Chapter 70: The Storm

Chapter 70: The Storm

Chapter 70 - The Storm

Dark clouds covered the sky. The roaring sea did not add any reassuring note to the picture. The high tide and winds stirred the waters. Each time a wave crashed on shore it sent a drizzle of cold salty droplets against his skin. Kai didnt move or showed any intention of going back inside.

Dawn had come and passed, but the world remained in a state of semi-darkness. It wasnt night and it wasnt daya world of shadows and dim light somewhere in between. Every few seconds bolts of lightning illuminated the sky for an instant, soon followed by a deep rumble.

It was typhoon season once again. In Greenside, most people had found the sight depressing, preferring to stay indoors and spend the day telling stories, sheltered from the harsh winds. Those who didnt have the luxury of a choice cursed out loud as they went to work outside. No boats would leave the docks today.

The stormy sea was painted in darker shades of blue, with only a few hints of a cloudy viridian. Kais lips curved upwards ever so slightly. It wasn't a cheerful smile nor his mischievous grin. It was the face of someone admiring a work of art.

He always had a fascination for natural phenomena. Their scale and power filled him with a sense of quiet awe. A reminder he was nothing compared to the force nature could unleash. All his problems were insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

The wind violently whistled. It was cold, not enough to bother him. The smell of sea and storm mixed. It had not started to rain yet, but the thunderclouds promised it was a matter of time.

Opening his senses, the mana was raging as much as the sea. His skin tingled against the furious currents of energy. Water mana flooded far beyond shore, overshadowing Earth and Nature, which were forced to fall back inland.

The mana density fluctuated wildly; whatever array rested beneath the estate struggled to maintain a stable environment against the forces of nature.This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.

Ill need to ask Dora if she needs anything. The greenhouse is going to be fine, but the garden might not.

Amidst the chaos, Kai caught sight of something strange. He furrowed his brows and squinted, even if he wasnt really using his eyes to see. His loose clothes flapped in the wind. A swarm of white motes with a blue hue passed an inch from his nose, spinning together in tiny hurricanes. It lasted only a moment before he lost sight of them, but his mind had no doubts about what he saw.

Those were Air motes. Dora said it would take me years to see them, but its been less than one. Cant wait to see her face when I tell her this.

He was under no illusion that it was entirely his merit. Without the exceptional circumstances, he would not have been able to take a glimpse at them. The flashes of spinning white motes looked a bit clearer now. With a glance, he confirmed Mana Sense had gained a level. It would probably be a while before he could observe them reliably, but a win was a win.

If you want to do this, you wont get a better chance. Elijah's voice resonated behind him.

Running and Swimming had been stuck at lv99 for the last two weeks. Pumping them full of mana had helped level them faster, but now they hit a roadblock. He needed something to push through the last bottleneck.

Running in extreme weather conditions was worth a shot and Swimming in a stormy sea even more. He was confident Elijah would fish him out if something went wrong. How long he would wait before intervening was another story, but it was a risk he needed to take.

A loud rumble overhead signaled the start. Without a second thought, Kai started Running, wasting no time to activate mana enhancement. Today he had no limitations on mana usage and Nature magic would be of little use.

With another thunder, a heavy downpour started to fall. He was drenched in seconds. Thanks to physical exertion he didnt feel cold, but running on the sand became even more difficult. His shoes were a hindrance rather than a help. He kicked them off without stopping.

A gust of wind made him stumble and reminded him it wasnt like any other day.

I guess Im never getting my shoes back. If they dont get blown off a few miles at sea, theyll end up in the jungle.

There was no time to mourn the loss. The winds pushed from all directions following no rhyme or reason. His superhuman strength helped, but his body didnt weigh much more than an ordinary child.

Okay, I admit I prefer to observe the storm from a safe and dry place. Im sure Elijah can fish me out of the sky too. Probably

He glanced over his shoulder to look for the butler. He was nowhere to be seen. Not that he could see much through the curtain of rain. His eyes closed to little more than slits to protect them from rogue drops.

I bet he is hidden in the shadow under the heavy rain. No shot he misses the chance to watch as I make a fool of myself.

The image of Elijah comfortably resting on a cozy armchair with a cup of warm tea in hand flashed into his mind. The butler stared at the drops flowing down the glass window and wondered if his student would survive the day. Then he shrugged and dunked a biscuit in his tea.

No, he wouldnt do that. Probably

Banishing any stray thought from his mind, Kai focused on his task. Everything else was out of his hands.

If I dont gain the last level, it will all be for nothing.

Occasionally a larger wave washed over his bare feet and ankles. He ignored it and kept pushing forward. After reaching the end of the bay, he turned back and continued without pauses. The wind kept blowing faster, he had to be conscious of the position of his body and continuously adjust to avoid falling. Lowering his body to push through a strong gust and standing up when the wind pushed him forward.

A blinking light appeared in the corner of his vision.

I did it! That was easier than I thought.

*Ding*

New skill added to the Archive! Balance (lv1) Standing on two feet, on one hand or three fingers, falling is not an option.

Enchanted Running (lv1)Enchanted Sprint (lv1)Steady Runner (lv1)

A glance from the alchemist was all it took to lower his gaze.

Here, Dora softened her tone and offered him a cup of tea. It might have worked, but there was no need for this. Ill have a few words with Elijah later. How could he suggest something so stupid.

Now that the adrenaline had left his body, Kai started to feel cold and exhausted. He warmed his hands around the cup and took a sip. Dora had been extra generous with the honey.

I didnt make any progress in two weeks. He didnt know why he was defending the butler, but ultimately it was his choice.

Two. Weeks Dora gave him a long look. People consider themselves lucky if they can overcome the last hurdle in a few months.

Her yellow eyes bore down on him. This time Kai didnt back down. He had not known how much longer it usually took, but he would have made the same decision regardless.

How am I going to catch up to the youths of the continent if I dont do at least this much? His eyes met the womans gaze.

After a few tense seconds, Dora broke the stalemate. Are you sure this is what you want?

Yes, Kai answered with conviction.

The plump woman sighed. I doubt a few words will change your mind but remember there is a difference between taking calculated risks and being reckless. Everyone thinks theyll stop in time, but before they know it, they take bigger and bigger risks.

With that, she left. Kai started to feel bad. His proud posture slumped. In the heat of the moment, he showed no doubts, but he didnt feel as sure as he let on.

I dont know what I want, but I want the freedom to choose when I find out.

He could figure the rest out later. Dora had raised some good points, but now wasnt the time for doubts. Sitting cross-legged on the floor to not drip on the furniture, Kai focused on replenishing his reserves.

Inside the house, the mana appeared calmer. The only hint that something might be off was the predominance of the Water motes over the others. It was perfect for his next step.

He thought of trying to use elemental magic to evolve Running, but it wasnt feasible. The best element would have been Air, but he was nowhere near good enough to try that. Earth might have worked if he was willing to dedicate a lot of time and patience to one task. But then what? His elemental reserves were limited. It was going to be years before he could make use of it properly. Too much hassle for something he might not even use.

Swimming was a different story. The best element was obvious, and even without the skill for it, he had gotten quite good. Even if he failed today, experimenting in extreme conditions would get him a lot closer to his goal.

Falling into Meditation, streams of blue motes began to form around his body. He understood their flow and desires. One small batch after the other, they started joining his mana channels, while more were absorbed by proximity.

Kai took it slowly to get some rest, but the higher Water mana made him finish in record time.

I see you are planning to go out there once more.

Kai froze in the spot upon hearing Doras voice. He was already preparing some excuse, but when he turned around there was no judgement or anger on her face. She seemed sad.

Guilt hit him like a brick in the stomach.

Its too late to back off now.

Ill be careful, I promise. He knew it wasnt enough, but it was the best he could do.

Then you should take this first.

Kai noticed a familiar glass in her hand. A potion.

Thank you

Once more words didnt feel enough.

Taking it in his hands, he noticed it didnt look like one of her usual sludges. Mana Sense revealed it was an orange-tier potion. His eyes widened slightly at the sight and moved back to Dora, but her expression was unreadable.

Thank you. He repeated and downed the glass.

The potion had a pleasant herbal aroma, he could feel it flowing down his throat and warming up his body. In moments, his exhausted muscles felt rejuvenated and touching over his bruises didnt hurt him anymore.

Wait five minutes, before jumping in. The potion still needs to take full effect.

Kai nodded. Before he could change his mind, he opened the door and stepped outside into the storm.

Time for round two.