Theory is good.

But the gap between theory and reality is sometimes demoralizing.

It took Lug a few days to realize that he was missing something to make the stone come back to him.

He was able to infuse his energy into the stone.

But manipulating that energy was the hard part.

It was while meditating on one of the lessons given by the Wise One that he managed to find the missing piece of the puzzle.

"Ghosts are very similar to the living, in that they are very dependent on their beliefs. Belief makes the ghost, just as it makes the living. It materializes a tent, or a book, or a balloon. But how? How Lug?"

Lug was wrapped in his coat, walking along the lake.

Thinking back, he couldn't remember what he had answered at that moment.

No matter, he kept playing the movie of that day in his head.

"... Ghosts ARE materializations. Their bodies are materialized. That's why they can change their shape. Like me for example. The shape you see there is what I looked like when I was 16. Impressive, isn't it?"

Lug switched from this memory to his imagination.

He thought about what he would want to look like if he were a ghost.

"I can't choose... Too many possibilities... And what’s the point anyway…" he thought before returning to his memory.

"The greatest strength of ghosts is also their greatest weakness. They believe they are limited by the same forces as when they were alive. Remember that, Lug. The two things that offer the most power or can limit you the most are belief and intent. You don't need anything else."

Lug continued to walk, zigzagging between the rocks that littered the edges of the lake.

He scratched his head.

"What do I do with this?" he thought.

He stopped and gathered some flat stones on the ground.

"I fill a body with psychic energy."

He infused his energy into the stone as he spoke.

"Then, I put an intention into that psychic energy, which is in that stone."

He clenched the stone in his fist, closed his eyes and repeated:

"Come back, come back, come back!" while visualizing the path that the stone would take.

Then he took position, strengthened his body and threw the stone.

To his surprise, just before it hit the opposite shore of the lake, the stone made a slight turn, before sinking.

Lug looked at the sinking stone with a straight face.

He had made progress, he was getting closer to his goal but he felt no joy.

"Finally, I can move on." he thought.

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He wasn't happy, but relieved.

The pressure he was putting on his shoulders was going to lighten a bit.

It was almost noon and he planned to get the stone back to him before the sunset.

No time to waste, he picked up a stone again, did the same ritual and threw it.

Again.

And again.

And again.

It took him only three short hours to get the stone back.

When he succeeded, he dipped his hands into the water to clean the dirt and bits of dead leaves that had clung to his skin.

He shook his hands and wiped them on his coat.

He then stuffed them into his pockets and headed home.

Before leaving, he looked back at the lake.

He knew that he would not be coming back anytime soon.

That did not sadden him.

He came down from the mountain at the same time as the sun.

Lug had taken his time.

He relished the thought that the next stage of his training was approaching.

Strangely, he felt no pride in mastering telekinesis.

He didn't feel like he was getting stronger.

To Lug, being strong was about being fast and powerful.

Lifting objects from a distance, seemed to him a superfluous ability.

In short, he did not see the practical aspect of what he had just learned.

As he passed the cemetery gate, he saw Hannah talking to Eno.

Upon seeing him, both waved.

"Lug! What's up? You didn't call me back. So… you made it?" asked Hannah.

Eno quietly slipped away to leave Lug alone with Hannah.

"Yes, I did it. I'll go tell the Wise One" Lug replied, crossing his arms.

Hannah looked at him out of the corner of her eye.

"What?" asked Lug.

"Did my advice help you? At least a little?" she asked.

"Oh yes, it did. Thanks again, I should have asked you earlier. It would have taken me less time to find the missing piece of the puzzle."

"My pleasure! Come on, now show me!" she said, clasping her hands together in anticipation.

Lug did not expect this request, but he gladly accepted.

He found a stone on the ground and showed it to Hannah.

"See, it's a normal rock we agree?"

Hannah walked over and looked at it closely.

She took it in her hand and turned it around.

Lug gulped with nervousness.

He smelled her perfume.

Then her skin touched his as she rested the stone in his palm.

It took all of Lug's hard-won determination from his training to keep his composure and appear impassive.

Hannah looked at him with a smile, her blue eyes cocking a look that was about to make Lug's heart explode.

At that moment, he felt like running away to take refuge under a cold shower.

"So? What next?" asked Hannah.

Lug regained his senses.

He cleared his throat and went on talking.

"Um, yes. So... The stone, look at it carefully. It will start to levitate."

Lug opened his hand and focused.

But his mind was empty.

His whole being was focused on Hannah.

He could not form any intention in his mind.

Lug could not accept the possibility of failing and making a fool of himself in front of Hannah, so he clenched the stone in his hand.

He strengthened his arm to 60% of its capacity and threw the stone with all his might.

A hissing sound split the air.

Lug's movement was so fast that Hannah barely saw it.

Lug turned to her and opened his hand.

"Look, the stone is gone," he said with a smile.

Hannah laughed.

"Ahahah, that’s what I call a flash levitation ! " she said, before sighing softly. "Lug. Don't hurt yourself, okay?" she added, tapping Lug's arm with her index finger.

Lug blushed as he rubbed his arm.

He was starting to feel a tingling sensation, a sign that he was in for a rough night.

"Ahem... You were waiting outside my house, did you want to tell me something?" he then asked.

"Yes! I want to invite you to the restaurant tonight, please say yes!"