Chapter 13: Yuna's Attribute

Marl handed the orb to Yuna. She gripped it with both of her hands tightly. "Now girl I want you to focus all of your essence into that orb." Marl said. "Act as if you are trying to place your very soul inside of it."

Yuna did as she was instructed and focused everything she had into a single point inside the orb. She could feel her energy draining from her. It felt as if her life itself was being pulled away and locked inside the ball. This was a completely different feeling than the one at the guild, which had no affect on Yuna's person. Feeling drained Yuna fell down to one knee. Determined not to give up, she struggled to get back up. Although her legs were shaky, she remained standing. She did not want to show weakness in front of her new Master.

She remembered her years of training at the agency. How they recruited her as a child, how she spent her formative years training. She remembered the words of her instructors to never show weakness. To never show pain. To never show mercy. These were the principles drilled into her psyche since childhood, and they are the principles she still maintains today. She yelled as she felt everything drain from her into the orb. Determined to follow her principles and not show weakness. The ground around her began to be forcefully pushed away as if a strong breeze were swirling around her.

As her test proceeded, she began to bleed from her eyes and ears. Even as the white of her eyes turned red, she persisted. The orb which was once clear now had a swirling infernal inside of it. Lightning shot out from around her as she continued to focus on the orb. Above her in the sky dark clouds began to swirl darkening the land around them. The air in the area had an unmistakable chill about it.

"What's happening?!" Elvin shouted. She was concerned for her new friend.

"Honestly, I don't know." Marl said. "Normally people pass out after just a few seconds. It is like she is continuing on pure willpower alone. I can't imagine the mental fortitude required to handle such suffering."

Yuna was indeed suffering. Every fiber of her body screamed out in agonizing pain. Yet she did not flinch. She wanted to be a mage, and she wanted to pass this test. Her Master had not instructed her to stop and so she continued.

"This is absolutely fascinating!" Marl shouted. "Yuna! Please stop!" Marl yelled, having a newfound respect for his apprentice.

Yuna could not hear him though. She was still yelling at the top of her lungs focused on the orb. It looked like a small galaxy had formed inside of it now. Finally, it was too much for Yuna to bear and she passed out on her feet still holding the orb in front of her. Marl walked over to the now unconscious Yuna and freed the orb from her grasp.

Marl inspected the orb. "Simply amazing!" He said as he found his readings from it. "Her attribute is void. Most unusual for a human. Extremely common among demons but exceedingly rare among the mortal races." Marl continued to check his readings. "Oh my, her magic capacity is abnormally high as well. Although it seems she pushed far beyond her limits." He examined her. She was out on her feet with blood coming from her eyes, her ears, her mouth, and her fingernails. "I really don't understand what kind of person she is." Marl said. "Usually when the orb takes it reading the person passes out. I don't normally warn them ahead of time because I do enjoy a good laugh."

"What does that orb do anyway?" Elvin asked.

"I suppose I should explain mana first." Marl said. "Mana is what allows us mortals to cast spells. How much mana we possess is our magical capacity. Normally when someone loses a large amount of mana at once they become weak and pass out from the stress. Somehow Yuna here used all of her mana and continued going. That is why she is bleeding. When her mana ran out, she was using her lifeforce, her very essence."

"Will she be okay?" Elvin said.

"Mana returns after rest or with the use of certain potions." Marl explained. "As for her life force that will return overtime as well, though I have potions that restore that as well. When she wakes up, I will give her the required treatments." Marl then scooped Yuna up and carried her in his arms. "She is a bit heavier than I thought. Luckily for me I know enhancement magic so I can carry her with ease."

"Where are you taking her?" Elvin asked.

"I have a guest room in my cabin here." Marl explained. "I will place her in the bed and wait for her to regain consciousness. It may take a few days so it would be best if you return to the city and wait for Yuna there."

"I think I would rather stay here." Elvin said.

"Sorry, I only have the one guest bed." Marl said. "Don't feel like sharing my bed with an elf I just met either. Nor do I want my apprentice to share a bed with an unknown elf while she is unconscious and unable to defend herself. Go on home. Yuna will be fine in my care."

"Tell me something." Elvin said. "What was with those clouds and the lightning and all that other stuff that happened?"

"That was the world responding to Yuna's mana." Marl explained. "The orb only stores the mana; it doesn't cast any time of spell or anything like that. What was occurring was simply the mana in the air. I forgot to mention that your mana is of your type of attribute. So, what you saw is what happens when a large amount of void mana enters the world. I must say it was my first time witnessing it." With that explanation Marl went inside his cabin and shut the door behind him with Yuna in his arms.

"Well, guess I will go find a nice tree to live in for a few days." Elvin said. "I am not leaving Yuna alone with a man we just met. As long as I am close, I can sense everything going on inside that house." Elvin said to herself while walking to a nearby forest.

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