Chapter 62 -The Trigger-

CHAPTER 62 -THE TRIGGER-

His vegetables were outnumbering mine, much less to zero was on my plate alone. 

Suspicious and also annoyed at what I had been given. Seeing him pick up the potato with the fork before eating it. "A totally different character. A girlfriend perhaps? If that is the case congrats but the question would be, who in their right mind would date an arrogant and selfish bastard?" 

It's the truth though it may seem hard to even speak it like I did but this kid has no respect for anyone aside from the former Espion. This is all too suspicious to take in and even see, it wasn't that long ago when he learned about this island and now he is here when I couldn't sense him? 

Finally, as if he knew what I was thinking, Ukhac decided to speak. "Luna Lyric, the disciple of the brat who was the general of this whole continent and possibly the one who's become the youngest out of all of us Espions title holders. Though you may be here for some distinct reason, the other, Juliette Riley, should be here as well. You two sisters from different bloods always are together, specially with Alter Violet."

In between those long words that he let out, food and sometimes even a sip of water to digest it all down. Dining like a royal per say, but that wasn't the reason why he would change in just one month. Something had to happen for him to be like this…

An Idea came to my mind but I didn't know if this was the reason or at least a trigger. 

"Is the reason for the sudden change in your character along with your attitude have something to do with what she told you before she died…" I took time on my side before saying something else, I needed to make sure my words didn't inflict an old wound on the person who will help me in commanding the Espions and the Vassals. "Or is it something that you learned while we were gone and it's bothering you?"

Ukhac's face betrayed him the moment my words in his ears, his eyes widened like I had hit the target. However, there were two things that I'd said and knowing which one it was would be a pain to figure out. 

He hesitated to speak. Instead he continued to feed his mouth with more of the healthy food on his plate. Each bite was so aggressive that he ended up biting the silverware he was using, leaving only the base of the fork. Aside from his strong and undominated pride and arrogance, his teeth are also strong for a dwarf soldier. 

***

I closed my eyes and began to concentrate on the mana–which had become more dense–and tried to form a connection between the mana and my mana core. 

"How long do you plan on doing that?" Questioned Ukhac as I felt his gaze burn my spine that came from the entrance of the wooden hut. 

Though his voice was muffled and out of consciousness, I could still hear my surroundings along with his voice. "As long as I need to." I briefly answered, straight to the point not wanting to waste time in these unrequired talks. 

Putting my full concentration towards the atmosphere around me, not awaiting a response from the Espion. Calling for the mana in my favor along with my unique elemental affinity. I opened my core once more, accepting the dense mana to enter it, and if it did enter I would mold it to my custom until I can use it freely. 

Suddenly, the toxic mana began to walk my way, like moths to a fire. Being all around me from different elements to different densities, having them pulled by my core as it was thirsty for the alien mana. The vacuum-like expression that my core unleashed upon the alien mana was instant the moment it felt it, without almost leaving nothing my core had been filled with. 

However, it felt like it was being given to me instead of working for it. The sudden charge of my mana core for this un-acrobatic magic source in it to fuel it was…wrong. Having this power being granted to me as a lollipop whenever I ask is not the right call. Nevertheless, something deep down told me that this was the right way even though it was not the right feeling. 

If I were to deny this sudden power instead of using it, my pride for strength and conviction will dissipate into the abyss. My one-sided promise to Alter was the only thing I could keep at this moment and losing it would break my own world where I and Julie have created with our mentor. I didn't care if this continent was ravaged or even erased from the dimensions there is, whether of this upcoming battle or the countless ones to come. Julie is my only hope of protecting, as a big sister that is my responsibility. 

I would use whatever means to ensure that I…if it's only Julie, to live a peaceful life after all of this has reached its conclusion. The monarchs of Afreon. The King and Queen of Ezar. If I had to lie to them or even deceive them, then so be it. 

Hell, if things get more heated than what it has or what it could be. I would leave straight to where Julie is and run with her to the ends of the universe, where no one would ever dare to check even twice or even think about it. 

That is why I need to accept this unknown power now and not regret my decision later. Using this might be an advantage to me in some way or another against the arm that is to come here. 

Then, deep in my mind–somewhere in the back of my mind–told me that I should hold my hands together as if I was holding an egg. I took a minute and destroyed my concentration. I had to look around the area where I sat down, Ukhac was no longer there and I had noticed that his gaze that I felt earlier was gone probably a while back. I tried using the mana sensing ability that Julie would use by sending a small amount of the mana in my core into the forest-like environment around the hut and me. 

There was nothing in the high-weed or even behind the palm trees, nothing that contained mana or even a living organism. Yet it felt like I was being watched, even at this moment. A pair of unknown attention gripped my body and movements as it was staring, unblinking. 

While the pair of eyes stared at me, I noticed that in my core–the mana I had used for sensing–had been recovered in a matter of seconds. No acknowledgement of needing to replace that used alien mana by rather it did it alone, without any commands. 

Astonished by this discovery of one of the capabilities of this alien mana brought me another source of hope to live peacefully. Another way to end this war that has been raging on for god knows how long, Elementals, Dragons, Humans, Basilisks. Their war needs to end now, a new era is entering this time and essence. 

If this old war still manages to enter this new era, with its old essence and energy, the worlds that we hold dear may fall and banish itself into the void and into history. 

Fate and destiny were now throwing at me an important role in this messed up world, being the second disciple of Alter Violet, I must now stop this from ever happening. Then out of nowhere, Alter's image of before he left Ezar with Chuzeoth, Eugene, and Pearl, appeared in my mind. A happy smile across his face as he told every single one of us present that he would come back successful and to us. 

A smile cracked on my face, with this came an emotion that brought me adrenaline of some sort. I wanted to fight something, using this mana in a real battlefield and defeating the enemy without difficulty, that was what I wanted right now. More than anything I wanted to show the ones I defeated that I was Alter's disciple, I urged to show it in a way. 

Strategically, physically, or even mentally. I didn't give two hells if I had to show it one way or all three of those, as long as I got to show it and rub it in their faces. 

My two hands closed on each other, like I was holding an egg that needed warmth from its mother. Mana from my core and from the atmosphere began to run inside of my open but slightly closed hands. Seconds—two seconds—passed before something happened, where the alien mana had been condensing, a bright yellowish white light that blinded me for a moment appeared. 

Consuming more than a normal amount of mana, the bright light started to get warmer and hotter as time passed. The pleading of my hands became louder as the boiling heat started to sizzle my palms without mercy, "Dammit!" I let out, holding the bright light as much as I could. 

No, I entailed grasping this unknown and–probably–dangerous power. Perhaps this small sacrifice of my face palms would lead to a greater path where power is my lead role in this messed up destiny. I thought, widening my eyes as the surprise of the light became brighter than it was and simultaneously it cooled down.

However, the face of my palms were already destroyed to the point where I couldn't even feel anything from the tips of my fingers to the base of my hand. Though I couldn't feel the texture of the object, I could still feel the weight of it. 

A heavy, silver ring with an engraving of a strange symbol that resembled a star with some ancient literature that wasn't in the history of the continent of Afreon. A dimension storage? Or something similar to that? 

With the silver ring on my hand, I was confused on the matter of the event. Why would a silver ring appear in my hand out of nowhere, unless… revolting the mana in my core, I tried to push it into the ring but somehow was unsuccessful. The ring rejected the mana as well as the element affinities. 

With less than a second, the mana that I pushed was replenished, my decision to go back to Afreon was set in motion. I tried to use this mana energy like I would use normal mana, the way to this island is only through the ability to fly here. 

Then I recalled something, Afreon had a new means of transportation–a train, it is called–that could possibly lead to this island. Even so, with technology like that I'd highly doubt that the monarchs would lead a civilian train all the way over here. 

Breaking my mind on whether that transportation device came all the way over here was just a waste of hope and cells, but at least I had some sort of hope in this stranded island. Now that I no longer had the mechanical means to use mana like before with this 'unknown power', there are still things I want to try with it. 

The chance to use this different mana in a well liberated place filled with it is zero to none. Giving up on the means of going into the mainland is needed, just so that I can use this advantage to my liking in the next battlefield. 

Ukhac knowing that I'm here, he will probably tell the dragon generals my location…probably not–thinking about it now–if something is in his way of his pride and ego, nothing will come out his mouth. 

I shook my head, depriving myself from these negative thoughts. "No, I have to believe that Ukhac will do something about it. In the meantime I must train myself for this essence." 

***

After sometime training myself with the unknown mana with no means of lead or strings, a new lead I'd discovered. My little understanding was now increased by so much, making me realize how much of a potential I had with it. 

Conjuring basic spells with imitations to elements were now something easy I could do, but being still called basic spells still strain my core and body with the excessive force it comes with upon releasing it. 

However, that wasn't the only thing I knew. I said to myself rubbing against my rumbling stomach which was pleading for the food it had tasted earlier. Ukhac wasn't here though, meaning I had to make my own food–with unlimited meats and vegetables. 

Following my dinner, I decided to end it with some sleep. The tiredness that I had once didn't appear during or after my mentally training earlier, but that didn't mean I had to continue to strain my body and mind with absolute training like a certain someone. 

A giggle escaped my lips when I thought of Ukhac's past–when he was older than Alter by one year–trying more than he was capable of doing just to fill his predecessor's role. 

"A total Idiot to the core," I lightly said before closing my eyes, pulling the warm and cozy blanket over my body. 

Then I strafed into the darkness…

Hearing a sweet little voice which sounded familiar yet formal. 

"...Father, Mother, Brother, where are you guys going?"