[Vitalis]

Author's Note: Hello! Just leaving a message to say that I will be rather busy for a while due to exams, so this will be the only chapter for this week.

-----

----------

----------------

Breaking the silence, Claude regarded the gentleman before him with an inquisitive gaze. "So this is the Vitalis you spoke of...?"

Alfred responded with a humble smile, offering a slight bow. "Yes. But I am merely a novice on the grand path of the Harbinger."

Claude's brow furrowed at the unfamiliar term.

Noticing his confusion, Alfred continued. "A Harbinger is one who has mastered their Vitalis—a potent energy that resides deep within the human body."

Stepping forward, Alfred clasped his hands behind his back. "Your Lord Father has instructed me to teach you how to harness your own Vitalis. After all, mastery of it is a defining trait of nobility within the realm of Mercia."

Mercia.

Claude recalled the name from the fragmented memories he had pieced together during his week of confinement. It was the kingdom he now resided in—one of the three major powers on the continent of Avalon.

"There are three primary Paths for Harbingers: Withering, Rebirth, and Binding," Alfred explained, paying little heed to Claude's musings. "The Path of Withering focuses on manipulating the life force of one's victims. The Path of Rebirth strengthens one's own vitality, bolstering physical prowess and giving Vitalis physical form. Lastly, the Path of Binding uses Vitalis to control the souls of both the living and the dead."

Raising his hand, Alfred summoned a golden construct, taking the shape of a golden fawn, its form shifting as it danced around the room with the others. "As you can see, I follow the Path of Rebirth—a common choice among the nobility of Mercia." With a flick of his wrist, all of the golden energy shattered into shimmering motes before dissipating into the air. He tilted his head slightly. "Did you understand everything up to this point?"

Claude barely registered the question, his mind consumed by a newfound hunger for this power. It was unlike Mental Energy, yet it possessed a utility of its own—the manipulation of the life force itself.

Such a notion would have seemed absurd to him mere moments ago. Even Mage Grandmasters could not achieve such a feat, and yet, here in this foreign land, it was commonplace among those who wielded Vitalis.

Alfred noted Claude's distant expression and briefly shook his head. He wasn't surprised by the lack of reaction. Anyone would be overwhelmed by such revelations—let alone an unfavored son of a baron, cast to the far reaches of the kingdom.

"Nevertheless, before you decide which Path to follow, you must first discover your own Vitalis," Alfred said. "To do so, you will need to calm your mind, enter a meditative state, and use your senses to find an unusual presence near your heart. That will be your Vitalis."

Claude hesitated for a moment, his eyes lingering on Alfred. 'Vitalis... can I even sense it? He seemed to be certain that I can, but what if...'

Vexation threaded through his mind.

If his occupation of this body had interfered with the Vitalis within him, maybe he would not be able to sense it. Then, perhaps his secret may be revealed here. 

That Claude Talbot was long dead, and the one in his place was a foreign soul from a foreign realm.

'But what choice do I have?' Claude exhaled softly. 'It is not like I will simply wait for death here...'

With a new sense of determination flooding him, he shifted and twisted on his bed until he sat cross-legged.

Yet, even the simple act of straightening his posture required an inordinate amount of effort. It was as if his own body was trying to resist his every move.

Steadying his breathing, he willed himself into a trance.

Time slipped by unnoticed, his focus narrowing to the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, the whisper of his breath and his heart so hesitantly knocking against his ribs.

Reaching inward, he searched—expecting, hoping—to feel something. But there was nothing.

No warmth. No flicker of energy. Just emptiness.

Furrowing his brow, he tried again. Still, as minutes passed, the void within remained unchanged.

Maybe you were right, perhaps you do not have the ability to sense this Vitalis he speaks of. Perhaps your journey in this realm is fated to end here.

A small voice resounded in his head.

And then, another voice spoke to him.

Perhaps this Vitalis does not exist?

After all, this alien energy most definitely does not exist in Arta. Maybe what he had just witnessed was a hallucination played by his eyes to give hope to his decaying form.

A flicker of frustration ignited within him. Even in this state, he could feel the frailty of his body—it was like a wilting flower, barely clinging to life.

But this Vitalis… it offered him hope. If he could use Vitalis to bolster his life force, he would have a chance to extend his time in this world.

He could not afford to fail. He would not accept failure.

'No! I cannot give up! This oppurtunity is far too valuable to pass up—Wait!' An idea struck him—a gamble, perhaps, but one he was more than willing to take.

Drawing a deep breath, Claude reached inward, tapping into his Mental Energy. Like a flooding river, it coursed through his body, rushing past his heart like a relentless tempest. 'If this Vitalis does truly exist within me, surely it will not be able to hide itself from my Mental Energy...?'

And then, he felt it.

Something.

Something was there in his chest—hidden, trapped, or simply waiting, he did not know. But he understood what it meant.

Opening his eyes, he was met with Alfred's expectant gaze.

"How did it go?" the older man asked. "If you were unable to sense it, don't be discouraged. Most require weeks before—"

His words faltered. At the tip of Claude's extended finger, a faint, azure energy coiled and flickered like a living flame.

For a moment, Alfred could only stare, his left eye twitching. "...that is quite the talent you possess, Master Claude."

Claude barely heard him. He gazed at the flickering tendrils of azure energy wisping from his fingertips, mesmerized. It was Vitalis. His Vitalis.

A breath left his lips—one he hadn't realised he was holding. 

Alfred straightened up, disbelief fading from his complexion. "You are progressing far faster than expected." He said, exhaling softly. "That is... both a blessing and a curse."

Claude frowned but said nothing.

Alfred exhaled softly. 'Perhaps he truly could change things...' But he shook the thought from his mind. No. Such dreams had been beaten out of him long ago.

If Claude truly wished to rise above this blighted purgatory, he would have to carve the way himself.

-----

----------

----------------

Whoosh!

Standing before a full-length mirror, Claude regarded his reflection. The boy staring back at him could be no older than fourteen, with tousled blonder hair and soft blue eyes.

Whilst his complexion was by no means pallid, there was still a faint, lingering pallor to his skin—a subtle dullness, as if the warmth had been drained from it. 

The rich brown fabric of his waistcoat hugged his frame, its smooth texture catching the light with the faintest sheen. The sharp, tailored cut accentuated the straight lines of his posture, lending him an air of refinement.

A single brass button glinted near his ribs. Beneath, the crisp white of his shirt peeked through the open neckline. 

Claude exhaled slowly. "Whew!"

His body had recovered to an acceptable level. Whilst his body would still most likely fall apart in the coming months, it was far better than he had dared to hope for.

All thanks to...

Vitalis.

Even now, he struggled to comprehend it. As Claude had hoped, the moment his Vitalis was awakened, it began to circulate slowly through his veins. Whilst it had plateued from its initial potency, his Vitalis was slowly strengthening him. 

Nevertheless, he could not help but notice the oddity of his Vitalis. The moment his Mental Energy had come into contact with this foreign force, something unexpected occurred.

Rather than clashing, the two energies resonated, intertwining in a way that defied all logic.

With each moment, they remained entwined, and an odd transformation took place. Neither force overpowered the other; instead, they expanded, shifting in form.

His Mental Energy, already condensed through his metamorphosis into an Official Mage, had condensed even further, growing sharper, denser—stronger. Whilst the change was particularly significant, it was noticable.

But that was not all. His very body had been altered. Its natural resistance to Mental Energy had weakened, allowing him to channel it more freely, while his constitution itself had strengthened.

Why?

What link existed between Mental Energy and Vitalis?

And more importantly—what was Vitalis?

The idea that such a force had resided within him undiscovered for all these years was almost inconceivable. But, here it was, shaping his body, expanding his abilities, rewriting what he had believed possible.

Still, lingering on the unknown would accomplish little. For now, his priority was to understand this world, to familiarize himself with its workings.

Knock-Knock!

The rapping against his door was crisp and familiar, followed swiftly by a voice he recognised at once.

"Master Claude? Are you ready?"

"Yes, Evelyn. Just a moment." Claude adjusted his vest slightly, stealing a final glance at his reflection before turning toward the door.