Chapter 71: Lay Low

Umara closed her mouth and utilized her internal monologue. 

(John? What is this?)

(I don’t know. I’m just using my Aura.)

(You’re reading my thoughts?)

(Something like that.)

We stared at each other. For me, it wasn’t particularly difficult to do what I was doing. I had simply discovered another way to use Aura, and it came as if completely natural. 

But Umara looked like she was struggling to control her thoughts and refrain from speaking aloud to communicate. 

I could clearly feel her nervousness grow as well. She obviously wasn’t used to worrying about controlling her thoughts in case someone read them. I could even feel a bit of resistance from the small amount of Psyka within her, not enough to do anything to me, but enough to let me know that she wasn’t very comfortable with me inside her mind. 

When I noticed this, I pulled away and retracted my Aura. She took a few deep breaths once I did, composing herself with an apologetic expression. 

“I-I’m sorry. It’s not like I don’t trust you…”

“I know. It’s fine. I still need to practice too.”

I smiled at her. Inserting myself into her mind and reading her thoughts was a whole other level of intrusion, or intimacy depending on how you looked at it. I would say it surpassed sex, even marriage, in that regard. After all, no matter what, everyone always had their own thoughts, their own mind that they could seclude themselves into, a place that was theirs and theirs alone. 

I had suddenly taken that away from her. If she had done that to me, I would be a bit nervous too. 

Well, it wasn’t like she couldn’t feel it happening. As for whether she could forcefully stop it, I wasn’t sure. We would have to see after practicing some more. 

“Section 8! Dismissed!”

“Oh, perfect timing.”

I grabbed Umara and stood with her, packing my chair.

“I need to get one of those.”

Umara mumbled, her eyes on the chair as it disappeared. I chuckled while putting my gun away, walking with her off the wall. 

I had a bit of a headache from all the shooting, but it was overshadowed by the discovery of my new ability. 

It felt like my Aura became more tangible, more like a limb instead of some fleeting feeling. When I reached out to Umara, it was almost like pushing a cloud of my Aura toward her and then connecting to her mind by transmitting electrical signals across that cloud, like lightning. 

It was definitely odd, but that was simply the way I visualized what was happening. And if I failed to visualize it, the Aura became much more difficult to control. 

Interestingly enough though, controlling my Aura didn’t take energy, only concentration. While concentrating took energy in its own way, it still meant that I wasn’t expending Psyka to do something you’d think would cost quite a large amount of it. 

Or maybe I just wasn’t trying hard enough. Either way, basic telepathy seemed both easy and difficult to carry out. 

Despite it happening rather seamlessly, it was a challenge to actually read Umara’s thoughts, specifically what she was trying to say. 

Her mind felt like a mess of quiet chitterings, and only when she utilized her internal monologue did I finally hear something I could pick up on, like a voice piercing through a thick veil of static over a radio. 

It was up to me to get better at tuning in, but it would take practice to figure out how. 

Still, I couldn’t help but think of the possibilities. 

What if instead of a voice, we could pass on visuals? Would I be able to directly give her my memories of science? Would she be able to understand it directly?

It was another level of communication surpassing anything else in this world and even on Earth. 

I was eager to use it. 

Umara and I left, both of us tired from several hours of fighting. Thankfully, everyone’s efforts managed to drive off the Tide. There was no need to worry about it anymore. 

We went and found some of the rations, eating them while hanging around our platoon’s supply cache. Since we were visitors at this outpost, there weren’t any proper bunks to house us. We would need to set up camp within a dedicated field for the night since we definitely weren’t going back to base today. 

“Hey.”

Umara tapped me, drawing my gaze. 

“That thing you did. How?”

“I just used my Aura to reach out into your mind. I had been thinking and it occurred to me somehow.”

I went on to explain what went through my head. How Aura was like an extension of magical powers rather than a separate entity. I told her to think of it like it was a limb, a medium to extend her powers through. 

She could already use her Aura to cast spells beyond her body, using the space around her instead of her palm which enabled her to cast several at once. I told her to use that feeling. 

But finding a way to use Aura wasn’t so simple. After all, what else was she supposed to do with it besides what she was already doing? Finding an application for it was harder than using it. 

And I couldn’t really help her with that. I didn’t know how to use mana. It would be up to her for inspiration, and all I could really do was give her ideas about Aura itself. 

She sighed after a while, realizing nothing would just come to her like it had for me.

“I’ll have to work on it. We should also try practicing whatever it is that you did.”

“Telepathy.”

“Telepathy?”

“Yea. That’s what speaking between minds is called, a nonverbal method of sending information directly to another person.”

“I see. Then we should practice your telepathy. It should be very valuable in combat.”

“Mm. So long as you’re comfortable with it.”

She nodded as I glanced in the distance, seeing the rest of our squad walking over. Their armor was covered in blood and grime. It seems they had been busy. 

“I will admit that I was quite nervous suddenly feeling your Aura within my mind and knowing you could read my thoughts, but there’s no reason I shouldn’t try to work with it. And if I really were against it, then I should learn how to counter it anyway.”

“I admire your commitment to becoming better. Still, I’ll know when you’re not up for it. I’ll be in your mind, after all.”

“So long as you don’t disregard my determination.”

“Mm.”

I smiled at her. Then, the others arrived. 

I looked at their bloodied selves and chuckled. 

“Put you to work, huh?”

“Something like this is normal for us. What’s not normal is how easy you make missions when you’re watching over us.”

“I don’t miss defensive formations.”

Tana grumbled while stripping her armor, revealing her thin clothing that stuck to her toned body slick with sweat. 

Feiden and Vetsmon were the same. All three of them looked tired. It was just that their tired looked different from mine or Umara’s tired. 

Like many others in our platoon, we decided to set up camp on the dedicated field. I pulled out several items for that purpose and finally experienced my first campout in another world. 

All squads were given a single tent large enough for six people. It wasn’t very luxurious, just large and the fabric thick enough to protect against the elements. 

Everyone was required to sleep under the same tent for safety reasons. Being separated was just asking to be picked off. Gender separation was also nonexistent. 

There was no cooking equipment and only a few large wool blankets. Other than some basic necessities and the rations, this was all we had. 

Though it was technically all we needed, living like this for any longer than a week would be rather horrid. 

However, Umara brought out something that would make longer-term campouts far more bearable. 

“I have this Water Tap if anyone needs it.”

She held up a White Crystal surrounded by a metal encasing engraved with complex spell runes. It was capable of generating water like a hose. 

How convenient. A warlock capable of water spells alone would be able to sustain an entire team by themselves for weeks so long as they could find a bit of food. The most valuable resource in the world produced with the wave of a hand. 

Vetsmon thanked Umara and took the crystal, using it to wash his armor. Tana and Feiden used it after him. 

I made final preparations as the sun started to set, painting the sky a pleasant orange and purple. 

“John!”

As I started to relax while admiring the sky, I was called. I came back down to earth and glanced over at the Puppet Master, who was shockingly here. 

“Do you mind heading up the walls and helping with the remnants?”

“…”

I stared at him in silence for several seconds before rising from my seat and walking over. The others watched me go without a word. 

I ascended the wall, communing with my gun, setting up my chair, and getting settled. At least there wasn’t much more daylight. I wouldn’t have to do this for more than an hour or so.

*BOOM*

I took my shot, sending echoes across the landscape and startling the entire base. 

The beast at the end of my sights fell unceremoniously. Then, I felt a presence approaching me. 

It was the Puppet Master. He leaned against the wall beside me, His arms crossed and his gaze overlooking everything beyond the walls. 

I took one more shot before letting him speak.

“There are a lot of unhappy individuals, and rumors are being spread.”

“Mhmm.”

“I’m not a fan of Carrion either. He’s been in his position for decades and has quite an impressive ego, not something that can be lightly challenged by a new student who bent the rules to get in. You’re under Albarain’s tutelage so I’m not completely worried, but I know you and think some things are better laid out clearly.”

*BANG*

Another shot, and another beast collapsed. For a 200 yard shot with iron sights, it was pretty good. My gaze remained within the confines of my sights.

“You’re walking on thin ice, kid. I had wanted to talk to you earlier but Carrion kept a close eye on me. A lot of people now want you dead, though they still think you’re nothing more than a nuisance who tried to slander their name, a commoner who doesn’t know how deep this shit goes. And I suggest you keep it that way. I know you’re not naive, so use theirs. And so long as you don’t go out of your way to cause trouble, I’ll do what I can to make sure they don’t force your hand.”

*BOOM*

I took one more shot and lifted my rifle, pulling away from the wall and glancing at the Puppet Master. 

I couldn’t hide the smile. 

“I appreciate it, Mr. Puppet. Really.”

“So long as you’re aware. I’ll be damned if I allow you to let this get to your head, but the truth remains that you’re incredibly talented. You’re easily the most powerful summoner who has ever stepped foot into the Magisterium. If you were a noble, you’d have your path paved with gold and marrying someone like Umara would come with but a word. But you’re a commoner, with a head harder than knights yet as intelligent as a summoner should be. So please, don’t waste the gifts you’ve been given. At the very least, wait until you no longer need to.”

“Mm. I’ll do as you say.”

“Wise. And so long as you’re underneath my wing, I’ll make sure the rest of the children stay obedient. We just have to get you to the military and the issues of nobility will disappear rather quickly. It’ll be no more than 7 months from now. Can you last 7 months?”

“I’ll give you my best.”

I smirked, thinking about how funny this whole situation was. 

The Puppet Master grumbled after that. 

“In all my years I’ve never lost an Elite. I will not have the first die by your hand just because he didn’t realize he was staring down the barrel of death. Nor will I let your talent be squandered, even if simply for the good of humanity.”

“Hm.”

I doubted I was good enough to affect humanity as a whole. Perhaps Maxwell’s advancement path would change the dynamic of the Summoner class, but I was still merely the trial run for that. 

But the thought was nice. It was comforting to know that I had the Puppet Master to look out for me, a sail to guide me through the rocky waters, diverting the animosity of loathsome noble children. 

I owed it to him and Umara to try and lay low. Maybe I would have to swallow my pride, but with his reminder on top of Maxwells, I was becoming more understanding of the fact that these nobles really would end me for even small things. 

Damn this world and its insane power gaps. What happened to guns being the great equalizer? 

So much for my ideas of world domination.

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