Otis hesitated.
His father had told him many times before that it was fine to back off once he reached the third step. After all, the reward was not bad while the danger was immense.
He already got quite far, no?
Even if he backed off now, it wasn't like he didn't try.
Otis looked at the ceiling, then closed his eyes.
He mumbled something to himself.
"Coward..."
He laughed bitterly.
"Why... Why am I always so scared?"
A blanket of red energy wrapped itself around Otis, altering his body. His perception of the mana in the air changed.
Normally, mana felt like a hazy mist to him, but now it felt like droplets of clear water. So clear, that he would be able to see his reflection.
His magical affinities had increased.
However, Otis didn't realize this.
Instead, his mind had delved deep into a memory.
...
Otis was sitting on his bed.
He was in his room, lit up only by the moonlight coming in through the window.
His mother was patting his head with a forlorn smile.
