16 Choice

Miles had lost himself within the memory. For a moment, he had almost believed he really was Xavier. But it didn't take long for his own memories to push through and reestablish his sense of self.

And now, he was a silent spectator, observing through the eyes of the former Knight.

What followed the first memory was training, lots of training. The primary focus on improving and enhancing Cassandra's control and limits. She had gained Cryokinesis, a rather rare and powerful Fae ability, one that could do far more than just throw balls of ice.

The training wasn't really useful for Miles who didn't possess Cryokinesis, but he still paid attention. It wasn't like he had anything better to do.

Xavier turned out to be a very good trainer. Despite not having the ability for himself, he would simply observe Cassandra for a few moments and suggest improvements that struck the very core of her limits. One could say he almost had a knack for it.

Cassandra herself wasn't a bad student either. She understood what he taught very quickly, mastering them just as fast.

Miles could see these two truly cared about each other.

For a moment, he wondered what it would like to have a sibling himself. But in the next, he felt the weight of guilt, knowing that Cassandra wouldn't get to see her brother again.

Instantly, he crushed the emotion.

Miles had known. He had expected this. Everyone had people they cared about. Killing one, always meant hurting many more. It had been him or Xavier, and even if he had to choose, he would still choose himself.

Soon after, a week passed.

Xavier had gone above and beyond, analyzing and studying his sister's ability to train her the best he could. And Cassandra had paid in kind, reciprocating his hard work.

Naturally, she had improved by leaps and bounds.

But just for tonight, they had decided to take a break, a celebration of sorts. Cassandra was out ordering pizza, and Xavier was resting.

At the moment, he was lying on a well-worn mattress, the height of comfort in the rat-infested apartment they called home.

Considering the horrible living conditions they lived in, Miles could only assume this was way before Xavier mastered flight, way before he became a Knight and took the City by storm.

Suddenly, the would-be Knight jumped out of bed.

He started to mutter to himself, apparently in deep thought, "Cassie can't just control any type of ice, only that which is formed by herself. Cryokinesis is supposed to be extremely versatile, but isn't this a limit? Sure, she can do a lot with the ability, a lot more than I could ever do with telekinesis.

But still, Telekinesis can technically control anything. It is not limited like Cryokinesis.

So why is it considered weak? Just because it is the most easily obtained Fae Ability when a Fae Serum is distilled? Just because every common sprite gives Telekinesis? Just because no one who has the ability, has ever achieved anything?"

His brow furrowed, "No! I refuse to believe it! Rarity cannot determine Quality! There are no weak abilities, just weak users! There must be something I'm missing!"

Suddenly, his eyes widened, shining with realization.

"Cryokinesis, Pyrokinesis, and whatever other similar abilities, they all form a manifestation and control that. Be it an Iceball, a Fireball, or a Lightning Strike.

So if Cassie can control her own ice even after release, maybe I can do the same? Manifest the energy of telekinesis? Control it after release?"

It was a radical idea. One he had come up with on a moonlit night. Xavier didn't even see any applications for it, but he still gave it a try.

He raised his hand and focused.

Nothing happened, his attempt doing nothing at all.

But Xavier didn't stop.

For the entire week, he had studied and researched Cryokinesis and other similar abilities. He had learned a lot, and he was confident he knew what to do. He just had to do it.

An hour passed by.

Cassandra would be back soon with enough pizza to feed an army.

But Xavier's focus was elsewhere, on his hand, as sweat trickled down his forehead.

Crackle!

A small spark of blue energy burst into life. This was Telekinesis, the willed energy of his mind, incarnated into a physical form!

Xavier couldn't help but smile. He could feel an intrinsic connection to the spark, but it was still rather weak…

He focused again.

A second spark appeared, joining the first, much more easily than the first.

Slowly, the two sparks intertwined, combining into one.

And that was when everything went wrong.

Boom!

A blinding flash. The stench of something burning.

Shaking his head to clear his vision, Xavier stared down at his right hand, having felt some pain.

His hand no longer had any skin left. It was charred and smoking, twisted and melted.

Xavier screamed.

***

"Aargh!"

Miles couldn't help but shout out, as he grabbed his hand.

He expected to see melted flesh, but it was completely fine.

"Master Miles, are you alright?" A familiar voice asked him.

Miles ignored it, still staring at his unburned hand.

The explosion had felt so real. But... it was obviously not. It was just a memory. Not even of his own. It was Xavier's memory.

Very soon, Miles was able to separate memory from reality.

Ignoring the explosive ending, he had actually learned a lot, especially about Xavier's rise to power and his unique approach to Fae abilities.

Despite having been involved in the Knight's death, he felt genuine respect for the man. For having seen things ordinary people couldn't. For having climbed up the ladder, from his humble beginning to the role of Knight of the Sky.

It was a real pity he was dead.

Heaving a sigh, Miles turned to the elderly butler, "Yes old Zhan, I'm fine. It was just… a daydream."

Zhan Shen noticed that something was off. But considering the situation, he let it be for now with a simple nod.

At that very instant, a system notification rang out.

Ding!

[Blood Source Assimilation Successful.

The User has assimilated Fae Ability: (Telekinesis- Greater/Touched by the Veiled World.)

Insufficient for New Discipline unlock.

New skill available: (Telekinesis-Inferior) {+}

Discipline Expansion available: IHaemomancyI {+} ]

Miles couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. So the assimilation had worked. And based on what he could see, he could take the Telekinesis skill or the Haemomancy expansion, but only one.

He would have to make a choice.

The last time the Discipline had expanded, it was due to the Beast Within. Something told Miles it wouldn't happen as easily again, and so he felt this was the best choice. He felt there was a lot of potential in Haemomancy or Blood Magic. Sure, it sounded ominous but he wasn't picky when it came to gaining power.

However, considering the situation, he might have no choice but to choose Telekinesis. They were facing a Fae bomb, after all. With telekinesis, he might be able to control a knife or something similar and discretely capture the unconscious man as a hostage.

It was too bad the ability had been downgraded from Greater to Inferior when it came to obtaining it for himself. Telekinesis was an extremely cheap Fae ability serum. Despite having seen how Xavier had evolved the ability, the inner tycoon in him felt this would be a great loss.

Fortunately for Miles, before he could make the choice, his attention shifted elsewhere.

This entire time, the straw-haired youth with the bomb had stood as still as possible, with his eyes mostly gazing at the floor. But now he finally raised his head up, perhaps having heard the shout.

Despite the week's worth of memories that Miles had experienced, it had only been a minute or so in real-time, so the bomber being silent this entire time wasn't that unusual.

What was unusual, however, was how the straw-haired youth fidgeted randomly, sweating even more than before. He even reached for his collar with his non-bomb holding hand and loosened it a bit.

Miles and Zhan Shen were instantly on guard. What was wrong with him?

With an audible gulp, the youth slowly opened his mouth to say something… but no voice came out.

But in that instant, he noticed the current situation. The muscular, scarred man lying unconscious on the floor. The eerie white mass on the other side of the floor, almost somewhat similar to a body. The two unknown individuals who remained standing, ready to strike him at the first opportunity.

Instantly, the youth's eyes hardened. No matter the odds, he would do what needed to be done for his friend.

He began to speak loudly, but only barely avoided tripping over his own words, "H-HANDS UP OR I'LL S-SHOOT!"

What?

Miles and Zhan Shen couldn't help but be confused.

The youth paused, sensing something wrong in their reaction and with his own words. He turned towards the cube in his hand.

It was obviously supposed to be a Fae bomb, definitely not a gun of any sort.

Eyes widening in embarrassment, the youth shouted in a squeaky voice, "W--Wait, no! I didn't mean that! I mean, Hands up or I'll blow you up!"

But it just wasn't the same.

"Ahhh! Can I start over please?"