Chapter 82: Need Your Help
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With all eyes on him watching his every move like a hawk, Xzavier spoke addressed Laddie again in the same auspicious tone as before;
"Now carefully insert the hollowed out bamboo pole into the bucket, and make sure the two adjoining points are closed…"
Laddie was still baffled, there was still not a single trace of mana, and yet, Xzavier was confidently putting things in place for his 'mysterious family power' to be displayed. Moved by nothing but sheer curiosity, Laddie edged his way towards the bucket and inserted the stick into it. The adjoining part between the two sides, he kept closed.
The atmosphere was even denser than before. The fact that this was supposed to be a secret further enhanced the already ominous atmosphere, giving off a general aura of the forbidden. It was both intoxicating and a little frightening. Despite their individual reservations, every single of them was thrilled to be a part of something as wholesome as this. By all appearances, it was a simple gathering with mostly ordinary people. But Xzavier's showmanship had given it a different element. It was almost like he had given them a unique window into a strange world.
They gawked at his every move with the laser-sharp like focus of an eagle. Indeed, it felt more like a ritual in a secret society than a mere display of power.
Laddie was Xzavier's instrument of the hour. Each time Xzavier asked him to do something, the old man could feel the overbearing weight of all the eyes fixated on him, anxiously watching his every move, waiting like a brood of vipers sitting in the darkness as they waited for their prey.
Laddie wasn't a youth anymore. In fact, he dwarfed everyone when it came to age, experience and understanding. But somehow, in that moment, he felt so little. Almost as if he was back in the school of the mages, seated like an ordinary school boy in the class and surrounded by his mates.
"Could this be some sort of psychic manipulation?" the old man wondered to himself.
"But that would be impossible! There isn't any evidence of mana being used at this point!" he thought.
"So then, what exactly is this?!"
With advanced years came experience. And from this experience, knowledge and deep understanding. And from this wealth of knowledge, a certain confidence is born. A confidence that is stemmed from the fact that no matter what may arise, the wealth of knowledge and experience stored up could handle it.
For an entity like Laddie who was a top mage, his mental knowledge bank was as large as a cathedral. In his quest for power, and in his desire to advance further as a powerful mage, Laddie had digested a decent amount of knowledge. As he advanced in years, he began to discover that there were very few things that could shock him any more. This was the basis of his confidence. And yet, since he met this strange young man, all he had ever been was shocked, surprised and mesmerized.
No matter how much the old man tried, he just couldn't seem to fully grasp the mental and spiritual state of the stranger, the same stranger who had killed the chief orc all on his own. A task that no one ever thought was possible, talk less of daring to try it out.
Even now, Laddie didn't know exactly what Xzavier planned for the next moment. But all the same, he was more than willing to find out. So, with about a million different linking thoughts rushing through his mind at that point, Laddie suppressed his own gnawing desire to know, and decided to act out Xzavier's instructions.
After all, he had nothing to lose by indulging the young man. If he was a fraud, sooner or later he would be exposed. However, with every passing moment, the likelihood of that being the outcome diminished more and more.
Despite the traffic in his own mind, Laddie found himself moving to do what Xzavier had asked. The old man lifted up his arms that were hidden in the sleeves of his long robe, and pointed two of his forefingers (on each hand) at the lid of the bucket. Like an industrial high energy laser beam drilling a hole into an object, an invisible force drilled a neat hole through the bucket lid. Having created the ideal opening using very efficient magic, Kadin inserted the bamboo pole into the bucket through this small hole. Then, he used sealing magic to close up the connection, leaving only a pathway for water to enter the top part of the bamboo pole.
Now the bamboo pole was several feet long. So, it was practically impossible for Xzavier to reach the top. So, his quick searched the surrounding area for anything he could use to boost his height. His darting eyes soon fell on a table sitting idly in the corner. Without wasting any further time, Xzavier dashed towards it and dragged it towards the bucket. Next, hopped on it and looked towards the top of the bamboo pole. Unfortunately, the altitude the table gave him wasn't enough, not nearly. He still had a very good distance to cover.
Faced with this obstacle, Xzavier looked down at the group. Their eyes stared longingly at him, reflecting their inner anxiety. Xzavier called on Adalia who was right next to him.
"Adalia, could you come up here please? I need your help."
Though Dale didn't voice it out, he thought that Xzavier was indeed a really strange fellow. The Silver Knight couldn't understand why anyone would add 'please' to a mere servant when requesting for their services. This further strengthened the theory that Xzavier must really be from a place that was so remote, and so far away from civilization. Dale kept his reservation to himself and continued to watch Xzavier closely.
The Silver Knight wasn't completely aware of what Xzavier and Adalia had together. He didn't know, and he could not understand it, because he wasn't there. When Xzavier saved Adalia from being devoured by a band of aroused orcs, an invisible cord of friendship bound both of them and sealed their fates. So, in their case, it wasn't just the typical hero-damsel dynamic, they were true friends who saw something decent in each other. Of course, someone as shallow as the Silver Knight wouldn't understand.
So, when Adalia heard Xzavier's call, she promptly responded. As she climbed the table, she was filled with a kind of pride that came from being chosen by Xzavier to help with such a delicate matter. When Xzavier called on her to help him, Adalia wasn't sure what he needed her to do.
Once again, Xzavier lived up to his reputation as the one who always shocked people. Without even saying a word or giving her a heads up, Xzavier suddenly picked Adalia up and mounted her on his shoulders as if she was a baby. Adalia was taken unawares and blushed red when she felt Xzavier's strong arms on her hips. But when he jerked her up and placed her on his shoulders in one full swing, Adalia screamed in shock.
She only stopped screaming when Xzavier balanced her well on his broad shoulders. Adalia was embarrassed to helplessness. As she sat on Xzavier's shoulders, overlooking the astonished faces of the others below, she recoiled inwardly with a sense of shyness. She wished Xzavier had told her ahead of time that this was what he wanted from her. No doubt, she wouldn't have said no to him, but at least she would have been prepared.
Adalia was still trembling all over and shaking like a fish that had been dragged out of water and placed on dry land. Xzavier's comforting voice came to her, assuaging her fears;
"Relax okay. I've got you."
It was going to take a whole lot than comforting words to get her to calm down. It took a while before Adalia settled down. Xzavier's firm and reassuring hands on her torso did the trick. Sensing that she was a bit more relaxed now, Xzavier let go of her torso and bent to pick up a ladle of water. Not wanting to fall, Adalia gripped Xzavier's hair so tightly that veins popped out on his head.
He then handed her the ladle saying;
"Take this ladle and pour down the water into the bamboo pole. Make sure every drop of water goes down the lid into open part."
Adalia's head had been tilted downwards throughout the period she had been mounted on Xzavier's back. So she hadn't even noticed that she was way above the bamboo pole. So, she wouldn't have any issues whatsoever with the task Xzavier had assigned to her. Instinctively, she looked towards the direction of her boss who was the governor.
The governor's hawk-like eyes had been following her every movement. So, when their eyes met, he gave the servant girl his go ahead by nodding his head in approval.
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With all eyes on him watching his every move like a hawk, Xzavier spoke addressed Laddie again in the same auspicious tone as before;
"Now carefully insert the hollowed out bamboo pole into the bucket, and make sure the two adjoining points are closed…"
Laddie was still baffled, there was still not a single trace of mana, and yet, Xzavier was confidently putting things in place for his 'mysterious family power' to be displayed. Moved by nothing but sheer curiosity, Laddie edged his way towards the bucket and inserted the stick into it. The adjoining part between the two sides, he kept closed.
The atmosphere was even denser than before. The fact that this was supposed to be a secret further enhanced the already ominous atmosphere, giving off a general aura of the forbidden. It was both intoxicating and a little frightening. Despite their individual reservations, every single of them was thrilled to be a part of something as wholesome as this. By all appearances, it was a simple gathering with mostly ordinary people. But Xzavier's showmanship had given it a different element. It was almost like he had given them a unique window into a strange world.
They gawked at his every move with the laser-sharp like focus of an eagle. Indeed, it felt more like a ritual in a secret society than a mere display of power.
Laddie was Xzavier's instrument of the hour. Each time Xzavier asked him to do something, the old man could feel the overbearing weight of all the eyes fixated on him, anxiously watching his every move, waiting like a brood of vipers sitting in the darkness as they waited for their prey.
Laddie wasn't a youth anymore. In fact, he dwarfed everyone when it came to age, experience and understanding. But somehow, in that moment, he felt so little. Almost as if he was back in the school of the mages, seated like an ordinary school boy in the class and surrounded by his mates.
"Could this be some sort of psychic manipulation?" the old man wondered to himself.
"But that would be impossible! There isn't any evidence of mana being used at this point!" he thought.
"So then, what exactly is this?!"
With advanced years came experience. And from this experience, knowledge and deep understanding. And from this wealth of knowledge, a certain confidence is born. A confidence that is stemmed from the fact that no matter what may arise, the wealth of knowledge and experience stored up could handle it.
For an entity like Laddie who was a top mage, his mental knowledge bank was as large as a cathedral. In his quest for power, and in his desire to advance further as a powerful mage, Laddie had digested a decent amount of knowledge. As he advanced in years, he began to discover that there were very few things that could shock him any more. This was the basis of his confidence. And yet, since he met this strange young man, all he had ever been was shocked, surprised and mesmerized.
No matter how much the old man tried, he just couldn't seem to fully grasp the mental and spiritual state of the stranger, the same stranger who had killed the chief orc all on his own. A task that no one ever thought was possible, talk less of daring to try it out.
Even now, Laddie didn't know exactly what Xzavier planned for the next moment. But all the same, he was more than willing to find out. So, with about a million different linking thoughts rushing through his mind at that point, Laddie suppressed his own gnawing desire to know, and decided to act out Xzavier's instructions.
After all, he had nothing to lose by indulging the young man. If he was a fraud, sooner or later he would be exposed. However, with every passing moment, the likelihood of that being the outcome diminished more and more.
Despite the traffic in his own mind, Laddie found himself moving to do what Xzavier had asked. The old man lifted up his arms that were hidden in the sleeves of his long robe, and pointed two of his forefingers (on each hand) at the lid of the bucket. Like an industrial high energy laser beam drilling a hole into an object, an invisible force drilled a neat hole through the bucket lid. Having created the ideal opening using very efficient magic, Kadin inserted the bamboo pole into the bucket through this small hole. Then, he used sealing magic to close up the connection, leaving only a pathway for water to enter the top part of the bamboo pole.
Now the bamboo pole was several feet long. So, it was practically impossible for Xzavier to reach the top. So, his quick searched the surrounding area for anything he could use to boost his height. His darting eyes soon fell on a table sitting idly in the corner. Without wasting any further time, Xzavier dashed towards it and dragged it towards the bucket. Next, hopped on it and looked towards the top of the bamboo pole. Unfortunately, the altitude the table gave him wasn't enough, not nearly. He still had a very good distance to cover.
Faced with this obstacle, Xzavier looked down at the group. Their eyes stared longingly at him, reflecting their inner anxiety. Xzavier called on Adalia who was right next to him.
"Adalia, could you come up here please? I need your help."
Though Dale didn't voice it out, he thought that Xzavier was indeed a really strange fellow. The Silver Knight couldn't understand why anyone would add 'please' to a mere servant when requesting for their services. This further strengthened the theory that Xzavier must really be from a place that was so remote, and so far away from civilization. Dale kept his reservation to himself and continued to watch Xzavier closely.
The Silver Knight wasn't completely aware of what Xzavier and Adalia had together. He didn't know, and he could not understand it, because he wasn't there. When Xzavier saved Adalia from being devoured by a band of aroused orcs, an invisible cord of friendship bound both of them and sealed their fates. So, in their case, it wasn't just the typical hero-damsel dynamic, they were true friends who saw something decent in each other. Of course, someone as shallow as the Silver Knight wouldn't understand.
So, when Adalia heard Xzavier's call, she promptly responded. As she climbed the table, she was filled with a kind of pride that came from being chosen by Xzavier to help with such a delicate matter. When Xzavier called on her to help him, Adalia wasn't sure what he needed her to do.
Once again, Xzavier lived up to his reputation as the one who always shocked people. Without even saying a word or giving her a heads up, Xzavier suddenly picked Adalia up and mounted her on his shoulders as if she was a baby. Adalia was taken unawares and blushed red when she felt Xzavier's strong arms on her hips. But when he jerked her up and placed her on his shoulders in one full swing, Adalia screamed in shock.
She only stopped screaming when Xzavier balanced her well on his broad shoulders. Adalia was embarrassed to helplessness. As she sat on Xzavier's shoulders, overlooking the astonished faces of the others below, she recoiled inwardly with a sense of shyness. She wished Xzavier had told her ahead of time that this was what he wanted from her. No doubt, she wouldn't have said no to him, but at least she would have been prepared.
Adalia was still trembling all over and shaking like a fish that had been dragged out of water and placed on dry land. Xzavier's comforting voice came to her, assuaging her fears;
"Relax okay. I've got you."
It was going to take a whole lot than comforting words to get her to calm down. It took a while before Adalia settled down. Xzavier's firm and reassuring hands on her torso did the trick. Sensing that she was a bit more relaxed now, Xzavier let go of her torso and bent to pick up a ladle of water. Not wanting to fall, Adalia gripped Xzavier's hair so tightly that veins popped out on his head.
He then handed her the ladle saying;
"Take this ladle and pour down the water into the bamboo pole. Make sure every drop of water goes down the lid into open part."
Adalia's head had been tilted downwards throughout the period she had been mounted on Xzavier's back. So she hadn't even noticed that she was way above the bamboo pole. So, she wouldn't have any issues whatsoever with the task Xzavier had assigned to her. Instinctively, she looked towards the direction of her boss who was the governor.
The governor's hawk-like eyes had been following her every movement. So, when their eyes met, he gave the servant girl his go ahead by nodding his head in approval.
With all eyes on him watching his every move like a hawk, Xzavier spoke addressed Laddie again in the same auspicious tone as before;"Now carefully insert the hollowed out bamboo pole into the bucket, and make sure the two adjoining points are closed"Laddie was still baffled, there was still not a single trace of mana, and yet, Xzavier was confidently putting things in place for his 'mysterious family power' to be displayed. Moved by nothing but sheer curiosity, Laddie edged his way towards the bucket and inserted the stick into it. The adjoining part between the two sides, he kept closed.The atmosphere was even denser than before. The fact that this was supposed to be a secret further enhanced the already ominous atmosphere, giving off a general aura of the forbidden. It was both intoxicating and a little frightening. Despite their individual reservations, every single of them was thrilled to be a part of something as wholesome as this. By all appearances, it was a simple gathering with mostly ordinary people. But Xzavier's showmanship had given it a different element. It was almost like he had given them a unique window into a strange world.They gawked at his every move with the laser-sharp like focus of an eagle. Indeed, it felt more like a ritual in a secret society than a mere display of power.Laddie was Xzavier's instrument of the hour. Each time Xzavier asked him to do something, the old man could feel the overbearing weight of all the eyes fixated on him, anxiously watching his every move, waiting like a brood of vipers sitting in the darkness as they waited for their prey.Laddie wasn't a youth anymore. In fact, he dwarfed everyone when it came to age, experience and understanding. But somehow, in that moment, he felt so little. Almost as if he was back in the school of the mages, seated like an ordinary school boy in the class and surrounded by his mates."Could this be some sort of psychic manipulation?" the old man wondered to himself."But that would be impossible! There isn't any evidence of mana being used at this point!" he thought."So then, what exactly is this?!"With advanced years came experience. And from this experience, knowledge and deep understanding. And from this wealth of knowledge, a certain confidence is born. A confidence that is stemmed from the fact that no matter what may arise, the wealth of knowledge and experience stored up could handle it.For an entity like Laddie who was a top mage, his mental knowledge bank was as large as a cathedral. In his quest for power, and in his desire to advance further as a powerful mage, Laddie had digested a decent amount of knowledge. As he advanced in years, he began to discover that there were very few things that could shock him any more. This was the basis of his confidence. And yet, since he met this strange young man, all he had ever been was shocked, surprised and mesmerized.No matter how much the old man tried, he just couldn't seem to fully grasp the mental and spiritual state of the stranger, the same stranger who had killed the chief orc all on his own. A task that no one ever thought was possible, talk less of daring to try it out.Even now, Laddie didn't know exactly what Xzavier planned for the next moment. But all the same, he was more than willing to find out. So, with about a million different linking thoughts rushing through his mind at that point, Laddie suppressed his own gnawing desire to know, and decided to act out Xzavier's instructions.After all, he had nothing to lose by indulging the young man. If he was a fraud, sooner or later he would be exposed. However, with every passing moment, the likelihood of that being the outcome diminished more and more.Despite the traffic in his own mind, Laddie found himself moving to do what Xzavier had asked. The old man lifted up his arms that were hidden in the sleeves of his long robe, and pointed two of his forefingers on each hand at the lid of the bucket. Like an industrial high energy laser beam drilling a hole into an object, an invisible force drilled a neat hole through the bucket lid. Having created the ideal opening using very efficient magic, Kadin inserted the bamboo pole into the bucket through this small hole. Then, he used sealing magic to close up the connection, leaving only a pathway for water to enter the top part of the bamboo pole.Now the bamboo pole was several feet long. So, it was practically impossible for Xzavier to reach the top. So, his quick searched the surrounding area for anything he could use to boost his height. His darting eyes soon fell on a table sitting idly in the corner. Without wasting any further time, Xzavier dashed towards it and dragged it towards the bucket. Next, hopped on it and looked towards the top of the bamboo pole. Unfortunately, the altitude the table gave him wasn't enough, not nearly. He still had a very good distance to cover.Faced with this obstacle, Xzavier looked down at the group. Their eyes stared longingly at him, reflecting their inner anxiety. Xzavier called on Adalia who was right next to him."Adalia, could you come up here please? I need your help."Though Dale didn't voice it out, he thought that Xzavier was indeed a really strange fellow. The Silver Knight couldn't understand why anyone would add 'please' to a mere servant when requesting for their services. This further strengthened the theory that Xzavier must really be from a place that was so remote, and so far away from civilization. Dale kept his reservation to himself and continued to watch Xzavier closely.The Silver Knight wasn't completely aware of what Xzavier and Adalia had together. He didn't know, and he could not understand it, because he wasn't there. When Xzavier saved Adalia from being devoured by a band of aroused orcs, an invisible cord of friendship bound both of them and sealed their fates. So, in their case, it wasn't just the typical hero-damsel dynamic, they were true friends who saw something decent in each other. Of course, someone as shallow as the Silver Knight wouldn't understand.So, when Adalia heard Xzavier's call, she promptly responded. As she climbed the table, she was filled with a kind of pride that came from being chosen by Xzavier to help with such a delicate matter. When Xzavier called on her to help him, Adalia wasn't sure what he needed her to do.Once again, Xzavier lived up to his reputation as the one who always shocked people. Without even saying a word or giving her a heads up, Xzavier suddenly picked Adalia up and mounted her on his shoulders as if she was a baby. Adalia was taken unawares and blushed red when she felt Xzavier's strong arms on her hips. But when he jerked her up and placed her on his shoulders in one full swing, Adalia screamed in shock.She only stopped screaming when Xzavier balanced her well on his broad shoulders. Adalia was embarrassed to helplessness. As she sat on Xzavier's shoulders, overlooking the astonished faces of the others below, she recoiled inwardly with a sense of shyness. She wished Xzavier had told her ahead of time that this was what he wanted from her. No doubt, she wouldn't have said no to him, but at least she would have been prepared.Adalia was still trembling all over and shaking like a fish that had been dragged out of water and placed on dry land. Xzavier's comforting voice came to her, assuaging her fears;"Relax okay. I've got you."It was going to take a whole lot than comforting words to get her to calm down. It took a while before Adalia settled down. Xzavier's firm and reassuring hands on her torso did the trick. Sensing that she was a bit more relaxed now, Xzavier let go of her torso and bent to pick up a ladle of water. Not wanting to fall, Adalia gripped Xzavier's hair so tightly that veins popped out on his head.He then handed her the ladle saying;"Take this ladle and pour down the water into the bamboo pole. Make sure every drop of water goes down the lid into open part."Adalia's head had been tilted downwards throughout the period she had been mounted on Xzavier's back. So she hadn't even noticed that she was way above the bamboo pole. So, she wouldn't have any issues whatsoever with the task Xzavier had assigned to her. Instinctively, she looked towards the direction of her boss who was the governor.The governor's hawk-like eyes had been following her every movement. So, when their eyes met, he gave the servant girl his go ahead by nodding his head in approval.
