Chapter 153: Testing Telekinesis
The atmosphere was gentle and relaxed, almost like a date.
Hey, is this actually feeling like a date? Shiao Yi thought with a small, contented flutter in his chest.
"Captain! I brought him!"
Shiao Yi nearly spat out his tea.
That loud, bell-like voice shattered the peaceful moment.
"L-Louis! Could you run a little slower? You’re not as young as you used to be!"
Pulled along by Louis and gasping for breath while dragging his legs is Mr. Vundo.
He was seventy-two years old, the head of the Central Magic Association.
"Mr. Vundo?"
"President Vundo?"
Everyone called out in surprise, shouting his name.
Despite it being winter, the sweat was streaming down Mr. Vundo’s face.
Wiping it with a handkerchief, he spoke through his labored breathing in a mildly reproachful tone.
"What are you doing? Hurry, start already!"
"Uh... Master, are you going to set up the barrier yourself?" Shiao Yi asked.
"That’s why I came. Do you have a problem with that?"
"No, it’s not that. I just... I feel bad troubling you when you’re so busy. Louis, wasn’t there anyone else who could do it?"
Louis looked troubled but answered Dominic’ question.
"Well, Aaron was around. When he heard what was happening, he stood up to help, but Mr. Vundo tripped him with his foot..."
"That one just tripped on his own. He’s clumsy, that’s all," Vundo added.
"When I were urged him to hurry up and come down the hallway, the doors were locked from the outside..."
"Things are dangerous lately," Vundo said.
"Then because I’m in hurry, I’m just running without looking back..."
Ah, so he’s the one hurrying himself and getting out of breath...
"I heard Dominic would be using magic attacks in the training ground. And since it’s Dominic, not Shiao Yi’s powers, it could be dangerous. That’s why a proper barrier is necessary. It’s not that I’m here to see or test Shiao Yi’s abilities..."
Shiao Yi could feel the excitement radiating from Mr. Vundo.
His eyes sparkled with a boyish enthusiasm.
Despite his age and his position as one of the most respected mages, his spirit still carried the bright energy of youth. Or maybe it had never left him at all.
"Very well. Please observe closely. I plan to test how telekinesis works against magic attacks this time. I would appreciate your advice as well, Mr. Vundo."
Observing the effect of telekinesis from the perspective of someone who can see magic would indeed be very valuable.
"Ah! Yes! That’s right! Telekinesis—moving objects without touching them. Now, what are you waiting for? Get ready quickly and start!"
Mr. Vundo urged them on while bustling with energy despite his age.
Shiao Yi and Dominic quickly finished the remaining tea and stood up ready to begin.
Once again, Shiao Yi and Dominic stood in the center of the training ground.
A little space was left on the sides, and a powerful barrier created by Mr. Vundo surrounded them.
Mr. Vundo was pressed right against the edge of the barrier and observing closely, he was determined to not miss even the slightest detail.
Around them, as before, the knight order members crowded along the corridors and building windows, watching the battle intently.
The audience made it feel almost like a performance, which slightly dampened Shiao Yi’s motivation.
But when Dominic smiled at him calmly, standing as if at ease, that distraction disappeared from his mind.
For Dominic, who was used to performing in front of a gallery, this was probably an everyday scene.
Shiao Yi cleared his mind of all distractions and focused.
As a preliminary test, Shiao Yi decided to take the first attack.
He expanded the six throwing knives he had prepared earlier, adding five swords, floating them above his head in a fan-shaped formation.
"Whoa!"
Voices rose from the gallery at the sight of the weapons hovering and spreading toward Dominic.
It was a very clear display of telekinesis.
Seeing this, Dominic seemed to raise his own magical power.
"Come!"
At Dominic’ shout, Shiao Yi sent the six knives, followed shortly after by the five swords, flying toward him.
They came from all directions, but just a meter from Dominic, the knives burst into flames.
The swords that was attacked from every angle were all deflected by Dominic’ blade.
He really was incredible.
There was no opening at all.
Shiao Yi then shifted his position slightly to the side.
The next target for Dominic would be a practice target standing about thirty meters away.
Dominic clearly did not want to aim his magic at Shiao Yi directly and Shiao Yi had no intention of forcing him.
That attack would likely be traumatic for Dominic.
Once Dominic saw that Shiao Yi could completely avoid the magic, he could gradually improve.
First came Dominic’ specialty: fire-type magic.
Shiao Yi focused his magic while speaking the incantation.
Holding his right hand up in front of his face, a small flame appeared on the side of his hand.
Pointing it toward the target, the flame formed into a ball and shot forward.
Then he activated telekinesis.
He caught the fireball and held it in midair.
When he threw it back at Dominic, the shock on Dominic’ face was unmistakable.
"Hmm."
Dominic swatted at the fireball, extinguishing it, and then sent a larger fire arrow his way.
Shiao Yi managed to control it with his telekinesis as well.
He couldn’t stop the attack from the flame itself, but he redirected its path.
When it hit the barrier wall, the fire scattered.
Shiao Yi also tested lightning and wind-type magic.
Unable to remain idle, Mr. Vundo entered the barrier and tested water, ice, and earth magic as well.
After testing various spells, Shiao Yi and Dominic were able to reach a certain conclusion.
"Fireballs, ice balls, water arrows, and earth-type attacks can be completely controlled, it seems," Shiao Yi said.
"That depends on the amount of magic, though," Dominic replied. "You also have to stop the movement of the energy itself, so if it’s a large amount of energy, it becomes very difficult. Still, the materialized magic can be handled with telekinesis. Pure energy attacks, like lightning or fire in their raw form, can only have their direction changed."