Beyond The System-Chapter 263: History of Nikmes

Harua had moved to the opening, beckoning me along with her, but rather than step out, she sat—letting her legs dangle over the ledge.

I followed, imitating her posture.

The light caught the curve of her feathers, a warm breeze lifting them slightly. For a moment she said nothing, only closed her eyes and breathed in, as though listening to something only she could hear.

Then, without opening her eyes, she spoke.

“Do you think we are strong?” she asked.

I paused before nodding. “The fighters were undoubtedly powerful.”

“But we weren’t always like that,” she clarified. “It took a long time.” She extended her wings as if to show that passage of time.

I shrugged. “No one is born strong.”

“My people, long ago, couldn’t survive once other creatures began to grow during the calamities. We lived elsewhere then,” she began, her tone becoming that of a storyteller. “Our bodies were never meant for great power. We had no ability to store this strange energy… or any other. The Blessings were incompatible with us too.”

She took a deep breath, finally opening her eyes to look far into the distance. “So a decision was made: hide away, and study. For generations, our elders devoted their lives to learning what this energy was—eventually finding one we could touch, one that resonated with us. Then they studied it further.”

The rhythm of her words was unhurried.

“Each generation added something. A new idea, a revelation, a discovery. Until eventually, two paths became clear.”

My gaze lingered on the Nikmes flying up and down the pillar, the thought of a species building its strength over years. How long had it taken? How many decades, centuries? How many died before real progress was made?

“What are the two paths?” I asked in a murmur.

Her feathers ruffled as a new breeze swept through the cave mouth, her head turning slightly.

“The first was the original path. Understanding,” she said. “But the second came from it. Condensation. Putting everything learned together into action.”

She nodded toward a Nikmes with dark red plumage, the sight stirring a faint ache in my chest. He reminded me of the one who had sacrificed himself for me.

“They spend their early years learning the knowledge of the generations before them,” she went on, “and learn to manipulate Force for battle.”

Her gaze lingered on that younger bird, eyes narrowing slightly. “But even the slightest burden on our bodies can be deadly. We keep almost nothing internal, and if any is taken in—”

“You die,” I finished for her.

The silence that followed pressed against me. I wanted to apologize, to say something for whoever had died in my place, but it didn’t feel right. They’d made their choice, and cheapening it with regret felt wrong.

Instead, I asked quietly, “Is there anyone I can thank?”

“His son,” she said, giving a small gesture toward the Nikmes still locked in her gaze. She paused and then, in a sudden shift of mood, her usual airiness returned. “But later! For now, the lesson continues!”

Harua hopped up onto the ledge, wings fluttering outward. “I’m of the first path!” she declared proudly. “But it’s getting harder. It feels like there’s a wall I’m about to hit.”

Her head rolled in a slow circle as if trying to shake something loose. “Not to mention… it’s a little difficult to stay clear headed. My ancestors still linger in there. They’ve taught me so much. Then your Bloodline too.”

A realization struck me. “You can see their memories?!”

“Hmm,” she hummed pleasantly, before correcting, “More like echoes of their voices—at least those who understood well enough. But having so many connections at once makes me a little—”

“Loopy?” I offered.

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She turned sharply, feathers puffing with offense. “Enlightened.”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s fascinating, really. To know about your people and their history. But where are you trying to go with this?”

She blinked. “Go? Nowhere. I like my home.”

I groaned. “Go with the lesson, Harua.”

“Oh.” She tilted her head as if only now remembering. “Well, you should learn Condensation,” she said brightly. “You already understand enough. You’ve even increased my own understanding. I was always aware of the two Wills, but now I may finally know where they might come from. Maybe I’ll hit that wall soon.”

I ignored that last comment and focused on the rest. “I’ve only ever felt World Force having its own intent. The other one’s just mine. Wasn’t that the point?”

Harua leaned forward over the ledge, wings spread for balance, the wind tugging playfully at her feathers. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

“Yes. And no,” she said. “It’s very difficult to erase a strong intent completely. The Master from your dream changed the nature of Force, allowed us to move it… but he still lingers within it.”

Her eyes gleamed, bright and distant. “Every gust carries his echo. Every stillness, his hesitation. The second Will you can’t feel? That’s him, woven through the world itself.”

For a moment the air grew colder. I tried to focus on the idea, even moving my Internal Force to feel something, but of course, sudden enlightenment wasn’t so simple.

“So with all this knowledge, somehow your people’s power was increased. How am I supposed to do that?”

She gave a small sigh. “It’s simple. Condense it all. You focus too much inside you—on how you use it, and ignore the flow around you. Most do.”

Luna’s voice slipped in, offering her own insight. Maybe I get what she’s saying.

Any help would be appreciated, I said, rubbing my head. Is she talking about World Force? I’ve used it before, back when the Grand Channel wasn’t fully formed, but it never did anything like what they can do.

Harua paused, as if aware an internal conversation was unfolding. Though, maybe she actually was.

When most creatures attack, Luna continued, they use their own internal power. Circulating and pushing it outward. When that happens, the flow of World Force is disrupted. That’s how I can warn you.

Got it. I’d noticed that too, though my own sight when borrowing hers was far less refined. So I waited for her to continue.

With the Nikmes, it’s different, she said. They move, but there’s no ripple.

I tried to picture it. So when I attack, it’s like a pebble striking water. When they attack… do they have so much control that they can adjust to the flow?

She constricted, maybe thinking on the comparison. Not really. More like… the water adjusts to them.

My breath hitched, eyes locking on Harua again. “Are—are you somehow able to manipulate the path of World Force?”

“Condensers borrow the two Wills,” she explained, “combining them with their own. They’ve listened, trained, and manifested that energy. But with someone like you…” She trailed off, gaze shifting past me, as if imagining the possibilities.

I hadn’t examined any of them yet, but it was easy to take her at her word. If they couldn’t carry much Internal Force and still generated this much strength through combination, then how much could I?

“So you understand?” Harua asked pointedly.

I shook my head, imitating her earlier tone. “Yes and no. I still need to train to sense the second Will, to figure out how to manipulate the two as you do. But you’ve given me enough to start.”

“You have time, at least,” she offered.

I blinked at her. I wasn’t exactly sure how much time had passed, but Serith had said it would only take a couple of days for rescue. “Do I?”

“What? Do your species die young?” she asked, genuine concern edging her tone.

“Oh. You meant in general.” I rubbed my neck. “Yeah… I guess I have plenty of time.”

Still, she had a point, even if it wasn’t the one she meant. Taking the chance to develop another essence while I was here wasn’t a bad idea.

You should apply these lessons to your other elements, Wyrem suddenly advised. If there’s truly a hidden intent in Force, it might differ with each one. Once you can control them, your power would increase exponentially.

No arguing with that. It wasn’t as though forming an Essence required me to switch to that element.

“Are your people born able to manipulate wind?” I asked Harua.

She shook her head. “Suited to it, yes, but not born with it.”

“Could you show me where you learn, then?”

Her feathers flared up in a burst of excitement, and her voice jumped several pitches higher, a faint chirp threading through every word. “Of course! I’m so happy you’re ready for practical lessons!”

The sudden change caught me completely off guard.

Then, without hesitation, she gave a single powerful flap of her wings and lifted into the air.

Before I could react, she spun midair, latched her legs onto my shoulders, and launched us both out of the cave.

The wind roared past as we soared higher and higher, the tower shrinking beneath us. Outward we went toward the barrier shimmering on the horizon.