World's Best Protagonist [BL]

Training with Terrius wasn't fun, but it yielded results faster than Claude's way. On the third day of our training, I was able to use my ability in a blink in a specific range.

"Have you been practicing meditation and breathing control?"

"Yup. You told me my ability may be linked to my emotional states, so meditation will help regulate involuntary activation. I've been doing it in the Sanctum ever since."

It was the perfect time to take advantage of the whole place since the owner was gone. Once the captain returns, I won't be able to meditate in silence.

Terrius praised me for my diligence, which I never expected from him. He would always grimace whenever he saw me, and if not for the captain's order to train me, I bet he wouldn't even try to talk to me using more than two words.

I also adapted to his presence. It was in the middle of summer, but I wore a jacket during training.

On the first day under the vice-captain's training, he made me stand near a low-energy power source—a mana-infused torch that ignites a flame on its own once it comes in contact with a vortex atmosphere.

The Adaptation core imitated a vortex, so the torch was ignited. Due to Claude's way of training, I shut off the core instead, but Terrius patiently explained to me how to learn control.

He just asked me to disable the torch and not the core. Just like removing the icing on the cake without damaging the shape. Took me a day to perfect it.

Looking back, Terrius was really patient with me throughout the whole training. I messed up plenty of times, but he never looked at me with boredom or shouted at me for repeating the same mistakes despite his proper explanation.

"What did you use to do before the disaster happened?"

A long silence answered me. I slapped my lips in silent self-reprimand. Just because he was training me didn't mean we were already close. But...among the members of his team, I felt more comfortable around him.

Maybe it's because he's honest and doesn't try to sugarcoat his words or hide any malicious intent. Despite his coldness, he's quiet and knows how to respect personal spaces.

And I just jumped on that boundary by asking him about his life before. I should apologize.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to pry. Just forget it," I mumbled as I scratched the back of my head in awkwardness.

I walked away and picked up the magic device after I succeeded in disabling it. Glancing at the big clock on the viewing deck, I was surprised at how time flew.

At the corner of my eye, I noticed Terrius approaching me. He lent his hand, asking for the device, wearing his usual blank face.

"Why did you suddenly ask?"

I paused.

"I'm just amazed at how good you are at teaching. I wondered if it has something to do with what you used to do."

"...it is."

My curiosity was piqued. I turned to him and pretended like I wasn't excited to hear more from him. Terrius eyed me for a minute, before sighing and slipping his right hand on his pocket.

Soon, the surroundings started to change back to normal.

"I used to teach in a school, and some of the students were more rude and chaotic than you were. So teaching you wasn't that difficult."

Watching the vice-captain look at the clearing fake sky with a somber expression made me wonder if he was missing those old days.

As the orange and purple hue of the setting sun was revealed, retreating footsteps were heard. My gaze flickered back at Terrius's wide shoulders, which seemed so lonely at that moment.

I felt guilty for some reason. I shut my mouth and silently followed.

Though before I was sent back home, Terrius informed me of my next training.

"Controlled activation and range management. You will practice on and off exercises, distance testing, and selective nullification. You're able to do them now, but what I taught you was just the basics. Tomorrow, you will learn about advanced control. Don't be late."

"Yes. Thank you for teaching me patiently."

"Don't forget to ask for Counseling before you go home."

I nodded. He left after that.

After I began using my ability more frequently due to training, Terrius always reminded me to meet a Minder after every practice.

Even though I don't feel anything in my body, receiving a Minder's counseling is compulsory. I met with Juris once on my way, and he also made sure that I got proper cleansing.

The build-up of dark energy in my body was due to my unconscious use of my ability for almost two years without receiving a Minder's help. Juris advised that I slowly get rid of them, and the obligatory counseling that the NMA implements for all Seekers-in-training is a good opportunity to do it.

So, now I'm taking advantage of that benefit and getting the best out of it.

"Hi."

"Hello. Did you use too much of your ability this time?"

It was unlike me to initiate conversation, let alone greet someone with a 'hi' along with a smile, with someone I'm not comfortable with, but I had to pretend I was a nice guy in front of the Minder tasked to counsel me.

"A bit longer and more powerful than yesterday."

I sat on the chair opposite the young woman named Freya. There was no table between us, and our knees almost bumped in the middle.

The first time I received her help, I was like a rusted robot due to my awkwardness and embarrassment. The articles I read about how Minders works are stuck in my head, so I know what might happen if she absorbed my dark energy.

Thankfully, Minders have their protocols.

"Shall we begin?"

"Yes."

Freya leaned forward, grabbed my hand, and placed it on her lap, over her crossed legs. I balled my hand into a fist, while she wrapped a cuff on my wrist. The thin, elastic, and an inch-wide white cuff is connected to a phone-sized monitor.

It's the portable version of the Hex Gate that measures the level of contaminated energy inside a Seeker's body. The results will be displayed on the screen, only then will the Minder start the counseling.

"Oh, look, you went past 50, Jade. It's 57. Let's bring it down to 30."

"Please do. Thank you in advance, Freya."

"No problem. This is my job after all."

Freya held both of my hands. Her eyes briefly glanced at me before focusing on the screen. She must be checking on my reaction, since the first time it happened, I almost took my hands back because of the hot and tingling feeling that seeped through my palm.

Like my insides were invaded; like something was coursing through my veins at the start, then flowing out at the end, leaving a sense of emptiness, yet making me feel light and clear-headed.

It felt warm yet invasive.

"You're fighting it again, Jade. Relax."

"Sorry. I still can't get used to it."

"It's normal. A Seeker is vulnerable when it comes to Minder's ability. Instinctively, you're fighting me because you don't want your mind to be invaded. But as I've been telling you, unless your dark energy reaches your mana core, I won't try to invade that part."

Once my ability to reason dulls, it means my mana core has darkened to a dangerous level. Freya did say that once it happened, the measured contaminated level reached up to 90 and above.

The Minder will have to take extreme measures to counsel the Seeker and turn his Nightmare into a good dream—which means, messing with the Seeker's head, with or without his or her permission.

It's like exposing everything—your trauma, your deepest secrets, desires, and everything you kept in the corner of your mind— in front of a total stranger. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"It's done. It went down to 30. That's good."

"Are you okay?" I asked out of genuine worry.

Freya fanned herself as she forced a smile. She was sweating, but knowing what the cause of that, I couldn't simply offer a hand.

"I'm fine. I should go get a drink." She waved her hand goodbye at me and went out in haste.

As far as I remember, she was a lower-rank Minder. Maybe decreasing my level by more than 20 was too much for her, so the aftereffects were more visible this time.

I should buy her a drink tomorrow. Maybe a gallon of distilled water will suffice.