This is...
My thoughts were broken when his mana became more aggressive. Without even looking, I already knew that my disguise completely faded. For some reason, I felt nervous with the mana he was releasing. It was chilling, and I felt like one wrong move and I would completely fall to the darkness.
Shoot. This mana is freaking dangerous.
He stood up, and stared at my face with a blank expression. I stayed alert because I wouldn't be able to tell if he would attack me or not.
"You..." His voice was cold and deep. If I wasn't able to see his face, I wouldn't have thought that this voice belonged to a child's. "Do you know me?" I pondered for my answer for a few seconds, but he was impatient. I saw his eyes glowed and his mana spiking. If I wasn't fast enough to protect myself with my own mana, I would have went down with the pressure. But that was nothing compared to a bigger issue caused by this rampage.
If this goes on, many people would succumb to his mana. They could grow weak with it or die, especially if they are just normal people.
"Forgive me, Ambrose." I muttered before closing my eyes to concentrate. I've tried this once a year ago, but it was really draining to use. I was able to sustain it for almost 5 minutes, then I fainted after. Ambrose told me to increase my mana capacity a hundred times more before using this again, but in this kind situation, I have no choice but to risk it.
"Barrier." I uttered and a glass-like shield surrounded Cain, the dead body, and I. Barrier is different from those elemental barriers that I usually use because this was an A-level spell that act as a defense and offense. From the outside, this barrier would give an illusion of the original place, without us in it. Only magicians or those who could sense magic would be able to detect this barrier. If normal people try to pass this barrier, they wouldn't be able to. On the inside, no one could escape this barrier unless the caster would deplete his/her mana, or he/she would be killed. It would also be possible to escape if the one trapped has a stronger magic to counter this spell. Once someone tries to escape, the barrier would return a double the force the escapee gave.
We were trapped in a dome-like barrier and I hissed when I felt my mana draining fast. "Ah shoot, I need to finish this fast." I stared at the little prince who looked agitated with the barrier. He tried to touch it but he was backfired with a little force. Falling on the ground, it took him a while to stand up and glare at me with his glowing violet eyes.
"What did you do?" He asked me, and I can feel his murderous intent. A sigh escaped my lips before staring at him seriously. "Third Imperial Prince Cain Lewis Vistronde, I am pleased to meet your acquaintance." I curtsied to him but he looked angrier. "Please calm yourself, prince. I would put down this barrier once you stop releasing that dangerous mana." He seemed confused with what I said, and he clearly doesn't trust me. I wanted to be kinder in treating him, but my mana was depleting in a quick rate and I wouldn't be able to hold this barrier for long.
"I know you don't trust me, but I'm asking you not for my sake, but for the sake of those innocent people who are enjoying the festival. Your mana is being unleashed because of your anger, and you could kill those clueless people because of that. So please..." His expression turned blank again and he seemed to think deeply. It took him a few seconds before I felt his dangerous mana slowly subside and I breathed out of relief. Upon securing that he would not go on a rampage again, I cancelled my spell and as I expected, I fell on the ground while panting for my breath.
Haah... That was exhausting as hell.
"Are you a magician?" I raised my head with his question and I was greeted with his cold eyes. I simply nodded because I knew I couldn't hide that fact anymore.
"Can you bring her back?" He looked coldly at the woman that was lying beside him and I almost screamed upon seeing the horrendous scene. I really wasn't able to look closely at it a while ago because I was too focused on the prince.
The woman's dress was coated with her own blood. She was lying on the ground, her black hair on a mess, a slit on her throat and a stab on her heart and stomach. There were also signs of torture on her legs, as if they were cut there with a knife. The nails on her hands and feet were also removed. Not to mention that she had dust and dirt all over her body and dress. It was a gruesome sight that I felt more nauseous than I already was.
I approached her and tried to sense her pulse, but as I expected, her life was already lost by the time I saw her.
"I'm sorry, your majesty. I can't bring her back to life, but at the very least, I can cure her wounds." I apologetically looked at the young prince, who was also staring at me, and he gave me a nod. "Heal her wounds." He sternly said and looked away. "Yes, your majesty." I bowed and placed my hands above her body. Healing magic wasn't a forbidden or an elemental magic. It was a magic that magicians would naturally acquire once they were able to open their mana core.
Small healings would only use a little mana, but to heal these kinds of fatal wounds? It would be quite difficult, keeping in mind that I also drained my mana from making the barrier.
But it's not like I have another choice. I concentrated and pulled the remaining mana I could spare to heal her. I sighed as I felt dizzy again but tried to maintain my composure.
One by one. From one wound to another. Slowly, but effectively.
Sweat profusely appeared in my face as I finished healing her. It was so tiring, but I was glad it worked out. I knew it was disrespectful, but I can't help to stare at this woman.
Gosh, she's a real beauty.
Without her wounds and dirt, I could assume that she's a noblewoman.
Her wavy, jet-black hair was a mess, but it perfectly fitted to her gentle sleeping features. Fair skin and her body was really fit. Hmm, now that I think about it...
I stared at the little prince who was looking at the woman's body, then back to the woman again. My right hand covered my mouth upon realizing their resemblance.
"Is she...your mother?" It was too late before I stopped myself and I suddenly felt scared for Cain's reaction. His face was still blank, and I don't know if I should be relieved when his mana wasn't fluctuating.
"Ah, pardon my impertinence." I tried to stand up to bow, but my world spun like crazy and I fell back. The prince didn't move, nor did he try to pay attention to me.
As I expected from someone who was as cold as ice in the novel.
I closed my eyes when I felt my vision go blurry. While stabilizing my breathing, I heard Cain's footsteps approaching. It wasn't inaudible, but his steps surely sounded soft and on the quieter side. If I wasn't near him, I wouldn't have heard it.
My shoulders shuddered when I felt a disturbing mana in front of me. I immediately opened my eyes and was distressed when I saw the prince's mana directed to me.
"Your majesty? Is there any problem?" I suffocated for air when I felt his mana engulfing me.
Shit, is he trying to kill me?
I couldn't move or do anything, I was simply frozen on my spot. "Why can't I..." I tried to decipher what Cain muttered, but my senses were already failing. "W-will you k-kill me?" I tried my best to utter the words and I noticed how his eyes widened upon hearing my question. That's when I felt his mana slowly retreating, but I felt weak.
I've been thinking about this, but how could he control his mana? When I observed him a while ago, I knew that his mana core was still sealed. It wasn't also mentioned in the novel that he would awaken his magic, so how and why?
"Get away from my daughter!" The following events were too quick for my eyes, and all I was able to witness was a red force shoving Cain to another direction. When I tried to find the origin, I was stunned to see Daddy holding a sword with flames. Beside him was Teacher Kathleen, who was also holding a sword.
Magic Weapons!
They are weapons or accessories that has a mana stone imbedded on it in order for people to use magic even without having the ability to wield magic. These weapons serve as a medium for those people who can unseal their mana cores, but doesn't have the talent to wield the magic they have. It is powerful, but it could also be dangerous if not handled well. Only a few could control magic weapons since the process is very difficult, even to royalties with huge mana cores.
First, they should be able to unseal their own mana core. It is very difficult, especially if you don't have the talent to wield magic. Second, the selection of mana stones. There are magic stones in this world, and they are classified to the four elements: Fire, Air, Water and Earth and they are classified to different levels. Even though there is an abundance of magic stones, it is difficult to find one that would suit a specific person. The larger amount of mana a person has, the higher level of magic stone is required, which means it would also be rarer. Third, even if you are able to find a magic stone that is compatible to your mana, you would still have a hard time controlling the magic. It still depends on talent, so even if you have a huge amount of mana, it would still render useless if you don't have talent to control it. Of course, control could be attained through hellish practice, that's why only a selected few could wield magic weapons.
And now, I just discovered that Daddy could wield a magic weapon. Also, I'm guessing that Teacher Kathleen could also wield it. They aren't part of Umbra for nothing.
I felt chills in my body upon sensing a dangerous mana behind me. I slowly turned my head back and was stunned again to see Cain's body radiating the mana. It took me a while to realize what was happening.
"Unsealing..." That was all I was able to say.
'These people also have their mana sealed at first, but one can unseal it through two methods. The first on is meditation, while the second one is a bit harsher, which is to force magic to the person in order to open their mana core.' Those were Ambrose's words when he first taught me about magic.
And I was freaking sure that this time, I was witnessing the second method of unsealing. It was because of the magic that Daddy used to attack him a while ago.
His chilling mana was directed to us and I gulped out of fear. This was the most dangerous situation I have encountered so far.
Shit, have we awakened someone perilous?