Chapter 22 - Exposed

'Cassie is forcing me to show my powers as if she knows I have them… Does that mean she took me under her wing because she saw me do something like what she had hoped for? Maybe… when I was younger, testing my exorcist powers, she thought they were from the surrounding mana, and now, she thinks I'm just hiding it from her.'

Vonn shook his head. Keeping up with all this information was making his head hurt.

'So… the chance that she knows about my background is slim. Her worrying about my future could just be a façade to make me show my real powers. Acting worried and her frequent mood changes could be side effects of transforming into a human. Moreover, Cassie isn't human. She could be a demon, if such things exist here.'

"Vonn, spacing out while dodging my attacks? That's good. You're finally not afraid to show your true potential," Cassie said.

"I trust you, Cassie. And it's not like I have the potential you're expecting. I just want to set things straight and understand you," Vonn replied, no longer interested in mind games.

'This brat… he's even braver than before. Bringing him here was the right decision. He's not afraid to show his powers now.' Cassie bit her lower lip, swaying her hands at different angles. 'Brat… show me your powers once more. I want to see it!'

Cassie's feline face turned maniacal again, her wide eyes fixated on Vonn.

'That's more like you, Cassie.' Vonn smirked, gaining momentum and confidence as he tapped into his exorcist powers, setting them close to his heart, ready to use in a split second.

Casually twisting his body in midair, no one would guess he was just an immature young kid. And Cassie, watching him, couldn't help but feel even more amazed at his talent.

'He hasn't just trained his powers but his body too. This is really exciting!'

"Is the act over, Cassie? The whole mother-and-son Caldwell charade is done, right?" A grin spread across Vonn's face as he landed gracefully, now sensing the perfect moment to retaliate.

"Acting? I wasn't acting. I was genuinely worried, you know. I thought you lost your powers back then when you passed out in the third young boy's room."

Vonn's lips twitched. 'So, she's been watching me since then. Just who are you, really, Cassie?'

"Vonn… all I need to know is how to use the mana in the surroundings."

"I know… me too. I want to learn how to use it."

"Acting again?" Cassie asked, dodging an oncoming frozen water lance that had turned into an Ice Lance attack. "That doesn't seem like the power of someone who claims to be incapable of using the surrounding mana."

***

The long fight began, and both of them exchanged powerful hits and blows using their abilities. Vonn fully relied on his exorcist powers, while Cassie, a natural mage, struggled to evade his relentless attacks.

Flashes of light in various colors lit up the clear blue sky, now filled with mana and espera, which Vonn fully utilized as well.

Throughout the battle, Vonn wore a constant smile, relishing the thrill it brought. Cassie, on the other hand, realized she didn't need to worry about him anymore. She might have just been paranoid before, or perhaps underestimating Vonn's capabilities, though she knew her concern had been genuine. Any master in their right mind would want their disciple to succeed.

For Cassie, Vonn had become a significant mark in her long life. She'd constantly worried because he hadn't shown progress in controlling the surrounding mana. But during this fight, she saw something new. In the depths of Vonn's eyes and his smiling expression, she sensed there was something deeper—a hidden power with a meaning beyond explanation.

Vonn couldn't simply use the surrounding mana. She felt foolish for thinking it was a simple matter of mana control. There was a reason why she couldn't detect any change in the flow of mana around them: Vonn wasn't using any mana at all.

A smile spread across Cassie's feline face as she finally connected all the pieces of information she'd gathered.

Confidently, she halted her barrage of spells and intercepted one of Vonn's mysterious blue flames. A huge, crisp explosion resounded through the air and across the green land. She was thrown back, rolling several meters until her body finally stopped. Her feline form lay motionless, devoid of movement.

Vonn's eyes widened in shock.

'Cassie suddenly dropped her guard. She intentionally let herself get hit by my technique!' Worried, Vonn rushed to her side.

"Cassie!"

She, however, still held a faint smile on her face. Weakly, she turned her body to face the open sky, covering her face as a weak laugh escaped her lips.

Such defiance of natural law had been uncovered. As a guardian—a being with an innate talent for mana and a deep connection to it, living far longer than most other species—she had never encountered powers like this before.

It was safe to assume that Vonn was the first person she'd known to be powerful without possessing any mana.

"Of course… this is why you weren't using any mana for your spells," Cassie murmured, leaving Vonn speechless, his mouth slightly agape. "Vonn, you're truly a masterpiece your mother overlooked. You can use a form of energy even I can't recognize. To discover that such a thing exists—I'm completely baffled."

Vonn crouched down, worry still evident on his face, though its reason had shifted. He wasn't sure if using his powers had been the right choice. He hadn't just exposed himself but also expended a significant amount of espera.

'Damn… why did I get dragged into this? She really tripped me up, making me want to fight back,' he cursed under his breath, shaking his head a moment later.

"That's it. I won't explain anything further."

"I pushed you to use your powers, didn't I?" Cassie admitted. "I've been curious about them since the beginning. I thought they were just a variation of mana."

"That's it. I won't explain anything further."

Cassie pushed herself up and turned to face Vonn. All she saw were his indifferent eyes and his usual composed expression. She lowered her gaze, noticing how tightly his fists were clenched.

"Oh… that was supposed to be a secret, wasn't it?" She chuckled softly. "But, I'm a master in this, Vonn. There's a reason you didn't realize I was making you think it was safe to use your powers. You're not just hiding them from others—you're hiding them from me too."

Vonn sighed, still in disbelief that she had managed to push him into revealing his powers. Even though this was a secluded space, he'd promised himself he would conserve and conceal his abilities until he could obtain an artificial Mana Heart.

"With this… I have to say, you are indeed an irregular mage." A calming smile spread across her face, making Vonn feel a sense of trust and relaxation. "You don't need to explain how you acquired those powers or what kind of energy it is. I've already considered it. Mana isn't the only powerful, magical energy in existence."