Talax entered the warm and bustling dining hall after his conversation with Master Lorindor. The room was alive with the sounds of conversation and clinking cutlery as initiates who had just finished their training sessions savored their evening meals. Tired yet exhilarated, their faces showed the strain of a day filled with demanding exercises and the satisfaction of progress.
Talax cast his gaze around the room, searching for a familiar face. He couldn't spot Qalo right away, but his eyes landed on the group of initiates from the swordsmanship class. Among them, Elara stood out, sitting slightly apart from the others. While her classmates engaged in lively chatter, she ate her meal in silence, a contemplative look on her face.
Amidst the hum of the dining hall, a sudden disturbance in the line for food grabbed Talax's attention. He followed the commotion to find Qalo embroiled in a heated argument with one of the brothers from the monastery. Their voices grew louder, and it was clear that the dispute was escalating. Qalo, appeared out of his depth and was struggling to resolve the issue.
Talax, feeling a sense of urgency, cut in the queue much to the protest of the people in line, but he paid them no heed. As he reached his friend, he heard the red-faced brother's protest, and he couldn't contain his frustration. "What is going on here?" he demanded, his voice firm, drawing the eyes of the monastery brother.
The man huffed and with indignation explained, "The orc demands a second serving! It is monastery policy to serve each initiate a single portion."
Qalo, his face flushed with anger and desperation, immediately retorted, "He's lying! I saw him give that guy his third bowl! It's unfair! Besides I didn’t have breakfast! I am hungry!"
Talax's frown deepened as he turned to the human brother and asked sternly, "Is this true?"
The brother squirmed uncomfortably and muttered, "I know his kind! Orcs are all the same! They want more and more, and if you don't give in, they take it by force!"
Talax's anger flared at the blatant prejudice and hatred. It was clear that this situation had nothing to do with monastery policies and everything to do with Qalo's orc heritage. He stepped closer to the counter that separated him from the disdainful man and looked him straight in the eyes. "I see you wear the blue robes of the Brothers of Enlightenment. I thought your order was meant to be enlightened and free from petty biases. Clearly, I was mistaken," he said dismissively. "Just give my friend his food, and we'll be on our way."
The portly man's cheeks reddened in indignation, and he protested, "I don't have to explain myself to you, initiate!"
But before Talax could respond, a new voice cut in, and he felt his bravado wane. "What is going on, Crasen?" Master Lorindor demanded.
Talax turned to see the elf trainer standing there, his presence commanding respect and authority. He felt a mixture of relief and apprehension, unsure of how the master would react to the situation.
The blue-robed brother, Crasen, seemed to shrink under the weight of Master Lorindor's presence. The tall elf stood with an air of authority, silently demanding an explanation for the disturbance. Before Talax could utter a word, Crasen spoke in a meek voice, his face pale with apprehension. "Nothing, Master Lorindor, just a simple misunderstanding." He then turned his attention to Qalo, his expression tight with frustration, and muttered under his breath, "Give me that!" With a swift motion, he snatched Qalo's bowl and filled it to the brim with steamed vegetables and succulent pieces of meat. Afterward, he waved his hands impatiently for Qalo to move along and extended his hands to Talax, silently demanding his bowl as well.
Talax complied, taking a spare bowl from the nearby stack. As he handed it to Crasen, he cast a brief glance at Master Lorindor, who still surveyed the situation with a stony face. Talax nodded in gratitude, acknowledging the elf's intervention, even if no words passed between them. In that fleeting moment, Talax thought he detected a hint of emotion on Master Lorindor's usually composed countenance, though it was hard to decipher its exact nature.
Talax and Qalo found an empty table and sat down, their bowls filled with warm, delicious food. As they began to eat, savoring the flavors that filled their empty stomachs, Qalo let out a resigned sigh. "I don't like this place. When are we going to leave?"
Talax took another bite before responding, understanding Qalo's frustration. "We'll be here for a while longer, at least until we meet with this Orion person. We should try to make the most of our time here, Qalo.”
Qalo let out a resigned sigh, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. "Great," he muttered sarcastically.
Talax couldn't help but chuckle at Qalo's exasperation. "So, how was your first day of training?" he asked between bites of his meal.
Qalo's expression darkened even further, and he responded with heavy sarcasm, "Oh, it was spectacular! I had the brilliant idea of joining the hammer skill class."
Talax raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "That's great! You already have a high level in the skill."
Qalo rolled his eyes and replied in an exasperated tone, "Great? You think the class was great?" His voice reached new heights of pitch as he continued, "They had me breaking rocks, Talax! Rocks! The whole day, I was using a hammer to break rocks! My ears are still ringing!"
Talax listened to his friend's rant with a mixture of shock and amusement. After he swallowed a bite of his food, he tried to console Qalo. "Well, I was hitting a leather dummy the whole day."
Qalo turned accusing eyes on him and repeated, "Rocks! Rocks!"
Talax couldn't help but laugh at his friend's dramatic reaction. They continued to chat, recounting their experiences on the training grounds they had seen, some of which Talax hadn't visited and vice versa. As they shared their stories, Talax learned about the various places he had yet to explore within the monastery's training facilities.
Talax shared his excitement with Qalo about the advanced swordsmanship class and his encounter with Master Lorindor. Qalo nodded appreciatively, and when he heard that the man had also been the one to intervene earlier and rescue them, he whistled in genuine awe. "You must have made quite an impression," he remarked.
Talax shrugged thoughtfully. "Well, if I want to join his class, I'll have to train hard, like, really hard. I have to become a next-level badass."
Qalo couldn't help but scoff at the idea, but before he could respond, Talax stood up abruptly. "Are you finished?" he demanded, making Qalo look up in confusion.
"Come on," Talax continued. "We have to train our mana manipulation skills."
Qalo blinked in surprise for a moment, then raised a finger to signal Talax to wait. He hastily shoveled the remaining food into his mouth, savoring each bite, and after a loud, satisfied burp, he announced, "I'm ready!"
Talax and Qalo returned to their drafty room, and Qalo was already shivering uncontrollably, lamented, "I have to learn this damn ability, or I'll have to camp in the dining hall if I want to survive, and I don't think that unpleasant man would be too happy about it."
Talax, on the other hand, even though he perceived the room's coldness, was protected by his newfound ability. It felt as if he were encased in a fluffy blanket that shielded him from the biting cold, allowing it to penetrate no more than the surface level of his skin.
Talax couldn't help but chuckle as he settled on the hard floor, folding his legs under him. He unclasped Aria's medallion and beckoned for Qalo to join him. With a resigned expression, Qalo assumed the same seated position and extended his palm, waiting for the medallion.
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As soon as Qalo's hand touched the stone surface, Aria materialized in the room. Her spectral gown swished gracefully behind her, and her mesmerizing eyes looked at them with happiness. "I have to admit, I am having a great time teaching you two. It's a nice change of pace after centuries of being imprisoned inside my amulet."
Qalo, who appeared in a rare form that evening, muttered, "Yeah, it's been great!"
Aria took a moment to explain the process to Qalo one more time. "It's all about feeling the energy within you, harnessing it, and channeling it through your palms. Just concentrate on the warmth within you, the way it envelops you and keeps you cozy."
Qalo nodded, his brow furrowed with concentration as he tried to replicate the steps. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on the energy inside him. It was a challenge for him, as he was new to manipulating mana and the idea of harnessing his inner warmth was foreign.
Aria, her spectral form glowing softly, watched Qalo intently. "That's right, Qalo. Feel the warmth within you, let it flow to your hands."
As Qalo continued to concentrate, Talax started practicing his own exercises, connecting with his own mana and feeling the intricate network of channels within his body. He got lost in the feeling, directing his mana and creating patterns. He heard on occasion Aria’s instructions to Qalo but he was too absorbed in his own thing to really pay any attention.
Until he heard Aria’s excited exclaim. He opened his eyes, feeling like he was coming out of a deep dream, and he saw a faint, warm glow forming around Qalo's hands. It was subtle, but it was there, a sign of progress. Talax couldn't help but feel proud of his friend for his determination to learn.
Qalo opened his eyes, a mixture of excitement and disbelief in his gaze as he looked at the faint glow surrounding his palms. "I... I think I'm getting it."
Talax grinned. "You're doing great, Qalo. Keep practicing, and you'll master it in no time."
Aria chimed in, her voice soothing, "You are almost there!”
Talax returned to his exercises, immersing himself in manipulating the mana coursing through his channels. He felt the familiar rush of energy, a connection to the power that flowed within him. Every so often, his attention would flicker to Qalo, seeing the soft light in his hands—a sign that his friend was making progress. He heard Aria murmuring instructions to Qalo, guiding him through the intricacies of mana manipulation.
But despite the progress Qalo was making, Talax couldn't shake an image from his mind. The image of Master Lorindor and the blue-haired trainee locked in a fierce duel looking like two bright stars. Their swords flashing with power and their faces illuminated by an otherworldly light. It was a reminder of the heights of mastery he aspired to reach.
His body ached with fatigue, and his eyelids drooped from exhaustion after the grueling training sessions he had endured. Yet, a fire burned within him. A drive to train harder, to push himself further than ever before. If he wanted to reach the same level of mastery as Master Lorindor, he knew he had to focus. He had to get stronger!
And the first was to level up his mana manipulation skill!
With renewed determination, Talax pushed himself to his limits, fueled by the burning desire to improve. He ignored the protests of his tired muscles, pushing through the pain with unwavering resolve.
Lost in the intricate dance of mana manipulation, Talax's focus narrowed to a singular point. He guided the magical fuel with precision, weaving intricate patterns and testing the limits of his control with his unbreakable will. To him, his body became a canvas, and the mana flowing through him a vibrant blue dye, swirling and shaping mesmerizing images and patterns with a simple thought.
With each passing moment, Talax delved deeper into the depths of his mana, experimenting with newfound techniques and pushing the boundaries of his abilities like never before. Each failure, each moment where the mana slipped from his grasp and dissipated into the air, instead of causing him frustration, only fueled his determination to succeed.
As he immersed himself further into his practice, he became aware of the exclamations of both Qalo and Aria, their voices a distant echo in his ears. He sensed Qalo attempt to draw his attention, but Talax remained steadfast in his focus, unwilling to let anything distract him from his pursuit of mastery.
At some point, Qalo's presence faded away, leaving him alone with his thoughts and his mana. But even in solitude, Talax pressed on undeterred, his determination unwavering as he continued to hone his skills.
Twice he heard Aria’s voice, urging him on to continue his training.
Congratulations! You have reached level 7 in the Mana Manipulation skill!
7% to mana control, 7% to mana sensitivity
Congratulations! You have reached level 8 in the Mana Manipulation skill!
8% to mana control, 8% to mana sensitivity
The many strings of mana flowing through his body took on a life of their own, intertwining and overlapping in a complex tapestry of color and form. With each brushstroke of mana, Talax felt himself drawing closer to creating a true masterpiece.
Talax's world shattered as the interruption shattered his concentration. The dozens of mana strings he had been weaving dissipated into the ether, leaving behind a void that seemed to suck away all vitality. A wave of nothingness washed over him, leaving him feeling weak and drained, as if all energy had been sapped from his body in an instant.
His head throbbed with a debilitating headache, each pulse sending shockwaves of pain through his skull. He gasped for breath, but the air felt thin and suffocating, as if his lungs couldn't draw in enough oxygen to sustain him.
Desperately, Talax turned to Aria, seeking solace and guidance in her ethereal presence. But to his horror, her form looked flimsy and insubstantial, like a wisp of smoke dissipating in the wind. Panic clawed at his chest as he realized that even she seemed to be fading away before his eyes.
Frantically, he tried to call out to her, but his voice came out as little more than a hoarse whisper. It felt as if an invisible hand was crushing his throat, choking off his ability to speak or cry out for help.
As suddenly as the wave of weakness came over him, just as suddenly everything came back to normal. Almost normal... His drained body seemed to grow stronger, and the throbbing headache receded, though a lingering sense of unease remained.
Talax looked around the room wildly, his eyes darting from corner to corner in search of any sign of what had just happened. To his surprise, he realized his ability Temperature Resistance had been deactivated, leaving him shivering in the cold mountain air that seeped into the room.
His gaze then sought out Qalo, who lay sleeping fitfully nearby, his breathing ragged and uneven just like his own. Qalo seemed affected by the strange phenomenon but unaware of what had happened, lost in the depths of his dreams.
Talax's mind raced with questions, each one more urgent than the last. Was the weakness he had experienced something he had brought upon himself through his endless practicing of mana manipulation? Or was it something else entirely, something beyond his control?
Only one person could provide the answers he sought, Aria. Tentatively, he reached out to their bond, his mind reaching out to hers in search of reassurance. "Aria? Are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
The foreign consciousness brushed against his own, and Talax felt a wave of unsettled emotion wash over him. "Yes..." Aria began, her voice strained and weary. "But I feel weak..."
Talax couldn't hold himself back any longer. "Was that me?" he blurted out, the absurdity of the notion weighing heavily on his mind. "Did I cause it?"
Aria's response was quick and sure, though it offered little solace to Talax's troubled mind. "Certainly not," she replied firmly, her words echoing in his mind.
But when Talax pressed for more information, seeking an explanation for what had transpired, Aria fell silent, leaving him with more questions than answers. Frustration gnawed at his insides, mingling with the lingering fear and uncertainty that clouded his thoughts.
"Well?" he demanded, his voice tinged with irritation.
Aria's voice sounded strained when she replied, her words carrying a weight of fear and uncertainty that sent a shiver down Talax's spine. "It's like something I have never felt before," she murmured, her voice trailing off into the darkness. "It was as if all mana in the world ceased to exist, as if it disappeared forever, leaving everyone on the cusp of destruction."
Talax's frown deepened as he listened, his mind reeling with the implications of Aria's words. "Everyone needs mana, Talax! Without it we are incomplete, we are nothing!”
"What caused it though?" he asked, his voice tinged with bewilderment and dread.
Aria's response was filled with a sense of helplessness, her usually confident tone faltering in the face of the unknown. "I have no idea," she admitted softly. "I have only heard of tales of one creature capable of such destruction, the null beast. But they were hunted down to extinction long ago, even by the Gods themselves. Their ability to nullify ambient mana was feared by all, and yet..."
Talax lay on the hard floor, feeling the cold seeping into his tired body, his addled mind racing with questions and fear. Absentmindedly, he cast Temperature Resistance, welcoming the warm embrace of mana that enveloped his shivering form.
"But what caused it?" he pressed again, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I have no idea," Aria replied, her tone growing distant as exhaustion began to overtake him. "And that's terrifying..."
Talax could only nod in agreement, “Terrifying... yes...” he replied fighting a yawn, his eyelids growing heavy with fatigue as sleep beckoned him into its embrace. He barely heard Aria's final words as darkness claimed him, her voice fading into the depths of his dreams.
"We are at the heart of two ley lines," she murmured, her words barely reaching his mind. "This shouldn't have happened. If anything, it should have been the opposite. Whoever has the ability to do such a thing... it's terrifying."
Talax managed to murmur a response before succumbing to sleep's embrace, his mind swirling with fear and uncertainty. "Terrifying... yes..."