A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

"How, though?" Beam asked desperately. "Before it was my speed. Now I have strategy at the top, or at least in terms of Battle, but I have no means of applying it."

"There are dimensions beyond that, boy. That's your only hope. We mortals, we toy with strength, with speed, with technique. But there exists power beyond these boundaries. Power that lies in different realms. Like mana – that is one realm.

But it's more complicated than that, it's a hard idea to put into words, and one that you likely do not wish to be burdened with so close to your deadline," Dominus said, noting that Beam had a faraway look in his eyes.

"No. I do. Please tell me," Beam said firmly.

Dominus sucked in a breath as he searched for the words. "Mm… How do I explain it? Let's see… As a child learns to talk, they learn words, do they not? Word by word, they build up, and then, as if by magic, they're capable of speaking in full sentences. Why? It is not simply that they have just memorized thousands of words – although the result does appear like that.

These words, they each contain meaning. As more words are added, they form connections… Ah, what am I even getting at here?" Dominus said, as he searched for the idea beyond the example.

"It's like, you can practise thousands of moves, you can practise thousands of words, but without connection between them all, there's no strength, there's no utility. The path to competence and understanding is through building this web of connections, through initiating a perspective that allows you to multiply the effort of each… So if you wish to evolve, you must develop your essence.

You must develop your own sort of true understanding – but not understanding as in 'I know what this means' but, instead, an arrogant sort of understanding, one that offers you a route to the highest peaks," Dominus said.

"I don't really get it," Beam admitted, though he could sense that there was power in the words.

"No, I imagine not. It is usually something people build up themselves, naturally, after years of absorbing information, they develop an essence of the thing. Hah, I can hardly put it into words myself… But somehow, boy, you need to reach a hand through reality and you need to grasp at power that eyes cannot see," Dominus said.

"Like training to sense mana?" Beam asked.

But Dominus shook his head. "No, it's a different sort. Mana is an energy that exists in this world of ours. What I mean is beyond that. What lies in the abyss? That which defies all laws and orders of the known world, you've got to dare to find that."

"Hmm…" Beam considered it. "How do I go about finding something like that?"

But Dominus just shook his head, a pained look on his face. "I have no idea. It's beyond my perception. I would say that the fight with the Hobgoblin might serve as a catalyst for it… but I'd be lying to you, boy. Never in my long life has progress been granted in a moment of pinch. It's either there before when you need it, or never there at all, by my experience… So I fear for you, I do, boy.

This here is a reckless pursuit."

"I'll find something anyway," Beam said, clenching his fist.

Dominus still lacked confidence, his eyes were filled with pity. "Such is the optimism of one that has not sought such a thing, only to fail time and time again. The world I know is a rigid one, where progress is built up step by step, along a cruel and winding, unpredictable path.

Of course, there are oft flashes of extreme progress, where you completely surpass your limits, but such things are not magical – they happen over the course of many days, as you digest them. And that is what you yourself have experienced.

What you require here is the miraculous ability to suddenly go from lifting the third stone for ten, to suddenly being able to lift the fifth stone for fifty – such a thing doesn't just spring up in the course of a mere few hours."

The night was already a deep dark, and Beam could barely see his master's face as he gave his warnings.

"You will not gain what you need through further practice," Dominus sighed. "You are best leaving your body to rest, and instead employing your mind. Your only hope is to find something of the like that I have never been able to discover."

"I suppose I'll go for a walk then," Beam pondered. Strangely, even though he was so close to his deadline, he did not yet feel nervous. He still clung onto the belief that he would find that which he needed.

"Mhm," Dominus grunted in response, looking exhausted. Beam felt bad for him, seeing that, knowing that he had put the knight through a lot. He hardened his heart once more, and again clenched his fist, resolving that he would win, no matter what.

Beam left their camp and its fire behind him, heading deeper into the forest, where the dense trees did not allow a single sliver of light to penetrate.

He walked half-blind through the dark, as his mind ran with thoughts about possible routes that he might take to his victory. One being the utilisation of his newfound strategy skill – at least in Battle – just as he had discussed with Dominus earlier that day. He imagined being able to lead the Hobgoblin on, allowing it to attack in a way that left itself open to a counterattack.

But in his mind, that strategy still did not bridge his lack of speed. As he was now, he was slower than a Hobgoblin and weaker too.

Vaguely, he wandered in the direction of the mountain river, his feet calmly treading a comfortable course, even though his eyes could not see the many holes in the ground and the many extended roots that threatened to trip him up. Only once or twice did he stumble.