As the darkness spell erupted out of my control, it spread rapidly across the courtyard. Instructor Cherin reacted instantly, dropping into a low stance and slamming her hands onto the ground. "Earthen Shield, rise!" she commanded. Stone and sediment exploded upwards all around her in concentric circles, forming a dense stone dome just as the darkness magic arrived. I began to pant heavily, struggling to contain the spell but failing. However, I remained unharmed because the spell bore my own mana signature. **** Inside the dome, Cherin grit her teeth against the oppressive force pushing against her shields. The young boy's power was apparent, but untamed. She drew more deeply on her own reservoir of mana. Cracks began to appear in the stone, the darkness seeping through like ink. Yon stared in horror, realizing too late the magnitude of his mistake. But Cherin held on strong. "By the earth that yields and the stone that stands, I command - halt-malinah!" Her voice echoed with
Why does it feel like this is not the first time he has ignored me? Doesn't the boy realize that instructors from the Central Dominion are treated as elites? In any other circumstance, I would have had him and his family executed. In all the other dominions I've traveled to, I have been treated with the utmost respect, cared for and revered. I had forgotten what it feels like to be ignored like this. It reminds me of the day I met Lord Roman, the man who changed my perspective on the world. Who would have thought that these feelings and memories would resurface in this way? Calm down, Cherin. You've let yourself be carried away ever since you met that boy. You spent only a short time with him, and yet you allowed your emotions to override your self-control. Take a deep breath and accept it. You have just been ignored by a country boy. Listening to my own advice, I took a deep breath, raised both my hands, and slapped my cheeks to snap myself out of it. The heat rose in my face, and I
Without looking back, I headed to my room, one hand using the wall as support while the other pressed down on my solar plexus. Is something wrong with my mana core? Cold sweat beaded down my face as the gripping pain became more intense. By the time I reached my room, I curled into a ball on the floor, unable to reach my bed. My fear and worry grew alongside the pain, until a thought crossed my mind. Sending a pulse of mana into my core, I shifted my focus away from the pain and directed it inward. Almost instinctively, I began drawing in mana from the surrounding atmosphere, much like an infant reaching for its mother's milk. Throb-throb-! As if guided by some mystical force, my breath fell into perfect synchronization with the mesmerizing pulse of the sphere within me. Throb-throb-! Driven by an innate impulse, the rhythm of my breath effortlessly harmonized with the undulations of my radiant sphere... my mana core. I was now face to face with a radiant yellow sun. My mana c
I woke up on the floor, much like how I had ended up there. Blinking awake, I felt well-rested yet energized, and strangely hungry. It took a moment of idle wondering of how I came to be in this position when I suddenly remembered. As if struck by a bolt of lightning, I shot up to my feet. I took in my surroundings for the first time since waking up, relieved that I was still in my room and that my room was relatively intact. Glancing at the window, I noticed that it was still noon, which meant I was unconscious only for a few hours. Pulling my senses inward, I focused my attention on my mana core. My mana core Where before it glowed a bright yellow, now a Deep green took its place. Gone was the small green pearl from before my slumber - in its place lay an orb just as grandly enormous as in past days, yet now a vibrant, mossy shade. Reaching within, I explored the contours of this transformed essence. Its texture had softened, like rich soil, and swirled with an inner vibration I'd
As I reached for the doorknob, my hand slipped, causing me to almost miss it. Adjusting my plan, I redirected myself towards the bathroom. Standing in front of the mirror, I began to undress, and in the process, I noticed slight changes in the fit of my clothing. The shirt felt slightly tighter, the waistcoat sat a bit higher, the breeches appeared shorter, and the jacket's sleeves were a touch higher. I wondered if my clothes had shrunk due to the amount I had sweated. Shaking my head, I immediately dismissed the idea as ridiculous and chastised myself for entertaining such a thought. Leaving that notion behind, I fully undressed and began to examine my body. With careful glances here and there, I noticed a few differences. My previously lean and slender physique, which had some subtle muscle definition, now appeared more refined and defined than when I last checked in, which was earlier in the morning. I blinked rapidly, a bit confused by the sudden change. It seemed almost unbeli
I woke up to a strange heat suffusing my body, an intense warmth that felt as if something was ablaze within me. Annoyance creased my face, and my mood quickly soured. Seeking comfort, I shifted from one side of the bed to the other. when I sat up, wetness greeted my fingers. "No! Not again!" I cried, embarrassed at wetting the bed for the first time since infanthood. The heat intensified, a burning that seared from within. Gasping, I scrambled out of bed, clothes sticking uncomfortably. Standing on tiptoes, I reached for the window, but my current height allowed only glimpses of the estate's surroundings, providing little to no help in my current predicament. Spotting a small step stool nearby, I brought it over and climbed up, my small figure silhouetted against the first signs of light of dawn. As the first signs of morning broke through, the sky transitioned from the velvety darkness of night to a soft palette of colors, filtering through the windowpane. With a deliberate motio
It was enough to walk amongst giants whose roots outreached the manor's crumbling walls.I walked deeper into the forest, fascinated yet also uneasy in my unknowing. Around me, great trunks stretched towards the sky as if in prayer, their branches sturdy with leafy roof that blocked out the rising sun. Birdsongs and the whisper of a breeze were my only companions on pathways grown over by moss and rotting leaves.I didn't not where I was led. Only that some nameless longing pulled my steps onwards, as irresistible as the rising of the morn. Part of me yearned to hasten back to the safety of walls and rules, yet my feet refused to turn. Catching my breath upon a rise, mountains came into view and stole it away once more. I stood transfixed, chest heaving in awe. Never had I glimpsed such wild, grand scenery, at least not in person. Mountains, an immense chain of peaks, piercing the skies with jagged fangs. Their lofty peaks were crowned not with forests but robes of the purest white
With no respite for its prey, the mountain's ruler slashed at them with its fearsome claws.Yon rolled to the side, narrowly evading the powerful swipe, his smaller size proving advantageous for survival.The young tiger, however, did not fare as well. It was grazed by the bear's formidable claws, drawing fresh blood. Though the wound was shallow, in such dire circumstances, even small injuries could mean the difference between life and death. A trickle of blood began to flow from the tiger's side. The scent of fresh blood reached the hungry nostrils of the mountain ruler, igniting its instinct to demand more. Drool and foam dripped from its muzzle as its massive body begged to be satiated. The sight of its prey bleeding only fueled the beast's insatiable hunger, craving for more... more blood, more meat.The young tiger let out a pained snarl as its injury slowed its movements. It knew one wrong step now could mean becoming the ruthless bear's next meal. Yon, a lean but wiry hum