Damein stood in front of the cracked mirror, inspecting the results of his efforts. He was shorter for his age and lean hinting the possible cause being Malnutrition.
His black hair, unkempt and slightly disheveled, framed a face that was plain, even forgettable. But his blue eyes those eyes held a sharpness that seemed out of place, as though they belonged to someone who had seen too much, someone who had experienced a deeper hunger than physical need. They stared back at him, intense and calculating
His body had grown stronger, but not enough. He could feel the decrease in the rate of his progress. He knew the key—blood. The same blood that had pushed him past human boundaries. But Lucas' blood was no longer enough.
The memory of Lucas' face—pale, weak, Demian had now stopped feeding him the ravenleaf, it would be soon that he would regain his strength.
Damein ran his fingers along the edge of his knife, the rust still present, though sharper now.
The time had come. The Awakening Test was approaching, and no amount of potions would make him what he needed to be. He needed more.
That day Damein stalked Lucas from the shadows. It had been days since he had given him the potion-days of watching, studying, waiting for the right moment.
He followed at a distance, careful to avoid being seen. The day was cloudy hinting at an upcoming storm. He kept his pace as Lucas made his way to the back of the orphanage, towards the alley where he often went when he needed to relieve himself.
Lucas staggered, his movements sluggish, the weakness still lingering. He looked around, as if sensing something was off. He couldn't see Damein, and that was all Damein needed.
With the faintest of steps, Damein closed the distance. He moved silently, like a predator, a shadow in the dark. Finally when he had closed in enough lucas noticed him.
"What's going on?" Lucas asked, a trace of fear creeping into his voice.
Damein said nothing at first, his eyes scanning the area. His plan was simple. Strike first, and there would be no chance of Lucas fighting back.
Then, with brutal efficiency, Damein swung the knife—too fast for Lucas to react.
The sound of the blade slicing through flesh was almost poetic in its finality. Lucas gasped, the blood spilling from his wound like a river in the dark. The shock in his eyes lasted only a moment before his body crumpled to the ground.
Damein wasted no time. He wasn't done yet. This wasn't just a kill—it was an opportunity.
He didn't just want Lucas' blood this time. No, this was different. Lucas' marrow, would give Damein the boost he needed. The blood alone had slowed its effects, but the marrow-it held something else. It could be made into a powerful strengthening potion, a potent boost to push him beyond his limits.
But there was no time to prepare a proper potion. The necessary ingredients were nowhere to be found. So, Damein took the most direct approach.
He bent over the lifeless body of Lucas, his hands steady as he extracted the marrow. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't clean. But it was effective. The marrow would provide the final push he needed. It would fuel his body and his magic, allow him to grow stronger, faster, more resilient.
The task was messy, the pain and effort of extracting the marrow taking a toll on Damein's human body. But the reward-he could already feel it in his veins-was worth it.
With the marrow in his possession, Damein didn't hesitate. He consumed it directly, his body reacting almost instantly. The taste was bitter, metallic. The act It didn't felt wrong, unnatural;he lacked empathy —an quality he felt was unnecessary ,he had witnessed far more things humanity was capable of during the war.The effect was gradual.
Days passed, and with each passing moment, Damein's strength grew. But this time, it wasn't just physical. He could feel the shift inside him, the power circulating through his veins.
He remembered the archives he had accessed, a hidden corner of knowledge left behind by the royal family of Cradasea . The methods they had used to control mana—the flow, the regulation, the careful precision of its use. This was ancient, advanced magic—mana manipulation at its peak. Its origin unknown, founded in a royal expedition to an ancient runes known only to a few.
"The Exaltio Method"
It was said to be a process only the royal family's highest mages could perform, a system that restructured the pathways of mana in a way that made their spells even more potent, more efficient. It was the key to controlling not just the power inside, but also the power over others.
This method was one of the foundations of royal family and how they had maintained their rule so long.
Damein sat cross-legged in the corner of the orphanage room, using the small space as his sanctuary. His hands moved in steady patterns, manipulating the energy around him. His breathing slowed, and his mind focused on each channel in his body that held mana. He could feel the subtle pathways that flowed like streams of electricity beneath his skin.
With a steady exhale, he began the process. The ancient technique was not easy. It required perfect timing, concentration, and an understanding of the energy that flowed within. He could feel his mana pathways—clogged and narrow, barely adequate for the power he was beginning to tap into. But with each breath, each motion, he felt them open wider. His power flowed better, quicker, and stronger.
At first, it was subtle. He felt his energy resettle into new channels. The pain from the blood he had consumed was nothing compared to the intricate workings of his new method.
The Exaltio Method was a delicate dance, with even a minor fault risking permanent damage on mana veins. With every successful application, the energy surged within him. His mana pathways began to clear, and his control over the power within him sharpened. He could feel his entire being grow stronger—stronger in ways that had nothing to do with his physical strength alone.
The night before the Awakening Test arrived, Damein felt ready. He had done everything he could. His mana pathways were clean. His physical strength had surpassed anything he had known before. And Lucas... Lucas had provided the final catalyst.
Now, it was time to see if it was all worth it.
Damein moved to the center of his room, silent, still. He closed his eyes, and in the darkness, he could feel the surge of power within him, a deep, unnatural connection to the mana around him. He smiled.
Tomorrow would be the test.