The tension in my small apartment was thick enough to cut with a knife. Magnus's eyes had narrowed to dangerous slits at my casual provocation. I hadn't meant to sound so arrogant, but the newfound power coursing through my veins had given me a confidence I'd never felt before.
"Outside," Magnus growled, jerking his head toward the door. "I won't destroy your home."
Isabelle stepped between us, her face flushed with concern. "Magnus! This is ridiculous. I brought you here as protection, not to pick fights."
The bodyguard didn't back down. "Miss Ashworth, with all due respect, I need to assess Mr. Knight's capabilities if I'm to protect him properly." His voice was formal, but his eyes never left mine, burning with professional pride I'd wounded.
I nodded. "It's fine, Isabelle. The courtyard behind the building should give us enough space."
She turned to me with exasperation. "Liam, you don't need to prove anything."
"I know," I said softly. Truthfully, I wanted to test my new abilities as much as Magnus wanted to put me in my place.
Minutes later, we stood in the courtyard. A few neighbors peered curiously from their windows. Magnus had removed his jacket, revealing arms corded with muscle. He rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck.
Isabelle stood to the side, arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Magnus, I swear, if you seriously hurt him—"
"I'll restrain myself, Miss Ashworth," he replied, though his expression suggested otherwise.
I took a deep breath, centering myself. The Qi flowing through my meridians felt strong and responsive. According to my inherited knowledge, I should be able to channel it effectively now.
"Whenever you're ready," I said politely, falling into a casual stance.
Magnus didn't waste time. He launched forward with surprising speed for a man his size, his right fist aiming straight for my chest. It was a testing blow, meant to gauge my reactions.
But something strange happened. To my astonished eyes, his movement seemed... slow. Not exactly slow-motion, but deliberate enough that I could track every muscle twitch, every shift in his weight. The knowledge from my jade pendant interpreted his movements before they fully developed.
I stepped aside casually, letting his fist whistle past my chest.
Magnus's eyes widened in surprise. He recovered quickly, pivoting to throw a combination of punches. Again, I saw each one coming with unnatural clarity. Dodge left, lean back, sidestep right.
The bodyguard's face showed increasing frustration as he failed to land a single hit. He suddenly dropped low, attempting to sweep my legs.
I jumped lightly over the kick, and decided it was time to counter. As Magnus rose, I gathered Qi in my palm—using only about 30% of what I felt available—and struck him squarely in the chest.
The effect was far more dramatic than I'd anticipated. Magnus flew backward as if shot from a cannon, crashing into the courtyard wall five meters away. He slid down to a sitting position, coughing violently as blood spattered his lips.
Horror washed over me. "Magnus!" I rushed to his side, mentally cataloging his injuries. The blow had damaged his internal organs.
Isabelle ran over, her face pale. "What have you done?" she demanded, kneeling beside her bodyguard.
"I'm sorry," I said frantically. "I didn't mean to use so much force." I reached into my pocket where I'd stashed one of the medicinal pills I'd created the night before. "Here, this will help."
Magnus looked at the small green pill with suspicion, still struggling to breathe properly.
"It's a Soothing Pill," I explained. "It will repair the damage to your organs."
Isabelle looked at me skeptically. "Liam, what are you talking about? Where did you get such a thing?"
"I made it," I admitted. "Please, trust me."
After a moment's hesitation, Magnus took the pill and swallowed it. Almost immediately, his breathing eased. The color returned to his face as the medicinal properties spread through his system.
"Impossible," he muttered, touching his chest in wonder. "The pain is gone." He looked up at me with new respect. "You're not just a fighter. You're an alchemist too?"
"I'm still learning," I said modestly, helping him to his feet. "I truly apologize for hurting you. I'm still adjusting to my... recent progress."
Magnus shook his head, looking stunned. "No apology needed. That was the most humbling experience of my career." He bowed slightly. "You have my respect, Mr. Knight."
"Please, call me Liam."
Isabelle watched our exchange with wide eyes. "Magnus, are you truly alright?"
"Better than alright, Miss Ashworth. Your friend's medicine is extraordinary." He straightened his clothing. "With your permission, I'll return to the car and wait. I believe Mr. Knight is more than capable of handling himself."
After Magnus departed, Isabelle turned to me, her expression a mixture of awe and confusion. "What happened to you, Liam? A week ago you were..." She trailed off, clearly not wanting to mention my humiliation at the Sterling residence.
"A weakling?" I finished for her with a small smile. "Things have changed."
We walked to a small stone bench in the corner of the courtyard. The morning sun filtered through the leaves above us, casting dappled shadows across Isabelle's beautiful face.
"You're not just stronger," she observed quietly. "You're different. More confident. And that pill you gave Magnus—such medicines are incredibly rare and expensive."
I touched the jade pendant beneath my shirt. "I've discovered some... family talents I didn't know I had."
"Family talents," she repeated skeptically. "Just like that?"
"It's complicated," I said, not ready to reveal everything about my mysterious inheritance. "But I'm just beginning to understand what I'm capable of."
Isabelle studied me intently. "When I first met you, you were a man who'd been beaten down by the world. Now..." Her eyes softened. "Now you remind me of someone who's finally found his path."
"Maybe I have," I agreed.
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment. Birds chirped overhead, and somewhere in the distance, a street vendor called out his wares.
"Can I ask you something personal?" Isabelle said suddenly.
I nodded.
"Your ex-wife, Seraphina Sterling. Do you still have feelings for her?"
The question caught me off guard, but I found the answer came easily. "No," I said firmly. "Whatever I felt for her died when I found her with Gideon Blackwood. Now I feel nothing but disgust when I think of her."
Isabelle's face brightened visibly at my response. "I see."
"Why do you ask?"
Instead of answering directly, she turned slightly to face me, her eyes holding mine with an intensity that made my heart race. "What about me, Liam?" she asked softly. "How do you feel about me?"