Kalen revised the instructions he had heard from Sarah. To deepen a specific soul link, he needed to construct a tunnel in his mind connecting it to a desired target. The basics of it was simple, but it depended on the person sensing another source to begin with.

Even though Kalen could be considered a beginner in regards to wielding anima, the term didn't really apply to him.

A powerful source attracted his attention. Gaea, he thought. Kalen stretched the construct in his mind as much as he could. Eventually, the source which once seemed to be reaching out from far away, became so clear he felt as if there was another presence beside him in the cave. 

Immediately, his perception of the environment changed.

Like he had felt before when he tried focusing on Gaea's calling, a rush of power coursed through his blood. No, this time it was much more potent.

From the strong scent of dirt to the dimness in the path beyond the reach of the light emitted by the amulet, every aspect of the cave had become fairly evident to him. Even the humidity in the air was much more perceptible by his skin.

His body felt stronger too. It gave him the impression he had become invulnerable, and the soreness which stubbornly refused to leave him seemed to have finally disappeared. On the other hand, the hunger he had resumed trying to ignore seemed far more pressing.

'I'm convinced.' Sarah said. 'You're a prodigy beyond imagination. Maybe because you're surprised by how you're feeling, your thoughts are leaking to me again. This level of connection to Gaea on your first time seeking it...'

Kalen paused, getting used to the wealth of stimuli. 'I think I have tried doing this before, but it's true, I am surprised by how much stronger it is this time around.'

'You have deepened your link with Gaea so much,' Sarah said. 'your senses were greatly enhanced and your muscles' capabilities received a vigorous boost, all at once. It usually takes awhile for wielders to control one of these manifestations, let alone both, so I guess congratulations is in order. Although, as your teacher I should already point out it's not a good idea to maintain your body like that constantly.'

'Why is that?'

'Essentially, you are straining yourself whenever you amplify your body's functions.' Sarah explained. 'The longer you do it, the more potentially dangerous it becomes. When it comes to enhanced senses, for example, wielders who overuse it may experience extreme sensibility to light, to the point of not being able to keep their eyes open at daytime, or in bright environments.

'And in the case of boosting your strength, first you should learn to use anima in protecting your body from imploding when putting muscles, articulations, bones and other organs through such strenuous process. It was common during the early days for wielders to find out the hard way they had slowly self-destruct.'

Kalen nodded, exploring the new sensation of the internal constitution of his body. If he focused, he could isolate any organ inside him and study its condition. Sarah said he should use anima to protect them, but could he use it to fortify also?

There was something he wanted to try. After going through his mother's lessons in histology, he mentally recreated the embrionary steps which generated the connective tissue in a human body. 

I know the process, he thought. Now, what is the stimulus trigger?

Kalen concentrated on the electrical impulses surging each time he attempted driving his anima to synthesize a new version of the tissue. He repeated it dozens of times, testing and adapting. Then, something clicked in his brain.

He opened a smile as the anima began covering each of the main organs inside his body in a layer of reactive energy. Kalen then created a second underneath the first one and inserted it slowly in each organ, beginning a process of correcting imperfections and strengthening the overall tissue constitution. Guess I just gained my first insight, Kalen thought.

'By the God's Eyes.' Sarah whispered. 'You already figured out how to do that. Your instincts are truly frightening.'

'I am convinced my parents were teaching me how to wield anima all along.' Kalen said. 'The books I read, our discussions... I know what to do every time you mention something.'

'Do you think they were also wielders?'

Kalen paused, picturing his parents' image. 'I suspect... yes. Knowing what I now know, there were many moments where they surprised me with curious abilities.'

The puzzle of his existence kept becoming bigger, but more pieces started falling into place too. It made sense his parents were wielders based on how they raised him and all which they were able to do. He suspected Ryuji was one too.

'All Right,' Sarah said. 'Now try sifting through my memories. You must have already noticed Gaea's unique anima signature, seek mine next.'

Kalen did so curiously, and warmth filled his body. It was clearly different from Gaea. Whereas the soul of nature transmitted omnipotence, it was also harmonious and serene. Sarah's signature, on the other hand, was vivacious, but erratic, evoking some ferocity even.

Once the link between them expanded, projections started playing in Kalen's mind. It was as if those memories were his. A collection of moments which he knew he hadn't live through. Nonetheless, he could explore each detail present in them.