Chapter 150 - As simple as a Snap.

After the fairly successful Shield Bashing, King Michael approached Eric with a half smile on his face and proceeded to ask rather unique questions. It is fair to say that these sorts of questions weren't completely expected by anyone watching Eric work. "How do you feel now?"

Bewildered at such a question, Eric has to ask King Michael to elaborate on it. How exactly is he supposed to feel? "What do you mean?"

Fairly confident with his words, confidence which was likely based on his own knowledge and capabilities, he of course had the right words to answer without giving much effort to form a proper sentence. "Considering that you hurted "Your enemy" but also defended you and everyone behind you. At this case, Commander Alia. How did it make you feel?"

At first, not knowing how to put his feelings into words, he gave out a poorly formed sentence. "I... um. Good. I think i felt good. Wait..." before he answered in a more proper way. "It is hard to explain, but it feels as if a little burden was just lifted off of my shoulders."

Smiling to the fact that his method actually worked, he answered with a little sigh of relief. "That's the effect Shield Bashing causes towards a Fire Controller with an Inner Demon of rage to beat, or basically anyone."

Throwing the Shield gently, making it wheel all the way to the rest of the shields while thankfully not causing a mess, Commander Alia complimented King Michael's statements with. "Yes, bashing that dummy did feel good."

"I should restrict you from using the training yard." Playfully replied King Michael, with no sense of meaning what he said but also indirectly asking her to stop bashing training dummies. They don't have enough men to build new ones every week, even though they considerably have enough gold to support sudden training yard expenses.

"We should make the best out of this before the Platoon arrives. Eric won't be able to concentrate with a big crowd making noise. No one would be able to concentrate like that." Rather thoughtful of Commander Alia. She was at an indirect aims of respecting Eric's differences instead of being a loudmouth about it. Example: shaming him in front of everyone about it or calling his differences, weaknesses.

Throughout knowing him, she noticed that Eric doesn't really fit in the crowds, gets shy rather easy even for small things, and that he prefers to work alone which often turns into better results compared to working with people, even if that people can be one single person. He is rather different, most kids his age are loudmouths, time wasters, and a waste of Gold Coins. Hearing his story, she came to the conclusion that isolation shaped this sort of fairly adorable personality, he just missed his mother. He needs time to put these sort of shy behaviours behind him in general. Not just in front of people of which he knows for a good long while.

So considering those unique characteristics, she didn't state that Eric is too shy to perform in front of a crowd. She didn't portray his personality as something that would slow him down or slow the gang down from their overall goal. Because let's be honest, no one likes a negative nancy. She described it as "He can't focus." Genuinely putting the blame to the unnecessary murmuring and talks that are likely to happen if a large crowd is around, watching a kid who can blow fire out of many body parts, train with a shield. I would ask questions too.

Mogranius however, could show off his powers all day long without getting discouraged or distracted. But Eric doesn't have the same aura.

To everyone's surprise, King Michael made it clear that he wants to cut the Shield Bashing training short. Not putting too much importance on learning such move furthermore. "No no. Let me finish what i'm trying to teach the kid. I don't need him to bash dummies all day, I just needed him to understand a concept." Taking Eric's attention, King Michael firmly stated. "Tell me what you understood from this Shield bashing lesson. Think about it, how did your inner demon react to it? How you have the urge to do it again but not as much as you wanted too before your first try. Put the pieces together." Being sure that this trick worked due to Eric's little expression earlier, he knew what questions to ask even though those questions seemed quite complex to everyone. To Mogranius for example, he still doesn't get how an "I need to attack", mindset would help Eric progress against the Inner Demon of Rage.

Although not the best with books, Eric had one key perk. He could catch up easily. Perhaps, not as fast as Stefan and fairly not as perceptive as him. But he does have strong capabilities when it comes to catching up. Taking mere moments to puzzle pieces of information together.

As a base, he thought about the Inner Demons. He thought about how a small little burden got suddenly lifted from his shoulder. Which led to a deeper question in his head. Because before when he "fed the rage", this same burden only increased. It didn't decrease as it did just a moment ago. So what is happening here?

Following King Michael's guidelines on putting the pieces together, he thought about the "urge". Although the urge to bash the dummy barely changed. He was able to notice one small little change within him. He had developed a small little resistance. He resisted to bash the dummy even though the resistance was as small as a cup of water spilled in a bucket. And he felt self assured that it wasn't because of his small arm injury or the possible expenses. His source of resistance was hard to explain but was there. Raising more questions about the Urge. With his rage fed, how did that decrease too?

Putting the pieces together, Eric theorized that it was all based on the Inner Demons. Well that wasn't exactly hard to put into theory, but the point of it is that whatever King Michael's technique was, it got him one step closer towards beating the Inner Demon of rage specifically without making the Inner Demon of Rage along with the Demon of Self Control too worst. Rather complex, but a beautiful complexity you are sure to expect from a Grand Master.

"I feel a little shift in my rage." Giving it a short thought before he continued with a mild hesitation. "My group likely noticed that i had unnecessary rage outbursts up to this point, ever since i found out that I was the Electus."

"Kind off."

"Yes they did become more than common."

"My point is, bashing that dummy made me let out some steam without making my rage worse. My rage feels smaller. As it someone came and compressed it further. Pushing it down with might!" Although maybe not the best description, it's all King Michael wanted to hear. He confirmed to himself that the lesson worked well. 

"Which is the point of this exercise Eric. It is a little shortcut towards your fight against your own Inner Demons. You showed that dummy who is in charge, while still keeping your sense of protection." Indirectly complimenting Mogranius' unique teachings, King Michael continued. "With Mogranius' training, protection was sure in your mind even though i told you to focus towards attacks."

Shocked at such pin point accuracy, Eric stated while scratching his temple feeling bewildered. "That's... actually completely true. Are you a mind reader or something?"

"No. But i simply knew it would happen." Afterwards respecting Mogranius' teaching furthermore to the point of praising while still explaining what he tried to teach with this mini lesson. "You can thank Mogranius for setting a firm base for you. A protective approach is indeed worth the time, but one needs to know when it is the best time to attack and when it is the best time to protect!"

"I... understand what you mean, it did feel tremendously nice to let out anger without having to worry about the safety of whoever is behind me. Knowing that my friends were safe cleared my mind too." Still not completely understanding what this training was about, with a bit of hesitation he found the courage to ask. "But how does this connect to the Fire Shield?"

Getting to the point, being bodly clear about it. King Michael stated. "Put rage into your Fire Shield. Your aim is to protect, yes. But put more rage into it."

"Ha?"

"Is that really the best idea?"

"Yes." Afterwards grabbing Eric's right shoulder, King Michael continued in an understanding tone. "Eric, even though you are battling the same Inner Demon, an Ignite's power is all based on rage. Rage is what fuels us while the Source of Fire is the base provider. Channel your rage towards the shield instead of containing it in you. The rage won't have anywhere else to go but the shield, which will make it turn up stronger and more stable while at the same time you will tame your Inner Demon because you never failed to protect when you let out your rage in the Fire Shield."

Still a bit confused, taking more time to catch up which was understandable of course. He at least felt, "I think I get it. I feel like I'm ready to try this spell again."

In aims to clarify something very important, he raised his forefinger a bit nervous and strongly rushing his first few words. "Before you do, remember this. Never put rage towards any other spell that doesn't have a defensive purpose. What I discovered, is the only known method to feed rage and at the same time tame it. Putting more rage into other spells, would actually make everything worse. For example if you are literally aiming to fry someone, fry them while trying to contain your rage."

"I understand." But looking at Mogranius who for some reason was counting his fingers to comprehend this lesson, he stated. "Mogranius might take a while longer to understand you though."

Not putting to much importance on that, trusting Mogranius' skill and his very different perception towards everything. King Michael simply said. "It is okay, let him think about it." Before he urged Eric too. "Try the Fire Shield. Now!"

Mimicking Mogranius, the best way to start off a Fire Shield was to nail the feet to the ground, getting a firm grip. One foot always had to be in front of the other, a bit apart from each other. So he put his right foot forwards and slid his left foot backwards a little bit. In the slippery snow, it isn't the best idea to seperate the feet to far from each other either.

Giving out a strong violent clap which is the starter of the Fire Shield, granting the spell a source and expanding with a balance of rage and the sense of protection.

A small spherical form first appeared on his hands, in a split second it expanded to half his body size. And after another blink it exploded 3 times in size. Surrounding Eric completely and measuring around 10 feet wide. Commander Alia walked a few steps away before Eric casted the Fire Shield. But if she was near, she would have just been part of the circle. Because as long as Eric doesn't tighten his fists, anything can go in and out of the Shield. Which in a way, makes it easier to protect a group of people.

"By the Source of Fire. I've never seen such a fast Fire Shield cast!" Yelled Mogranius in the deepest shock. Him mentoring Akareas too, makes his shock a lot more interesting. Eric did beat the fourth level of his Inner Demon of rage and advanced towards the third, yes that's true. But how much rage was this kid caging in to be able to form such a perfect and rapidly expanding Fire Shield?

"He just needed to channel his rage differently." Stated King Michael. Afterwards snapping his fingers and to everyone's surprise breaking Eric's Fire Shield along with that snap, he made his power clear even though he had no intention of harm towards them. As if what he just did wasn't such a big deal. He continued with a lot more enthusiasm. "Now with that task successfully finished, who wants to help me catch wild chickens?"