Lessons and Observations

Chapter 5

Tyler followed a few paces behind Anessa, her eyes darting around the village streets as they walked. After their talk in the library, Anessa had agreed to help teach her—language, culture, whatever she wanted. Tyler was still on guard, of course. Trust didn't come easy, not in a world where everything was new, unfamiliar, and full of potential threats.

Still... learning the language was step one to survival.

"Are we there yet?" Tyler asked, huffing. They'd been walking longer than she expected, and her feet were starting to ache.

"Not long now," Anessa said with a small smile.

They finally came to a stop in front of a two-story house tucked away near the edge of the village. It was built with thick, sand-colored stone and accented by sturdy wooden beams. A sloped slate roof covered the top, and the windows were small but clean, with light brown shutters hanging neatly on either side. Vines curled up along one wall, and a small garden lined the side of the house with herbs, flowers, and a few vegetables growing in tidy rows.

"Here we are. Welcome to my humble... abode," Anessa said, stepping up to the front door. She opened it with a soft creak and gestured for Tyler to enter. "Please, come inside."

Tyler stepped through the doorway. "Nice place. Do you live by yourself?"

"Yes… live alone. Is quiet," Anessa replied, following her inside and gently shutting the door.

Tyler glanced around, taking in the space.

The interior was warm and cozy, lit by the soft glow of enchanted orbs hanging in glass fixtures. The living area was modest—wooden floors covered with handwoven rugs, a stone fireplace set against the far wall, and two plush chairs facing it. A small bookshelf overflowed with worn tomes and scrolls, and dried herbs hung from beams overhead, giving the air a faint, earthy scent. A round table sat near the window with two mismatched chairs, and in the back, a narrow staircase led to the second floor.

'It is a nice place,' Tyler thought, surprised. Rustic, but lived in. Comfortable.

"So," Anessa said, turning to face her, "when do you wish to begin?"

"As swiftly as possible. Preferably now," Tyler replied.

Anessa gave a single nod before stepping into a side room. The sounds of shifting objects and clinking wood echoed for a moment before she reappeared, carrying three worn books in her arms.

She placed them gently on the table and looked at Tyler with a small, steady smile.

"Let us begin."

Voren walked through the village streets with his usual affected grace, his lips curled in a smile so practiced it could have been carved in marble. He waved to the gathered townsfolk as they offered bows and greetings, their words of praise filling the air like the chirping of birds.

'Yes, grovel,' Voren thought, the smile never touching his eyes. 'Worthless commoners. It's only right you recognize superiority when you see it.'

"Luke," he said in a low voice, barely moving his lips.

"Yes, Count Voren?" the butler replied promptly, ever at his side.

"How much longer must I endure this... dung heap of a village?"

"Two more weeks, my lord," Luke replied with the tone of someone who'd memorized every complaint by now.

Voren clicked his tongue, about to respond when something—or rather, someone—caught his eye.

A young woman crossed the village square ahead of them. She moved with natural grace, unaware—or uncaring—of the eyes that followed her. Her long auburn hair shimmered slightly in the sun, falling in gentle waves all the way down her back. Her eyes, bright green and sharp with intelligence, scanned the street ahead. Her face had a serene, almost ethereal beauty—high cheekbones, a soft jawline, and a small, elegant nose. Her lips were full but held a neutral expression, and her posture was confident, but not arrogant.

She wore a modest but well-kept dress of soft green fabric that hugged her frame, tailored to the weather. Her figure was womanly but not exaggerated—healthy, strong, and graceful in motion.

Voren's eyes followed her, his smile sharpening slightly.

"Luke. Who is that?" he asked, not breaking his stride.

Luke glanced ahead, instantly recognizing her. "That is the mayor's daughter, my lord. Her name is Evelyn."

"Evelyn," Voren echoed, turning the name over in his mouth like a fine wine. "Charming."

He watched as she turned the corner and vanished from view, the faintest glint of intrigue flickering behind his eyes.

____________________________________________________________________________

Tyler sat behind a desk, a thick book spread open in front of her. She groaned in frustration, running her fingers through her hair before leaning back in her chair.

"This is frustrating," she muttered.

It's been two days since Anessa started teaching me the language of this world. To put it lightly… it's been slow. The biggest issue is the pronunciation—this language sounds like a weird mix of Old English and Dutch. I can pick up some of the Old English roots, but the Dutch? Not a clue.

She let out a sigh and closed the book with a dull thump.

"That's enough reading for one day."

Leaning back, she raised her hand in front of her. The air shimmered as a translucent barrier formed above her palm—oval-shaped, faintly glowing, and almost like heat waves bending the light.

"At least my boundary manipulation is going better," she said with a faint smile.

She studied the barrier, watching the subtle flicker of energy along its edge.

I'm still only using it in the most basic way—barriers—but I'm starting to understand how it works. It's not like a simple wall that blocks things. No, it's more... specific. It creates a boundary between me and the exact thing I want it to block.

The barrier pulsed softly as if reacting to her thoughts.

Kind of like Gojo's Infinity, she thought. Only instead of slowing things down infinitely, it stops them outright by creating a conceptual divide between "me" and "that." Whether it's heat, sound, or physical impact—it separates me from it entirely. As long as I can define what "that" is.

The barrier shimmered once more, shifting in form. It stretched and narrowed, taking on the shape of a small, translucent dagger that hovered just above Tyler's palm.

"Barriers aren't limited to just walls or shields." she mused, watching the blade glint faintly in the dim light. "They can be anything I imagine."

With a flick of her wrist, the dagger dissolved into a mist of light.

"But I still have a long way to go."

Chapter 5: End