Michael arrived at his house, accompanied by Thalud, who was a little sleepy.
"Here we are. Come in, tell me and then don't bother me anymore old man" said Michael a little annoyed by Thalud's presence.
"Enough with this 'old man', I'm only 30 years old!" said Thalud as he entered and made himself comfortable on that sort of 'couch'.
"You sure are brave to sit on that thing" said Michael pointing to the 'couch'. "Why is there anything strange about it?" Thalud replied. Michael was astonished.
"Well, get to the point. Why couldn't I activate the Mana of Will?" said Michael.
"Then I think you know that this type of mana is quite rare and is activated in a particular way, that is, our personal will to act, to do something.
It could be that you have not trained your body enough to support this power, but I exclude that looking at your quite defined physique.
The only thing that comes to mind is that you have not trained your mind enough; if during battles or other situations you do not keep your will high or were to falter in the slightest, you could die…" said Thalud with a long explanation.
"Is it possible that you have had recent traumas or psychological damage or have remembered something traumatic?" said Thalud pointing with his gaze to Michael.
Michael remembered the nightmare he had had about his past: "actually just today I remembered several rather unpleasant things…" said Michael with a melancholic and annoyed tone.
"How can I start using the Mana of Will again, old man?" Michael asked.
Thalud coughed a little at the word 'old', but he was used to it and ignored it.
"It's something you have to do with your strength, you have to try to make your mind completely clear. Only in this way will you be able to use the Mana of Will to its full potential." Thalud said, satisfied that he could teach something to a rude person like Michael.
"Now I want to tell you the real reason why I wanted to talk to you," Thalud said seriously.
Michael now trusted Thalud a little more and listened to him, even though he doesn't like taking orders from others.
"Do you know what place Bogron is, boy?
"It's the underground city, the one that's under the slums. It's considered a truly lawless city, dominated only by clans and gangs. Kallax is already a much quieter place in comparison." Michael replied.
"I see you know enough. However, I am creating an order of fallen knights who want to redeem themselves, to bring more peace to Bogron. I want you to join this order: the Order of the Redeemed." Thalud said, looking Michael in the eyes seriously.
Michael remained silent for a moment, thinking, then said "Why should I do that, why should I be under someone's command? I have always been free and I want to stay that way."
"You don't seem to live so well." Thalud said, pointing to the interior of Michael's house; Michael answered him with a sympathetic and pissed off face. "Then you would go and live with me and your new companions in the house of the order in the middle areas of the capital, you would no longer live here, but you will be able to visit Kallax whenever you want.
Finally, not only will you be able to visit Logron, the capital, sometimes, but you will also be able to become stronger and improve your Mana of Will skills. There will also be other talented people of almost every rank, economically decayed and talented individuals who come from the slums."
Michael thought about it and said "OK, I accept. But only to have all these benefits; I am not very interested in improving the life of the underground city and its citizens."
Thalud looked at him satisfied and said "Do as you wish, come on, gather your things and let's go."
"Already!? Well, I don't have much anyway." Michael took his few things and went towards the door together with Thalud.
But there was a great crash and a tall, muscular individual, with some mechanical body parts, broke the door of Michael's house with his fist.
"Stay away Michael!" Thalud said preparing to engage in battle with the enemy.
Thalud activated the Mana of Will and infused it into his fists
The enemy was dressed in punk clothes and was bald.
Thalud lunged at him and punched him, enhanced with his power, on the back, which made the enemy spit blood.
Then the enemy punched Thalud back, wounding him. Michael didn't know what to do, he felt paralyzed, but his mind was telling him only one thing: ACT.
Taking a few seconds, Michael managed to reactivate the Mana of Will and launched himself against the enemy, kicking him. He hurt the enemy a little, but the latter activated his power: Darkness.
Michael receives a powerful punch infused with Darkness and spits blood, falling on the 'couch', breaking it.
"Michael!" Thalud shouted as Michael slowly began to lose consciousness...