Every other day, we went back to the open fields to hunt for new shards. Tom told me that he will only teach me about Magica on duty and no other time. I think I can understand his reasoning, he doesn't want me to abuse his goodwill, but also he wants me to have a drive for doing baits and not try to stab him in the back. My role was quite difficult, I had to lure golems into the trap and frankly, that was my only job. On the training side, Tom would explain the terminology of magica. He says that understanding the fundamentals is the first step if I'm going to learn magic and it feels reasonable, for I have no clue what magica is. After doing this for a couple of days, —by now I lost count of weeks a while back— I got a good grip on what magica is. It's the basis of how our mind functions, if one were to run he needed to use his complex brain nerves, for the magic you must use all that and also beyond.
It was another day in my new ordinary life. Today we'll be going shard hunting, but Tom was sitting on the log where the fireplace is. He doesn't live in my camp, but he always arrives before I am awake and I have no clue how he does it. It looked like he arranged the two logs to face each other. He was probably going to teach me something important, but shouldn't he do it on the field?
"Come here and sit highlander, today we will have a different routine. I am going to teach you something very important about elements, specifically about your mind," said Tom. "Ok, bring it on then," I said, I sat down on the other log that was facing him, "so what is this lesson about?" I said.
"To achieve the ability to bend, you must activate your second mind. I believe you already know a handful of magica terminology, yes?" he said.
"I have been thinking about it every day as you said, but I am curious. What exactly is the second mind?" I said.
"I can not teach it to you highlander, it is not something that can be described with words,'' he said, he arranged three pieces of rocks and then arranged them in an orderly manner. "What you will do will be difficult, especially when you're a Highlander," Tom said
"That will not stop me, show me how I should do it,'' I said eagerly. "First, activate your second mind. Think of your second mind as the present, each mind indicates a specific flow. The first is the future, the second mind is the present and the third mind is the past. Each mind will open a certain part of magica, to bend you must open the present because that's where magica lies." Tom continued "to practice it, first you must close your mind, no thoughts of the past or future, and focus on the present. Simple right? But now you must bring your mind around to control it into one idea. That these three rocks will be cut in half. If you can make yourself believe that, and at the same time be able to cut the rocks in half, then you will finally open your second mind" Tom finished his explanation. I was quiet after that. He knew I understood because I nodded to him. He left the fireplace and I was alone to care for myself.
"Close your mind and open your second mind, very stupid."
I glanced at the three rocks presented to me, I focused unbelievably hard. "Can I do this?" I wondered, to not think and at the same time to believe in an illogical explanation. I'm only doing this for two realistic reasons, to survive and not die by this man's hand. I will kill him one day, just like I did—-
I had an intense flashback to the ship battle, before I was washed to this unshaken land, I had remembered clearly what I did.
"Frost, what are you doing?" Frank cried out loud, "that sword shouldn't be pointing at me, I am your friend!" Frank continues, "what is the meaning of this!?" I already cut off Frank's right hand, he was bleeding uncontrollably, the general was dead five blocks away from us. laying next to the deck corner, without a second glance I cut off Frank's head smoothly, and he dropped dead cold and wet. Why did I do it? that is simply to answer because I am a murder.
I opened my eyes, I was back at the fireplace…I got up and went to soak my face. I know what I did, and that wasn't the first time, I had a firm reason why I killed Frank and the general. My goal was to eliminate the general, he was the reason why we were this far from the Alnestra territory, and I wanted his bounty on his head. Frank was unfortunate to witness it, I didn't trust a single person with my secrets, and so I eliminated him. I made myself forget that event ever happened, but that was difficult to do in these recent times, especially when I was required to get inside my head. I need to find a way to kill this Tom bastard, but I couldn't find a single solid weakness. He seems immortal somehow, which is why I want to gain the powers he poses, then my chance might rise significantly.
Looking back to the description he gave me, it was short and confusing, but I can't show a single weakness. I must be different… With what I know, I must open my second mind by having full control of my focus, and believe that I can break these small rocks with my mind. Stupid, but I have seen Tom do things I wasn't able to describe. I went back to the fireplace and gave it another try, I won't fail this time.
In the following days, I worked on my training to 'reveal' my second mind. It certainly got easier to focus for longer times, and Tom said that was an improvement, but way far away before actual progress. Some more nights and I was able to crack the top shell of the rock, I kept it going until it was completely devoted to believing that I can cut rocks with my mind, and then it happened the rocks were cut into two pieces.