40. Eyebeams and the Ethics of Adventuring

Training moves to Jory’s clinic yard. Mornings, Gary runs Jason to the clinic, after which Jason restores stamina by draining patients’ sickness. Gary then drills strength, flexibility, and urban movement, pushing a learn-by-doing approach that leads to a rooftop fall and compensation to fruit seller Bert. Despite doubts, Gary insists situational awareness and confident movement are essential for adventurers.

Rufus follows with relentless balance and footwork fundamentals. He forces Jason into awkward gaits and peg-balancing, sweeping him down whenever form breaks and warning there will be a test before any skill book use. The lesson establishes that proper body mechanics must precede combat techniques.

Afternoons, Farrah trains spirit-derived perception with memory games, observation drills, and meditation. Jason’s aura ability Hegemony makes aura control a focus. Farrah explains aura projection, restraint, and later suppression, stressing etiquette, first impressions, and the dangers of uncontrolled auras at higher ranks—citing gold-rank incidents that can harm bystanders. She mentions her perception power’s smoke-vision and a possible diamond-rank upgrade to fire “eyebeams.”

Farrah begins teaching Jason to project and restrain his aura, promising advanced techniques like masking presence within a projected field. Discussion shifts when Jason questions enjoying the work of killing. Farrah counters that monsters go berserk and must be put down early, calling it mercy; Jason argues mercy shouldn’t be fun. The disagreement strips away Farrah’s usual levity, and she abruptly ends training, leaving Jason alone to reflect on his misstep.