Surprise!

I focus on the outside, trying to reach for the witch's voice.

It was difficult, extremely so. This was different from when I was using this technique to focus on visual acuity and spatial awareness while isolating unnecessary input like smell.

Now, I had to focus on auditory information—the witch's voice and mana sensitivity. Still, after awhile I got used to it, albeit being good at it was still a long way to go.

Slowly, the witch's voice, too, penetrates the darkness.

"… Good, it would seem that you're more focused now. That would make this much easier. Still, to be able to focus to such a degree through sheer will is, what I can only call as, impressive. You should hone this technique further, polish and master it to it's absolute limit. A technique like this can come a long way. Who knows? Maybe it might even become a skill."

I let out a grunt at the witch's unnecessary ramblings, impatient and strained.

I couldn't keep this up for long

"Oh… right."

It would seem that my response got through to her. She spoke in a realizing tone and decided to drop the subject.

"Now, feel for the mana in the air. I'm sure that shouldn't be a problem for you."

I did as I was told and focus on the outside, visualizing the invisible streams of mana that existed all around us.

Small motes of green, blue, but mostly brown with a couple of red mana appear in the darkness, giving the place a somewhat ethereal look.

My mind strains from the stress of using the technique. This technique was not meant to be used out of battle where the constant fear of death distracted me from the pain.

I grit my teeth, trying and failing to bear with the head-splitting headache that continuously assaulted.

Then something changed.

The green motes of mana wrapped around me in warm embrace. It felt… nice. I felt protected and safe, my mind fully at ease. I embraced the feeling, letting it envelope me.

The headache lessened somewhat, only barely enough for me to keep working.

I focused even harder than before.

Then, something changed. Something I did not think was possible.

More motes started to appear. Purple, black and yellow started appearing. There was very few of them, though their luster was much brighter than any of the other colors that shined in the abyss.

"That's it. Feel for them, let THEM come to you. Not the other way around."

I've seen these before…

I focus on the few motes that drifted among the streams of green, blue, brown, and the occasional red. The yellow stuck with the red, hovering around it. Purple stuck with brown, the very few motes stuck within the stream.

 Then, there was black, cold and alone. It was nowhere and everywhere. The individual parts of it were scattered around, independent and alone.

I reach for it.

"I just said—"

The black motes gravitates around me. It was… easy, the last thing that I expected it to be.

The mana falters, then slowly dissipate away.

No!

I reach for the black motes once more, and without a second of delay, they began gravitating once more. It would seem that letting my mind wander was a bad idea.

If I'm going to do this, I'm gonna need to give it my full attention

"What the…"

I ignore the witch's voice, focusing on absorbing the black motes of mana.

「Your attribute 'Absorption' is activating」

The black motes seep into my skin, then pass my flesh and bones into my mana circuits. From there they travel up, into my chest and into my heart.

「Your attribute 'Assimilation' is activating」

It felt amazing, like magical ecstasy was being pumped straight into my  body.

I accept the feeling wholeheartedly, letting my mana circuits absorb the black motes.

After a while of absorbing and assimilating the mana into my body, I let my back fall to the hard ground, feeling the cool earth and the sweat sticking to my shirt.

*splash*

The lake just behind me ripples as my hair dips into it.

So cold~

The witch's voice resounds in front of me.

"What did you just do?"

◇◆◇◆◇

"So, did she let you enroll?" Mary grip her chair's armrest tightly as she looked at me with a gaze filled with hope and doubt.

I did not blame her, since our entire future depended on whether I would be able to attend the Academy or not.

It was two days after we I promised Mary I would get permission from mother. Mary had been busy with something else, so we could not meet until now.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself.

"No, she didn't. She did, however, say that she would personally make sure that I could attend as soon as Nacht graduates."

Mary stood up so fast that her chair toppled backwards.

"That's not good enough! If we leave any later as next year, then who knows what might happen?! You know how slithery that snake Lockhart is. I bet he's scheming how to dispose of you once he's exhausted every single asset that he can exploit." Mary outraged as she grabbed me by the shoulders, shaking me like a maraca.

Once she was done doing that, she put her chair back up, sitting on it cross-legged. Her pale thighs contrasted her thigh-highs, giving her a somewhat sexy vibe.

She let a long, tired sigh—a little too exaggerated if you ask me.

"What are we supposed to do now…? My entire plan rode on you getting your mother's permission. At this rate, that snake will most likely suck you dry until you're out of use." She looked back at me. "This is all your fault! If you hadn't told me that it would be a complete success, then I would have prepared a back-up plan or something!!"

"But I did succeed." I said plainly.

"… Excuse me?" Mary looked back at me, her face scrunched up in doubt.

I pulled out the letter that father had sent for me. As soon as I did, Mary swiped it out of my hand, ripping the seal graciously and opening the letter without care.

"Are you supposed to—"

"Shaddap." She read through the contents quickly, then put the letter back into it's envelope.

「Skill 'Intuition' is warning you」

*slap*

"You should have told me that earlier, you thick-headed idiot!"