"Since you're educating us," Fray said after a while, "what about Flow?"
Veyris glanced back.
"What about it?"
"You said we were mistaken about many things. I assume that includes the energy we use to fight."
"Good. At least you're capable of arriving at a sensible question."
Fray bared his teeth in a smile.
"Careful, General. If you keep complimenting me, I might start thinking you like me."
"Don't be absurd."
Veyris resumed his explanation.
"There are six recognised Flow Forms: Strength, Speed, Defense, Healing, Sense, and Mind."
Shad listened carefully.
"Strength governs the application of force. Speed concerns movement, acceleration, and agility. Defense concerns the ability to withstand or resist hostile forces. Healing concerns the body's condition, its ability to maintain itself, and the processes through which it recovers."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Sense Flow Form concerns the six senses and perception. Mind Flow Form concerns the mind, coordination, and their associated capabilities. The two can interact, but they aren't interchangeable."
Shad considered the distinction.
"So Sense governs how we perceive and gather information, while Mind governs the mind itself and how we coordinate our thoughts and actions."
"That's a reasonable starting point," Veyris replied. "Just don't mistake a simple explanation for a complete one."
"Then what does Healing Flow Form actually allow someone to do?" Fray asked. "Heal injuries?"
He asked the question as though he already had a proper hint about its applications, but Veyris paid no attention to his act.
"Among other things. But don't assume that every application is equally simple or that every user can accomplish the same things."
"How complicated are the other forms?"
"Complicated enough that explaining every application would take considerably longer than our journey."
"So you're not going to tell us."
"I am telling you. I'm simply not going to teach you everything I know while we're walking through a place where something might decide to eat us."
Fray looked toward the forest.
"That's fair."
Shad remained quiet, considering the six forms.
Strength. Speed. Defense. Healing. Sense. Mind.
They had names for different aspects of what a Flow user could accomplish, but those names didn't necessarily reveal the full range of their applications. Strength wasn't merely lifting something heavy. Defense wasn't simply creating a shield. Speed was more than running quickly.
And Sense was more than the ordinary act of seeing or hearing.
Perception belonged to the same form, encompassing the ability to gather, recognise, and interpret information through the senses. It was a distinction worth remembering, particularly in a world where the difference between noticing a threat and understanding it could determine whether someone survived.
Veyris glanced at Shad.
"Of course, knowing the names is only the beginning. Understanding a Flow Form takes time, and advancing through its stages doesn't automatically make someone a skilled user."
"Then what stage are you?" Shad asked.
Veyris gave him a sidelong look.
"Interested in my abilities already?"
"I'm interested in understanding the person who's been explaining them."
"An admirable answer. Also a convenient one."
He smiled before continuing.
"My Mind and Sense Flow Forms are both at the middle of the Intermediate stage. I'm not particularly remarkable as a Flow user."
Fray looked at him.
"You're a Realm Five being who maintains a defensive array across an enormous distance, yet you consider yourself an unremarkable Flow user?"
"Those are two different matters. My realm, my abilities, my Flow proficiency, and my experience aren't the same thing."
"Then you can use more than two Flow Forms?"
Veyris looked at him with an expression that gave nothing away.
"Perhaps."
Fray narrowed his eyes.
"You just said you weren't particularly remarkable."
"I said I wasn't particularly remarkable as a Flow user. I didn't say I was limited to two forms."
He allowed the distinction to hang in the air for a moment before adding, "I can use another Flow Form. That's all you need to know about me for now."
Fray opened his mouth, evidently preparing another question, but Shad spoke first.
"And you believe we can each use two of the six Flow Forms?"
Veyris's eyes settled on him.
"From what I've observed, yes."
He looked at Fray.
"You appear to use Speed and Defense Flow Forms. Your movement and the way you withstand attacks suggest that your proficiency in both is around the late Basic stage."
Fray's expression did not change.
Veyris turned to Shad.
"You, on the other hand, appear to use Strength and Defense Flow Forms. Your Strength Flow seems to be around the late Basic stage, while your Defense Flow is closer to the early Basic stage."
Shad maintained his usual expression.
Fray glanced at him briefly, then looked ahead.
Neither confirmed the assessment, nor did either deny it.
Veyris waited for a response that never came. Eventually, he gave a soft laugh.
"Ah. So you're not interested in correcting me."
"Would that change anything?" Shad asked.
"Not particularly."
"Then why ask?"
"To see whether you would."
Veyris smiled at Shad's silence.
"Don't look so troubled. I haven't accused you of hiding anything."
"You haven't needed to," Fray muttered.
"I'm relieved that you've noticed."
The conversation moved on, but Shad kept Veyris's assessment in mind.
The General had observed enough to make reasonable guesses, yet he had not demonstrated that he understood their actual capabilities. His estimate of Shad's Strength Flow, in particular, did not fully reflect what Shad had already accomplished.
That was useful.
It meant Veyris was observant, but not omniscient.
And, for the time being, he seemed content to let them preserve whatever information they wished to keep to themselves.
"There's something I've been wondering," Shad said.
Veyris looked back at him.
"Only one thing?"
"Why are you telling us all this?"
Fray nodded.
"Yes. You have explained the realms, the monster classifications, and the Flow Forms. You've even told us things about yourself that you could easily have kept to yourself. What's the purpose?"
Veyris slowed.
For a moment, the only sound was the wind moving over the frozen ground.
Then he smiled.
"Future investment."
Fray stared at him.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"What kind of investment?"
"The kind that requires a person to understand what they're investing in."
Shad studied him.
"You expect something from us."
"Eventually, perhaps."
"Then why not say what it is?"
"Because I haven't decided what I want from you yet or if there's even anything that I want from you guys."
It was an answer that might have sounded ridiculous coming from someone else. From Veyris, it sounded entirely plausible.
He continued walking.
"Besides, information has value. If I give you something useful now, you might remember it later. You might survive because of it. You might become stronger, find something important, or discover something that I haven't. Perhaps one day, you'll be in a position to repay the favour."
"And if we aren't?" Fray asked.
"Then I'll have wasted a little time explaining things to two people who were going to die anyway."
Fray looked at him for several seconds.
"You have a remarkable way of making generosity sound threatening."
"It's a talent."
Shad looked toward the forest.
Veyris's explanation was reasonable, but it wasn't complete. He had approached them at Oakhaven, recognised Shad's humanity immediately, and demonstrated an interest in their circumstances that went beyond simple curiosity.
Now he was taking them toward the Dark Forest while speaking of future investment.
There was a connection between those things, even if Shad couldn't yet identify it.
"What do you expect us to do in return?" he asked.
Veyris shrugged.
"Nothing at the moment. Consider it a debt that hasn't been created yet."
"That's an unusual arrangement."
"Only if you assume every exchange must be settled immediately."
Fray gave a quiet laugh.
"I don't like him."
"That's unfortunate," Veyris replied. "I was beginning to like you."
"You'll recover."
"I'm sure I will."