Colin remained determined, concentration reflected in his eyes as he prepared for another attempt. The promise of power pulsed through the sword in his hands, and he knew he needed to find a delicate balance between holding and releasing his mana.
"Calm down, just focus like before—I'm almost there."
As he concentrated, an idea surfaced in his mind.
"What if, instead of preserving mana, I disperse it?"
He decided to test this different approach. Feeling the energy build and the sword about to explode, Colin focused on a single point. Time seemed to freeze, and his perception of the world around him shifted.
Of course! Instead of following Brighid's faucet analogy—slowly turning it off to preserve mana—I'll shut it off abruptly, and then, in that brief moment, reopen it!
CRACK!
It worked for a few seconds, but soon the sword cracked.
The sword didn't explode, but I need to disperse this power. My arm acts as a channel feeding the sword. If I cut off the flow in this channel, the mana already transferred won't vanish—in other words, I'm just stopping continuous access to the mana, but the sword keeps accumulating it. What I need to do is…
Colin had caught a glimpse of a new technique. He tested it and succeeded in dissipating his mana as if, unleashing a slash of sparks and magical energy toward the nearest tree.
CABRUM!
The tree split in two with a thunderous crack. Surprised by his success, Colin felt a wave of euphoria wash over him. He looked at his hands, realizing he had found a way to work with his mana more effectively. The sense of achievement and improvement brought a smile to his sweaty face. The mana in his sword seemed to stabilize completely.
I understand… this process of dispersing mana acted like turning the faucet slowly and maintaining a steady stream. That was good, but I can't rely on it every time—I need to keep practicing or—
BAM!
He collapsed onto the forest floor, exhausted.
"Damn… so sleepy…"
Brighid watched from a distance, hidden among the trees.
Impressive… He shaped his mana and still maintained it after it left the sword. Safira couldn't keep her mana consistent without an object, and he did it on a single try. Of course, he trained the basics hundreds of times—his understanding of mana's form must be at an absurd level.
Colin forced himself up and rolled onto his back, gazing at the moon peeking through leaves and branches.
"This moon is enormous—bigger than the one in my world…"
"Colin!" Brighid fluttered down, landing on his forehead. "I'm proud of you, you know?"
She truly was.
"Get off my forehead, fairy."
She pouted. "I came to check on you, and you're still being rude to me!"
"Why not heal me already? Then I can get back to training."
"Better not—your body needs natural rest. If I were you, I'd close my eyes and enjoy the breeze."
Colin sighed softly in resignation.
"You'll stay here with me, fairy?"
Brighid blushed again and hopped off his forehead, turning her back.
"Y-you want me to stay?"
Colin gave a crooked smile. "I like your company. It'd be good to have someone watching my back."
"O-okay! I'll protect you, I promise! So go to sleep peacefully, all right?"
"You got it—I'm counting on you."
◊❱───────⸂◍⸃───────❰◊
The sun was already staining the horizon when Colin awakened in the clearing.
Upon opening his eyes, he saw Brighid sitting on his chest, watching him sleep. The fairy's bright eyes met his, and she smiled, a soft blush coloring her cheeks.
"Good morning! You slept a lot," Brighid said, still seated—then, as Colin moved to sit up, she hopped off him. "I took care of the surroundings while you rested. I didn't mean to interrupt your sleep."
Colin rubbed his eyes and stretched.
"Ah, thank you… I really needed that."
The fairy smiled shyly. "You're welcome. Now come on—Safira is on her way with breakfast."
As Brighid spoke, Safira emerged from the forest carrying a few packed meals. She wore a bright smile.
"Good morning, Colin! The receptionist's daughter made these. She said you needed a good meal before training."
He sat up gratefully while Safira offered him a meal. Brighid frowned, tempted to complain, but held herself back.
"How kind of her," Colin said, opening the container to find rice, grilled meat, and vegetables. "Thank her for us, Safira."
Despite her momentary jealousy, Brighid forced a smile and nodded.
"Yes, that's very generous of her. Now eat up—you'll need your strength for today's training."
The trio settled in the clearing, sharing breakfast under the soft light filtering through the treetops. Colin savored each bite, Brighid tried to mask her feelings, and Safira observed the peculiar dynamic between them.
After the meal, the fairy rose and stretched her wings.
"Well, I think it's time to get back to training. We have much to accomplish before facing the village demon."
Colin nodded and stood. Safira did the same.
"Safira, you'll continue practicing shaping mana without an object. And you, Colin, I want you to demonstrate. Remember what you did yesterday?"
"I think so…" Colin said. He picked up another wooden sword, infused it with mana, and slashed at a tree—thunder rumbled as the blade met bark.
CABRUM!
The tree split in two, and Colin exhaled in relief. Safira stood wide-eyed. It was a technique encompassing all of Brighid's teachings, even if he was still at the basics.
"Perfect. Your first attempt of the day was flawless. You should keep focusing on the basics until you've mastered them. Safira, it's your turn!"
"That was amazing!" Safira exclaimed, eyes shining. "I expected nothing less from you, Lord Colin!"
He looked away, scratching his cheek. The faux-Elf had once been envious of her rapid progress, and now that he'd achieved something similar, Safira's genuine joy at his success made him regret not supporting her before.
"You're smarter than me, Safira—you'll master Brighid's training in no time!" he said, ruffling her hair.
◊❱───────⸂◍⸃───────❰◊
Training continued, with Colin refining his methods and Safira—motivated by her companion's determination—attempting to manifest her mana without relying on a conductor.
The morning sun gave way to the intense afternoon light, bathing the clearing in a golden glow. Inspired by Colin's progress, Safira felt a growing energy within. With her eyes closed, she dove into her thoughts, seeking to control the mana pulsing through her. Concentration, focus, and a connection to the energy flow around her were key.
Then, as a testament to her resolve, a fireball began to form in her hand—a consistent, controlled manifestation born of her impeccable focus. The flames danced with a hypnotic grace.
Brighid, observing both of their efforts, was equally impressed by the girl's newly honed ability.
"Fantastic, Safira! You're progressing incredibly well," Brighid exclaimed enthusiastically. "Now try to hold your concentration for longer. The more you practice, the easier it will become."
"A-Alright!
So that arduous task had become easy. The fireball still burned in her hand, and Safira aimed it at a tree before releasing it.
BOOM!
The tree was utterly destroyed, completely incinerated, leaving both Brighid and Colin stunned.
"Wow…" Colin stammered.
"Excellent!" Brighid applauded. "At your level, that's all I can teach you. You have strong gestures, an excellent command of mana, and now you can manifest it without a conductor—I doubt any other girl your age could achieve this."
Safira felt proud and met Colin's gaze, and he smiled back at her.
"Okay! I'll keep training!"
"Yeah… I can't fall behind," Colin said, sword in hand. "Let's go!"
◊❱───────⸂◍⸃───────❰◊
Night was falling, and after thousands of attempts, Colin had managed to stabilize his mana for almost ten full minutes. Just as it was with Safira, the technique had become effortless after that first success.
"You did it, sir!" the girl said excitedly. Colin held out his hand for a high five. "TAP!"
While the two of them talked, Brighid stood at the back, observing. Ordinary people couldn't develop so quickly. They had only awakened less than a fortnight ago, yet their abilities rivaled those of an imperial knight, perhaps even surpassed them.
That was only possible thanks to the relentless process to heal their fatigue, allowing their bodies to forgo the usual extended rest. After repeating the procedure so many times, Brighid concluded that in these two weeks, they had advanced what normally takes nearly three years of training—and still achieved more than satisfactory results.
"We'd better head back and rest. The next step should only be taken if you can advance your primary mana tree."
"Do you think we'll be able to defeat the demon as we are now?" Colin asked.
Brighid paused for a moment. "Depending on the demon's level, it's likely you can."
Colin looked at his hand.
"That time the cultists unleashed a demon in the village… if I'd had this strength then, maybe some people could've been saved… but never mind, that's in the past. In two days, we'll face that demon."
They both nodded.
"That's enough time to rest, and perhaps refine our techniques."
"I recommend rest," Brighid said. "Natural rest is important."
After agreeing, they left the forest and returned to the village; their spirits renewed. The feeling of newfound strength was indescribable, and Colin could sense the heady thrill. His body seemed to crave more, as if addicted, yet he truly longed to confront that demon—to see it and feel the satisfaction of subjugating it with his hands.
Sitting on the bed, he watched his companions sleeping. Safira sprawled out, snoring softly, while Brighid lay on her back, breathing evenly. He rose and went down the stairs.
Seated at the reception desk was the burly, red-bearded man who always glared at him with disdain.
Colin passed him, left the inn, folded his arms, and looked out over the village. Not much time had passed, yet he already felt part of this place. People still judged him with their eyes, but it didn't bother him.
"Master Colin!" called the innkeeper's daughter, carrying a bag of fresh fruit. "I thought you were already asleep."
"I'm not tired. Need help with those bags?"
"Oh, no, it's fine—I can manage!" she answered with a smile, placing the bags on the floor. "So… it's coming soon, right? Your fight against the demon…"
He nodded, staring at the horizon. "Yes, and thanks for the meal—it was delicious."
Her cheeks flushed and she waved her hands. "It was nothing. I learned the recipe from my mother. I'm glad you liked it."
She glanced away. "When you kill the demon… will you really leave afterward?"
"I have to reach the University of Ultan, so yes…"
"I understand… I'm heading in—won't you come?"
He shook his head. "If I go in with you, your father will probably kick me out of the inn."
She laughed softly. "Okay, good night, Master Colin. See you tomorrow!"
"Good night."
As soon as she walked away, Colin's gentle expression vanished. If the swamp witch was already strong, how powerful could this demon be? His anxiety was torturous.
"The next two days will be perfect to let my mind relax," he thought—before diving back into the pursuit of that addictive thrill: a deadly battle.