Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 24]

Fallen masonry was being used in the same way, though I noticed the larger chunks were being carted to the wall itself and stacked to crudely form a barrier.

A young man, a Carpenter, knelt and steadied his hands on either side of a medium-sized chunk. He grunted, bent his legs and squatted, heaving up with all his strength. Too much Strength. The boulder went airborne, hurled up back over his head to crash down in the dirt behind him. Luckily, no one was hit. The Carpenter froze, staring at the boulder and then his hands, shaking like a leaf. I moved over, Blake beside me. I saw the panic in his eyes and recognised it intimately.

"It's okay," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You just need to get used to it."

"I… I did… but I…" He stammered and shook his head. "It all feels wrong…"

"You fought in the battle, didn't you?" I asked.

The man, more a boy, sixteen at best, looked up at me. He saw under my hood and went still, eyes bulging. "You're-"

"Just another person walking around the city," I said meaningfully.

He caught the hint, nodding quickly. Even then, he still looked… in awe? That was the best way I could think to put it. He looked at me like I was some figure out of legend. I did kill both Cinder and Salem. I must look incredible to him. Funny how I don't feel it.

"You were left behind to fight at the end, weren't you?" I asked again. "Did you fight against Salem?"

"I… I did." He bobbed his head nervously. "For all the use I was, sir. I… I managed to kill a Grimm or two. Or was it three? I don't even know anymore. It was all a blur. I tried to chuck my speak. I… I think I hit her wing. Didn't make a difference. She just shrugged it off and killed my best friend. He was next to me and he survived all the Grimm just to die like that." The boy tried to laugh but it came out hoarse and brittle. "I'm glad you killed her. I'm glad she's dead!"

"Me too. Me too. And I'm sure your friend is glad you're alive." I squeezed his shoulder. "How many levels did you gain?"

"I… I'm twenty-eight." He sounded uncertain at the number. I wasn't surprised. The average Labour Caste member would never reach a level that high. "I was twelve before, sir. I… I hardly know what's happening. I broke mom's favourite vase this morning. Not that she cares, sir, all too happy I'm still alive. She doesn't know what it feels like. I've been working for six hours now and I don't feel tired. Is this normal…?"

"It will become normal," I told him. "Once you get used to it. I was the same once. Those first few levels I gained were the hardest to get used to, especially once I realised what a difference it made." I patted his shoulder again. "Try and take things slow for now. Get used to it. And don't think there's anything wrong with you, you're just having to re-learn what's possible and what's not. You'll make it through."

—Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 24]