Shining Through

"Place your hand on the crystal ball and we can begin."

She uncovered the thick black sheet covering the mysterious object, revealing a clear sphere made of transparent material.

I hesitated. Of course I would. She had just asked me to reveal what was essentially all of my available cards. Though I had forged a bond between us, I did not think it would be strong enough to make such a disadvantageous deal.

Though my mastery in magic is less than sub-par compared to hers, it still did not feel right to me to make such a bold decision. While the knowledge that she had a tool that could identify one's magical abilities scared me, it begged the question:

Why is she asking now?

She could have just used it on me while I was asleep or unconscious. Making such an unnecessary step somehow felt wrong for her to do such a thing. Despite my promise, I was still skeptical.

Skeptical that she would just use me for her own benefit and to further her goals. Though I didn't know what these 'goals' were, whether they be good or bad, for me specifically. That only made my doubts worse.

I could not trust those that seek answers too soon

The witch met my suspicious and judgmental eyes. She was surprised, offended, and confused at the same time. The blur of color further clouded her vision.

"So you're distrustful of me… fair. I thought you would loosen up after a little bit of skinship, but it seems I thought wrong. Once more, fair. Throwing all your weapons on the floor before the duel is just suicide. Not an impressive feat by all means, even if you win in the end."

She said snidely, her mask – or veil as I like to call it – was even thicker than before. It kept me out – the danger – and her inner self – the captive – inside, trapped in her own self-woven prison. I had seen that inner self before, when I became her knight. The morning after, though, she was back to normal.

It might be a good idea to talk to her more often, maybe it will help me learn her language too

I though contemplatively. This 'wall' between us has been nothing more than a hindrance, and I needed to quickly demolish it.

Getting back on topic, I thought about what I should do. Even if my magic was weaker than hers, that didn't mean that I should just show them to her so flippantly. She looked at me with a bit of contempt.

"If you're going to be so stubborn like that, then maybe we should just end our alliance."

"…?!"

What?! ...Is she being serious right now…?

If this was true, then I would be all alone again. While working by myself is my ideal condition, the labyrinth would not say the same. There were dangers in this place that are far above what I could handle all alone.

Besides, if she was going to annul our alliance, then that would effectively make me her enemy. Worse yet, her prey.

I already knew that the difference between us was something that I couldn't overcome in a short amount of time.

I grit my teeth and swallow my pride. Slowly as to not show any kind of hostility, I reach for the crystal ball. The witch grinned.

"Good boy."

She said mockingly at me. I was mad, a bit furious even, at her attempt(and success) to manipulate me. She spoke again.

"Close your eyes and try to imagine 'yourself', or the nature of your mana. Then, once you've gotten a clear sense of 'yourself', pour mana into the crystal ball."

I did as she said and closed my eyes shut.

No point in trying to antagonize her now that I have already given up my pride

Focusing on myself, I turn my perception inward. I reach for that state of focus that I had relied on before. It was a lot harder this time.

Unlike my previous use of the concentration method where I was practically brute forcing the technique into myself in fear of death, this time, I did not have such motivations. I was now forcing an already taxing technique without any kind of trigger. Before, the crushing pressure of my own life being extinguished proved to be more than enough of a 'trigger' to activate said technique.

This time, I was lost as to what or where to go. While I could just search for this 'nature' that she had spoken of normally, I rejected against that method. For some reason, I felt like that would be the wrong decision. Like it would lead down a path anything other than the right ones.

Silently, I reach for that technique. The witch said nothing as I desperately tried to recall for the 'nature of my mana' like she said. Then, I stopped. I opened my eyes and found the witch staring at something far beyond me. A trickle of sweat ran down my cheeks.

"What's wrong, having trouble?"

I shook my head. I could not show any weakness, especially to her. I close my eyes once more, trying to recall that technique. This time, I tried a different approach.

I slowly felt myself sink, almost like I was in quicksand. Despite all my focus being expended into the activation of this technique, I was barely making any progress. I needed something, anything that could serve as proper reason to break through the boundary of the abyss. It was then that the thought occurred to me.

What if she thinks I'm just stalling...? That would be bad, very bad. If she thinks of me as just a defective product and throws me away, then I don't know what I'd do. I can't let this continue. I can't let the mistakes continue. I shouldn't be making such a bother in front of somebody clearly greater than myself

My inner thoughts surfaced from the abyss. All my anxieties had been put in display for myself to swallow and bury deep down once again. Sadly, though, I was already being buried.

I continued to sink, this time faster and scarier. My inner thoughts continue to surface and taunt me. I try my best to ignore them, only to be met with the sound of a bubble popping.

Then, I wasn't sinking ,but drowning. I desperately tried to grab onto something, anything. Sadly, the abyss was lacking any kind of geographical structures for me to hold onto.

The air was slowly sucked out of me and replaced with the endless suffocation of my anxieties. I was dying, though this time, not even my technique could save me.

As I slowly lost to myself, a single light shone through the abyss. It pierced through the endless darkness, shining a single streak of light right onto me. It wasn't warm or cold. Rather, it was accepting, reassuring me of my place and what I could look forward to.

With the light's encouragement, I dove even deeper. I was not drowning anymore, not suffocating, and not distressed.

As I made my descent into the deeper abyss, another light shone. Unlike the one surrounding me, it was faint and flickering. It was like a single lightbulb nearing the end of it's lifespan, desperately trying to live on despite it's faultiness.

I reach for that light, it's presence was familiar. The ice-cold aura that it exuded grazed my skin, covering it in frost. For the first time since coming here, I had felt the touch of something else.

Not a moment too soon, I was pulled out. The frost on my skin is gone, the cold gone and dissipated. In my surprise, though, I could feel something else in it's place.

The mage's eyes were shut tight. Her brows were knit in concentration as she desperately tried to do… something. Her left hand was holding my own, clutching it tightly. It almost hurt.

On the hand she was holding, I realized, was a dark miasma that enveloped my index and middle finger.

Slowly and surely, I bring the miasma to the crystal ball. The witch gripped my hand even tighter, not wanting to let go. I patted her hand with my free one and removed her gripping hand. She held on even tighter before eventually fiving up and letting go.

She opened her eyes too, and this time, I could see the colors in her eyes once more. They were beautiful, their hue was just as vibrant as I last saw them.

After a bit of admiring her eyes, I finally bring the miasma, my 'nature' to the crystal ball.

The crystal ball shone brightly.