Mana impressions

POV Julian Kingscrown

"Bastard, let us go," a furious voice was heard

"Great lord, please release me" another voice echoed in tears

"please I don't want this anymore" another voice sounded horrified

Dozens of voices passing through my environment in total disorder invaded me, but I ignored them.

These dreams had become something recurrent during the two months that we were in the middle of the experiments, that's why I learned to be indifferent to them.

Fortunately, for my mental state they had already finished with all the tests, while my mind moved between unconsciousness and reason I woke up.

"Another damn dream," I thought aloud.

(Are you okay, Julian?) Dryas asked and along with her came the emotions of concern from Sylvie.

So I calmed my emotions and replied, "Don't worry, it's just a bad dream that will disappear over time".

(We know little by little, these dreams have decreased, after the tests were over and it was safe, but what worries us more is your emotional state) Sylvie spoke.

(I'm sorry to worry you, but there's no need), I replied.

"You and I know that's not true, it's been two weeks since the tests were over and you still haven't returned to Xyrus. You've spent all your time working on the Ether orb with Barbatos forgetting your worries," this time I heard her voice outside my room in Eden.

"That's why, if I go I'll end up training with Clare or Kathyln and lose some time," I replied in a disinterested tone, diverting the subject.

After that I heard the door opening and saw Sylvie in her human form pouting with her hands on her waist.

"We're going to Xyrus now, you need to meet up with them to ease your mind," my bond said.

"Wouldn't Grandma Rinia be better than them?" I questioned her idea.

"She's hiding and we haven't found her yet, so that's not an option, besides you're more honest with people your age, even Arthur would be a good option if he wasn't in the middle of his missions" she replied.

Looking at her warmly, I said, "Thank you for worrying about me".

She seemed to feel embarrassed by my words and retorted to shake off her shame, "Don't change the subject and get dressed quickly, we leave in an hour" she said puffing up her nonexistent chest in a sign of pride.

I was about to laugh at how cute she looked making those kinds of gestures with her physical age, but I held back.

The last time I made fun of her was when she was adapting to her human body, the next day I had several broken ribs from an elbow she gave me. That left me with serious traumas and since then I've been careful not to bother her.

You don't know the terror I felt when she tried to feed me with a spoon, at some point I thought I would see one of my teeth flying through the floors of Eden, fortunately it never happened, but I couldn't be calm.

She gave me a look that seemed to be able to kill Kezess himself and then said, "I hope you didn't think of something rude".

I quickly shook my head and replied, "How could I, ha, ha, ha" I wiped the cold sweat that almost fell from my forehead.

"One hour you have no more time," she said as she left the room slamming the door.

"Haaaahhh, I guess she's right I should relax a little by going back to Xyrus" I sighed as I got up to go to the bathroom and wash my body.

----------------------------------------------------------POV Sylvie Indrath

These last months of my life have been full of many changes, for me, first my human form.

I was very happy when I could look more like him, since we first met several years ago in Elenoir, he has been my family.

He has pampered me, supported me, fought with me, worried when I'm not well, we have laughed together.

Probably everything is due to the familiarity and the bond we share through my mother, that was something I always appreciated regardless of the circumstances.

He never treated me like the other beasts, he always took care of me and kept me away from what he considers dangerous.

But although it felt good to be protected and appreciated, sometimes it bothered me to feel his emotions through our bond and not be able to do anything to help him.

The time he was in danger in the Dire Tombs, he did not allow me to accompany him or go to rescue him, when his emotions stirred after killing the Alacryans he never sought comfort from anyone.

Now after going through such a dark event as human experimentation, he never complained he just swallowed all his feelings, remorse and weakness to move on.

But I know that being that way is lonely, not having someone to lean on is painful, that's why I try to always be with him, understand him and make him laugh when he can't.

He is extremely noble, too much for a world like this, yet he tries to change, he wants to break the values and preconceptions of his previous world.

That's why he is not weak in my opinion, nor does he reflect in my eyes as lacking character, being able to change yourself in his circumstances is the bravest act a person can do.

Leaving his safe place, to face things that people would normally despair with just thinking, shows how great his conviction is.

That's why, regardless of what happens in the future I want to keep supporting him not only as his bond, but also as his family.

Getting out of my thoughts, I hear the creaking of the doors, of the house where my brother was and I see him coming out of it.

When he sees me sitting in the garden he gives me a smile, which I corresponded with mine while saying "You're very slow brother".

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POV Cynthia Goodsky

One day before Julian returned to Xyrus.

Five months and two weeks before Julian entered the academy.

"If you're here, it means you already have the results of the experiments on mana impressions" I spoke as I saw Gideon entering my office and taking out some documents from his dimensional ring.

"The really hard part was the experimentation, on the other hand, the task of consolidating the results was much simpler" he replied in a satisfactory tone.

"Certainly, the experimentation in the clearings was not easy, listening to the test subjects was not pleasant at all" I replied.

"What happened to the ones who survived and gave positive results" Gideon asked in a complicated tone.

"Dead, we can't leave any clues, besides with the union of the three races it's better to eliminate impurities like those guys" I said in a gloomy tone.

"Did you do it or was it Julian?" he asked again as he sat down.

"Me, this was something I couldn't give in; I had the impression that he could break if he did that too" she spoke in a solemn tone.

"It was the best, that's the right way, that should have been taken from the beginning" Gideon replied.

"Let's leave the melancholic and annoying topics aside, tell me the results with concrete data about the experimentation" I spoke bringing back the topic that concerns us to the conversation.

"They were very satisfactory, after the first two weeks where all the test subjects who received the mark died, we ended up finding the optimal mana concentration to make them achieve awakening that false core" he replied while taking a few seconds to reorganize his ideas.

"After those complicated first two weeks, no one died again from the shock of receiving the mana impression, there was only one variant that we did not foresee in this process and that is that not everyone can awaken, only 3 out of 10 end up acquiring the mark" Gideon added.

"We couldn't ask for more, this is already leveling the firepower quite a bit with the other continent, besides there is a difference and that is that this false core only serves to increase the body of the non-mages, it does not allow them to create elemental spells" I replied remembering the details we saw in the tests.

"That's true, but from there also came another of the coincidences that we did not foresee, when applying it to the already awakened mages as something we could not have anticipated, they gained much larger mana reserves and their ability to process mana became much stronger" he replied with an exalted and happy voice.

"If I remember correctly one of the marks, even evolved from its base form of white circle to something more complex similar to a rune, that allowed him to conceptualize the fire element he already had to one lightning, which he used to try to escape, leaving that aside, the most fascinating thing is the possibility of using it with high level mages, this could give them a trump card, although more research is needed it is something very positive" I said in a cheerful tone because leaving aside the methods used, the results were much more than we anticipated.

"All this would not be possible without the boy, I don't know exactly what goes through his head or what he is waiting for to reveal everything to the continent. But I will trust him, he has earned my respect and I see him as a bright light that guides the continent in the future" Gideon said in a hopeful tone.

"You shouldn't put that kind of burden on his shoulders, although he is quite mature for his age; he is still very young and I'm sure that we adults of this era can still do more" I replied expressing my thoughts.

"That's true, I shouldn't let the boy do everything, we still have a lot we can give" he said as he passed me the research documents.

"By the way, how have you been with Miss Watsken, I heard from Julian that she was working with you and, since he recommended her himself, I'm curious about her abilities" I asked before he left.

"She's quite special, she learns fast and doesn't complain. In fact, she likes to be an artificer as much as I do" Gideon replied.

"I'm glad to see that you have someone who shares your hobbies" I spoke.

"Well, we're not as alike as it seems, she usually bothers me when I focus too much on something" he said touching his hair in an embarrassed way.

"No wonder with your personality, being this the end of the conversation, I thank you very much for coming here to deliver these documents" I said, extending my sincere thanks to probably the only other person in Dicathen besides Julian who knows about Alacrya.

"It's not a big deal, besides if this helps save lives and allows me to appear in the history books, I have nothing more to ask for" he said in a blatantly arrogant tone.

After that he left my office and I continued with my work, it had accumulated quite a bit because next year the other races from Darv and Elenoir will start attending in full form.

After several hours of reviewing the documents on my desk, I thought about taking a break.

I tried to go out to eat something, but one of the communication artifacts that I shared with Virion rang.

So I stopped my movements and answered, "How unusual to receive a call from you at this time".

"I'm sorry I know it's already late, but I have something to tell you" Virion said in a nervous tone.

"Did something happen, your voice sounds quite complicated", I replied.

"Well, as I had already told you Tessia has been assimilating the will of a beast and I had kept her with me until she finished her first stages. That happened a week ago and although I wanted her to stay longer, I couldn't get it" he said in a worried tone.

"Is there something wrong with her assimilation?, if so I can talk to her to send her back or you can come personally to help her" I commented.

"There is nothing wrong with her will, it's just that..." He seemed somewhat indecisive until he managed to ask me "Is the princess of Sapin still under your care and tutelage?".

Without thinking too much I answered because it was public knowledge that I had received some tutelage from me, although for the most part it is Julian explaining concepts to her, since only her wind and fire elements with their deviants are known in Sapin "Yes, why do you ask?".

"Does she attend regularly?", he asked in a nervous tone.

"It depends on the season, but lately yes, is something wrong with..." When I was about to answer Virion, I remembered that Julian had the interest of the two princesses and I understood the implications of his questions.

Worried, I look at the communication artifact and say "Virion, your granddaughter won't cause trouble with the princess of Sapin, will she?" I asked.

But the answer never came, "Answer, I don't want my academy to be the scene of an incident between the two races", I spoke again.

"Well Julian, will do something about it, since he is with you, besides he asked for it" he said with a malicious voice.

"Did you plan this?". I asked somewhat surprised by the audacity of his actions.

"How could I, ha, ha, ha, if you can try to record the incidents, I want to bother him later with that", Virion spoke with an innocent voice that clearly did not go with him.

"Haaaaaah, Julian has been away from Xyrus for two weeks, what am I going to do if there are problems", I replied in a tired tone

"Don't worry, what's the worst that can happen", he said

"You still don't know the heart of a lady", I replied in a tired tone, cutting off the communication