Chapter 17: Sealed Territory

Komer sat quietly in the room, legs crossed, hands gently resting between his legs, palms up, his upright posture and the serious expression on his face indicating that he was not resting, but appeared to be entering some sort of extraordinary meditative state.

Komer closed his eyes and silently let his mind drift across the endless skies, the trickle that flowed with his consciousness seemed to be guided by someone as it slowly moved along the forefront of his brain, gently streaming through each part of his body. An indescribable wonderful feeling slowly surfaced throughout his body. It was a sensation that couldn't be put into words, as if he was slowly floating in the air, transformed into vapor, freely wandering every corner of the sky.

The room was filled with a peculiar aura, as if it was enveloped by some distinctive atmosphere. The faint spiritual aura emanating from Komer's body slowly twisted and turned in the room.

The light in the room seemed to warp, gradually showing a chaotic refraction. Sunshine outside the window entered the room through the lattices, turning into an eerie cyan hue that seemed to grow deeper still. If anyone were to enter the room at this time and witness this strange scene, they might think they had stepped into the underworld, a different space accessible only to resentful spirits. Resentful spirits with a trace of intelligence, if fortunate, could enter and exit the underworld by possessing a host with powerful magic. Of course, such a phenomenon might be seen once in decades.

The faint spiritual aura gradually dissipated, eventually disappearing like a wisp of mist hovering over Komer's head.

Komer slowly opened his eyes. He could feel that there had been some changes in his body. It was a wondrous technique whose origins were a mystery. His master called it the Yoga Technique. Even the master himself didn't understand why the practice seemed to have no significant effect on him but showed differing results on Komer.

Although practicing this so-called Yoga Technique did not bring any immediate changes to Komer, he could feel it gradually transforming him in various aspects. Whether it was his spiritual power or physical strength, they seemed to undergo some subtle changes that were indeed taking place.

Even the master who taught him this technique didn't know which aspect of a person's ability it was supposed to train or cultivate, because as far as the master was concerned, he did not feel that this technique, which was acquired by chance, had much of an effect.

If it was a matter of physical strength, Komer hadn't noticed any significant improvement in that area, feeling inferior compared to someone like Ilot, who was naturally cut out to be a warrior.

And if it was about progress in spiritual power, Komer hadn't noticed any advancements in the application and learning of magic. At least he didn't perceive any improvement in his level with respect to studying and using magic. However, Komer did indeed feel something.

That was a sensation of being filled with vitality. Yes, vitality, the vitality of life. After careful consideration, Komer named this essence within him as vitality, a special something that allowed a person's potential to fully express itself. To Komer, this vitality, which seemed to be a combination of spiritual and physical energy, directly influenced the growth of these two types of power.

The sunshine outside the window was still bright, on the green branches the pretty kingfishers lightly hopped around, occasionally primping their beautiful feathers with their vibrantly colored beaks. The melodious song did not come from them, but from another branch where a warbler sang. Breezes ruffled the petals of the gold-edged lotus on the flower stand, its buds shyly unfolding, and Komer, motionless, could even smell the rich fragrance coming from the depths of the blossoms.

Awakened from meditation, Komer savored and felt everything. The outside world, every detail, was reflected flawlessly into his mind, even the ants crawling in the corner seemed visible to him. Komer couldn't explain this peculiar phenomenon. Whenever he returned from meditation, he always found his senses extraordinarily sharp, sharply enough to scare him, as if everything around him fell within the scope of his awareness, even a single grain of rice hitting the ground could be distinctly felt.

However, to his disappointment, this unique spiritual sense seemed not to last long. As he gradually recovered from the dormant state, that heightened awareness naturally faded. This was the result Komer had come to after countless sessions of practicing the Yoga Technique.

Leaping to his feet, Komer stretched his body casually and found that his flexibility, agility, reaction time, and coordination had all improved compared to before, especially the first two attributes, which were notably enhanced. It felt as if some kind of flow was coursing through his veins.

As Komer's body issued a series of small cracks while he moved, he finally completed this session of training. Such exercises couldn't be done at any time or place; otherwise, they would be ineffective. Komer could sense when it was time to practice the technique, just as one feels the need to eat when hungry—a special sensation.

The comfortable feeling in his body could not replace the troubles of reality. Komer slowly walked out of his room. Tomorrow was the Coming of Age Ceremony. What awaited him, he could not foresee. His father's attitude seemed to have changed a lot, becoming more silent and melancholic. Could his father still feel guilt and reluctance towards him, his wayward and dissolute son? Komer didn't believe so.

In recent days, he had not gone out, appearing much more behaved in the eyes of his family. He didn't want to see their gazes, as if they were about to decide his fate with the upcoming ceremony. Could it really dictate his destiny?

The heavy atmosphere permeated between the two, with Ilot and Puber both feeling somewhat downhearted. Komer's outcome tomorrow would be what they would face in just one month. Lifting his head, Ilot gulped down a large mug of beer, letting the foam drip down his chin, and then slammed the mug on the table with a shout, "Bring me another drink!"

"That's enough, Ilot. You've had plenty," Puber said, although he too was feeling rather gloomy, he still managed to keep some restraint. "Komer will be here soon, and he won't be happy seeing you like this. His spirits are already low; don't make it worse for him."

"Ah, no need for me to bother him, I'm afraid he's already numb to it all. Sending him to the Caucasus, heh, what a lovely place that is. Fertile land and vast forests, yet regretfully, no one is fortunate enough to enjoy such a spot. The Duke seems to still harbor the grudge from the past, truly wanting to put the Boss in a grave. If only we knew it would come to this, we would've been better off roaming abroad rather than coming back."

Though Ilot's tongue was somewhat numb, and his eyes bloodshot, his consciousness was more lucid than ever, the drunken bravado making him speak without inhibition.

"Becoming a Lord over there, a lord of a village with just a few hundred residents. Just look at the sort of people they are: swindlers, thieves, bandits, * offenders, murderers, heretics, adventurers, and treasure hunters. Even convicts exiled to military service wouldn't wish to go there, hehe, not to mention Damarlinsk Castle. I fear the Baron would hardly have time to change his clothes before he's left without a corpse to bury."

Before Puber could respond, they heard Komer's clear voice from outside the door, "Ilot, are you cursing me like that?"

Komer, who walked in, was not showing the slightest displeasure on his face. Puber could see that Komer's face, with hardly any expression, even emitted a flicker of excitement and expectation. Could it be there had been a change of circumstances, that the Duke had changed his mind?

"Boss, has there been a change?" Puber asked eagerly and impatiently.

"What change? Once the Coming of Age Ceremony is over tomorrow, I can leave Cyprus and take up my post in the Caucasus, the territory that now belongs to me."

Komer wore his usual unhurried expression, and the slight smile on his lips made it incomprehensible to Puber why the Boss was so indifferent. Didn't he know the situation in the Caucasus, or had he received some shock that made his brain short-circuit?

The somewhat inebriated Ilot also noticed his Boss's pleasant mood. He completely couldn't understand how at a time like this his Boss could still be cheerful. One has to draw a line somewhere, even if they're resigned to their fate. Going to the Caucasus might mean a permanent departure, never to return. In a moment of warmth, Ilot, lowering his voice, said, "Boss, I think you might as well run away. Puber and I will go with you. It's better to find a way to live outside the kingdom than to go to the Caucasus to face death."