Chapter 57: Varyn Training With Eldrion
"That was exceptional, Derrick," Eldrion had to commend, unable to believe the sheer power that just came from Derrick.
Derrick didn’t respond. His eyes were still fixed on his arm, which was visibly healing.
"I guess we have solved the mystery of the curse attached to your Varyn," Eldrion said with a smile.
"Yeah." Derrick’s arm was a stump right now, but he was excited.
"And we also know how it helps." Eldrion walked forward, taking careful steps towards Derrick.
"Your Varyn, its effects are not only explosive, they also have a more mysterious effect," he said curiously.
"What effect?" Derrick asked, completely oblivious.
Eldrion twisted his hands, and a merchant cart appeared from nowhere.
It was completely empty, and it had clearly seen better days.
"Hit this with Varyn only." Eldrion stepped aside, trying to avoid any debris.
Derrick planted his feet firmly on the ground and set his fists.
[Varyn Fist activated.]
The air twisted around Derrick’s fist, an effect of energy rushing into them.
Without hesitation, he threw a perfect punch, and raw energy left his fists.
The energy hit the cart, and it broke in two, sending the cart to both sides of the room.
"I don’t see the extra..." Derrick was still speaking when both ends of the cart exploded, turning into nothing but debris.
"There it is." Eldrion chuckled, pleased by what he had just witnessed.
"I have a double hit effect?" Derrick asked himself, a smile plastered on his face.
Not only did his Varyn explode on contact, it also struck whatever it hit with a delayed double impact.
Slowly, Derrick was turning into something he really liked.
Going from the peak human he was months ago to the combat machine he is today.
If he continued on this path, then it would be easy for him to close the gap between him and those wielding magic.
"Well, I would say you’re very good, Derrick. But you’re not quite ready yet," Eldrion admitted.
"Even with all this?" Derrick asked. In his mind, he was more than ready.
"I took down professional assassins and my own brother with less training. I’d argue that I’m more than ready," Derrick spoke, his voice slightly raised.
"Those assassins and your brother are nothing compared to what lives in those woods. Fighting beasts is not an easy thing, Derrick." Eldrion remained calm.
He understood Derrick’s frustrations, especially since he had been worse than Derrick during his teenage years.
"I know you have these gifts and these talents, but trust me, Derrick, those fights are much more different from fighting against beasts." Eldrion placed a hand on Derrick’s shoulder.
"A human would always fight with training and a sense of humanity, but a beast lacks both. It is neither human, nor has training, it is just pure animalistic instinct." Eldrion’s words made a chill run down Derrick’s spine.
[He is not wrong Derrick]
The system also warned, siding with Eldrion.
"Listen to me, Derrick, there are beasts who are indistinguishable from demons, and their powers will obliterate you. Now is not the time," Eldrion warned once again.
"If you say so," Derrick said with a sigh, accepting his defeat.
"What’s the next course of training?" Derrick asked. If he wanted to get ready faster, then he needed to train harder.
"We’ve established what your Varyn can do outside your body, but we still haven’t dealt with the inside." Eldrion started.
"Varyn is a very versatile energy source. You can use it to boost your physical abilities, reinforce your mind and body, boost your senses beyond normal, so many things."
"It’s powerful, but at the same time dangerous. Moving Varyn through your body is one of the hardest stages of Varyn. Any slight mistake, you could die." Eldrion didn’t want to give Derrick any false hope, he needed him to understand the dangers.
Moving energy through one’s body had many disadvantages, especially one as volatile as Varyn.
"To start, bring a small thread of Varyn to the center of your chest."
"This is an ancient procedure that should help you gain better Varyn control," Eldrion explained.
Derrick did as instructed, he moved a thread of Varyn from his source to his chest.
It took him a few minutes, but he managed to do it.
"Now, I need you to fashion that thread, and turn it into a pin."
Derrick took a deep breath, the Varyn within him moved masterfully, turning into a pin.
"Your mental fortitude is exceptional, to be honest," Eldrion said, his voice calm.
"Now, move that needle through your veins, let it pulse from your chest to every organ in your body," Eldrion instructed.
Derrick did as told, or at least he tried to, no matter how much he tried to push the Varyn needle, it barely budged.
"Give it your all, Derrick, mastering this would help you control your Varyn."
Derrick continued to try, and while he was at it, silent flames were stirring in Dravania.
A homeless man in tattered clothing walked through the streets of a bustling city.
His hair was unkempt and unsightly, his skin seemed to be mixed with mud, and a foul odor followed him.
"Kind sir, would you please spare some coins?" The man asked, his hands outstretched.
The man received no responses, everyone just walked past him focused on their own goal.
The beggar continued his slow limping through the streets of the Veridian citadel.
He turned into a narrow alleyway, far from the prying eyes of guards and the bustling merchant stalls.
There, leaning against a damp stone wall, stood a man, one he had been tracking for quite some time.
As the beggar approached, the man looked up.
His eyes were not human, they looked to be completely enveloped by shadows.
The corrupted man didn’t speak, he let out a low, guttural hiss and lunged, his fingers elongating into black claws aimed straight for the beggar’s throat.
The beggar didn’t flinch. He didn’t even raise his hands to defend himself.
"Pitiful," the beggar whispered.
Before the claws could graze his skin, the beggar’s eyes flared with bright emerald light.
The attacker froze midair, his body began to convulse as green flames erupted from his mouth and eyes, slowly incenerating him into nothing.
The beggar stood over the ashes, the green glow in his eyes slowly vanished, revealing the exhaustion written all over the man’s face.
He reached into his tattered rags and pulled out a small, silver ring, the crest of the High King of Dravania.
The king needed to remember just who he was, the mission had grown far more serious than he had imagined.
The dark emperor had spread the seeds of his corruption deep into the Veridian citadel, and it was only a matter of time before a full takeover occured.
However, what truly bothered him was the mentions of Dravania, several of the people he interrogated mentioned that the dark emperor was slowly expanding his reach into Dravania.
The king put the ring back into his pouch, there was work to be done, and he couldn’t risk being seen wearing it.
"May the gods help Dravania," the King whispered into the wind, his voice cracking with the weight of a crown he could no longer publicly wear. "For I fear I cannot.
