Chương 84: The Fifth Member Nobody Wanted

By midmorning, Sieghart sat inside a covered wagon with Mira's Telekinesis book open across his knees. The vehicle rocked beneath him while its reinforced wheels followed the uneven road westward. Four young summoners occupied the remaining seats. Their equipment filled the narrow spaces between them, leaving Sieghart with barely enough room to hold the thick book comfortably. He ignored the crowded conditions and continued reading.

After examining the first several chapters, Sieghart became certain that Mira had written this particular volume herself. The original principles might have come from Seraphina's students, just as she claimed, but the explanations, warnings, and irritated notes unmistakably belonged to Mira. She said that she couldn't use it well for combat, but the teachings were well-detailed. One passage warned readers that flooding an object with excessive mana was not control.

Another described the approach as the magical equivalent of screaming instructions at a chair and expecting it to become impressed. Sieghart had heard Mira use almost the same comparison while criticizing one of his early attempts at Rune Magic. The diagrams had also been drawn by hand rather than reproduced through a printing enchantment. Several contained corrections written in the margins with the same narrow handwriting found across Mira's reports.

She had apparently rewritten the old research into something closer to a personal training manual. According to the introduction, Telekinesis formed the foundation of Mira's broader style of magic. Direct mental communication, sensory projection, and remote manipulation all depended upon the same principle. Very few people possessed enough control to use that foundation effectively. Since most mages abandoned the training before moving a single object, Mira never saw a reason to publish a proper book.

Sieghart suspected she had created this copy specifically for him. The thought was unexpectedly considerate. It also made the first lesson considerably more irritating. Ronan had once described Telekinesis as enveloping an object with mana from a distance and controlling it without establishing physical contact. That explanation remained technically correct. It was also similar to describing swordsmanship as holding the sharp end away from yourself and hitting the enemy with the other side.

The difficult part appeared before the caster touched the object. Mana needed to travel through the intervening space while remaining stable, precise, and practically undetectable. Any opponent capable of sensing the projected mana could interrupt the connection before it reached the target. They might sever the thread, overwhelm it with their own power, or follow it back toward the caster.

If Sieghart attempted to seize an enemy's weapon with an obvious stream of mana, they could simply reinforce their grip, flood the weapon with Aura, and break his control. True Telekinesis required the caster to extend mana so subtly that the target noticed nothing until the connection had already formed. Mira's first exercise did not involve moving an object.

It required Sieghart to project mana one meter away without producing a visible glow, detectable pressure, elemental response, or disturbance in the surrounding air. That was the exact opposite of how he had learned most of his magic. Sieghart possessed an infinite supply of mana and had spent years compensating for weak spells by increasing their output. Mira now expected him to succeed by using as little as possible. He released a quiet sigh and closed the book. The boy sitting across from him continued glaring.

Sieghart met his eyes.

"Don't glare at me too much. Your face might stay that way forever." The boy's expression worsened. Several hours earlier, Sieghart had met the four young summoners inside Lunar Arc's courtyard. All of them had arrived before sunrise with their equipment already packed. The group consisted of two boys and two girls between fourteen and fifteen years old. They had worked together for almost two years and specialized in creating magical constructs. Mellia appeared to be the oldest and acted as the group leader.

She had dark-brown skin, tightly braided black hair, and amber eyes that studied every detail before she spoke. Several flat metal plates hung from her belt. Each carried summoning runes used to create defensive constructs, allowing her to produce barriers and temporary armor. Kart was the largest member despite being only fifteen. His short brown hair, broad shoulders, and quiet demeanor made him resemble an apprentice blacksmith more than a summoner. A heavy rectangular case rested across his back.

Sieghart sensed multiple prepared cores inside it, probably used to power the large combat constructs Kart specialized in creating. Lucia possessed pale-blond hair tied into a long braid and sharp blue eyes that rarely remained still. She carried several small metal animals inside a padded pouch. Those figures served as frameworks for flying scouts, messenger constructs, and other creations designed for speed rather than direct combat. Hernan was the youngest at fourteen.

He had messy black hair, narrow gray eyes, and an expression suggesting that the world had personally offended him before breakfast. Six metal rings hung along the leather belt around his waist. Each contained a prepared formation for summoning weapon constructs quickly. Together, the four formed one of Lunar Arc's younger field teams. They lacked extensive experience, but their complementary constructs allowed them to handle jobs that would normally require a larger group.

None appeared pleased when Mira brought Sieghart into the courtyard. Mellia concealed her reaction behind a polite expression. Kart looked confused, while Lucia's gaze immediately examined Sieghart's clothes, equipment, and disguised face. Hernan made no effort to hide his irritation. Mira stood before the group while Ronan supervised the workers loading supplies into the wagon.

"This is Sieg," Mira said.

"He'll accompany you during the border assignment." Hernan looked down at Sieghart.

"Why?" Mira's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Because I assigned him."

"That isn't what I meant."

"Then choose your words more carefully." Hernan became silent, but the glare remained. Mira continued before the conversation turned into an argument.

"Sieg is a Support Mage and healer. His role is to treat injuries, inspect signs of corruption, and provide magical assistance when necessary." Mellia glanced toward Sieghart.

"How much field experience does he have?"

"Enough." Mellia did not look satisfied, but she possessed enough self-control not to question the guild master further. Lucia raised one hand. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it"Does he know how to use constructs?"

"A few." That answer attracted more attention than Sieghart expected. All four summoners examined him more carefully, perhaps trying to identify what kind of equipment he carried. Sieghart possessed no prepared frames, cores, or summoning tools. Everything he needed remained stored within his mana and his understanding of the spells. To trained construct users, he probably looked completely unprepared. Kart finally spoke.

"Is he an apprentice from another branch?"

"No," Mira replied.

"Then who trained him?"

"That isn't relevant to the mission." Each answer made the group more suspicious. Mira seemed determined to provide as little information as possible, which protected Sieghart's identity while making him resemble a secret burden they had been ordered to carry. Hernan looked toward Ronan, perhaps hoping for a more useful explanation. The tracker continued securing crates as though nothing interesting was happening. Mira handed Mellia the mission folder.

"You'll travel to Bellhaven area, no need to introduce yourselves to anyone there. The reports describe coordinated monster activity at the base of the mountain." Mellia accepted the folder.

"Our job is still extermination and investigation?"

"Yes. However, there may be hostile involvement beyond the border. Avoid unnecessary risks and retreat if the situation exceeds the mission parameters." Mellia nodded.

"We understand."

"Sieg answers to you during the assignment, but he decides when his healing magic is necessary. Do not force him into direct combat unless retreat becomes impossible." Hernan folded his arms.

"So we have to protect him." Sieghart looked at him.

"No."

"You're a kid."

"That is an observation, not an argument." Mira placed one hand against her forehead. She had probably expected the conflict, although witnessing it begin before the wagon moved remained disappointing. Hernan stepped closer.

"Who are you?"

"Sieg."

"That isn't what I asked."

"It is the answer we gave you." Hernan's jaw tightened.

"Why would the guild master personally assign a ten-year-old to our group?" Sieghart considered several sarcastic answers before remembering that Mira wanted him to interact like a normal person. Unfortunately, he did not possess enough practical experience to know how normal ten-year-olds responded to hostile questioning.

"I'm just a grunt who works for the guild now and then," Sieghart said.

"I won't steal your glory." Hernan's expression became even more suspicious.

"That is a lie."

"Which part?"

"Everyone knows you've lived beneath the guild for years." The courtyard became quieter. Mellia glanced at Hernan, clearly displeased that he had said the rumor aloud. Lucia watched Sieghart's reaction, while Kart appeared more curious than hostile. Sieghart remained expressionless. Apparently, his presence beneath Lunar Arc was less secret than Mira believed. Most members did not know his identity, but enough had noticed the disguised child entering and leaving the basement.

Several probably assumed he was Mira's hidden apprentice. Others might believe he belonged to a distant family that paid Lunar Arc for protection. At least Hernan did not appear to connect him with Sieghart Emberhart. Sieghart opened the Telekinesis book and found his previous page.

"I'm someone who didn't want to come either. We're in the same wagon."

"That doesn't answer anything."

"Do your job properly, and I'll act like I'm air." Hernan stared at him, but Sieghart had already returned his attention to the book. Mira instructed Ronan to finish loading the supplies while Mellia gathered her team near the wagon. The guild master spoke quietly with Sieghart before he boarded.

"Try not to antagonize them."

"He started it."

"That defense becomes less convincing every time you use it."

"I told him I wouldn't interfere."

"You told him you would act like air."

"That requires even less interference." Mira looked toward the waiting team.

"They're capable, but they haven't faced a serious border incident. Watch them without undermining Mellia's authority."

"I'm only there to heal."

"You and I both know that will stop being true the moment something goes wrong." Sieghart could not deny that. He climbed into the wagon and chose a seat near the rear. The others arranged themselves around him before Ronan closed the canvas flap. The wagon left Seraphina shortly after sunrise. Several hours later, Hernan was still glaring. The memory ended as Sieghart reopened the Telekinesis book. The wagon continued moving beneath them, while the steady rhythm of hooves filled the silence. Hernan leaned forward.

"You shouldn't talk to people older than you like that." Sieghart turned another page.

"You shouldn't stare at people younger than you for several hours."

"I'm trying to understand why you're here."

"Healing."

"You don't look like a healer." Sieghart looked down at himself. He wore simple traveling clothes, a dark cloak, training bands, and no visible staff or magical focus.

"What does a healer look like?"

"Not like you."

"That explanation has changed my life, I am moved." Lucia covered a smile with one hand. Mellia noticed but pretended not to. Hernan's cheeks reddened slightly. Kart spoke before the argument continued.

"What constructs can you summon?" Sieghart considered the question. Mana Sword and Mana Shield were the only spells officially recognized beneath his Construct Branch, but he had experimented with several variations.

"A sword and a shield… slowly""That's all?"

"For now." Hernan glanced at the Telekinesis book.

"And you're trying to learn another advanced discipline while traveling?"

"Yes."

"You think reading one book will teach you magic?"

"I'll know after I finish it." The answer produced another uncomfortable silence. To Hernan, Sieghart probably sounded arrogant. The belief was reasonable because most people required years to learn what he occasionally unlocked within weeks. Explaining that history would only worsen the situation. Sieghart returned to Mira's first exercise. He held one hand above his knee and allowed a thread of mana to extend from his palm. The energy became visible immediately, producing a faint pale glow in the wagon.

All four summoners noticed it. Sieghart dismissed the thread before it traveled farther than several centimeters. The failure confirmed Mira's warning. Mana naturally carried pressure and presence, especially when projected beyond the body. He needed to reduce both without allowing the thread to dissolve. Hernan continued watching.

"That didn't look like Telekinesis."

"It wasn't."

"You failed?"

"Yes." The direct answer seemed to surprise him. Sieghart adjusted his breathing and tried again. This time, he reduced the mana until the glow nearly disappeared. The thread extended several centimeters before losing stability and dissolving into the air. He sighed. Infinite Mana had solved countless problems throughout his life. Telekinesis apparently intended to punish him for becoming too comfortable with that advantage. Mellia closed the mission folder.

"We'll reach the area before sunset. Until then, everyone should review the reports or rest." Her gaze moved toward Hernan.

"And stop creating unnecessary arguments." Hernan leaned back and looked through the opening beside the canvas. He stopped speaking, although his annoyance remained obvious. Sieghart reopened Mira's book and resumed studying. The four summoners did not want him there. He did not particularly want to be with them either. For the moment, that provided the strongest thing their new team possessed. A shared opinion.