I jolted awake to the sound of hurried footsteps echoing through the dim cell block. My head throbbed like I'd had one too many glasses of bad wine, but Elias's words from this morning echoed cleary: this sensation was most likely my body adapting to the first surge of mana. Not that it mattered much anyway, because—I could feel it now, I could use it now. Mana. The word tasted sweet on my tongue. This power ran the world, and I'd wield it to carve out a life of luxury again. No more betrayals, no more confinement. I'd get strong, surround myself with loyal strength, or even live a low-key life, I could do anything with my freedom. But first and foremost, escape this dump. The thought that followed was bittersweet—back on Earth, money shielded me from everything. Here? I'd have to earn it the hard way.
The door creaked open, Aeloria hurriedly relieved herself of her helmet, face pale under the torchlight. Her eyes were darting around like a cornered animal. Elias instantly sat up, his scholarly calm cracking. "What is it?" he whispered. She glanced over her shoulder, then shut the door with a soft click. "We need to have a discussion. Now." Her voice was steel, that dominant edge from our first meeting slicing through the air. "But first, I need to know your truths." Our truths? I didn't understand what she meant until Elias spoke, in an unusually softened tone. "Reed reminds me of my younger self—ambition unchecked, that fire for discovery. I thought it had died in these cells, but Reed's unnatural ability, his raw potential… It reignited my resolve. That's why I'm doing this, to see what we can forge." Oh she meant our reasons for training? I see now. What a thoughtful explanation of my character Elias, I thought inwardly. Without hesitation, I began. "Me? I want power. Enough to choose my life, no one forcing me down. Back where I came from, I had everything–wealth, influence–until it was ripped away in betrayal. I won't be vulnerable again. I'll build strength, allies if needed, and live on my own terms." Aeloria hesitated, though her expression softened as she began. "Reed… you spark something. Hope. A premonition of breaking these chains. I've been the kingdom's 'Beast' too long–enslaved and molded into a killer. If guiding you means freedom, I'll risk it." The three of our gazes met, feeling the weight of their words I realized–this was all centered around me, huh? Special, destined–yeah, that tracked with my ego. But for once, it felt real, not just billionaire bluster. Aeloria nodded to herself, her tough facade cracking. "Good. No lies here. Let's swear secrecy. Not a word about us to prisoners, guards, anyone. We don't even whisper it in the open." I nodded, sensing the shift. "Fine. Sworn." Elias echoed me, his eyes narrowing. "So what has happened, Aeloria?" he asked. She seemed a bit shocked at her real name being used by him but that is expected with our newfound alliance. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "The Kingdoms Inspection. It has been moved up–one week from now. High officials, nobles–they'll sweep through every camp, picking 'promising' slaves for experiments, entertainment, or worse. Turning them into weapons. Elias, you know this game better than anyone from your old days." Elias shuddered, his face tightening. "One week!? That's barely enough time to prepare. And if they happen to catch a drift of Reed… discover his anomaly.." He trailed off but I understood. I'd be forced into an even worse spot than now, twisted into some tool for the Kingdom. My gut twisted. "One week? Shit. How do we get out?" "Force is the only way." Elias said grimly, excitement flickering in his eyes despite the fear. Aeloria paused for a while, then her voice dropped. "The inspection brings chaos, we can use it. But Reed, your mana pool is novice-level at best, not to mention your non-existent battle prowess. We accelerate everything. Your unique ability will be our edge." Excitement surged through me, sinister and hungry. Just how different was I? "Let's do it." I said, with an outward smirk.
We dove in that very night. Urgency fueling us like a whip at our backs. There was no more time for messing around–our regimen was brutal, spanning the full week in stolen hours between labor shifts. Daytime: Subtle mana flows to enhance my body, but just enough to build strength without collapsing under the guards' watchful eyes—it was probably due to the upcoming inspection, but they were very meticulous—I'd weave tiny threads of raw mana through my muscles while hauling crates, feeling them knit and harden, turning exhaustion into quiet power. It was subtle at first–my steps firmer, my back straighter–but by day three, I could lift loads that would've broken me before. Nights were the real grind: Refinement and practice. Elias's theory clashing and meshing with Aeloria's practical grit. We huddled in the cell's shadows, always listening for patrols. "Basics first," Elias instructed on night one, pacing the cramped space. "Imagine the mana as chaotic energy, wild and unbound. Feel it in your core, the raw pulse. Shape it with intent–will it into the forms you wish it to mimic. Then release… or absorb–your specific twist, Reed. Most instinctively wield Vis, the byproduct of mixing mana and Vos—a neutral compound that stabilizes it for safety. But you? You bypass the use of Vos entirely. Direct raw mana. It's efficient, legendary and rare. In a fight, you would outlast anyone, attrition is your weapon. Aeloria knelt beside me, her golden eyes glowing faintly, she explained briefly. "Start small. Lift a droplet from this puddle. No ripples, no explosions. Control it, or it will control the outcome." I focused, imaging the mana flowing through me, feeling it coil like a live wire in my chest. It surged– too much. The water erupted in a spray, wetting us all. "Damn it!" I cursed, wiping my face, frustration boiling. Back on Earth I could snap my fingers and boom, problems vanished. Here, failure stung—but this wasn't enough to stop me, I've come too far at this point. "Again," Aeloria snapped, her tone unyielding but not unkind. "Feel the chaos, but tame it. You're not forcing, but guiding." Hours blurred into failures: the droplet wobbled and burst, or froze mid air before shattering. My head pounded from the backlash, visions flickering with my fatigue–yatch parties turning to blood, betrayals replaying. Elias theorized aloud, keeping me somewhat grounded. "Your direct access skips the Vos process–leagues more efficient. Less waste, more power, but very unstable. It seems if you push too hard, it rebounds on you, possibly due to the chaotic and simply the natural nature of mana. Nausea, pain, maybe worse if overdone."
By the end of night one, I nailed it. The droplet hovered, steady as glass, then danced in precise loops before settling without a ripple. Sweat poured down my back, but the thrill was addictive. My mana felt fuller, a reservoir inching higher. Night two ramped up, Aeloria extending her arm, expression resolute. "Try to absorb, like you did before–but controlled." So I did, reaching out and imagining the pull, like a river flowing into an ocean. Her mana flowed into me–raw, invigorating. I explained how her mana didn't seem to simply replenish, but it felt as if she were expanding my mana reserve a bit. Aeloria gasped, steadying herself. "Could it be... A permanent boost simply from absorption!?" "That would be unheard of, Reed. A conduit from legends." Elias stared with a stunned expression, his scholarly mind obviously racing. "Reed… If this is true you truly are astonishing. This cannot touch the ears of the public, ever. You would become a target, not just from Dracovenia, but opportunists all around the world." The realization hit like a high. I was special, an anomaly, but risks loomed– each absorption left me buzzing, Aleroia seemed to be weakened as we continued, her energy lowering. "You okay?" I asked, surprising myself with the concern. She would nod, a faint smile breaking loose. "It's worth it, for freedom." Using this method, assuming the absorption slightly added to my pool, over time–even given a week–it was a transformative find. We pushed harder. Elias added theory: "Vis users refine mana through Vos for stability–we are taught relatively similar styles while learning, meaning there should be some predictability when facing users. Your path is explosive with potential but volatile. Let's continue with control exercises. Night three: Moving straw across the floor without gusts. I assumed after the droplet completion this would be easy… but I failed spectacularly at first—the straw rocketing into the wall and embedding like a dart, laughter bubbled up—rare in this hellhole. "Not bad for a weapon," Aeloria quipped. "Focus," Elias chided, but he smirked too. These moments felt like real bonding, Elias sharing snippets of his fall from nobility, experiments gone wrong. Aeloria hinting at her enslaved youth and battles that scarred her soul. I opened up more, admitting my Earth's cruelties, how excessive wealth bred isolation. "Power without heart is empty," Elias mused one night, but it stuck with me. By night four, absorption became routine. Each session added a sliver to my mana pool–slight, but cumulative, I felt it expand. Exercises evolved: Shaping wind threads, thin as air and sharp as blades. I held one sturdy for three heartbeats, then sliced a loose brick clean in half. The cut was flawless, no backlash. My stamina had improved and fatigue decreased.
"You've grown fast" Elias admitted on night five, wariness permeating his tone as we practiced defensive weaves–basic barriers against imaginary strikes. "Your pool seems to rival a mid-tier Vis user's now. Raw power might best me generally speaking, but technique? Many could still take you. Don't let it swell your head, Reed." I smirked inwardly. Whatever old man. They themselves had called me a genius, but his words tempered me–I'd failed enough alongside the success to know hubris hit back. "Don't worry. I'll only get stronger." Energy crackling through me like static. Night six brought strain, so the three of us decided we should cut the training short to allow some rest. "We've been pushing limits," Aeloria warned, sounding drained. "With the inspection lingering for two days time, we should take this night to recover our minds." No arguments there. On the final night, Elias reviewed: "You've almost mastered the basics, though informally. Imagine, feel, shape, release/absorb. Your mana pool and abilities have grown enough for a fight but remember, you have little to no fighting experience. Your edge is endurance, at least for now. Don't forget that." Thus we sparred lightly, Aeloria simulating attacks, me deflecting with wind gusts. I could hold my own. Mana flowing smoother and enough energy to sustain. After she left, as Elias turned to sleep, I lay awake. Mana buzzing. Tomorrow was inspection day. We'd use the chaos–divert guards during the sweeps, break out amid the new arrivals. But what if my power faltered? Or drew unwanted eyes?
A distant shout echoed and footsteps clattered–too many. This was not Aeloria, completely lacking her stealth. My heart raced. Why would anyone else be visiting us at this late hour? The door to our room swung open. Elias bolted upright, eyes wide. "The both of you, out!" A guard in his full suit of armor barked. My mind raced, had we been found out? We had been very careful but eyes were everywhere. Trouble was here—I could feel it.
Aeloria:
The chains clinked in my dreams as the stench of blood permeated the air. My youth, scarred by the kingdom's cruelty, haunted me again. The kingdom which forced me to do their bidding, the kingdom I hated. Endless battlefield, the faceless fallen circled around me, whispering: Shackled Beast. Monster. Slave. But tonight it shifted. The carnage faded to white, a hand extending–Reed's hand. With that arrogant smirk he'd worn after each breakthrough this week following suit. The world he brought was one without brutality, where I wasn't just a tool. Raw emotions surged through me, hope. Fierce and unyielding.
I was abruptly pulled from this state of bliss, to the sound of approaching footsteps. Too many footsteps clanking in armor. My fists clenched, "Aeloria, you are summoned!" Exploded through the hall. A booming voice. The worst case scenario arose in my mind. Have we been found out? This was all too sudden.