From Moving Crates to Killing Gods-Chapter 46: Confident

The effect had been small... pathetically small, if I was being honest. But it was real. I had shaped energy with nothing but my mind and a visualized pattern. No Switch ability. No physical strain. Just thought, will and understanding.

I tried again, reconstructing the pattern more quickly this time, centering it on the yo-yo. Pulse. Another small jump, perhaps slightly higher than before.

By the fifth attempt, I could create the mental construct in seconds, and the yo-yo leaped nearly six inches into the air. But I also noticed something else, a familiar weariness creeping in at the edges of my mind. Not the sharp pain of yesterday’s failure, but a mental fatigue, like a muscle being used past its normal capacity.

This magic had its own kind of backlash, it seemed. Different from the strain of using Switch, but real nonetheless.

I leaned back in my chair, watching my yo-yo spin slowly on the table where I’d set it in motion after my last attempt. A different kind of power. One that didn’t rely on my innate ability, but on knowledge and understanding. One that anyone could learn after level two.

The implications made my head spin more than the mental exertion had. If I could learn this magic, then I wouldn’t be limited to just using switch.

Curious, I called my stat window. "Stats." The numbers appeared in front of me.

Strength: 6

Agility: 7

Constitution: 6

Intelligence: 8

Wisdom: 5

Luck: 5

Intelligence had jumped to 8, making it my highest stat. Three points gained in two days of mental exercise. Compared to the single point increases I’d managed through physical training. The realization made me smile. There was more than one way to become stronger.

I closed the book, running my fingers over its cover. "Foundations of Field Magic." Four more spells waited inside: Aegis, Quickstep, Mend, and Sense. Each would present its own challenge, its own mental pattern to master. But now I understood the approach, the slow building of mental layers and rhythm until the complete construct emerged.

As I left the library, I imagined what Kira and the others would say when I showed them what I’d learned. Maybe there was even a healing spell, that would greatly help us all with our backlashes.

The possibilities stretched before me like an unopened book, full of patterns waiting to be understood. For the first time since returning from exile, I felt something beyond determination, duty and hunger.

I felt curious.

Back in my room, I sat on the edge of my bed, I took the yo-yo out, making it dance at the end of its string. The rhythm was soothing, familiar. I closed my eyes, reconstructing the pulse pattern one more time, letting it form around the yo-yo.

When I opened my eyes and released the spell, the yo-yo shot upward, hitting the ceiling with a solid thud before falling back to my waiting hand.

I smiled. Tomorrow, I’d continue the physical training.

I got up early and ate a feast of meat so big that whoever was supposed to keep stacking my fridge, probably feared I’d bite them next. Then, I decided to go to the training room before everyone else woke up. I wanted to see how much I could do without Phinyx. I had better stats than before, a new form of magic at my fingertips. I thought, maybe this time, I could conquer the track on my own.

Oh boy, was that a mistake...

"Allaran! You again!? At this point, I’ll stop waking you up when I find you passed out on the ground." A sweet, melodic voice cut through the haze of exhaustion, its tone sharp with annoyance.

"Is... Phinyx nearby?" I asked, my voice a raspy whisper. I had pushed my legs so hard they refused to hold me.

"He’s all the way back at the entrance. I just happened to see you here while I was training." Kira said, shaking her head. "I’ll go get him, just wait there."

Before she left, she knelt and placed a hand on the ground. With a soft hum of energy, thick grass grew out of nowhere, forming a comfortable bed that felt much better than the dirty ground.

I stared up at the ceiling, reflecting on my abilities. I had only managed twenty laps this time. Less than half of what I’d achieved with Phinyx’s help. Even if my stats had grown, it was a slow process. My grand plans of solo mastery had been shattered by a simple track.

"Well, there goes my confidence." I murmured to the grass.

After a while, I heard the tremor of footsteps approaching.

"Energetic vibe, I’m as good as new vibe, happy vibe." I heard Phinyx’s calm voice nearby. A wave of warmth washed over me, and the screaming fatigue in my muscles faded into a dull memory.

"Wohoo!" I sang, leaping up from my grassy bed. "Phinyx, Kira, you’re both amazing."

Kira looked away with a small blush on her cheek, while Phinyx just smiled with that tranquil expression he always wore.

"Thanks, Allaran. I’m glad my ability can help you grow stronger. After all, you’re the frontliner and the weapon of our team now." Phinyx said.

His words sent a small chill through me, a reminder of why we were really training. It wasn’t just for enjoyment, it was for fighting Corruptors.

"Still, I can see how much your abilities have grown. Kira can make vegetation grow faster and with more complex shapes. And you, Phinyx, your vibes are getting way stronger." I said, pushing the fear aside and forcing a joyous expression... maybe a little too joyous.

"And how’s the training going for you?" Kira asked.

This was it. The moment to unveil my new power. My confidence, so recently destroyed by the track, came back to life, fueled by the memory of the yo-yo hitting the ceiling.

"Well, I can now move rocks with my mind." I declared, trying to sound nonchalant.

"That’s an awesome vibe!" Phinyx said, his eyes lighting up. "Move massive rocks and throw them on top of corruptors! That’s a great idea."

"How were you able to pull that off?" Kira said with excitement. "We might be able to shape the geography around Argent with you creating massive stone walls!"

"Uhm... yeah, maybe..." I said, a little dismissively, waving a hand.

’How do I tell them now? That I can only move my yo-yo by small amounts... and that my definition of rocks is incredibly, pathetically small?’