Chapter 41: A journey beyond.

"You have learned all you know by yourself and it is admirable. You know how to control the fundamental energies of nature, you know how the phenomenal powers of the world work. But, what you know is merely asymmetrical, direct, and it will get you killed a hundred more times out in the real world."

If he wants to stay in the castle, he will die and the rest of the people here will die. He had walked too far away from the ’normal’ that he will make mistakes on his own, mistakes that will get him killed just like this time.

However, that can be prevented.

"So take my hand, Arcos, and I will teach you unconventional domestic use of magical powers, I will teach you everything there is to know about magi-tech, about High-vision spycraft, surveillance, countersurveillance, about how to dance through a network of high-density security spells, how to subvert magical barrier systems, how to foster an uprising on enemy soil, assemble assets of every damn race, cast, color, and state without using violence, manipulate any magical power with a word or gesture, understand any enemy trick in moments, and doing all of this without anyone knowing you were even there."

He trained a pure swordswoman, an orphan, as well as a child of the most privileged background. And he wanted to take in one more.

It wasn’t about him or the prince, but the world and the ways he could use those powers.

"Take my hand and you will become a ghost in the eyes of each enemy that exists in this world and beyond, in this moment and the next. Take my hand and you won’t just become a good ruler of Mayn, but the Insurrection that is remembered by few, yet admired unconditionally by the universe."

He watched the young prince with soft eyes, his hand extended to him.

He wasn’t the best combatant, he wasn’t as good with magic or tech as Sammy and Beth were, but he was the one that guided them all. And that was his strength.

The three of them were his best, his finest, and he had very high expectations of this child.

So, he waited. He waited and watched him make those countless calculations in his smart head.

The conclusion was always going to be an absurdity. That was a certain thing. But, the choice was still his at the end of the day.

It was all about a leap of faith.

Something utterly illogical, and utterly foolish.

But there are still moments in life when this faith is needed.

"Alright." And one of those moments was this.

Prince Arcos took a step towards him and even though the hand was meant to be taken in as a handshake, he held it with both his hands as he knelt down before his new master.

"I don’t know why but I have a feeling that I must do this."

He kissed the back of his hand and then pressed it to his forehead.

It was a traditional declaration of faith among the people of the ancient Mayn civilization.

"Please take care of me." He said, his heart thumping inside his chest, his eyes still looking fearlessly at his new master and family members.

He would be in a new hell once they get out of this palace, but things would be far more fun for them once that happens.

It was the first time they were getting such a young student. And since all four of them would teach him, this was going to be a new experience for all of them.

"Good." Andrew patted him on the head and helped him stand back up.

His childhood was not going to be the same as the rest of the children. Even as a prince, he will not get to play around with little things, eat sweet things, and sleep however much he wants.

They were going to take his youth away from him, they were going to train him into becoming a weapon to fight against the divine beings and the ones who think of this world as their own.

They were going to make a weapon of divine annihilation out of him, so, this was not going to be an easy ride for him.

This would be a journey beyond the life he has right now, beyond humanity that he holds, beyond this world and the home that he knows of.

The ride will be bumpy later on, and harsh in his newer days, but he will learn. The four of them will make sure he does because the only thing waiting for him if he does not... will be death.

"Now then, shall we go and tell this news-." Andrew was ready to walk right out of this room. But, the ladies shook their heads and pushed him back on his bed.

"Absolutely not, mister." They said in unison. "You ain’t going anywhere until you recover completely!" Lily was furious now.

"You dare sleep for two weeks when we were all alone and sad, and now you want to go work right after waking up!?" Sammy was screaming at him with his loud voice as well.

"Your vitals are still unstable! You’re too weak right now!" Betty was not letting him wake up again until he was completely fine either.

The three of them cared about him far more than the boy who was chuckling at the four of them.

They were quite a unique bunch indeed.

Even though he knew little about them, he knew a life with them would be a hundred times better than the uneventful life of this place.

The palace may be his house, but it wasn’t his home. He hadn’t found one yet.

But in them, he could see something he had not in any castle, luxurious room, or lavish inn.

He had stayed as a guest in various places around the kingdom, but living as something other than a prince?

He had always wanted to do that... and now, that wish was finally coming true.