Host must note that the system will be unavailable for this period of time. Would you like to stop the development?]
Daneel was faced with a bit of a dilemma. He could either proceed with the development of the technique or stop it and have the system with him. Seeing Elenav pass by checking on everyone, an idea struck him as he raised his hand, calling to him.
"Whats up, kid?", asked Elenav, coming towards him.
Standing up, Daneel asked the question that had been bothering him.
"Can body potential be improved in any way? Or is it decided from the moment of birth?"
Not expecting such an insightful question to come from a 12-year old, Elenav stared at Daneel a bit before answering.
"Maybe, but only in the rarest of absorption techniques. I cannot even give a definite answer because there are only rumors that some techniques practiced by those in the inner city have this function, although it is said to cause horrible deformations and turn people into monsters."
Seeing Daneel's wide open eyes, he hastened to explain, "Thats why these are rumors. I for one don't believe in them. There are also some materials which are said to have the effect of increasing potential, but these haven't been found in many centuries according to the master. Don't be worried, kiddo. I'm sure you'll have good potential. Even if you don't, it is something that many have overcome with sheer willpower and hard work. Just believe in yourself, Daneel."
Towards the end, Elenav ruffled his hair and gave him a broad smile. For the first time, Daneel wondered if this was what having a big brother felt like.
"The technique in development won't have side effects like turning me into a monster will it?", he asked the system, apprehensively.
[No. The technique will have no side effects.], answered the system, removing all hesitation from Daneel.
"Then begin development. Notify me as soon as it is done."
[Affirmative. System will be unavailable for 1999 hours, 52 minutes and 33 seconds. Diverting all resources to PAM-1.]
Daneel sat back down after Elenav proceeded to check on the others. He had only smiled in response, unable to say anything due to the many emotions he had been feeling at that moment.
With his back straight and legs folded, Daneel laid his arms on his knees palms facing down before closing his eyes and following Elenav's instructions.
He breathed in deep, absorbing the extra ordinary air and visualizing it entering his lungs from his nostrils. After that, he imagined a white substance staying back in his lungs while the rest of the air was exhaled. The energy was then moved to each part of his body from his stomach and intestines to his legs, arms and head before being exhausted and leaving again along with the air being exhaled in roughly the 5th breath after the air was first inhaled.
For a long time, Daneel felt nothing different as he diligently fueled the imagination.
After 10 minutes, he started hearing gasps from some kids who were subsequently extracted by Elenav soon after.
After around 20 minutes and many many breaths, Daneel finally understood why they had gasped.
In one particular breath, Daneel felt his chest heating up as something different started happening. He hurriedly tried to spread the warmth throughout his body by imagining the white substance being carried to different parts of his body, but it was no use as consequent breaths kept increasing the warmth until it turned from an uncomfortable feeling to pain.
Daneel could only stop himself from breathing in a hope to stop this. After trying this for as long as he could, he finally gasped like the others, having no choice but to take another breath in.
Elenav was already by his side and laid a hand on his back. Instantly, Daneel felt the warmth leaving his body in the direction of his breath.
Getting back to normal, he realized that there were only 2 other kids beside him still in the room.
A slightly sad look was on Elenav's face as he escorted Daneel out.
