Comprehending a mystical art takes time. Moreover, since the manual is a part of a complete mystical art, Sidius doesn't need to reach the perfection realm of mastery in order to flawlessly perform the art. The part itself is the minor realm of mastery of a complete mystical art.
Tam step is a movement skill where a chosen can camouflage into shadows for an unlimited time, unless they run out of mana.
This could be helpful to Sidius because he can use it to avoid alerting enemies.
However, the skill has its own limitations, he can still be detected If he gets too close or found by a chosen whose rank is far above his.
The skill was just ideal for escaping and ambushing.
As Sidius indulged himself in the feeling of comprehending the mystical art, moments passed in the real world. It was as if he was in a dream-like state, watching himself from a third-person perspective as he performed the movement art.
Sidius could feel his forehead dripping from sweat. The comprehension was consuming his mind power. After a while, the exhaustion transformed into refreshment.
Gradually, as he accustomed himself to the technique, he could feel the overwhelming surge in his strength.
Seconds later, he had successfully learned 'Tam step'.
Sidius opened his eyes and stood up to try performing the skill. Activating the dark element, he coated himself on it and blended in the shadows.
Unknowingly, he had ventured quite far from his apartment.
He was completely absorbed in mastering the art of moving from one shadow to another that he didn't even notice that he had wandered into the middle of the forest.
Rustle.
Sidius was about to head back when he heard a sound, causing him to turn his head in the direction of the noise.
In the moonlit night, he saw a lady dressed in a black suit, her left arm was bleeding as she ran aimlessly. Behind her were two burly men in black who was chasing her relentlessly.
The moonlight illuminated her face, revealing the fear and desperation in her eyes as blood dripped with every step she took.
At this moment, Sidius recognized her. She's the personal secretary of the famous Moon Goddess, Fia Quinteval.
Even though Sidius didn't like meddling in someone else's affairs, something tinge from him— a force telling him to save the lady.
'I'm not the type of hero saving the damshel in distress but 2 versus 1? That's not fair.' he reasoned, furrowing his brows at the thought.
He decided to follow them silently without alerting them.
'I don't know what an F ranked like me can do but I still trust my instinct. I will gain from this incident.'
Or not...
Hiding in a stone boulder after following them for minutes, Sidius suddenly sensed a domineering aura on his back.
He slowly turned his head before the individual spoke in a heavy voice.
"What does an F ranked like you doing here?'' The man in a suit confronted Sidius in a domineering voice, unleashing his 'Absolute Dominance'.
The forest which Sidius had daringly trespassed was tense and dangerous, but the man before him was more dangerous than the forest itself.
The man's aura was under control, but Sidius knew that the slightest provocation could lead to his death in an instant.
Gulp.
'Is my instinct betraying me?... Let's calm down first... calm down,' he told himself, trying to suppress his fear.
Raising both hands in a surrendering gesture, Sidius kneeled down before the intimidating figure.
"S-sir, I just happened to train here and came across a lady who was running away from two men in black."
However, Instead of easing up, the man's aura intensified, pressuring Sidius under its weight.
"I-I got scared... so I'm hiding h-here," Sidius struggled to explain, feeling the suffocating pressure of the man's aura.
"You think you can fool me!?" the man retorted, his voice firm as he increased the intensity of his aura.
"S-s-sir... I'm... r-really innocent!" Sidius pleaded as he close his eyes, hoping to survive this encounter.
'At this rate, I'm going to die from suffocation!' Sidius thought, gritting his teeth and resisting the overwhelming pressure.
'F*ck does higher ranked chosens have the habit of suppressing others?!'
'Why am I feeling fear? Is it because I'm afraid I'll leave my sister alone in this world?'
The man analyzed him carefully, searching for any hint of deceit. After what felt like an eternity, his aura finally subsided.
Cough. Cough.
Gasping for breath, Sidius' body dropped with his two arms supporting him from falling completely. He felt both scared and disappointed in himself for getting entangled in yet another life-and-death situation.
"Where did they go?" the man asked.
"N-north. Just go straight, and you'll find them!" Sidius nervously pointed in a direction.
'It's better to tell the truth, because if I lie, I'll be dead for sure.'
As Sidius looked up, he saw that the man had already ignored him, not even sparing him a second glance.
Looking at him clearly, Sidius recognized him. He is Pablo Quinteval, uncle of Fia Quinteval, an esteemed Heroic ranked chosen at the peak stage and one of the candidates to ascend to the Legendary ranked in the future.
'Did it mean that...'
Sidius' thoughts were cut short as Pablo's aura was once again rampant and positioned his hand towards him, ready to wipe out his existence from the world.
Just as despair began to form on Sidius, a female voice suddenly interrupted the tension.
"S-sister Fia! I believe him!"
The voice echoed through the forest, and two ladies emerged onto the scene.
The one who shouted was Vanessa Rudspick, her cute face was almost teary-eyed and the beautiful white shirt and green skirt that suits her elegant appearance was slightly disturbed.
The other lady, wearing a cold and distant expression, was none other than Fia Quinteval. Her long white dress, adorned with intricate patterns, bore signs of recent battle.
Fia glanced at the pitiful Sidius with an indifferent gaze but inside, her mind was filled with irritation, silently labeling him a 'fool.'
"Spare him, Uncle Pablo. He's just an F rank," Fia stated coldly, agreeing with Vanessa.
The domineering man withdrew his aiming hand upon hearing his niece's words.
"If I find out that you lied to me, run as fast as you can, brat," Pablo warned, looking at Sidius as if he were a mere insect. "Let's go, Fia," he added before running towards the direction Sidius had pointed.