I was floating on a warm cloud, covered by a film of silk. When my eyes opened once more, my bedroom came into focus. The king-sized bed was draped with red curtains. And then memories flooded in.
I died… Tears fell from my eyes; it wasn’t just a death, it was such an embarrassing one. I just had to be an asshole. I just had to threaten an armed guy. “Fucking hell, I’m an idiot.”
And as the memories of the embarrassing death passed, another realization settled in – I was rich. I cried, but I couldn’t stop laughing. “I’m rich!” I had everything, I could do anything!
“Get ready, world, because I won’t be gentle!” I threw away the blanket and swiped open the curtains.
She was there. Vogelgesang stood right in front of my bed, staring at me soundlessly. Her massive ears rhythmically twitched.
“How long were you standing there?” I gulped, trying to avoid her stare.
“It’s been two hours since your awakening, young master.” Ignoring my question, she stated. “Would you like to learn starpower?”
Just like that. No stringing along, no useless rhetorical question – she just said what I wanted to hear. “Of course I would!” Incapable of suppressing my excitement, I grabbed her ears.
She gasped before gently pushing away my hands. “This is not the time, young master.” Her breath hitched.
“Alright. You were saying something about learning starpower. I’m ready!” All this time I’ve been waiting for this. Magic – real, actual magic. I won’t waste a second; time is worth a lot, especially with how little I have left.
Vogelgesang chuckled and shook her head. “You should eat first. I prepared a traditional demonic dish.” Her smile widened dangerously. I couldn’t stand her cooking. “Your parents informed me that their meeting will take more time than expected. Eat, young master. I will wait for you in the courtyard.” Before I could say anything, she strode out of the room, quickly closing the door.
“Wait!” My words fell on deaf ears. My stomach gurgled. “I guess I need to eat…”
---
The wide courtyard was illuminated by the faint light of the dome; it would’ve looked completely normal if not for the elf floating with her eyes closed. Vogelgesang was meditating, when she wasn’t grinning like a maniac, I could actually appreciate how beautiful she is.
Her eyes snapped open. “Welcome, young master.” Elegantly, she dropped to the ground. “I can sense your excitement.” She wasn’t smirking now, only looking at me contemplatively.
“I’ve been waiting my whole life to do magic! There is no time to waste.” I couldn’t stand still; there were so many things I wanted to do.
Vogelgesang scratched her ear; her brow was furrowed. “Then we shall begin with a prayer.”
“Huh!?”
She nodded slowly. “Starpower isn’t something you can understand with words. It is a spiritual matter, something you must feel. It is a conversation.”
Of course, she was treating me like an idiot. “I know what starpower is; can we get to forms instead?” I curled my fingers into a J-shape, the telekinetic form I saw my parents do.
“You know, but you don’t understand.” She put a hand into a pocket and took out a tiny monocle. “Wear this.” She was dead serious.
Sighing, I grabbed the thing and put it over my eye. Suddenly it buzzed and with a thwack it glued itself to my face. “What the?”
Scouter initialization: awakened individual detected. Performing soul introspection.
Connection with the soul established.
A transparent window appeared in front of my eye. So that must’ve been what my parents were always looking at.
Soul Introspector
Magnus Glanzvoll
Species: True Human (Genetically Altered)
Age: 5 standard years
Standing Emissions: 1
Affinities: Diamond – 7%; Sapphire – 31%; Onyx – 37%; Ruby – 12%; Emerald – 13%
Surge Tolerance: 9 SE
Emotional Flux: +1 SE
Traits (1/3): Rich
Details about me rolled down. Standing Emissions – the amount of starpower someone can emit. I was only at 1. That was barely anything. All the people in Dad’s books had at least a hundred!
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“Do you like what you see, young master?” The window disappeared as Vogelgesang approached me.
“No. I only have 1 SE. I won’t be able to do useful techniques with just that.” I held back a sigh.
She laughed. “My poor young master. You need to train to get better.”
“Your sarcasm isn’t appreciated.”
Suddenly her brows drew together, her smile disappearing. “I wasn’t being sarcastic. You need to learn how to flare your starpower; only then will you be able to do ‘useful’ techniques.” She rolled her eyes. Before I could force an answer, she continued, “Plant your feet wide, hands at the sides. Be still.”
Grimacing, I tried to follow her instructions.
“To flare starpower, you must channel your main affinities. Sapphire and onyx – use your knowledge and will. Make your soul obey.”
“How will these vague instructions help? This doesn’t explain anything!”
She bared her teeth. “If you don’t want to learn, then feel free to leave.”
This was frustrating. How was I supposed to ‘flare’ something I didn’t even know I had? I needed to calm down. I took a deep breath and focused on my body… Nothing was out of the ordinary.
I tried thinking about starpower – all the wondrous things it could do, tried tensing my core, ordering myself to ‘flare’. It didn’t do anything.
Vogelgesang shook her head. “Focus on your ambitions. What do you want to do?”
Obviously, I want to do everything! I want to transcend humanity, get a maid, a starship, and buy a personal space station. There was no limit to things I wanted to do, to things I wanted to know, if not for the damned invasion...
Just like that, it clicked. Starpower can help me achieve everything. From within my core, heat rushed across my body. It wasn’t chaotic, nor was it unpleasant. It was simply there, a presence flowing through me. Just like air was flowing through my lungs or blood was flowing through my veins.
Congratulations, me!
SE has increased to 2; Emotional Flux increased to +2 SE; Surge Tolerance increased to 13 SE
It was electrifying in a way I never felt before. Vogelgesang’s flowery smell became stronger, my body felt like there was static electricity within, and even my sight became sharper.
Vogelgesang let out a thoughtful hum. “You are one of those who apply strengthening unconsciously. That’s not good.”
“On the contrary, I feel amazing!” It was as if a boundless well of energy awakened in me. I was ready to learn all night.
You might want to rethink that…
Strengthening Form learned at Initiate rank!
“If you keep using it, you will get exhausted quickly. Focus your mind and calm your spirit.” Her tone told me she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
She was right, I needed to be collected. I shouldn’t get excited about something so trivial. As I wished, the flow of starpower stopped being warm; it still remained there, just calmer.
Vogelgesang nodded approvingly. “Now that you can flare without wasting energy, we have to pray.”
My body tensed unconsciously. “I won’t be praying to anything!” The Betrayer was a monster; to pray to something like that would be an abomination.
The demon smiled warmly. With a gentle tone, she spoke, “Praying to things? I haven’t heard that since before the Triune War…” She laughed. “Traditional practitioners of starpower follow the Path of the Long River – Izzshkreet.” I remembered, it was a religion dedicated to the Source. “The Prayer of Change is a technique; it will make your soul malleable, easier to change to your bidding.”
I finally understood. She wasn’t just trying to teach me. She wanted to brainwash me. “Absolutely not! Keep your religion to yourself, or I will tell Mom and Dad.”
She grimaced, but just as quickly her face became calm. “I see…” Vogelgesang shook her head and stared at my feet. “Then you shall learn forms. Look at the dust around you.”
My gaze dropped to the ground. At first, I didn’t notice anything, but once I really focused, it became apparent. The dust around me settled in a wave-like pattern. They formed a thin film, resembling a familiar shape.
Quickly, I curled the ends of my fingers, pressing them tightly together and pointing my palm outwards. Without hesitation, I let starpower flow through my hand and thrust.
The dust rose into the air as it was pushed away from me. My chest felt light and my heart beat faster. A vision of myself pushing a sea apart already appeared in my head.
Force Form learned at Initiate rank!
“I wasn’t wrong about you, Magnus Glanzvoll.” Her stare interrupted my daydreaming. She looked at me like I was a freshly cut slice of meat.
“Right… Can you show me different forms, please?”
She tilted her head left and right, contemplating. “I can, but that is not the way to learn.” Vogelgesang spread her arms wide. “The world can teach you everything. All you need to do is observe.”
My mouth opened wide. “Are you kidding me? I don’t have time to stare at rocks and mushrooms. I order you to teach me!”
She shrugged, turning away. “I’m sorry, young master, it is simply my nature as an emerald practitioner.” She was playing with me. “Our learning styles are just too different.” No. She was mocking me! The same excuse I used to fire annoying mentors, she used on me.
I wasn’t falling for her bait. “Then I’ll just wait for my parents to teach me. I don’t need you anymore.”
“O, but they won’t be happy about your awakening.” She turned her head to me with a strange glint in her eyes. “You’ll be locked down in the mansion, just like always. Not even one book.” Vogelgesang strolled closer. “All you’ll be able to do is learn from nature.” That mocking smirk, I couldn’t stand it.
But I couldn’t accept that either. Of course, they would lock me up. They are too worried about every little thing, and starpower is serious business. I won’t let that stop me. “I’ll just run away then! I’m sure I can visit the Archive without a problem.”
“The Archive is only available to adults.” There was pity in her eyes, such a disgusting expression.
There had to be a way. I only had fifteen years left; I won’t be able to learn anything without good books. Vogelgesang was hiding something; she wouldn’t goad me without a reason. I stared at her. “What are you planning, elf?”
Her eyes sparkled, she straightened her back, and spoke teasingly. “There is a school for talented children of Lords. Descendants of people who are many times stronger than the entire Glanzvoll family.” She ran her nail across my arm. “There you’ll find open access to the Archive, mentors who specialize in increasing SE.” Gently grabbing my shoulders, she whispered, “Most importantly, they provide medicine that greatly accelerates one’s maturation.”
A metaphorical lightning struck my chest. She knew, she knew what I wanted! “How did you know?”
She didn’t answer. “At that school, in just three years you’ll become an adult, a master of starpower.”
I pushed away her arms, jumping away. Pointing a finger accusingly, I shouted, “How did you know!?”
Vogelgesang laughed in my face, behind her clear eyes, I could feel eternity. It was all a dance to her. “Since the very beginning.” Emerald is nature, and someone as ancient as she would know its cycles. “I’ve met old souls like you, Magnus, or should I say Friedrich?”
As I focused on her, the monocle vibrated. I had to know, had to scout her.
Vogelgesang
Species: Demon (High Elf)
Age: 24 031 standard years
Standing Emissions: She’s Baron rank (250+) but I can’t know for sure
Note: She is one of the first elves. Her soul is dying, slowly dissipating. Only the Pacts support her dying essence.
My head spun, and a cold, piercing feeling struck me. Everything I had could be destroyed by this monster…
