Chapter 21 : Train,Pain and gain (Part 4) : The Right of My Mind
With that phrase from Liraen 'Your Mind' is already a signal for the second aspect which is Tawan Aspect to begin.
"Alright, Ren…., it's our time now, Braskert! Volgran!" Reyvik called out, both hands still behind his head, a blade of grass hanging from his mouth. His lazy wolf-tribe personality always looked too relaxed.
"Alright! Its taim for ya second Aspect Human!" Braskert barked with his thick Gnome accent
"Hmm?" Kael blinked, confused.
"Such a clueless human…" Grak'Mar muttered as he and Nibsken prepared to leave the backyard. Night was approaching; the fifteen moons were already rising, and the largest sun was dipping below the horizon, followed by the two smaller ones.
"Wait, where are you guys going?" Kael asked.
"Our satu-aspect training starts tomorrow, human, don't forget!" Nibsken replied.
"Let's go, Ogre. We need to tell boss about tomorrow's plans." Nibsken looked at Grak'Mar.
"Yah." Grak'Mar rumbled in his deep ogre voice.
"Don't forget tomorrow, human!" Grak'Mar shouted as they stepped out to the side of Kael's house.
"Yeah, sure, Grak'Mar…"Kael replied.
With that, the two Durvakians left Kael's house through the side path.
Meanwhile Liraen and Nylum were also preparing to leave.
"Okay, Kael… since this Aspect only requires Volgran, Reyvik, and Braskert, we'll leave early too," Liraen said.
"Huh? You guys too?"
"HAHAHAHAHA don' be saaad Kaeelllll~" Nylum laughed, his watery body rippling.
"Sorry, Kael… we have something to do…" Ren added gently, patting Kael's shoulder.
And the duo left as well, leaving Kael with only three of his friends.
It wasn't that the others didn't want to help with his training… but this Aspect—
Tawan, the aspect of mind control—
could only be handled by very specific friends of Kael.
"Sigh… Alright then." Kael sighed and looked at Reyvik and Braskert.
"Okay, guys… did Commander tell you anything about this Aspect?"
"Of course, Kael."
Reyvik placed his wolf paw on Kael's shoulder, his ears twitching.
"Tell him, Bras…"
"Ha! Lemme tell ya, Humanzz," Braskert said, the small Gnome hopping forward with his thick accent.
"This Aspect is about ya Mind! Commanda wan' ya to create or even invent new technologeh for ya ta go to ceremony an' academy."
"Hmm? So that means this Aspect requires me to invent something?" Kael still figuring out.
"Yeah! Ya right, human. But not jus' that! As ya know earlier, ya gotta test it on Volgran. Use him as a dummy." Braskert pointed Volgran giant sturdy figure.
"…Yeah. I heard that."
Kael looked mildly annoyed; he didn't want to hurt his friend.
"While me and Reyvik will help ya in ya invention," Braskert added.
"Yeah! That means we'll help you build it," Reyvik clarified.
"that's all wat Commanda told us, Humanz," Braskert finished, cutting the conversation short.
Kael's eyes widened in excitement.
"Hmm…I think I like this kind of training….since I always work with Boss underground, I never really have time to make or finish my machines"
"Alright, I'm on it, guys!" Kael clap his hand once.
"AWOOOOOO!" Reyvik suddenly howled, his tail wagging wildly.
"That's the spirit, Kael!"
"HAHAHAHA! Good Human!" Braskert barked.
"So what ya gonna do tonight?"
"Hmmmm…" Kael thought for a moment.
"Actually, I have this blueprint of a tech I've been wanting to build. Wait—I'll go get it from my room."
Kael headed to the back door of his house and pulled the lever beside it.
KREEEEEK!
A wooden staircase dropped down from his second-floor bedroom, unfolding into the wide backyard where they had trained that morning.
THUD!
The stairs settled into place.
Kael immediately climbed up, opened the outside door to his bedroom, and grabbed his tools and a rolled-up blueprint.
Before heading back down, he pulled another lever next to the door.
CLACK!
The light bulbs inside and outside the house flickered to life, illuminating the backyard.
Kael descended the stairs and reached the ground.
Then he put all the blue print and his tools that looked quite heavy on the wooden table with a thud.
THUD!
"Okay! This is everything I need, guys."
Awooo! That's so much Kael! so…. what're we gonna do, Kael?" Reyvik asked, tail twitching.
"Hmm… I think since the Tawan Aspect focuses on my mind and invention, I'll continue working on my new device." Kael suggest.
"You guys help me with that right?"
"Yah! That's wai we here, Human!" Braskert barked proudly.
"Good! Now look at this one…"
Kael unfolded the blueprint and presented it to Reyvik and Braskert, while Volgran simply sat nearby, silently observing with his massive frame.
Kael sat on the wooden chair, explaining every detail. His hands moved energetically as he demonstrated how the machine would operate. Reyvik stood beside him, tail wiggling with excitement, while Braskert, short as ever, climbed up onto the wooden table, squinting at the huge blueprint.
Huge for him, at least.
The night sky deepened into darkness, lit by the many moons and scattered stars.
A beautiful night in Kallidorra, where the nocturnal races began their routines.
A cold night wind swirled around them, giving both chills and a spark of excitement as Kael's invention slowly came to life in their minds.
Elvareth watched them from inside the house, just in case Kael needed her help.
But usually, Kael only looked for her when he needed food or money.
She knew how that human operated better than anyone else in the realm.
As the night went on, Reyvik and Braskert kept asking questions about the invention—
"Is this possible?"
"Do we have the resources?"
"What effect will this part make?"
Kael answered each question patiently, still refusing to reveal the invention's name.
To them, it was still just a theory.
As they ask and Kael answer, suddenly Reyvik give one valid question
"So….. Kael, when will we start building this one?" Reyvik asked, tail drooping as boredom slowly set in.
"Hmm… I don't need this one right now," Kael replied casually.
Braskert looked noticeably less excited; he was always the biggest fan of Kael's inventions.
"Really allat for nothing to do tonight?" Braskert a bit disappointed
"Haa…"Reyvik sighs.
But Kael grinned.
"HAHAHA…Don't worry, guys… I have another simple one for us tonight."
He pulled out another blueprint, smaller, with parts that were much easier to understand.
Immediately Reyvik and Braskert take a deep look.
Then, Reyvik suddenly howled.
"AWOOOO! This one looks like a hand cover for the forgerer, Kael!" Reyvik barked.
"Ya Human, ya wanna work tomorrow or train?" Braskert added, hopping closer.
Kael laughed.
"HAHAHAHA. This is called gloves, guys."
"Gloves?" Reyvik repeated, his wolf ears twitching.
"What's that?"
"Sure, it's a hand cover… but this one has more purpose."
Kael leaned in, tapping the blueprint.
"Commander Aeronis said he'll fight me next month, right?"
Reyvik and Braskert nodded.
"So I can't just show him my sword skill. I need to give him a little surprise."
Braskert grinned, eyes bright.
"Hahahaha! Good one, Human! Whatcha plannin' ta create?"
"As I mentioned. it's a glove. A glove that can actually surprise a Commander."
Kael tapped the blueprint confidently.
"I want this glove to create at least three things he can't predict."
"AWOOOO! That's brilliant, Kael!" Reyvik howled.
Kael's smile faded slightly.
"…But I don't know what to put inside the glove."
He let out a long sigh.
"I guess this is the hard part of being Mightless. Too much to think about… wanting to catch up, but still not even knowing where to start."
Reyvik paused.
"Mightless… huh?"
Then his tail suddenly wagged.
"Ha! Got it, Kael!"
Kael looked up sharply.
"What?"
"Why not add a Might elemental in it, Kael?"
Kael went silent for a moment. Then—
"…That's brilliant, Reyv!"
"AWOOOO!" Reyvik howled again, proud of himself.
"Yeah, I can add one elemental power to it!"
"Hah? Onle wan? Why not give like three or four of 'em, Human?" Braskert complained, waving his tiny arms.
Kael laughed.
"HAHAHAHA! I knew you'd say that, Braskert!"
"Yes, I want more than one… but why not add something the Commander has never seen before?"
Reyvik leaned closer, ears tilting.
"Hmm… something even a Commander's never seen before?"
"Ya know Commanda always go to fight, right Human?" Braskert added, climbing closer on the table.
"Ya! Commander always fight!" Volgran rumbled, his giant frame shaking slightly as he spoke.
"Volgran's right, Kael," Reyvik added, tapping the Titan's huge elbow with his wolf paw.
"I don't think anything can surprise Commander more than you actually having Might."
Kael grinned.
"That's the point, Reyv… I'll surprise him without even needing Might."
All three of them fell silent.
What could Kael possibly do, being Mightless? Their thought.
Braskert broke the silence.
"Okay Human… so wha'cha plan?"
Kael smirked.
"Glad you asked, gnome."
He began explaining again, just like he did with the big project earlier.
His hands moved quickly as he demonstrated concepts, drew shapes in the air, pointed at the blueprint, and described each mechanism.
Time passed unnoticed.
Elvareth had already gone to sleep, but Kael and his friends were still wide awake, hunched over the table, discussing every detail of the invention they planned to create.
At last, Kael finished.
"…So? What do you guys think?"
Reyvik looked confused, ears drooping.
"That's… that's too hard to understand, Kael…"
His tail sagged as well.
Braskert crossed his arms.
"That's insane if ya think ya can make that in one month, Human… The amount o' resources ya need is huge…"
Volgran nodded deeply.
"Volgran agree! It's too hard!"
Kael sighed.
"No, it's not too hard, guys… In fact, I only need two weeks for that invention."
"Two weeks? That's short, Kael." Reyvik's eyes widened.
"Yeah. As long as you guys help me, I can finish it in two weeks."
Braskert puffed his chest proudly.
"Alright, Human Inventor…"
Kael laughed.
"HAHAHAHA, relax… We only need a few materials for these gloves."
He stretched his arms above his head.
"But… we're not starting tonight. I'm tired already….."
Same goes with his gnome friends….
"Yawwwnnn… Ya, me too, Human," Braskert said, his eyes already half-closed.
"AWOOOOO! Why you guys sleepy?! It's still early!" Reyvik complained.
Kael yawned again.
"No, Reyv… it's already night. And I—"
Yaaawn.
"—I'm tired because of all that training…"
Still yawning, Kael turned and walked toward the wooden stairs leading up to his bedroom outside.
"Volgran's not tired!" the giant rumbled.
"Yeah, guys… I want to sleep already. You can leave from the side," Kael said, waving casually.
With a flick of his hand, Kael pulled the lever in his room, and the ladder retracted back up.
CLACK!
SKREEECH!
"Yawnnn… I'm sleepy too….., wolf! I'mma go back home," Braskert mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"Cih! What a sleepyhead. I'm gonna walk with Volgran around the town. Sleep early is for children, right, Volgran?!"
"Yah! Volgran no sleep!"
"Ya, ya, whatever, wolf…" Braskert muttered, walking past them and exiting through the side of Kael's house.
Reyvik looked up at Volgran. The giant nodded and lowered his massive hand to the ground. Reyvik climbed carefully and settled onto the shoulder platform.
"AWOOO! Let's go, Volgran, to the Night Town!"
"Ya!" Volgran rumbled.
THUD! THUD!
Just like Braskert, they slipped out from the side of Kael's house, disappearing into the night.
As the giant footsteps faded into the distance, Kael remained on the open rooftop, gazing at the moons and stars above.
His hand reached out instinctively, as if he could touch them but he couldn't.
"Sigh… I wanted to become a Realm Protector… but it's harder than I thought…"
He clenched his fists. "But I have to try…"
"I am the last human in this realm… I don't want my life to just pass by, to live and die without meaning… Let me choose for myself… Let me do it my way… Let me… decide it myself, on how I want to live and die in the future."
Kael's thoughts ran deep, weighed down by the pressure and the harshness of the path he had chosen.
"This isn't going to be easy… But, as they said… at least try right?."
And with that, the last human in the realm climbed back into his room, closing his eyes to sleep, carrying the weight of his heavy yet meaningful thoughts.
—End of Chapter