Mana

Time to awaken mana.

Zell stepped off the staircase and began ascending toward his room. On the way there, he passed by a hallway lined with several windows. All the glass panes were covered with thick layers of frost.

It had been chilly that morning. The air outside was damp and cold. Nevertheless, he chose to ignore the discomfort and continue walking.

Zell had chosen this location because it was relatively isolated from the main building. It also provided him with a view overlooking the city.

The streets below were crowded with people heading to work and school. They walked and drove in all directions, some going east, others west. Businessmen and merchants traveled in carts, wagons, and carriages. Most wore heavy coats and hats for protection against the frosty weather.

A short distance away, Zell spotted a group of soldiers patrolling the area. They carried swords in hand and looked for any signs of trouble. Each of them sported an intimidating look on their face. Armed with clubs and spears, they seemed prepared for anything.

On occasion, a few peasants passed by in their farm wagons or carts. By comparison, the farmers' outfits were much less formal. They were dressed in plain clothing without any adornment. At times, they even wore burlap sacks instead of shoes.

Some of them might have been poor but they were still part of the city's population.

All in all, it was quite a busy place.

Zell continued to walk upward until he reached the third floor. The stairs were narrow and steep. The wood panels on either side were worn thin. Since the floors were wooden, they creaked whenever anyone ascended or descended.

When he finally arrived at his destination, Zell opened the door and stepped inside. It was the second-to-last room. He quickly closed the door behind him so that no one would hear him awakening his mana.

Inside, he turned on the lights and lit a fire in the fireplace.

Then he sat on the floor cross-legged. He bent forward slightly and placed his palms on top of his thighs. Then he closed his eyes and focused his attention on his internal energy.

In order to activate his inner power, Zell needed to calm his mind and relax his muscles. He tried to picture his mana as pure white light. The more relaxed he became, the easier he found it to summon the mana within him.

Eventually, he succeeded and he saw 7 orbs.

A green orb, red orb, brown orb, blue orb, white orb, black orb, and a purple orb each representing their own element.

These were the seven elements of nature: air, fire, earth, water, light, darkness, and mind.

Within each of these orbs, he sensed a faint presence of mana. Once the right amount was summoned, it would flow through his veins.

Each orb was unique. Some were larger than others. However, they all possessed their own individual characteristics. In particular, the green orb was very small.

Likewise, the black orb was larger than the others and its aura was very dark. Even so, it was similar to a stone.

Finally, the purple orb was rather small. Yet, it was filled with a strange aura that Zell could hardly define.

Without warning, he felt a sudden chill. His entire body grew numb. Suddenly, his thoughts clouded over and he lost consciousness.

***

"Zell!" A familiar voice called out to him "Are you okay?!"

Zell opened his eyes slowly. For a moment, he thought he might be dreaming.

"You're awake…"

"Yes… I'm sorry."

Despite her concern, Elisabeth smiled warmly at him.

The room was dim and quiet. Without a word, Zell rose to his feet. He dusted off his clothes. Then he left the bedroom without saying another word.

Outside, Zell stood atop the balcony and surveyed the city. The sun shone brightly in the sky and the wind blew briskly across the land.

"What were you doing, I was looking for you the whole day."

"I was awakening."

"Awakening your mana… how many orbs did you see?" Elisabeth had never experienced awakening but she had read many books about it.

Zell paused briefly before replying. "Seven."

That number surprised her.

Seven? That seemed like a lot…

"Can you tell me what each looks like?"

Zell shook his head. "No, I can't."

"Oh… why not?"

"They are completely different. And I don't remember them all."

"Hmm…"

"I'll try my best to describe them."

"Of course."

For a while, Zell remained silent. He stared at the city's buildings with his arms crossed over his chest. Finally, he spoke again.

"First, the green orb is bright and vibrant. It's full of life. Nothing seems to bother it but, somehow, it feels empty."

Elisabeth nodded. "Sounds about right."

"Next is the red orb. It's the largest and possesses an overwhelming sense of danger."

"Uh huh…"

"The brown orb is very powerful yet peaceful. It has a calming effect on the surrounding environment and makes everything seem safer."

She agreed again.

"The next is the blue orb. Its aura is distant and unknown. At times, it resembles a crystal ball. But at other times, it appears dark and gloomy."

"Very interesting."

"Lastly," Zell continued, "the black orb is the most mysterious of them all. Because it's so different from the others, I cannot properly describe it."

"Hmmm…" Elisabeth murmured.

After a few more seconds of silence, Zell declared, "I believe I should stop describing them. Otherwise, they will become less distinct."

"Certainly… What else?"

"I'm afraid I can't say any more…"

"Oh…"

Once again, she nodded her agreement.

The two of them fell into a comfortable silence.

"Do you know any incantations?" Zell asked.

"No I am not a mage, you should ask Janae instead."

"Will do."

Zell realized that this was the perfect moment to mark Elisabeth!

He must act fast.

He approached her and held her shoulders.

Elisabeth was startled by his sudden touch. She squirmed slightly in surprise.

But she didn't resist. Instead, she allowed him to take her hand. Then he led her to a nearby bench. After sitting down, he took hold of her hand again and kissed the palm of her hand.

A weird symbol sprouted on her palm after he kissed it.

He had successfully marked her, she was now his forever.

Zell leaned forward and pulled her closer. He looked deep into her eyes.

Then he whispered in her ear, "How does it feel?"

"Wonderful…" she replied. "It's the strangest sensation…"

She felt the effects of blood slaves marking, and her obsession for him grew tenfold, she felt like he would do anything for him.

"Would you like me to kiss you?"

"Yes!"

Without further hesitation, Zell lifted up Elisabeth's chin and then planted a passionate kiss on her lips.

Immediately, she melted into his embrace. Her legs wrapped around him as her hands held onto his back. Their kisses were both gentle and rough at the same time. In the end, they ended up lying side by side, with their heads leaning against one another.

"Your mine now, don't you forget."

"I won't ever..."

As if the words were a command, Elisabeth forgot all about her previous concerns. Not only did she forget her worries and troubles, but she also forgot all about reality.

With every breath, she felt a slight warmth fill her lungs. The sound of his heart beating against her forehead was soothing.

When she finally opened her eyes, she discovered that Zell was staring at her.

His face showed nothing but love and affection. Somehow, he always managed to look so handsome.

There was something very special about Zell. He was a rare creature who could captivate her with just one smile or a single word.

Suddenly, Elisabeth's cheeks began to burn.

"What's wrong?" Zell asked.

Elisabeth blushed heavily. She couldn't explain it. Something about Zell made her feel embarrassed.

Then she remembered what happened earlier that morning. How did he know about her feelings? Did he notice how flushed she was from kissing him?

To cover her embarrassment, she said, "Sorry, you surprised me."

"Did I? I apologize."

Elisabeth nodded absently. Then she noticed that her hand was still in his. As a matter of fact, his hand was holding hers firmly.

At first, she withdrew it immediately.

However, she hesitated and then decided to stay put.

She liked the feeling of being held by him. Moreover, it felt safe and secure. It was as though she belonged to him.

So she let his hand remain on hers.

Zell's hand felt warm and soft. It reminded her of the heat of the fire and the flames of the furnace.

When she touched it, it sent a tingling sensation throughout her fingertips.

Even when he wasn't touching her, she radiated an intense desire for him.