“It's really hard for me to breathe when I do that.”
“That's because you're keeping the energy stuck in your solar plexus for too long. You need to maintain a steady breath without losing concentration on the movement of your energy. It should flow in and out as if you were sewing.”
“It's a bit hard for me to imagine that.”
“Okay, let's take a break and ask a maid to help us sew something simple. Then we'll return to the exercise.”
Alex took his time personally teaching Liora how to cultivate with the new energy he had developed from the fusion of forest energy and ash energy. It was incredibly difficult for someone to learn this cultivation method. However, with Alex's constant help, a way had been developed for the Gnoll to learn it initially, followed by the Resh and Dwarves, so it wasn't impossible to assume there would be a way for the Faeclaw to learn it; it would just take time.
In addition to these strenuous sessions, Alex also taught basic subjects to those willing to learn for at least 30 minutes each day, subjects like mathematics and arithmetic, basic biology and chemistry, physics, and astronomy. Why teach these subjects? Alex had realized that many things done in cultivation or using magic could be rationalized. While they didn’t strictly follow scientific logic as on Earth, that didn’t mean they followed no logic at all.
This latest decision to open his classroom to anyone who worked with him skyrocketed his popularity among the city servants working in various mansions. Many people dreamed of their children receiving a quality education, and Alex provided exactly that without charging anything. Of course, Alex was completely unaware of this buzz, where more than one person had already started requesting similar rights elsewhere.
In addition to her usual subjects, Liora also had to assist Alex with some of his governing tasks and could accompany him to certain social events. Alex was educating the young girl to be a ruler, and unlike her family’s approach with their numerous offspring, the personalized education made Liora feel competent and up to the challenge. She wasn’t afraid to take on some of Alex's responsibilities in the mansion.
Another week passed, and the cold began to be felt more at night, especially. Atarra had concluded her research on the void curse runes, and as agreed with Alex, any progress he made in this area had to be recorded and shared with her. For his part, Alex had a long stage of cross-referencing the information he had received from the Codex and testing the real meanings of the runes.
However, the most impactful change was in Liora. Although the young girl had not yet been able to complete even the initial step to start cultivation—the famous step 0 where you feel the energy through your body—she had been training in hand-to-hand combat with Alex’s initiates. Combined with the classes she regularly attended and her assistance with work, an incredible change in her attitude had been seen. She had shown a great willingness to learn about administration and governance.
“Master Atarra was too strict, and it seemed like she hated me,” Liora complained with a pout.
“It's not that she hates you, little one. Life has been hard for her, so much so that it has hardened her heart to face adversities. I'm sure that, with time, you two will get along well.”
Liora sighed but nodded, taking Alex's words seriously. She decided to try to understand Atarra better and work on their relationship.
Meanwhile, Alex continued perfecting the cultivation technique. It was a constant process of trial and error, and though frustrating, it was also deeply rewarding. Each small advance felt like a great triumph, and in some way, being able to adapt it for another person made Alex feel his own mastery increased by leaps and bounds.
A day later, the maid arrived with the sewing materials. Alex and Liora sat at a table while the maid, an older woman with skilled hands and sharp eyes, showed them how to make basic stitches.
“See how the thread goes in and out smoothly? That's how your energy should move,” Alex explained as they watched. Liora watched intently, trying to visualize the energy in the same way.
After several attempts, Liora felt a slight vibration in her solar plexus. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. Alex smiled, recognizing the small progress.
“Excellent, Liora. Little by little, you're getting there.”
Gradually, Liora began to understand better the circulation of this energy, which, unlike the fierce feeling of her family’s energy, was much more reserved and elusive. It almost felt like watching a small, skittish cat from a great distance. Any sudden movement would make her lose the thread, but if she stayed inactive for too long, she would also feel she lost the connection, which had frustrated her until now.
During the administration classes, Liora proved to be a quick and capable student. She learned to manage records, plan events, and administer resources with an efficiency that surprised even Alex. Her confidence grew each day, and the servants and other students began to see her as a leader in training.
Day by day, the young girl started to feel so comfortable with her new life that sometimes she wondered if her past memories were nothing more than a bad nightmare. When she thought of her father’s face, she couldn’t even imagine anyone other than Alex. Similarly, when she thought of her brothers and cousins, she could only think of Kragash and the other initiates who had always treated her well. It was only when she remembered her mother that she still felt she hadn’t completely escaped. Some nights she dreamed that her mother grabbed her by the legs and dragged her out of bed to take her back to her kingdom, where she would be locked up forever. Luckily, she always woke up after those nightmares and could enjoy breakfast with her favorite person.
Of course, not everything could always be good.
“Master Alex, there are people demanding to see Miss Liora outside,” Sara interrupted Alex’s lunch, and all the initiates were intrigued by the housekeeper's choice of words.
Alex slowly looked up from his plate to stare at her.
“And who are these people?”
“They are Faeclaw like the miss, and they demand that we present her to them immediately.”
Alex took a short sip of his drink, and his displeased expression did not go unnoticed. Immediately, everyone put down their utensils and stood up from their chairs.
“Demand, eh? Then let's receive them as they deserve.”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
And with that, everyone ran to grab their weapons while Alex and Liora walked to the entrance.
At the entrance.
“Who do you think you are to stop me? Don’t you know who I am? That filthy master of yours is lucky to breathe the same air as me, and by the way, this whole house smells like shit.”
A Faeclaw woman incessantly insulted the guards watching over the mansion. From her perspective, with only a couple of simple guards and another half dozen patrolling, it was clear the mansion’s owner had fallen into disgrace, at least according to the common sense of nobility and high society in any city or kingdom. She herself would feel humiliated if people saw her properties as weak.
The woman glanced at the soldiers and knights accompanying her and hesitated for a moment. She could clearly storm the entrance with the forces she had. The problem would be the garrison’s reaction. Not being from the city, it would be really problematic if she were caught by the garrison. However, on second thought, she could easily storm the place, grab the girl, and leave before the garrison could react.
“Jaar, we’re going in by force,” she finally communicated.
"Yes, my lady," the knight at the front stepped forward swiftly, drawing his weapon, ready to engage the guards.
To everyone's surprise, the guards didn't even draw their weapons. They simply opened the gates wide and stepped aside, not bothering to impede the group's progress.
The knight looked back at his leader for further instruction, but she chose to ignore these lowly beings, deeming them unworthy of their time and effort. Killing them would be pointless as they posed no threat to their mission, even if they reported the incident to the city garrison.
The woman's entourage marched through the gardens, displaying nothing but disdain for the modest decorations and sparse adornments. It was evident that the owner of this property had cut costs drastically.
The woman was already reveling in the misfortune of the pathetic noble who had dared to give Liora refuge. The idea that such a pitiful nobleman might use Liora to claim her kingdom was laughable.
She began to laugh maniacally, thinking of the endless possibilities of having Liora in her grasp. She could use her in countless ways to solidify her son's position on the throne.
However, her maniacal laughter was abruptly silenced by a high-speed javelin aimed at her face, barely deflected by one of the knights following her.
Cold silence enveloped the group as they watched a squad of Gnoll approach from the mansion.
Cold, indeed it was cold. The woman felt a chill creeping up her spine, slowly crawling up and up and up.
“I see you’ve arrived early for your appointment,” Alex greeted them.
“What are you talking about, human? Appointment for what? Stop talking crap!” one of the knights demanded.
“Of course, your appointment with death,” Alex responded.
Alex immediately activated his tattoos, and his aura spread to all his companions, their eyes glowing crimson. With Alex having reached the fourth level of his cultivation, a barely visible projection behind them enhanced their abilities significantly.
The Gnoll and Alex positioned themselves in a defensive formation, their weapons glowing with the energy of their cultivation. The Faeclaw, surprised but undeterred, roared in defiance and charged forward.
Alex observed the enemy's movements, calculating each step. His combat tactics relied not only on brute strength but also on precision and strategy. Spotting a gap in the enemy's defense, he signaled his Gnoll with quick, precise gestures. Gruk and Zhar responded instantly, advancing with surprising speed and delivering a series of blows that destabilized one of the knights.
Liora, though not directly involved in the fight, watched intently from a safe distance. Her heart pounded, but she trusted in Alex and the Gnoll's abilities.
The battle intensified, with both sides exchanging blows and maneuvers. The Faeclaw, though superior in number, began to falter under the coordinated and combined strength of Alex and his Gnoll.
"Don't be intimidated by these savages!" the Faeclaw leader roared, advancing with her sword drawn. Her movements were swift and precise, targeting Alex. "This human is no match for us!"
Alex dodged her first attack with agility, his body moving like a shadow. With a swift motion, he deflected her blade with his own, creating a spark of energy upon contact.
"You underestimate your enemies," Alex replied calmly, his eyes glowing with the energy of his cultivation. "And that will be your downfall."
While Alex kept the Faeclaw leader at bay, the Gnoll faced the remaining adversaries with a ferocity and discipline that surprised them. Gruk, wielding his massive axe, felled two Faeclaw with a single blow, while Zhar, agile and deadly, moved among the enemies like a specter, his daggers finding precise targets.
The Faeclaw attempted to reorganize, but Alex's energy and the projection behind him, a formidable figure of light and shadow, kept them on the defensive. The Faeclaw leader, frustrated, roared with anger and redoubled her efforts against Alex, her attacks becoming more desperate.
"No more games!" she shouted, attempting a decisive strike toward Alex's heart.
But Alex, anticipating the move, spun around and deflected the attack with a force that sent the Faeclaw leader stumbling backward. Seizing the moment of imbalance, Alex launched a counterattack, his sword glowing with energy, and struck his opponent in the chest, knocking her to the ground.
"There is no need for further bloodshed," Alex said, pointing his sword at the defeated leader. "Surrender."
The remaining Faeclaw, seeing their leader down and the determination in Alex and his Gnoll's eyes, hesitated. However, one of the knights, eyes filled with fury and desperation, shouted a defiant order.
"For the glory of the Faeclaw! We do not retreat!"
In a kamikaze act, the Faeclaw charged forward with renewed ferocity. Their desperation and determination were palpable, and Alex knew they wouldn't stop until they had retrieved their leader or perished trying.
"Stand firm!" Alex ordered his Gnoll, preparing his defensive stance.
The battle became even more chaotic and bloody. The Faeclaw, driven by their desperate mission, attacked with inhuman fury. Despite their bravery and strength, the Gnoll began to feel the relentless pressure.
Gruk, the strongest of the Gnoll, was overwhelmed by three Faeclaw who lunged at him, their swords and claws tearing into his flesh. With a roar of pain and fury, Gruk leapt up, throwing two attackers aside, but succumbed to a final stab from one of the knights.
Zhar, agile and lethal, was surrounded by several enemies. Though he fought with incredible skill and precision, he was eventually overpowered. His daggers fell from his hands as a Faeclaw captured him, holding him firmly.
Seeing his comrades fall and be captured, Alex felt a surge of anger. He channeled all his energy, his tattoos glowing intensely, and launched a devastating attack against the Faeclaw, knocking several of them down in one move.
The Faeclaw leader, seizing the distraction, was dragged back by Jaar and another knight, both willing to sacrifice themselves to ensure her escape.
"Don't let them get away!" Alex shouted, trying to break through to them.
But the remaining Faeclaw, in a final act of desperation, formed a human barrier, preventing Alex and the Gnoll from advancing. The sacrifices were inevitable, and Alex could see the determination in their eyes. They knew they were doomed, but they wouldn't let their leader fall into enemy hands.
Finally, Jaar and the Faeclaw leader managed to escape by a hair's breadth, leaving behind a group of dead, wounded, and captured Faeclaw.
Alex, panting and filled with frustration, looked around. Several of his Gnoll lay injured, and the ground was covered in bodies. The victory had come at a high cost.
"Is everyone alright?" he asked, his voice firm but laden with concern.
"Gruk... is badly hurt," one of the Gnoll said, crouching next to the fallen giant. "And Zhar has been captured."
Alex nodded, gritting his teeth. "We'll make them pay for this. But first, we need to tend to the wounded and strengthen our defenses."
Liora, still watching from her safe spot, felt a wave of relief and admiration for Alex and the Gnoll. However, she also felt tremendous guilt, having recognized the woman and some of the knights. It was clear they were part of her old family and had come for her. All this damage was caused because of her.
The young girl ran to help the wounded back to the mansion while Alex barked orders left and right to identify their attackers and gather more information about their whereabouts and Zhar's location.
"Father, I'm sorry. It's my fault that everyone got hurt," Liora sobbed.
"Don't worry, Liora," Alex said, patting her head. "No matter the reason they chose to fight me, I'll make sure it's the last fight they have."
Liora lowered her gaze as Alex comforted her. Meanwhile, Alex was genuinely furious. Being assaulted in his own home was an offense that demanded retribution.