chapter 8

Chapter 8

Date: April 5, 1990

Location: St. Augustine's Orphanage, London

The soft sounds of his flute filled the empty classroom as David played a melody under Ms. Phillips' watchful eye. The music seemed to flow effortlessly, and each note came smoother as his breath control grew stronger. He was beginning to feel the results of his practice; his lungs felt fuller, his breathing more controlled, and the stamina he needed for his power was building little by little.

As he finished, Ms. Phillips clapped lightly, smiling. "You've come a long way, David. I didn't expect a beginner to improve so quickly!"

David smiled back, keeping his tone modest. "Thank you, Ms. Phillips. I just… I really like it." In truth, the flute had become his favorite part of each day — not only for its music, but as a powerful tool in his training.

With a grateful nod to Ms. Phillips, he gathered his flute and made his way back toward the orphanage's main building, his mind already racing through what he could work on next. The more he improved his stamina and control, the more freedom he'd have in using New Order, but he still faced limitations. The bigger and longer-lasting the order, the more energy it seemed to require. And if he ran out of stamina while maintaining an order, he could feel it strain his body in ways that left him exhausted, even weak.

As he rounded the corner, he paused, glancing around to make sure he was alone. The orphanage yard was empty, the caretakers busy with other tasks. Steeling himself, he took a deep breath and focused.

"I… can recover quickly."

A soft warmth pulsed through him, like the buzz of energy after a deep sleep. He'd been practicing this order periodically, testing how much recovery he could gain from it. The effect wasn't immediate, but he could feel it soothe his muscles, his fatigue lessening slightly each time he used it. It was a small trick, but it helped him endure longer training sessions.

He'd realized early on that, if he wanted to keep growing his strength without raising suspicion, he'd need ways to recover faster and avoid burnout. With each practice, each flute session, each sprint across the yard, he could feel his body inching closer to what he needed: resilience, endurance, and most importantly, control.

One day, he thought, he might be strong enough to use two high-level orders simultaneously. But until then, he would push his limits carefully, staying under the radar, blending in as much as possible.

He exhaled, releasing the order, his body returning to its natural state. He knew he couldn't rely on his recovery order constantly — it would drain him too quickly. But with each practice session, he felt more prepared for the future, a future that he knew would be filled with both danger and opportunity. And as long as he kept improving, he was determined to face it on his own terms.

End of chap.