Amidst the destruction and chaos, Mai found herself lying on the ground, her body groaning in pain, the room filling with thick smoke and burning energy still dancing in the air. She felt a stifling heat and a muffled roar coming from the explosion site, as if everything was about to collapse...or explode again.
The force of the explosion was immense, violently pushing Mai backwards, causing her to hit the wall with such force that it felt like her bones had cracked. She felt like she was burning inside and out at the same time, though the explosion wasn't as deadly as she had expected. The room was a mess, the walls covered in cracks, the floor covered in shards of burning stone, and the air thick with the turbulent energy she had left behind.
"How…how did this happen?" she muttered hoarsely, trying to get up from the rubble around her.
It was a problem that came out of nowhere, she didn't count on it.
Her energy was not compatible with nature's mana due to the difference in their properties, and this discrepancy made perfect sense.
But because of her haste, she forgot about it.
She should have thought about how to drain the mana more carefully and she probably wouldn't have caused this incident.
"What was I thinking?" Mai muttered angrily as she clenched her fists. "I have to be more careful... I can't let this happen again."
Time passes, and Mai is stuck among the ashes and rubble, her eyes fixed on the destruction around her, as she contemplates her next move. "If I don't find a solution to this dilemma… this might be my end."
This explosion was an example of what might happen to her in the future. It made her think again about how she survived, curiosity almost driving her crazy.
Mai decided to push her questions to the back of her mind, once again. She got up to scan the place.
Examining the remains of the explosion, Mai discovered a small trace of her mana. She knelt down near it, examining it carefully.
Her mana was different from what she had experienced before, divided and contradictory.
Some of them were shining a pure white light, others were a pitch black, spreading quietly.
"It's… opposite elements!!!" Mai cried out in a low voice, touching the remains hesitantly and cautiously.
The feeling that came over her was strange. A mixture of light and darkness flowed over her hands, leaving her in a state of confusion and fear.
As Mai sat shaking off the mana stuck in her hands, her memory returned to her childhood years, in her life as the Dark Elf "Luna", when her knowledge and experience had not yet grown.
She remembered the story of the famous magician who held two opposing powers, water and fire. At the time, he was the talk of the magic world. His power was impressive, he defeated his opponents and achieved wide fame.
At the time, she thought it was good luck or a divine blessing like many others and showed no side effects. The magician seemed to defy logic since it was known that a person could only have one element. But it wasn't.
Mai recalled the terrifying details she had heard later. After years of success, the sorcerer's curse had gradually begun to manifest. His energy, which had once seemed to be under his control, had begun to crystallize on the surface of his skin like glass shards.
At first, everyone thought it was a simple symptom that could be treated. But he gradually lost his ability to control magic, until his body was unable to withstand the energy. In the end, his body exploded from the inside out, turning into ashes before everyone's eyes.
The effects were delayed because the amount of mage's mana was too low, much less than normal.
"Dual elements are like double-edged swords. If they are not perfectly balanced, they slowly destroy their owner."
Mai felt a shiver run through her body as she recalled the memory. Could her fate be similar? Would her power one day turn into a curse that consumed her?
"No... I won't let that happen." She muttered, clenching her fists in determination.
But she knows it won't be easy. Mastering the opposing elements takes more than just courage; it requires a sharp mind and endless patience. And maybe... more than that.
While Mai was immersed in her thoughts about the conflicting energy and the aftermath of the explosion, she did not pay attention to the increasing movement around the room. She was busy examining the glowing mana remains on the floor, ignoring the distant sounds that were gradually getting closer.
Suddenly, she felt a strong hand gently but firmly grab her arm. She quickly turned around, surprised to find someone behind her. It was one of the tribe's warriors, wearing simple armor that reflected the light of the remaining energy in the room. His gaze was serious but devoid of anger.
"Mai, are you okay?" he asked in a deep voice, filled with worry.
Mai nodded slowly, still trying to process the situation. "I'm… fine. What are you doing here?"
Before he could respond, the sound of more footsteps began to approach. He raised his head towards the entrance of the room where the rest of the warriors entered, led by the tribe leader himself.
The leader was a man with a strong presence, wearing a black cloak embroidered with silver threads. His eyes watched Mai carefully, not with anger but with deep concern.
"Mai, is something wrong with you?" he asked in a calm voice but with a force that made the words flow carefully.
Mai looked at him hesitantly before bowing slightly in respect. "I'm sorry for what happened. I didn't mean to cause any harm."
The leader raised his hand, signaling her to stop. "No need to apologize. Men! Lock her up."
He shouted an order.
"Seriously?!" Mai was surprised.
One of the warriors took a step towards Mai, looking at her with eyes full of regret and hesitation. "The leader's orders require you to be detained temporarily. Please do not resist."
She walked calmly towards the leader, looking at him steadily as tears gathered in her eyes. "If that is what you see fit, I will follow your orders."
"That's good," the chief added. Then he gestured to the warriors. "Take her to my home. She will remain under my personal care."
As the warriors led her out of the room, Mai felt a light pressure on her shoulder. It was one of them, who had first grabbed her arm.
"Don't worry, Mai. The leader is doing this for your own good." He said with a slight smile, trying to ease her tension.
Mai looked at him and nodded lightly. "Um...thank you."
The warriors continued the march, surrounding Mai from all directions, leaving the leader behind and he could only sigh at the absurdity of the situation and its outcome.
Mai was taken to the chief's house after the incident. A new, spacious room had been allocated to her, which looked like part of a royal palace. The walls were decorated with intricate artistic carvings, the furniture was made of the finest wood, and upholstered with ornate silk cloth. Even the toys that filled the corners were varied and expensive, as if designed to entice any ordinary child.
But Mai was no ordinary child.
Mai sat on the plush bed covered with soft blankets, looking around boredly. The room was beautiful, even stunning by all accounts, but it felt like a cage.
She didn't like that, especially since she was under strict supervision and monitoring.
In addition to being prohibited from going out.
The door to the room was tightly closed, and the movement of the guards outside reminded her that every step was under surveillance.
Mai frowned as she looked at one of the decorative toys on the table. She pushed it away in exasperation. "Toys? Really? Do they think I'm a child?"
It reminded her of being locked in the cave.
The cold darkness of the cave, the heavy metal shackles around her wrists, the cruel faces of those who had mercilessly experimented on her. These memories were assaulting her.
She remembered feeling helpless, being treated like a tool, something to be exploited. Her heart raced, and her hand gripped the covers tightly. "This…this isn't much different."
Although the chief and the tribe treated Mai kindly, the confinement was enough to bring back that old feeling. She felt as if her freedom was being taken away again, as if she were a prisoner, in a golden cage.
In the new room filled with tense silence, Grandpa stood before Mai, his features grim and his eyes gleaming with anger and worry. His face was set, but his voice was heavy with suppressed emotion.
"Did you know you almost died today?" he said in a thick voice.
Mai stood silently, her head slightly tilted to the ground, not wanting to look into his eyes. Grandpa's words were stabbing her, but she wasn't ready to respond.
"I want to know, how did you find out?" Grandpa continued. "And what exactly did you do to cause this devastation?"
Mai remained silent again. She didn't have an answer ready, or perhaps she didn't want to discuss it with him.
Grandfather took a deep breath, trying to control his nerves. "Listen, Mai, as of now, you are forbidden from using mana. I will not allow you to repeat such reckless behavior."
Mai suddenly raised her head, her features full of surprise and anger.
"What are you saying?" she shouted loudly.
"I will add more seals on you. This is for your safety and everyone's safety."
Those words were the straw that broke the camel's back. Mai exploded with anger, and took a step towards her Grandpa, her eyes burning with defiance.
"This is my life!" she cried, her voice trembling with emotion. "You are not the one who decides what I can and cannot do! You are wrong to hide things from me! I have the right to know what is going on in my body."
Her words were like arrows, striking Grandpa's heart mercilessly. He raised his hand to signal her to stop, but he couldn't find the right words to respond.
"You say you care about me, but you treat me like a doll! Like a tool!" Mai continued, tears of anger gathering in her eyes.
Finally, Grandpa lost his temper. His voice was like thunder as he said, "You are a disobedient child, just like your mother. You only think of yourself, and you don't realize how much of a headache you are causing me!"
He looked at her with a look full of frustration and sadness, then turned and left the room. The door slammed behind him, as if it was the end of the discussion...and the end of any chance for understanding.
That night, Grandpa sat by the window in his room, watching the starry sky. The moon was full, its silver light gently falling on his face, but his heart felt unbearably heavy.
He took out a small necklace from his pocket, which had belonged to his daughter Beatrice, Mai's mother. He looked at it carefully, as if it contained all his memories of her.
"Beatrice…" he mumbled her name, as if she could hear it somewhere.
Remember the days when Beatrice was just a little girl, full of energy and vitality. She was mischievous, brilliant, and very confident in herself. She never cared what others thought, and she always did what she wanted, regardless of the consequences.
But she was kind-hearted, always standing up for what was right and never hesitating to stand up to injustice. That free spirit was what made her special, but it was also what made her defy the traditions of the tribe and distance herself from them.
When Beatrice returned to the tribe, she was pregnant with Mai. She had told no one who the child's father was, nor had she explained much about her journey. But Grandpa saw in her eyes the same spirit he had seen when she was a child.
Those moments didn't last long. Beatrice died after giving birth to Mai, leaving the baby in his arms. Mai was the only memory of her left, a piece of her soul that continued in this world.
Grandfather held the necklace tightly, his eyes shining with tears that refused to fall.
"I wasn't a good father and I'm not a good grandfather either. I don't want to lose you too, Mai..." he muttered to himself. "You're all I have left."
He looked at the stars again, as if they carried messages from Beatrice. His remorse was heavy. He knew his anger had hurt Mai, and perhaps pushed her further away than she had been.
"You would have understood her better than I did, wouldn't you, Beatrice?" he said in a broken voice. "You would have known how to handle her."
He sighed deeply, then closed his eyes, wishing he could find a way to fix things before he lost Mai too.
The next morning, Grandpa decides to share with Mai the true story of the mana explosion at the awakening ceremony, how he saved her, what will happen to her in the future, and most importantly, he will tell her that he will stay by her side all the time and support her, his precious granddaughter.
He knocked on her room door, but found no response.
"Mai? Can you hear me?" he asked, but there was no response.
He slowly opened the door to find the room empty. The bed sheets were thrown on the floor, and the window was open.
"She ran away…" Grandfather muttered, his face pale with shock.
He turned to the warriors and ordered them to search for her immediately, but deep down he knew that Mai wouldn't come back easily.