I opened my eyes once again.
Seeing the same sword.
Approaching my neck.
But this time...
"Ghk-!"
A sharp pain exploded in my abdomen.
Startling me momentarily.
But that was enough...
My head was severed.
------
My eyes snapped open only to see the scene.
And again..
"Ghk-!"
The pain returned.
But this time, I moved...
Gritting my teeth, I forced my body to move despite the agony. I ducked low, barely slipping past the blade. My knees hit the ground as I collapsed forward, clutching my chest, struggling to breathe.
"I'm surprised."
A familiar voice came from ahead of me.
"To think you were able to dodge even in that state."
"Looks li-"
"Fuck you." I cut him off.
"..."
Before he could speak, I forced myself up and ran, the pain still spreading throughout my body.
------
I couldn't get far; the pain was slowing me down more than the poison ever did.
I took a different path this time, arriving at what seemed to be a servant's quarters.
I shoved open a door and staggered inside.
I collapsed onto the bed. Breathing heavily.
Then...
The pain vanished.
My breathing steadied.
My body refreshed.
Then I felt it.
Mana.
'How...?'
I didn't understand what was happening, how I was feeling mana without Fractus cleansing the poison.
I then came to a realisation.
I gazed down at my neck, and I saw it.
The necklace rested calmly around my neck.
"So... you followed me."
------
After resting for a bit.
I began piecing things together.
'The pain in my abdomen was most likely my mana core.'
'But he said I had no mana core.'
That was what confused me the most.
"What do you think, Fractus?" I spoke, holding the gem of the necklace up.
"..."
"...Wow, that's some incredible insight."
Was I talking to a necklace? Yes. But come on, I hadn't talked to anyone except that fucking psycho. Humans are social creatures.
Anyway, there was one thing I was happy about.
My mana control remained the same.
I was already able to move it through my body without repeating the trial and error I had before.
I decided it was best to stay where I was and practice my mana control.
'He shouldn't be able to track me.'
A satisfied smile appeared on my face.
I had time.
Plenty of it.
'Alright, let's practice.'
------
The more I practiced, the more my control refined.
I was now able to control the amounts of mana I would send to a body part, whereas before I would flood all the mana I could toward it.
I still couldn't split my focus to send it to multiple body parts at once, but this was still a massive improvement.
I didn't really feel like dislocating my shoulder again.
I exhaled and stood up, my body drenched in sweat. Walking over to the mirror, I took a good look at myself.
"Damn..."
I tilted my head slightly.
"I'm really handsome."
"Don't you think so too, Fractus?"
"..."
"Haa... you're so shy."
Okay... maybe I really was going crazy.
-CRASH
The statue had fallen again.
Focusing mana to my ear, I listened...
Nothing.
Not a single footstep.
'Looks like he's nowhere near.'
I contemplated between leaving to fight him or practicing some more.
I shook my head.
'No... not yet.'
I sat back down and continued to practice.
------
I moved mana with ease from one part of my body to another.
I grew faster and more precise.
Then...
I felt it.
A subtle pull.
I guided mana toward my neck, and in an instant.
It disappeared.
It was Fractus. It was absorbing the mana.
Even more strangely.
I could send mana straight toward Fractus even though it was outside my body.
"You hungry?"
I smiled, moving all the mana I could toward Fractus.
It absorbed it all.
Like a sponge.
Or a starved beast.
Until...
"Ghk-!"
A sharp pain tore through my mind.
It felt as though my head was splitting open.
And then...
A pathway appeared in my mind.
A mana pathway.
No... it would be more accurate to call it a circuit.
A structured flow of mana, intricate and precise.
"Hah... hah... hah..." I breathed heavily.
"Damn it, Fractus...!"
"Hooo..." I exhaled, calming myself.
Looking down, I saw sweat spread all over the floor. It might as well have been flooded.
------
After resting a bit, I decided to try again.
I sent mana toward Fractus, and the circuit appeared in my mind once again, this time there was no pain.
I realised the circuit was actually within Fractus.
I tried sending mana down the circuit.
But my control slipped, and the mana expanded beyond the circuit.
"Ghk-!!"
Pain.
A pain a lot worse than before enveloped my body.
It felt as though my body was being torn apart from the inside
My vision went white.
And,
I died.
------
Opening my eyes, I saw the blade again.
'This is getting really repetitive.'
I felt a familiar sharp pain in my abdomen.
I ignored it.
Ducking low, I fell to my knees.
"I'm su-."
Before he could continue, I moved, rushing through the mansion's halls.
Heading toward the servant's quarters.
I reached the same room as before.
I burst through the door and immediately sat down, crossing my legs.
I channeled my mana.
The pain vanished instantly, quicker than before.
'Good'
I then sent mana to Fractus.
The circuit appeared once again.
I carefully moved mana through the circuit, not making the same mistake.
Not this time.
I was about a quarter through the circuit when...
The circuit shifted.
Changing ever so slightly.
But it was enough...
It messed up my flow.
The mana once again expanded beyond the circuit.
"Shi-!"
I died.
My eyes snapped open.
The blade.
Again.
I ducked, ignoring the pain, and sprinted with the same destination as before.
The servant's quarters.
Reaching the room, I immediately tried the circuit again.
This time, I moved the mana more slowly and carefully.
But before I could even reach a quarter of the way.
The mana slipped
Moving frantically out of my control.
I realised what was wrong.
'Too slow'
I died again.
I repeated the same sequence of events as before, again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
Each time the circuit changed, shifted, or the mana rampaged out of my control. Sometimes I made it halfway, other times I was almost complete before I lost control. There were also a few times when I failed instantly as my focus waned from time to time.
Over countless attempts or... deaths.
I learned.
Improved.
Refined.
And completed the circuit.
-Thump
A pulse echoed through the room.
Like a heartbeat.
-Thump
-Thump
I opened my eyes.
Fractus's gem glowing faintly.
And then...
It vanished from my neck.
'...Huh?'
My hand felt heavier.
Looking down.
I saw it
A sleek sword with a green gem embedded in its hilt.
It looked straight out of a fairy tale.
"Wow..." I stared at the sword resting in my hands.
I smirked.
"That's quite the glow up, Fractus."