I have Nine Lives

The small red gem was glowing even though there was no light reflecting on its surface, Felix looked at it with curiosity, anything that was red and glowing would get a cat's attention.

Even Lindo who was a bigger cat was attracted by the peculiar light of the gem, suddenly a suction force came from the gem that made both Lindo and Felix feel that they have left their bodies!

Felix looked around and realized that his body was crumpled on the floor below him, somehow he wasn't immediately returned to it and he could see that Lindo's soul nearby him freaking out saying that he was dead and that he would meet the ancestors soon, and how he pitied himself that his grandfather killed him by accident with a freaky glowing rock.

Felix felt that he was a bit too panicky, but he was already used to the feeling of having his soul separated from his body, this was Lindo's first time so of course, he would act like this.

A cough could be heard which took the attention of both souls:

"I'm sorry that I acted without informing you but the usage of the gem would be better felt on one's soul directly."

Felix cocked his head to the side and asked:

"So what's the use of this thing besides separating the soul from the body?"

Siracha laughed as he said:

"Try to spar a little bit with Lindo and see the difference between this time and the one in your body."

Felix started to move to try to quickly strike Lindo while he was still freaking out only to find out that he could barely move his soul body!

Unlike his mindscape, his soul wasn't used to the outside area where Hex energy was freely flowing through, in his soul space there was no hex energy, and his soul wasn't impeded by anything so it could be considered rather strong, but on the outside, the Hex energy was practically tangible for those in their soul forms.

Felix felt as if he was underwater and the pressure on him was practically immense, he didn't feel it at first but as soon as he took one step towards Lindo the pressure crashed onto him!

Lindo moved a bit and fell to the floor and through it!

As he didn't have any physical body he could easily go through the earth and the pressure imposed on him was making him unable to stay straight, his back bent immediately the moment he took the step and entered the earth.

The shaman immediately frowned as he rubbed the gem between his fingers and both of their souls immediately returned to their bodies.

He sighed as he looked at Lindo and said:

"It seemed that while Felix can endure the soul training you will still need some help in this regard.. meditating for a month or so can help you endure the pressure of the surrounding Hex energy... Felix will have to train alone with the gem."

Lindo was so down that he almost fell through the floor again even though he was in his physical body now, he felt that he was struggling to achieve even 10% of what Felix was doing and this made him feel stifled... was he really that untalented?

Seeing his grandson feeling like this made Siracha's eyes and stance soften a bit as he told him:

"It's not your fault Lindo, it's just that... Felix's talent is just that great, even though you could be considered a one in a thousand talent, Felix could be considered one in ten million talent or even higher!"

"You shouldn't compare yourself with him, even in the other continents you would be a general seedling, don't discourage yourself, after all, Felix is a god's chosen and this is a fight that not even shamans can interfere with at their peak power!"

Lindo became sadder and sadder as he heard his grandfather, but the moment that he said that not even he could interfere at some point in Felix's battles that meant that it was his fault for comparing himself to such a monster... after all their talents were different, they were meant to live in different worlds when they matured.

But even though he knew that their talents were different this made Lindo perk up as his inner fire was awakened, he wanted to break through the confines of talent and become stronger than what he was, a glowing light appeared in the depth of his eyes that immediately disappeared a second later but Siracha saw it and he smiled.

"Actually you can train with Felix now... I think you got a better conviction now... your soul was lacking conviction before and you couldn't endure the surrounding hex energy."

Lindo frowned, was his grandfather trying to hard to cheer him up?

But he suddenly felt that both his and Felix's souls were out of their bodies again, he felt the pressure from the surrounding hex energy bending his back again, but unlike before he wasn't going through the floor, he could somewhat withstand the pressure...

Felix's second time also showed that he somewhat adapted to the pressure as he took two steps forward before he stopped.

Siracha smiled looking at the duo then deactivated the gem again before saying:

"From now on you shall train whenever you aren't resting, the intercontinental battle will start soon, and considering you two are the aces of my tribe as the two-man team, you are our greatest weapon for the Tarot continent wellbeing."

Felix didn't feel a big attachment to the continent but considering he started to feel attached to the lion tribe meant that he would have to protect their continent as well.

Felix saluted with his paw and seeing his actions Lindo did the same.

It was time for them to go through special soul training using the gem that the shaman gave them.

Siracha threw the gem at Felix and watched them leave happily ready for some new training!

Suddenly Siracha felt a voice in his ears:

"Now that the youths had left it's time for us to talk business."

Siracha frowned as out of the back of his room appeared the old elephant Mashi!

He slowly walked towards Siracha and eyed him a bit before saying:

"You must have given an arm and a leg to whoever created that gem, even though it couldn't be used for people like us, it's quite the strong training device for youths like them."

Siracha shook his head as he looked into his 'friends' eyes and said:

"What business do you have with how much I gave for that gem? Anyways what are you here for?"

It seemed that while angry that he was followed back to his home Siracha seemed to be rather relaxed around the old man, after all, if the man wanted to kill him he wouldn't have walked closer to him and even joked with him like that, it seemed his visit was peaceful.

"I just came to inform you that my boy will join your team for the intercontinental battle."

Siracha cocked his head to the side:

"Hmm?"

"You should have gotten the report of my boy from that little cat, he is just like him a chosen of God!"

Siracha nodded and told him:

"Ok."

"It's good that you know what's good for the continent, if you were a narrow-minded person you would have surely barred his entrance from the battle.. but you know your youths won't make the cut alone... at least your grandson wouldn't.. the other one I cannot see through."

Siracha knew that his reason was seen by the old man but he decided against commenting, Lindo needed all the help he could get in this situation, while Felix was strong he couldn't protect him if he encountered someone way stronger than him.

"Anything else you want to tell me?"

The old man just disappeared as if he was never there...

Siracha coughed as he muttered:

"You damn old man, why do you have to act like you are cool?"

While Siracha and the old elephant were having their conversation, Felix and Lindo were currently trying out the benefits of the gem training by themselves.

Felix could feel that as his soul was wadding through the surrounding hex energy at a snail pace, it was getting considerably concentrated in a way... he wasn't sure how to explain it properly but he could feel that it was beneficial for him.

Lindo was trying to get out of his back bent position so he could start taking some steps himself but it was rather hard for him at this point, all he could do was stay in that position and endure the pressure so he could get his soul to become stronger.

This type of training was good in the situation that Felix couldn't get his hands on any type of meat and considering that they had finished most of the conquering of the other tribes unless there were any other wars Felix's supply of meat was cut off for now... at least the meat that could be useful for strengthening his body.