Leon's POV:
I didn't know how long I had been swimming in this dark place. Days? Hours? Weeks? I couldn't tell. All I knew was that it felt like I had been swimming for an eternity. I had no idea if time worked the same way here as it did in the physical world. But one thing was for certain: I wished I wasn't too late. I had to make it out of here as soon as possible.
As time continued to pass, my anxiety grew even more. I couldn't help but think about Tessia's safety. Was she okay? Was she still alive? The thought haunted me, and I swam faster, hoping to find a way out.
Now that I was swimming in this thick black sea, I couldn't help but regret my decision. I wished I had taken the offer of that mysterious girl. If only I had accepted, I could have probably made it out of this eternal darkness and saved my sister by now. But it was too late for regrets, and all I could do was keep swimming and hope for the best.
I gritted my teeth, or at least I did in my mind, as I continued to swim through this darkness, trying to stay focused on my mission.
"Bro—!"
Then, I heard a faint voice. It sounded like someone calling my name.
"Brothe—!"
The voice was clearer this time. It sounded like Tessia's voice.
Was Tessia asking for my help? If that was the case, I had to act fast. But it felt that there was no end to this darkness, and I had no idea how could I even find a way out here. The darkness was oppressive, and it seemed to cling onto me as I swam. Every movement felt like I was pushing through a viscous liquid that was trying to pull me down. Nevertheless, I persisted on swimming through this thick black sea. I tried to focus on her voice, using it as a guiding light through the darkness.
"Brother!"
I swam faster, fueled by the hope that I was getting closer to my sister. The voice became louder and clearer as I swam, and soon I could see a faint light in the distance.
I began to feel a faint glimmer of hope. It was as if there was a light at the end of the tunnel, a tiny pinprick of light in the distance. I wasn't sure if it was real or just a figment of my imagination, but it gave me the motivation to keep pushing forward.
With renewed determination, I continued to swim through the darkness. My arms and legs ached with exhaustion, but I pushed through the pain. And then, finally, I broke through the darkness and into a blinding light.
I felt a jolt, like a sudden shock, and then everything went black.
***
When I opened my eyes, my heart sank as I saw the sight before me. Tessia was hanging downward, her feet being bitten by the hideous creature that was now the target of my rage.
She was covered in wounds, her fingers bleeding, her clothes ripped, and her one arm dangling, presumably broken. Despite her injuries, she smiled when she saw me, her eyes filled with hope and trust. It was as if she knew I was going to come back, and she knew that I was going to save her.
"B-Brot...her...," she managed to say, blood spilling from her mouth. I could see the pain etched on her face, but her smile never faltered. She believed in me, and I couldn't let her down.
The sight of my sister in such a state filled me with anger, and I couldn't control my emotions from bursting.
Before I knew it, I had already punched the monster. It was stunned from my attack, and it seemed that it couldn't move for a while. If so, then I had enough time to cast that spell.
"Stay back, Tessia. I will protect you now," I said, my voice filled with determination, as I gathered mana in my palm.
As I gathered the mana and was about to recite the spell, my mind flashed back to the conversation I had with Sirius.
***
It was during one of our sessions in the library, where I was trying to learn more about magic. Some of my mentors had grown tired of me and didn't care the least bit about teaching me anymore because I was both incompetent with sword and magic, which was the main focus in the school I had attended. This led to me having more free time than usual.
It just so happened that Sirius was there as well, and since I had no instructors for magic, Sirius decided to teach me the basics.
During one of our lessons, I had asked him about mana and its source. "So, you're saying that mana is coming from the atmosphere?" I had asked, trying to wrap my head around the concept.
"That's right," Sirius had replied patiently. "Unlike aura, which comes from within one's body, mana is an energy that is coming from the atmosphere. This is also called ambient energy."
"I see."
"By gathering the mana around your surroundings, you can make a more powerful magic," Sirius explained as he gestured towards the books that were spread out in front of us. "A basic magic like a fireball, for example, just costs a little mana to conjure it, while an intermediate level spell requires a lot more. Having said that, some places do not have any mana at all, and that is where we have mana reserves. This is the place where you store the mana that you have gathered from the atmosphere."
I nodded, trying to absorb as much information as I could. Magic was always something that fascinated me, but I had never had the opportunity to learn it properly until now.
"I see," I said, trying to grasp the concept of using the mana in the atmosphere. "So, if you were fighting in a place where there was no mana at all, you could just use the mana that was stored within you?"
"Exactly," Sirius replied with a smile. "You're brilliant as ever, Leon!"
I couldn't help but grin at his praise. It felt good to be acknowledged for something, especially since I had been struggling so much with my swordsmanship.
Actually, I had been fascinated by the idea of using the natural energy around me to power my magic. The thought of being able to tap into the world's energy source was a thrilling prospect, but I also knew that I had to be careful. After all, it wasn't just about power, but about control as well. I had to know how much energy I was taking and how much I needed to use.
"Is there a limit to how much mana one can store within themselves?" I had asked Sirius.
"Yes, there is. Your body can only hold a certain amount of mana at a time, depending on your level of training and magical aptitude. If you try to store too much, you risk damaging yourself or even dying. It's important to keep that in mind when using magic."
I had nodded, taking in all the information that Sirius had given me. It was clear to me that magic was not something to be taken lightly, and that I had a lot to learn before I could even think about using it effectively.
"So, how do you gather mana from the atmosphere?" I asked, eager to learn more.
"Well, it's a matter of focusing your mind and your magical energy on the task at hand. You have to be able to feel the natural energy around you and draw it in, like a sponge absorbing water. It takes practice, but with time, you'll get the hang of it."
I had listened intently, soaking up every bit of information that Sirius had to offer. I knew that I had a lot of work ahead of me, but I was excited to learn more about the mysteries of magic.
"Hm... But what if the surrounding is rich with mana? Can you just use the mana in the atmosphere to conjure magic?" I had asked, curious about the extent of the possibilities.
Sirius' expression turned serious as he answered my question. "You can, but you have to be careful while using the mana around the atmosphere. Making a mistake could lead you to danger, or worse, you could die."
He continued, "Using the mana in the atmosphere is a bit tricky because you have to be able to control it properly. If you're not careful, you could end up using too much mana or not enough, which could cause the spell to backfire or fail altogether."
I nodded, taking in his words. "So, it's important to have good control over the mana, then."
"Exactly. Control is key when it comes to magic. The more skilled you become, the better you'll be at controlling the mana and performing more complex spells."
***
Mana was a fascinating and powerful energy that could be used to conjure magic, and the more you understood about it, the more powerful your spells could become. It was like a vast, invisible ocean surrounding you, full of energy waiting to be harnessed. I could sense this energy all around me, pulsing and surging with life.
With this realization, I realized that if I could gather enough mana from my surroundings, then I might be able to cast a spell that was beyond my current abilities. My reserves of mana were low, but if I could tap into the vast amounts of energy around me, then anything was possible.
I hadn't gathered a lot of mana before I locked myself in my room and became a recluse, so I didn't have enough mana to practice this magic. I had always been hesitant to practice powerful magic, afraid of making mistakes and failing. But now, with Tessia's life in danger, I knew that I had to put aside my fear and doubts and do everything in my power to save her.
As I reached out my hand, I felt the energy of the mana flowing into me, filling me with a sense of power and possibility. I closed my eyes, focused on the spell I wanted to cast, and began to recite the incantation.
I concentrated on gathering as much mana as I could, focusing on the task at hand, and ignoring the pain and exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm me. The mana seemed to respond to my call, and soon my hand was pulsing with a warm, golden light.
"By the power of the sun, the flames of life, I call upon the forces of fire, to ignite. With passion and strength, with heat and light. To unleash a fiery explosion, of wondrous might. From the depths of my soul, I channel my will. To command the flames, to bend to my skill. With perfect control, I harness their thrill, To create a nova of fire, that none can still. May the heat of my passion, fuel the blaze. As it spreads like a phoenix, through the haze, With a roar of power, and a blaze of craze.
Oh great ball of fire! I summon thee, to light up the maze! With fire and fury, I unleash this spell. To vanquish my foes, and all that dwell. May they tremble in fear, as they hear my knell. And know that the power of fire, shall never quell. Oh, the fire of the gods. By my hand, let it be unleashed in all odds. To burn and destroy, to scorch and erase. All that stands in my way, shall meet its fiery embrace!—FIRE NOVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
The words came to me easily, as if they had been waiting for me to speak them for my entire life. I could feel the magic building inside me, growing stronger with every word I spoke. As the mana flowed into my palm, I could feel the energy coursing through me, invigorating my being. I focused my mind and recited the incantation with clarity, enunciating each syllable with precision. The mana in my palm began to swirl and coalesce, taking shape and forming a ball of energy.
Fire Nova was a saint-tier fire magic. It was a spell I had only read about in books—a spell that required a great deal of mana to cast. I had always thought it was beyond my abilities, but now, with the surrounding rich in mana, I had a chance to prove myself wrong.
With a firm point of my hand towards my enemy, I summoned all the ferocity I could muster and released the spell.
A brilliant flash of light accompanied by a loud explosion occurred, and I could feel the searing heat emanating through my skin. A powerful shockwave followed a moment later, and I had to use my hand (the one that wasn't hanging limply), to shield my eyes.
Once the explosion subsided, I peered in the direction of the creature, but due to the smoke and dust, I couldn't see anything. I remained alert, unsure if the creature was still alive or not. The dust and smoke cleared after a while, and I realized that the grass in the spell's radius was now gone. The creature lay there, its body charred and lifeless.
Wait...
I paused for a moment, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu. I was now standing over the body of the charred and lifeless remains of the creature, which reminded me of the vision I had seen before...and if I recall correctly, in that vision...
I looked back, and...
"Tessia...?"
My sister lay on the muddy ground, her body in the same position as her lifeless body in the vision I had seen.