Read Online The Seven (Fist of Light Series) by Derek Edgington - Free Book Online Page A

faster, stronger. I will be content with your progression, no doubt. Start your control exercises first, calling upon and releasing your power. We can move on from that when you are able to do so.”
    With that, Jeeves disappeared back into the deep recesses of my mind. Somewhere in there, I was sure he had created his own demesne, with all the extravagances of a king. But I could explore the depths of my mind another time, for now I needed to practice. I tried two of the available options, recycling and grounding, as I possessed no knowledge regarding the practical implementation of my power. They both came more or less naturally, and I could feel it becoming less strenuous with each successive application, like the exercising of a newly formed muscle.
    I couldn’t keep track of time as I continued to draw and release my power, but it was possible to follow the path of a fly through the air as if it was sliding through amber. Except I felt a drain on my reserves; the exertion of this new muscle was not without its challenges. It was disconcerting, feeling my limbs grow heavier and my rasping breath come shorter as I fought to fill my lungs with oxygen. When it became an effort to lift a finger, I grounded the last bit of the energy at my command, and a slight tremble shook the ground.
    As I looked around, sweat streaming down my face, I thought the grass expanded before my eyes, lush, green, and full of boundless vitality. I put it down to extreme fatigue and stumbled out of the glade. For a moment, I thought I saw some movement in the brush, but it was gone before there was a chance to further examine it. I decided that hallucinations were commencing due to my exhausted disposition. In a daze, I walked slowly back toward the foster home, wiping the sweat off my face as I did so. I thought that it was about time that I lifted some new digs; these didn’t have much life remaining to them.
    I glared at the remains of my clothes. They were torn and ragged in innumerable places. Damned things hadn’t made it through the escapades of the day intact. It was a shame, really, because they were some nice clothes. I had lifted them out of some mall last time I’d passed through in L.A. All designer, all very expensive, it was going to be hard to let them die quietly. I didn’t know the best course to take concerning stealing, either. I had always been on the move, so the law had never caught up, and had always been so careful not to be apprehended.
    I made up my mind quickly enough, no more stealing unless absolutely necessary, which meant I would have to resort to begging. Unfortunate, really, but I didn’t think Jas would mind. He could probably dish out that money without it even denting his weekly allowance, so I wasn’t going to feel bad about asking in the first place. That decided, I opened my eyes from my meditative state and found myself already within the foster home. I probably should work on that, as I needed to be more aware of my surroundings, or would be blindsided some fateful day that would likely arrive sooner, rather than later. Rex was sure to come calling again. He couldn’t let such a stain on his reputation go unchallenged. Hopefully, this time he would do without his cronies, although I highly doubted that he would fight fair.
    But, if Jeeves were to be believed, I wouldn’t have to worry about petty school bullies like Rexxy. Stronger, faster, more aware. As I trudged the last steps to my bed, I barely had enough willpower to pull the sheets up over me.

— Chapter 4 —

    T he next morning, I brooded over my steaming bowl for a time before hunger finally took the reins. I gulped down the meal, barely taking time to savor the taste before devouring another bite. I was up for seconds and then thirds in minutes, and then, finally, my stomach was content. Sam grinned benevolently, making a comment about growing boys and their appetites. I got up quickly after that, realizing that I wasn’t prepared to