Fun

As night fell over the castle, Johnny had already enjoyed a good bath, but the images of the previous battle lingered in his mind. He pondered his chances of defeating both Lady Elyssa's sons and Derek.

The conclusion was clear: he was still significantly weak. Against the brothers, he might have a reasonable chance in a stealthy attack, but against Derek, the prospect of victory seemed almost nonexistent. Derek was truly a monster in terms of skills.

This realization of his weakness, mixed with the shadows of the night, weighed on Johnny's mood. The nighttime atmosphere intensified the sense of discouragement, creating a dark scenario that echoed his thoughts.

Adjusting his position against the cold stone wall in the dimness of his room, Johnny found himself immersed in reflection.

The memories of the epic conflict in the castle courtyard still echoed in his mind—every detail, every blow, every dancing flame. The shadow of doubt loomed over his new cruel reality, but Johnny, resilient as always, whispered to himself, "In my previous world, I wasn't the most powerful either. What remains are my plans, once again!"

The door was abruptly opened, producing a noise that made Johnny turn his head to see who was entering.

Cecilia, Johnny's sister, burst in shouting, "Brother! Are you okay?" Her face twisted with anger, and her eyes sparkled with an intensity that contrasted with the concern in her voice.

The girl scanned her brother from head to toe, her eyes examining every detail carefully. When she realized he was perfectly healthy, she sighed in relief. Her face, initially contorted with anger, relaxed slightly.

Johnny thought to himself, considering the girl's attitude foolish. To him, caring for others could be dangerous in the future, a weakness that could be exploited.

As Cecilia embraced Johnny tightly, she pressed her face against her brother's chest, letting tears wet Johnny's shirt. Her words carried a mixture of relief, concern, and reproach. She shed tears as she said, "Stop getting into so much trouble, first the kidnapping and now fights! Troublesome boy!"

Johnny responded to Cecilia's hug almost unconsciously, wrapping her with his arms automatically, unaware that he was growing attached to that girl.

However, the light and warm atmosphere were abruptly interrupted by a female voice coming from the door. "Well, well! How cute are the siblings!" declared the voice. Johnny turned to face the figure that sent shivers down his spine, as he hadn't noticed her presence. It was Lady Elyssa, his new adoptive mother, observing the scene with a keen gaze.

Cecilia, realizing Lady Elyssa's presence, quickly untangled herself from the embrace, showing surprise and respect. With a graceful gesture, she bowed slightly in a manner learned in noble manners. "Lady Elyssa, we hadn't noticed your presence. Forgive our lack of manners," said Cecilia, her words filled with deference and humility.

Lady Elyssa twirled a strand of her hair with her fingers and smiled gently. "You don't need to be so formal with me. I consider you my children," she said.

Cecilia looked at Lady Elyssa with determination, gathering courage to question why her new brothers are so cruel to Alexander. She expressed her concern, highlighting that such behavior doesn't align with family values.

Lady Cecilia admired the child's boldness and approached Johnny for a hug. As she hugged him, she murmured, "Your brothers have been properly punished! It won't happen again, my little one!" Then, she turned away and left the room, leaving Johnny confused.

"Wait! I have questions!" Johnny said.

Lady Elyssa abruptly stopped in her tracks and turned to fetch a chair, settling near Johnny's bed, indicating with a gesture that Johnny could proceed with his questions.

Johnny felt his heart racing, almost jumping out of his chest. When the woman gestured to continue, he experienced a surge of excitement. Finally, he would have the opportunity to inquire about the doubts that plagued his mind, directing his concerns to someone who represented the elite of this world, the nobility.

Johnny looked directly into Lady Elyssa's eyes, feeling the tension of curiosity pulsing through his veins. The question hung in the air, awaiting the answer that could open the doors to a deeper understanding of this medieval world. He asked, "I heard a few days ago in the castle corridors that it's possible to evolve talents. How does it work?"

Lady Elyssa tilted her head slightly, considering Johnny's question. She then began to explain about talents and their evolution.

"What nonsense! Where did you get that idea? Evolving them into something more potent is an impossibility. However, perfecting their application through rigorous training is viable. On special occasions, you might even achieve a kind of epiphany, triggering the revelation of a new Artistic Echo!"

"Artistic Echo!" Johnny pronounced, looking confused and perplexed.

Lady Elyssa rolled her eyes with a slightly exasperated expression. Then, in a confidential whisper, she said, "Everything I'm about to teach you must remain an absolute secret!" With calculated precision, she moved to the wall of Johnny's room, where a bow and arrow rested. With a determined gesture, she detached them from the surface and walked serenely to the window.

Johnny and Cecilia tilted their heads simultaneously, their gestures harmonized in a gesture of agreement.

Then, Lady Elyssa explained that her talent was called perception. However, she emphasized that perception itself conferred no power; the true source of her powers lay in Artistic Echoes. These were powers awakened from her talent, but to unleash them, they depended on two crucial elements. The first was the user's sense of reality, intrinsically linked to their level of knowledge. The second consisted of the individual's imagination. The union of these two factors culminated in enlightenment, giving rise to an Artistic Echo.

Johnny nodded in silence, as he had deduced this through his own experiences until that moment. Although unfamiliar with theoretical terms like "Artistic Echo," he appreciated the discovery.

Lady Elyssa continued her explanation, highlighting the possibility that a peasant could spend their entire life without awakening any Artistic Echo, marking a notable difference compared to the nobility. The latter, at least, has the prospect of possessing two or three Artistic Echoes in adulthood.

Cecilia interrupted the explanation. "But how do the Echoes work?"

A smile illuminated Lady Elyssa's face as her eyes turned to the window, contemplating a small scarecrow almost two thousand meters away. "Did you notice that scarecrow?"

The siblings strained their eyes, focusing on a high castle window that opened to a vast and open field. The setting sun painted the scene with golden tones, highlighting the green expanse of the lands beyond. Among the gentle undulations of the terrain, stood a majestic tree whose leaves danced softly in the twilight breeze.

After a moment of meticulous search, their eyes finally found a yellow dot, a small distant spot of color challenging visibility in near darkness.