Rhys blinked as the system notifications faded, their glow lingering in his vision for a moment longer than usual.
His breath caught in his throat—not from exertion, but from awe. Mana Essence? He had always suspected that his mana was somehow different from others'. Whenever he saw other players use skills, their mana felt weak compared to his own. But he had brushed it off as imagination.
Now, it made sense.
The bond with Puddle, an Ancient Creature, had likely altered his mana as well. It wasn't just ordinary mana flowing through him anymore—it was something entirely different. Something purer. Something far more powerful.
When he looked up again, the fairy was watching him closely, her expression unreadable.
"Well… who are you, by the way?" he asked as she paused, then answered softly, "My name is Milie. Misty Milie, and I am a fairy from the Moon Fairy Tribe."
