Ch. 9 Telekinesis Master

Gwen walked to her class in a daze, her steps automatic, her mind in turmoil. Although her feet were moving toward the classroom, her eyes were lifeless, staring blankly ahead. The events hours ago played in her mind like a whirlwind. She had taken the challenge from the group of girls because she hoped it would help her achieve her goal of making one hundred new friends. She had succeeded in all three tests with relative ease. But the last part of the test... That one had shaken her deeply.

She should have insisted on refusing, but Gwen knew that if she had, the group would never have stopped bothering her. They would have found another way to harass her, and the consequences would have been far worse.

"Hey, Gwen! Where have you been? Come on, hurry up! The telekinesis magic lesson is about to start. Aren't you here to master your magic?" Sofia called out, waving at her from across the room. But Gwen barely heard her. The words passed right through her ears, her mind still clouded by the recent challenge.

Sofia's voice barely registered as Gwen mechanically moved to her seat. Her soul felt detached from her body. I came here to make a hundred new friends, Gwen thought bitterly, but even that thought seemed distant and unimportant. She hadn't come to study magic, not really. She had come because of her bet with her senior brother. Why in the world she have to accept those girl's silly games?

The lesson started, but Gwen was far from focused. The instructor was the only telekinesis master in the world, a legend in his own right. He had been called to the academy specifically for Gwen's case due to her unique magical abilities. But none of it mattered to her at the moment. She didn't hear the instructor's voice. She didn't see the demonstrations or even notice when he called her name.

"Miss Gwyneth, please pay attention. We're about to begin the exercise," the instructor said firmly, his voice sharp.

Gwen didn't react immediately. It wasn't until she suddenly felt herself floating into the air—her body rising without warning—that she realized something was wrong. A startled gasp escaped her lips as her feet left the ground, and her body drifted upward.

"Eh? Why am I floating? I didn't use my powers!" Gwen exclaimed, her eyes wide in shock.

Before she could react, her head collided with the ceiling with a sickening thud. The room spun for a moment before her body slowly descended back to the floor. She rubbed her head in confusion, trying to collect herself. That's when she saw him—the old man who had been standing quietly, observing her with a mixture of amusement and slight reprimand.

"Young lady, do you know it's impolite to daydream in the middle of lessons?" the instructor chided, his voice a little softer now, though still firm.

"Eh? Ah, I'm sorry," Gwen stammered, her face turning red in embarrassment. She quickly bowed, going as far as to bend ninety degrees in sincere apology. Gwen had always been respectful to those who deserved it, even if she didn't necessarily agree with them. Her respect wasn't something easily won, but when it was given, it was genuine.

The instructor, who had been watching her with a bemused smile, nodded approvingly. "Miss Gwyneth, isn't it? I've heard of your situation. They say you have control over four extraordinary elements. But, do you realize the full extent of your abilities?"

The words hit Gwen like a ton of bricks. Her stomach churned. "Four extraordinary elements?" she repeated weakly, feeling the familiar cold sweat start to soak her clothes.

"Yes. You've managed to master Fire, Lightning, Gold, and..." The instructor paused as if calculating something in his head. "That's a rare case, and frankly, no mage has ever displayed multiple, contradictory elements like you have. Fire and Lightning, yes, they're complementary—mutually supportive. But Earth, that's strange. What makes this even more unusual is that you seem to control them all simultaneously, which defies what we know about elemental magic."

Gwen's heart skipped a beat. How does he know? She thought. The instructor's words were precise—too precise for comfort. The knowledge he had about her magic was unsettling. He must have known more about her than anyone had realized.

"I'm not sure what you mean..." Gwen muttered, trying to appear calm.

The instructor didn't seem convinced. "Well, my best guess is you are Space Master."

"..." Gwyneth didn't know how to respond to the old man's accurate guess.

"If you are truly a Space Master, then you possess abilities beyond what most could fathom. The Space Master should be able to control not only the basic elements but also water, air, light, dark, and even time."

Gwen's mind raced as she glanced around the room, her heart pounding. Wait, I'm not the only one here, am I? she thought, noticing the absence of her best friend, Sofia, who normally attended every class with her.

The instructor seemed to read her thoughts. "Don't worry. There's no one else here, just me. I'll keep your secret, but I need to know the truth. Are you the Space Master?" He leaned forward, his expression intense yet not unkind.

Gwen's mind raced as her master's voice echoed in her head: Tell him. You can trust him.

Gwen's hands trembled as she met the instructor's gaze. She knew there was no way to hide her powers forever. The man before her was far more knowledgeable than anyone she had met so far. If anyone could help her understand what was happening to her magic, it would be him.

"Yes. I am the heir to the Space God's throne. But I can't control my magic like others. I have... limitations."

The instructor's eyes widened in understanding. "Ah, that explains it. You see, as a Space Master, your abilities should be far beyond even my understanding. But it seems your powers are unstable. You can't control your magic because you lack proper training and control. As I suspected, your body's dimensions vibrate violently when you use telekinesis."

Gwen's heart sank. "I can't use telekinesis without risking destroying everything around me. My body... it shakes like an earthquake when I do."

"Indeed," the instructor said thoughtfully. "It's as I feared. Your condition is unique. You're not just an elemental wizard; you're a Space Master, but something seems to be preventing you from harnessing your true potential. It's clear that you need guidance from someone who understands both telekinesis and the space magic that runs through you."

The instructor smiled slightly. "I think there's only one person who can help you now. But before we discuss that, I need to know: how long does it take for your telekinesis magic to deactivate?"

"About half an hour, at most. But sometimes it takes only five minutes," Gwen replied.

The instructor stroked his chin, deep in thought. "I see. Then you'll need to find that person—the one who can truly help you unlock your potential."

Gwen wasn't too interested to find that person, since she didn't need this plane's human's help. But her ears perked up when she heard a name.

"You need to find the Realm Knight—Master of Dual Spiritual Swords."