Well, it’s been a few days since I started creating a spell with Samuel, and it’s time to get my robes. Surprisingly, all of my companions, other than the missing Hero, decided to join me. Haa, I hope I can actually wear them now…

I am actually pretty worried, though. Yeah, I’m pretty certain that my mana has completely combined, considering how little it has changed since our last incident. And I’ve also reduced the strain of casting spells to a normal level. But, I don’t know if that will be enough.

Like, does the density technique even count for the robes? Will I need to draw out power to further enhance my veins? And, would that even be enough?

Haa, let’s think about something else, it’s not like worrying will change anything.

So, creating our new spell is going surprisingly well, all things considered. While yes, we haven’t technically made much progress, we have made some. Mainly, we’ve already figured out a few potential ways to accomplish our goal; it will just be difficult to actually do any of them.

But man, creating spells is drastically different from learning them. Luckily, I’ve learned a wide variety of different spells, so I have a decent idea of how spells really work in the broader scheme of things. I’d have been completely helpless, otherwise.

But, well, I guess that’s enough procrastinating, it’s time to put on the robes. Besides, I was able to enter the temple without any issues, so I should be fine…

“Haa, let’s get this over with,” I said as I started to put on the robes.

Oh… This does not bode well for me: the robes are still trying to steal my mana. Also, despite having prior experience, it was still difficult to flow my mana between myself and the robe. And, I didn’t notice this before, as my mana had immediately gone to war, but I needed to actively keep flowing my mana the entire time, specifically in a balanced way, as even slight differences would shift how much the robes would pull at my mana.

Haa, hopefully, I can just generate some more mana to ‘feed’ to my robes to appease them. Otherwise… Well, these robes might be quite annoying to actually use. Especially if casting spells also affects the… balance…

By The Gods! Please, please no. That would make them almost impossible to use!

Haa, deep breaths. I need to calm down, panicking over a mere possibility isn’t helpful. I just need to focus on the present.

Huh, other than the robes stealing my mana, nothing else has happened. That’s… eerie. Am, am I missing something? Like, I can just leave like this and I would be fine. Is, is this all?

What did I actually need to do in order to wear these? Like, the only real difference from before I fused with the core seems to be my mana density and veins, which, I’m pretty certain isn’t the requirement, or I definitely would have been hounded about training my veins. And even then, I should be beyond what most saintesses can get to, at least, early on.

As I was lost in thought I noticed my reflection in the glass. Ah, that’s why. I’d completely forgotten about the halo! That’s just… how? Like, did I not wear it last time either? I, I don’t think I actually did. Haa, I was too preoccupied with the weird feeling I got from the robes to remember how interested I was in the Halo.

And, you know, I never wear any headgear or accessories, so I wasn’t used to the idea of that counting as a part of my robes. Well, at least I can admire it now!

The first thing I noticed as I went to carefully pick up the halo was an odd static-like effect that happened whenever my hands got close to it. But, it wasn’t, um, elecrocy? I don’t really remember. The only reason it was even slightly taught in class was that the heroes of old had given us the name. Apparently, it powers their artifacts and comes from lightning! Or rubbing socks along rugs… Well, I guess if they want to use their artifacts with any frequency or consistency, you’d need to rely on something a bit more consistent than lightning storms. Even if that thing is quite… exotic.

So yeah, it wasn’t elecrocy static, but mana static! I, how does that even work? There aren’t any spells that can replicate the power of lightning, as mana is incompatible with elecrocy.

Wait, there were stories about heroes wielding the power of lightning, so the Gods likewise would definitely be able to.

But, why? Why would they do something like that? To show off? No, that can’t be it, the Gods have no reason to do that. And, it would have been written about if the halo kept staticking as the saintesses wore it.

So, why does the halo have static? Let’s see… Ah, as lightning is rare and comes from the sky, it is often associated with the heavens. So, maybe it’s to represent their power? To just the saintess? Well, what do I know, I’m just a mere mortal.

After giving up on thinking, I actually picked up the halo, ignoring the weird tingling feeling the static gave my hands for a bit. That’s when I noticed the second weirdness; just how absurdly light it was! Like, this is ridiculous. Even if I was holding something hollow it wouldn’t be this light. What could this possibly be made out of to make it almost as light as air?

Speaking of what it’s made out of, it feels really weird. Like, I expected it to feel like some smooth metal, or even horn or something. But no, this feels very different. Honestly, it, for some odd reason, reminds me of the light that comes from the Gate. But I can’t be certain as I’ve only felt sand-like grains of the light, not anything nearly as solid as the halo. Though, that could explain how light it is. Possibly.

Still, even if I can’t describe what it feels like, I can still enjoy the feeling. It is actually a quite relaxing sensation, one that feels oddly familiar.

Anyway, after spending a few minutes playing with the halo, I finally decided that it was time to put it on. But that just gave me another worry.

It’s just so light, that, not to mention combat, even a light breeze should blow it away. I’ve seen what happens to pieces of paper that get caught in the wind. I, I don’t want to be the saintess known for losing the halo…

Haa. Okay, I should only worry about that once I can actually use it. Besides, there’s got to be some way for me to prevent that, considering the halo is still here while being an active part of the saintess’s image. And, you know, it might not actually be an issue in the first place. It was given to us by the Gods, after all.

Also, in that, like, half an hour lesson about the heroes’ electrocy, we were told about these things called magnets, which harness the power of lightning to stick to things.

Honestly, that just sounds fake to me. Like, you can stick to things with glue, and even suction if you do it right. But lightning? That’s just unrealistic. Though, the heroes apparently said the same thing about magic, calling it supernatural or something, so, maybe we are just missing something.

Whatever, it’s not like it matters. The Gods have specifically requested that we don’t use the technology from the heroes’ world, as it could negatively affect our future and culture.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Okay, enough distractions! It’s time to actually put on my halo. So, I carefully set it on my head, and then… nothing. Huh, that’s odd.

In my confusion, I accidentally tilted my head. “Ah,” I exclaimed as I hurried to adjust. I also frantically tried to catch the halo, as, despite such small and low-density things usually being all but immune to falling. I really don't want to break the halo. I failed to catch it in the end though.

But, that’s because it didn’t actually fall in the first place. When I didn’t grab anything, I quickly looked for it on the ground but still couldn’t find it. That’s when I put my hands on my head, just about to start truly panicking. And, wouldn’t you know it, it was still on my head! And, after some tests, I discovered that even pushing something in between the halo and my head wouldn’t let the halo fall. Initially, that frightened me, but luckily the halo comes right off if I just use my hands.

This, this is unrealistic! How! Is, is it magnets? Is that why it has elecrocy? Are, are magnets, real!? That’s so cool! And now I even have one. As expected of the Gods, their gifts have no compare. I couldn’t help but smile at that.

Sadly, after happily spending another minute being amazed, I remembered that I was still trying to unlock the robe's power. And, well, despite putting on the halo, nothing had happened.

That’s when I once again noticed my reflection. Huh, why’s my halo not glowing? It’s supposed to glow faintly.

Wait, did I infuse my mana into it yet? Ah, I, I forgot to actually do that! You know, for some reason I thought it would somehow just be connected to my robes. Which, now that I think about it, is kinda stupid. I mean, they aren’t attached to each other.

Oh, if they count as separate things, am I going to need to balance my mana between myself, my robes, and my halo!? That, that would be horrible!

Uh, well, maybe, just maybe, I’m actually wrong about that. I should at least check before I start panicking, right? Haa, well, let’s find ou-

“Ah!” I shout as I’m suddenly engulfed in pressure.

It, it’s like the dragon, but, it’s not the oppressive terror of the abyss. No, this, this is different. This isn’t a predator’s pressure, the presence of some innately superior being that sees you as nothing but food.

No, this was a tyrant, a violent, brutal, and chaotic dictator, one that will get what it wants from me.

It also didn’t block my perception of reality or my body. No, it made sure I was fully aware of everything. From the burning of my lungs with every breath I took, to the ignition of my blood with every beat of my heart, it made me feel everything.

It wasn’t to destroy me though. It didn’t want me to just stop resisting. No, it wanted me to submit, and it would not stop until I did.

Ha! Like I’d ever do something as pathetic as that!

“STOP,” I demanded, and while my body no longer burned, I noticed that my mana was currently rampaging inside my body as if it was trying to eat away at me as it struggled for control. Control, over me.

My mana was betraying me. But, unlike before, it was only some of it. Specifically, the bit that was controlled by my robes.

“Heh, you think you can control me? Don’t make me laugh.” I smiled as I started to command my mana.

“Submit, or be destroyed,” I demanded, and soon my mana quickly started to overwhelm the traitors.

“Hahaha, did you really think you could win? Against me? I punched a dragon into submission, you, you are nothing.” I gloated as I kept on winning.

And soon, I’d won, because of course, I did.

“Ha, easy. Now, am I done yet? Have I beaten the robes yet? I am spreading my mana around pretty well. Hmm, well, it seems that I’m done here.” I smiled as I went to leave the room, though I did make sure to grab my old robes before I left.

I opened the door and announced. “I have succeeded.” But, instead of applause, everyone was running away.

“Oy, what are you doing? Congratulate me!” I demanded, causing my mana to shake in anger.

“Why don’t you suppress your mana first.” Cardinal Caitlyn ‘demanded.’

“Why would I? It’s amazing.” I refused. “Right, Melly?” I asked the only person that didn’t flee. However, she doesn’t seem to be feeling well. “Hey, what’s wrong with you?”

“Eli, please.” She struggled to ask.

“Please what? What do you want?”

“Stop.”

“Come on, hurry up. Stop what? I won’t know if you don’t tell me.” I pushed. Why’s she being so slow?

Instead of answering, she just sighed and gave me a hug.

“Uh, are you okay? Do you need healing?” I asked as I started to heal her.

“Aura.”

“It’s great, isn’t it.”

“Stop.” She forced out. Hey! What’s wrong with everyone? Ah, they must be jealous, huh. Makes sense. Well, since I’m great even without my aura, I’ll be the bigger person and turn, it, off…

As my aura calmed down, so did my mana. And with it, came clarity…

I immediately shoved my face into Melly’s chest and screamed, “AH! Why Did I Act Like That!” while avoiding looking at my companions.

Ah! This is so embarrassing! Just, why!? What possessed me to- Oh…

I mean, I guess it’s kinda the same thing, being controlled by my mana… Just, how did that happen though? I mean, it was understandable when I was just my mana and will, but how did it overcome my body?

Wait, the aura! The physical manifestation of my mana trait! So… I guess it used that to slot my mana trait onto my mind? No, I think I would have been warned of that if that was the case. It has to be something different.

Or does it? I mean, my mana trait is all about domination and getting what it wants, but it can't just do that from nothing, having to start from somewhere. So, what if the halo applied your mana trait to you, but they lack the will and motive to do more, unlike mine. So, Cameron was probably more calm when using his aura, but not to a particularly noticeable amount.

Unless it increases based on your trait’s power, that is. Which doesn’t actually disprove my theory, as that usually takes quite a while for your trait to grow so it’d seem as just a part of them growing up or something. Or maybe being influenced by how the trait affects your environment, just the conventional change basically anyone would experience should they act as a calming presence or whatnot. The mask only stays as a mask for so long, after all.

Which could potentially be concerning for me…

Whatever, dwelling on the mere possibility won’t solve anything, I just need to note it down as something to look into and move on. I've been moping enough.

“I’m good,” I sighed as I finally got up, several minutes later.

Mercifully, Melly stopped everyone before they could bombard me with questions. “So.” She started. “Are you okay with telling us what happened?” She asked.

“Haa, okay so, I have a theory that the halo applies your mana trait to yourself.” I started, getting a curious look from Samuel. “However, the effect is likely nigh unnoticeable through a myriad of factors like already exhibiting the trait and it likely growing in intensity as your mana is empowered.”

“Why do you think that?” Samuel asked, not believing me but curious as to my reasoning. “As I think we would have noticed something like that.”

“Not necessarily.” I denied. “As I said, it was likely subtle initially, both because of a lack of intensity and the fact mana traits are usually a fairly prevalent part of their user. As for why people didn’t notice once the trait grew? Take your pic: people assuming that’s just how they are, the rate of change being slow enough to be basically unnoticeable, it being presumed that they are just living up to their theme, or just the fact that people tend to act how those around them act.” I listed off with a shrug. It could be basically anything, really.

“Hmm, I guess that’s possible.” Samuel relented, “But we likely won’t know for sure for several generations at best.” He added, to the agreement of everyone else.

Yeah, it’s definitely that would be difficult to prove one way or another. Still, I’d hoped for a bit more acknowledgment, but I guess that’s the most I’m going to get.