Not wanting to waste time, thunder started materializing, sparks of lightning showing its presence in the air. I drew in a sharp breath and leaped. The scenery started passing by me like a foggy memory, my legs felt like they were on fire as the speed I was using was absurd. In a few minutes, I crossed a few kilometers in succession and arrived before the mass of black-like substance that wrapped around the cave.
I reached out my hand and tried touching it, only for my hand to pass through it as if it didn't exist. My ocular skill was still active, and I could see my hand disappear behind the dark wall. Pulling back my hand, I realized that there was no change apparent that happened in my hand. I opened and closed my hand a few times, not noticing any significant difference.
I wondered what it was. A defense mechanism maybe? Or maybe it was just something that the kid likes to drape over his own house. His tastes in interior decoration was lacking to say the least, but hey im not judging.
So it was just some kind of illusion then. The question is, how do I break that illusion?
“That's not a smart idea child.”
Mr Lucius appeared and made his seat on top of my head.
“Why? Couldn't I just break it and retrieve the kid? Isn't he in some kind of trouble if he's in this sort of mess?”
“No. The situation is far from it.”
He teleported near the dark-like wall and touched it. The difference between me touching it and Mr Lucius touching was like the difference between night and day. He was able to caress it directly, sometimes toying with it as every finger he poked rippled across the dark wall. It was unqiue. Different from all the things that Cosmo have seen.
He wanted to try using his sword to slice it open, but he felt that it was not the smartest of ideas. A shame.
“What is it, Mr Lucius?”
“It's a defensive measure. Used in some cases when one is doing something really important, and they do not wish to be disturbed. This one is of the same case, but a different approach. It is because it is more like a passive skill. A kind of extra effect of an evolution.”
“Evolution? Thats not possible Mr Lucius. The kid is human. Isn't he?”
Hearing what Mr Lucius said, I was shocked. Evolution? I know that there are [Class Evolutions] when one wishes to upgrade their [Class], but never an actual Evolution. Mrs Flying Tiger hasn't discussed it with me yet. Or she did but I want to listen. Doesnt matter. The point is I don't know either way.
Mr Lucius turned his back on the wall and looked at Cosmo with a grin on his face. “Cosmo, do you know how Humans came to be?”
“Nope.”
I knew that it had something to do with a man and a woman, and when they loved each other very much, a baby appeared all of a sudden. I once tried asking my Father about it, but he just said that he should go ask Mother. I did and she said the same thing. So I turned to my sister, and she said that I should never ask the question again. That is how my escapades ended with that.
“I can't tell you much since some of the knowledge about evolution is forbidden, but what I can tell you, my dear student, is that the person behind this wall is achieving Evolution. A [Genus] Evolution of sorts. And judging by this kind of wall, whatever is in there is growing up.”
“Growing up?”
“On very rare occasions, there are races that don't age normally. Some of them go through a sort of Evolution, think of it like a butterfly that would burst out of its cocoon, and in those sort of [Genus], they go through that cycle whenever they reach a significant age like humans teenage years, or becoming an adult. Some of them need to fulfill specific requirements to undergo that process, and it seems the kid behind this thing already achieved it. They just delayed it for some reason.”
That was a lot of information Mr Lucius spat out. I furrowed my brows and tried to understand it. So basically, the kid is growing up and it's because of his race, or [Genus]. Wait what is a [Genus]? I questioned Mr. Lucius and he replied that it is a low-level race or creature that somehow attained sentience. Like an ant that achieved sentience, enabling them to reach the kind of mind a human might have. Some even exceed them, added by Mr Lucius.
“Mr. Lucius, what [Genus] is the kid?”
“You cannot call him kid anymore Cosmo. From my observations, he's becoming a teenager soon, like you. And as for your question.”
Mr Lucisu smiled, and I know that smile. He didn't speak, as I already knew the answer. I sighed and said.
“I have to figure it out myself. Fine.”
Mr Lucius nodded for one last time before he vanished once more. Thinking that he was gone, I started thinking about what to do next but Mr. Lucius then appeared again in front of me.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“I almost forgot. Those monsters that are approaching from all sides, it's because of the kid. They caught the scent of a special kind of [Genus] evolving, and they want to devour him to aid their Evolution. Alright, good luck my dear student.”
He didn't let me reply. He vanished again before I could even react properly. I stood there with my mouth gaping open, as I heard the roars become more enraged and ferocious in the distance. I closed my mouth using my hand and plopped into the ground. I watched the wall in silence and thought that indeed, having subordinates indeed requires a lot of responsibility. Maybe it wasn't too late to deny Mr Samuels's offer. I could always get subordinates after I graduate from the academy. Well, the die has already been cast, too late it seems.
Summoning my [Lexicon] I flipped through its pages as I started preparing for the incoming wave. And yet no matter how much I flipped through it, it gave me no clue as to how to defend the kid, no wait, my friend from the attack. I could guess that foam would be coming out of their mouths when they came here and saw the most delicious snack in the world.
I thought that maybe the illusion would hold, but I doubt it. The situation was never simple to solve for me. The spells that were available in my [Lexicon] were either suited for actual normal-sized people or monsters, and the spells that were suitable for large creatures were locked off. Dang it, I should have worked on my [Lexicon] more.
No time to have regrets though. I rose from my position and leaped to one of the nearby branches. I used my Occulus skill and saw that the cliffs were not holding. They were slowly being torn apart, as rocks continuously fell to the ground with a large thud. Large sounds of rocks were constantly ringing out, never pausing for even a second. If not for my enhanced hearing, iu would even have heard of it since it was so far from here.
There has to be a way out of this bind. The easiest way was for my friend could finish his evolution quickly, but the walls dividing him from the world wasnt showing any reactions. So I'm guessing it would take a while. What even was happening behind the dark curtain. Did he erect it himeslf? Maybe so but still why? There wasnt enough information for me to go with it.
Frustrated, I got back to the ground and kicked the tree in front of me. It was broken in half, as it crumbled to the side with a large thud. I thought birds were going to be flying out of their nests, but there was no sign of life to be seen. There was only the wind and the gentle swaying of the tree branches. It was peaceful on the surface, but it was not when looked evne more deeply. It was then that I thought of a solution.
There was a way out of this, and I don't like that option. Because it meant giving away control, and I don't like giving control. I like being in control. All my life I wasn't in control, and it was terrifying for me to give control to someone as unreliable as that person. I gazed at the black wall of illusion and saw through the person behind it, I knew I had no choice. Giving control was one of the last things i ever wanted to do in my life, but maybe it was the only thing that can save us both.
I sighed for one last time, before plopping back to the ground again and sat in a meditative pose. I closed my eyes and scoured my mind, looking for a certain individual. The white one said that I needed to understand something first if I wanted his help. I need to understand that what I fear is relaxing and losing control. The thing I need to know and understand is that sometimes everything can't be in my control, and I have to just let go of things and accept everything about me.
How can I do that? I don't want to do any of those things. I want control and assurance. I do not like the unknown. I want the dark side of me gone. The side that wants to rip Aki to shreds in front of Everyone. The side that just wants to leave the kid alone and find another subordinate. The side of me that I just refuse to accept.
My mind was in turmoil, the mana around me seemingly following my own emotions as it started to act haywire. It felt like my mind was once again cuasing a great storm of thoughts that i myself are trying to calm down. Like using a stick to stop a tornado.
Calm yourself, child.
It was then that I heard Mr Lucius, his voice soothing my troubled mind.
Take a deep breath.
I breathed deeply, feeling my body relax in its tense state.
What are you afraid of?
Losing control. Hurting people more than necessary. Being weak. Being nothing more than what I am.
Why?
Because I'm helpless, I can't do anything if I am weak. I can't do anything if just stay the same every day. I want to protect the people around me. And with what I am now, I can't do it.
Cosmo.
What?
Do you think I was weak once in my life?
No. I just guess you were strong when you were born.
It was far from it my dear student. I was weak just like you. I was helpless just like you. But do you know what made the difference?
What?
Time. Patience. You can't do everything alone, Cosmo.
I sat in silence, digesting the information Mr Lucius just said. I have become too impatient I have noticed. Wanting to do the next thing without even letting the other thing finish properly. I rushed myself too much when all I needed to do was just relax and take it step by step. And if I want to be strong, the strongest, I have to do it the right way.
Taking in one final deep breath, I fully let my body relax and let go. The moment I did, my consciousness seemed to be slipping away into slumber, and instead of fighting it like last time, I just let myself flow within the confines of the river of my mind.
…
Cosmo then opened his eyes slowly, as a grin crept up on the side of his face. He slowly rose from his place and stretched his arms out. He did a few jumping jacks, sending some leg kicks and punching the air. Seemingly still not believing it, he started running, zig zagged and leapt into the skies. Back on the ground, he drew in a deep breathe. Once Cosmo confirmed it, he smiled and shouted.
“I'm out baby, oh yeah. See, I told that guy I would come out fully first. Ha! He may have come out first, but he was simply an unfinished product. I mean seriously, I thought I needed another century in order to get out.“
A roar rang out in the distance, apparent that one of the creatures was able to burst out. It came from the south. Cosmo didn't seem disturbed by it. Instead, he smiled and said.
“Welp, still things to do I see. When there are things to do, there is some fun to do like I always say. Let's test this puppy out. I wonder how long that bastard can last.”
Cosmo then vanished from his spot, white sparks of lightning being left in his wake. The monster in the distance that roared with energy suddenly stopped. In a few seconds, roars were heard again but it was of pain. A cry for help.