Returning to the relative safety of their temporary refuge in the collapsed substation, Rhys felt a renewed sense of purpose, tinged with apprehension. Kaelen's techniques, detailed on the rough parchment, were far more complex than the simple physical conditioning he'd practiced before. These involved not just exertion, but the deliberate channeling of his own Aether through specific, often unused, pathways in his body, synchronized with breathing patterns and physical postures designed to dredge meridians and slowly temper internal organs.
The process, as Kaelen had warned, was excruciating. The initial exercises focused on 'Meridian Dredging'. This involved adopting strenuous postures, often contorted and deeply uncomfortable, while simultaneously guiding a fine thread of Aether along pathways Rhys hadn't even known existed. These meridians felt blocked, constricted, like pipes clogged with centuries of silt. Forcing Aether through them felt like scraping sandpaper against raw nerves.
He started cautiously, focusing on the primary arm meridians as depicted in Kaelen's diagrams. The first few attempts resulted in sharp jolts of pain, muscle spasms, and waves of nausea that forced him to stop, gasping for breath, sweat pouring down his face. His Aether Pool, still recovering from the exertion at the junction, depleted rapidly with each attempt.
Boulder watched him with quiet concern, ensuring he didn't push himself to the point of serious injury, offering water and a steadying presence. Rhys gritted his teeth against the pain, driven by the knowledge that this was necessary. His body had to keep pace with his potential Aether growth.
Slowly, painstakingly, he found a rhythm. He learned to moderate the flow of Aether, using a gentler but more persistent pressure. He focused his will, visualizing the Aether as a solvent, slowly dissolving the blockages, widening the channels. After several cycles of agonizing practice, he felt the first sign of progress: a faint warmth spreading along the targeted meridian, a lessening of the sharp resistance, replaced by a dull, throbbing ache. It wasn't pleasant, but it was change.
He began integrating this practice with his Aether circulation and Water Attunement. It created a synergistic effect. The body refinement exercises made his Aether control slightly finer, more responsive. The circulation practice helped replenish the Aether spent on dredging the meridians. And his fledgling Water Attunement seemed to soothe the inflammation caused by the forceful opening of the energy channels, like applying a cool balm to a burn.
He focused his Water Attunement practice specifically on this soothing aspect. When the pain from the Meridian Dredging became too intense, he would shift focus, gently resonating with the water element, visualizing cool, flowing energy washing over the aggravated pathways. It provided temporary relief and seemed to prevent lasting damage, reinforcing the idea that elemental balance was crucial.
The substation, however, lacked the clean Aether source of the junction. The ambient Aether here was thin, tainted with the metallic tang of decay and faint, unpleasant echoes of the surrounding ruin. Rhys could absorb it, but it required more effort to purify using his internal circulation, slowing his overall progress. He found himself rationing his Aether use, prioritizing the demanding body refinement over rapid pool expansion. Quality over quantity, for now.
He also contemplated Kaelen's mention of catalyst baths. The required materials – Moonpetal Dew, Crimson Root Powder, Starfall Ore Dust – were rare and expensive, likely found only in the Undermarket or through specialized dealers like Sera. Acquiring them was currently impossible. He would have to rely on sheer willpower and his own Aether for now, making the process slower and more painful than it needed to be. It was another reminder of his resource limitations.
Despite the challenges, he felt a tangible difference over the next ten cycles. The persistent aches lessened. His body felt subtly stronger, more resilient. He could sustain the difficult postures for longer. His Aether circulated more smoothly, not just in the main pool, but through the gradually clearing pathways in his limbs. He wasn't significantly more powerful, but his foundation felt more solid, the 'cracked cup' slowly mending.
During one session focused on Water Attunement, seeking relief after a particularly grueling Meridian Dredging attempt on his leg pathways, he pushed a little further than usual. He let the feeling of cool fluidity permeate his Aether, trying to deepen the resonance, to truly understand the water element.
For a fleeting moment, he succeeded too well. The connection solidified abruptly. He didn't just feel the coolness; he became the coolness. An intense chill radiated from his dantian, spreading through his limbs, making his teeth chatter uncontrollably. The world seemed to slow down, sounds becoming muffled, his thoughts sluggish. He felt a strange lethargy, a desire to simply stop, to become inert like still water. It was a terrifying loss of control.
With a supreme effort of will, wrenching his focus away, he broke the connection. He collapsed onto the floor, shivering violently, his breath misting in the air despite the tunnel's normal temperature. The backlash left him feeling drained, weak, and deeply unsettled.
He had achieved a moment of true Water Attunement, felt its essence, but it had nearly overwhelmed him. Imbalance. Kaelen's warning wasn't just about Qi Deviation; it was about losing oneself to the very elements one sought to control. He had forged his flesh somewhat, improved his flow, but the path of Aetherium Weaving was proving even more perilous than he had imagined. Control, balance – these were not just goals, but essential requirements for survival on this shattered path.