With a realisation still reverberating through his mind, Ryan wasted no time. He surged forward, his figure a blur as he darted into the distance. There was a fervent determination in his stride, and a touch of recklessness that had often characterised his approach to challenges. The same spirit that had led him headfirst into Odus's Trial was now propelling him toward this newfound breakthrough.
Elora, accustomed to his spontaneous bursts of action, let out a resigned sigh. She had observed him leaping into the unknown on numerous occasions, and yet, time and again, fate had smiled upon him. It was this inexplicable streak of luck, or perhaps something more, that made her trust in his judgment.
As she followed him through the forest, her gaze occasionally flickering to the dappled play of sunlight among the trees, she couldn't help but silently hope that his reservoir of good fortune hadn't run dry. Her thoughts followed him as he sprinted ahead, until, at last, he came to an abrupt stop.
With her footsteps slowing as she drew near, Elora couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead, and how the boundless world would react to Ryan's latest leap of faith.
-
Ryan retraced the steps of his first bewildering arrival in Aria, following the familiar path that had witnessed his metamorphosis from a non-mage to one of formidable power. Even though it hadn't been that long since he had first set foot in the magical realm, it felt as if aeons had passed. The experiences within it moulding and tempering his very being.
His stride was filled with nostalgia, his curiosity ever-present. But his physical form had undergone a remarkable transformation. His once skinny and pretty ordinary physique had developed into something more, with the change most noticeable in his hair, which now cascaded like a flowing river behind him. His eyes, still vibrant green, seemed deeper and wiser, etched with the marks of what he had seen.
Ryan couldn't help but marvel at the journey he had embarked upon. With each step, he felt the magnitude of his growth. And he understood that if he continued along his current path of development, the idea of surpassing the enigmatic Warlock, once a distant dream, was now a very attainable goal.
But he quickly returned his focus to the task at hand.
He noticed that a trace of Spatial Mana lingered where he had arrived in Aria through the Spatial Rift, elusive to even the most skilled of mages. Yet, his exceptional constitution and innate abilities allowed him to perceive it. Closing his eyes and focusing, his consciousness traversed the very fabric of space itself, following the faint trail of Spatial Mana, and he emerged in the same alleyway where his remarkable journey had begun. It was a testament to his profound potential and abilities that he was unfolding, abilities that felt almost limitless.
His consciousness returning to his body, Ryan couldn't help but marvel at his growing mastery over Spatial Magic and his innate instincts that guided him through the vast mysteries of mana.
His gaze shifted to Elora, who stood by his side, their faces etched with the complex emotions of parting. While their hearts ached to say goodbye, they couldn't conceal their excitement about what lay ahead.
Ryan contemplated his return to Earth, where he would undoubtedly face new challenges while mastering his newfound abilities. Elora had her vast homeland of Aria to explore, a task that was daunting but filled with the promise of adventure.
But more than anything, both looked forward to the day they would be reunited.
Their parting words were filled with anticipation and hope, each carrying the hope that they would soon cross paths again.
"I'll be waiting to hear about you in mainland Aria whenever you return. Don't keep me waiting for too long," Elora said with a wistful smile.
"Well, considering how long you've been around, it won't be..."
Before he could complete his playful remark, he was met with a swift strike on the head that he could have dodged if he pleased. But it was a small price to pay for a farewell that avoided becoming overly sentimental.
With a nod and a warm smile, Ryan watched as Elora dashed into the verdant expanse, trusting in his ability to return home alone after his explanation. After her silhouette vanished among the towering trees, Ryan refocused on the faint trace of Spatial Mana.
Remaining on the ground, Ryan concentrated his energy, his mana flow reaching its zenith. With determination, he initiated the formation of a Spatial Rift, ready to journey back to Earth and all the challenges and adventures it held.
-
As Ryan embarked on creating the Spatial Rift to return to Earth, he could feel the surge of mana streaming into his body. It was as though he had become a conduit, channelling the raw energy of his surroundings into himself. The power flowed through him, concentrating into his hands, where it took on a luminous quality. It was a breathtaking sight, like a swirling maelstrom of otherworldly energy.
With unwavering concentration, he unleashed this potent energy from his hands, crafting what could best be described as a controlled tear in the very fabric of space. It was a phenomenon that defied the laws of his previous reality, a testament to the remarkable power he had harnessed.
On the other side of the rift, he visualised the familiar alleyway that had been his initial gateway to Aria. It was the same path his consciousness had traversed while following the elusive trace of Spatial Magic. He aimed to anchor his return to the exact place the Spatial Rift had previously been on Earth, hoping to increase his chances of a successful transition.
However, amidst the awe-inspiring process, a thought crept into his mind.
Shouldn't Elora have stayed with him until he had departed first? What if he failed to accomplish this endeavour and required her assistance to go to a portal? It would have made sense for her to wait until he got home, right? The thought seemed to cloud his focus, eroding his earlier confidence. A playful self-joke now took on a more serious tone, as he began doubting his ability to pull it off slightly.
Losing some measure of concentration toward the end of the process, he still managed to form the Spatial Rift, but something felt amiss about it. The rift appeared functional, yet a nagging uncertainty lingered.
However, he had expended a considerable amount of mana during the process, and he was already being drawn into the rift, its gravitational pull undeniable. Moreover, he wasn't entirely sure he could replicate the process as easily a second time, as he had used the faint trace of Spatial Mana to accomplish it. In doing so, he had effectively erased that trace from existence.
With a sense of resignation, he let himself be drawn into the rift, knowing he didn't have much of a choice. As the rift enveloped him, he internally acknowledged that, for better or worse, he would face whatever awaited him on the other side head-on...