The Illusion of Power

The memory of the nobles' clash with the Blackcloaks haunted Kurt, replaying in his mind like a vivid dream. The raw power of the Astra, the way they had conjured those shimmering weapons, the feel of the energy in the air – it was all he could think about. He had to try it. He had to see if he could replicate what he had witnessed.

The city, with its bustling crowds and watchful eyes, was not the place for such an experiment. So, the next day, Kurt ventured beyond the city walls, seeking a secluded spot where he could practice without being seen. He found a small clearing a short distance from the city, a place where the trees formed a natural screen, shielding him from prying eyes.

He stood in the center of the clearing, the image of the noble's spear crystal clear in his mind. He closed his eyes, focusing all his concentration on the memory. He recalled the noble's words, the enchantment, the strange syllables that had accompanied the weapon's appearance.

He took a deep breath, his small chest expanding with nervous energy. Then, he began to speak, his voice a hesitant whisper at first, then growing stronger as his confidence grew. He repeated the words he had heard, the ancient syllables that had seemed to hold the key to such incredible power.

" Tempestas… Lance… " he chanted, his arms outstretched, his eyes squeezed shut. He imagined the swirling energy, the shimmering form of the spear, the way it had materialized from nothingness.

And then, it happened.

A faint shimmer appeared before him, a ripple in the air that grew brighter, more defined with each passing moment. A spear of pure energy materialized, hovering in the air before him, just as he had imagined it. It was there. A perfect replica of the weapon he had seen.

Kurt's eyes snapped open, his mouth agape in disbelief. He stared at the shimmering spear, his heart pounding in his chest. He had done it. He had actually done it.

"It… it was that easy?" he muttered, his voice filled with astonishment. He circled the spear, examining it from every angle, his mind struggling to comprehend the simplicity of it all.

Then, a thought struck him, a sudden realization that made him pause. The spear had appeared before he had finished the enchantment. He had only spoken half the words, yet the weapon was already there, fully formed.

He looked at the spear, then back at the memory of the nobles. They had spoken those long, elaborate phrases, those complex enchantments, with such flourish and ceremony.

A slow grin spread across his face. "So… the enchantment was just for show," he said, a chuckle escaping his lips. "What a foolish, pretentious way to wield power."

He reached out, his small hand grasping the energy spear. He tried to lift it, to wield it as the noble had done, but the spear remained stubbornly stationary. He pushed, he pulled, he tried to channel his will into it, but the weapon did not respond. It hovered there, a beautiful, useless replica.

He tried again, and again, but the spear remained inert. It was as if it was a mere illusion, a phantom weapon that looked real but possessed no substance, no power.

Finally, he let out a frustrated sigh, the energy spear vanishing as his concentration wavered.

"Well," he said, his voice a mix of disappointment and a strange sense of accomplishment. "At least I made some progress."

He had learned a valuable lesson, a secret that the nobles seemed to have overlooked in their arrogance. The enchantments were not the source of the power. They were merely a theatrical display, a way to impress and intimidate. The true power, the real secret of Astra Knowledge, lay elsewhere. And he was determined to find it.