Practice (1)

"No, I don't want to go." Nico lowered his head, feeling anxious when Lucian and Medeia mentioned his ability. "You are only wasting your time by teaching a useless boy like me."

Sister Jeanne crouched down in front of Nico, trying to persuade him. "Nico, maybe you should consider—"

"No! Why would people want me to use my ability again? Everyone knows better that my ability has killed someone!" Nico's hands tremble. His eyes glazed with tears as he remembered about his late sister.

Medeia thought they were wasting their time by burdening a scared boy. If he didn't have the courage to step out of his room, how could they teach him to control his power?

It was good enough for him not to turn into the Lost for the past two years. If they pressured him too much, Medeia was afraid that boy would lose her mind for real.

"Maybe we can think of something else," whispered Medeia to Lucian.

But Lucian didn't seem like he wanted to give up. He approached Nico, then stood on his knees to face the boy. "Nico, may I tell you a secret? Maybe you'll change your mind after hearing this."

Nico seemed confused but he let Lucian lean forward. The boy widened his eyes as Lucian whispered something to his ear, then his expression slowly looked calm.

Medeia frowned, feeling curious because she couldn't hear Lucian's voice at all, as if something was blocking it.

'System, can you tell me what he's talking about?'

[Negative. The system can't hear anything]

What? Even the system couldn't hear his voice?

What kind of nonsense was that?

"What do you think, Nico? Do you want to learn to control your ability?"

Medeia jolted in surprise when she heard his voice again. She looked at Nico and noticed that the boy was calmer than before. She didn't even know what kind of thing that Lucian had said to him.

Nico nodded slowly. "I do."

It didn't make sense at all! A while ago, Nico had rejected them harshly, but suddenly, he answered Lucian's question in a positive way.

Actually, what was going on between these two?

"Great! Let's begin today." Lucian stood up, then patted Nico's head several times. 

"To-today? Isn't it too soon?"

Lucian smiled. "The faster you can control it, the better." He continued, "Now, change your clothes and get ready."

Nico unexpectedly became obedient. He asked Sister Jeanne to help him get ready, leaving Lucian with Medeia.

"What did you say to him?" asked Medeia as soon as they left.

Lucian put his finger before his lips. "The secret will no longer become a secret if I tell it to everyone."

[See, Host. He is not a perfect, ideal, husband for you]

No. He was perfect.

A man who was full of mystery would make her life more enjoyable.

○ ○

They couldn't practice in the village with ease, so Lucian brought Nico and Medeia to an abandoned small town near the village.

It took them at least two hours to walk there. Medeia turned her head around, looking at the town remnants that were covered with dirt and dust. 

"How do you know there is a town here?" Medeia lowered her eyes and saw an abandoned pink teddy bear that had been trampled over.

"I was camped here for a few days before I came across you in the forest."

"You lived in this creepy place?" Nico was surprised. "I'll never be brave enough to live by myself, even though I really want it."

After the accident, Nico wanted to live alone, but he didn't have the courage to leave the village. 

Lucian patted his head. "Living alone is not an option, Nico."

Because if he happened to be alone, it meant that his entire village or family had already been wiped out by the monsters.

Lucian crossed his arms, giving Nico an encouraging nod. "Alright, Nico," he said, "I want you to give it everything you've got. Blast your power as strong as you can. I need to see what you're capable of."

Nico hesitated, glancing between Lucian and Medeia, worry etched on his face. "But … What if I lose control? I could hurt you. Or Medeia."

Lucian's expression softened, but his eyes remained firm. "Trust me, Nico. No one will die today. Just focus, and let's see what you can do."

Nico took a deep breath and clenched his fist. "Alright. I'll try."

Lucian and Medeia stepped back far enough from him to give him some space. He raised his thumb up and shouted, "Remember, Nico. Don't hold back. Let it all out!"

Medeia leaned toward him, whispering, "Theoretically speaking, will his shield hit us or pass through us?"

"Based on his inexperience, his shield will definitely hit us instead of protecting us." 

Nico could not control his ability yet, so the shield became solid as soon as he blasted it. However, if he tried to control it, he could make the shield pass through the object he wanted to protect.

Medeia stepped back, hiding behind Lucian. "So what percentage are you sure you can protect us?"

Lucian answered firmly, "One hundred percent, no less."

On the other side, Nico took a few breaths, trying to block out his nerves. He planted his feet into the ground and slowly extended his hands.

Nico swallowed his own saliva and closed his eyes. A binding, shimmering shield erupted around him, expanding in all directions within seconds. 

The solid shield hit everything that touched it, destroying the old houses, the signage boards, even making the ground crack.

Medeia thought the shield would hit her, but it stopped in front of Lucian.

"You did that?" asked Medeia.

"No, it stops by itself." Lucian tapped the solid shield. "The shield can expand much further, but it stops because Nico hesitates."

Medeia, "So, you mean ... he can control the shield so it doesn't hit us?"

"Maybe, but maybe it's a coincidence." Lucian took a broken signage board. "But first, let's see how strong this shield is."