Beyond The System
Chapter 124: One or Two Days

“This can probably be spun as an exploration mission near the Expanse,” the commander said. “Except, afterward, we vanish. Bring the girl here tomorrow at noon; we’ll speak with her family then.”

“Understood,” I replied.

“Then head back. Train as much as you can. We might have to leave at any moment.”

Marcus motioned with his hand. “You go first, Peter.”

I didn’t argue and took off.

Luna, I’m going to use the Voidseed when we get back, I let her know.

Alright. That’ll help me finish up, she answered, ready.

Maybe find a forest. Somewhere more secluded, Wyrem added. Last thing you want is to attract that strange energy.

Honestly, I hadn’t thought of that. Thanks.

I was nearly at the inn when I heard fast footsteps pounding behind me.

“Peter, I need to talk to you.” Marcus was sprinting to catch up. “If we’re going on this mission, there’s something important I need to discuss.”

“I’m heading to the forest to hunt. Can we talk there?” I asked, feigning a reason to go.

He nodded. “That works. Wait here.”

He slipped inside the inn. I overheard him mention an outing, then he returned. “Let’s move quickly.”

I took the lead, guiding us deep into the woods. We passed the old stone structure that led underground and reached the clearing Thea and I used for survival training.

I haven’t felt anything strange for a while, Luna said. That was my cue to stop.

“We should be fine here,” I told Marcus, then turned to face him. “What did you need to talk about?”

“We’ll be leaving as soon as the Prince contacts the others, maybe in a day or two,” he said, crouching down as I sat. “But I’ve hit a wall with your method.”

“With the Harmonic Foundation?”

“Uh... sure. It was all manageable early on, first reservoir, first scar, first roots, but now? I can’t solidify a reservoir without cutting off space for scar connections. And once the channel forms, it’ll take up everything.”

Luna? I asked, knowing she was close to finishing hers.

I ran into the same issue, she admitted. So I completed all three steps at once. Formed and solidified them together.

That sounded like a nightmare of control and timing. You could half-form them, but could a half-formed structure even hold up over time?

You already know how to capture energy, Peter, Wyrem chimed in. Just do what you did with the violet energy.

Oh! Right. That could work. Thanks.

I turned back to Marcus. “Try half-forming the channel, wrap it in a thin core, do the same with the scar, then build the roots. Finish each structure together.”

He sighed. “That’s going to take a lot of energy. Maintaining so many cores at once… then forming one strong enough to shatter them?”

I shrugged. “Probably. But I think it’s the best way forward.”

I activated the Voidseed. “Do what you can.”

It was getting harder to grow the seed, even when I fed it energy. The bean-sized black hole had reached a stubborn plateau.

While it pulsed, I got to work on another scar, this time in my other hand. Once it was stable, I repaired the fractures with a thin web of energy wires connecting scar to channel. A full hour passed before the Voidseed’s effect wore off; it felt too soon, as always, but Marcus stirred before I even stood up.

“I think that might work,” he said, sounding relieved. “The core method. It’s still tight in there, but if I finish everything at once, it just might fit.”

I hadn’t really thought about it before, but after the transformations, would the three systems start interacting with each other? The completed circuits I saw in my avatar form didn’t seem to grow like the channel, but there were definitely more connections then than just those between the scars and the channel now.

Maybe more venules appeared after full integration. I still wasn’t sure about the roots.

“That’s good. We should do some sparring, solidify our gains,” I said.

He nodded and stood. “Yeah.”

As we moved, more relaxed than in most of our previous bouts, we talked.

“Think you’ll be ready when the day comes?” I asked, genuinely curious about our odds. I lashed out with my right leg like a whip.

“I think we’ll test the waters first, and if everyone we want shows up, then there’s no reason to worry about punishment for family and so on,” he said.

I ducked under one of his swings, the wind whistling past my hair. “Test the waters? You mean sticking to just the first couple islands?” I dove at him, only to land face-first in the dirt.

He paused, then chuckled. “Nice one.” He offered a hand, and I took it. “Your plan really is something, Peter, but there’s just not enough information about that place.”

I nodded. “How long before someone comes looking for us?”

I brushed off my pants while he answered. “If Drake doesn’t show, maybe a few weeks. A couple of missing recruits wouldn’t raise alarms. But if I’m gone, they know my abilities, someone will definitely be sent to investigate,” he said. “Of course, if they don’t find anything, as you know, the whole thing gets forgotten.”

“But if we don’t get all the help we need, we might go missing for a different reason entirely,” I said with a smirk.

“That man, Ironscribe... he’s something else,” Marcus said, clearly impressed. “The way he carries himself, I get why they made him Drake’s guard.”

I was already done with my task, so I started to wrap up. “I don’t need, or plan, to sleep. I want to head back. It’s fine if I train alone, right?” I asked, already missing Thea more than I wanted to admit.

Like I said, I couldn’t blame her for getting attached. We hadn’t known each other long, but she was the first person I met here, aside from a knight and his sword, and she’d been helpful, kind. Even now, just not seeing her was making me tense.

I figured it would fade over time. Eventually, I’d be back to running from lightning bolts.

“Sure, but train all you can. The hours will fly by. I’m sure the others will want to train too,” Marcus said.

I nodded, though I knew their version of training mostly meant breaking themselves again and again, creating just enough space to grow.

Speaking of which. Luna?

Yeah? she responded quickly.

Do you think I should form the roots before completing the scars? I asked. I was starting to worry I’d run out of room, and it would be worse when I started to develop roots.

The Grand Channel, out of the three systems, was the main pipeline, and it took up most of the internal space once completed. Still, the concern nagged at me.

No, Wyrem answered for her. You must progress. If problems come up later, it’s better to face them when they do.

You’re not just saying that because you want more food right? I shot back.

I have plenty. I'm saying it because it's true. You're still too weak. You need strength to make up for your inexperience in battle. Once that catches up, then maybe you can afford to slow down. But if the danger really is as serious as you believe... Wyrem trailed off.

It was nice to get some affirmation, even if it came with a jab. I’ll continue, then.

“Alright. What about combat?” I asked, shifting gears. “Elric’s pretty good at it, but like me, I think he’s been limited by this place.”

I was half-curious if Marcus was planning to run him through the same five-on-one gauntlet. In my case, it had been six, but I took one of the familiars away.

Marcus smiled, a new kind of smile. Not exactly friendly, but still... happy. Unnervingly so. “Of course. Everyone will get training, but if he’s as talented as they say, I’ll give him some extra attention.”

Sooo... Elric might not be totally out of the woods. Not my problem.

We both sprinted back toward the inn. I checked in with Luna as we moved. How close are you to finishing?

Soon. I just need to solidify the last three parts, then I’m done, she replied quickly. I could feel her coiled around my wrist, expanding with each completed step of her work.

Eventually, we made it back. “I’ll let you know the moment I hear anything, and don’t forget to bring the girl to Ironscribe,” Marcus reminded me.

“Is it really okay to train here?” I asked, hesitating at the door.

“Just don’t use that absorption ability,” he said, tapping a finger to his lips as he eased the door open.

We slipped into the building, most of the lights were out. I nodded to him in silent goodnight and headed upstairs.

I opened the door to our room quietly. Thea’s soft, steady breathing told me she was asleep. Bristle lifted his head, but once he saw me, he let it drop back down, tail barely thumping.

I sat on the edge of the bed as gently as I could. Even in the dark, I could make out the contours of Thea’s face, half-covered by the blanket. A loose strand of her shoulder-length hair had fallen across her nose, making her scrunch it slightly every few breaths.

I reached out to brush it away, but before I touched her, she stirred. Her eyes cracked open.

“Mmm… Peter?” she mumbled.

“Anyone else brave enough to wander into your room?” I said, brushing the stubborn hair behind her ear. “You can go back to sleep.”

She shifted closer, eyes closed again, but her voice came out clearer now; awake, or close to it. “It’s strange.”

I waited for more, but nothing came. “Yeah? What is?”

“I... it was only just over a month, but I—I missed you so mu—” Her voice cracked, but after a breath or two, she continued. “I didn’t think I could miss anyone that much.”

Training could wait.

I laid down, facing her, and closed my eyes.

Words weren’t needed. Just the quiet breathing between us was enough.

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