A few days earlier.

Elric slowly trudged away from the lake, trying his best not to draw attention to himself. His battle with the Shadow Panther had forced him to travel deeper inside this forest, and he was unsure if there were even more dangerous mana beasts he had to be wary of. As he moved, it didn’t take long for him to notice that there was something different about his body.

“Urgh…”

He groaned in pain as he attempted to suppress the overwhelming feeling of heat within him. His body was still suffering from his last moments with Kyro, and an unfamiliar warmth coursed through his veins, causing the space underneath his skin to tingle with a strange, almost electric energy.

“Could this be… mana?” Elric asked aloud. “I’m able to sense it?” Gazing down at his hands, he scrutinized them as if they belonged to someone else. His mother had never brought him books about mana, so he couldn’t confirm if that was what he was actually sensing, but the more he felt the unique sensation, the more undeniable it seemed that it was mana. 

“If this is mana, it changes everything.”

He remembered the last, intense moments with Kyro. The confrontation had pushed his body and soul to their limit as a huge explosion of power painfully forced its way inside him. Now, that same power seemed intent on completely taking over him, even if it meant destroying him in the process. 

“Like I would let myself be destroyed after I’ve finally declared my revenge!” spat Elric bitterly. “I will make this power mine, no matter what!” 

Elric’s body seemed to move on its own. He sat on the forest floor with his legs crossed and closed his eyes, focusing on the chaotic energy swirling within him. He then envisioned the energy within him as that of a wild, untamed beast, raging and thrashing against invisible chains. Slowly, he began to visualize those chains tightening, drawing the beast into submission.

Minutes turned into hours, but Elric remained steadfast. Sweat dripped down his face, and his muscles ached from the effort of maintaining his concentration. Gradually, the searing heat within him began to subside and was replaced by a much more manageable warmth.

“Haa…” sighed Elric in relief. The pain had dulled, and though not completely tamed, mana was no longer a distant, mysterious force; it was now a tangible part of him. He stood up and immediately placed his hand on his chest. “There’s… something else inside me.”

During all that time of settling down mana, Elric failed to notice another distinct energy within him. Unlike the mana, it didn’t feel foreign, yet it stubbornly resisted his attempts to harness it. 

“Now that I think about it, Kyro mentioned something about me having another power…” he muttered. He tried to discern the nature of this mysterious energy, but it felt too different from the mana—it was denser, more volatile. Without more information, he was at a loss. His face became serious. He now had a clear plan. 

“Knowledge and connections—that’s what I need before I make my move. Is there a noble gullible enough?”

As he stood there, a loud, rustling noise drew his attention. Looking up, Elric spotted a familiar mana beast. Surprisingly, he did not feel afraid. 

“The reason why all my past plans failed was because I was too hasty. I had too much to lose and was unable to think rationally. But now,” Elric paused, encasing his entire fist in his newfound purple aura and staring at the Shadow Panther dead in the eye, “I’m no longer that weak neric.”

*

Elric successfully killed the persistent Shadow Panther.

Following this victory, he spent several days in the forest getting used to manipulating mana. Many weak mana beasts served as fodder for his growing proficiency, yet despite his efforts, Elric was unable to coat anything but his fists with aura. 

“This is as far as I can teach myself,” he said in frustration. “I have to leave.” Swift and silent, he skillfully began to navigate his way out of the forest. “Tch. Just how deep did I go?”

Soon after he uttered those words, he heard the yell of a young woman. With caution, he advanced towards the commotion, making sure to stay hidden behind the thick foliage. There, he witnessed a young woman and a knight fighting off two massive Frost Hounds. The hounds were unlike any he had seen before; their blue eyes were now a menacing red.

Elric sighed and turned in the opposite direction. I should focus on getting out of here, he thought dismissively. But then a desperate plea echoed through the air, immediately drawing his attention back to the scene. 

“My lady!” cried the knight.

A plethora of possibilities ran through Elric’s head as he heard the knight’s cry. 

“.....”

“A noble?”

Present time.

Alyvia blinked in shock as the strange boy turned to face her, his dark hair hiding his face like a curtain. Despite the ragged state of his attire, there exuded from him a strong sense of confidence.

“Are you alright?” he asked. He extended a hand to help her up. Alyvia nodded in response, and while her fingers were still trembling in fear, she took his hand and thanked him. His touch felt surprisingly gentle, given his wild appearance.

Elric silently observed her as she rose to her feet. Her hair, arranged in a large plait, was a mousy brown, and she had eyes the color of absinthe. 

Two unusual Frost Hounds, a weak noblewoman, and an injured knight. Am I able to do it? Among all the mana beasts Elric had killed, the only one that matched the Frost Hound in strength was the Shadow Panther. However, the only reason he managed to kill the Shadow Panther was because it was previously injured. “I’ll be able to fend them off as long as the knight deals them the final blow,” he said to the noblewoman. 

Alyvia snapped out of her daze and looked in Marcus’ direction. The knight was halfway done breaking out the ice while his right arm continued to drip blood. The hound that bit him had made its way to its partner, and they both howled in fury as their crimson eyes fixed on the mysterious boy.

“Okay, I’ll help break him out of that ice in the meantime,” Alyvia replied. Elric gave her a curt nod and advanced towards the Frost Hounds. 

One of the hounds lunged first, its maw wide open. With a swift motion, Elric covered his fist in aura and gave the hound an intense uppercut. A sickening crack echoed through the clearing, and the beast yelped in pain. However, it remained standing.

Tsk. 

Elric turned his attention to the other hound that was circling behind him, its breath forming icy plumes in the air. They’re trying to put me in the same state as that knight, he realized. The second Frost Hound pounced, its claws slicing deadly through the air. Elric spun on his heel, narrowly evading the attack as he felt the rush of frosty air grazing his skin. The hound was momentarily stunned by Elric’s quick reaction time but quickly recovered, its eyes burning brighter with rage.

Alyvia and Marcus had managed to break off the majority of the ice, and Alyvia watched the boy in awe as he faced the hounds alone. His movements possessed a fluid grace, evoking an elegance that seemed more animalistic than human. 

Elric took a deep breath. It seemed that all the mistakes Tip had berated him for during hunting training were getting solved right before his eyes. Is it because I can manipulate mana now? I’ve never been in better shape!

SNARL.

The second hound once again charged at him. Elric met it head-on, grappling with it as its icy fur burned his skin. He continued to hold on, using its own weight against it as he pulled it to the ground. The hound thrashed wildly, its claws raking across his arms, drawing blood.

Alyvia and Marcus finally broke through the last chunk of ice, freeing Marcus, who, despite his injuries, immediately charged into battle with his sword. “HAAAAA!!!” he shouted. Elric released his grip on the hound and rolled to the side just as Marcus’ sword came down in a powerful arc. The blade sliced through the beast’s neck, and it collapsed with a final whimper.

The remaining hound, seeing its partner fall, hesitated. Its eyes flickered between the three humans, assessing its chances. Elric quickly seized this moment of uncertainty and landed a flurry of blows. Each punch, imbued with his vibrant purple aura, slammed into the hound with devastating force, causing it to stagger under the assault.

Marcus once again joined the fray, and together, he and Elric cornered the last hound. It growled in defiance, but the combined force of Elric’s fists and Marcus’ deadly blade was too much. With a final, desperate lunge, the hound made a feeble attempt to escape, but Marcus’ sword found its mark.

Thud!

The forest became eerily silent as the last hound fell, leaving only the labored breaths of Elric and Marcus. Alyvia quickly hurried to their side, but before she could reach them, Marcus raised his sword, its reddened blade glinting in the dappled sunlight as it pointed at Elric’s neck.

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