chapter 14 - additional lessons

With newfound courage I opened the archives again, ready to face whatever the future may hold.

INITIALISING RESOURCES...

PREPARING ARCHIVES...

OPENING ARCHIVES...

I let my eyes skim over the words. I was curious about the future but didn't have enough interest to put all of my attention into it. Klaus was of course the stereotypical hero that showed up exactly when he world needed him. He used his intelligence and strength to battle all those who threatened 'his' kingdom. No one would doubt that this was his home his entire life with how patriotic he was. He and his future fiancée worked together as a match made in heaven. They were strong in their own ways but blended perfectly.

And where was I in all of this you might ask. Nowhere. My character had been killed off pretty early on. Max was an extra whose sole purpose in life was to disappoint so that Klaus could look better. That was the purpose of every extra. The first battle with a neighbouring country led to Max's demise as he was incapable of doing anything other than standing frozen in fear. It served as a reminder that we were all human yet Klaus was somehow about that. He was capable of controlling his fear and learning from this experience to improve for the next one.

I wasn't even supposed to die in the main battle but rather during the build up of the story. While initially I took everything in the story to heart, somehow I have come to terms with the fact that reality and fiction are considerably different. While the basic facts written in the story may mirror reality, what of that which is not written? It's impossible to have every detail about every person. Their ins and outs are things that I know but books cannot.

I am not who is in the story, no one is. I already know that my existence is vastly different from what is written. If this can be changed, what can't be? Every choice I make, every word I say, can change the world. Rather than one person with free will, shouldn't I make it two? If we all go off course, I wonder if others could also do whatever they wanted without being forced into a mould. Perhaps. It's worth a shot.

I think the understanding that everything is susceptible to change helped a lot. The control that I had thought was lost, returned to me and was evident in the growing amount of mana. I was in control of my powers, myself, and what came of my life. As daunting as that may be, I was content with knowing that things could change. As Anson had said, change isn't always bad and for once I wanted a change that did not taste of hurt.

CLOSING ARCHIVES...

knock knock

"You may come in."

It was Xavier, and today he appeared on his own. It was time for the additional lesson I had asked for, specifically wishing to have it on my own.

"What is it that you wish to learn today, or rather what do you expect to come out of these additional lessons?" Xavier sat with his legs crossed, looking up at me with a strange face of amusement.

"I want to learn how to temporarily lessen a person's abilities."

Something changed once I had said that as he now sat upright, staring into my eyes to answer questions his mouth would not utter.

"What made you make this decision? This is quite different from what you had initially wanted so forgive me if I am overstepping, but I would like to understand why you suddenly wish to learn such a thing."

I laughed slightly as I responded to his question, aware of how childlike I must sound.

"I don't know, I just felt like I wanted a change."

If I was being honest, it was an impulsive decision. I simply wanted to know the extent of my abilities to change what the future holds and in doing so I became momentarily interested in the ability to control others' powers. Why I wished to learn how to lessen another's powers rather than increase it is beyond me. It was the first thing I thought of and so that was what I went with.

"The reason isn't all that important. I want to know whether it is possible and if it is something you can teach me."

My eyes were wide as I did my best to look as innocent and pleading as possible. Such things don't work on him, I know, but it's worth a shot. Pouting in a way that embarrassed even me, I continuously asked him whether he could teach me.

At first Xavier stared in shock, and even disgust, but later he grew frustrated with my nagging. The frustration was no doubt made worse by the fact that Anson was not here to help make the atmosphere more comfortable. Nonetheless I continued nagging, aware that his breaking point was not much farther. I was correct. Soon enough Xavier began yelling at me to stop talking.

"Enough! To answer your question, yes it is possible but no I cannot teach you!"

"Oh."

On noticing my disappointment, his demeanor instantly changed to a kind elder brother attempting to console a young sibling.

"It is not that I do not want to teach you but rather that I cannot. It is something that only someone with the same power can teach. Everyone feels and controls their power differently. What I can tell you is that the way in which you imagine your power growing and shrinking, is the way you can manipulate the mana of others."

"That is not much help..."

"I know. But there is nothing else that I can say to help you with this. All I can offer you is my own powers as a test subject, if that is what you wish."

Xavier hadn't expected me to be shameless enough to take him up on that offer. Clearly he didn't know me well enough. That is how I began my journey to change my future and also how I began pestering Xavier to the point of no return.