Puppet Master Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Tris

Read chapter 4 of Puppet Master by PeName on NovelPedia.

The experiment with the prototype ‘Feathers’ was an outstanding success. All four magics that Tris had engraved onto the puppet had been tested and used without the slightest malfunction. The weapons of Mages usually served two primary functions: amplification and acceleration of magic. If a Mage possessed talent in the Fire attribute, they would typically use a staff or some tool made from materials highly compatible with fire magic. This would allow any Fire magic they cast to become more effective whenever the staff was used. The Mage’s staff could also be designed to integrate one or more specific magics. For example, if the integrated magic were “Fire Ball,” each time the Mage released that magic, it would receive far greater amplification compared to casting any other Fire magic. Similarly, Tris’s puppet could be regarded as another kind of staff or wand, serving comparable functions. It was designed for high compatibility with Space magic, with four distinct magics integrated into its construction. The first two magics were “Sky Walk,” which granted flight capability, and “Light Bending,” which created an invisibility effect. Despite the name “Light Bending,” the magic did not directly manipulate light. Instead, it was actually a Space magic that altered the surrounding space around the target to create a similar effect. Its high flight speed, combined with invisibility, made the puppet not only an exceptional scouting tool but also greatly enhanced its effectiveness in assassination and combat. “Feathers” had two integrated offensive magics. The first attack was a Space “Magic Bullet” fired from the puppet’s beak. The projectile shot out in a flash, striking the back of the first bandit’s head and instantly knocking him down. The second attack came from Feathers’ wings, another Space magic: “Dimension Cut.” After activating this magic, the wings became magical blades capable of severing anything they passed through. The final bandit had been quite strong and possessed excellent reflexes. Tris had taken advantage of that very trait by creating a distracting sound, making it easy to eliminate him quickly. Once you act, you should never leave any opening for your opponent to exploit and reverse the situation. Tris strongly agreed with this teaching. Another saying he had once “heard” was: “three minutes of fun, thirty minutes of cleanup,” which felt very similar to the situation he had just experienced. 'Though that saying probably refers to something else.' - He muttered to himself irritably. It had taken him only a minute to deal with the bandits. But the work afterward—settling the victims, cleaning the battlefield, destroying the corpses, erasing traces—was far more exhausting than the fight itself. Being a good person often came with many restrictions and burdens. That was why anyone who willingly played the role of a hero without expecting any reward was truly damn admirable. Although he respected such heroic figures, Tris also understood that he himself would never become one of them. Instead, he would lean far more toward the role of a villain—someone who prioritized their own interests over those of others. Even though he had helped the mother and child, it was only because doing so had been convenient. If killing them had somehow brought him significant benefit, he probably would not have hesitated to do it. Understanding his own selfishness and cruelty was precisely why he could respect heroes—yet never become one. 'The cleanup was unpleasant, but at least I gained some spoils and materials. All things considered, it's still more luck than trouble.' Tris began devising plans for his next puppet. * * * * * * * * * * At the village gate, two young men holding spears were chatting idly after a long day of duty. “I’m starving. I wish the shift change would hurry up.” “Still about thirty minutes, I think. I’ve got some roasted beans here. Want some?” “Yeah, give me a handful. Oh, look over there. That kid went out