The Glitch in the World

Aiden woke up to the soft hum of the Etheric Assembly's chambers. The scenes of the last couple of days remained still surreal, but the gravity of what he was a part of was beginning to settle in. He stretched and got dressed, pulling on the simple tunic provided. Today, Maya had mentioned someone special he needed to meet.

He discovered Maya standing in the main hall, tapping the screen of a levitating holographic display.

"Morning," he greeted.

She looked up and smiled. "Morning! Ready to meet the big guy?"

Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Should I be nervous?"

"Maybe a little," she teased. "Master Lin isn't scary, but he's... intense."

"Master Lin?"

"He's one of the oldest members of the Assembly. If there is anyone who can make you aware of what you can achieve, it is him."

Aiden took a deep breath. "Alright then, lead the way."

They navigated their way through the maze of corridors until they arrived at a tranquil courtyard illuminated by soft light. A man sat cross-legged in the center, eyes closed. He had long, silver-streaked hair pulled back, and an air of calm surrounded him.

"Master Lin," Maya called gently. "This is Aiden."

Master Lin slowly blinked his eyes and looked at Aiden with a single-eye stare. "So, you're the one causing all the ripples."

Aiden shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't mean to cause trouble."

Lin stood up gracefully. "No trouble. Change is inevitable. Walk with me."

He led Aiden around a miniature garden, where flora exhibited and bore blooms of vivid colors that Aiden would scarcely have given a second thought before.

"I hear you've already made significant progress in your training," Lin said.

"I guess so," Aiden replied. "Still, I feel I have no idea what I'm doing."

Lin nodded. "Understanding the code is not just about learning commands. It's about harmony. In order that the viewer should perceive the free movement of the Ether, moving with it."

They stopped by a small pond. The water was perfectly still, reflecting the sky above.

"Look at the water," Lin instructed.

Aiden gazed into the pond. "What do you see?"

"Just water," Aiden said, then hesitated. "But it's more than that, isn't it?"

Lin smiled slightly. "Good. Anything you can see—water, plants, even air—are made up of code. To manipulate it, you must first understand it."

Aiden frowned. "The problem is, I keep coming across the code, but I'm not always going to understand what it is supposed to do."

"Because you're trying too hard," Lin explained. "Close your eyes."

Aiden complied.

"Listen," Lin said. "Feel the Ether around you. Don't force it, just let it come to you."

To begin with, Aiden heard only the soft sound of leaves tumbling together. But gradually, he sensed a faint hum, like a distant melody. Strings of light appeared in the optical center of his own mind's eye, intertwining into intricate patterns.

"That's it," Lin said softly. "Now, reach out to one of the threads."

Aiden focused on a bright strand nearby. When brought to mind, a ripple went through the pattern.

"Good," Lin encouraged. "Now, try to coax it, gently."

Aiden visualized the thread flex, and, to his surprise, it responded, bending in an attractive way.

He opened his eyes, grinning. "I did it!"

Lin nodded approvingly. "You have a natural affinity. With practice, you'll be able to manipulate the code effortlessly."

Aiden's excitement dimmed slightly. "But the Nulls—they interfered before. What if they try again?"

Lin's expression grew serious. "They are a concern. But fear will only hinder you. Confidence and understanding are your allies."

"How do I build that confidence?"

"By practicing. By pushing your limits safely. And by trusting in yourself."

They devoted the next couple of hours to different types of exercises. Lin told Aiden how to decode the code in biological systems, identify where it breaks, and become more powerful himself.

Over the course of the day, Aiden experienced an increasing merging of himself with the surrounding environment. It was no longer simply code in its purest, most raw, and abstract form. The Ether was alive, firing, and animated.

"Just remember," Lin concluded at the end of the session, "momentum is more what matters. Manipulating the code isn't about control, it's about harmony."

Aiden wiped the sweat from his brow. "Thank you, Master Lin. I feel like things are finally clicking."

Lin gave a small smile. "You're welcome. But this is only the beginning. Rest now. We'll continue tomorrow."

Aiden experienced the lightest feeling he had been in days as he departed the courtyard. He met with Maya in the dining hall, waiting for him.

"Hey! How'd it go?" she asked, sliding over a tray of food.

"Surprisingly well," he said, digging in. "Master Lin is... intense, but in a good way."

"Told you," she grinned. "He's got a way of making you see things differently."

As they ate, Aiden glanced around the hall. Groups of people chatted and laughed—some looked as young as him, others much older. It felt strange but comforting to be among others who shared his experiences.

"You know," he began, "I was thinking. I may illustrate a part of the teachings of Master Lin, perhaps."

Maya raised an eyebrow. "You're offering to teach me now?"

He laughed. "Well, maybe not teach, but practice together?"

"Sure," she said, smiling. "I'd like that."

They spent the evening in one of the practice rooms making minor code tweaks. It was done more easily with Maya around, bouncing ideas off one another all the time and learning from each other.

At one point, Aiden managed to create a small floating sphere of light that changed colors.

"Not bad," Maya said, examining it. "But can you make it move?"

He concentrated, nudging the sphere forward. It wobbled and then zipped around the room erratically.

"Whoa!" Maya ducked as it whizzed past her head.

"Sorry!" Aiden laughed, finally dissipating the sphere. "Guess I need to work on control."

They broke into fits of laughter, and the pressure of the previous few days slipped away.

As the night grew late, they headed back to their rooms.

"Thanks for tonight," Aiden said at his door. "I needed that."

"Anytime," Maya replied. "Get some rest. Tomorrow's another big day."

"Goodnight."

Back in his room, Aiden lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He felt more at home here than he ever had back in Eastbrook. For the first time in a long time, he was excited about what tomorrow would bring.

Closing his eyes, he drifted into a peaceful sleep, the threads of the Ether weaving softly around him.