I'm Trapped Inside a Prince as the Most Powerful Entity-Chapter 38: Teleportation skill

Hearing Eric’s question about how she got past the palace guards, Alina, the girl with the white hair, actually smiled a little. It was a small, slightly mischievous smile. She put one hand on her hip and looked away for a second, as if deciding whether to share a secret.

"Well," she said, turning her gaze back to Eric, "let’s just say I have a... special power. I’ve had it since I was little."

Eric’s eyes widened slightly. A special power? This girl was full of surprises.

Inside Eric – Adam’s Domain

Adam, observing through Eric, was also intrigued. A special power? Combined with her unusually pure natural energy, this girl was becoming more interesting by the minute. What kind of power did she possess?

Back in the Garden

"A special power?" Eric repeated, his curiosity piqued. He leaned forward slightly. "What kind of special power?"

Alina looked at him, her playful smile fading a little, replaced by a hint of reluctance. She puffed out her cheeks slightly. "Do I have to tell you?" she asked, sounding a bit stubborn.

Eric, who had been trying to be patient and understanding, felt a flicker of annoyance. He had just agreed to help her, decided against taking her straight to the King based on the System’s advice, and now she was being secretive? He straightened up, letting some of his princely authority (what little he felt he had) creep back into his voice.

"Yes, you do," he said firmly, his tone more serious now. "If you want my help, if you expect me to believe your story and risk getting involved in whatever dangerous situation you’re in, then you need to tell me everything. No more secrets."

Alina pouted for a second, clearly not liking being told what to do. But she seemed to realize Eric was serious. She sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine, I’ll tell you," she grumbled. She looked around the clearing quickly, as if making sure no one else was listening, even though they were alone. "Since I was a kid," she explained, lowering her voice slightly, "I’ve been able to... well, I can teleport."

Eric stared at her, his jaw dropping slightly. Teleport? Like disappearing from one place and instantly appearing somewhere else?

Inside Eric – Adam’s Domain

Adam was equally surprised. Teleportation was an incredibly rare and powerful ability, especially for someone who seemed relatively untrained. This girl was definitely more than she appeared.

Back in the Garden

"Teleport?" Eric echoed, astonished. "You mean... you can just instantly travel anywhere you want?" That seemed like an unbelievable power!

Alina saw his shocked expression and her small smile returned, though it looked a bit tired this time. "Well, not exactly ’anywhere I want’," she corrected him quickly. "It’s not that easy. It takes a lot of energy. It makes me super tired afterwards." She paused, adding an important detail.

"And it doesn’t always work perfectly. Sometimes I end up a little bit off from where I intended. Plus," she added with a sigh, "I can only do it about once a week. It needs time to... recharge, I guess."

Eric’s mind started putting the pieces together. "Once a week..." he murmured. Then his eyes lit up with understanding. "Wait a minute! Now I get it! That’s how you escaped from the Baron’s manor when his guards grabbed your mother and brother! You teleported away!" It finally made sense how she, a young girl, could have escaped armed guards who were trying to capture her.

Alina nodded, a flicker of sadness in her eyes as she remembered her escape. "Yes," she confirmed quietly. "I panicked and just... teleported. I didn’t even know where I was going, just away. That’s how I got free." She looked up at Eric again, her expression becoming earnest.

"And that’s why I had to come straight here, to the King. He’s the only one powerful enough to help my family now. I don’t know what the Baron might be doing to them."

Eric looked at Alina, processing everything. Her story, the teleportation, the danger her family was in... it was a lot.

Eric took a deep breath, feeling the weight of Alina’s situation. He had decided to help, and now he felt even more responsible. "Okay, Alina," he said, his voice firm but kind.

"Don’t worry." He looked her straight in the eye. "I told you I’d help, and I will. I... I can’t take you to my father right now, for the reasons the... uh... for reasons," he corrected himself quickly, remembering only he could see the System. "But I will help you. I’ll come with you back to your city area. We’ll figure out what’s going on and confront those nobles."

Alina stared at him, looking completely unconvinced. She actually frowned and pointed a finger at him again (a habit she seemed to have). "You?" she asked bluntly, skepticism dripping from her voice.

"You’re going to help me? You’re going to confront a Baron and his guards? I don’t think so! You’re just... well, you know." She didn’t say ’useless’ again, but it hung in the air. "I need the King! He has the power! He has the army! Only he can stop powerful nobles like that Baron!"

Eric felt a flush of embarrassment and frustration rise in his cheeks. He opened his mouth to argue, to try and convince her that he really could help, that he was stronger now...

Inside Eric – Adam’s Domain

Adam sensed Eric’s frustration and Alina’s continued disbelief. This wasn’t productive. Eric needed to establish some credibility if he was going to take charge of this situation. ’Millenia,’ Adam commanded, a hint of impatience in his mental tone. ’Tell Eric to stop talking and start showing. Have him demonstrate the power he just discovered. Actions speak louder than words, especially with doubters.’

Back in the Garden

Just as Eric was about to try and argue with Alina, the blue System Window appeared right in front of him again. Before Eric could even react or think about what it wanted this time, text flashed onto the screen, sounding like practical advice.

[System]: Eric, words aren’t the best way to convince her right now. Perhaps showing her a little bit of what you can do might be more effective? Actions sometimes speak louder, you know.

Eric read the suggestion. Show her? He hesitated for only a second. The System was right. Arguing wasn’t working. He needed to prove he wasn’t the same ’useless Prince’ everyone thought he was. He nodded slowly to himself, accepting the advice.

Alina was still looking at him doubtfully, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed by his offer to help. She didn’t know about his recent power surge. To her, and to the rest of the world outside the palace, he was still just the weak, overlooked third son of the King.

Eric took a step back, giving himself some space. He lowered his wooden practice sword, holding it loosely at his side. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing inward, reaching for that warm, flowing natural energy he had felt earlier. He concentrated, picturing it gathering, swirling around the wooden blade. He could feel it responding more easily this time, wrapping around the sword like an invisible, energetic sheath.

Then, his eyes snapped open. He didn’t run towards Alina aggressively, but he moved with a sudden burst of speed that was startlingly fast. In what felt like less than a second, he closed the distance between them, appearing right beside her before she could even react.

As he moved, he swung the wooden sword in a sharp, upward diagonal slash. He didn’t aim at Alina, but directed the swing just past her shoulder, towards the thick trunk of the large tree behind where she had been sitting.

FZZZSSSHHH!

A bright flash of compressed energy, much more solid and visible than the wind gusts from before, erupted from the sword’s tip. It looked like a shimmering blade of pure force. It shot past Alina’s startled face, missing her by a safe margin, and struck the tree trunk dead center.

CRACK-THWUMP!

With a sound like splintering wood followed by a heavy thud, the top half of the thick tree trunk sheared cleanly off from the energy slash. It tilted slowly for a second, then crashed heavily to the ground beside the remaining stump, sending leaves and dust flying everywhere. The cut was smooth, almost like glass.

Alina stared, mouth wide open, eyes fixed on the fallen treetop, then at the perfectly smooth cut on the remaining stump, then back at Eric who now stood calmly beside her, lowering his wooden sword. Her face was a mask of pure shock and disbelief.

"You... you cut down the tree!" she yelled, pointing a trembling finger at the fallen wood. "With a wooden sword?! How... how did you do that?!"

Eric felt a surge of pride swell in his chest. He couldn’t help but smile, a genuine, confident smile this time. It felt good, really good, to surprise someone with his strength for once. He lowered the sword completely, resting its tip on the grass again, trying to look casual despite the adrenaline buzzing through him.

"So," he said, looking directly at Alina, his smile widening slightly. "Do you believe me now? Do you believe I might be strong enough to help?"

Alina stared at him, then back at the severed tree, then back at him again. The doubt on her face slowly melted away, replaced by wide-eyed awe. "So... the rumors are wrong?" she whispered, almost to herself. "You’re... you’re actually strong? Really strong?"

Hearing her say that, hearing someone acknowledge his strength, felt better than Eric could have imagined. It was like a warm drink on a cold day. "Yes," he said simply, enjoying the moment. "So, do you trust me now? Do you believe I can help you solve your problem?"

Alina looked at the fallen tree one last time, then looked seriously at Eric. She thought for a few seconds, chewing on her lip. Eric could almost see the wheels turning in her head. ’He probably won’t take me to the King,’ she might have been thinking. ’But he is a Prince. And he clearly has some kind of unexpected power. ... going with him is better than nothing? with his title, and whatever that power was, he can help, especially if he brings Royal Guards?’

Finally, she seemed to make up her mind. The doubt left her eyes, replaced by a determined nod. She stood up from the grass, brushing leaves off her simple clothes.

"Okay, Prince Eric," she said, her voice firmer now, sounding more like the determined girl who had traveled for a week alone. "I trust you. You can help." She looked towards the direction of the palace gates. "Let’s go then. But we need to hurry! My family is in danger!"

She started walking towards the edge of the clearing, ready to head back through the palace and presumably begin the long journey back towards Crestport. Eric smiled, feeling a sense of purpose he hadn’t felt before. He turned to follow her.

Inside Eric – Adam’s Domain

Adam watched them start to leave. Walking back? That would take days, maybe even the week Alina had already spent traveling. That was too slow, especially if people were in danger. And it wouldn’t allow Adam to observe Eric dealing with the situation immediately. He had a much faster solution in mind, thanks to Alina’s unique ability.

"Millenia!" Adam commanded inwardly. "Stop them again. Tell Eric there’s a faster way. Inform him that you can reset the cooldown on the girl’s teleportation skill. She can take them there instantly."

Back in the Garden

Eric had taken only a few steps following Alina when, predictably now, the blue System Window appeared directly in his path once more. This time, Eric wasn’t even surprised. He just stopped and looked at it, sighing softly. "Okay, what is it now?" he asked, resigned. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Text appeared, sounding helpful and efficient.

[System]: Eric, just a suggestion for efficiency. Walking back will take a very long time. Why not ask Alina to use her special power? Her teleportation skill?

Eric frowned. "But she said she can only use it once a week. She used it to get away from the Baron, right? So it’s probably not ready yet."

[System]: Normally, yes. But, I believe I can assist with that. I can likely reset the ’cooldown’ period on her skill, allowing her to use it again right now. She could teleport both of you directly to her city area instantly. It would save a lot of time and allow you to confront those nobles much sooner.

Eric stared at the screen, his eyes widening in astonishment. Reset her skill cooldown? The System could do that? It could interact with someone else’s powers?

"Wait," Eric said aloud, forgetting Alina was right behind him. "You can actually do that? You can reset her power so she can use it again right away?"

Alina, who had stopped when Eric did, heard his question and looked at him strangely, wondering who he was talking to and what he meant by resetting powers.

The System Window replied simply.

[System]: Yes, Eric. I believe I can.