Gains & Loses

Unaware of the growing legion of adversaries plotting against him, Orion navigated the chaotic streets, each step echoing the echoes of his recent harrowing battle. His once-crimson cloak and mask, now concealed within the confines of the red runes of his hand, guarding the secrets of his true identity.

Bearing the visible scars of his relentless struggle, Orion moved with stoic determination, his body refusing to betray the pain that lurked beneath the surface. The city's bustle and chaos masked the silent battle within him as he pressed forward, suppressing the physical toll of his exhaustion and wounds.

Returning to the safety of his reserved room, Orion gracefully slipped through the window, opting for discretion over public scrutiny. While the external wounds told a vivid tale, it was the unseen injuries that demanded immediate attention. Orion acknowledged the limitations of his own magic, realizing that a period of respite was essential for the mending of both body and mind.

Entering the washroom, Orion immersed himself in the soothing embrace of steaming water, seeking solace in its warmth. However, the tranquility was shattered as violent coughing fits wracked his frame, each exhalation akin to a blade thrust into his chest. The spasms of coughs seemed unrelenting, raising concerns that the torment might endure indefinitely.

In an attempt to quell the persistent coughing, Orion brought his hand to his mouth, but the fit persisted, its relentlessness leaving him gasping for precious breath. As the episode finally subsided, he couldn't ignore the ominous sight of his blood-stained palm, a chilling revelation of his deteriorating condition.

Examining the crimson evidence, Orion let out a deep exhale. "It seems manipulating the surrounding mana is still a challenging task for me," he murmured, acknowledging the harsh reality of his current limitations.

"The challenge was already arduous enough as it is, but to exert this control over the likes of draconic beasts... that too twice on the same day." Orion sighed, genuinely astounded by his achievement. He was surprised that his heart didn't burst right away. After all, the Dragonic creatures were beings at the pinnacle of magic. Beings with an unparalleled affinity for mana. Their presence alone can disrupt the natural flow of mana, earning them the revered title of "Children of Mana."

Yet, Orion appeared to be favored as well, armed with the rare ability to amplify his own mana signature into the surroundings; he too could surpass his limits. This extraordinary power allowed him to influence the mana in his immediate surroundings, disrupting the magical manipulations of mages and creatures alike.

The manifestation of this ability, which he had aptly named "Mana Dominance," had proven its worth by dispersing the magic of the wyvern, not once but twice. Once when he was trapped, and second when the wyvern had tried to escape from his runic circle.

However, the encounter with a dragon would have been an entirely different ordeal. Even attempting to exert his Mana Dominance around a Wyvern had extracted a considerable toll on his body, as extending his mana signature placed significant strain on his heart, emphasizing the formidable challenge presented in the use of this unique ability.

As Orion pondered the implications, a daunting question lingered in his mind – what would happen if he dared employ his Mana Dominance against a real dragon? The mere contemplation of such a reckless maneuver was enough to send shivers down his spine. Envisioning the potential consequences, with the strain on his heart escalating to a point where it might succumb to the overwhelming pressure.

"I must exercise caution in the future deployment of this," Orion resolved, fully aware of the inherent risks. The gravity of his recent encounters prompted him to acknowledge the need for prudence in wielding his Mana Dominance. "Furthermore, it will be some time before I can harness it again," he contemplated, recalling his grandfather's sage advice that emphasized the judicious use of this formidable ability, reserving it for the most dire of circumstances.

A sudden flood of memories involving his grandfather enveloped Orion in a contemplative aura, stirring a complex blend of emotions within him. However, he swiftly redirected his focus, realizing the urgency of the present moment.

"I may have pushed my limits today, but it was not without purpose," he remarked, and at that very moment, crimson marks began to materialize on his arm, casting a golden radiance around them, and with a simple flick of his hand, he summoned forth a colossal red heart onto his left palm.

A heart covered in a red hue like molten lava, pulsating as if carrying a fire deep within. It was still alive, radiating waves of power with its every beat, shaking the very air around it.

It was the heart of the flaming wyvern. Orion beheld the heart in his palm; the significance of possessing such a potent relic was not lost on him. It was more than a mere organ; it was a vessel of elemental power and the embodiment of the creature he had bested in battle. The energy emanating from it whispered tales of the wyvern's blazing inferno and untamed fury, now harnessed within this fiery organ.

In the silence surrounding him, the heart's beats resonated like a testament to Orion's conquest, a tangible trophy of his triumph over the formidable wyvern. Despite the visible damage it sustained, the heart retained its magical essence. It represented the culmination, a key to unlocking the potential within his radiant silver mana core.

Orion carefully observed the red heart, each beat echoing with the promise of ascension, a step closer to mastering the elusive Bright Silver mana core. Satisfied with his work, he swiftly guided the pulsating heart back into the red marks on his arm and focused on the other matter.

Beyond the tangible gains, the encounter with the undead wyvern had shattered Orion's preconceptions. What he had dismissed as mere myths and stories earlier were now stark realities. The undead were not fantastical tales to instill fear but tangible entities, and Orion stood as a living testament to that undeniable truth.

The undeniable truth of facing an undead Wyvern left Orion grappling with the mysteries that lurked within the world, leaving him to question the very nature of magic and existence itself.

His grandfather's words echoed in Orion's mind like an ancient prophecy, "What you know right now is but a speck of dust in the face of the mysteries of this world." His grandfather's wisdom resonated within him, propelling him into a pursuit of understanding yet again.

But that was an endeavor for later. For the time being, he allowed the waves of pain to envelop him, easing back into the comforting warmth of the water's embrace.