Yenna came out of hiding and found Vell eating the massive core. "Y-you really defeated that thing alone? Just how strong have you become?"
He glanced at her, his mouth full of core pieces. He swallowed hard and looked away. "Well, I am close to breaking through to the next tier, though you could say I cheated in a way. The problem is now you; we need to get you to at least mid-apprentice level before we leave."
These words gave her the courage to try her best. "Yeah! I won't let you down."
"Hmph, I know you wouldn't. Your problem is that you lack self-confidence…start there and you will see what I mean." He jumped off the head, core fully eaten and mana swirling around his body.
'Mana, these energies are something else...usually I would need to sit and concentrate in order to absorb the mana and not kill myself, but these energies have removed the need for that. They suck in any new mana, making me stronger faster.'