Master Zanik lined Megan up with the metal wall and explained, "We will start with the most basic of ability forms to begin with and get you used to pulling core energy down one pathway to your hand and once you have managed to externalise it, get you to throw it at the wall."
Megan practiced as Master Zanik taught. Pulling core energy through her pathways, letting it build up in a ball on the palm of her hand and then releasing it by throwing it at the wall.
The first thing Megan learned was that this whole process sounded a lot easier than it actually was. She strained and focused as the energy always seemed to want to do its own thing which mainly consisted of falling apart and dissipating into the atmosphere. She needed to concentrate hard on maintaining its form and getting it to follow simple directions and actions.
Master Zanik assured her, "Do not be concerned if progress is slow, these abilities take time and a lot of practice to perfect, let's continue."
Under Master Master Zanik's expert tutelage by the end of the training session Megan was able to manage a fairly impressive burst of core energy which would hit the wall after condensing in her hand for a moment, although she couldn't speed it up and would only go as fast as she could throw it.
Master Zanik nodded thoughtfully studying Megan's latest attempt. "Just as I thought you have caught on to this faster than anyone I have ever taught. Your comprehension of the patterns and control of the energy is absolutely unheard of for someone who only awakened so recently." Master Zanik turned and gestured for Megan to follow him. He led her back to where Helena and Tau were sparing and clapped his hands together to get their attention. "I am planning to travel to the city of Warren Plains and the journey will most likely take me roughly six weeks. I am leaving in the morning so I will not be providing lessons until I return." He turned to Megan, "Continue to practice your abilities and attempt to develop those rudimentary moves into a more condensed and repeatable action." Turning to Helena and Tau, "Tau, when I return we are going to attempt to awaken your core, prepare yourself and let Helena and Megan explain to you about what to expect."
Tau immediately bowed and hurriedly spoke, "Thank you Master, I will be ready."
Nodding Master Zanik starting walking toward the main building.
Helena and Tau returned to training and Megan returned to the metal wall, focused her energy and continued to develop different abilities.
Over the next few weeks life for Megan settled into a comfortable routine of training her nascent abilities, messing about with Tau and learning about the world of Barbeedo II and the larger universe. She was delighted to learn that Barbeedo II was only a tiny planet well known mostly for its resources available deep under the surface and that after many millennia of mining and extraction that there was practically another world under the ground of Barbeedo II that was unknown to the rest of the universe and Faren City was not the only city based around a large hole leading into that underworld.
Megan trained and learned the movements of marital arts. She focused and condensed her core energy, straining and strengthening the pathways around her body. Over time, Megan changed, she grew in height from a small five foot and so many inches to well over six and a half feet tall. Her figure filled out, hips shaped, legs firmed and if another of her race were present they might have referred to her having an athletic build, but with curves in all the right places look.
At first, she sparred with Tau but soon surpassed him in skill so much that only the senior disciple Helena could match her. This lasted for a few weeks then, when Megan noticed that she could predict every movement that Helena was about to make. She had to forcefully suppress her own speed and strength in order to allow the older disciple to keep her dignity as a senior.
Disciple Helena realised quickly what was happening and although unhappy the years of hard work and training seemed as nothing to Master Zanik's latest disciple she appreciated not being called out on it and came to the conclusion that no matter how talented or gifted a being was there was almost always another being that was more talented and blessed.
Master Zanik's return date came and went but Megan was totally unaware of the passage of time as she immersed herself in learning, training and meditation.
Megan was at the enchanted training wall for her morning workout and was practising her Augments and Abilities. If Master Zanik was there maybe even he would be more amazed with his student more than ever and possibly would have had a private conversation with her about hiding this unprecedented growth of personal power that was unheard of outside the biggest cultivator clan families and corporations.
Master Zanik's disciple Helena was a fairly skilled cultivator, as such, she was neither blind or unaware of Megan's prowess and had already been subtly warning her to hold back a little and not stand out too much, she advised to speak to Master Zanik upon his return and he could advise her better.
Due to this Megan was not attempting to train the power of her Augments and Abilities, she was working on efficiency of power used and her control of what that power affected.
She had now managed to become quite proficient in augmenting her muscles, joints and ligaments to produce devastating punches and destructive kicks that if used at full power would probably mean replacing the training wall, again.
She also had three useful abilities, the first was a mana bolt of pure condensed energy that would explode upon impact, the power of the bolt would diminish the further it had to travel so the trick was to balance power with distance needed to go and the damage required to be caused. Megan's second ability was to summon a small ethereal shield which would float in any position she willed around her body, it was not very large being only about twenty centimetres from edge to edge but it was able to be summoned with a thought and its shape was only limited by her imagination and the ability would only grow and not always be small.
The last ability was something she had come across completely by accident. One afternoon after Tau had finished kitchenhand/stable-boy duties, he and Megan were messing around throwing objects at each other in a fun exercise but with elements of training involved. Megan was concentrating on Tau's position and in the moment of surprise when Tau leaped up behind her without her being aware of his presence as he was not where she thought he was and threw a perfectly executed launch of the crude wooden knife they were using at her undefended back. Megan reacted on pure instinct as core energy flooded through her pathways into her legs and feet and her whole body shifted left with a flash of blue lightning crackling along the ground behind her movement, the knife hit the wall in front of them and clattered to the floor.
Megan fell to her knees, breathing heavily and sweat coating her. That took a lot of core energy all at once, much more than her other abilities. She grinned at the thought of how this ability would enhance her martial arts and could already see where the ability could be improved and made more efficient.
Before Megan knew it the time that Master Zanik was to return came and went in the blink of an eye and while training one morning Megan had an unexpected summons from Madam Brigella, or Mam as Megan affectionately knew her by.
Megan arrived at Mam's office, knocked politely and Mam called out for her to enter. Megan opened the door to find Mam in her usual comfortable looking chair behind the massive polished wooden desk. Two chairs had been placed in front of Mam's desk and one of them was occupied by the Dralithian Doctor Harroc, his avian features set in an expression she had come to know as 'concerned' from her time getting to know him since awakening her core.
Mam gestured to the unoccupied chair and spoke, "Sit please Megan, we have a situation that can only be resolved by a cultivator and I would very much appreciate you taking the time to consider our proposal."
Megan sat down and Mam continued, "I will get Harri here to explain it as he knows more than I about these matters." Mam waved at Doctor Harroc who appeared to be trying to glare a hole through Mam who looked back at him innocently for a moment before cracking a sharp toothed grin, "Excuse me, Doctor Harroc will explain, not Harri though really Harri, no need for formalities with Megan, she is practically family by now."
Doctor Harroc shook his head and his feathers ruffled up around his head in a colourful display before slowly settling back down as he spoke, "Yes, indeed." Turning to Megan, he explained, "As you are aware, Master Zanik's return to The Sandlewood Gates has been delayed. What you may not be aware of is that there is a special service that Master Zanik was tasked with to periodically complete for us and in his absence this service has not been able to be done and this has disturbed many..." Mam clapped her hands, cutting off Doctor Harroc who sputtered and shook his head as Mam quickly spoke, "What Harri here is trying to get around to saying is that we have a problem that only a skilled cultivator can resolve and Disciple Helena has advised although she doesn't have what it takes, somehow she thinks that you," Mam raised a scaled eyebrow, "Do."
Megan sat across from Mam staring at her in confusion, pointing to her own chest she replied with a faint, "Me?" Looking at Doctor Harroc hoping for more clarity but just getting a blank avian glare she cleared her throat and spoke with more confidence, "Yes, anything you need help with Mam, I am ready to try anything. I owe you a lot for the opportunities you have given me and I'd love nothing more than to help in any way I can."
Mam looked a little overwhelmed for a moment before composing herself and replying, "Thank you Megan, for your trust, but hear what the task is for accepting it in case the task is impossible, alright?"
Megan nodded and stared in awe as Mam pushed her comfortable chair to the side while still sitting showing that the chair was actually on wheels and the window behind her, currently showing views down into the front entrance, flickered and images both three dimensional and two dimensional occupied the same area above them. Megan immediately recognised some of the images as they were of the walled off section of garden behind the buildings of The Sandlewood Gates. She now recalled Master Zanik would enter this place every few months for what he called 'resource gathering' and not return for anywhere up to a week. He would also return bearing various wounds and afflictions and when asked would shrug and answer, "Nothing to be concerned with."
Looking to Mam, she nodded in understanding and said, "Yes, the 'resource gathering' that Master Zanik would go on occasionally were more important than anyone realises." Mam's expression turned stern as she continued, "It is very important that you tell no one what you learn today, no matter what, I need you to swear to this right now or this ends here."
Megan without hesitation raised her hand and recited, "I swear to keep what I hear here today secret so long as doing so will not bring harm upon others known to those present hearing this vow. If deemed broken, my punishment will be delivered by either of those present here besides myself."
Mam's eyes widened and she chuckled, "Professor is teaching you well I see, if he has taught you the importance of cultivator vows. Has his education covered portals and dimensional pockets?"
Megan recalled a few lessons on these subjects, about natural dimensional pockets and ones crafted with magic or core energy. These 'pockets' were like little spaces separated from our known reality, sometimes with thier own universal laws in place of our own. Also the portals that could be summoned or constructed to access these spaces. Spellscrolls, small devices, teleport stones or anything else people could think of could be imbued with the required power to call up a doorway, maybe from a fixed location, or from anywhere you were. The options were endless. Megan nodded to Mam, and Mam continued, "Well, to be blunt, there is a Dungeon in that walled off area and we need someone to clear it out."
Looking at Mam incredulously Mam gave a chuckle and gestured to Doctor Harroc, "I'll let Harri explain.
Doctor Harroc, using visual and auditory guides on the Holoscreen hanging above them explained the dimensional spaces commonly referred to us Dungeons. Natural or created for a purpose Dungrons were usually defined by most as being semi-permanent renewable resource nodes, whether that resource gathered is combat experience, herbs or vegetables, rare ores or minerals and even bodies of animals or magical beasts. Often regulated and savagely defended, owning and controlling a Dungeons resources caused the rise and sometimes downfall of whole civilisations so was not something to be taken lightly. Now, according to Doctor Harroc the Dungeon behind The Sandlewood Gates was the kind that continually grew, generating more resources which included things like some of the ingredients used in the restaurant and the animals served as food, even including some magical beast meat. This growth also had the side effect that meant if the Dungeon was not cleared regularly then the dominant Dungeon beasts would be released from the Dungeon regularly until the Dungeon was cleared.
As Megan contemplated the situation after Doctor Harroc had finished Mam spoke, "Master Zanik was the only one able to keep the Dungeon under control and in his absence we need your help or there is a danger of someone getting hurt."
Megan didn't need much time to consider. "What do you need me to do?" She asked, ready to help.
Mam nodded gratefully and said, "We are not sending you in empty handed and Master Zanik also left something behind for you in the event that something like this was to happen, so there is that too."