Chapter 43 - Trio

With the help of the [Instantaneous Speed Movements], Ethan wanted to try a new technique.

"Use the boost in the right leg to move left and use the left leg to move right, with this, I should be able to move at zigzag"

Understanding he should be careful while doing this, he boosted his whole body.

'If I add a minor boost in the defence while focusing everything else on the leg, I will be able to protect my body while doing the movement'

With this, Ethan looked at the established point. With a fast speed, he directed the boost in his right leg. Seeing that his theory was right, he tried to reduce the boost while adding it to the other leg to continue the movement

Failing in doing so, he crashed into the wall next to him.

'I know how to do it but..implementing my own knowledge in it is another story'

Getting up, he felt like his body hadn't even felt it. Knowing that adding this training with this was the right thing to do, he repositioned at the start.

Although he failed for a whole half an hour, Ethan finally understood how the boost shift worked.

'I should directly start changing the boost while I'm moving instead of trying to stop... I need to completely focus on my enemy in a battle'

Without adding anything more, He tried again. Succeeding in switching the boost in the left leg, He was for the first time at the second point. Although he got used to the fact that the right leg was the one that transferred the boost, the situation was now reversed.

'It's difficult to switch many times in a row.. I need to completely get used to it If I want to go to the next training..'

[Distance from the established point(Error) → 1.20 - 1.55 meters.]

'Although the error is lower, it's more expensive for my mana pool to move like this. Maybe I'll use the rest of my time to meditate a little'

Sitting on the ground, he started collecting mana from his surroundings. Feeling the shift in the mana so drastic, Lefiya turned to look at Ethan, sitting on the ground while the mana wrapped him in a sphere-shaped form.

'Is he testing a new magic..?'

With this, she was completely distracted while Ais hit her. Not expecting the blow, Lefiya was thrown away again.

Hitting the wall near Ethan, he felt the distraction but, without minding it, he continued to focus on the mana.

Seeing he didn't even flinch, Lefiya thought

'A particular type of magic where he can't even move...? I hope it isn't anything dangerous'

Getting up, she decided to let Ethan focus. After 30 minutes, Lefiya understood the situation was different from what she expected. This because the sphere surrounding him was continuing to increase in size.

'Maybe he's manipulating mana itself...but why should he do such a thing and how can he? Without a spell, the mana should be useless...'

With her theories, what she didn't know was that Ethan was training on a new technique within the sphere. Creating something akin to a sword, he tried to make it condense. Failing in doing so, he felt the sword melting with the surrounding, returning in his 'external mana pool'.

'I can't condense the mana in something real yet, but I'm so close..'

After half an hour of attempts, Ethan finally grasped something important.

'I should try with something smaller, like a pen'

Easily releasing a small bubble of mana from the sphere, he tried to make it form like a pen. Although he failed like the other times, he managed to make it touchable.

Touching it, he understood he had to manage things differently.

'It feels like I'm touching water...'

Even if all his attempts failed, the important thing for him was to increase his control of the mana around him and what resided in his body. Making the 'pen' dissipate, he understood his control had improved exponentially.

With this, it was time to return to the Manor. Getting up, Ethan dispersed most of the mana while holding a small percentage capable of fully recharging himself.

'It's a bit forceful to do this but it's still better than nothing'

Looking around, he noticed that Lefiya and Ais were looking at him. Going to them, he heard Lefiya say

"Was it a technique?"

Understanding she was referring about his earlier training, Ethan felt speechless

'I forgot that Lefiya was here... I'm fortunate it isn't that much of a secret...'

With these thoughts in mind, he replied

"I was trying to control the surrounding Mana to use it"

Thinking about his words, she was confused

'Control the surrounding Mana..but if it can't be converted in your own mana isn't it useless?'

Knowing more or less what she was thinking, he decided to add

"I have a magic called [Mana Control], with this magic, I can do something similar to how absorption magic works. The only flaw is that it takes time, so I only use it to train with my mana"

Finally, understanding the situation, she still had doubts but, knowing he will study his own magic with Riveria made her satisfied with his answer...for now.

Seeing her doubts cleared, he decided to change the topic of the conversation. Looking at Ais, he asked

"how did your training go?"

Without hesitation, she replied

"Lefiya..kept looking at you, losing the concentration she needed to chant"

Hearing this, Lefiya put her thoughts in the back of her mind. With a blush, she said

"I-It's not like that! I w-w-wanted to see why the mana felt so strange around him...!!"

With a nod, Ethan thought about what to answer while disguising his d.e.s.i.r.e to laugh with a 'cough'

"I understand"

"S-Stop teasing me!!"

Although the situation was funny, he didn't want to make her cry. Sighing, he looked at Ais. Holding her hand, Ethan got her attention.

"As you know she can see the fluctuations in the mana, it's not her fault. I'm sorry if I made her lose concentration..."

Shaking her head, Ais looked at Lefiya. Taking her in a hug, he felt out of place. This because Ais was still holding his hand, something picked up by Lefiya. Although she had a red face, she managed to accept Ais' presence.

What the two of them didn't expect, was that Ais actually brought Ethan closer to Lefiya.

"Sorry If I didn't understand..."

Feeling her heart nearly exploding she managed to reply

"I-It's f-f-fine.."

Although Ethan, as an Earth person, was more used to these things, he was fully aware of the fact that hugging in this way here was not a good sign of showing friendship. However, Wanting to give Lefiya time to adapt to the situation, he felt it wasn't a good time to tease the heart of the shy Elf more than this.

"Ais..Lefiya is troubled by your action, can you hug her without me?"

Hearing his words, Ais had a confused expression

"When we hug each other, she always seems to want the same..so i thought.."

Not expecting such a thing, Ethan looked at Lefiya for a second

'Ok, she's nearly the point of non-return. The real question is, how should I act with her? I never interacted with someone like her...'

Trying to find a solution, Ethan replied

"I don't know how she feels about this, but it seems like her brain stopped working..."

Distancing himself, he looked at Lefiya.

'I need to fix the damage..'

With another sigh, he said

"Lefiya, are you still there?"

Seeing that she was starting to recover, Ethan asked Ais to come near him.

"I know it's difficult to get used to someone's presence, but know that I would never do something like..."

Kissing Ais on the lips, he added

"I'm not someone that takes advantage of others. So, As you wanted to train with me, I don't really know your feelings or your fears, the only thing I know is that we need to get stronger together..."

Feeling like this wasn't enough, Ethan looked towards the sunrise

"We have years in front of us to live... Let's build our friendship... the three of us."

Holding out his hand to her again, she had recovered from all of her previous mental stress just for another one to come.

Hesitating for a moment, she looked at his hand while Ethan understood another thing of Lefiya

'At this point..it seems more like insecurity. I don't know how to handle you, so I'm sorry If I'll cause even more troubles in your mind..'

Putting his heart in peace with his own reasoning, Ethan extended his hand to take hers. Although the action made her feel the same hand she held previously, something was different.

'I hadn't realized how cold my hand was before he took it in his... So warm...'

Getting lost in these thoughts, Lefiya no longer knew what to give importance.

Completely ignoring her, He still had Ais' hand in his other. Equipping the [Phantom's Cloak], they felt surprised by the sudden Cloak but, understanding it was Ethan's magic, the two didn't say anything.

"Let's return.."

Now that he had done this, he didn't want to face the moment when he will have to 'release' Lefiya's hand.

'I don't even know myself what to do..'

Seeing Ais nod, he started to walk, trying to ignore the situation. The fact that the blush on Lefiya's face wasn't so accentuated impressed Ethan.

'She usually runs away as soon as things like that happen.. who knows why it's different now..'

The fact he didn't know was that in Lefiya's mind, there was a battle between heart and mind in progress...

'I don't even know if I l-like him..but...why should I... I don't know what to do...but..his hand is so warm. I'm not scared of him..even when he was so c-close..I don't understand... How should I talk to him later..? Is it okay for me to feel like this...?'

With a nod from Ais, the three headed towards the Twilight Manor in this strange situation. Entering it, Ethan finally released their hands.

'her hand was so cold.. Doesn't she feel it?'

With this, Lefiya walked away towards her room while the two looked at them. In a troubled tone, he said

"Did I break her?"

Shaking her head again, Ais replied

"Your actions...you were doing it for her...I think she understands it too.."

Without replying, he decided to think about her tomorrow.

"Do you want to sleep in my room?"

Without even reply, the two went in Ethan's room, ready for another night to pass.

'I still have 1 day for train myself..I'll make them understand how strong I am..'

Closing the door behind him, he sat on the bed while Ais followed behind. Embracing him, she said

"You will surely make them understand...how strong you are..."

Nodding, He kissed her

"Tomorrow we'll wake up early, so I would like to sleep..this would be..the plan."

Looking in her golden eyes, he placed his hand on her face

"I love you so much."

Staring at him, she replied while putting her hand on his

"I feel the same...this emotion makes my heart beat faster, but it's a good feeling"

Without saying anything else, the two resumed their earlier kiss while the heat in the room increased by several degrees.

---

(I have a discord server. discord.gg/cpVr5X8 If you enter it, you can choose one of Ethan's future powers from the pool I created, but that's not all! On the server, you can see the reference on some things that will be present in the story! Right now you can freely see some things like the [Twin's Digimon] and [The Devoted Heart].)

(Alternate Titles: "He broke the poor Elf", "Lefiya, you can say 99.9% of her dialogues are followed by a blush", "Ais, so innocent yet l.e.w.d!?", "Everything is good, but where is my guard!? Why isn't he there? I want an explanation!", "You'll see Ethan fly on swords soon. I'll call this Ethan Young Master trasformation")