Chapter 6 Book 1 Captured
The three thick books left by Teacher Elara became Xu Mei's new companions. During the day, when she wasn't in class or helping Director Anya, she would pore over their pages, devouring the secular knowledge they contained. Advanced Mathematics challenged her mind with complex equations and theories that hinted at a universe governed by precise, predictable laws, a stark contrast to the supposed chaotic magic she now wielded. The Principles of Alchemy spoke of transforming matter, of understanding the very building blocks of the world through careful observation and experimentation, not mystical incantations. But it was The Unspoken Truths of Science: A Guide to Unlocking a Magii-Free Future that truly captivated and disturbed her.
This third book was less a textbook and more a manifesto, filled with Elara's fervent beliefs. It detailed the Anti-magii Coalition's ideology: that magic was a corrupting force, that it had stunted Heumane scientific progress, and that true advancement lay in rejecting it entirely. It spoke of Magii as interlopers, responsible for the shattered dimension and the constant threat of Mana Beasts. As Xu Mei read, a chill would often run down her spine. The words were persuasive, logical even, in their twisted way, painting a grim picture of a world held back by magic. Yet, she knew her own power, the quiet hum of telekinesis within her, and it didn't feel evil. It felt like an extension of herself, a tool. The conflict within her deepened.
At night, under the cover of darkness, her telekinesis practice continued. The incident with Ethan had made her even more cautious, more meticulous. She no longer moved physical objects, fearing any accidental noise. Instead, she focused on the subtle, unseen forces. She would practice lifting the dust motes that floated in the moonlight, making them dance and swirl in intricate patterns. She would try to part the very air around her, creating tiny, silent currents. Her progress bar, now reset to Telekinesis [1/500] at the Apprentice level, slowly but steadily climbed. She could feel the mana flowing more freely, responding to her will with greater ease. The internal sensation of her power was becoming less of a strain and more of a natural extension. She was learning control, precision, and silence.
She felt like two different people. By day, she was the quiet, studious girl, absorbing Elara's scientific teachings, her mind grappling with the anti-magii rhetoric. By night, she was the secret Magii, honing a power her former teacher despised. The duality was both exhausting and exhilarating. She was building a unique foundation, a blend of secular knowledge and nascent magic, a path that was entirely her own.
…
Days bled into weeks. The memory of Ethan's awakening and Elara's betrayal still lingered, a dark cloud over the orphanage. Ethan has stayed in the orphanage as members of the Magii Order from the city have not yet arrived. For some unknown reason, they have not yet taken the boy.
"Director, it has already been three weeks, and Ethan still hasn't been taken by the Magii association?" Asked Mr. Han.
"I am not sure. I have already sent a letter to them informing them that there is a newly awakened magii." Director Anya explained with a worried expression.
The orphanage is not safe enough for a budding magii. Since the incident with teacher Elara, there was a nagging feeling in her mind that there are forces eyeing the orphanage.
"We have already done what we could. They should be responding soon," a male teacher said as he leaned on his seat.
Everyone in the faculty room of the orphanage felt a foreboding feeling that something was about to happen soon. That is why the atmosphere inside the room felt heavy.
Director Anya had already tightened security, posting older boys and teachers on night watch, but the orphanage was old, its walls weathered, and its defenses rudimentary at best.
One particularly still night, a few hours past midnight, Xu Mei was deep in her telekinetic practice. She was attempting to lift a single, almost invisible strand of spiderweb, holding it taut between two points on her bed frame. Her concentration was absolute, her breath held.
As of now, with her current strength, she is able to lift even her bed, but she would not do that as she is afraid of attracting attention. Plus, lifting a bed would only give her +1 points. However, when doing intricate and concentrated practice, she would gain more points.
"This is a bit harder than expected," she muttered as she refocused her concentration on the web.
Then, a faint sound, barely a whisper, reached her ears. A soft thump from outside, followed by a faint scrape. It was too deliberate to be a rat, too heavy to be a branch. Her senses, sharpened by months of secret practice and a heightened awareness of her surroundings, immediately registered it as out of place.
Her heart began to pound. She slowly, carefully, lowered the spiderweb. Although she heard a hint of commotion, she still did not let go of her practice as she gained more points.
Her eyes darted around the dormitory.
Everyone was asleep, their breathing soft and rhythmic.
"What is happening outside?" she muttered.
She had a nagging feeling that she had to see what was happening. Curiosity, mixed with a growing dread, pulled her from her bed.
Moving with the silent grace she had perfected, she slipped out of the dormitory and crept towards the nearest window that overlooked the back wall of the orphanage. The moonlight was thin, casting long, distorted shadows. She pressed her face against the cool glass, peering out into the darkness.
Four figures, cloaked in dark, formless fabric, were scaling the old stone wall. They moved with a practiced ease, their movements fluid and silent. Their faces were obscured by hoods, but their intent was clear: they were infiltrating the orphanage.
"Are they thieves?" she thought, but shook her head.
No one is stupid enough to steal from a poor place like the orphanage. But suddenly something clicked in her mind, something that has not left the memory of most of the children in the orphanage, as it is connected to one of the most beloved teachers.
Anti-magii Coalition. The words flashed in her mind, cold and terrifying.
"Are they here for him?" she muttered as her eyes darted towards a special room where Ethan is staying.
"Or have they discovered… me?" she thought.
A wave of icy fear washed over her. She had to warn someone. She had to run. She turned, her mind screaming for escape, for safety.
But she didn't notice the fifth figure, a tall, burly man in similar black clothing, standing silently behind her. He must have been waiting, a sentry. Before she could even gasp, a large, gloved hand clamped over her mouth, stifling her cry. Another arm wrapped around her waist, lifting her effortlessly from the floor.
Her small body went rigid with terror. She struggled, kicking and squirming, but the man's grip was like iron. He moved quickly, silently, pulling her away from the window, deeper into the shadows of the hallway.
Xu Mei did not think of using her telekinesis because of fear and anxiety. As a child, her mind was already filled with fear and dread that made her not able to think straight.
"Am I going to die?" is the only thing that she can think of.
…
Xu Mei was dragged through the orphanage, her captor moving with alarming speed and stealth. She could hear the muffled sounds of other children stirring, but no one seemed to notice her silent abduction.
"Be a good little lady now, and I will not hurt you," the man said in a low, heavy voice.
His words made Xu Mei stiffen. It was like a whispering voice from hell, which made her imagination run wild. In her mind, the man carrying her is like a strong and powerful demon.
With her mind going blank with fear, she did not resist anymore and just let the guy carry her.
"That is more like it. If you behave like this, I might even give you a candy," he said, grinning.
She was brought out a back door, through a small, overgrown garden, and towards a waiting, closed wagon. The man seemed to be familiar with the orphanage, unlike the other four people she saw scaling the wall.
The wagon was a simple, unassuming vehicle, but its dark presence in the moonlight felt sinister.
The man shoved her roughly into the back of the wagon. She stumbled, falling onto a rough, straw-covered floor.
This woke her from her stupor. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light filtering through a small vent, she saw him.
Ethan.
He was huddled in a corner, his small body trembling. His face was swollen, a dark bruise blooming on his cheek. His lip was split, and a trickle of dried blood stained his chin. His eyes, wide and terrified, met hers. He looked utterly broken.
"Xu Mei!" he whispered, his voice hoarse with pain and fear.