Chapter 35: Breaking point.

Chapter 35 - Breaking point.During the next several days Lee mostly focused on his physical condition.

Tess was right, he was completely fine. The only thing that changed about him was the mark on his right palm that became more distinct, and now he actually could recognize the form of the amulet, and even some of the engravings.

Tess didn't particularly like it, but he told her to not worry and for now the case was closed.

After quickly working out a simple training plan, Lee began to take short walks first, then a bit longer ones, and on the tenth morning he witnessed the sunrise during a longer, approximately a two mile long, run.

Freeda's place was perfect for such training.

She lived in Sunwell's outskirts, where the city slums blended with vast fields of crops. The air was fresh, water in the well – clean, and Lee couldn't ask for anything more. He practiced every day, bit by bit adjusting the intensity of exercises to not overdo it.

This time he was not in a rush – for now he knew all there was to know about his goals, or rather – targets, and his main focus lied in him growing and developing the most efficient way.

Tess methodically avoided the subject of her sudden aging, and, after a few days of pestering, Lee had to let her be. They did spend a lot of time together though, or rather – she with him. She loved to watch Lee practice and during evenings asked to draw for her entertainment.

Freeda, seeing Lee's drawings, stated she always knew her grandson was a genius, and on the third day brought an actual pile of premium quality paper and writing utensils. Lee couldn't understand where she got the money from since for a household with a couple of pigs and a dozen chickens this was a fortune, but the loving grandmother said to not worry about menial things.

Then he noticed that despite them living in a simple house with a small adjacent barn and a cattle shed, their dinner table was always full and served with the highest quality food. And watching his grandmother cook using expensive spices also raised questions.

In the end he went with the explanation that Tess took along a load of money when they left the city, and maybe some valuables as well.



One evening, slowly chewing on a delicious rabbit roast, Lee asked, "Mom, are there any herbs that can be used to supplement my diet? Or maybe herb mixtures? So that I grow healthier and stronger ..."

Seeing her expression darken for a split moment, he realized he asked the wrong question since this has always been Alan's expertise, but she quickly recovered, and said, "There are some common ones that grow around these parts, but among the potent herbs I should probably list ginger, turmeric and aloe vera ... also cardamon and cinnamon. You know them as spices, but there are ways to use them in peculiar mixtures ... and then there are some oils ..."

"What a load of crap!" Freeda interrupted, "I don't know what that idiot has taught you, but go, read my mother's notes! It's a fucking common sense that a healthy boy like my Lee only needs good milk, honey and nuts to get all the nutrients he needs. Cinnamons – shwimmanons, my ass! Why the hell does he need to chew on a tree bark when he already has the proper food!"

But then she stopped, realizing that on the table there was nothing of what she listed, and said, "I'll buy all he needs tomorrow! But the things you mentioned ... you should teach Ingrid some of that. It'll be good for her."

"What exactly are you teaching the girl?" Lee asked.

He had seen her come over every other day and each time have a long conversation with Tess. She was in her early twenties, not particularly pretty, and even chubby. In a way she resembled his stepmother ... until she suddenly aged and lost weight.

"Uhmm ... she's interested in helping others, so I'm just sharing my knowledge, that's it." Tess gave vague answer.

"Can I listen too?" Lee asked, but Tess's countenance turned uncharacteristically cold.

"No!" Was the plain answer.

"What's the big deal?" He was confused, "The more I know, the better decisions I can make in the future, don't you agree?"

He obviously was hinting at him cluelessly swallowing the spark, but she was still unwilling.

Then he said, "Alright! You don't want me to help others, right? What if I promise to only learn and never help anyone, but myself? How about it?"

"That's my boy!" While Tess was visibly torn, Freeda beamed with pride, "Fuck them all! Let the noble bastards die one by one in a terrible agony! Live your life for yourself!"



Lee stared at her in disbelief. While his promise was clearly half-honest, it baffled him what made Freeda think one could only help nobles. Weren't the poor folk more in need?

Of course, in this case He wasn't bothered by morals or the concept of right and wrong. For example, he continuously intensified his everyday exercises day by day for his own benefit. And if he was born in a more advanced world, in addition to physical training, he would've spent his childhood diligently studying, but also with a goal of advancing his potential.

Be as it may, it took a bit of effort, but a couple of days later Lee finally managed to persuade his stepmother. When Ingrid arrived, he joined them in the garden, grabbing along some paper to draw while listening.

The lesson turned out to be beyond boring though. In a way Lee felt as if he was reading Alan's notes once again, but it came with the downside of his eyelids forcefully shutting and him falling asleep.

***

"... but teacher, why do I need to learn these things? After absorbing the spark shouldn't I focus on stabilizing its powers?" Lee woke up to Ingrid's complaining, but hearing the content he pretended to be still asleep despite getting quite a shock. Turns out the plain looking girl has become a superhuman! So that was the subject Tess actually taught her, not some silly herbalism!

"Without a question." Tess patiently agreed, "You continue to meditate every morning and evening till the end of your days. But this knowledge will help you to solve problems in more orthodox way, without using your powers. And by now you should realize how important that is."

"I'm sorry, teacher! Of course!" Ingrid agreed.

"Besides, a bit of walking might be good for you. Not so long ago I was almost double your size and that's ... inconvenient." Tess said, "I'll ask Lee to draw sketches of the plants you need to recognize and then, in order to practice, you can go in the hills across the river and gather some. There are no dangers involved and you might even like the change. I bet you're long fed up with the stinky men at your place."

"Yes ... no! It's my duty to help them!" Ingrid said, "But I see your point. I'll bring a basket next time, I guess ..."

Lee didn't care one bit about the herb gathering nor Ingrid's problems with stinky men. But the fact that the simple girl was a superhuman changed everything. For the next two days under Tess's guidance he drew pictures of different herbs and wrote short descriptions of their characteristics, and in the end managed to create a rather nice guidebook.

It was all to get on Ingrid's good side, because Tess already agreed he could go with her. And if there were only two of them, there was a chance he could pull out some useful information.

Unfortunately the girl turned out to be cold as ice. Lee was baffled by the attitude, because with Tess and Freeda she was the pinnacle of obedience. There wasn't much he could do about it though. They walked on the country road side by side, in silence. The bridge they had to cross was two miles further ahead and then the hills they intended to explore – another one.



'This is going to be a long day...' Lee thought to himself.

But then he decided to take the initiative and directly asked, "Ingrid, why you don't like me?"

"I don't know you." She said, furrowing her brows. Being a babysitter wasn't her favorite job in the world, but she was fine with it in general. But the little smartass continued to ask questions a six year old kid shouldn't think of, and it made her weary.

"So you dislike people you don't know, huh?" Lee pretended to ponder out loud.

"No ... I mean ..." Ingrid wanted to object, but she wasn't as articulate to compete with someone who had lived for several lifetimes.

"It's fine. I would also be careful if I had a secret like you." He showed a knowing smile and winked.

"What?"

"Your spark." Lee shrugged at the obvious, "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me!"

Ingrid didn't know what to say or do, but after a brief moment Lee continued to press on.

"I have a question, but feel free to not answer if you don't want to." He said, "Was it painful to absorb it?"

She stopped in her tracks and stared at Lee until he began to feel uncomfortable, but then finally said, "No, not really."

And this was the breaking point he went for.