It took me and Mia most of our four-day downtime to pick up each other’s techniques.

Her rush to master Mana Manipulation: Body Strengthening (Basic) was reckless at best. Even with my support, she almost pushed too hard, playing at the very edge of grievous self-harm. Thankfully, she wrapped up her training with only a plethora of new bruises.

If anyone knew we were spending time together only for her to walk away looking like a patchwork quilt of black, purple, blue and red skin, I’d probably be reported somewhere. Or maybe not, seeing as the Abyss had an altogether different view on such things compared to my old world.

But by the time we parted ways, she was able to start up and maintain a very basic level of strengthening for an hour or two. Further progression was up to her. It was just a matter of extending her control through frequent practice, and growing her mana reserves.

Of course, I also gave her the key to achieving that growth.

It was on day two of our training, when she was hissing and snarling about her limited mana, that I approached the subject.

“Say, on the topic of mana capacity, do you maybe have a mana accumulation technique?” I tried to sound casual, but judging from the way she suddenly snapped her eyes to me, I failed.

“No.” She said the word slowly and deliberately, eyes boring into me. “Do you?”

I tried to suppress a smirk, and failed again. “I do.”

She huffed and turned away from me, left eye twitching as her tail and ears kicked up a storm. “Of course you do. Next, you’ll tell me you have a way to advance your ascension without spending souls. Because all the luck we recruits were due seems to have ended up in your hands.”

I rolled my eyes at her. Sure, I did get ‘lucky’ when I reaped Clarinette’s soul. But I had paid dearly for that luck, hadn’t I? If not for Bronwynn’s expert application of healing salve, who knew if I would still be in a place to teach Mia and receive her snark?

Then again, Bronwynn’s help was also a stroke of luck, even if I had to annoy him into liking me first.

Maybe Mia had a point.

“Well… would you like to learn that, too?” I asked. This time, I grinned openly at her intense glare.

“Are you joking? Because if you’re just taunting me, I swear I will—”

“No! I’m not taunting you. Still, either you trade another technique, or you pay me in souls. I’m warning you, though, the mana accumulation technique isn’t going to be cheap.”

I was absolutely not going to budge on that point. Yes, contrary to my own desires, I was starting to like her. No, that didn’t mean I was going to hand over a priceless tool for free.

I had my own ambitions to feed.

“I’ve been saving, but I… don’t have much,” Mia admitted, shuffling awkwardly.

I didn’t say anything, but I wasn’t surprised. The woman was decked out in scavenged armor that only partially matched her style, unlike my own gleaming set. She was also rather impressed by all the luxuries of Apple Infernal. She had tried to hide it, but once she got over the shock of my attack and our exchange, I could tell she was rather taken by the place. To me, that meant she was used to more dingy accommodations.

“I understand,” I said. “But I’m also pretty sure you understand what I’m offering here. This isn’t some two-bit technique you can pick up off the first soul you claim. If you want this one, you would need to kill a mage. Not only are those hard to find, they also don’t die easy. Trust me.”

Mia started gnawing on her lower lip, giving me a rare glimpse of her fangs.

Eventually, as I knew she would, she caved.

“Fine. I can offer, at most, three hundred souls. And I’ll have you know you’re cleaning me out,” she hissed, real indignation on her face. “I was trying to save those up for my ascension.”

I winced. It was not realistic, but a part of me had been hoping I’d get enough to ascend into a full demon then and there.

Still, I gave her my best smile. “Deal.”

Teaching her the Illsent Mana Accumulation (Greater) technique was a little easier, ironically. It built on many of the same principles as body strengthening. Mia just needed the unique mana weaves and manipulation patterns to guide the mystical force into a core and force it to merge there.

So, at the end of our transactions, Mia walked away with two techniques, and I walked away with one. What a technique it was, though.

The Hunter’s Clouded Steps was a mouthful, but the technique was precisely as impressive as Mia advertised. Frankly, I got the better end of our deal, since her technique’s complexity was far beyond my basic body strengthening.

To pull off the steps technique, I had to adjust my mana to a very specific frequency, then make it stick to my skin in a complicated weave. And that was just part one. For part two, I needed to conjure a rune inside my mana core, then extend tendrils of my mana and duplicate the rune where I wanted my illusory clone to appear. Alternatively, it was possible to leave ‘echoes’ of the rune behind where I stood, but I still needed to link it to myself using mana tendrils, and that was somehow throwing me off more than just conjuring the rune remotely.

Theoretically, I could teleport between the runes using their connected resonance. But while Mia had taught me the theory of how to do that, not even she could pull it off yet.

Me? By the time our downtime was through, I only just managed to summon a single illusory clone while using the technique.

Of course, I didn’t focus solely on our training. Several times over the four days, I snuck out of the Apple Infernal and visited the Absorption Station. Three hundred extra souls gave me some leeway in how I could handle things.

Part of me wanted to shove all three hundred souls into the ascension meter, but then the words of my commander echoed in my mind. Glaustro warned me not to hoard souls in a rush to ascend. If I threw these three hundred at ascension, I would be doing just that.

After all, I wasn’t even going to start putting souls into ascension until I could hit 100% on that meter in one go, so 800 souls wouldn’t get me there. Not that I had 800 souls. I had 3 lesser souls, 304 basic tier souls, and 48 greater souls to my name. So, 784 souls, all told.

I forced myself to be sensible. No hasty moves toward ascension. I didn’t rush to absorb that one greater soul that had caught my eye, either.

Instead, I used my limited time and endurance to add more layers to my mana core. In four days, I managed to add another two layers at the low, low cost of three mana crystals. That put me at four mana core layers, just a step away from hitting five. One more layer and I would progress from apprentice mage to basic mage, with all the benefits that rank entailed.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

I tried to be satisfied with this. I told myself I was being wise by not being overeager. Every day was an excruciating battle between my patience and my ambition.

On the final day, ambition won.

I had already completed my mana accumulation for the day, stopping just when the sensation of handling mana turned into an uncomfortable inner ache. I knew I should just pack up and leave the station, but my eyes kept drifting to my soul purse.

The number of souls in there kept beckoning to me, their potential tempting me beyond reason.

Just a couple towards ascension. Just to see what the process is like.

I lied to myself with surprising ease. Then, with a smile on my lips, I reached into the purse and drew out one of the basic souls. So much for being rational.

Hayden Hall

Ascension progress: 1%

The words were the same as when I first laid eyes on them. Similarly, the awareness of demonic mana pooling in my chest was the same. It had expanded somewhat, in proportion with the increase in my regular mana, but that had done nothing to tick the ascension higher.

The process of improving ascension was so easy, it felt strange. After all, skill absorption extracted its cost in pain. Mana accumulation demanded focus and exacting precision.

But ascension required only soul sacrifice. I simply willed the Abyss to claim the soul I was holding and offer me its strength in return.

And it did.

I felt something vast and so much more powerful than me reach out through the station, spear right through the soul I was holding, and lodge itself in my chest.

The presence pulsed, and the soul melted away, vanishing like it never even existed. In turn, Abyssal mana surged along the newly created link and poured into my veins. It coursed through my body, finally settling in my chest to grow the tiny pool already there.

I wasn’t left gasping on my knees or doubled over in pain. I wasn’t even dizzy. In fact, the Abyssal mana was comfortably warm as it spread through my being. It felt, dare I say it, uplifting and pleasant. Like someone was offering me a hug, and a level of acceptance I didn’t realize I needed until that very second.

The experience was so positive, I wasn’t exactly surprised when I reached for my purse immediately. Pulling out a greater soul this time, I fed it to the Abyss eagerly.

Anything to feel that way again.

I’m not sure how long I sat there, lost in a daze of relaxed bliss. I turned over soul after soul without hesitation. Finally, my searching hand emerged from the purse holding the greater soul I was saving for absorption.

It was the only greater soul left. I had fed all the rest to the Abyss.

The pleasant warmth was already fading. With gritted teeth, I decided to hit at least fifty percent of the ascension price. I counted out how many basic souls I’d need and fed them in, one after the other.

Thirty basic souls later, I took a deep breath and let the ascension meter beam information directly into my brain.

Hayden Hall

Ascension progress: 50%

I blinked, momentarily confused by the number. I had fed the thing the equivalent of 500 basic souls, total.

Then, how am I at exactly fifty percent, when I started at one percent? I should be at fifty-one percent, at least. This doesn’t make any sense.

The Abyss didn’t seem to care about my grousing. It had taken the offerings and dispensed its reward, a reward I could feel burning inside me.

Casually, I drew a tendril of mana out of my core, then sent it spiraling around my arm.

Before, my mana was pale blue, the natural color, with perhaps a tiny tinge of red. Now, it was an even mix of the two colors. Strings of red twined with blue in a dizzying display, the two dancing together while refusing to merge.

Even my core was like that now. The two halves weren’t perfectly separated, but I could feel the red and blue fighting for dominance in the mana construct’s makeup.

It was exceedingly odd. Since both types of mana belonged to me, both obeyed me perfectly. Each performed just as well as the other when directed through my technique.

I did, however, discover one difference. A meager justification for the string of horrible decisions I had just made.

My techniques were far more powerful. Using the same amount of mana netted me almost double the results. Power coursed through my limbs like never before, and I felt like I could bend a sword into a pretzel if I wanted to. Even the body refinement technique we were taught at Glaustro’s orders was stronger.

Actually, that technique advanced further than the others. It ran more smoothly, and its effects felt more real, somehow, like my body was being elevated beyond its base mortal form rather than just strengthened. Of course, considering the technique was demonic in origin, it made sense that it would run better with demonic mana.

My spending spree got me one final ‘reward.’ The feeling of acceptance and warmth I enjoyed while boosting my ascension lingered. I could feel it just beyond reach, lurking at the other end of the tentative connection I now had to the Abyss. It felt like I could reach out and implore it to claim me fully. I could surrender myself to it, body and soul, and emerge from the process reborn.

I was tempted. I was oh so very tempted. Bronwynn said I could potentially turn into a demon at fifty percent ascension, and I understood why now.

Still, even without the memory of his warnings, I could tell instinctually how risky the process would be. The connection was too hazy to support the transformation. Even if it worked, I would be less than what I was supposed to become. Besides, I didn’t want to ascend before I advanced to full mage status.

And yet…

I tentatively reached out, just to brush my awareness across the link. The reaction was immediate.

I panicked when the bond pulsed, reaching out to me, only to feel empty when the whole process crashed to a halt.

Ascension attempt halted due to lacking connection.

Enter the Abyss, so that you may be claimed fully.

I slumped down, letting out the breath that had gotten stuck in my lungs.

A weird swirl of relief and exhaustion followed me all the way back to the inn, where I collapsed into bed as quickly as I could. I slept the sleep of the dead until the following morning, when a polite knock on my door awakened me as requested.

Maybe I couldn’t avoid the burn of my brand as it summoned us to gather, but I sure as hell could avoid being woken up that way. And, of course, I was not about to miss breakfast.

I didn’t check with Mia to see if she was up too. When we parted the day before, prior to my visit to the station, things were a little awkward between us.

Neither of us knew what to say. Did we wish each other luck? Promise not to try and kill each other? In the end, we just mumbled our goodbyes and parted.

Breakfast at Apple Infernal was as amazing as ever. As far as I was concerned, food was the major appeal of the inn. That morning, the meal included an exquisitely cooked steak with a side of mashed potato-like veggies, a sauce that was just savory enough to avoid overwhelming the senses, and dessert in the form of apple pie. The latter came with a small bowl of cream, served separately for those who didn’t like it.

It was with great reluctance that I eventually rose from the dining table. I dragged my feet to reception, dropped off my room key, and started towards the exit.

To my great surprise, I was intercepted.

“Dear customer, a moment of your time, if you please.”

I looked back to see a demoness striding towards me, the same demoness who checked on Mia that first day of our stay. She was still dressed in her sharp crimson suit, though she didn’t have her weapon on her this time.

“Yes? How may I help you?” I asked politely.

She giggled when she reached me, leaning over until her warm breath tickled my ear. “A word of caution, dear customer. We do not condone guests attacking each other. The adorable kitty spoke up for you, and judging by the emotions I caught coming off you both, I understand that it was most likely an unfortunate misunderstanding. As a result, there will be no warnings placed on your record with us. This time. Please, let’s not have a repeat of such an incident. I would hate to sour our relationship.”

I turned pale. I’m not even sure what I mumbled in response. She giggled again and patted my head.

“Good! Now, have a pleasant day, dear customer.”

I bolted for the door, but before I could step outside, she called out again.

“Oh, and dear customer? You two really would make an adorable couple!”

With the giggling of the demoness and the receptionists hounding my steps, I hurried away from the hotel, cheeks and ears burning.