…
"Haah…" Rion breathed out as large drops of sweat fell from his forehead.
30 times.
It has been 30 times since his first try and him figuring out how to improve his mana control.
He has made progress on how to regulate his mana flowing to his blood vessels, but the act of limiting it before releasing it still took him a lot of hard work.
A lot of blood vessels from his right arm popped numerous times and it didn't need to be said that it hurt like hell for Rion.
Fortunately, on his 4th try, he figured that decreasing the amount of mana to the one indicated in the book was much more bearable!
He found out that the quality of his mana is on another level than most people.
"... Is it because I'm a warlock?" Rion sought out the most probable reason.
Although he has little knowledge regarding warlocks, just from his conversation with Francia he had a rough understanding of how rare and extraordinary warlock is.
So it is important to note that his mana quality is one of the cheats a warlock has… At least, that's what he concluded after all those numerous failures he had done.
"Alright… One… Last try." Rion muttered with a tired expression. Due to the numerous tests, and past uncontrolled output of his mana. The amount of mana in his body is running low, and this will be his last try.
"Earth bullet." Rion concentrated, as he guided the mana on his blood vessels. Soon, it traveled to his right arm and then…
Phoowsh~
Several small stones crystallized in midair as they sped through a straight line.
Bang!
It crashed into several trees, creating shallow holes in their trunks.
Feeling that he managed to release the right amount of mana that he wanted, Rion felt joy as he tiredly sat down on the ground.
"Finally!" Rion said, clenching his fist. He was also delighted to find out that the vessels on his body where he circulated the mana 'thickened' and were much more robust and sturdier.
After a close inspection, Rion grabbed the 'Basics of Magic' and rapidly searched through the book.
Soon he found the page he was looking for.
"The Human Body and Mana Essence." Rion read the topic title as he looked at the diagram of a human body with various arrows as indications of certain parts of terminology and description.
Everything is contained through the soul from memories and experiences up to skills, talents, potential, personalities, and hobbies. Basically every aspect of what makes that person them.
The heart is where beings store their energy physically. It is why it pumps blood which is the 'life' of a person through every vein of the body.
The veins where the mana circulated would nourish that part of the body for it to handle and adapt the power of the energy.
That's why when Rion kept practicing his mana control, by circulating his mana through the right vessels he was able to strengthen those veins.
The same applies to the energy capacity of a person. The only thing that limits a person is their potential.
"It is like a workout, but everyone has a custom level limit." Rion made an analogy.
The more you exercise and lift, the more you will be fit and gain the right muscles, except one might have a level limit of 100 while the other might be 20.
And just like an exercise…
"... Don't over-exhaust or completely drain your mana repetitively, once or twice is enough but making it a habit can damage the body of the person."
"At worst, it can injure a person's soul leading to them being crippled by destroying or overusing their potential as an unconscious substitute to replenish the energy and fatigue of their body…" Rion read the warning texts written at the end of the page.
…
Three hours flew by, and Rion was about to continue reading when a familiar maid called him.
"Mr. Rion, an invitation was given to you." Lyria came in as she saw Rion reading something.
"An invitation? Do you know who it is from?" Rion stood up as he took the letter from the little maid's hand.
"..." Lyria shook her head.
"I see… Oh, did you guys just return from Ms. Francia's laboratory?" Rion took out the letter while he asked.
"Yes, apparently Ms. Leona and little Cindy were shocked when they found out they are also innately awakened with magic." The loli maid made a cute laugh as she remembered the shocked faces when they were taught how to open their status and how to release magic.
"..."
"Mr. Rion…?" Lyria noticed that Rion wasn't responding, so she looked at the man's face.
With a bit of a serious look as if he was thinking, Rion just stood there looking at the invitation.
"Mr. Rion?" Lyria approached the man as she waved her hand in front of his face.
"Ah sorry, it's just the content of the letter." The man broke from his dazed zone as he replied.
"If it's not rude, what is it about…?"
"Ahaha, an invitation from the queen, and well the other refugees who have an innate talent for magic…" Rion replied wryly.
"Ohhh… Wait, you have a talent for magic?"
"Uh, yes."
"Ohhh… Wait." Lyria's brain once again short-circuited.
Magic? Male? Francia's apprentice?
Invited by Madam Francia?
"…"
A WARLOCK!?
Lyria's face looked like she had the greatest surprise in her life.
How didn't she notice!?
From the time he was rescued and brought to Francia's mansion, Lyria thought he was just an acquaintance of Francia or the son of someone who knows her master…
But then again Rion became an apprentice of her master who was known as one of the toughest witches to crack because of refusing to have a disciple.
But now that she thought about it, the other maids kept talking about the mass awakening of the refugees. Still… A warlock?
Aaaghh!!! How didn't she notice it!? Was she that dumb and dense!?
Lyria's face looked very frustrated, to think she almost missed such a legendary being that she read from the tale when she was young, and the fact that same legendary being was so close to her right now!
But after that frustrating thought, her head instantly snapped to Rion.
The way Lyria looked at Rion right now seemed to shine ever so brightly.
'... I thought she knew I was a warlock.' Rion felt like laughing, witnessing how her face shifted 180 degrees within those short moments.
But seeing her look at him like he was an idol made his heart warm, filling it with a bit of pride and confidence.
'But now that I think about it, how did the queen know…? Well, assuming that Ms. Francia warned me beforehand, it seemed like she knew the queen would know about me through several means.' Rion shrugged as he didn't think too much about it.
A leader, especially a queen or king, has their eyes all over their domain after all. It's not surprising that the Queen of Witches managed to find out about him.
Her master knew that it must be futile to hide him from the queen, especially if he wants to use his magic openly.
So it would be better to just openly reveal it to the queen, and claim she found the warlock.
Riom nodded at this conclusion.
"Amazing! You're a warlock, Mr. Rion!"
"Yeah… well anyways, we should also tell Ms. Leona and Cindy." The man shifted the topic.
"Umu~" While the girl nodded cutely with a big happy smile.
It appears that seeing a legendary warlock completely made her day. Rion thought, not knowing whether to cry or laugh.
…
"My Queen, did you invite that rumored Warlock… What if it's just a fake or a rumor?" Deina, the dark-dressed witch cannot help but tell her opinion to the teenage girl sitting comfortably beside her.
Selene, who has her eyes close, grabbed the tea on the table and sipped a bit before replying:
"... That's why I invited him, to see if he really is a warlock or not." The usually indifferent gaze of the queen seemed to flash with various emotions as she opened her eyes a little.
"... Besides, if he really is one. I'm interested in what makes him worthy as a warlock and as a person."
On the day that Selene returned to the Witching Well, the queen's cold face broke when she heard about the existence of the warlock.
She even gave Deina a dead eye for not telling her beforehand… Which made the witch shirk back her gaze from Selene as if she did nothing wrong…
As a queen and one who personally witnessed the might of a warlock, Selene knew how powerful they were.
Back when she was little, the king, who is her father, was a known figure in the mystical world, a being who was on par with The Hero King, Arthur Pendragon.
Her father was known as the King of Magic due to his immense strength and abnormal proficiency in magic and other branches related to mana.
It can be seen just from the title itself that the public gave him, how powerful can a warlock become.
As such, it is a very important and sensitive topic to her when it comes to warlocks. Not only will they gain a potential ally or member when they nourish one, but there's a chance…
A chance to take back the glory and prosperity that they've lost in the past.
Not to mention, a sense of familiarity spreads within Selene's heart whenever she hears the word warlock… A word very much associated with her late father.
That's why when she heard Deina talk about the report that one of the superior witches, Francia, brought and saved a warlock.
She immediately wanted to visit the man to confirm.
But as a queen…
Looking at the tons of paperwork she just finished, and the other paperwork she needed to complete, Selene's eyes twitched for a bit.
She has a duty that she can't abandon.
'Damn paperwork…' Selene for the first time cursed mentally.
She has never felt so restrained with her position and title… that is until today.
But as an intelligent individual, an idea popped into her head, which is to give a mass invitation:
"...This will also be a good opportunity to look at those female refugees who have innately awakened magic and to recruit them into becoming a member." The queen nodded in satisfaction.
Selene took this opportunity not only to verify and meet this warlock but also to invite and recruit those women who have innately awakened magic during the mass awakening.
As their savior, Selene was 100% sure they would accept becoming a witch, just a little push and convincing were needed.
"My Queen, why didn't you call the Alchemical Witch right now? It would be just better to confirm–" Deina was about to continue when Selene raised her hand to stop her.
"... No need to do that. You'll soon know why."
"..." Despite being confused, Deina didn't say anything anymore.
She wanted to suggest to her queen to just ask directly from Francia. But it appears her queen has another plan regarding that matter.
"... Did you do what I asked you?" Selene stood up, she then went back to her working table where loads of paperwork awaited her.
"Yes. I gave the command for those who are free to come before the day of the meeting." Deina stood beside her queen, as she replied.
Selene asked the superior witches who had finished their tasks to return. Selene was sure that upon hearing the news, they would be interested in meeting this rumored warlock.
Superior witches are exceptional witches who have done great achievements and are extraordinary.
They are talented prodigies who are the main force of the Witches' Society.
Although most are 'old' and some of the members are those who have survived the great witch-hunt of the past.
They are all monstrous in one way or another.
"... Has the matter regarding the existence of the warlock spread?"
"No, my queen. Only the superior witches and the maids of Alchemical Witch have known about it."
"... Good."
Although the existence of the warlock will inevitably spread, it is best to keep it contained for now.
'Besides… This warlock might be the fearsome protagonist or antagonist…' Selene's eyes flashed with complex light as she remembered the vision they had seen.
That terrifying aura… It was as if no one in this world could defy them.
'I just hope this won't turn out to be problematic…' Selene shook her head to get this thought out, as she continued her work.
…
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