The Harsh Training (3)

Ian took Loki to an empty room. "First, you need to choose a path or a specialty."

"What do you mean?"

"You have a long lifespan and enough time to study many disciplines. However, it would be most beneficial for you to choose one discipline as your primary focus."

"What are your specialties?"

"Space-time, death, and elemental magic."

"Can I choose those?"

"You can, but I wouldn't recommend it," Ian replied. "The paths best suited to you are illusion and frost magic."

"Can I choose lightning magic?"

"If you want to."

"All right, I choose lightning." Seeing Ian's expression, Loki quickly added, "Fine, I was just joking. I choose illusion."

"Are you sure?" Ian's expression remained calm, almost impassive. "Like I said, denying one of the most fundamental parts of yourself isn't the way to solve this."

"I've made my choice."

"Looks like you need to start your therapy as soon as possible," Ian remarked. Before Loki could react, he fastened a watch around his wrist.

"What is this?"

"It connects you to the virtual therapist I mentioned. And to remind you not to do anything stupid, if you try to take it off or miss a session, its programming will punish you."

"Punish me? How?" The words slipped out instinctively, and Loki immediately regretted them. His instincts had been right. The watch released a powerful electric current, and he convulsed on the floor.

"Damn, that was awful," Loki gasped. It had only lasted ten seconds, and he was used to getting shocked because of his brother, but this time it had felt especially bad.

"You didn't have to do that."

"But I did. How else are you supposed to learn your lesson?" Ian calmly waved his hand, summoning the Gate of Truth.

"What is that?" For some reason, Loki