Let It Begin

A smirk tugged at the corner of Arin's lips. "Just one last thing..."

In a swift motion, he began drawing more Mana toward him. With meticulous control, he guided it closer, funneling it into the Magic Circle that was already glowing intensely.

This was the final step in completing the Spell Creation: feeding the Magic Circle with an immense amount of Mana until it reached the necessary threshold. Mages would know instinctively when that point was reached, a kind of sixth sense honed through experience and focus.

The Magic Circle glowed brighter as more Mana flooded into it, but Arin knew it still wasn't enough. His brow furrowed slightly. "More... More..."

Mana continued pouring into the Magic Circle, its brilliance intensifying and bathing the Mana Space in blinding light. Arin's grin widened, his eyes fixed on the circle, the glow reflecting in his gaze. "Almost there..."

Suddenly, his hair and clothes began to flutter as if caught in a storm. The Magic Circle trembled, crackling with raw power. A gust of wind erupted from nowhere, causing ripples to dance across the ocean floor beneath him.

*WHOOSH!*

Arin felt the wind pushing against him, but he held his ground, stretching out his hands to maintain control over the Mana flow. This was the moment he had been waiting for. The chance to push his mental fortitude to its limit. He wasn't just controlling Mana; he was doing it through sheer willpower, bending it to his command.

The strain was evident on his face, but it only fueled his determination. His eyes blazed with intensity. "Yes... This is it!"

*WHOOSH!*

A burst of blinding blue light erupted from the Magic Circle, forcing Arin to shut his eyes and shield his face with an arm. He stumbled back, the sheer force of the light overwhelming his senses.

Seconds passed, and the light finally dimmed. Arin cautiously opened his eyes. The Magic Circle was gone, leaving the Mana Space eerily calm, just as it had been when he first entered.

Arin let out a long breath, a small smile of satisfaction playing on his lips. "That's it..."

He was drained, completely devoid of Mana, but it was a feeling he had come to embrace. He glanced ahead at the endless void that stretched before him. "Creating a Spell really is the real deal. I've burned through all my Mana."

There was no need to linger any longer. With a single thought, his surroundings shifted, and he was back in his room. The exhaustion weighed heavily on him, but it was manageable. However, he noticed something else, something that made his grin widen as he moved towards the mirror.

"I did it..." he muttered, staring at his reflection. The fog that had clouded his mind was gone. He could think clearly again, unburdened by the mental haze that had plagued him.

"It actually worked... strengthening my mental fortitude," Arin whispered, a hint of disbelief in his voice. Yet, he knew this clarity was temporary. The side effects of his Chaos Element would surface again, especially since it was still in its initial stage. He needed to continue fortifying his mind to advance the Chaos Element.

He took a deep breath, glancing out the window. The day was slowly fading away. "Seems I spent quite some time in the Mana Space." This reaffirmed the importance for a Mage to be in the safety of their home, doors locked, when crafting a spell.

Arin sighed, sitting down on his bed. It felt good to have his mind back to normal. He opened his inventory and retrieved a small red object: the Blood Core.

"I've taken too long," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the Blood Core. "I'll have to do it tonight." After a moment, he placed it back in his inventory and stood up. There was no time to bask in the relief of his cleared mind.

He retrieved his mask and cloak, slipping them on swiftly. It was time for the night's events to unfold, and he needed to be ready for what was to come.

"It's time..." he muttered, only his eyes visible through the mask. "Time for a great show."

*******

Darkness swallowed the light as night fell, an endless loop that was part of daily life. Inside Greenfield Academy, two figures walked steadily toward the Weapon Building, a structure reserved for housing weapons.

They wore the Academy's uniform, marking them as students of this prestigious institution. One had blonde hair and blue eyes, his hands casually stuffed into his pockets, his face set in a relaxed expression. The other, with blue hair, was even more strikingly handsome, the kind of face that could make any girl swoon.

"So," Alex began, his voice casual, "what did you want to show me?"

Arthur smiled, a secretive glint in his eyes. "Relax, will you? You'll see soon enough."

Alex rolled his eyes but continued walking. "Alright, alright."

"First off," Arthur started, his tone becoming more serious, "thanks for coming here first before meeting Tessa. I mean, you chose her over me."

Alex shot him a sharp side-eye, his glare speaking volumes without a single word.

Arthur chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Hey, easy now, it was just a joke."

Alex sighed, looking straight ahead. "You know, when you put it that way, it sounds weird."

Arthur clicked his tongue, annoyed. "Get your mind out of the gutter, will you?"

A thought seemed to dawn on Alex, his eyes widening slightly. "Wait, are you...?"

"Shut up!!" Arthur snapped, his face flushing red as he quickened his pace.

Meanwhile, high above on a rooftop, a cloaked figure stood against the dark sky. His cloak fluttered wildly in the wind, his face hidden behind a mask. The aura of mystery around him was palpable.

He stared into the distance, eyes narrowing as he focused on a point far away. His voice, low and cold, cut through the silence of the night.

"Let it begin..."