Chapter 33 — Secret Training and Unexpected Visits
Chapter 33 — Secret Training and Unexpected Visits
Following the celebrations of my twelfth birthday, my weekly routine settled into a rigorous and predictable rhythm. Mornings were entirely dedicated to intensive training with the head of the guard, focused on swordplay and physical conditioning. In the afternoons, my obligations shifted to Katriny’s tutelage. On many of those occasions, she reserved the time to instruct me on religious dogmas, the historical chronicles of Eldoria, and the legends of the gods.
I confess my focus truly awakened whenever she touched upon the complex political web of this kingdom and neighboring nations, trade treaties, and provincial logistics. Though she didn't show it openly, Katriny spent long hours conversing with my mother. Together, they began bringing rare scrolls and books for my studies. It was a formidable collection, and I felt a silent pride in owning more volumes of knowledge than my own father.
To my delight, Katriny occasionally allowed me to perform small tasks in the afternoon under her strict supervision. However, true, unfiltered freedom to do as I pleased was strictly reserved for weekends.
Today, fortunately, was Saturday. And I already had a strategic plan mapped out in my mind. I knew I would face a long lecture later for breaking the castle's security perimeter, but my intention was to return to that isolated clearing. The mountain foothill rising just ahead offered the ideal setting: terrain sheltered from curious eyes, perfect for testing the limits of the body, testing my physical conditioning, and experimenting with some new concepts. First, however, I had to deal with levitation. Maintaining my own weight while performing other tasks simultaneously continued to be extremely exhausting.
After breakfast, I had to figure out a quick escape. I thanked my mother and slipped away before she could begin giving me instructions or listing chores.
Up to that point, Katriny had not detected my absence. I activated my psychometry to map the guards' patrol history and trace the best escape route through the fortress's blind spots. A standard animal-drawn carriage would take at least two hours of rustic travel to cross the entire urban expanse to the North Gate. Come to think of it, the stone wall surrounding the castle and citadel was impressively long.
Instead, I opted to use a sequence of small kinetic platforms. By creating these temporary kinetic steps, I could ascend to a reasonable height, leaping from rooftop to rooftop and avoiding the field of view of the commoners in the streets. This approach consumed considerably less mental energy, because moving and sustaining my entire mass floating freely was one thing; creating a rigid support plate for a few seconds was something much simpler.
Rustic levitation, however, still proved to be an exhausting exercise. Consuming my own psion energy to cancel out gravity's vector, sustain my body's mass, and levitate while operating other simultaneous functions demanded a tremendous neural effort.
The inhabitants of this world of Aegis-Moon lived under the persistent illusion that everything came down to absolute mass, or simply commanding and manipulating matter through incantations. That was their fundamental error. Psion energy was not about brute force; it required creativity — the secret lay in how well you could mold, transform, and project intent into the physical environment. From that perspective, psionics strongly resembled the magic and mana flow of this world. However, whereas mana relied on invocations and spell-formers to "create fire" out of thin air, psion energy acted upon the literal interaction force of existing matter, based on the laws I had brought from Téia. Consequently, heating an object via pyrokinesis was much easier than cooling it via cryokinesis.
Consequently, heating an object via pyrokinesis was much easier than cooling it via cryokinesis. Generating a heat of five hundred degrees Celsius required the exact same amount of mental effort needed to reduce the temperature to a mere negative ten degrees Celsius. Condensing atoms, forcing them to stagnate, and dissipating their kinetic energy required far more work than simply agitating them. It was pure molecular interaction physics.
Following that same structural logic, it was easier to manipulate and shape loose sand than to disintegrate or lift a solid rock. I had been racking my brain trying to master the earth element, but water and fire elements offered much greater malleability. Regarding the wind element, I could already channel air to raise barriers of warm wind, but I failed miserably when trying to condense the gust to create a sharp cutting edge, like court mages did with their arcane spells.
Another common and erroneous thought was believing that the manifestation of these abilities occurred spontaneously or easily. The correct path demanded grueling training. In the initial stage, most people couldn't move a speck of dust. That small electrostatic shock many felt on their skin was the most primary form of interaction. It took a cycle of three to five years for an ordinary individual to begin comprehending these forces and make their own brain awaken to the phenomenon. In practice, it was about understanding the world's action and interaction mechanisms. Generally, basic telekinesis and pyrokinesis were the first branches to develop, and the easiest. Telepathy came right after. Meanwhile, psychometry, cryokinesis, and precognition were much more complex branches. The last one, in particular, demanded absurd neural effort. Control over another's mind, the imposition of intentions, and energy blocking were also part of this occult branch, but everything depended on individual aptitude and how they perceived reality around them.
It didn't take me long to reach my destination. Any observer would be perplexed by how quickly I advanced using small telekinetic panels, and thus I was able to move along the paths at high speed. If I had traveled on foot with Katriny, I wouldn't have arrived before noon. As it stood, the journey took a little under two hours, and I could already spot the clearing and the imposing mountain range ahead.
My main objective today was to expand my telekinetic capacity to lengthen the effective reach of a blade, creating an extended psychic cutting edge. The obstacle was that pure force lacked a physical edge; trying to transform it into a razor-sharp blade, rather than a blunt impact club, consumed much more energy than maintaining a standard physical barrier.
My second objective involved creating projectiles. I could ask Balin to forge small metal spheres, but the true challenge lay in accelerating them to high speeds while simultaneously heating or cooling them during flight.
— Well, this stone cliff face will serve perfectly as a target for tests — I murmured to myself, evaluating the slope.
That mountain slope would serve as my testing ground. I needed to take into account the existence of future adversaries possessing great physical resistance or heavy armor, calculating the exact inertia time an enemy weapon or shield would require to break under my impact.
Analyzing the forms of interaction around me, I realized variables changed according to the environment. If abundant water were nearby, I could use cold to shape the liquid into an ice drill or fire a high-pressure jet. Currently, however, I lacked the capacity to generate water spontaneously from thin air — or rather, technically I could, but doing so would leave me bedridden for another six months.
I could accelerate a plant's cellular growth, but the soil around it would remain completely barren. I could agitate any object's molecules until they reached extreme temperatures, but replicating synthetic fire produced by magic was still beyond my reach. On the other hand, I could intercept and dissipate magic spells by altering their elemental composition. The true mystery I was still trying to decipher was lightning manipulation, alongside the mechanics behind spatial magic, shadows, and darkness of this world, which would prove to be extremely useful tools. Light magic by itself exhibited very diverse effects around here, but local mages understood little about optics laws or energy conversion.
— Yeah... Some of these ideas have excellent practical application — I reflected, observing the rock fragments. — Too bad I only have weekends for these tests. But the tactic of superheating small grass pebbles and launching them at high speed causes devastating impact.
I still couldn't manipulate independent shadows, but I definitely needed to be careful with blade expansion; looking at the freshly opened crater on the mountain slope, the collateral damage was much greater than I had anticipated. By my internal clock, it was almost 1:00 PM. I needed to grab a quick bite and keep training until I was satisfied.
And such had been my routine for the past six months. Although Katriny frequently presented strong objections to my temporary disappearances and spent weekends trying to track me across the province, we had forged a fun agreement: if she managed to locate me on her own, I would bring her along to my training spot. Up to that moment, in that game of hide-and-seek, I had maintained an absolute tactical advantage.
Today, however, everything took an unexpected turn. While I slipped through the castle rooftops to escape Katriny patrol's first sweep, I spotted a hooded girl running through the alleys below, followed closely by five menacing figures.
I tried using precognition and psychometry, but ambient noise prevented an accurate reading. It was safer to close the distance and observe from above.
— You better stop right there, little miss. You're completely cornered. Be a good girl and come back with us quietly, and you won't get hurt.
— Pay attention, you idiot! — scolded a second assailant, poking his companion. — You know very well we can't damage valuable merchandise. The boss already sent the parchment with the ransom demand to the family.
— You should have kept proper watch over this girl... — grumbled a third criminal, looking nervously around. — How did you let her escape the room? It's still broad daylight! If the Marquis's guards catch us patrolling the streets with drawn weapons, we'll be dead.
— The boss demanded absolute haste, stop arguing! — thundered the fourth man, drawing a rustic dagger. — People hardly circulate through this district wing at this hour. Capture the girl once and for all and let's get out of here!
The young girl shrank against the alley's stone wall, pulling her hood with trembling hands.
— Don't come closer! — she exclaimed, her voice trembling with dread. — I'll scream for help!
— Be my guest, doll — mocked the fifth assailant, blocking the alley's only escape route. — No one in this citadel will hear your voice in time.
Watching the scene unfold from my privileged vantage point, I let out a long sigh of displeasure. Clichés like that were tediously common. The beautiful young girl abducted by common criminals in the middle of the city. Well, since the situation is laid out and the crime in progress is perfectly clear, I believe it's my time to intervene.
I slid silently down the wall and landed without emitting a single sound on the packed earth, positioning myself right behind the cornered girl.
— Gentlemen... — I uttered with icy calmness, startling the girl, who jumped aside. — Don't you think it terribly impolite to pester a lady in broad daylight? What if the guards happen to patrol by?
To reinforce the statement, I formed a small kinetic platform under my boots, hovering two meters off the ground directly behind her.
— What the hell is a child doing floating in the air? — muttered the second thug.
— Must be some little noble with aptitude for arcane magic — he deduced, his eyes gleaming with new pecuniary greed. — If we capture this brat too, the boss will pay us triple gold coins! Grab both of them!
I shook my head, letting out a dry laugh.
— Why is it that you guys always think in such a limited way? — I asked, crossing my arms. — Have you ever stopped to think for a second that you are the ones at a complete disadvantage?
They burst into laughter, in a loud, mocking tone.
— Great! Do as you please, you brat! — mocked their leader, advancing with his blade.
— Fine. Since you decided to pay to see the demonstration... — I sentenced, concentrating my mind.
With a quick flick of my wrists, I conjured several telekinetic cubes, immobilizing their hands, heads, and feet simultaneously. Kinetic barriers locked their hands, feet, and heads hermetically, completely blocking any movement fluctuation and preventing air entry into their respiratory tracts. The fifth assailant, who maintained a safe distance at the back of the alley, widened his eyes upon seeing his companions frozen in mid-air, struggling against the void without being able to emit a sound.
— Fall back... fall back immediately! — But what the hell... — stammered the fifth man. Realizing the situation had collapsed, he immediately turned on his heel and bolted in desperate flight through the narrow streets, disappearing before I could extend my force field to him.
It took about six minutes of physical stagnation for the four trapped criminals to completely pass out due to severe oxygen scarcity in their brains. I deactivated the invisible cubes and the bodies collapsed lifelessly and heavily into the alley's mud.
— Well... I warned you about the disadvantage, didn't I? — I muttered, adjusting my shirt sleeves.
The real complication, however, was right in front of me.
The startled girl let her heavy hood fall back, revealing her features. She possessed striking crystal-blue eyes and long hair of the same hue, bright as deep ocean waters. I desperately prayed my instincts were wrong, but did these idiots actually kidnap a member of the ducal family?
I approached slowly, softening my tone so as not to scare her further.
— Are you alright, miss?
— Yes... I'm alright, thanks to your intervention — she replied, wiping a tear and breathing with difficulty. — Thanks to you. They kidnapped me twenty days ago and dragged me through hideouts across the region. I finally managed to escape today, but these magical shackles prevent me from channeling my own energy.
I squatted down to examine the shackles. The finish looked suspiciously like the intricate locking mechanisms Master Balin loved to torment me with.
— If you'll allow me... Can I try removing this? — I inquired, extending my hand.
The girl hesitated for a second, looking at my twelve-year-old stature with doubt, but ended up nodding.
— Yes... Please.
I made contact with the cold metal, activating my psychometry. The tactile feedback instantly mapped the internal design: a rustic and intricate matrix, specifically designed to disperse ambient energy and suppress the user's central mana focus. Using brute physical force was out of the question; applying pyrokinesis heat or extreme cryokinesis cold presented too high a risk of injuring the young girl's flesh, and excessive kinetic vibrations could break her bones. Only one precise approach remained: targeting the structural base of the locking pins. I gently touched my fingertips against the metal band, gradually introducing an invisible micro-frequency vibration that caused the iron alloy to dissolve into a fine powder like dry sand.
The heavy shackles fell apart in pieces.
— Much better — I muttered, standing up. — By any chance do you know where you were being held prisoner? And by any chance, do you belong to the Nerius family?
She blinked, surprised, and straightened her posture.
— Yes! My name is Yara — she replied, her blue eyes wide with surprise at me deducing her origin so quickly. — I was traveling along with my parents' entourage toward the Port of Alluvia to seal an important maritime trade contract. We were ambushed on the coastal roads and the mercenaries captured me... I just can't comprehend how I ended up in this distant province.
— Do you have any real grasp of where you're stepping now, Lady Yara? — I asked.
— No... — she shook her head, looking at the stone walls. — I only know it's a region excessively distant from the sea.
I let out another silent sigh.
— This is going to generate a monumental administrative headache for my father... and for me to explain — I thought, sighing.
— Come with me — I offered, extending my hand with the firmness of a House Vance heir. — I can guarantee our fortress's safety and protection for you until we sort out transport.
Yara took a half-step back, her countenance taken by genuine concern:
— But... Won't it be dangerous for your family to harbor a fugitive and go against the crime's masterminds? You'll be under grave risk if they retaliate...
I took a step forward, placed my hand on her head in a calm gesture of protection, and smiled with total confidence:
— There's no need for concern, Lady Yara. Everything will be fine, I guarantee you.
The exact moment I uttered those comforting words, I closed my eyes for a second and fired a direct mental message through the telepathy channel to Katriny and the fortress's head guard. I succinctly explained the alley's coordinates, the criminals' capture, and the urgency of an immediate military escort.
Katriny was the first to arrive, dropping from the rooftops with a look of marked skepticism.
— Young master... — began the panda-monk, arching an eyebrow with a side-mouthed smile. — Since when do your weekend activities now include rescuing defenseless princesses in dark alleys? Are you trying to expand your repertoire of escapades across the citadel?
I let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of my neck with genuine dejection.
— I didn't plan this — I replied defensively. — The situation simply got out of hand. I couldn't just ignore it, could I?
I looked at the assailants' bodies being collected by the guards who arrived right behind.
— But you're right about one thing... Now I'll have to give a long, exhausting explanation to my father.
