The two days felt like two years to Shawn, as if time itself had decided to exact vengeance for reasons unknown. He trained relentlessly under the Captain, who was also proficient in wind manipulation. But even a prodigy is not made in a single day.
On the eve of their departure, the Captain decided to teach Shawn how to compress wind into sleek, razor-sharp blades. At first, he thought it would be easy—after all, when he first awakened his affinity for wind, he could manipulate it effortlessly. But reality proved him wrong.
Compressing air to form blades was as challenging as running blindfolded through a storm. It was near impossible. Every attempt left him wounded, as the intense concentration required to contain the chaotic currents of wind took a severe toll on his mind. To make matters worse, his vision depended on sensing the movement of air, and every shift in control threw him into disarray.
After countless visits to his mother for healing and grueling hours of training, he finally managed to form a single wind blade. He was battered, but victorious.
"Well, you amaze me with your tremendous growth, Shawn," the Captain said, his voice filled with admiration. "You know, when I awakened my wind manipulation, it took me two years to master wind blades. Most people underestimate air manipulation, but it is one of the most versatile and powerful Vitrals."
The Captain sighed before continuing. "People focus on other flashy abilities—fire manipulation, water, earth, spatial manipulation, those with speed rivaling light, or those with strength as mighty as the beasts themselves. There are countless Vitrals you have yet to encounter, and you'll come across them when you attend school."
He glanced at Shawn with a knowing look. "Your mother must have told you about the rarity of multiple Vitrals. Some are born with two, others with three, and the luckiest few with four. Bloodline and family heritage play a significant role. Take the Starborn Clan, for example. No one in their lineage was born with less than two Vitrals."
A somber expression crossed the Captain's face. "They were a force to be reckoned with—powerful, but arrogant. It's no wonder all the powerhouses of Prim joined forces to annihilate them. Though it was a cowardly ambush, a victory is still a victory. Still, I wonder… were they really the root of all our problems? There are powerful families spread across the continents, especially among the royalties, and many of them are nothing but selfish, arrogant brats."
His gaze softened as he turned back to Shawn. "Regardless, your growth is impressive. You may not compare to the prodigies in the great cities, but for someone in the backwaters of the continent, you're exceptional."
Shawn remained silent, absorbing every word. Then, as if reading his thoughts, the Captain smirked. "I bet you're wondering what rank I hold. Trust me, in this city, no one rivals me. I'm not the strongest by far, but I am still a force to be reckoned with. I studied at one of the top academies on this continent. It ranked tenth here and thirteenth in all of Prim."
He stood up, stretching. "Now, call Rian for me. There's something I want to show both of you."
Shawn left for the stables, where he found Rian tending to the horses. A few minutes later, they were both back in the training hall.
"Rian, I want you to unleash your strongest flames at me. Hold nothing back. Aim directly at me—I promise I won't retaliate."
Rian frowned. He didn't want to hurt his father, but the confident smirk on the Captain's face convinced him otherwise.
"Prepare yourself, old man. I hope you don't regret this," Rian said, conjuring a massive pillar of fire before hurling it forward.
The Captain remained unfazed. "Hmph. Is this all you've got?" he scoffed, and in an instant, the fire vanished into thin air.
Rian's eyes widened in shock. "H-H-How?! You cheated! I didn't even see where it went!"
The Captain chuckled. "Try again. But this time, Shawn, focus on the air movement the moment Rian releases his flames."
Rian gritted his teeth and summoned an even larger inferno. As the flames surged forward, Shawn concentrated. Then, just as before, the fire disappeared. But this time, he sensed it.
"He's removing the air from space, creating a vacuum..." Shawn thought, his mind racing. "Without oxygen, the fire dies instantly. He's a genius."
The Captain nodded, pleased. "I bet you've figured it out. I manipulated the air around the flames, suffocating them. But here's the best part—I can store a spark of the fire within a vacuum pocket and release it even stronger by fusing it with air. This way, I fight flames with flames."
He stepped forward. "And that's not even my best trick. Watch."
Suddenly, both Shawn and Rian collapsed to their knees, an invisible force pressing down on them like a mountain.
"W-What… are you… doing… Dad?" Rian struggled to speak, barely able to lift his head.
Then, just as quickly as it came, the pressure vanished.
The Captain grinned. "That was my own aura. I compressed the air around me and mixed it with my spirit force. The result? A dense, suffocating pressure that costs me little energy to maintain. By using the world's energy, I can exert pressure without exhausting myself."
Shawn and Rian exchanged looks of awe.
The Captain chuckled. "And do you know that I can launch an attack from behind you without moving?"
Before they could react, he appeared behind them in an instant. Shawn's heart pounded with excitement.
"How can I become as strong as you?" he asked, a new fire burning within him.
"It depends on your hard work and talent," the Captain replied. "I have no doubt that one day, you will surpass me."
Shawn's eyes gleamed with determination.
"As for my rank, I'm still a Harbinger—though at the peak. I might break through soon, like your mother. And a word of advice, Shawn—never underestimate her. Even with my abilities, I can't defeat her."
Shawn stiffened. His mother was at the same rank as the Captain, yet he claimed he couldn't defeat her? A chilling thought crossed his mind—during the attack by the bandits, she could have saved them. So why hadn't she acted?
He shook the thought away.
"And don't forget about our adventure tomorrow!" Rian reminded him as the Captain walked away.
Shawn smirked. "How could I forget? My memory isn't failing like an old man's."
"Good. Meet me at dawn. And have an excuse ready for your mother, because I won't wait for you."
As Rian left, Shawn stared at the night sky, determination swelling in his chest. "I have a long way to go before I become a powerhouse," he thought. "I still remember Fate's overwhelming power. I haven't met anyone like her yet, even the Captain does not even comes close. I wonder… when will I surpass even the Captain?"
With that, he turned and made his way to his mother's office, ready for whatever lay ahead.