Chapter 43 – Understanding the Situation
## Chapter 43 – Understanding the Situation
The sun begins to sink between the trees, and the horses need a break, just like the retinue. The emerald light filtered by the dense gases of the exomoon's atmosphere casts long, rustic tones over the foliage.
— *Are we getting down already? Is it lunchtime yet?* — I ask the coachman.
The coachman pulls the reins firmly, making the horses slow down until they stop in the shade of tall oaks at the edge of the dirt road, raising a light dust that soon settles. He looks back, adjusting his travel hat, and replies in a tired, but respectful tone:
— Yes, milord! We have arrived at the ideal spot for our first stop in the forest. The animals need to breathe and drink water at the stream just ahead, and the sun is already high enough for us to take our lunch break and stretch our legs.
As the carriage door opens with a soft thud, Miri is the first to get down, agilely adjusting her merchant clothes and twitching her snout as her long brown ears swivel to capture the sounds around the woods.
— *Oh, finally some fresh air that doesn't smell like old leather and enclosed carriage wood!* — she comments with an excited smile, opening a small pouch on her belt to check if the dry rations are intact. — *If you permit, milord, I can use this stop to separate some light rations and stretch the provisions we brought, ensuring the lunch is nutritious without wasting our gold stock.*
Right behind her, young Eradan steps down cautiously, holding his crooked oak branch with its evergreen leaf. He looks fascinated at the surrounding vegetation and, after just a few seconds of contact with the damp soil, tiny wildflowers and moss begin to timidly sprout in the fold of his green linen tunic and at the tip of his staff, while his large eyes shine like fireflies at the calmness of the forest.
— *It's... it's so peaceful out here...* — murmurs the elf, breathing deeply the aroma of wet earth and foliage, seeming to forget for an instant the recent trauma of the black market cages.
Meanwhile, little Akra jumps out from inside the carriage shortly after, moving with a restrained hyperactivity. She tries not to touch anything directly with her hands, keeping her small arms crossed, but her fingers snap with an invisible heat and small blue sparks discreetly escape from her scales when a butterfly passes too close by. She stares fixedly at Kaelen with her electric eyes, seeming to seek approval or a directive on where she should sit to eat.
A few steps away, the four escort soldiers sent by your father already form a discreet security perimeter around the carriage, checking the fit of their swords in the scabbards and inspecting nearby bushes. Thys steps down right after, adjusting her dark linen apron, and approaches with a serene expression:
— The soldiers have already inspected the immediate perimeter, young master. All calm for now.
— *Thys, Miri, can you two go ahead and organize things? Afterward, I need to talk to you at mealtime, alright? We're going to eat together and discuss a few things...* — I ask as I step down from the carriage.
Thys nods respectfully, adjusting her apron, while Miri breaks into a wide and excited smile, her long ears pointing upwards.
— *Perfect, milord! Leave it to me and Thys to organize everything here. A communal outdoor meal will be excellent to lift the group's spirits* — replies the rabbit-kin, already pulling out some bags of dry supplies with an impressive agility and setting aside a clean corner in the grass.
Eradan, hearing the invitation to eat together, breaks into a shy smile, while Akra stays close by, watching with her electrically bright eyes and gently shaking her head in agreement, seeming relieved to be included in the meal on equal footing. The four escort soldiers remain alert around them, keeping watch while the food begins to be prepared.
I sit down on the grass with the others as the meal is served, breaking the rigid formality they used to expect from a noble. Seeing their initial hesitation, I reinforce that eating alone is no fun and that everyone will have the meal together. Right after, I direct my gaze to my faithful caretaker:
— *Thys... we only have 4,500 coins now, correct? And we have a long 2 years or 44 months ahead of us... What is your estimate? Do you think I'll need to find some way to earn an income during this period? Currently, I don't know how things will be in the city of the Felis-Tigris, but we have to be prepared...*
Thys stops for an instant with a piece of dry bread in her hands, wipes her fingers on her linen apron, and looks with that serene expression of someone who has known him since the first cycles of life. She ponders for a few seconds before answering with her calm and practical voice:
— My young master, with the calculations we made, the 4,500 coins strictly cover the basics of housing, rations, and carriage maintenance for the 44 months, but the margin left to us is only 100 gold coins for the entire period. In my estimate, this is extremely dangerous. Any increase in the cost of life in the tiger-men's capital, an unforeseen gate tax, medical expenses, or repairs on the carriage will wipe out this reserve in weeks. Therefore, yes... as much as we have the basics guaranteed, I consider it prudent and even necessary that you seek some form of supplementary income or utilize our group's talents to generate profit as soon as we settle there.
As Thys concludes her speech, Miri twitches her long ears in total agreement, chewing a fresh vegetable with agility, while Eradan listens with wide eyes, seeming worried about the financial issue.
I let out a light and sincere laugh, shaking my head.
— *Sorry, Miri... I'm not laughing at you or your story, but I'll be honest: I'm glad you're here. Because, with this, I'll be able to give you the chance to overcome hardships. You'll understand why in the future...*
Miri, surprised by the frankness and the mysterious tone, blinks her large honey-colored eyes, twitches her long ears curiously, and glances sideways at Thys, whispering in a tone that tries to be low, but that her ears betray:
— *Tell me, Thys... is the young master always this enigmatic right on the first day of travel?*
Thys merely lets out a discreet smile, maintaining her usual serenity without revealing anything.
I look away and turn to the young elf, who was eating in silence.
— *And you, Eradan... you weren't supposed to be here, were you? What happened after all? Did everyone in your village die... or were they killed? You know that if you stayed there, your future wouldn't be long...*
Eradan lowers his head for an instant, staring at the crooked oak branch in his lap, where the evergreen leaf glows softly. The large, curious eyes of the forest elf fill with a deep sadness, remembering the great trees of his home.
— *No... I was never supposed to be in a black market cage, milord* — begins Eradan with a trembling voice, which gradually gains speed and firmness. — *My village wasn't destroyed all at once... It was worse. Relic hunters and human mercenaries began to surround our ancestral village because they wanted the gold and rare woods we guarded. The village protectors tried to resist, but the invaders brought fire and weapons we didn't know. My parents... and many of my clan brothers were killed trying to defend us from the burning of the woods. I was captured in the confusion because they found me useful due to my affinity with nature and plant growth. If I had stayed there, either the fires would have consumed me, or the hunters would have sold me to some cruel noble who wanted a slave gardener for the rest of his life.*
The forest elf swallows hard, raising his gaze with a mix of gratitude and hope, while tiny wildflowers timidly sprout on the hem of his tunic due to emotion.
— *I understand...* — I say thoughtfully. — *Now... I don't know if I have a way to help you. Perhaps, when you are older, around 16 or 18 years old, I will have enough strength... So I apologize, but I keep my promise in mind to help you. When we settle down, I intend to do some experiments with plants, let's say... strange magic to improve their vigor and soil, and I'll need your help. Alright? But don't forget: if anyone comes to bother you, seek help and speak my name, because I'll teach them a good lesson!*
I let out a relaxed laugh. Eradan listens closely, and as I speak about waiting to grow a little older and using skills for plant magic experiments and soil improvement, the young elf's eyes glow with genuine interest. A soft smile appears on his face, causing small flowers and sprouts to momentarily bloom between the strands of his light hair.
— *I understand, milord... and I truly thank you for the promise and for getting me out of there* — replies Eradan, adjusting his oak staff. — *And about the plant magic and the soil, you can count on me completely! I can help cultivate whatever you need, whether it's food, medicinal herbs, or testing those strange magics you mentioned. If someone comes to bother me in the city, I will certainly remember to use your name.*
As Eradan finishes speaking, little Akra, who had been keeping a certain cautious distance with her fingers full of static and bluish electricity, finally moves, seeming ready to interact.
I call little Akra to sit right beside me. She hesitates for a fraction of a second, looking at her own fingers releasing small blue sparks of static electricity, afraid of giving a real shock to someone. Seeing the hesitation, I take the initiative, place my hand directly over hers and, using the communication of the aberrant mind and telepathy, speak directly into her mind:
— *And you, Akra... why were you alone? What did they do to you to end up there?*
Upon feeling the touch and hearing the voice echoing directly in her mind, the draconian's electric eyes widen, shining like lightning. She lets out a trembling sigh and, while the psychic static makes the breath and hair of those closest slightly stand on end, Akra begins to vent in a rapid torrent of thoughts flooding her head. She recounts that she was rejected by her own draconian clan because of her aberrant mind and chaotic breath of plasma and electricity, which broke the rigid and honorable rules of traditional dragons.
Abandoned very young to wander the world alone, she ended up being captured by exotic creature hunters who shackled her, tried to repress her powers with magical containment collars, and threw her into the filth of that black market, where she was treated as a dangerous aberration under heavy surveillance and mistreatment until she was purchased.
While the long mental conversation takes place, Thys, Miri, and Eradan look with curious expressions, trying to understand the silence of that telepathic connection, while Miri's long ears swivel trying to catch any sound and Eradan's staff emits a soft glow. As the mental conversation ends and Akra slowly retreats, breathing more relieved for finally getting that weight off her chest, I pause. I look seriously at everyone around; I then proceed to explain the girl's situation, detailing the abandonment by the clan, the horror of captivity, and the reason why she is so skittish and full of static.
Upon finishing explaining Akra's story to the group, I turn to the draconian and decide to demonstrate a bit of my own power to encourage her. Staring fixedly at some fallen branches on the ground, I use telekinesis to lift them, making them spin in a smooth orbit right above her head.
To capture everyone's attention, I go further: I focus cryokinesis on one of the branches, quickly covering it with a thick layer of ice that crackles with the cold, while I channel pyrokinesis into another branch, making it catch fire until it consumes itself and disappears into fine ashes. Maintaining concentration, I extend my other hand, lightly touch Akra's shoulder to give her reassurance, and speak out loud:
— *You can do that too...*
Taking advantage of the static energy that always overflows from her, I use telekinesis to gently guide this electricity to the last branch still spinning in the air, making it sparkle with arcs of bluish energy. I look at her and conclude:
— *Initially, you need to fortify your body and mind so they can keep up with your will and movement. Want to try?*
Akra widens her electric eyes at the demonstration, feeling the energy flow with the touch. She trembles slightly, torn between the fear of losing control and the fascination of seeing someone who understands and commands chaotic forces similar to hers. Slowly, she raises one of her trembling little hands, trying to concentrate her own static to see if she can imitate the movement in the air.
Meanwhile, the reaction of the others around is pure surprise: Miri halts her snout's movement and widens her large honey-colored eyes, jaw dropped upon seeing the branch freeze and burn in seconds, while her long ears perk up in total astonishment. Eradan steps back a foot on instinct as the fire consumes the second branch — remembering his dread of flames —, but quickly composes himself, looking with deep curiosity and admiration at how the elements are handled and how the little draconian is encouraged.
Thys observes everything with her arms crossed and a slight proud smile at the corner of her lips, seeing that the young master is not only cautious with finances, but also a leader capable of impressing and guiding such special companions.
— *Akra... this power comes from your mind, not from mana as they say out there... Don't force your body, just relax your mind and try to follow what I do...*
I take her hand, trying to induce a bit of telekinesis; after all, she has the gift, she just needs a little push.
Upon hearing the words explaining that power does not stem from traditional mana, but rather from the mind, Akra's electric eyes blink in confusion and surprise. She swallows hard, trying to absorb the concept. When I hold her hand firmly and use my own telekinesis to gently guide the flow of energy, a chill runs through the scaly body of the girl.
At the exact same instant, the static that previously seemed uncontrolled and chaotic in her fingers begins to organize itself. A small bluish spark leaps from the palm of her hand, lifting one of the fallen branches off the ground a few centimeters high for a mere fraction of a second, before dropping softly onto the grass.
Although it lasted briefly, Akra's face lights up with an expression of pure astonishment and mixed relief. Through the mental bond, I feel a wave of gratitude and a glimpse of pure hope: for the first time in her life, someone didn't treat her as a dangerous aberration to be chained up, but rather as someone capable of learning. She looks with an almost reverent respect, breathing deeply to try again, now understanding that she needs to relax her mind instead of forcing her body.
Miri, who was following everything open-mouthed, twitches her long ears and murmurs softly to Thys:
— *By the gods... The young master didn't just buy helpers, he is training a troop of prodigies...*
The rabbit-kin moves her ears from side to side, narrowing her large honey-colored eyes while observing Kaelen sideways, and continues to whisper to the steward in a tone overtaken by doubt:
— *Tell me, Thys... The young master possesses such a firm posture and a mind so brilliant that he even looks like an ancestral elf in a human body, or perhaps a dwarven Grand Master from some ancient forge. But is he just a human of common lineage? Because, looking at him, his vitality is that of a child, but his eyes carry the breath of someone who has already lived entire cycles and possesses terrifying experience. I feel confused... And totally fascinated by all this.*
Thys merely adjusts her dark linen apron, sketching a corner smile that keeps more secrets than the scrolls of the Royal Capital. She leans slightly toward the rabbit-kin's long ears and replies in a calm whisper:
— He is just Kaelen Vance, Miri. And that should be enough to frighten or fascinate anyone. There are things in this world that were not made to be explained, only witnessed. You signed a two-year contract, didn't you? I suggest you use every cycle of that time to learn how to read his signs, instead of trying to guess what lies behind his eyes.
Eradan smiles shyly, while the oak staff in his hand pulses with a glowing green leaf, infected by the atmosphere of learning. Thys merely nods, visibly proud of the boy Kaelen has become.
I give a slight smile to the little draconian:
— *Congratulations, see? You can do it. From now on, every day I'll teach you a little bit... Don't be afraid anymore.*
Akra lets out a sigh of relief and nods, visibly touched by the encouraging words, her electric eyes shining much more softly and controlled.
Next, I shift my gaze to the young forest elf:
— *Eradan, can you grow a plant here?*
Eradan blinks his large firefly-like eyes, surprised by the sudden change of subject, but soon a cheerful smile appears on his youthful face. He firmly holds his crooked oak branch with its evergreen leaf, steps a bit closer to the damp earth beside where we are sitting, and touches the soil with the tip of his fingers.
— *I can indeed, milord! Leave it to me* — replies the elf with enthusiasm.
He closes his eyes for a second, concentrating. A soft, greenish light sprouts from the tips of his fingers and staff, and instantly, a small shoot breaks the dry soil of the clearing, rapidly growing into a handful of colorful wildflowers and fresh moss that blossom right there on the forest grass, bringing an air of life and color to the camp.
Miri twitches her long ears with satisfaction, observing the natural trick with a merchant's curious look, while Thys and the soldiers maintain watchful vigilance around them.
I extend my hand and softly touch the petals of the wildflowers Eradan has just made bloom. Concentrating, I channel psychic energy and apply an acceleration technique—a sort of forced leap in the plant's vital time through the mind.
At the exact same instant, the stem stretches, the leaves expand with vigor, and the flowers open almost violently, blossoming completely in a few seconds. The mental effort to bend natural laws through the psyche is quite demanding, making the forehead sweat lightly and requiring extra breath, but the result is visible: the small clump of flowers now looks adult and lush amidst the forest grass.
Eradan widens his large eyes in astonishment, jaw dropped at what he just witnessed. The small flowers and mosses that usually grew spontaneously in his own hair stir slightly with the elf's surprise.
— *By the ancient woods...* — murmurs Eradan, looking fascinated at how the growth was manipulated. — *I had never seen anyone do that without using nature magic or druid potions...*
I look at him and ask:
— *Can you tell me what's wrong with this plant now?*
Eradan leans closer to the accelerated bush. He touches the leaves, smells the intense perfume they exhale, and examines the stem carefully, using all his forest elf knowledge. The look of optimistic innocence gives way to an expression of careful analysis:
— *Well, milord... it grew strong and pretty because of your psychic push, but... if you look closely here at the base of the stem and at the roots, you'll notice that it is consuming energy in an unregulated way. How can I explain? It's as if its body aged ahead of time, but the surrounding soil didn't have time to provide enough nutrients to sustain all this acceleration. If we leave it like this, it will exhaust the very ground where it was born and wither much faster than a plant growing at its natural pace. To make this work truly without harming surrounding life, we would need to enrich the earth first!*
Miri, who was watching everything attentively, wiggles her snout and twitches her long ears, already thinking about the commercial implications of this:
— *Hm... If the young master can accelerate the growth of crops or medicinal herbs with his mind, that can save months of waiting in agriculture... but, as Eradan said, if it drains the soil, we'll need quality fertilizer. One more item for our list!*
Thys observes with a cautious look, noticing the slight physical wear the technique demanded, and steps forward offering a corner of fresh water:
— Take a sip, my young master. Forcing the natural cycle with the mind clearly consumes quite a bit of energy. Don't overdo it right on the first day of travel.
— *I accept, Thys... It still tires my body and mind a lot when I do this, so I can't do it as naturally as the rest. Likewise you two, Akra and Eradan: just like me, you are growing and improving. Time is your friend, so have patience, alright?*
Then, I turn to the rabbit-kin:
— *And as for you, curious Miri...*
With a subtle gesture, I use telekinesis to pull a gold coin directly out of her pocket, making it float and spin agilely around her, immediately capturing her attention.
— *The first thing you will have to overcome, Miri, are your own instincts and greed* — I ponder, as the coin glistens in the twilight light of the forest. — *You may not understand now, but people tend to give certain signs, especially merchants... When you manage to sense that, it will be the first step toward what you desire.*
Miri's honey-colored eyes follow every centimeter of the floating gold coin's movement. Her long ears tremble slightly and her snout stops twitching for a second, demonstrating that she has been totally hooked by the lesson, torn between the fascination for gold and the depth of the advice.
— *And now, alright, we can head back to the carriage. We still have a long journey...* — I conclude, getting up from the grass.
Everyone obeys the order promptly. Thys helps organize the last utensils, the four soldiers reorganize the escort around the vehicle, and one by one we return to the interior of the carriage. The coachman shakes the reins, the horses start moving again, and the carriage advances along the dirt road of the temperate forest, swallowing the remaining kilometers to the inn where they will spend the first night of the long journey toward the city of Felis-Tigris.
The night at the inn passes without major issues and, as planned, the second day of travel proceeds across the vast grasslands toward Felis-Tigris, without noteworthy occurrences until late afternoon.
It is at the end of the second day, with the sun dyeing the horizon in oranges and long shadows, that the air suddenly changes. A subtle restlessness runs through the atmosphere, perhaps attracted by the dense smell of the ration provisions or the food they were carrying in the carriage. Sensing a vague disturbance in the environment—after all, perception does not yet reach the clairvoyance of experienced mages—I stay alert.
Without wasting time, I turn to Thys and the young forest elf:
— *Thys, Eradan... can you feel anything?*
Eradan immediately starts, with wide-open eyes. The elf leans closer to the carriage window, tensing his body and making the oak staff vibrate slightly as the small leaves in his hair tremble before the invisible threat approaching in the pasture's undergrowth.
At the same time, I raise my voice outward, warning the coachman:
— Alert the soldiers! Stay alert, there is something coming our way!
The coachman pulls the reins hard, making the horses neigh and abruptly halt. Immediately, the four escort soldiers draw their weapons, forming a defensive circle around the carriage, while Miri retreats to the safest corner of the vehicle, her long ears completely lowered as a sign of alert and her snout trembling.
From the tall grass of the pasture, responding to the call about what lurks in the shadows, emerge four steppe wolves—lean beasts with grayish fur that perfectly camouflages in the vegetation and eyes shining with a fierce hunger attracted by the smell of food. Leading the group, a massive alpha wolf with scars on its snout and an oversized build growls lowly while revealing sharp fangs.
I act quickly, delegating functions with precision:
— *Miri, take care of Thys! Eradan and Akra, you will defend Thys and Miri here, and provide ranged support to the soldiers!*
Without hesitating, I nimbly leap to the top of the carriage. With the power of my mind, I pull the two metal swords from the chest and four more wooden swords given by the chief of the guard, making them all float in a mortal semicircle around, ready for a strike with a simple psychic command.
The four escort soldiers raise their shields and blades around the carriage, while the alpha wolf lets out the first attack howl and charges at full speed toward the retinue.
I let out a short laugh amid the sound of growls:
— *Wolves again? Are they really that hungry to risk themselves like this? Anyway...*
Focusing my mind, I direct two of the floating wooden swords. Channeling pyrokinesis, I make the wood blush with intense heat until it almost glows like embers, and then I propel them with full force, making them spin violently in midair like incandescent drills.
The blades cut through the pasture's gloom in a hissing hum and strike dead-on the first two steppe wolves leading the charge. The extreme heat and impact pierce the fur and flesh brutally, knocking the beasts down instantly and leaving a trail of burnt fur smell in the air—a clear and lethal sign to the rest of the pack.
Seeing their fallen companions and the smoking remnants of swords embedded in the earth, the two remaining wolves hesitate for a fraction of a second, checking the momentum of the attack, while the larger alpha wolf lets out an even angrier and more piercing growl, staring from atop the carriage.
Below, in the rear guard, the group springs into action: Eradan stretches his staff and makes thick, thorny roots sprout from the pasture floor to try and entangle the wolves' paws if they advance again. Akra concentrates the static, generating small arcs of bluish electricity between her fingers, ready to fire a shock pulse if any beast approaches the carriage. Miri remains on standby next to Thys, helping ensure that she and the supplies stay protected on the inside. The soldiers keep their shields firm, impressed by the precision of the ranged attack.
— *I'm not going to lose the iron swords, Balim has already worked hard enough to make them... And I'm not in the mood to fight today.*
As the alpha wolf prepares to pounce, I close my eyes for a second and channel mental strength, discharging an oppressive telepathic pulse directly into the beast's mind. It's not just a common warning; it's an overwhelming projection of pure dominance, death, and fire. To the alpha wolf, the sensation is that of standing before a colossal and ancestral predator, a mental presence so terrifying that it makes its survival instincts scream to flee.
Terrified by the psychic impact, the alpha locks its paws in the middle of the pasture, the fur on its back bristling and its tail between its legs, letting out a whimper of dread and looking with pure desolation.
Taking advantage of the pack's hesitation, I keep the two valuable iron swords safe and floating nearby, while turning my attention back to the four wooden swords. Concentrating pyrokinesis, I heat them intensely, turning them into true incandescent fireballs. I make them spin rapidly around, creating a barrier of swirling flames that illuminates the entire darkness of the pasture with a fierce glow.
The alpha wolf, unable to bear the mental terror and the heat of the spinning flames, turns half-circle running, howling in despair, and drags the two remaining wolves with it deep into the dark vegetation, disappearing rapidly into the steppe night.
From atop the carriage, the barrier of flaming wooden swords crackles as silence returns to the road. The soldiers slowly lower their spears, looking with a mix of absolute respect and awe.
Eradan lets out the air he was holding, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his staff, while Miri and Thys breathe relieved inside the carriage. Little Akra watches with her electric eyes shining, totally inspired by the command of the situation.
I take a deep breath and, raising my hands, channel cryokinesis. The intense heat of the two wooden swords quickly gives way as psychic ice envelops them. In a matter of seconds, the blush of the flames fades, transforming into a dense cloud of white vapor that dissipates in the cold pasture air. With a smooth mental gesture, I make the ashes of the cold wooden swords fall back into the carriage, while I cool the two iron swords that were floating protected around me, making them fall softly into my hand, reclaiming the two precious iron blades to myself without a scratch.
I look at everyone around, who are still digesting the frightening ease with which the pack was scared off, and give a half-embarrassed laugh, breaking the tension of the moment:
— *I think we can rest a bit now and get back to the trip... right?*
The coachman nods promptly, shaking the reins to calm the restless horses, while the soldiers resume their watch positions, clearly relieved for not having had to shed blood. Eradan undoes the roots he had conjured on the ground, and Akra smiles lightly, feeling that the threat has passed.
The carriage resumes its steady pace along the pasture dirt road, advancing under the starlit sky toward the night's destination, while the group assimilates how formidable their young leader is becoming—until, at last, they continue the journey toward the arrival at the gates of the tiger city.
