It has been just over two months since Geo was saved by the fisherman. He was drifting alone in a rescue boat on the endless ocean for an unknown amount of time. He was little more than skin and bones, as most of his old muscles were drained away by his body in a desperate attempt at self-preservation. It took days before he regained the power to stand on his own again and even longer until he was able to walk without any help for an extended period. By now he was itching to finally move his whole body again and he had remembered the perfect exercise to get back into a routine.

He has promised to Sahara, the healer who was taking care of him, that he would not stray too far from the village. Not just because his still remaining frailty, but also due to the rumored spotting of wild beasts nearby. But that was fine for Geo as he only walked until he was near the forest a few hundred meters away from the village.

He was standing on the knee-high grass taking in the fresh air coming from a light sea breeze. For the first time in months he was able to enjoy the salty taste on his nose just as he used to. Then he grabbed a handful of dirt, trying to rip as little plant life out of the ground as possible and then played with the wet clay like earth in his hands. He was getting a feeling for its weight and density as he dirtied his hands. It was a safety precaution for what he was about to do and therefore he carefully studied the clump. Once he was satisfied, he dropped the ball back on the ground and slightly bend his knees. Standing slightly lower than normal and pressed his arms to his side. He took in one last deep breath and when he rapidly lifted his arm up an arm sized plate of earth in front of him, ripped itself out of the earth, floating only a meter away from him. Then as he punched the plate flung itself over ten meters far through the air, missing the stump that he was aiming for by a considerable mark. So, he continued for a short while throwing different pieces of ground at multiple speeds until he got winded. He still was not in top shape yet.

Shortly before he was about to call it a day, Geo heard a kid yell in excitement.

“Wow, do that again!”

Geo did not even notice the boy sneaking up on him. It was the Sarah’s nephew who often came to visit.

“Do what again?”

“That floating rock magic. It was cool.”

Stolen story; please report.

“You’ve never seen that before? In what kind of outback place did I land where you don’t even control?”

“I’ve seen some blackhands visiting before, but they don’t move that much and only do small things.”

“I don’t know what a blackhand is. But if you want, I can do one or two more throws before I completely break down. I am not in my best shape after all. So, pay attention! I will only do this once.”

Geo took a steadfast position once more and then moved his hands as if he tried to hug something and then yanked his hands upwards, ripping an almost tree sized chunk of rock out of the ground in a single massive movement. But the rock crumbled almost immediately as Geo collapsed.

“Guess I am not as fit as I thought I was, sorry kid. I think it is better if I go back now, slowly. Am probably going to have to spend the rest of the day in bed.”

“Oh, that reminds me, Aunt Sarah said that I should get you for lunch.”

“Before that, could you please call an adult? I don’t think I can walk that entire distance right now.”

The kid ran off to get help and after getting help waddling over to the Sarah’s hut Geo immediately went to bed, where he spent the rest of the day. That evening the healer came upstairs to Geo’s bed to bring him dinner in his dark little room and started some small talk.

“You completely overworked yourself, I understand wanting to finally move your body again, but if you keep doing it like this, recovery will only take longer.”

“Hmm, sorry. I did not mean to worry you. And believe me, I the way my body feels right now, means I’ve learnt my lesson.”

“That so? Anyways, what’s this about you being a blackhand? When I examined you, I can’t recall seeing any tattoos, but Miki has been telling everyone that you ripped the earth out of the nearby field. And people are saying that the ground has been overturned.”

“First the kid then all of you. Do you guys really don’t know basic control here? Guess they weren’t lying when they said that in the colonies the standards were lower, but this is ridiculous?”

“Colonies? I don’t think we even have a real king right now. There is no way this small country could ever even think of expanding.”

“Everything hurts right now; I am not in the mood to joke. We are on the Southern Continent in colony territory. I know that this is the only logical place where the current must have taken me. Don’t think I am that dumb”

“I don’t know of any colonies anywhere.”

“But this,”

Geo sits up rapidly.

“doesn’t make any sense. Unless I somehow drifted so far north that both the Alexia-Empire and the DU (Dreanian-Union) don’t have a strong foothold. But that doesn’t explain why you don’t know about control.”

“Aleixia-Empire DU? What? Geo, where are you from?”

“I’m from the Alexia-Empire, what’s wrong?”

“I never heard of a place like that and if you are telling me the truth right now, then I fear that you might be further from home than initially thought.”

Geo was confused and despite further discussion neither party was able to come up with an answer.