Chapter 2

  A Sue Girl

  (Five Years Later)

  Now that I am up and mobile, I have been even more involved in improving my physical conditioning.

  Starting with rolls in the crib, then push up, half rolls, then leg ups, I worked every part of my body. This of course was in addition to spinning my crib mobile until the ornaments finally fell off.

  This was good, as by that point I had long since mastered the five initial forms of telekinetic moments.

  Push, pull, lift, drop, and horizontal movement. Five directions that all worked together to form the basis of what everyone, well everyone in my old world thought of as Telekinesis.

  I will say that it is odd not having nanite trackers marking my progress with measurable indicators has been tough to accept. However, after years of having the nanites in my bloodstream measure my progress, I feel I’ve been able to measure my progress.

  The easiest way to mentally track your progress is via the fingers to hands methods.

  Just as there are five fingers on a hand, there are five basic movements needed for moving an object. At their most basic form, these can be mentally visualized as fingers. This was how I managed to punch, or maybe flick my crib mobile animals each night with my mind.

  Once you push your understanding of each concept enough, you can develop a second finger. Or basically split your consciousness to perform the same action from two different angles on the same object. You could do two, if they were close together, but that was not possible with my manipulatives that I had available to me.

  Then once you get a full five fingers or points of contact for each action: Push, pull, lift, drop, and horizontal movement. You gain what is often referred to as mental mastery. Once all five types of components are mastered, you then would unlock Basic Telekinesis I. Which could then be started over, as you used Basic Telekinesis I or the first extra hand available to you.

  With one hand unlocked, you could then repeat the process developing out the five manipulatives for a second hand for each of the noted actions again. Then once that was completed you would unlock Basic Telekinesis II, then III, then IV, until finally you mastered the Basic Telekinesis. At which point you would be thrust to Intermediate Telekinesis, which allowed you to lift or manipulate heavier objects.

  Each hand of the initial stages of Basic Telekinesis were limited, only being able to lift of move ten pounds. By contrast, each arm of Intermediate Telekinesis was able to lift a hundred pounds. Once beyond the five Intermediate Telekinesis limbs, we upgraded to full Telekinesis, or the ability to lift a thousand pounds with each mental limb.

  Then with enough effort of building everything up again, and gaining five fully realized Telekinetic limbs, you could further improve yourself to Advanced and then Superior forms of Telekinesis.

  While the entire process is trivial, it is made easier by repetition, as the neural pathways to develop the fingers to the hands to the limbs are a lot easier with each iteration through.

  There is also the added benefit of my knowing all the steps required to make each mark.

  After five years, I am pleased to admit that I have one quite a lot. While I still cannot see my personal readout, I would have to guess that my current functionality looks something like this.

  The goal is to always be moving and improving. So as soon as I max out Push, Pull, and Drop. I will begin working on those, even as I work on maintaining my Intermediate III and Basic Telekinesis II. Given how many times I have maxed out all three, I plan to do so by the end of the week. Then in another week or two I should have Basic Telekinesis IV, complete, putting me on pace to complete Intermediate IV by the end of the month.

  Of course, the times when I need to be the most worried about advancing are when you go up from tier to tier of power. While there is a dramatic jump, going from being able to move five items for a total of fifty pounds total, to one item that is a hundred pounds. There is of course the fact that you can then only lift one item, versus the five you used to manipulating.

  As a child, I should be safe from such concerns, but I can’t help but be paranoid.

  While my personal maid, whose name is apparently Sarina, oversees my food, clothing, and overall health, she is terrible at her job.

  Which is good for me, as she is so unobservant that she hasn’t noticed my training regimen. Which now that I can move about on my own, includes being able to run in the gardens at the back of the estate.

  With our estate having brick walls and clear boundaries, it was accepted that I could go out and explore, so long as I was back by the assigned mealtimes.

  Also, we had a deal worked out, where if there were any important meetings or gatherings, then I would be told at least a day ahead of time.

  Fortunately, as a boy, I was not expected to meet many people.

  By this time mother had gotten over her shame of having a male born first, as I now had two biological sisters to claim.

  I was allowed to see them, and I did draw a few odd looks when I didn’t immediately take to wanting to hold my sisters. Something that caused me to be scrutinized even more harshly by the others.

  My apparent lack of affection towards my siblings, along with my intense desire to constantly run and work out while no one was looking. Along with the fact that I often came back with dirty or ruffled clothes, got me more than a few odd looks from the other staff members and their children that attended to the estate.

  “Are you really not a girl?” A freckle-faced girl asked me, when I finished running my laps. The girl had apparently tried to follow me and catch up, but despite her being older by a year or two, her body was not used to my pace and conditioning.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “No,” I replied honestly.

  “Momma calls you a Suegirl,” the freckle faced girl replied next, as if that was a natural progression of our conversation.

  “A what now?”

  “A Suegirl, you know a boy who tries to be a girl,” the girl explained matter-of-factly, as if speaking from years of experience and knowledge. “Momma says that you will soon grow out of it, but we are to give you time and patience while we wait.”

  Yep, there it is right there, taught to children to perpetuate the cycle.

  If I had any doubt about the current status of the world, or if I had somehow gone back to the conditions of my old life, this moment, and many more like these let me realize a few things. First of all, I probably owe my sister an apology, from all the times she complained as a kid.

  That’s when channeling my little sister I responded, just the way she would have.

  “Well, I don’t need your patience, and I’m not trying to be anything. I just am myself,” I replied, before deciding to go for a second run, not wanting to stick around this girl.

  From that moment on, the staff kept quiet around me.

  Which was fine, as I almost never spoke. I did have a teacher come in to tutor me and teach me the basics. This was where I was taught some of the hardest lessons of my life.

  “You do not need to run around and play. In fact, it is improper for young men to be running around. You could fall and cut your face open, thereby decreasing your lifetime earning potential due to being an ugly breeding candidate,” the woman explained.

  Yes, my entire life worth would be ruined by showing that I lived a little. Yet, my etiquette lessons were not over there, for they continued with more inane drivel.

  “Boys are to be seen but not heard,” the old lady instructed. That was my first lesson, when I just stared back coldly at her she smiled.

  “Very good, now here is a sweet,” she stated through yellow teeth that had been rotting.

  The sweet that she spoke of was a glazed sphere of sugar that came directly from her pocket. With it were matted hairs and other dirt and debris that had somehow found its way into her pocket.

  Toss.

  Not even giving the candy the time of day, I threw it on the ground.

  “Those are no manners for a young male,” she chastised while running over picking up the lozenge and trying to give it to me a second time.

  Hearing her condemnation, and realizing this was going to escalate, I just crossed my arms over my chest and turned my head away. A clear sign that I was not playing this game.

  “Come now, you’ve earned this, now take it like a good boy,” she hisses as she blurs over to me, grabbing my mouth with her powerful hand and all but forcing my jaw open.

  What is she doing?

  I immediately began to protest, but my small body was unable to muster any defense against her older frame. She had me by size, weight, and clear combat prowess.

  In a moment, I tried to understand what exactly she was doing and why. Was it poisoned? Drugged to help subdue me?

  Then just as I had this thought I looked up, at her wide open mouth and saw the old gnarled yellow teeth. Teeth that had been rotted away. That’s when I realized that this was likely poisoned, or at least laced with something.

  This was when I realized at best it was just a harmless lozenge with just cat fur and other odd debris attached, and at worst, it was all of the above laced with something that would force compliance. Likely an opioid of some kind. With that realization in mind, my instincts took over and suddenly my training acted.

  Before I could even think, my Intermediate Telekinetic arms went to work, quickly snatching the small pebble out of the witch’s fingers and shoved it down her open throat.

  Cough, gag, cough.

  Immediately the old hag began to cough violently as she tried to hack the orb back up.

  “What, have you…” Wheeze.

  The hag tried to scream, to talk, but she couldn’t. Instead, she just clutched her hands up to her neck in the international chocking sign.

  For a moment, I was surprised that this symbol crossed world boundaries, but then again, I figured this was fairly standard. I mean where else should she grab?

  I watched her coldly.

  “Call for help,” she finally managed to wheeze out. By now, whatever had been within the center of that lozenge was now broken, as I could see white mist crack open and out from her breath.

  Staring at her coldly, I just watch as the white powder foams in her mouth causing more acrid smells to fill the room. With pleading eyes she looks at me, like why are you not helping. That’s when I respond, “how can I get help, when boys are to be seen and not heard?”

  Snarl.

  With a feral look in her eyes, all look of etiquette and decorum fade as she lunges at me. At least she tries to.

  SLAM!

  Again, my survival instincts are on point as they react before I can fully understand the threat. Within seconds all three arms of Intermediate Telekinesis are at work, picking up the elderly warrior and throwing her across the room. While she is far heavier than me, she is not heavier than three hundred pounds, the amount I can lift with my three tiers of Intermediate Telekinesis.

  With simple movement, she is slammed against the far wall and held in place. While she is more than strong enough to work her arm free, she makes her first mistake. She tries to use her powers indoors.

  Magic powers of any kind are by their very definition powerful. Even lower and degraded powers that the elderly wield. While this woman likely never proved to be strong enough to make any impact on a battlefield, she still had somehow managed to awaken an affinity for fire.

  Watching her, I looked on in amazement as she tried to hold up her hand and to use that hand to direct flames at me.

  Fortunately, there were several things already at play. First, that white powdery substance was clearly in direct effect being both inhaled, swallowed, and tasted by the hag.

  Secondly, the hag didn’t seem to understand that I could redirect my Intermediate Telekinetic points within a second. Resulting in two holding the hag against the wall, while the third grabbed the hag’s wrist and turned it in on herself until she released flames right into her face.

  I still don’t know what that white powdery residue was, but apparently it was flammable as was noted by the eruption that happened next. Followed quickly by the horsehair wig, the pounds of hair spray used, and other chemicals for the face.

  “AHHH!!!” The hag finally screamed out.

  Slam!

  The doors to the room burst open. Either the loud slamming, the sudden increase or release of power, or maybe the blood curdling scream being released by the hag were enough to draw the guards’ attention.

  As they arrived, they looked first at me. I was just sitting in my chair, my hands covering my mouth with shock as I looked at the burning instructor.

  Now that safety was here, I let go of my mental hold over the hag.

  Collapse.

  Immediately after I let go, the hag fell face first to the ground, causing some of the flames to go out, but not all.

  Fortunately, one of the guards was a water manipulator as she quickly summoned a ball of water and doused the instructor and then the walls before the flames could spread too much.

  By now more guards came, and finally my maid and even my mother showed up. Odd, as I didn’t think she knew where this wing of the mansion was? That or maybe a fire was enough of a threat to take things seriously.

  “What happened?” My maid asks, concern on her face. That’s when I respond with most of the truth.

  “I don’t know, she just swallowed a weird lozenge that she pulled out from her pocket, then started going crazy.”

  “Crazy? Yeah, her eyes turned blood red, her voice went raspy and she cast a fireball at her face,” I respond.

  With that there was an investigation, a healer was called forth.

  Seeing the healer in action, I was in awe.

  Instantly, the burnt and chard skin that lay mostly melted on the old etiquette teacher’s face were healed.

  “Master Andry, there is something I need to tell you,” the Healer began and pulled my mother aside.

  The moment the healer spoke, I felt a wave of relief hit me, as my mother’s piercing gaze finally was directed at someone else.

  Feeling her penetrating gaze disappear for a moment, I mentally sighed in relief as I am momentarily free of her piercing gaze. That moment of relief is quickly brought back to full force as the healer begins to head towards me.

  “Hello there,” the beautiful blonde haired woman speaks. As she does a natural smile fills her face. “I am a healer, and while we should be careful with the types of energy we expose you to, particularly at a young age, I need to check you real quick to make sure the mean lady over there didn’t fill you with any bad substances.”

  There is a pause as the healer just looks at me.

  I nod.

  “She didn’t give you anything, did she?”

  “She tried to, but I resisted, then she ended up swallowing it herself,” I answer, trying to use my five-year-old appearance to my advantage.

  “Oh, she did? Any reason why?”

  “I don’t like candy, also it had dirt and hair on it,” I answer truthfully.

  “Uh-huh,” the healer replies as she sends a gentle jolt of energy through me. For a moment, I almost feel like I am being hit with concentrated radiation. Radiation that tingles. Then just as quickly as the sensation fills me, it stops.

  “Well, the good news is that you seem fine. In fact, if I didn’t know any better…” she trails off.

  “What?” I ask, curious about what the healer noticed about my condition.

  “Oh, nothing,” she responded with a smile before standing up and heading towards mother.

  As they speak, I feel mother’s powerful gaze once again settle upon me. For a moment I hold my breath, afraid that she might come over and interrogate me herself.

  There is a moment when it looks like she might do just that, but then thinks better of it.

  “Have this room repaired immediately,” mother demands, gesturing to the burnt and wet spots of the wall and floor. With that she turns and leaves. At least she seems to attempt to leave, going straight to the door, before pausing where she turns to glance at me.

  Once again, I can feel her judging aura on me, and I almost wonder if she will call tonight the night that she will end me. I know that if I don’t offer enough promise as a breeding stud for her, then my time here will be cut short.

  That is why, though I think I should still have a few years left for this, but seeing her gaze on me, I realize I might need to speed up my own timetables for leaving. Mother then turns her eyes from me and looks at my maid, before speaking to her.

  There is a hushed conversation, before she nods a few times. Then she leaves, followed shortly by most of the guards who all but drag the etiquette teacher out of here. I am glad I don’t have to sit through more of those man-hating lectures.

  The healer is the last one to leave, only stopping at the door to give me a curious glance for a moment before turning around and leaving.

  With that, it is just me, my maid, and a smoke and water logged room.

  “Well, good news,” my maid says overly excitedly in a way that I know will only bring misery. I just stare at her.

  “I get to be your etiquette teacher for the time being, while we look for a replacement.” The maid exclaims.

  With that, I just exhale, trying not to let my disappointment show.

  “Don’t worry though, at most this will be until you go to school, where you will get to meet and interact with other children your age,” the maid exclaims.

  And like that, I realize the worst thing about a second life, is having to likely sit through fart and knock-knock jokes for a second time around.

  “I hear there are almost enough boys to create your own classroom,” the maid continues, again not filling me with the most confidence.