The man looked at Louie, with a firm but calm gaze. There was something in his eyes... a mix of understanding and urgency.
- No more beating around the bush... Let's start with the fun part, Louie. - he said, adjusting his posture. - Here, in this refuge, you'll learn the basics to get by. Enough to survive.
The city of Áurea, with that golden glow and full of hidden mysteries, was now the new stage of Louie's life.
And deep down, even feeling a certain relief for being safe for now... he knew.
This wasn't going to last forever.
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The gray-haired man dissipated the golden sphere surrounded by chains with a calm gesture. Then, he turned to Louie with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth - half enigmatic, half amused.
- I am Kael Dragan - he said, in a firm yet serene voice, like someone revealing something important without making a fuss. - One of the three commanders of Áurea.
He took a step forward, looking into Louie's eyes.
- And what I just showed you... is one of my powers - he added, pointing with his chin to the space where the sphere had been. - Time Manipulation.
Louie blinked several times, still trying to process everything.
- Commanders...? Time Manipulation...? - he repeated, almost robotically, with the face of someone who just got slapped by reality.
Kael shook his head, confirming, and then continued:
- About being a commander... don't worry too much for now, it's just a mere title. - He gave a slight smile, then continued: - Now... about my power over time - which must have made you curious:
- It's not that kind of ability to go around blowing everything up and destroying like crazy. It's more oriented towards support or defense. - he said, letting out a small chuckle. - But... nevertheless, however, and consequently... like any ability, if you know how to use it properly, it can still cause some serious damage.
Kael took a few steps, stopping right in front of Louie.
With his right hand, he lightly touched Louie's forehead - as if pointing to something inside him.
- And this is something you need to understand from the start... - he said, in a firmer tone. - What makes a power strong or weak... isn't the power itself.
He paused, staring at Louie.
- It's who's using it. How far the user can push their body's potential and their compatibility and skill with the power.
Louie nodded, his expression now more serious.
Kael looked directly at him and said, with a slight smile:
- Alright, enough talk for now. You seem like someone who learns more by watching than just listening... So let's show your activation in practice, then I'll give a brief theoretical explanation. - I'll show you a bit of what these powers, popularly called Kaelums, can do.
Kael then bent down and picked up a random little bottle lying nearby.
- What are you going to do with that? - Louie asked, frowning, curious.
- Shut up and watch - Kael replied, directly, without patience.
Without further ado, he threw the bottle into the air, as if it were something useless.
- Huh? Why did you do that? - Louie asked, confused, following the object upwards.
Kael didn't answer.
He simply extended his hand toward the bottle.
And that's when it happened.
A sphere of golden light, with those same floating chains around it, formed around the object.
And at that very moment... the bottle froze in the air.
Stopped, without a single movement.
Motionless, as if time itself had halted around it.
And it wasn't just the bottle.
Even the air around it seemed frozen. Dust particles paused. The golden and bluish light coming from the city below... frozen as well.
Everything in that small space had simply... frozen.
Louie stared at the bottle, mouth agape, barely believing what he saw.
- This... Holy shit, that's fucking awesome! Newton must be turning in his grave right now...
Kael raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms.
- But Newton is the gravity guy... - he retorted, slightly disappointed.
Louie shrugged, still staring at the bottle suspended in midair.
- Doesn't matter, it's not falling, right?
Kael let out a light, somewhat defeated sigh, thinking with a distant look:
- "Son of a... Actually makes sense." - Kael murmured, running a hand through his hair, trying to hide his frustration. - Anyway... Kaelum powers are divided into six different types, each with its own form of emergence.
- What do you mean? Anyone can get one of these powers? - Louie asked, curious.
- Not exactly... - Kael let out a small sigh. - Usually, they appear in very specific situations. But... not always do two people going through the same thing awaken a power. In fact, it's extremely rare for someone to awaken these powers. It's as if... the power kind of chooses who will receive it, you know? Like... a connection happens at the right moment.
He paused briefly, stroked his beard, and continued:
- That's explaining it in the simplest way. - another sigh, shrugging. - But alright, back to what matters...
Kael began explaining calmly:
- The first category is the so-called "Natural Elements." These are powers related to manipulating elements of nature itself - like earth, fire, wind, wood... those kinds of things. Many people believe they are the basis of life.
He paused briefly, thinking about what to say next.
- Although interesting, this type has little variation... powers tend to be similar to each other. Not much beyond the dozens of known variations.
Louie, remembering what he had felt before, asked:
- That strange energy... that shot out of my body like lightning... would that be one of these?
Kael paused.
He remained silent for a moment.
He didn't seem surprised... just thinking about what he could or couldn't say at that moment.
After a few seconds, he took a deep breath and replied firmly:
- No...
- I see...
Louie stood still, looking straight into Kael's eyes, waiting for him to continue the explanation.
Kael took a deep breath, adjusted his posture, and resumed speaking:
- What you demonstrated earlier... just like one of my powers, comes from another category.
He raised his right hand, palm facing up.
Suddenly, small pale blue sparks started to appear, as if the air around his hand had come alive.
Then, with a simple movement, he closed his hand.
Immediately, a strong glow surrounded his fingers - and tiny lightning bolts spun around his hand as if trapped there.
- This is my Lightning Manipulation - he said, showing the energized hand. - It comes from the classification called "Figurative Element."
He paused, looking at Louie with a slight smile.
- It's one of the categories with the most variation and potential among all. And your power, like this one, is also Lightning.
Louie brought his hand to his chin, making a thoughtful face, half joking like a reality show judge.
- So can two people have the same power?
Kael replied casually, as if he had expected the question:
- Yes. There's nothing preventing that from happening.
- One of the few rules of Kaelums is that no one can awaken more than three powers. Reaching that number is already very rare... most only awaken one, at most two.
He paused briefly, then continued:
- Also, not every power comes from genetic inheritance. Sometimes awakening happens in extreme moments... trauma, very specific situations as I explained, and not everyone reaches that.
Kael then gave a slight, almost sideways smile.
- And there's more... Even if two people have the same type of power, it doesn't mean they will have the same strength.
- Some are born with more affinity... more ease to control or develop that type. So what really matters... is how much you can evolve with what you have.
Louie nodded, trying to follow the reasoning.
- I think I understand... Keep going.
Kael continued, in a calm tone:
- The power called Figurative Element is what we usually associate with something more symbolic, abstract, you know? It's not an exact rule for everyone, but it's the easiest way to explain.
He made a gesture with his hand, as if trying to draw the idea in the air.
- Then there are the psychic ones... powers linked to the mind. Like my mental shield, for example.
He paused briefly, adjusted his posture, and continued:
- And there are also the physical ones, which have more to do with the body itself. Strength, endurance, speed... that kind of thing.
- Now I'm going to tell you about the two most complex and least understood types of power today... - Kael began, in a more serious tone. - The Mystics and the Atomic Elementals.
Louie frowned, trying to connect the dots, and finally asked:
- So... your power to manipulate time comes from the Mystics?
Kael gave a slight smile, satisfied with Louie's quick reasoning.
- Exactly. - he replied. - Mystic powers are born from faith... or someone's will, when that will is recognized by some deity. In my case, Chronos, the god of time. But it could be any god, from any culture or religion. Everything revolves around faith and willpower.
He looked directly at Louie before continuing.
- The Atomic Elements... are a bit more "grounded," let's say. They come from modern physics. Things like particles, fusions, manipulating matter on a microscopic level. Very technical.
Kael then picked up a small device nearby, and with a quick movement, attached it to Louie's arm - a kind of meter.
- Now that you understand the basics of each type... - he said, adjusting the device - let's find out what kind of power you might have.
Louie looked suspiciously at the device being strapped to his arm, shrinking back a little, but eventually let Kael attach the thing to his left arm.
- What else are you going to want now? Draw blood too? - he muttered sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.
Kael let out a sigh and answered dryly:
- If you don't stay still, it'll have to be that way.
Louie froze instantly. He stood motionless, almost pale.
Kael noticed the fear and let out a small chuckle.
- Afraid of needles, huh?
- Don't even start with that. - Louie muttered, trying to keep his composure.
The device began beeping softly, and some lights turned on. Kael looked at the display, read silently for a few seconds... then raised an eyebrow.
- Hm... Interesting...
Louie looked at him, expecting an explanation.
Kael then spoke, slightly surprised, but with a faint smile:
- Three powers. Congratulations, kid. You're part of the 10% of people who awaken all three Kaelums.
Louie stepped forward, eyes shining with curiosity.
- Okay, and which ones?! Tell me!
Kael smiled slightly and began:
- › Super Strength (Physical)... "Allows the user to exert physical strength at levels far beyond normal, enabling feats like destroying mountains with fists, lifting massive structures, or jumping long distances using only muscle impulse. Plus an accelerated and infinite potential for muscular evolution." ‹
- That's fuckin' awesome... - Louie exclaimed, mouth agape, eyes lit up.
- And the second one you already know - Lightning Manipulation.
- Okay, okay... and the third?! - Louie asked, almost jumping with excitement.
Kael stepped back, crossing his arms.
- Ion Manipulation.
Louie blinked.
- Huh?
Kael chuckled a little and explained:
- › Ion Manipulation... "Allows the user to control electrically charged atoms (ions) - whether cations (positive ions) or anions (negative ions). With this power, the character can influence electric fields, create energy impulses, move particles, alter physical states of matter, and even interfere with chemical and biological structures." ‹
Louie's eyes widened.
- ...
- Yeah, kid... you hit the jackpot. But the hard part is learning to control all of this. It's way too early to be this amazed...
Louie spoke, extremely excited and frustrated.
- At least let me reflect on it!
Kael removed the device from Louie's arm and set it aside.
- Now I'm going to explain an important concept... called Synthesis.
Louie frowned, confused.
- Synthesis? What's that?
Kael let out a light sigh, already somewhat impatient.
- I just said I'm going to explain. So just listen and stay quiet.
Without waiting for a response, he raised one of his hands. And suddenly, a small storm of golden lightning began forming in his palm - crackling in the air with a sharp, vibrant sound.
With a quick motion, Kael projected the energy forward.
The lightning hit some bottles scattered on the terrace, and for a few seconds... everything looked strange.
The bottles rolled, as if they were going to fall... but froze mid-motion, suspended in the air. As if time around them had stopped.
After a second, they resumed moving normally, as if nothing had happened.
Louie just watched, mouth agape.
It wasn't just electricity or the power to manipulate time.
It was indeed a perfect combination of both.
It was as if time there had been... bent at lightning speed, AND controlled by Kael for a few moments.
Kael looked deeply into Louie's eyes. There was seriousness in his gaze... but also a certain care, as if he knew exactly the weight of what was coming next.
- Everything happening to you... is just the beginning. - he said calmly. - You will have to learn to control these powers. And not just them separately... but also the combinations you can't even imagine yet.
Louie felt a shiver run through his body.
Kael stepped closer, and just his presence made the environment feel different, denser.
- Time isn't on our side, Louie. And everything you do from now on... will leave a mark. Forever. Whether good or bad... true or false.
At that moment, Louie understood.
What lay ahead wasn't just a journey of self-discovery.
It was a fight against something much bigger than he imagined - even bigger than time itself.