The next morning, sunlight poured through the hospital window, lighting up James' room. He was already awake, staring at the ceiling, thinking about his next steps. His body still felt heavy, and every movement reminded him how much healing he still needed. A nurse had come earlier, bringing him breakfast and reminding him to rest.
A knock at the door broke his thoughts. The door opened, and Ash walked in, followed by Sam and Dean. Ash was smiling, but James could tell he looked tired. Sam and Dean looked just as worn out but carried a focused energy that caught James' attention.
"Morning, Sleeping Beauty," Ash said, placing a paper bag on the small table by the bed. "I figured you might be tired of hospital food, so I brought you something better."
"Thanks," James said, his voice still rough. He nodded toward the chairs by the bed. "You guys look like you've had a rough night. What's going on?"
Dean dropped into one of the chairs with a sigh. "Same old stuff. But we wanted to check on you before we head out."
Sam leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "There's a case. Weird stuff happening at an old asylum in Rockford, Illinois. We're going to check it out."
James nodded, his face thoughtful. "An asylum, huh? Sounds like a real party."
Ash grinned. "Yeah, if by party you mean 'creepy as hell.' People say it's haunted. Some folks are losing their minds just being there. Definitely a Sam-and-Dean situation."
Dean snorted. "Ash thinks it's a ghost. I think people are just being weird. Either way, we'll handle it."
James looked at them carefully. He could see they were taking it seriously despite their jokes. He thought about offering to help but quickly realized he wasn't in any shape to go with them. His body still ached, and the exhaustion was hard to ignore.
"Be careful," James finally said. "Don't get yourselves killed chasing a ghost story."
Dean grinned. "What, you don't believe in us?"
James smirked. "Oh, I believe in you. Just saying, try not to end up as the next big news story."
Ash leaned forward, his tone more serious. "James, you need to stay here and recover. No arguments. Just rest."
James held up his hands in surrender. "I'm not planning on sneaking out. I know I need to rest."
Sam's face softened as he spoke. "Good. You've been through a lot. Don't push yourself too hard. Focus on getting better."
As they left, Sam patted James on the shoulder. "We'll be back in a few days. Stay safe."
James nodded. "You too."
When the door closed, James let out a slow breath. They were right—he needed to rest and recover. But that didn't mean he couldn't make progress.
He focused and brought up his system panel. The two abilities that were really close to level up were the absorption and flame which were going to be his focus for now.
'Alright,' he thought to himself. 'Let's take it slow.'
Over the next week, James focused hard on training his Essence Sense and Essence Flame abilities while stuck in his hospital room. With Sam, Dean, and Ash off to Illinois, he had all the time and quiet he needed to focus.
Instead of just trying to passively feel essence, James decided to take a more intense approach. He started each day by meditating, sitting in a relaxed position, and mentally visualizing the entire room. He imagined everything: the bed, the table, the chair, the air itself, and he tried to feel the energy that each object and person emitted. His first attempts were shaky. He could sense the machines and the subtle energy left behind by people, but it was vague and unfocused. However, by the third day, James learned how to focus on more specific energy signatures. He started using the energy of objects to build connections, feeling the patterns and flow of the space around him.
He began placing random objects like pens, bottles, and books around his room and tried to identify them using only his Essence Sense. By the fifth day, he had gotten so precise that he could detect the smallest changes in the environment—the warmth of the coffee cup, the sharpness of the light from the window, even the faint aura of a person who had just passed through.
As James practiced, he started to extend his sense beyond his room. He tried to sense what was going on in the hallway or the neighboring rooms. He could sense the faint energy signature of a nurse entering a room, and, by the end of the week, James could detect the emotions of people who were nearby. His ability to sense the environment around him had grown much sharper, and it gave him a new way of understanding the world.
In the afternoons, James turned his attention to Essence Flame. He started by summoning small flames and controlling them in his palm, but soon he felt like it wasn't enough. If he was going to make real progress, he had to push himself harder.
James decided to take a more advanced approach with the flames. He spent hours trying to expand the size and control of the flame. Instead of keeping the fire in one spot, he focused on making it follow his movements, shifting and changing as he directed it. He envisioned the flame as a fluid element, something he could shape and manipulate at will. With that focus, James started to move the flame like a whip, swirling it in mid-air and feeling it extend further than he had ever thought possible.
The energy used to create and maintain the flames was draining at first. Each time he tried to extend the flames, he found himself getting tired quicker. But he didn't give up. He pushed his limits, experimenting with controlling the shape and intensity of the flames. On the fifth day, after a long session of focusing on making the flame swirl and grow, he created a flame that wrapped around his arm like a glowing band. The heat was intense, but James felt a sense of control over it that he hadn't felt before.
By the seventh day, he felt a sudden surge of energy in his body, signaling that his Essence Flame ability had leveled up to Level 2. The flames in his hands grew brighter, burning with a deep blue hue. The sensation of power was overwhelming as he read the notification in his mind:
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Essence Flame - Level 2
Damage Output: Increased by 50%.
Control: Now capable of shaping flames into intricate forms with precision and focus.
Efficiency: Energy consumption reduced by 20%, allowing for longer use without as much fatigue.
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James grinned as he felt the power surge through him. He immediately tested the upgrade. He summoned the flame with a single thought, and it flared to life, burning brighter and hotter than before. With ease, he manipulated the flames into complex shapes, forming tendrils of fire that wrapped around his arms and flickered out in the air.
James focused hard, imagining the flames rising up to surround him like a protective barrier. The flames ignited around him, swirling and forming a thin shield of fire that hummed with power. The heat was intense, but it didn't burn him. He moved his hands through the flames and felt them respond, shifting with his movements. He could feel the flames protecting him, warding off any intrusion. The barrier lasted for a few moments before it flickered and faded, but James could already see the potential. He could use it in combat to shield himself or even as an offensive weapon, pushing the flames outward to deal damage.
By the end of the week, James felt his abilities were stronger than ever. His Essence Sense had sharpened, allowing him to feel everything around him with pinpoint accuracy. His Essence Flame had become more powerful and more versatile, with the Flame Veil adding a new level of defense to his arsenal. Despite his physical recovery still taking time, James could tell that his powers were growing, and with that, his confidence soared.
As he extinguished the flame in his palm, James chuckled to himself. 'Not bad for a week in a hospital bed.'
The journey was far from over, but James was ready. His powers had grown, and with each passing day, he knew he was getting closer to becoming the person he was meant to be.
Suddenly, as James was enjoying the upgrade to his ability, he felt someone cross into his Essence Sense radius. He immediately noticed that the energy wasn't human, making him alert. He quickly got out of bed, his body still sore but pushed by the rising tension. He looked toward the door and saw a ghostly figure floating through the room, moving toward another one.
Just as it was about to enter the room, it stopped and turned, its eyes locking onto James. His instincts kicked in, and he summoned the Essence Flame into his hand, ready for whatever was coming.
But instead of attacking, the figure changed shape. It became a beautiful woman, her ghostly features nowhere to be seen. She spoke in a calm but firm voice. "Stop. I am not your enemy."
James hesitated, keeping the flame in his hand but lowering it slightly. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice cautious as he watched her closely.
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