Beyond The System
Chapter 140: A Surprise

“Why aren’t you two saying anything?” Vel asked, looking a bit down. “Did I fail?”

“No, you did great,” I reassured her. “I’m just… really surprised.”

“Really?”

Thea joined in. “Trust me. Really. We’re both stunned.”

Velea’s face lit up at the confirmation of her brilliance. “I’ll keep practicing hard!”

“Great. Let’s head back.” We were close to the road, and while it wasn’t hard to navigate from here, I honestly wanted to test my progress.

“Good idea. We should all get as strong as possible,” Thea agreed. "We should all train hard when we get back."

They started walking, but I paused, tensed, then jumped, putting everything I had into it. Just my body. No Internal Force involved.

"Mmm." I couldn't stop my stomach from dancing mid-air. My nerves flared as I rose, quickly hitting my peak.

I still didn’t fully understand how my muscles were changing. If it was something chemical, physical, or even spiritual. Really, no clue, but with just this one push, I reached the same height as before with Elric without using Internal Force.

I landed slightly better than last time, but my bones still rattled. Violently.

Maybe… let’s not do that again without slowing down first. Or, you know, using force.

“That was insane! How’d you jump so high? Another skill?” Vel ran up to me, wide-eyes filled with curiosity.

“I’ll tell you later. First, let’s head back.”

We settled into a jog, slow enough for Thea’s little sister to keep up.

“That was insane, Peter,” Thea said with a smirk.

I smiled back. “Thanks.”

Her expression shifted. “You activated her Nexus, right?”

I nodded.

“Maybe—maybe there’s another reason she struggled so much,” Thea murmured, thoughtful. “You don’t think, because of your situation, she awakened a sense for Water Force?”

“Unless she’s just unique, I can’t think of another reason,” I replied.

That’s my guess as well, Wyrem added. But once she’s more attuned to sensing energy, ask if she can feel more than one type.

You said sensing multiple energies is linked to Spiritual Sense, right? I asked.

Usually. But as I said before, training it up is hard.

Then how can I already use two?

Luna spoke up. You might not be able to handle as many as I can, but humans could possibly manage two or three from birth. Maybe it's just harder to notice the others without training.

Could be, but we don’t have enough examples to say for sure, I replied.

“What’re they saying?” Thea asked, snapping me out of the conversation.

“Sharing ideas,” I said, then filled her in on Luna and Wyrem’s thoughts.

“Wooow.” Thea’s eyes sparkled. “I want to talk to him too. He sounds like he knows so much.”

What a bright girl, Wyrem commented. I change my mind. The boy may be talented, but may not appreciate guidance. He doesn’t need much, after all. Peter, put me in her.

No! I snapped. How do you even understand what they’re saying?!

Feeling it through you, Luna explained.

“But how?” I turned to Thea. “That’s what I want to figure out. If I share my energy with you, could you take in water?”

“You already did… though I was kind of out of it.” Thea shook her head, clearly just as curious. “We could try again, but at the very least, Vel gives us a clue.”

“Alright, I heard my name. What’ve you been talking about?” Vel piped up, suddenly interested.

I chuckled. “We weren’t whispering. You only care when it’s your name being said?”

“It was boring.”

This is taking too long. “Let’s speed up, Thea.”

I rushed over to Vel, who had pulled ahead of us, and scooped her up onto my back. She let out a high-pitched, startled “Ah!”

“Make sure you hold on tight,” I warned.

A pair of arms immediately wrapped around my neck, squeezing hard, bracing with my advice.

Thea dashed forward, quick and focused. I let her get ahead on purpose just to build anticipation for my student.

“Why’d you tell me to hold on if you were just gonna go slow?” Vel grumbled.

“Ready?”

“Wha—ahhHHH!”

I burst past Thea in a flash, giving Vel a good thrill before coming to a stop and waiting for her sister to catch up.

Thea appeared beside us with a light scoff. “Show off.”

“Wait, can you jump with me?!” Vel asked, excited.

“Maybe later.” I did not want to be responsible for any injuries at the moment.

A short while later, we caught up to the cart, so we slowed and I let Vel down.

From inside, voices drifted outward.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go back, sweetheart?” Miss Star asked. “It might be safer.”

My heart jumped. Was someone having second thoughts?

“No. A life back there isn’t a life… and my family? Who knows how they’ll try to use us now. Not to mention, I doubt anyone will be a better healer than Elric.”

Thea gave me a strange look. She clearly didn’t get it either.

Vel hopped into the cart, ignoring the hushed conversation. Honestly, it was quiet enough that without Thea’s and my enhanced senses, we wouldn’t have heard it either.

Then came Drake’s voice, laced with both an air of calm and seriousness. “If you go back, it’s likely both of you will be killed anyway. My brother will definitely get rid of any trouble now.”

I stepped inside behind Vel, curiosity piqued, and was met with four pairs of eyes. Sia, Lyra, Miss Star, and Drake. Was he talking to Sia and Lyra? Where's Elric?

“Hey,” I said, easing in.

Sia smiled. Lyra opened her arms, clearly waiting for her new favorite person. Vel didn’t hesitate to my surprise. She dropped into Lyra’s lap, almost like she knew it was inevitable.

“Welcome back, you three,” Miss Star greeted as Thea stepped in behind me.

We found a spot and sat together.

“The rest in the front?” I asked, glancing toward Drake.

“Griffith’s driving. The rest are training. Oh, Marcus said to mention the dogs are on their way back. Maybe ten minutes ago.”

Silence followed.

It wasn’t exactly awkward, but not casual either. It wasn't so hard to sit like this since we were all comfortable with each other at this point, but the air felt too still.

Sia looked at Lyra. “We should just tell them.”

Lyra chuckled softly, hugging Vel tighter. “Thea, come here.”

Thea stood and walked over.

Suddenly, I felt very left out.

I looked to Miss Star. She just smiled faintly and put a finger to her lips.

Then I looked at Drake.

“Not my place.”

“Oh for the—c’mon!” It wasn’t frustration in my voice. More like… nervousness. Everyone else seemed relaxed, but something was being kept just under the surface. And I was the only one not in on it.

“Oh my g—really?” Thea gasped. “That—” She turned to Miss Star. “Is it alright?”

Miss Star shrugged. “The decision’s made, right?” She looked at Lyra again.

Lyra nodded. “We’re leaving. All of us.”

“Alright, fine. I’ll beg if I have to,” I said, throwing up my hands. “Information. Please.”

“Can you get Elric for me?” Lyra asked Drake.

Drake sighed. “Fine, but if he gets all, you know… don’t blame me.”

Sia almost choked, barely stopping a laugh. “You can’t handle your own brother?”

He didn’t answer, instead just leaving in response.

We waited in silence until Elric’s irritated voice rang out. “I told you not—OW!”

“Who told you to talk to your brother like that?”

“OW, dammit. Quit it.”

A series of thunks followed, undeniably the sound of fists meeting flesh and someone sprinting to avoid more.

“Okay, okay, stop! What do you want?”

“Oh. My sister called for you,” Drake replied.

“Don’t call her that,” Elric grumbled. We heard his footsteps approaching fast. He pushed through the curtain, finishing with, “It already makes me uncomfortable thinking we’re actually related.”

"Rude."

Then, with surprising gentleness Elric looked to his girlfriend, “What’s up, Lyra? Need anything?”

“Your other brother wants to know what’s going on,” she said, nodding toward me.

“You don’t—” Elric started, but then his voice was drowned out.

HAHAHA! Finally, it’s done—oh. Wow. That’s pretty far away, Luna cheered inside my head, clearly celebrating her Nexus explosion breakthrough. Um… Peter?

What? And congrats, but make it quick, I’m kind of in the middle of something.

There’s something coming.

The dogs?

There’s only six, right? She asked.

Should be.

There are eight. Something’s weird… I think they’re stacked on each other. And they’re coming fast.

“Peter?” Thea's voice snapped me back.

“Did you hear that?” she asked.

I shook my head. “Later. Something’s up.”

“What?” Elric asked, instantly alert.

“Eight things are coming. Fast,” I said. “Who’s up for checking it out?”

Vel raised her hand. Lyra gently grabbed and lowered it without a word.

“I’ll—” Thea began, but Elric cut her off.

“No. Stay here.” His voice softened, to something not quite a beg, but greater than a request when he saw her expression. “Please.”

Then he turned and shouted toward the front. “Drake! Don’t stop at the town!”

“So, me and you then?” I asked, already moving.

He nodded.

We hopped out, letting the carriage roll ahead, wheels crunching along the path.

“How far?” Elric asked.

Luna?

Not sure. A few minutes maybe, but they’re getting faster.

“They’ll be here soon,” I said.

“Then let’s stage an ambush.” He grinned. “They won’t expect that, right?”

“Not if it’s just a regular civilian.” I tried to joke, but my chest was tight, heart already racing. My muscles had tensed without me even noticing.

It had been quiet for the entire trip. Why was there something approaching so quickly now?

It just felt wrong.