"Well... this is a problem," Erik said. Achim and his father had just ended their conversation, and the things he had learned about the situation were plenty. For starters, he, Nathaniel, and two other guys went to a club sometime before, where Matthew's son asked him something regarding hacking some devices.
Apparently, Nathaniel wanted to know how easy it was to find someone with such skills but didn't specify why. That meant that aside from him blaming Erik for being the cause of his expulsion, he also suspected him of the leaks on his and Natasha's private photos.
<He was less stupid than I assumed...> Erik thought.
After that, he asked some bizarre questions about what they would do if someone unleashed some thaids upon him and his friends.
They quickly replied, and Nathaniel seemed to agree. Achim had the impression that Matthew's son was implied in the attack on the Red Palace students some time ago and that he probably got targeted because of this. Still, there wasn't anything sure since Matthew's son didn't say anything clearly and avoided answering questions.
The Red Palace tried to keep things under wraps regarding the incident, never stating who was attacked or who attacked.
<That was reasonable, especially considering that Becker is keeping an eye on me. If words got out that he wasn't even able to protect the nation's only awakener, things would have turned awkward.>
Achim later told his father how Nathaniel called him, telling him to find some men to kill this guy that Nathaniel was very angry with, but he never stated who the person was. That was at least good news for Erik, but now that even Achim's father knew about the matter, he assumed that he would have several guards following him from now on.
He could see that Achim was visibly scared while he told everything to his father, his body tense and his eyes wide with fear. Achim's confident and jovial demeanor, portrayed by the data Erik found about him on the internet, had been replaced by a palpable sense of unease, and Erik could see the way Achim's hands trembled slightly as he spoke.
On the other hand, his father had a very serious look on his face, his brows furrowed and his jaw set in a determined expression. Erik saw the lines of worry etched on Achim's father's forehead, a clear indication of the gravity of the situation at hand.
The conversation went on, and Achim explained how Matthew's son frequently talked about this guy to them, always keeping his identity a mystery and only talking about what the guy did or said.
Achim wondered why he hid this crucial information. Knowing the kid, the young man knew that it was only because Nathaniel was spiteful, arrogant, and had a weird superiority complex.
However, that was weird, to be honest. If Nathaniel thought of being so good, especially compared to this guy, why was he so obsessed with this guy he stated several times was a waste of oxygen?
However, many critical points remained.
It was clear that, based on what Nathaniel said, this guy studied at the Red Palace; this meant it would be just a matter of time to figure out who he was if they asked the right people. Erik wasn't worried about the Red Palace itself but about the students. It was clear they would answer if asked, especially under threats.
As the awakener saw things, he assumed that Achim's involvement in Nathaniel's death and his father would lean toward the rebellious side of the Mambas. Markus told his son he would think about the matter but didn't say anything else.
With that, Erik learned what he needed. He had a day to act; he knew his identity was safe for the moment, so things were going well. It was now late, but Erik still had some energy to train and make new neural links.
He sat cross-legged on his bedroom floor, his eyes closed in concentration as he focused on his breathing. He had already established neural links in the past and was well aware of the process, but he also knew that as the links increased, making new ones became increasingly difficult.
Erik quickly focused on his brain and on the crystal that resided within; he reached for it, feeling the power within waiting to be harnessed. He took a deep breath and began to channel mana through it and his brain.
The training lasted for some hours; it was easy at first. He had done this before and knew how to make a neural link. But as he continued to channel mana, he felt the strain begin to build. Sweat broke out on his forehead, and he gritted his teeth in concentration.
He could feel the neural link beginning to form, the crystal acting as a conduit and storage of mana. But he knew he needed greater effort if he wanted to do one more link.
He continued meditating, forcing more mana through the crystal and into his brain. The strain was high now, and he could feel himself beginning to lose concentration, but he endured, knowing he was now close to making a new link.
He had practiced for months with the technique, but he still found the process difficult and exhausting.
As he concentrated, he felt a surge of mana flow through his body, and he pictured it as a shimmering, golden bridge stretching out from his brain to the crystal in front of him.
He took a deep breath and began to visualize the brain crystal and his brain, linking them with some slim threads which he extended outward to connect the crystal and the brain with them.
At first, it felt like trying to thread a needle with a rope. His thoughts were scattered and unfocused, and he struggled to keep them in check. But as he breathed and concentrated, the bridge began to take shape.
He could feel the energy pulsing through them, each strand of mana weaving together to create a robust and resilient bond between his mind and the crystal.
But then, suddenly, he felt it. A spark of connection, a faint glimmer of light in the darkness of his mind. He reached for it eagerly, grasping at the connection and pulling it towards him. It was a rush of sensation, a flood of emotions and thoughts that washed over him like a tidal wave.
It was a weird sensation, like a jolt of electricity running through his body. He could feel the neural link responding to his thoughts, its surface rippling with the mana flow as he established the connection.
The bridge grew stronger as he continued to focus, and he could feel the crystal's mana flow into his brain. It was like tapping into a well of energy, and he could feel his own abilities expanding and strengthening with each passing moment.
For a time, Erik lost himself in the process, the world around him fading away as he delved deeper into his mind. It was like stepping into a new dimension where he was entirely in control of his abilities. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.
Eventually, he opened his eyes, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over him. The connection was established, and he knew that he could now control his power better. It didn't take much before Erik realized what neural link he had established. The poisonous Astral Wolf bite. He couldn't test it now that he was inside the Red Palace, but he would as soon as possible.
With this new link established, he knew that he was one step closer to really becoming powerful and gaining his freedom.
Now there was only one thing that weighed on his mind, Amber. Only a couple of days had passed since they had shared that kiss, and he still had to let her know what he had decided.
When Erik saw Amber for the first time, he was mesmerized by her beauty, charm, elegance, and intelligence, but he was too shy to say this to her. However, as time passed and he felt more confident in himself, he met Emily, and his attention quickly shifted from Amber to her.
He understood that was an insensitive move and that he had not been fair with her, especially considering what she had done for him in the past. However, he was still conflicted, as he really wanted to pursue Emily but felt a deep connection with Amber, who was by any means uglier than her friend.
The young man decided that the best thing to do would be to take things into his own hands and confront Amber.
If the spark ignited, then good. Otherwise, he would tell Amber that he was sorry but that he couldn't reciprocate her feelings, hoping this wouldn't destroy their friendship.
The young man quickly took out his phone and sent a text message to the girl.
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E: Can we talk?
A: Sure, what's the matter?
E: Not by text. I need to meet you now. Come to my room; Benedict is still in the cafeteria, and we can talk without interruption.
A: All right, see you soon.
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This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺