CHAPTER 104: REAL POWER

Fin walked through the forest, his gaze fixed ahead. The steel sword stayed low at his side. Scarlet followed several paces behind him, her steps quiet on the moss and leaves. Fin occasionally changed direction slightly, turning between trees without slowing his pace. They moved out of the forest, crossing the packed earth training ground. The castle loomed ahead, its dark stone walls silent.

The main entrance doors stood slightly ajar. Arachne was not visible. He paused, looking at the open doors, then continued inside. Scarlet followed him through the entrance into the main hall. The large space was empty. Fin looked towards the archway leading to the corridors. He walked towards it.

He moved down a stone corridor, turning left, then right. He stopped outside a heavy wooden door. He pushed it open.

Inside, bookshelves lined three walls, filled with bound volumes. A large desk sat near the far wall. The man stood near one bookshelf, holding an open book, his worn coat still on, the battered case on the floor beside him. He turned the page slowly.

He did not look up immediately when the door opened.

Fin stepped fully into the room. Scarlet stopped just outside the doorway, leaning against the frame, watching.

The man closed the book softly and placed it back precisely into its spot on the shelf. He turned to face Fin. His expression neutral.

"Your castle?" the man asked. His voice was the same low rasp. "Impressive. For a beginner."

Fin didn’t reply. He walked further into the room.

The man’s gaze moved past Fin, towards the wall shared with the adjacent room. "The room next door," he said, nodding towards the wall. "Strong energy signature. Preservation. Unusual."

He started walking towards that wall. Fin shifted his stance, bringing the sword point up slightly. The man stopped near the wall, reaching a hand out towards the solid stone. His fingers hovered inches from the surface. He pushed forward gently.

His hand stopped abruptly, hitting an unseen barrier. A faint shimmer distorted the air around his fingers for a fraction of a second. He pulled his hand back sharply, looking at his fingers, then back at the wall.

"Protected," he murmured. He looked back at Fin. "Who is she?"

Fin’s grip tightened on the sword hilt. The knuckles of his free hand turned white. He raised the sword, the point aimed directly at the man’s chest.

"Get out of my castle," his said. His voice was low, steady. "Now."

The man looked at the sword tip. He chuckled, a dry, grating sound. "Or what? You’ll kill me? Like you killed Hana and her team?"

Fin took a step forward, the sword point unwavering. "Last chance."

The man stopped chuckling. He looked directly at Fin.

Fin flew backward abruptly. His body slammed into the bookshelf lining the opposite wall. Books tumbled down around him. He slid to the floor, gasping, the sword clattering beside him.

The man stood unmoved near the protected wall. He looked down at his own hands, flexing his fingers slowly.

Fin pushed himself up, leaning against the bookshelf, grabbing his sword again. He looked at the man. "Another dirty fighter."

He pushed off the bookshelf, regaining his footing. He held the steel sword in a two-handed grip, pointing it towards the man. The man stood calmly near the protected wall, watching him.

The man lifted his right hand slightly, palm facing Fin. Fin was pulled forward abruptly, sliding across the floor several feet before he could brace himself. He dug his heels in, leaning back against the unseen force.

The man tilted his hand upwards. Fin was lifted off his feet, pulled through the air towards the ceiling, then thrown sideways. He crashed into another bookshelf. More books fell. He landed hard on the floor amidst the scattered volumes, the sword slipping from his grasp.

Scarlet moved from the doorway. Daggers appeared in her hands. She lunged towards the man, crossing the room quickly, blades aimed low.

The man didn’t turn fully towards her. He gestured sideways with his left hand. She was flung backward before her attack connected. She flew out of the doorway, crashing through the stone wall of the corridor outside with a loud impact. Dust and debris billowed from the new hole in the wall.

The man lowered his hand, looking down at Fin, who was pushing himself up slowly, reaching for his fallen sword.

"Target acquisition confirmed," the man stated, his voice flat. "Subject’s combat capability is minimal. Resistance ineffective."

He walked towards Fin.

Fin grabbed the sword hilt but didn’t have time to rise fully. The man reached down, grabbing a handful of his hair, pulling his head back sharply. Fin grunted, dropping the sword again.

The man looked down at Fin, holding him immobile by the hair. "Retrieval objective seems straightforward. Unclear why this assignment required my specific skillset." He pulled slightly harder on Fin’s hair. "Waste of resources."

Fin stopped struggling.

His body went still. A faint green light began to glow around his hands, then spread outwards, forming a visible aura around his entire body. The green light pulsed softly, leaking outwards into the surrounding air like faint smoke.

The man holding his hair stiffened. His grip loosened abruptly. He released Fin’s hair and took a quick step back, looking down at the hand that had held Fin. He flexed his fingers.

Fin slowly got to his feet, the green aura still pulsing around him. He looked at the man.

"I wanted to play around," Fin said, his voice unchanged. "But it seems I have to take this serious."

The man recoiled, surprised as his power was being absorbed. He jumped back, looking at Fin radiating a power signature now similar to his.

"quite the nasty power you have."

Fin tilted his head. "Yeah? Absorbing stuff is kind of my thing." The green aura around him brightened slightly. Jagged green energy constructs flickered over his knuckles again. "You throw people around. I absorb. Seems like I got the better deal."

The man watched him, his expression unreadable. He didn’t respond.

"Guess it’s my turn now," Fin said, taking a step forward.

The bookshelf behind him exploded outwards. Wood splintered, books flew through the air. Fin stumbled forward from the force pushing at his back, catching himself before he fell. He looked back at the destroyed bookshelf, then turned back to the man.

The man hadn’t moved. His hands were still at his sides.

"Okay," he said. "Didn’t see that one coming."

He pushed off the floor, moving towards the man again, faster this time, fist drawn back with the green energy construct flaring.

The floor beneath him buckled upwards, stone tiles cracking, pushing him off balance. He adjusted mid-stride, leaping over the buckled section. He landed, swinging his fist.

The man stepped sideways easily, avoiding the punch. Fin’s fist hit empty air. As he recovered, the desk near the far wall slid across the room rapidly, slamming into his side. The impact sent him stumbling again, crashing into another section of bookshelf. More books rained down.

"Having trouble?" the man asked. He still hadn’t moved from his spot near the protected wall.

Fin pushed books off himself, getting back to his feet. He spat on the floor. "Nah. Just warming up."

He charged again. This time he didn’t aim a punch. He ran low, trying to tackle the man around the legs.

The man lifted one foot slightly off the ground. Fin slammed into an invisible wall inches before reaching the man’s legs. He bounced off, landing hard on his back, the air knocked from his lungs.

He lay there for a second, gasping. The man walked over slowly and stood above him.

"You are predictable," the man said. He looked down at Fin. "You rely on speed and direct force. Your energy manipulation is crude."

He kicked Fin hard in the ribs. He curled inwards, coughing.

The man kicked him again, rolling him over. He placed a boot firmly on his chest, pinning him to the floor. Fin struggled weakly against the weight.

"You absorbed a fraction of my telekinetic output," the man stated. "A passive ability. You thought that meant you understood my power?" He pressed down harder with his boot. Fin’s breath hitched. "You understand nothing."