Slowly getting up, I rose to my feet, careful not to disturb Verdenia as she was unconscious. Once standing straight, I crouched down slightly, scooped her up in a princess carry, and then laid her against the dome's walls.

Greenlight pulsed from the symbols surrounding us, including the one at the center of the platform beneath the dome. I hadn’t noticed before, but our doors had sealed shut. Grand Elder Relan must have done so when he left. The elf didn't trust me to follow his instructions and start training until Verdenia woke up.

I was pressured when thinking about the mana demon; he was strong, too strong. Even considering all the unrefined mana I had forced into my body over the years, there must be more to why it possessed such immense potential and power.

Going over that now would do little. Verdenia had made it abundantly clear: I would again battle for control of my mind and body. They'd bought me some time, but it wasn't clear how much.

What could I do then? Looking at my situation, mages, who ruled the world at this point, would hunt me down. Something about me hinted that I was not just an ordinary commoner or a mana user; I'd be targeted as soon as I stepped out. A mana demon was vying with me for control. A Saintess had an ambiguous relationship with me, yet I now owed my freedom to her—a camp of humans who promised me a path out but shrouded themselves in secrecy. And finally, I needed to train hard to pass through a portal safely. That was the whole point of this training, anyway. Oh, and a mystery Moth that was much more than I had thought. My life was a mess.

Facing all that was going to take time. In such a cutthroat world, having a target on my back meant weakness was no longer an option. There was no room for self-pity, procrastination, or excessive complaining. Although, knowing myself, I'd likely find a way to sneak in the last one. There wasn’t a clear answer; listening to that grouchy elf was a good idea for now, much to my chagrin.

A sword was laid up on a rack near the wall. I took one and returned to the center of the dome, just above the symbol on the platform. My practice swings began rapidly as I tried to test my speed. Getting a feel for it, I slowed down my pace, focusing on perfecting my form. I practiced various moves—a piercing attack, a thrust, a slash, riposte, parry, and redirection. The green symbols having healing properties turned out to be true. Even after swinging for half an hour, my usual exhaustion by that point was nowhere to be seen.

I paused, feeling an improvement in my sword form. Letting a breath of turbid air out of me, my eyes first glanced at Verdenia, still napping. If you can call being unconscious, napping. I sheathed the wooden practice sword and felt a shift in my mindset. Instead of going back to the center of the dome, under the symbol on the platform, I found myself drawn towards Verdenia. Settling beside her, I crossed my legs, regulated my heartbeat, closed my eyes, and slowed my breathing.

Turns out, trying to enter the deeper parts of your mind isn’t as easy as it seems. My success on the first try must’ve been the mana demon forcing me in. Verdenia had mentioned that one would eventually meditate with their chosen weapon, and some even developed a spirit or personality. In her words, though, I was far too much of a novice to expect that anytime soon.

My breathing got deeper; my closed eyes saw a sort of deeper black. Thoughts continued to attempt to distract me. This time, I let the thoughts go, instead paying attention to my inner self. My breathing, while deep, synced up with my mind.

A small light was seen, and my spirit was drifting towards it. Calling it walking would be wrong, floating perhaps? Regardless, I was irresistibly drawn to the light. Breathing in deeply, I continued to that light. Before long, I realized the light was not a gateway into another realm but the presence of the Moth once more. Stopping near, the Moth danced around me as it flew from one point to another.

The Moth had spoken to me before but seemed to do so rarely. Its preferred method was silent hints or just silence in general. As I stilled myself, the Moth landed on me. A compelling urge to sit enveloped me. After doing so, my spirits' attention went within. Then, I got my first glimpse of the power gifted to me that day. The aura was silver white, much like moonlight, yet parts were distinctly green, especially at my chest, exactly where Elnara’s brand was. Interestingly, in some way, her brand had affected the aura this Moth gave me or infused itself with my aura.

There was much more than I was being told happening in that encampment. The elves had hinted they invested more in me than the auramancers. The only auramancer who had even trained me some was Hadrian. The elves, though, had confined me here after I had disrupted some ritual and banned the human auramancers from visiting. So, could I really blame them? Shifting back to the strange mind image, I noticed aura residue. This emanated from me – a silvery-white miasma speckled with green, with my body at the center.

Was this how all novice users of any power path were? Did they radiate like that, too? How is it not visible to the untrained eye? Focusing in and unsure how to proceed, I willed myself to rein in that radiating power. Partially successful, the external aura faded while the internal aura gained strength.

Did learning to do this keep one better hidden and make them stronger? That caught my interest, given the recent spiral of events. The increased control must let you bring out more tremendous potential.

The Moth liked to land on my forehead. I wanted to know if this spot made our bond stronger. Its guidance made it easier to control the aura leaking from me. It was now barely visible, probably seeping out through my skin. I felt closer to my body, and my senses became even sharper. I could see for miles now. This might show the old bastard Hadrian a thing or two. That was wishful thinking, though; I saw for myself when he obliterated the Woodbourne Trogg effortlessly.

Rising within was new knowledge coming to me from the Moth. It wasn't just about controlling my aura but also using it to strengthen parts of my body. That sounded easy in theory, but it was hard to implement. I could focus my aura on my chest, but it was difficult to direct it to two different places, like both my legs.

My sense of connection shattered. There was a sense of loss; part of me knew that experience wouldn’t happen again anytime soon. So, I wasn’t surprised when my eyes opened with slight anger but still more significant disappointment.

“I was so close…” My mouth couldn’t help but utter out. Of course, I knew who had their hand on my shoulder; after the room was sealed, who else could be but Verdenia? She had no way of knowing, so my blame didn’t leak out much to her.

"Mm, I've given you so much, yet you're still not content. What's a woman to do?" She teased.

It had been a while since she talked like that. It must mean she was feeling better.

“Thank you, Verdenia,” I said sincerely. “I don’t know what price you paid, but Grand Elder Relan told me it wasn’t light. I owe you.”

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Yes, you are, my Solaen. It's time I explained what it cost me. Suppressing the malignant mana the demon had claimed was no small feat. I had to use a lot of my essence."

“That you do, my Solaen. Suppressing the malignant mana the demon had claimed was no small feat. I had to use a lot of my essence."

With that, I wondered what she spent to give me more time. Why was everyone beating around the bush? Just tell me already.

“To put it simply, Falond, I had to give you a significant portion of my lifespan. By my estimate, about a quarter. As a result, our lives are now intertwined. Whatever shall you do to repay your contractor now? I already have your freedom and loyalty, after all.”

I didn’t know about loyalty; however, she now earned it. I may be distrustful, but that didn’t make me an ungrateful fool. In a way, Verdenia had saved me from my own mistakes. After all, that mana demon was of my own making, resulting from reaching for something I never was meant for.

Not that I shouldn’t reach for things in life, just that some things are fated not to be yours. The truth is, I’m saying that to myself for comfort, but despite everything, I still want to be able to use mana. For now, I’ll take the power the Moth gave me instead and see where it goes. Grand Elder Relan mentioned that the mana demon might have influenced my desires. So, did the real me still wish to wield mana? It was a perplexing thought.

“I don't know what to say, Verdenia. Again, I owe you and-“

“And I own you, Falond,” she interjected. “Our contract is called the ‘war pledge of bond’. Now, you owe me more than what the current you could ever accomplish. The most elusive aura beast, the Moth, has chosen you to be its host, its bearer. My Solaen, I expect you to utilize the Moth's traits and guidance to the best of your abilities. Your auramancers may be the best to teach you to harness this power, but we elves can provide equal, if not superior, training in every other aspect."

She took a deep breath before continuing. "It may be harsh of me to say, but I've invested too much in you now. If you fail to become what the elves need, I won't forgive you for as long as I live. You've shown progress in controlling your radiated power, and we'll focus on honing that skill and weapon skills until the day's end. The better you become at this, the better for all of us."

Part of me understood that, but what did they expect me to do? What could I do that someone like me do that Grand Elder Relan or Elnara could not? Was it my potential or some unique trait? How could they be so confident it was necessary and even possible in the first place? The more I tried to wrap my head around what they wanted, the more confused I became, so it was time to be straightforward.

“What do you all expect from me? What can I do that your elders or camp leaders can’t? What do the auramancers expect from me that Hadrian or that old man couldn’t do? I've seen Lady Elnara's power and even Hadrian's strength. I'm not even a tenth of them."

Verdenia’s eyebrows furrowed at that. Everyone was dancing around those questions for a reason, and she didn’t like being the one on the spot for them.

“No matter how much you use those charming eyes on me, I’ll not tell you the answer. At the very least, understand this - your potential is staggering beyond what you can imagine. Don't press for more; I'll pretend you didn't ask."

What was with all this secrecy? Getting answers to anything lately was just folly so far. This made my distrustful side come out again. Part of me was about to say I’ll refuse to train until they tell me more. But…well, Verdenia did give up part of her life for me. Even I wasn’t so low as not to repay her.

“I will drop this for now only because it’s you, Verdenia. So, is there another stage to the training? What's the next step for me?"

Without saying much, Verdenia retrieved two wooden swords. She tossed one to me with surprising speed, but my heightened reflexes allowed me to catch it easily. Without delay, she lunged at me, forcing me to parry instinctively. That was only the beginning.

She unleashed a flurry of swings, thrusts, and feints. Her attacks were so relentless that the idea of striking back barely crossed my mind. Every time I thought of taking a swing, she could make two. How could I even think of going on the offensive when I barely held my ground?

A rhythm was soon found; my defense would improve, and Verdenia would speed up or add a new trick. My learning speed had increased; it was initially subtle, but it was clear as day to me now. This must be why mages could learn and memorize so fast; the aura the Moth gave must have a similar effect.

Parrying became second nature, and discerning a feint got easier. But I knew this was because we were getting used to each other's combat style. There would be an adjustment period if I went against a new opponent.

Verdenia broke the cycle of attack and parry with advice. "Don't rely solely on parrying. It's a good start, but you must also integrate dodging and redirection into your technique, not to mention others."

As I was taking that lesson in, Verdenia used the brief distraction to land three quick blows. Usually, I’d complain, but I’ve become used to her doing that, giving a lesson mid-combat, using my shifting attention to get blows on me. Plus, she made a good point when I brought it up to her. If an enemy was talking to you, and you let their words get to you, would the damage they inflict be any less?

We spent hours like this, with me picking up new techniques and habits at an astounding speed. The green symbols did a great job of ensuring the bruises never got too bad. After a while, Verdenia launched an attack so fast I couldn't see it coming. Her wooden sword shattered on impact, sending me crashing against the wall.

"That's enough for now, Solaen," she declared.

"Solaen this, Solaen that. What does it even mean?" I retorted.

“My Sun,” she replied nonchalantly. Her tone told me that wasn’t the whole story.

Redirecting the subject, she told me to come to the center of the platform and sit on the symbol. The symbol in the middle turned blue, while the others were all still green. I sat on the mark, and she placed her hands on my back as Elder Relan had done earlier. I entered the mindscape for what was hopefully the final time for today. This time, though, Verdenia had injected herself in.

“Bring your mind image out and witness the aura radiating from you. Like this.” She must have released the reins on her power, and a tsunami of pressure slammed against me. An instant later, the pressure disappeared.

“Bring the image of your spirit to mind. You must have done it once, seeing as you have nearly concealed your aura.”

Focusing in, a projection of sorts emerged within my mind's eye. A faint radiating power was coming off, Especially near the brand on my chest. The rest of my body was barely letting anything out, but the chest area was still clearly letting quite a bit out.

“I see; the gift Lady Elnara gave you differs from the Moth’s aura. It’s no wonder you haven’t controlled it. Still, she’s just like me, having the highest hopes for you if she gave you that.”

She raised her hand, stopping me before I could say anything.

"I'll explain this time," she said. Her gaze was sharp, attentive like a teacher's. "This isn't a secret, so you can know this much, my Solaen."

She focused her eyes on me, then asked, "What do you know about magic brands, Falond?"

I answered honestly, "Just the basics. They're usually used on servants or slaves."

She nodded. "That's right. Humans often use them like that. But that's not all they can do."

This piqued my interest. "There are other uses? Like what?"

She continued, “It’s true that they're mostly used to enforce loyalty or as a social symbol. But another use is to open a path of power. Lady Elnara's transcendent brand enables you to use the same power we elves who choose a God tree have: the ability to channel nature’s essence. You call it nature magic, a simplistic term, but it's not powered by mana like the magic used by human mages. The power pathway is completely different."

Her words sent my thoughts into a whirlwind. Could it be that simple? Did that mean a unique brand could grant me the power to use mana?

She anticipated my next question, " Before you go off in your daydreams, there are limitations. First, a person can only ever receive one such brand. Second, mana users cannot receive such a brand. Third, there's no equivalent brand for mana. And fourth, only those at the pinnacle of their power pathway can bestow such a brand, and only once in a lifetime. Lady Elnara gifted you her only one. I hope you understand the gravity of this gift. I'm surprised she didn't tell you immediately."

To my surprise, I blurted out, "Why not for mana?" As soon as the words left my mouth, a flash of disappointment was on Verdenia’s face, gone as fast as it came. However, it didn't go unnoticed by my keen senses. Realizing how it must look, I apologized, "I'm sorry, I just..." But my words fell flat. Why was I so fixated on mana? Couldn't I accept that my path was different? That mana wasn't for me?

Verdenia was hurt and disappointed by my reaction. She paid a great price to seal the mana I wanted, and part of me knew it was for the best. Overcome by guilt, I found myself at a loss for words.

Verdenia broke the silence, "I'll let your earlier remark slide, Falond. What Lady Elnara has given you is far superior to anything your twisted, malformed mana could ever be. What will it take for you to understand? Why can't you accept that mana was never meant for you?"

My mouth opened to speak.

Verdenia glared hard at me. “I’m not done yet.” she declared, her voice laced with frustration.

My mouth closed again. Angry women were very scary.

“Let me explain something about mana to you, Falond. Contrary to what you may believe, it is not the native power of this world. You know this – the 'Great Blue Pulse' tale is shared with all humans from a young age."

“Mana is not a good thing for this world. It eats away at our planet, as its native power is not mana. Mana is selfish and corrupt; mana steals from worlds to grow. Mana will never tolerate other paths to power. As it expands, more and more portals will open in this world until Gansia is no longer. To stand against it, the world needs ones like you, incorruptible by mana. At this rate, there will be no world to stand for.”

She paused, taking a deep breath before her piercing gaze returned to me.

"The original forest elves designed the elves' 'nature essence' to be compatible with Gansia's native aura. The power you receive from the Moth is a unique variant of aura. Specifically, it's an aura that possesses the traits of the Moth - this world's greatest weapon against mana. Falond, not only should you not pursue mana, but you are also the one who should fight mana the most.”