CHAPTER 3
Days passed like falling leaves—quiet, repetitive, but far from restful. Alison spent most of her time either pretending to be a sweet, obedient child in front of the caretakers or isolating herself in the forest to train.
The children were growing used to her being "a little odd" lately. Less talkative. Less playful. But that didn't matter. She had no time to waste on friendship.
Each day she meditated longer. Her patience, ironically, came naturally. But even she was beginning to feel frustrated.
That is, until the breakthrough came.
It happened quietly. close to midnight
October 18th, 1993
At a late hour of the night, when every soul in the orphanage was fast asleep, the moonlight bathed the room in silver glow, its light slicing through the old curtains and reflecting off the wooden floorboards.
a girl is seen sat cross-legged on the worn wooden floor of her room , her positure relaxed and her breath slow and steady . For the past month she had poured her heart and soul into unlocking Nen, dedicating the whole period to this single goal.
her days had blended into a quiet storm of obsession
Today felt different; a surge of determination coursed through her veins as she settled into meditation as usual.
She recalled her knowledge from the series 'To unlock your aura nodes, you must first feel the flow of your energy. It's like stirring a pot of water; too fast, and you'll cause turbulence, too slow, and nothing will happen at all. You must find that delicate balance'
Eyes shut , she pictured the energy within her again—not just an abstract concept, but a living current. A river that pulsed beneath her skin.
steadying her breath, she felt the rhythm of her heartbeat synchronizing with the pulsing energy inside of her .
She channeled her focus to her core, imagining a warm light radiating within. Then, she began to visualize her aura threads—thin, shimmering strands that connected all of her aura nodes.
"Feel the aura. Control the flow. Don't rush it."
It wasn't easy. Balancing focus and relaxation was like trying to tame fire with a whisper. But she had no choice. She was in a world where strength meant survival. And she wouldn't die like a side character.
She felt a stirring inside—a gentle push. A surge that crackled at the edge of awareness. Her aura began to leak out like steam from a boiling pot.
"Now… Ten."
She clenched her jaw and focused, pulling her aura inward, wrapping it tightly around her body. This was the first principle of Nen: Ten—the technique of holding one's aura close to the body to protect and preserve vitality. It was like forming a skin of energy, a shield that keeps others from draining your life force.
Minutes dragged by, her back aching, her arms trembling. But the flow steadied.
She had done it.
She had unlocked her aura.
Slumping slightly, she grinned to herself, exhausted but satisfied.
"One step closer to be free ."
But she knew what came next.
Zetsu—the second principle. The act of shutting off aura entirely, closing the aura nodes to conceal presence and recover faster. Great for hiding, but leaves you defenseless.
Ren—the third principle. Expanding your aura outward forcefully, increasing the flow to boost strength and presence.
Hatsu—the fourth. The truest expression of one's inner self, the most unique form of Nen, and the hardest to master.
Alison sighed, rubbing her face. "And that's not even counting the advanced stuff: Gyo, Shu, En, Ken, Ryu, Ko—what am I, a one-person army?"
She laid back on the cold floor like a corpse, the irony not lost on her.
"I need a teacher. Or a miracle. Preferably both."
A half-crazed idea popped into her brain.
"What if I rob a jewelry store, get some gems, and bribe Biscuit Krueger into training me? Sounds crazy… but not impossible."
She murmured aloud, "Great plan, future me will handle it."
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
October 19th, 1993
The morning sun sliced through the clouds, warm golden light pouring into the room and stabbing directly into her shut eyes.
"Ughhh," she groaned, sitting up slowly like a zombie resurrecting. Her limbs ached from sleeping on hard wood. "I really need to stop passing out on the floor."
Then she remembered. The training. The breakthrough. The aura.
And she beamed. A grin plastered on her face
"Heh. I did it. I'm finally a Nen user."
It wasn't much yet—but it was more than 99% of the population ever achieved.
Feeling triumphant, she did what any half-maniac would do: she climbed out the second-floor window and jumped. The air slapped her face as she fell, grass cushioned her landing… mostly.
"Ow."
She brushed herself off, unbothered, and made her way to the forest.
The rich scent of moss, dew, and wildflowers calmed her. Birds chirped overhead like her own personal orchestra. This forest had become her haven, away from the noise, the fake smiles, and the irritating children—except Emily. That woman was a little too perceptive for Alison's liking.
She wandered deeper until she reached a small lake, its water rippling gently. Sitting by its edge, she dipped her feet in and stared at her reflection.
"So... what now?"
She leaned closer to the water, speaking softly to her reflection.
"What's my goal now? Survive? Get strong? Join the Hunter Exam? Kill some spiders? Ugh, I'm all over the place."
Then, a spark of excitement crossed her features.
"I'll check my affinity next!"
She nodded to herself but then sprawled out flat, arms wide in the grass.
"…Right after I finish sunbathing."