Nocturnio (24.7.9973 AS)
Two days had passed since Tristan was allowed to leave the temple. Although he felt healthy, the healer had ordered him to stay at home for the rest of the week. For Tristan it meant he would only have one week left to explore Nocturnio, till the new school term started. Tristan was happy about the unexpected development. Now he could stay at home and had a week time to think out how to handle his overpowered abilities.
Tristan was sitting on his bed in the apartment he and Nana would be staying for the next few years. It was nothing special. The flat was located on the third floor of a sky creeper close to the academy’s dorms. From the outside, the sky creeper looked like an oversized baseball bat made out of green glass. Strangely enough, it fitted quite well in the skyline of Nocturnio because there were so many strange looking buildings in the city.
The apartment consisted out of two big bedrooms and one small bedroom. They had decided to convert the small bedroom into an office for Tristan to study once the school started. There was also a small kitchen and a big living room apart of the two toilets in the apartment.
The furniture was nothing special. They had everything they needed nothing less, nothing more. And the appearance of the furniture was rather blunt. Also, Nana and Tristan had decided not to decorate the room. So no one would even dare to think Tristan belonged to one of the three clans since the three clans liked it to live pretentiously.
Dolores and Laura had taken the flat right next doors to Tristan’s new home. It was divided the same way Tristan’s and Nana’s flat was divided. It also had the same boring furniture. Dolores and Laura had decided to decorate their flat with many flowers and plants, pink curtains and some clothes here and there. Therefore, their room looked a little more girly.
Tristan looked around in his room. ‘So this is the place I will be spending most of my life in? It is quite different from the castle I have lived in, since my birth.’ Tristan remembered Lamia’s words from the night at the temple. ‘And who says I can’t return to that place?’ Tristan smiled sadly.
‘Anyways, something tells me not to show off my powers in the near future. But if I don’t use them, how am I supposed to get stronger? As far as I know those abilities are like muscles and mana circuits they develop and become stronger depending on how often and how much one trains them. Tristan closed his eyes to concentrate better.
‘There we go again with those paradoxes! Chose your own fate, my ass! Damn you Bella! I know you have already planned my whole life and nothing that happens to me will be by pure coincidence.’ Tristan was frustrated; he just couldn’t think of an answer.
Suddenly his face lightened up. ‘If I can’t show my full potential at school, I can’t use the school facilities to level up my powers except my mana pool and knowledge. Therefore, all I need to do is to find a place where I can train without anyone noticing. And I already know a place no one but me has access to.’
The night two days ago Tristan had used his active ability ‘Gates’ for the first time and was transported into two different rooms that only obeyed him. Since that night he had already somewhat mastered the ability; apart from the two rooms he had found that night he was sure there was one other room. In contrast to the other two rooms this room was much clearer and smaller.
‘I have no clue how to use the ‘resonance room’ and I don’t want to go there anymore, it is so creepy and scary. But I already know how to use the other two rooms. The large room that feels like home will be used as a secret base. Yes, a place only I have access to and where I can train my abilities without anyone noticing. Yeah, that solves that problem! The ‘light room’ will be used as storage. Yeah, I will fill that room with weaponry so people think that my active ability is ‘Rüsten’.’ Tristan smiled proud. He had solved his problem quite easily.
‘That just leaves one problem; where do I get the money to buy trainings equipment and weapons? I guess I will have to visit the library as soon as I’m allowed, maybe I will get there a good idea.’
Nocturnio (28.7.9973 AS)
The rest of the week had passed in a flash. Tristan had spent most of his time reading books and thinking of ways on how to make money. Unfortunately, he didn’t come up with an idea how a five year old could make a lot of money fast.
“Dolores Laura and I are planning on going to the zoo this afternoon would you also like to come with us?” Nana asked Tristan who was eating his toast as part of his breakfast. “I don’t mind going. I read there are many special magical beasts here in the south, so it should be fun.” Tristan answered feigning anticipation. In reality he couldn't care less about going to the zoo, but he knew Nana was trying her best to give him a happy childhood.
“But I would also like to visit the library in the morning. I have already read through all my books and I would get bored without new ones.” Tristan smiled innocently at Nana. “If you know where the library is.” Nana said. “Of course!” Tristan replied happily. Nana stroke Tristan’s hair. “of course you do, my little genius.”
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The library wasn’t far from their apartment since the library was also located near the academy. Standing in front of the library Tristan couldn’t help but think ‘The building looks so out of place’. Nocturnio was a modern city with many skyscreepers made out of different colors of glass. The entrance of the library on the other hand was in gothic style. This style of building was the typical demonic architecture during the time before the continental separation.
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Tristan entered the library and was speechless. He was standing on a platform and looked down just to see endless rows of books. The library didn’t look tall from the outside, but from the inside it was clear. This library had more floors than the tallest sky creeper in the city. It just didn’t stand out since the floors were dug into the soil.
Tristan and Nana went to register. The silver haired woman looked at and suggested him to go to the first floor to find fairy tales and children’s books. Tristan turned the suggestion down and asked where he could find fictions. The librarian didn’t look happy, but succumbed because Nana insisted that Tristan knew what he was doing and told her to start liking the idea of this kid running around in the floors with fictions for mature audience. The librarian led them to the fourth floor and showed them the fiction section.
Tristan went through the books and found his favorite book. It was a book about an orphan who had found a treasure. A treasure so big he couldn’t let anyone know it was in his position. So he created a phantom and a fake enterprise to wash his money. At the end he was found out because he had spent the money left and right without thinking of consequences. So he was sentenced to death by the king himself, who was one of the false friends the main character had made, while he had money.
‘Good book’ Tristan thought. ‘If only you were smarter my friend!’ Tristan was about to put the book back where he had found it. ‘Wait! I’m smarter than him. I would never do the same stupid things he did! I don’t have a treasure though...’ Tristan remembered how he had fixed the light crystal in the temple and later on also in his room. ‘… Well, I might not have a treasure, but I have knowledge no one here seems to have!’ Tristan had a creepy smile on his face till Nana smacked him one. “Stop smiling like that boy or else you will never find a woman!”
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In the afternoon, Tristan and Nana visited the zoo with Laura and Dolores. Tristan was so happy he had found the solution to his problem; he didn’t care to be dragged around by Laura. Because the two of them were supposed to be geniuses Dolores and Nana decided to let them do as they pleased. Tristan could understand why someone would have trust in his judgment, but he couldn’t understand how someone could have trust in the judgment of this good for nothing insect eater called Laura. He decided to go with the flow of things though, and to enjoy himself as much as he could.
Soon after he was the one dragging Laura around. With Laura as the boss they had checked up every cute animal there was in the zoo. From the majestic Hippogriffs over to the Unicorns to the Phoenix they had visited all enclosures. The first one they visited with Tristan was a Wyrm. It was sealed behind a thick glass layered with magic seals. Then they went to see a Hydra. And finally they went to the enclosure of the frost beast.
It wasn’t sealed away like the other beasts they had visited today. Frost beasts looked like giant white gorillas. Frost beasts were so strong ten normal demons wouldn't be able to keep it at bay but they lacked mobility. So it was impossible for them to reach out of the fences for their enclosure.
“So cool, do you see those giant arms? If they get you like this” Tristan grabbed Laura by her shoulder “you won’t be able to escape” he whispered. “kyaaaaaa” Laura cried and jumped out of reflex so strong backwards, she was now balancing on the fence. “What are you doing!?” Tristan screamed.
Before Tristan could do anything else to help her, she had already fallen into the enclosure. “kyaaaaa, Help someone! Help!” she screamed. Tristan looked dumbfounded. What was he supposed to do? He couldn’t go in to help her, could he? “Mommy! Please!” he could hear Laura’s cries. “Shut up! Or you will lure it to us” Tristan shouted and jumped into the enclosure.
It was really cold inside the enclosure. The zoo had recreated the habitat of frost beasts; The glaciers of Ater, a mountain chain close to the city of Nocturnio. Tristan picked up Laura, who was crying like a baby. “shhhhh, everything will be fine,” he tried in vain to calm her down.
Tristan could hear someone with big steps coming closer. He tried to figure out how he could survive this situation without having to use his active in front of her. He knew if he saved her, she would start talking about his abilities to others and that was something he wanted to avoid. He thought of letting her here to die, but he just couldn’t. ‘She will be useful one day’ a voice said in his subconscious.
He saw the beast swinging one of his arms at him and Laura. Tristan jumped to the side, Laura in his arms. He put her down “Try to get up the fence,” he whispered to her. Tristan ran towards the beast avoided its punch again and tried to lure it away from the confused and crying Laura.
‘This is bad. I can’t do anything here, but waste its time.’ Tristan avoided another punch by jumping upwards. He tried to go into the offensive by kicking the beast with all his might on the face, but nothing happened, except that the beast got angrier. “I’m not strong enough, it seems” Tristan smiled resigning to his fate.
“Hey! What are you doing there!” he heard a boy scream. “Please help her!” Tristan shouted and pointed at Laura. The boy who looked about ten didn’t hesitate to jump into the enclosure. He took Laura on a princess carry and jumped out with her. “Are you ok?” He asked her with a smile. “Everything will be fine,” he whispered in her ears while hugging her.
Meanwhile Tristan was still facing the frost beast. He avoided one punch after the other. The punches were slow but heavy. Tristan knew one hit and it was game over. Tristan looked over the body of the beast. He was searching for the ‘destruction points’. He knew this was his only chance. Another punch came towards him. Tristan waited till the last moment to sidestep the punch. He was now behind the beast. Tristan poured all his mana on his left hand and punched the beast on its shoulder blade. The beast roared and fell unconscious. This was enough for Tristan to jump up the fence to safety.
He saw the boy still hugging Laura. “I think you can let her go now, right?” Tristan asked. “I wish I could” the boy answered. “She is clinging to me like there is no tomorrow.” He added. “That is Laura and I’m Tristan. Thanks for saving her.” – “I’m Ernesti, nice to meet you” the boy introduced himself.
Tristan looked around and saw the zookeeper running towards the enclosure followed by Nana and Dolores, who had come to see what this commotion was about. “I guess my freedom is over” Tristan looked sad. “I hope we meet again one day Ernesti.” Tristan said just before Nana grabbed him on his shoulders and roared “What is the meaning of this?!”