Throughout the fierce duel between Velexa and the mana demon, Ravatel, I found myself thrust back into my mindscape. I hadn’t given up hope; I’d done too much, come too far, and sacrificed many times. I was going to regain control. My mind was everything throughout my journey so far. If anything, the real world was never the challenge; it was always me. Ravatel could not have made that more apparent.

Unlike before, however, I wasn’t alone. Mundara was with me, and I knew Verdenia was out there, waiting. I’m sure Hadrian, Elnara, and the others would also want to help me.

All I needed was a chance. If anything was surprising, Ulysses could manifest in my mindscape through his mark on me. My mindscape sure was crowded with people who weren’t me. I should ask for rent.

After a prolonged silence, Mundara's voice rang through my mindscape, breaking the hush. “Your chance will come, Falond,” she assured me. “Just as it happened before, it shall again. If I’m right, it will come much sooner than you think.”

Ulysses, whose voice I had not heard until now, spoke slowly in his cadence. “Marked of mine, view this demon as merely an instrument of your evolution. That embodiment of corruption is no true threat. Hone your senses, peer into him, once he is weak, force him back into your mind. No matter what words he weaves, this body is yours.”

Mundara, clearly annoyed by this unexpected intrusion, retorted, “And who invited you to be part of my Electi, Ulysses the Blind?”

Ulysses muttered a single word. “Fate.” And then did not answer anything else Mundara threw his way.

We watched the battle in awe. It was hard to believe that such enormous power was coming from my own body. The black drake, something I never thought I could call forth, was now here, in the flesh. The raw energy of the mana swirling everywhere was nothing short of breathtaking. Mundara was beside me, explaining the fight helping me catch the details I might have missed.

Yet, I found myself no longer in envy or desire. Even with my memories back, mana didn't hold the same appeal it once did. My desire to return to my family was practically gone as well. Velexa's confidence that my mother would support my execution played a role in that, but I also realized that I was heading down a new path. I had new friends and a new family. They would be part of my journey if I let them. I saw no reason to fight it; accepting this new direction would only benefit me, not harm me.

So, I watched and waited. Ready for whatever came next.

And then, the moment I had been waiting for arrived. Ravatel, in a state of desperation, unleashed all his corrupt mana. The dragon had disappeared, vanquished by Velexa, and Ravatel’s mana dome shattered. Figures I recognized began to appear, bringing with them my golden opportunity. The aura pushed deep within me erupted in one great upheaval. My once dormant brand pulsed with life, and together, the two forces enveloped my now-still body.

In that crucial moment, a deep connection ignited between Ravatel and me. With an indomitable will, I reached out with every fiber of my being to reclaim control over this dark demon that had threatened to consume my body and take my freedom. My consciousness merged with the swirling currents of aura and nature’s essence; my mindscape became the arena for a battle of control once more.

Within the depths of my mind, I faced Ravatel. He towered before me, a twisted manifestation of my inner turmoil and fears. With every ounce of my strength, I fought against his influence, pushing back the darkness with an unwavering willpower. The torture Silas performed made this seem easy in comparison.

Aware of his dire straits, Ravatel again began to whisper to me. About the desire of mana, that he’d get my family to accept me again. But it was useless; I had changed. Neither of these things mattered to me anymore.

A battle unfolded in the recesses of my mind, a clash of wills and a test of inner strength. Our thoughts became a battleground as I called upon the essence of my true self, the part untouched by the malevolent influence of the mana demon. I delved into the depths of my aura, harnessing its power to anchor myself and forge a path back to control. Mundara supported me in commanding the chains of my mind to bind the demon once again. Ulysses, too, blazed with his aura, amplifying my willpower when I needed it the most.

My aura ignited, its radiant energy surging forth. Strands of vibrant light intertwined with the swirling darkness, forming a bridge between my consciousness and the menacing demon that threatened to chain me forever in my mind. I drew upon my newfound mastery of willpower and aura, manipulating them both strand by strand, weaving them with purpose and precision.

With each strand controlled, I regained a piece of myself. I channeled both aura and nature’s essence, infusing them into the sword of my willpower. The darkness of Ravatel recoiled, its corruption waning as my aura grew more vigorous and incorruptible.

The eternal smile returned to Ravatel again as if he was treating this struggle in another round in our game. I exerted my will, cutting off the last remnants of ties that bound me to Ravatel's evil influence. The darkness shattered, fading into the corners of my mind, leaving only the faint echoes of Ravatel's former hold over me.

Exhausted, I began to leave the mindscape to attend to the mess my body had become. Echoes of laughter resonated in my mind. I had defeated Ravatel again, but I knew our conflict was far from over.

I felt it in my blood.

Back in the physical realm, my body shook with the intensity of the internal struggle. Drawing in ragged breaths, my chest heaved with effort. As the last vestiges of Ravatel's control faded, my senses sprang back, sharper than before. I found myself back in control, laid out before Velexa, my eyes gleaming with determination.

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The battle within my mind had been won. I had reasserted my independence, reclaiming my body from the clutches of Ravatel, who had sought to consume me. With newfound clarity and a renewed sense of purpose, I stood ready to face this path of mine.

Even with my mind being more potent than ever and my sense of confidence through the roof, my body was a mess. A whirlwind of events happened in a short span of about two days. Finding out the church’s oracle had marked me, being sentenced to execution, evolving my domain of touch. That was just the start of the list.

I met two absolute powerhouses, Methuselah and Gelben, and discovered the sheer insanity that a grand mage was. Velexa hadn’t just beaten both Methuselah and Gelben, even if the two were weakened from imprisonment, but also Ravatel, who, as I learned, was an anomaly among mana demons. Thinking about that fact was giving me a headache again. Three individuals far stronger than me, yet all of them were defeated. Only then was Velexa exhausted; she wasn’t even beaten.

The thought made me wonder why Velexa just stared at me. Why wasn't she making a move? I was out of tricks, fully exposed. But then the familiar soundscape filled in the gaps. I hadn't mastered the unconscious use of aura perception or my touch domain. However, the soundscape was a skill I used without thought, and it comes in handy every moment.

Around me, I could discern the presence of elders, instructors, and headmasters from the citadel’s three branches. Some of their attention was on me, but most were fixated on Velexa. Her hands were raised in surrender, yet her face remained as disinterested as ever. She didn't appear to be particularly distressed by her situation.

I heard the approach of three sets of footsteps moving towards us. One was heavy, almost inhumanly so. The man was a literal giant, someone I hadn't encountered before - or rather, someone I hadn't heard before. The other was an elf lady walking alongside Headmaster Yaul. Given their pace and positioning, it seemed they were equals, likely the respective headmasters of their branches.

As the trio of respected leaders approached Velexa, it was only then that her mask of being emotionless cracked slightly. The two sides looked at each other with caution. Headmaster Yaul, practically radiating wisdom and experience, stepped forward first, his gaze steady and discerning.

The giant of the three headmasters remained silent and stayed next to headmaster Yaul, deciding only his presence was enough for this matter. The last headmaster, the elf woman, walked towards Gelben with an unreadable expression.

"Grand Mage Velexa," Headmaster Yaul began, his voice resonating with an authority that demanded attention. "Your actions have brought great turmoil to our citadel and endangered the lives of our apprentices and instructors. It is time for you to face the consequences." His eyes briefly scanned Methuselah, Gelben, and me as he spoke.

His gaze returned to Velexa. “Will you willingly surrender, or is Reverent's mage table destined to lose a grand mage today?" The ancient man was dead serious, with thousands of aura strands coming out of him instantly. His quality of aura control was at least on the same level as me, likely better, and the volume of his aura revealed a realm beyond my understanding. His aura crackled with electricity, ancient symbols shimmering within it.

Two elders flanked the headmaster in an instant, their expressions a blend of concern and curiosity. They cast a discerning eye over Velexa, taking in the aftermath of the battle and the state of those involved. The ley line Ravatel had cracked out of the earth was still around but rapidly closing.

One of the elders approached me, concern etched across their features. Based on what the soundscape told me, I’d never seen them before. My aura perception, however, knew this person was worthy of being called an Elder, while they weren’t on the level of Methuselah, on par with Hadrian, at least judging by the swirl of aura within them.

Gently, the elder extended a hand towards me, offering support and stability. "Are you alright, Falond?" they asked, their tone filled with genuine care. "Are you alright, Falond?" they inquired, their voice imbued with concern. "We observed the battle, and it appears you've undergone a trial."

They observed the battle? How? Did that mean the barrier Ravatel put up was just that durable? The ley line he had created was radiating mana even now. Could they peer through it but not break it?

I was still recovering from the intense struggles lately and wanted to say I’d be fine. But this state of my body was beyond terrible; even being alive surprised me. So instead, my voice weakly rang out, laced with exhaustion, “Trial is putting it lightly. Is there a healer?” That was the best I could muster. Nearly passing out again, the brand was pumping out with all its might, and aura was clustered at the worst wounds, trying to keep my body together, but it wasn’t enough.

Two elves practically teleported upon hearing those words. One was Verdenia, and the other, not surprisingly, was Elnara. Both immediately got to work on me, carefully injecting nature’s essence. Their skill and quality of work with nature’s essence were leagues above mine. I guess that answered if Elnara was still here or not. Elder Relan must be keeping his hands full over on the other side of the portal, then.

Another elder approached Methuselah, their presence radiating a comforting aura. "Vice-master Methuselah," he began, his voice calm and measured, "It is a great joy to see you alive again. Please allow me to assist you.” Not waiting for an answer, the elder scooped Methuselah off the ground and brought her to one of the elves nearby. I guess nature’s essence was better at healing after all.

The headmaster turned his attention back to Velexa, his expression somber yet firm. "Velexa, it is time for you to face the consequences of your actions," he reiterated, his voice carrying a sense of finality. "But know that we will treat you fairly, in accordance with our principles. Should you cooperate, you may even keep your life. Will you come quietly?"

Taking Velexa’s silence as an answer, the headmaster nodded. "Can you escort her with me, Blood Giant?" he requested.

“Only because you asked.” The previously silent Giant said. His voice had a deep, powerful ring to it.

The two flanked Velexa, with a few elders encircling them. Ensuring her compliance as they prepared to escort her away. Their purpose was clear: to restore balance and safety to the citadel. As well as gaining information such a grand mage would likely have. Being under their noses for so long would mean the mages could sneak in here, even if it were small in scale. They would have to find out how.

I watched as Velexa was led away, my eyes filled with emotions—relief, concern, and a glimmer of fear. That woman was beyond powerful and let me understand what a behemoth I opposed. No, what all aura users and non-mana paths to power were facing. But for now, my attention turned to my own recovery and to those who helped me in the wake of this death-defying ordeal. I owed Gelben and Methuselah greatly. It was over; even though I hadn’t defeated Velexa, I still came out alive.

However, just as a semblance of calm settled, a familiar voice shattered the peace. A voice I hadn't heard in years but couldn't forget.

“And where do you think you’re taking her?” The voice echoed. And there she was, the woman who coldly exiled me all those years before. Standing in the sky as if it were the most natural thing in the world. If she were still like I remembered, she’d have brown hair cascading around her green eyes covered by radiating mana.

My mother.