Jade's days in the royal castle were filled with more than just lessons. He was learning to adapt to his new world, and in the process, something within him had begun to stir—a new ability that felt both familiar and alien. At first, it had only been a flicker in his mind, a sensation he couldn't explain. But now, as the pressure of the prince's expectations grew, so did Jade's powers.
The more Jade trained, the more he experimented with the strange pulses of energy inside him. He'd noticed the change during moments of extreme stress—his ability to stop time. It had been accidental at first: a moment when he was cornered by palace guards after he'd been caught snooping through restricted archives. In the midst of panic, he focused, and suddenly everything froze.
Everything.
His heart had raced as the world around him stood still, locked in a frozen tableau. Guards were frozen mid-step, their swords raised. Jade had only a few moments to act, but it was enough. He had escaped, unnoticed.
It wasn't perfect. The world around him didn't stay frozen for long, and the strain on his mind was excruciating. But the potential was clear.
Today, in the prince's private chamber, Jade would get another chance to test it.
The prince sat before him, speaking endlessly about his plans for the kingdom, but Jade's mind wasn't on the conversation. He was focusing inward, feeling the pulse of energy building in his chest. The Essence flowed through him, and with it, he began to concentrate, focusing on the room around him.
Just a few seconds, Jade thought. I need just a few seconds to move without them noticing.
The world seemed to slow as the energy gathered. Then, with a sharp exhale, Jade mentally willed it.
Pause.
Time around him stilled. The prince's hand, raised mid-sentence, was frozen in place. The flickering candlelight in the room hung motionless. The air, thick with the hum of magic, was silent.
Jade moved swiftly, like a shadow, crossing the room in a blur. His mind raced, calculating everything. He wasn't sure how long he had. The strain on his mind was already building—his head pulsed, and his vision swam.
He didn't have much time.
He quickly scanned the prince's desk, noticing a few important documents lying open. With a careful hand, Jade slid them into his tunic before returning to his original position.
Just as quickly as the stillness came, it dissipated. Time resumed, and the prince continued his monologue as if nothing had happened.
Jade exhaled slowly, his hands trembling from the exertion. The ability was still in its infancy, but each time he used it, it felt more natural, more powerful.
The prince paused mid-sentence, glancing at Jade with a strange look. "You seem different today," he remarked. "Did you do something?"
Jade simply nodded, masking his exhaustion with a small, unreadable smile. "I've been… practicing."
The prince smiled back, though Jade could see the subtle calculation in his eyes. He had no idea what Jade had done—how could he? But Jade knew this was only the beginning. The prince would never understand what Jade was truly capable of.
But that didn't matter.