It wouldn't take long for us to reach the base, and I was greeted with a familiar view. The Axe Lion's base, the place considered my home besides the ship. (Author Note: I should really give its name.)

The base was an enormous building built to handle at over hundreds of people and several accommodations that made the place seem more like a bar than a base. The smell of alcohol and smoke was lingering in the air as I entered after Liam.

"Oh, well there you are kid!" The source of the voice was Derek as he came over to me, wrapping his arm around my neck.

(What's with them putting arms around my neck!)

"So, I heard you slept with a girl. I guess I can't consider you a kid."Derek said as he immediately started to laugh at me.

"Yeah! Tell us the details!"

"Was it incredible?"

"How long did you last?!"

Other crew members added on to Derek's comment and I could feel my cheeks heat up as I shoved Derek away.

"Can it! It wasn't like that at all! And how did you know?!"I glared at everyone and especially Derek as he held his hands in the air, snickering at me.

"News just travels fast to my ears is all. I guess I can still consider you a kid."Derek laughed as he placed his hand on top of my head and ruffled my hair. I immediately smack his hand away and adjusted my hair before I raise my fist in the air.

"Whoa, hold on kid. I'm just messing around with ya. Anyways weren't you following the Captain. He's gone to his office already"Derek pointed out that Liam had already left me behind.

"You! I'll deal with you later!"I stormed off in anger towards Liam's office.

The office wasn't genuinely an office, but a training room built for Liam specifically to keep his power contained when he trains. I never saw Liam train because he made it forbidden to go in unless he permits you and only Derek was ever given permission.

(I was always told that his power is really extreme, and it leaks out whenever he trains causing destruction around him....but that doesn't make any sense..)

I get rid of the thought before opening the door of the office, and I was met with heat that seemed to be coming from Liam who was sitting down on a training mat wearing his casual clothes that exposed his impressive arm muscles.

"Take a seat, Ian," Liam said as he looked at me solemnly. The air started feeling heavy as I take a seat in front of him.

"Have you ever wondered where magic comes from?"Liam asked as I looked at him confusingly.

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"It comes from mana that's invisible to the naked eye and so far people don't know where mana comes from. It's common knowledge. A lot of things that we use today is running with magic. Although, I never been able to use magic," I answered bitterly with a slight frown. (He's not going to lecture me is he?..)

"Have you ever thought that was unusual? How some people can use magic and some can't?"Liam asked.

"No, I never wondered about that..."I said as I was started to seriously think about it, but nothing would come into my mind.

"Of course no one normal would do so and they would just blame it on their genes for not having the talent to do so. Did you know that I also can't use magic?."Liam slowly rose to his feet as he turned his back to me.

"Huh?... Wait you don't!?" I suddenly stood up as I stared at Liam in shock.

"How?"

"It's essentially a new type of power that we call soul force. Where we are essentially forcing our bodies...Our souls to use mana. It is quite similar to magic, but depending on how much you use it could mean...death" Liam solemnly said.

"Death?" I started to feel as if I knew how death felt like even though I'm still alive.

(Weird...)

"Ian...Being able to use magic may seem to be based on luck, but we couldn't be even more wrong. There are powers at play that I couldn't even begin to explain to you. If...I" I could sense that Liam started to release his killing intent as he stopped mid-sentence, but he would quickly return to his former demeanor.

"Captain Xander...have you heard of that name before?"Liam asked as he turned to look at me.

"Uh...No, I haven't... I never heard of that name before. Is he someone famous? If he was then there should have been something about him..."I pondered deeply for a moment but still couldn't think of the name.

"I suppose it's a good thing that no one knows him. The knowledge of him is actually forbidden, and if you have anything remotely dealing with him then it means death...or worse. Do you wish to know? It's important to what's happening to you right now," Liam said with a solemn face.

"Well, I guess it's too late for you to decide because I already told you his name! Gahahahaha!"Liam held his stomach as I looked at him dumbfounded.

(How is this funny?! This is my life here!)

I quickly regain my composure, "Captain! I earnestly wish to know more about him. If he has something to do with what's happening to me now then I need to know."I would sternly stare at Liam as I clenched my right fist tightly.

"That's my boy! Gahahaha!"Liam placed his hands onto my shoulders as he acknowledged the kind of man I have become.

"Captain Xander was, in fact, my captain. Without him...I would under no circumstances be the capable person who I am today. Captain Xander was a special man, but he was also unable to use magic growing up. However, he eventually was able to due to certain reasons...Ian what I'm about to tell you has to stay between us. You can't tell this to anyone!"Liam grasped my shoulders tightly and shakes me back and forth slightly.

"I understand captain! I will not tell this to anyone! ", I stood firm as I nodded my head slightly.

"Good...now dodge this! "Liam roared as I felt something hit my chest, and before I knew it I was slammed against the training room's wall, groaning loudly in pain.

"Y-you didn't give me the chance to fight back...Cough...cough."I said as I slowly started to get up, leaning against the wall in pain. (Something is definitely broken...)

"Gahahaha! You are absolutely right. It's unfair for me to ask you to dodge right at that moment. I should have waited for you to assume a fighting position."Liam said right before he would immediately disappear in front of my eyes and I felt another hit against my chest.

"GAhhh!!!"I stared at Liam in disbelief as a mighty wave of pain forces me onto the ground, falling onto my side as I clutched my chest.

"GET UP BOY! I ASKED YOU TO DODGE MY ATTACKS!"Liam released his killing intent at me as he looked down at me.

"I-I... can't, "I painfully muttered as I started to crawl away from Liam. (I-I don't understand what is going on!.... It hurts so much...I don't see the point of this!... It's not fa-.)

"You are right. It isn't fair. What those "people" are doing precisely is not fair!"Liam roared again as if he knew what I was thinking and what happened after that would be ingrained into my brain for the rest of my life.