After the enchanting ring had voraciously absorbed enough mana to rival the power needed to raze a small city, Ryan found himself thrust into a space devoid of boundaries. In this mysterious expanse, his senses were simultaneously heightened and dulled, an ethereal existence unbound by the constraints of the physical world.
The ring that had been snug on his left finger was conspicuously absent in this enigmatic space, but to his dismay, the indelible curse mark still clung to his being.
Amidst this surreal milieu, Ryan stood upon what could only be described as a cloud, billowy and soft, suspended in the infinite reaches of the sky. His consciousness was strangely intact, yet his form was weightless, free from the tactile constraints of the corporeal plane.
Confusion and bewilderment enveloped him like a shroud as he pondered his whereabouts, the events that had led him here, and the enigma of his circumstances.
But as he wrestled with these thoughts, a radiant luminescence abruptly materialised before him, giving birth to the form of an aged man who emerged from the light.
Before Ryan stood an undeniably elderly figure, yet the term 'old man' felt grossly inadequate to describe the spectacle. His eyes, an unnatural shade of brilliant gold, seemed to pierce the very essence of existence, while his flowing locks of hair cascaded down like a torrent of gleaming white silk. Juxtaposing his white hair was his physique, which despite being hunched, brimmed with vitality, defying the ravages of time.
As Ryan gazed in profound wonder, the figure's elderly countenance underwent a baffling transformation. Youth burgeoned from every pore, rejuvenating the figure into a visage scarcely older than Ryan himself.
Despite the metamorphosis, his eyes remained unchanging, twin orbs of mesmeric golden light that seemed to hold entire galaxies of experiences. But his hair transformed to match the very same golden colour, granting him an elegant and eye-catching allure.
A voice finally cut through the surreal tableau. "Ryan, it is great to meet you," the figure declared.
A natural curiosity gripped Ryan, prompting him to ask, "Do I know you?"
The figure replied, "Well, we haven't officially met, but I have been observing you ever since you arrived at Aria, in the region that surrounds my trial."
"Your trial? Don't tell me, you're...?"
"Yes, you have assumed correctly. I am Odus, or as history would call me, the Great One. The most handsome, powerful, skilled, wise, intelligent..."
His self-praise seemed poised to continue indefinitely, but before he could proceed, Ryan, with an aura of fascination about him, approached the figure.
"I can't believe I'm meeting Odus. Aren't you supposed to have died centuries ago? How did you weirdly get younger just now? What are you doing here? And what on earth is the ring that you left in that maze of yours?" Ryan bombarded the figure with questions as he drew closer.
Odus, observing Ryan's inexplicably calm demeanour despite his supposedly momentous surroundings, couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"This kid..." Odus remarked before continuing his internal thoughts. 'Not only is he calm despite being dragged into this space, but he seems to believe that I truly am Odus, yet speaks to me so casually. He truly is everything I needed and more. He has that constitution, he is adaptable, and might just be...'
He continued to chuckle to himself as he took a seat, Ryan following suit, his eyes locked on the enigmatic figure before him.
Then, upon receiving the answers to his myriad questions, Ryan's reaction left Odus even more astounded, bordering on disappointment.
"So you mean to tell me that you did die many years ago, and this is just a lingering piece of your soul that you left behind with each of your treasures in each of your trials? You altered your appearance to your physical prime to make me feel more comfortable? This is also just a space that you set up for you to greet whoever passed your trial, and the ring you left behind is something called the Mana Ring? Couldn't you have at least thought of a better name for it?" Ryan queried, seemingly underwhelmed by all that the figure had revealed.
The golden-haired enigma sitting before him simply nodded in response to Ryan, a faint chuckle escaping his lips. His complexion was as flawless as Elora's, if not more so, making it difficult to believe he was human. Meanwhile, his eyes and hair almost seemed to shine, drawing Ryan's eyes like a magnet.
However, before Ryan could delve deeper into his array of questions, Odus decided to speak.
"Time is running out, and soon this fragment of my soul will vanish forever," he began, his eyes bearing an enigmatic expression.
"Before I fade into oblivion, there are a few things I must convey to you."
"Firstly, congratulations on successfully completing my trial and overcoming all obstacles in your path, including that other young mage."
At that mention, Ryan couldn't help but shudder slightly, though Odus paid it no mind and continued.
"Secondly, the Mana Ring you've received as a reward from the trial is arguably the greatest item I possessed in my lifetime. It boasts numerous capabilities, which I trust you will explore and master in due course. However, let me impart some starting knowledge."
"The ring is crafted from an enigmatic material beyond comprehension by any measure, rendering it indestructible. It has the unique ability to effortlessly absorb mana, functioning as a mana container and more, limited only by your imagination."
"Why's that?" Ryan interjected with curiosity.
Dismissing the question with a casual shrug, the figure continued, "Fate weaves in mysterious patterns, and the ring aligns perfectly with someone like you, lacking a Mana Core but gifted with an extraordinary affinity for mana and as well as talent in Spatial Magic. Yet, exercise caution in its use, for it has the potential to consume you."
As the enigmatic figure finished his impartations, a faint quiver of his lips hinted at an unnatural smile that threatened to appear. Before Ryan could grasp the significance of this expression or pose further queries, the figure began to fade away.
"This marks our parting, for now, young one. Follow your destiny with unwavering determination and grow into the mightiest version of yourself. You could eventually become a being that is known throughout Aria as the Mana Lord, the one that controls all mana. It may not carry the same grandeur as the 'Great One', but it shall suffice. Just remember..."
But before the enigmatic figure could conclude his foreboding final message, he dissolved into the ether, leaving Ryan with a whirlwind of thoughts. He quickly followed suit, his consciousness returning to his physical form, leaving him with a profound sense of wonder and numerous unanswered questions.