(One Week Later)
I rolled out of bed and got to my feet. I did a giant stretch, and then made my way into my bathroom. I needed to do something about this hair, my bed head was bad.
I've been absorbing the mana in Uto's horn now for the past week. I couldn't really feel the difference, but I knew something was happening inside of me.
I was already on the edge of silver core, so it couldn't be long now. I've been here for so long it feels like.
I turned the sink on and splashed my face with water to wake up, then ran the water that was in my hands through my hair.
"Hah." The cold water woke my ass up, and I got dress into my normal gear that I had set up on the floor in the bathroom. I had no intentions of doing anything today besides sitting in the dark cloud of nothingness.
Honestly, I might be addicted to it, being in a place that was so peaceful. I knew Sylvie got addicted to it, and she turned out fine, so I am sure everything will be okay.
"Virion, are you here?" I heard someone shout into my room, I did one last stretch, and made my way out of the bathroom.
Standing in the doorway was Lance Varay, I froze in the doorway. "Lance Varay, why are you here?" I still found Lance Varay to be super attractive, to bad she is way older than me.
"I only come with a request." Lance Varay said as I walked up to her.
"And what's that?" I ran a hand through my hair, trying to get it to how I like it.
"I was looking to spar with someone, and I would like a rematch with you." I nodded at her request thinking it over, don't get me wrong, I would normally jump at the opportunity, but I want to absorb mana.
"Right now?" I asked, not really wanting to at the moment, but would like too later.
"If that works." Varay spoke, and I bit my lip. "You don't have to; we can always spar later if that's okay."
"Yeah, I am sorry Lance Varay, I had plans to do something, I normally would love to spar with you, knowing how great our battle was last time. However, I can't right now, but if you want to, you can come get me in a few hours." I told her apologetically.
"How about before dinner? Would that be better?" Wow, Lance Varay really wanted to fight me, probably because I defeated a Retainer and she wanted to test her strength.
"Yes, that works a lot better, thanks." I sent her a smile.
"I'll see you then, Lance Leywin." She turned around and the door began to close.
"I'm not a Lance yet." I shouted before the door closed. I made my way back to my bed and sat down on it.
Nice, I got a sparring session with Lance Varay, I might as well start absorbing mana now. This was what I really wanted to do, and I could stretch my legs later.
I pulled Uto's horn out of my dimensional ring and held it in my hand. I laid back in my bed and got into a comfortable position. I took and deep breath, activated "Blood Oath" and the ring, and started to absorb mana, doing it like I usually did, half to my palm, half to my core.
In a matter of moments, I was back in the dark realm, where nothing existed, and everything was peaceful. I started to think about my sparring session with Varay, last time we fought, it was close.
My thoughts changed, and I started to think about Scythe Cadell, how could I defeat him? First, I needed to get stronger, that was a given, but I still needed a plan, I couldn't just walk up to him and fight one on one like I did with Uto.
He uses soulfire, we know that, I couldn't let that get inside of me. Actually, my blood could prevent that, I could harden it, change its molecular structure, so that the fire couldn't get inside of me. It would be a difficult task, but it's possible.
Cadell is faster and stronger, there is no countering that, and unless I can wound him, I won't be able to place water mana into his blood. If I fought Cadell in the dungeon, I could have dropped the ceiling on him, collapsed the entire cavern on him, he wouldn't have gotten out alive.
I guess my ice on his soulfire is my best chance, but that isn't a permanent solution, sooner or later, just like Uto's spikes, some of the fire will get to me. If I had to fight dirty, I would, it's war, life or death, and I am a Lesser to him. He should be able to deal with cheap tricks.
I don't think I am utilizing my clones enough, the two I sent out are still active, but I should be using them in fights.
Also, I have to take into account Arthur, he may be by my side during the fights ahead, maybe not, but if he is, we would be a dangerous duo. Jeez, all I can see is an Alacryan company, staring up at Arthur, Sylvie, and me, and all their jaws just dropping.
It still wouldn't be enough to take on Cadell, I also had to think about the army that reaches the Elven Kingdom. I guess I should focus on Jagrette, she'll be the next foe we fight, if everything stays the same from here on out.
Lately, I was doubting it, I think I screwed shit up, I didn't know for the better or worse yet, we'll see. I couldn't have changed that much though, I was one person, a person who took down Uto by himself. I am going to give myself credit, I am a dangerous opponent, but not enough for plans to completely change.
The darkness was such a good place to think things over, no one could interrupt me, and I was relaxed thinking about those hard times ahead.
That was until my eyes flashed with light, I felt my mind flicker on and off, and then I fell unconscious on my bed.
---
"Veer?" I heard the voice of my sister. "Wake up already." She pushed me, and I felt my body falling off the bed. I quickly opened my eyes and slid my feet onto the floor. "There! He's up."
"Thanks for that, El." I told her. "Why are you all in here?" Standing in my room was my mother, Ellie, and Varay.
"You were passed out and weren't waking up." My mother shot a concerned look at my bed. "I think that horn is bad for you." I turned my head and saw the horn sitting there.
I grabbed it. "It's fine, mom." I placed it back into my mana ring and realized something. My body felt lighter, like I was floating, but I was standing in my room. I closed my eyes and examined my core.
"I have to agree with your mother, Virion, you don't know what that thing can do to you." Lance Varay said, as I opened my eyes in surprise.
"What's wrong with you? Why do you have that face?" Ellie said disgusted at me.
I calmed myself, then spoke. "Haha, I did it." I looked down at the ground with a smile on my face. "I finally did it."
"What did you do?" My mother asked as she got closer to me slowly, it was like they were being cautious of me. Was that because they thought I was losing my mind? "Veer?"
"Varay, can't you tell?" I looked up at her, and she shook her head. "Oh, maybe that's my blood magic at work."
"What is it? Tell us already." Ellie aimed her bow at me and released an arrow. I summoned wind and caught the arrow and sent it into the ceiling. "Show off." That was, that was amazing.
"Don't shoot arrows in here, Ellie!" My mother scolded her, then walked up to me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "This is the third time I caught you passed out from using that horn, it's not good for you."
I nodded my head toward her. "Well, mom, your son just hit white core." I dropped the bomb on all of them, and I could see all their faces, even the stone cold Varay was in shock. "Yeah, your son is a mage who got to white core without any help from potions or artifacts, no offense Lance Varay."
"None taken, but are you serious?" Lance Varay asked me, as my mother let go of me. All of them were staring at me still, trying to see if I was serious or not. "Are you a white core mage, truly?"
"Yes." I wanted to try to fly right now, but I didn't want to make a fool of myself. "I'm no liar."
"Holy shit..." My mother said as she covered her mouth. "This is unbelievable." Ellie was silent, I understood, I think she was jealous of me. "Your dad is not going to believe this."
"Lance Varay, I'm down to spar now if you want." I smiled at her, thinking about what I could do now, how much faster I could be, stronger, I was a white core mage, something I thought was impossible when I got to this world.
"I think you should wait a little." Lance Varay said. "It might take your body time to adjust to everything, it isn't safe for you to spar yet." Son of a bitch, now I had to wait to spar, what else?
"How about you rest, Veer?" My mother motioned for me to get in bed. "I'll go tell your father; I am sure he'll come running in here."
"I think that's a great idea, Mrs. Leywin." Lance Varay added. "I'll inform the council as well." I nodded my head as I sat down in my bed.
"I can't believe you are a white core mage." Ellie said softly, then left the room.
I wanted to talk to her, but my mother stopped me. "Give her time, you know that's what she needs."
"I know." I said, laying back. "We are sparring at some point, Lance Varay, no getting out of it now."
"Get some rest, Virion." She told me as she walked out with my mother. I sent my mom one last smile, and she sent one in return.
I was freakin white core, the excitement in me prevented myself from laying down. I shot to my feet and held out my hand. I conjured fire, wind, water, ice, and pulled out blood from a tube I had laying in the corner of my room. The five elements floated around my hand like it was nothing, everything was doing as I wanted unconsciously, so this was white core.
I could tell that my power was on a whole different level, this was amazing, Arthur was going to be in shock when I saw him. I wonder if this changes things with my Beast Will, now that I was stronger inside of my body, could it cause the symptoms to die down.
I moved the blood back to the tube, and then I dispersed the other elements around my hand. What the hell, I might as well try now, no one is here.
I closed my eyes, and focused on floating, flying, gliding, whatever, pushing mana out of me, controlling it on a level that I didn't think I would get too. I opened my eyes and noticed that I was a foot off the ground, then suddenly fell to the ground.
"Huh." I was going to have to work on that, it will come with time. I guess I'll have to figure out how to fight in the air as well, even with the ability to fly, I'm sure it changes the way the fight goes.
I have to imagine fighting with a sword in the air is hard, it's nothing I can't figure out though. I managed to get this far, why not keep pushing.
I felt a smile cross my face, I did it, Arthur, this was for you, our family, and our future.