Leon's eyes fluttered open, greeted by the soft, diffused light of morning streaming through the window. A dull ache radiated through his body, and as he attempted to move, he noticed his chest, arms, and legs wrapped tightly in bandages. He groaned softly, confusion clouding his thoughts as he tried to piece together what had happened. The last thing he could clearly remember was standing in the training grounds, face-to-face with Urd.
A gentle knock echoed from the door, breaking his train of thought. Before he could answer, the door creaked open, and his mother stepped inside, her elegant figure exuding both warmth and authority.
"Oh, so you're finally awake," she said, her golden eyes scanning him with a mixture of relief and concern.
"Yeah, I'm awake," Leon replied, his voice hoarse. He tried to sit up but winced as the pain in his muscles protested.
His mother's expression turned serious as she walked over to his bedside and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, urging him to lie back down. "Do you remember anything about your fight with Urd?" she asked, her tone measured.
Leon furrowed his brow, his mind struggling to recall the details. "Urd? Oh, yeah… how is he? Is he alright? What happened to him? Why am I here?" His voice was filled with confusion and concern.
She sighed softly, her golden eyes reflecting a hint of sadness. "As expected, you don't remember much. You were fighting Urd, matching him blow for blow, but… at the last moment, if your father hadn't intervened, you could have seriously injured him."
Leon's eyes widened in shock. "I… injured Urd? I don't remember anything like that. What are you saying?" His voice trembled as he tried to process her words.
Seeing his distress, his mother placed a comforting hand on his back, her touch steadying him. "Listen to me, my son. Calm down." Her voice was firm yet soothing. "Focus for a moment. I'm going to guide mana into your body. I want you to close your eyes and concentrate. Feel the flow of mana and direct it toward your abdomen. You need to see the state of your mana core."
Leon hesitated for a moment but nodded, trusting her completely. He closed his eyes, focusing on her words. He felt a warmth spreading from her hand into his body, a gentle yet powerful stream of mana that seemed to awaken something deep within him. Following her instructions, he directed the flow of energy toward his abdomen, his senses diving inward.
Suddenly, his focus was drawn to a chaotic force surrounding his mana core. Unlike the gentle flow of mana he had expected, there was a dark, furious energy swirling violently, almost as if it were alive. The intensity of it sent a shiver down his spine, and he immediately lost concentration, his eyes snapping open in alarm.
"What is that?" he asked, his voice shaking. He turned to his mother, his expression filled with fear and confusion. "What's happening to me?"
His mother's expression softened, but there was a seriousness in her tone that made his heart pound. "Listen to me carefully, Leon. You carry dragon blood in your veins. Your race is that of a half-dragon, and this… this is the manifestation of your dragon blood awakening."
"Awakening?" Leon repeated, the weight of her words pressing heavily on him. "But it feels… wild. Dangerous. It's like it's trying to consume me."
She nodded solemnly. "That's because it is. If you can't learn to calm and control it, this power will destroy you from the inside out."
Leon's heart raced as he tried to grasp the gravity of the situation. "Destroy me? Then how… how am I supposed to control it?"
A faint smile played on her lips, though her eyes remained serious. "The answer is simple, my son. You must become stronger. Strong enough to master your dragon blood and bend it to your will."
Leon swallowed hard, the enormity of her words sinking in. He clenched his fists, determination sparking within him despite the fear. "I… I don't want this power to control me. I'll do whatever it takes to become strong enough."
His mother's smile widened slightly, pride shining in her eyes. "Good. That's the spirit. Remember, you are not alone in this. I will guide you, and your father… well, he has always believed in your potential. You have more strength than you realize, Leon. You just need to awaken it."
Leon nodded, a newfound resolve burning within him. He didn't fully understand the path ahead, but one thing was clear: he would face it head-on.