Ian narrowed his eyes and studied the Crown Prince before him with utmost seriousness.
Carlos still maintained a relaxed posture. He dipped his head slightly toward Ian, spread his arms, and bared his broad, muscular chest, as though inviting Ian to look all he wanted and inspect him however he pleased.
Come to think of it, this Empire's Crown Prince truly was someone whose conduct differed greatly from his appearance—quite free-spirited and casual in his ways.
When Ian arrived at the embassy entrance from Ember Lamp Mansion on the fourth level of World Tree Capital, Carlos was already waiting outside. He strode out with a hearty laugh to greet the youth, and that enthusiastic embrace gave even the prophet a slight start—he was not a friend like Isengard or Anfa. Being this warm upon their first meeting, there had to be a scheme behind it!
And afterward, Carlos had indeed displayed his extraordinary speed. In but an instant, the Crown Prince, who had been standing at the entrance, arrived before Ian, matching his own claim of possessing speed like light... but that speed did not come without signs.
Carlos's high-speed movement caused considerable Origin Matter fluctuations. The greater the distance, the greater those fluctuations became.
Indeed. Carlos could use his Origin Matter to suppress changes in the surrounding air, or rather, move like true light—but such movement could absolutely only be confined to the immediate vicinity of his own body. Even bringing along the clothes around him was already quite a strain.
Could he take a glass of juice from the counter and set it on the table without producing the slightest fluctuation...?
No.
Of course that was impossible.
Ian looked at the table. It was a fairly common Canaanmore-style tea table. Its four legs had been carved into four