My weapon training lessons with my father were short-lived as I couldn't get used to the sabre for a long time. Unlike what I had expected, physical training was way harsher than studying or mental training.
For someone like me who was gifted with such high intelligence, it should have been highly humiliating to fail at something like this.
At first, I tried to remember the feeling of wielding a sword to create muscle memory, but soon enough, I found out that it wasn't enough.
To properly wield a weapon, one needs to make their purpose clear for that very moment.
Dad was right, a weapon is nothing without a purpose. Maybe my purpose for wielding a weapon wasn't definite enough.
Was I lying to myself when I answered him?
"What is a weapon?" I asked myself while maintaining a firm grip on the wooden sabre in my hands, standing alone in the Time Alteration room.
"Do you think he is having an inertia?" Moriarty asked, sitting beside Ryuk in his snake form with his eyes focused on me.
"Isn't that something writers have? Although it isn't the correct term, it's not far off. He is close to figuring out his purpose, the main problem that has been keeping him away from it is his mindset. Once he starts focusing on something, he removes any other thoughts that might disturb his conclusion. In simple words, he goes into a trance more often than others; while it may seem like a good thing to many, it can be life-threatening in some situations," Ryuk explained, his eyes focused on me.
"... Can he not even hear what we are saying?" Moriarty asked, shifting his gaze towards Ryuk who looked a little concerned for a moment.
"... I don't think he can. Check up on his soul from time to time if you can... This is why he should have wielded a weapon in a life-threatening situation if he wanted to grow faster. Now I can see why there aren't many records on wisdom path wizards or witches left in this world. Grey gave him an insight on weapons but I don't think he knew the lengths of curiosity of a Wisdom path walker," Ryuk stated, pausing his explanation for a while to ponder on the subject.
"That means... The wisdom path isn't a path of knowledge but a path to seeking knowledge. That's more problematic than I thought. That aside, I meant to ask something: can we still be called a villain if we don't stop to talk like Dad told us to?" Moriarty asked curiously.
"... Whot?"
***
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Allen Family Manor
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Living room
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Since I was still in a trance, Moriarty decided to take over for a while as he knew I would have asked him to do just that to not waste our time.
The awakening ceremony was five days away, and I had to go there as well to meet a certain someone around whom the world revolves.
The main story will start ten years from now, but the Awakening ceremony is where most of the important characters are introduced.
"I thought you didn't like to socialise with people; why would you want to go to the awakening ceremony?" Thomas asked, he was slightly confused about my sudden behaviour change but brushed it off as a growth spurt. He was sitting in the same position where he sat during the meeting while I sat on the right sofa with Alfred standing between us.
"I thought that I should start practising how to be around people since I have to attend the academy in ten years. Although I do have a long time to prepare, I want to prepare for it from now on," Moriarty answered, slightly nervous about the situation.
Unlike me, Moriarty wasn't a straight-faced liar, but in a situation like this, his nervousness wasn't a weakness; it was his strength. Any child would grow nervous when he wants to change themselves, a behaviour change only strengthens that imagery to the rest who know that child.
"Well... It's not like this sudden request is a problem, sure I will take you there. However, I have to warn you that the outside world... It isn't as kind as it seems; if there was a good comparison, I would say that it is hell. There is no other way to describe it," Thomas heaved a sigh.
Moriarty and I both knew that fact very well. Central City is called the safest city because all of the problems in this city are solved before it even begins, to put it simply, Thomas has total control over everything within the city.
While this may be bothering to people of my previous world, it was a small price to pay for the safety of the people of this Earth.
Due to the mass number of superpowered beings, humans are suppressed and live in their shadows. No one knows what kind of secrets the other's hearts hold; even families betray each other just to gain a little edge over this so-called status to live a better life with meaningless honour.
The problem isn't the villains or the corrupt heroes; it's the people with tainted hearts.
"When you go out there... Trust no one," Thomas warned Moriarty with a stern gaze; his cupped hands shook a little due to his worries, but that stopped when Alfred placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry Master Thomas, think of this as a chance. The young master has to leave for the academy in ten years, wouldn't you take the chance to let him experience the world beforehand? Only if he starts preparing from now on could he face the harsh world that awaits him later on," Alfred reassured him.
Moriarty did the right thing by explaining everything to Alfred in secret before this conversation began; with him on our side, there was no chance of our plan failing.
"If you say so, Alfred. I guess I am worrying too much. Fine, we will leave at six in the morning, get ready by that time," Thomas exclaimed, getting up from his seat. "If you want to carry Wally around, then make sure you transform him into a cane. That is your trump card in case something happens and I am not there."
"Thank you, uncle," Moriarty answered with a smile, getting up from his seat, when he looked up to see a grim look on the faces of both his uncle and Alfred. "What happened? Why are you both looking at me like that?"
"Young master... You are bleeding!" Alfred shouted, rushing towards him to give him some support if he accidentally fell to the ground.
"What do you-" Moriarty tried to say something, but when he looked down, he saw blood rolling down from his eyes, nose and mouth; there was even blood on his shoulders, which seemed to have dropped down from his ears. "Wha-"
Before he could speak he felt the world turn around as his head started to spin.
"What is happening?! Alfred call a doctor! I am taking him to the Time Alteration room!" Thomas screamed before picking up Moriarty and activating his ability that turned his eyes, jade green.
"Master Allen, wait! Take him to the Trial chamber!" Alfred stopped Thomas. "Look at his eyes! It's reacting to your ability, he is about to awaken! Take him to the Trial chamber! I will follow you!"
But I already awakened... Is he activating Timeless?! Now?! Moriarty screamed in his mind.
Thomas calmed down and took a look at Moriarty's eyes, which had a glint of green in them, before instantly disappearing from his position.
When Moriarty opened his eyes again, he saw himself lying in a dark room with twelve emerald pillars on both sides divided up with another pillar on the opposite side of the door.
He was lying on a bed of stone with a magic circle under it. He saw Thomas standing with a concerned look on his face by his right.
The air inside the room was filled with a slight scent of blood covered by a strong smell of something sweet that made him want to fall asleep.
"Don't try to talk; your vessel is trying to split apart with your soul; you are going to go through the Trial of Timeless. There you will meet our mother, The Concept of Time. She will ask you three questions, and if your answer is to her liking, she will grant you Timeless. When it's over, just think about the feeling that you feel right now, and you will be able to return," Thomas explained, gently closing Moriarty's eyes. "Good luck, Ray."