The reporters welcomed the romantic descent with cheers, cries, and shouts, almost forgetting about the esteemed experts talking with them. Khan and Monica claimed everyone's attention but avoided disclosing details in the following interviews. They didn't have much to say anyway, and their schedules were too packed to waste time there.
Returning to the flat was troublesome since the crowd occupied any potential landing spot. Still, Khan took it upon himself to grab Monica again and shot into the air to enter the cab that had descended toward them.
After that, the couple waited for updates on the network or calls from their superiors since a lot could change depending on the experts' feedback. The latter could also leave the Harbor altogether if they found the lessons pointless, but reassuring news arrived.
"As expected," Monica read on her phone, "Major Khan chose to demonstrate his skills before moving to the subject. I admit it didn't feel like a waste of time."
"Not exactly a compliment," Khan scoffed, peeking from behind Monica's bare shoulder.
"Major Khan didn't only show a deep understanding of alien fields," Monica continued to read. "His mastery over those techniques was breathtaking. If it weren't for his appearance, I would have never believed he was a human."
"Yeah," Khan sneered. "I'm the most human-looking human in the Global Army."
"I kept track of Major Khan for a few years," Monica read another article. "No report has ever done him justice."
"That could go both ways," Khan sighed, leaning his head on the couch's back.
Monica lightly elbowed Khan's bare side. She was sitting with him on the couch, between his legs, and turning her head showed him her happy smirk.
"Do you realize what this looks like?" Monica asked. "No one expected those scientists to fill you with compliments. This is the best you could have hoped for, which is incredible."
"Gutless," Khan scoffed. "They didn't want to pick a side by praising me too much but still threw compliments to keep the Global Army interested."
"Be happy with this victory," Monica scolded. "Even if it's partial and composed."
"Ah!" Khan cursed in a tone the Thilku would recognize. "They should promote me for each lesson I choose to host. I'm the best the Global Army has ever produced, and they are taking me for granted."
"They will understand," Monica promised, half-turning to place a hand on Khan's bare chest. "You'll make them understand."
"These politics," Khan said, "These games. They act as if I have no other choice. They don't know I'm the one allowing them to exist."
"Most are ignorant," Monica explained. "Others are simply choosing not to see, but it's only a matter of time."
Khan's intense expression found a new target after those words. He looked at Monica and pushed her down while leaning over her. Monica let out a gasp, but her arms promptly went on Khan's neck.
"I'm tired of waiting," Khan revealed.
"I know, dear," Monica nodded. "Let me help."
Monica took Khan's right hand and placed it at the center of her chest. Lust arrived due to the sensual spot, but another reaction overwhelmed it. Monica's heartbeat was so strong that her ribcage felt on the verge of crumbling.
"Can you feel it?" Monica wondered, a loving smile blossoming on her face. "It beats only for you. It exists because you allow it."
No words followed. Khan and Monica looked into each other's eyes before the temptation became unbearable. As for the rest of the news, it took the couple a while before reading them.
.
.
.
Khan's birthday arrived and passed without any party or public events. Even the Solodrey family ignored the matter and the second anniversary due to how busy the couple was. The latter still managed to find time for themselves, but nothing big enough to be considered a celebration.
Becoming twenty-one didn't change anything in Khan's life. The scientists were busy, so he had to host lessons every day to free them of the task as soon as possible. His studies also had to continue, and the office continued to require his presence.
The lessons themselves went well. Khan never tried to hide anything, but the scientists still slowed the pace of his teachings. He simply couldn't move to new topics until those experts learned the basics.
The scientists were patient and driven, as expected from experts in their field. They approached each task systematically and calmly. The failures didn't faze them, but by the end of the week, it became clear they were missing something.
"Major, please," Abraham called, opening all the closed eyes in the classroom. "This isn't going anywhere."
Khan ran his gaze over the stands and saw multiple honest nods. No one was trying to be disrespectful. There was a complete lack of anger, too. The scientists were simply curious and eager for more teachings.
"It's not something you can master in a week," Khan sighed, showing his right palm to the audience. "I went straight to the basic theory, but you must remember you lack the fundamentals."
The audience focused on Khan's palm, but nothing happened. Soon, confused expressions unfolded, but Khan acted before they could lose interest.
"Perception," Khan said, releasing an invisible strand of mana that fused with the symphony, changing its nature. No one could catch the event, but their guts told them something was happening.
"Control," Khan exclaimed, and the invisible energy condensed, turning into a bright, purple-red sphere. The mass of mana descended into his palm before swirling around his fingers and returning to its original position.
"Manipulation," Khan announced, and the sphere floated higher into the air, changing shape. It transformed into a pink star that floated for a few seconds before dispersing altogether.
The demonstration claimed the experts' entire interest. After all, humans needed proper spells to accomplish what Khan had so casually revealed. The scientists could only admit their foundation was too lacking in those new fields.
"Major," Abraham called again after Khan nodded at his raised hand. "Shouldn't you start with the fundamentals, then? It seems succeeding in talking with the mana is impossible without them."
"Hardly," Khan stated. "Anyone can release small bits of mana. After that, it's only perception and honesty. That's why I started with the Nele's techniques."
The scientists didn't look convinced. They had tried talking with the mana for the past week but to no avail. It didn't matter how strictly they followed Khan's instructions. It didn't matter that their perception was above average. The mana still wouldn't reply.
"Sir," One of the youngest scientists called. "There must be a trick or a specific method to progress through this training. As gifted as the Nele are, I believe they aren't born with this ability."
Reading the symphony was one of the Nele's core abilities, but the scientist was right. Even they needed to develop their innate gifts throughout their lives.
Khan felt conflicted. It was in his best interest to delay the scientists' progress as much as possible. Yet, it was against his nature to deny teachings to people with a genuine interest in them.
After studying the audience for a few seconds, Khan heaved a helpless sigh. His uncompromising nature had made that decision for him. Even if it welcomed danger, Khan had to remain true to himself.
"I learned these techniques when my alien abilities had already reached a good level," Khan explained. "I skipped most of the required training because I didn't need it."
The scientists remained silent. They knew Khan had something to add, and he didn't disappoint.
"I can't teach what I don't know," Khan continued, "But I can tell you how I learned."
The silence returned, but the symphony gained different traits now. The synthetic mana reflected the scientists' agreement. They would accept any kind of help to overcome their current bottleneck. Still, nothing could prepare them for Khan's next words.
"Do you remember your first time?" Khan questioned.
Having a twenty-one-year-old asking such personal questions to esteemed scientists far older than him sounded beyond insulting. However, something in Khan's expression made them remain silent. His face carried a mixture of longing and seriousness they couldn't contradict.
"I'm not talking about the brute experience some have as a rite of passage," Khan specified. "I mean the true first time in your heart."
Khan couldn't help but lower his gaze. His eyes pierced the metal floor, traveling past the Harbor, its moon, and the immense universe to look at a familiar, snowy mountain. Warmth spread from his chest as his brain recalled the cold of that day, and a sad smile broadened on his face.
"Do you remember your fear?" Khan asked. "The hesitation in touching that trembling skin. The worry of hurting that delicate figure. The terror when you saw the pain in her face. The happiness of her reassuring smile."
Khan forgot about his surroundings. The classroom disappeared as memories flooded his vision. Years had passed, but the scene was still vivid in his brain. He was unable to forget it. Each detail was burned in his very heart, and his right shoulder proved that.
Still, Khan soon realized where he was, and his eyes shot upward to address the audience. "If you can treat the mana like that, it will answer."
The scientists were dumbstruck. Some had widened their eyes, while others had their mouths open, but the symphony told Khan those reactions weren't caused by his explanation.
Soon, Khan's senses warned him, and he lifted his hand before his eyes. An azure light illuminated his palm and didn't disappear even after he blinked a few times. He had to take two deep breaths before his gaze finally stopped shining.
