I let my soul space reach out to the rock. I tried to feel for any response. To see what might be making the stone work, when I felt it respond. I was shocked at what I thought I felt. It wasn't a heart beat but a response. One I was not expecting. It shocked me to my core. No amount of training could have prepared anyone for something like this. I was so stunned I had stopped moving. It was so unbelievable.

“Mom?” The stone had responded with.

I wasn't sure I felt or heard that right. I reached out again when suddenly I felt a response and was pulled in. I found myself in a blank expense. The sound of water can be heard, but seen or felt. Towards the center of this area, is a serpent like the one I had fought. Though it was evident that this one is much smaller. I wandered over to it.

“Are you talking to me?’ I asked, the little serpent.

“Mom?” the serpent asked, tilting its head.

“I think you have mistaken me for someone else, little one.” I replied.

The little serpent seemed confused. Swimming through the space to get over to me it looks me over. I watch the little serpent swim around. It was rather cute. I held out my hand as it swam to it and coiled up in my palm looking up at me. I had to admit that it was rather adorable. Its cute precious face looking at me. I wonder if this little serpent even had a body.

‘This is supposed to be that stone right? Then where would its body be located? Inside of it? If that's the case, is it the serpent that's causing the gathering of all of this mana?’ I pondered looking at the little creature. It was so cute. I felt bad for it. I had killed its mother. I felt too bad.

“Yes, I am here.” I finally responded.

“Yay!” The serpent shouted and swam happily around me.

I smiled watching how happy the little serpent had become. Maybe I can help this little one. I wonder if I can bring her into my soul space. It would be nice if I did. Maybe bring her with me. Might keep her close.

“How would you like to come with me?” I asked her.

“Go with mom? Well if I can.” it responds, and comes over to me.

“I think so? I am not sure how it would work, but what if you joined me?” I asked, it.

“Okay, mom.” It responded eagerly.

Soon I found myself leaving its soul space and I opened mine and felt it enter my soul space. As it did, I watched the stone’s glow vanish. I guess this is no turning back. I go within my own soul space.

Inside of my soul space was a large ice-like cave, from all the water freezing. It looked like my home I had made in the mountain. Except the one difference is the large body of water surrounding it. The cave stood out of the water, allowing me to look out across the water. It was a wonderful view. That's when I heard it.

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“Mom!” the little serpent pokes it’s head out of the water with a big smile.

I smiled back and left the cave to join the serpent in the water. After getting in the water I watched it smile and happily swam around me. It was so cute. I couldn't bring myself to tell it about its real mother, but if it makes it happy, then I will let it live here in my soul space. Before I could get too drawn in and spend time here I felt something in the world happen.

I snapped out of it, and looked around me. I felt pressure shockwaves through the water. I wasn't sure from what, until I saw a pillar near me crack before shattering. Followed by that chunk of the wall collapsing and caving inward. My mind jumped up in overdrive to process everything. The water mana had severely thinned in the time I was absent. The mana pressure was keeping this place sturdy. Without it, it was going to collapse. It had already started collapsing. I hurled myself up as I did through what remained of the mana I felt large stones falling toward me. I did my best to launch around them and avoid them.

I soon found the cave I used to enter this place, and without thinking, hurled myself into it. I could see the cracks forming on the walls, a cave-in could happen at any moment. I need to be out of here before I get trapped. I risked it and called on the water mana to push me faster through the tunnel. Before I launched out the other side, rocketing through the water. I turned up and leaped out of the water and stretched my wings taking to the air, water spraying all around me from my abrupt surfacing, spraying several nearby boats with water and sending large waves.

I looked back at where I had come from, to see the center of the city had disappeared into the cavern which was below it. Creating a giant empty circle which had been a city. Some nearby buildings were on fire, I could hear their screams for missing people. Wondering why the world hated them so much. Soon I was noticed, and their anger was immediately pointed in my direction. I soon saw large boulders being hurled in my direction, and soon a lot of arrows. I quickly called upon the water. I had planned on creating a wall of water, but what came up I was not expecting. A large serpent’s head launched out of the water swallowing teh stones and arrows before sinking back down. I was stunned.

I also realized the humans were getting ready to throw more, so I turned tail and started flying away. I guess I ruined my chance at human help, before even asking. I had taken to flying away, it was better I found some secluded island or something in which then I can rest for a while and continue practicing. I could still feel the small serpent, like it's able to also watch through my eyes. I can feel it with me. I guess I will keep this to myself. If I can avoid it, not try to use mana.

I thought about it a moment long, to realize I don't have anyone to hide it from. So I could practice my new way of using mana. I wonder if all I use, that it will manifest as serpents everytime. I should check this before going back to Cataegis. I kept flying. I wasn't sure for how long I was only half way paying attention in my mind, I brought myself out of my thoughts and looked around. I had passed the same small island several times, I think. I decided that maybe then I should just stop here.

I flew down the island, there didn't seem to be any humans, which was good for them. I walked around the small area with vegetation, there seemed to not be any animals either. The grass here is really soft. I could easily sleep here. It is a fairly nice little island, which I wouldn't mind too much to relax and practice more here.