As the sun barely reached the height of a spear, I slumped onto a large rock in the middle of the snowy forest. My breath came in gasps, and my whole body felt weak from a lack of mana.
That morning, I had been training with Loki to increase the amount of mana in my body. According to the book I read, there were at least three ways to enhance one's mana. The most effective among them was to deplete your mana entirely and let it recover naturally—just like I was doing now.
"Already out of mana?" Loki asked, raising an eyebrow.
I glanced at him and offered a faint smile.
"Yeah, I didn't think my mana was this pitifully low."
Loki walked over, patted my shoulder, and then took a seat right beside me. "For your information, you're like a Jotun baby just learning magic. It's perfectly normal for your mana to be sparse and unstable."
"Does that mean I'm not special?"
Loki fell silent for a moment, then clamped a hand over his mouth, failing to stifle his laughter. "I can't believe you care about something like that, little bird."
Scratching my head awkwardly, I felt my face heat up. "I-I wasn't really thinking about it that much."
"No," he interrupted firmly. His expression shifted, becoming more resolute. "You are special in your own way. I'm certain of that," he said, glancing at me. The gleam in his eyes reflected his faith in my potential.
I froze at his words, unable to respond, but a small smile crept across my face.
We both tilted our heads back, gazing at the sky that stretched as wide as the ocean. Silence enveloped us for a moment, broken only by the sound of tree branches creaking under the gentle caress of the wind.
"Oh, by the way, isn't there another way to increase mana besides draining it completely, Master?"
Loki turned to me, one eyebrow raised. "Would you like to eat some Stegosaurus hearts raw?"
A shiver ran down my spine. "Ugh... no, thank you."
Yeah, right. The second method was eating the heart of a powerful monster raw. But this approach was highly ineffective since most parts of a monster's body were quite toxic if not processed properly. This method was really only suitable for extreme cuisine enthusiasts.
Loki sighed. "You've already formed a familiar contract with the Spino twins. Be patient. It won't be long before you'll feel your mana reserves increasing."
"Yeah, Linnie already explained a bit about it."
As we discussed, the final method involved forming a familiar contract, as I did with Aqua and Crimson.
Familiar contracts were believed to share five to thirty percent of power, depending on the strength of the bond between the contractor and the familiar.
Unfortunately, this method also had a fatal flaw. If the difference in power—especially mana—was too great, the shared energy could shatter the body's limits, posing a significant risk of death.
"There is actually a way to significantly boost someone's mana capacity," Loki said, breaking the silence.
I turned to him, narrowing my eyes in curiosity. "What do you mean?"
Loki shifted his seat, his expression serious as he looked at me. "Like I said, I've discovered a way to increase mana capacity significantly. But, of course, it comes with risks."
I met his gaze, my own expression turning serious. "Please, tell me."
Loki exhaled deeply, staring at me in silence as if weighing whether or not to reveal the information.
Then, with a flicker of hope in his eyes, Loki said, "The method I've found is called Eds og Kampens Tatovering—'The Tattoo of Oath and Struggle.'"
I frowned, trying to process his words. "The Tattoo of Oath and Struggle? What's that supposed to mean?"
Clearing his throat, Loki began to explain. "As the name suggests, this ritual involves me drawing a tattoo on a part of your body. Then, Yggdrasil will grant you a portion of its power."
I tried to digest the brief explanation. For some reason, it reminded me of the concept of runes—a kind of blessing from Yggdrasil granted to its chosen ones.
"That sounds a bit like runes."
Loki nodded slightly. "It's similar but not entirely the same. There are fundamental differences compared to runes."
Something in his tone intrigued and unsettled me. "What makes it different?"
"As you know, runes are given to those who are chosen or those who have proven themselves worthy before Yggdrasil. This ritual, however, works the opposite way."
I furrowed my brow, my curiosity deepening.
Loki smiled knowingly, clearly aware of how my curiosity was eating away at me.
"This ritual works on reciprocity. You will be granted power proportional to the oath you make to Yggdrasil. But..." Loki raised a finger in warning. "That oath must be pure and aimed at benefiting the World Tree, the source of all life."
I swallowed nervously. "So... I have to promise to become some kind of hero or something?"
Loki smirked faintly, shaking his head. "It's not that simple, little bird. The World Tree doesn't care who is a hero or a villain. It only cares about balance and its survival. Your oath must reflect your purpose and protect this world."
I fell silent, my thoughts churning. No matter how great the power, this wasn't an easy decision. But deep down, I knew this was a rare chance to prove myself.
"I'll do it," I said firmly.
Loki studied me for a moment before a small smile graced his lips. "Good. I like that resolve. But it's not time yet."
I frowned in confusion. "What do you mean, not time yet? Shouldn't I do it as soon as possible to grow stronger?"
Loki raised his hand, halting my insistence. "You're still too weak to endure this ritual. Even with the weakest oath, your body might not withstand the surge of power it brings. Besides, I need time to prepare the ritual, gather materials, craft a catalyst, draw the magic circle, and find the special ink for your tattoo."
I sighed, disappointment gnawing at me, but I understood. "So, I have to wait."
Loki patted my shoulder, his reassuring smile easing my frustration. "Be patient, little bird. Great power always comes with sacrifice and patience. I'll make sure you're ready when the time comes. In the meantime, prepare your body to withstand the strength Yggdrasil will bestow upon you."
I nodded, though the burning impatience within me refused to fade. More than anything, I felt like time wasn't on my side. I had to grow stronger, no matter the cost.
In the distance, the sound of wind brushing through the trees reminded me of the vastness of this world—and the long road I had yet to travel.