Bund gives me an exasperated sigh after handing me the first portion of the payment.
for the sake of his pockets we agreed to three installments.
"It will be in a month; they have already challenged the Hunters Guild, as far as anyone is concerned you are just a nameless hunter".
Before walking out I ask, "how did you know"?
He gives me a knowing smile "Your kills are too clean" his words echoing in my mind.
I closed the door gently, 'note to self be more paranoid'.
Back at the lake I go into another round of healing, syphoning mana crystals has like a drop in a very large bucket.
My mana core being the bucket.
It was only me who was having this problem as Isla was developing faster than I ever have.
If I can compare us one could say mana loved her.
All she had to do was close her eyes and meditate and it would flow to her like she was it's child caccooning her.
I had to meditate for a long while to get a good flow going, and it was nothing like hers.
Instead of absorbing mana stones into my core I let the energy seep into my body as it was being damaged.
I had opened the volute to four percent of the diameter.
I was baptized by electricity daily even adding small fireballs around me when a resistance was built.
Isla has started training at night and hunting during the day because I consume so much food.
We needed to constantly keep on the hunt.
It was another week into training when I am slammed to the ground by Isla.
But this time I didn't lose conscience.
I got up ready to go again but I twisted my ankle when I fell and didn't notice because of the adrenaline.
instead of calling it quits, I tackle Isla to the ground and begin to rain punches from above.
She flexed her midsections and kicked out with her knee attempting to role me over and she succeeded as our positions switch.
She begins her assault smashing her mana enforced fists beating my arms that where guarding me until they were bruised and nearly broken.
I stifle the pain, boxing it up and neatly putting it away somewhere in my mind where I won't ever look at it again.
A habit built to maintain my sanity.
She notices my distress and swiftly gets off me.
I crawl to the electrical field circulating my energy through my body as I do.
I had already laid a pile of mana stones beforehand.
My mana circulation this time was different.
I could feel every pore in my body condensing every time I inhale.
Every time I exhale, I could see a deep red fog come out of my mouth and then being drawn back in when I inhale.
It was a deep vermillion color, barely existing out of my body for a moment before dissapating.
The bruises this time healed at a visible rate taking minutes instead of hours.
Letting out a moan of ecstasy, a content smile plays on my lips from the orgasmic feeling.
From the outside looking in you would see patches of burnt skin being healed rapidly a smile on my face making me look like a masochist.
The red energy that was produced acted as a direct stimulant for my cells.
It was much weaker than mana but my body reacted like a sponge soaking in every drop.
Continuing this cycle of absorption and repair until I could not take it anymore
Two hours after healing I eat everything that we had
Isla who had made mushroom poultry that she didn't even get to taste.
"I'm sorry, let's go hunting" I apologize.
"About time" she muttered.
It was close to night when we got out.
I felt different, I didn't know what it was until I took in a deep breath… the craving was gone.
It smelt like plant oils and soil, the sweet smell of evening wafted into my nose.
Closing my eyes and sending my mana out to get a feeling of my surroundings I could sense the blades of grass, rocks and the fish swimming in the lake clearer than I ever have.
My range increasing a little further than before but not by much.
Our hunt that night was ruthless and efficient
We headed west for over twenty miles clearing that distance in an hour.
I softened the ground with mana by removing all the hard rocks in my way.
I direct the wind with energy to propel me and use mana to connect all my joints forming an exoskeleton moving smoothly.
It felt like the world was bending to me.
Maintaining my gate I blast past Isla the wind blowing through my hair.
I looked like a shiny beacon of light as I sprinted the energy gushing out of me.
We hunt with a wild fervor that night and go a little past our hunting route but that is not an issue.
I could not hold myself back I needed food and mana rich beast meat is the best nourishment for a growing boy.
I even bring fish from a river hoping they would grow and populate my lake.
When we returned to the construct, we stored our rations and continued training, the skiles had been freed long ago.
The large one stuck around surviving on it's own near the lake.
Instead of ramping up the current I begin to stretch in the electric field.
It doesn't burn my skin but it leaves a sharp pain convulsing my muscles.
I make sure to expose my whole body to the current.
Isla watched me as I dipped my back in a downward dog position and stretch thoroughly.
My enhanced body making the movements smooth and mechanical.
It isn't for another two days that I turn up the current and pick up my sparring sessions with Isla.
I am still getting beaten every single time.
But with each spar my time lasted just a bit longer.
I could last a whole minute without needing a mana crystal.
I was always on the defense the whole time, it helped that Isla was holding back with every strike.
The next week past like this and as the date drew closer to my match and mana stone payout the stones that I had on hand were running out.
My mana core was like a bottomless pit of energy no matter how much I stored nothing changed.
We bring our hides to Bund again and for the first time I think I saw him twitch when handing another portion of the payment.
"When do I get my final payment"? I asked him.
"Come here after the match and I will arrange everything".
He said through clenched teeth.
"And when do you plan on taking care of this Livet family"?
I didn't want them to have enough time to retaliate, as if sensing my concern Bund replies.
"As soon as the match has started we will raid the compound and secure all their property".
'These guys are probably more worried about the mana stones and raw materials they accumulated the slaves lives be damned' I thought.
"You aren't going to wait until the match is over" was what I really said.
I don't know where this faith in my combat prowess comes from for all he knew someone else could be feeding me these pelts and meat.
"Should I be waiting for the match to end"? he asked, looking for a reason to pay less.
"You'll get what you paid for" I walked out of the room leaving Bund to grind his teeth again.
The match was tomorrow, and I didn't want to risk staying at the inn, in case it was leaked that I was the one fighting they would try and attack me.
Even if I retaliated and fought back, they would accuse me of being the aggressor
How could Bund's name deal with centuries worth of persecution?
I camp outside in the forest not too far away, my paranoia is usually unfounded but today it bore fruit.
Twenty-one figures with the Livet house crest on their armor, a ball with rays surrounding it making it look like a childish picture of the sun probably depicting a mana core.
Instead of waiting for them to come to us Isla and I started the offensive.
I drew them into her traps built with the iron wires and doubled back around.
While she attacked them directly after the element of surprise was used I cut off the retreat slaughtering them quickly.
Isla has no qualms about slaying these men, using mana for the first time to flood there eyes and mouth crushing them from the inside.
After the initial rush where we flooded the area with our energy the runners fell into our traps.
It was a massacre, but only because we were prepared, I stress to Isla how these people could be us on any given day.
"I hate this…" Isla said as we sat at the campfire.
I say nothing, I know what she means…
She sees how the Terra live and the life they lead thinking that it has more potential for happiness than hers ever had.