Like a gentle drop of rain, the pain rippled yet faded away. Like a gust of wind, the extraordinary power of magic flowed through my being, yet faded away. With it, I learned just what mana felt like, and how I could harness the same power she held—at least, maybe one day.

—————————————————————————

“Rather than heal you, the spell invigorates your body to repair. With it, you’ll feel like time is moving three times as fast, and by next week, you should start feeling better. Nevertheless, the pain will remain, and may be multiplied.”

Ozias looked toward his chest. It was the same yet different.

“Of course, this spell has its flaws. Because your body is functioning at three times the speed, you will age three times as fast. And because of this, your body may not develop properly in the amount of time the spell lasts”

Ozias twitched before looking up to Selana with regret in his eyes.

“And you didn’t think to ask for my consent first?”

Selana looked at Ozias before bursting into laughter. Afterward, she jokingly responded to him.

“It was either this or death. Which one would you have preferred?”

“Still, this seems-”

“I’m not finished, young boy.”

Ozias stared at her in pure shock. To think a single spell could have so many drawbacks to it.

“Your body also exhausts nutrients three times as fast, meaning you’ll need to eat three times more.”

Rather than gratefulness, regret-filled Ozias’s soul.

“Though, this spell makes your cognitive and reaction time stronger.

Well. At least there were considerable upsides that Ozias would not need.

“The effects of the spell should weaken as time goes on, but its effects last for about a month.”

“…”

Giorgos looked toward the injured boy with anticipation brimming in his eyes. He was still not ripe, but one day soon, the boy could prove quite useful.

Today was an investment, and tomorrow was going to be the return.

“Selana, that’s all you needed to do to Ozias, right?”

Selana looked from Ozias to Giorgos, before looking back to Ozias. She examined him a tad bit longer before standing up and walking toward some wood furniture.

Dust sat atop the desk, as cobwebs surrounded the corners of it, those of which touched the wall. The handle to one of the drawers was rusted from how humid the room was.

Creaks and clacks resounded as the drawer slowly opened. Inside, bottles filled with mysterious liquids sat organized in a row. At the tip of every bottle, on a cork, held the the labels to them, in a very complex language. Selana read through multiple labels, murmuring them under her breath, before finally choosing one.

She closed the drawer and walked back, before handing the stained glass bottle to Ozias.

“Here, boy. This medicine should aid in the healing process.”

Giorgos stood slightly surprised. All the other previous people he had brought here only got the spell. Never once had she included any type of elixir or medicine in the package. Of course, she had never charged this much either, so maybe she was feeling bad about the price.

‘Hah! Like this witch would care about me!’

Giorgos dismissed his thoughts as Selana continued.

“Rub it over your wound every morning and night. It will complement the spell quite well.”

Ozias sat quietly as he calmly stared at the glass bottle. It had been months since he had felt kindness like this from anyone. Over time, he had nearly forgotten this feeling. Knowing this, he knew he had to thank them. The least he could do was say thank you.

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“Thank-”

“Alright, go look around the city with my daughter.”

“!?”

Ozias looked up at the two as Giorgos continued.

“I have something to discuss with Selana. I’ll catch up in a bit.”

Giorgos dug through one of his many pockets before pulling out a gold coin. He then used his index finger and thumb to toss the coin into Ozias’s hands.

“Don’t spend it all in one place. Maybe go get some food. I know you must be hungry.”

At that moment, rumbles from the inner of his stomach resounded through the room, as the two laughed.

Moments later, Ozias and Valery left the shop to go explore through the city. And to have lunch.

The door to the shop clicked softly as Giorgos and Selana became the only ones in the room.

“So, what do you think?”

Selana closed her eyes as she leaned back in the quality leather chair.

“About what?”

Giorgos scoffed in his head as he continued.

“His potential.”

“… I said they both had great potential earlier.”

Giorgos scoffed lightly before sitting opposite Selana.

“Don’t tell me you were being serious?”

A small smile surfaced on Selana’s face as her fingers trembled slightly.

“I was being somewhat serious. I could count on hand the number of times I had seen the essence of garant like before. And never in that number. Though, it is not a clear tell sign that they have great potential.”

Giorgos gripped his chin, rubbing the stubble that had amounted from multiple days of not shaving.

“But! Earlier, when I applied the spell to that young boy’s body, I got the feeling that someone was watching me. Goosebumps fled through my skin to a degree I had never felt before.”

Selana tightened her fists and stared at them, even now, she could visibly remember the feeling.

Giorgos twitched slightly, as his eyes expanded.

‘It could not be, there is no way.’

“Other than that, there was also a slight repelling force when I applied the spell to the boy. It was as if his body was pushing the magic back toward me. I can’t even understand how that is possible.”

Giorgos finally felt as if his suspicions were true.

“I think I know what it could be.”

Selana looked up from her sweaty, wrinkled hands with a heavy look of curiosity. Giorgos meanwhile stood up, preparing to leave.

“It could be innate garant.”

Selana looked more confused than satisfied with his answer.

“Back in my youth, I had read many scrolls on it. Yesterday, when he was hit with garant, Ozias’s body may have attempted to absorb that man’s garant. Although I can barely remember now, the scrolls stated that some people have the ability to absorb an opponent’s garant. Of course, it had to be through hit, which is not ideal.”

Confusion remained, yet was lessened with the answer Giorgos gave. But still, somewhere in her soul, she was confused.

“Then tell me, Giorgos, what was that feeling I had.”

Stopping in step, Giorgos looked back toward Selana. He opened his mouth multiple times, and each time he did, his thoughts became a little clearer.

“I don’t know whether you’re going to believe this, but there was an odd saying many knew back in my nation of birth.”

Selana stood up as she prepared to hear what he had to say.

“It said that those possessing hair of gold were blessed by the gods.”

Selana stopped, in utter disbelief.

“You must be kidding Giorgos. Gods only bless the most devout of followers. That kid is decades too young to hold the blessing of a god.”

Giorgos blushed slightly, yet continued.

“Then you tell me, Selana. What else could explain that feeling you had.”

“…”

“Either way. That boy will be a useful tool for us.”

Selana sat back down shocked after hearing what he said.

“You plan on using him for that!?”

Giorgos looked at Selana with a deep desire.

“We need any person we can get. I don’t care whether it is a child or someone as elderly as you. I need garant, magic, and potential.”

“…”

Selana stood taken aback. They had known each other for years by this point. It had been seven since he had recruited her in his mission.

“Whether it is me, you, or the boy. The Count will die.”

“That boy is on death’s doorstep. Good luck making him into a warrior! He hasn’t even awakened yet!

Giorgos’s eyes remained the same, not bent by the words coming from Selana.

“Innate garant will be enough for now. Simply possessing that will make my job easier. And by the looks of it, he should be nearing ten soon.”

Giorgos walked past the door and out into the main store as he continued.

“It has been nine years, yet I still remember it the same as yesterday, Selana. What he did! That bastard needs to die, no matter what.”

Giorgos gripped the handle to door that leaded to the outside. He turned the knob to experience a warm wind blowing. His clothes danced in their embrace, while his heart stood still. He knew it was stupid to hang on to the past, yet he needed to. That was all he had left.

“And what about Valery!”

Selana’s voice echoed behind Giorgos as she slowly walked toward him.

“And if you fail, who will care for your child? Not everything is gone, Giorgos. She remains in her.”

“…”

“You need to move on. If we face the count, we face the empire. Do you think you can win against them? I joined you years ago for a reason like yours. Yet I have moved on. Is it not time for you to do the same?”

Giorgos stood still for a moment. The wind softened as clouds moved in place of the sun overhead. The smell of oncoming rain filled the small street they were in.

“I won’t lose.”

Moments later, soft drops of rain poured from the heavens as Giorgos walked away.