Chapter 165: Chapter 165 - Blue Balls

Sonder stood in the center of the room, arms crossed as she studied the runes Vell had chalked onto the stone floor.

They formed circles in circles, like ripples in a pond. Some of the sigils looked vaguely familiar—she recognized a few from grimoires she had read, mostly ones for protection or warding. The rest, however, were completely unfamiliar.

Vell's execution was far from flawless. His drawings looked uneven, the lines crooked in places, as if drawn by an amateur.

What's all this for?" she asked, gesturing at the chalk marks.

Vell, crouched near one of the outer runes, glanced up briefly before standing and dusting chalk off his hands.

"This," he said, motioning to the array, "is a training circle. It focuses magic, isolates specific aspects of your mana, yadda yadda—" he waved a hand dismissively—"but most importantly, it gives me control if you overreach."

"Overreach?" Sonder frowned.

Vell arched a brow. "Barriers are dangerous. You think it's just a shield, but a misstep could split me—or the entire room—in half."

Sonder was horrified at the image. She hadn't considered that kind of consequence.

"Good." Vell gestured for her to step into the circle. "If you're done asking questions, center yourself within the array. We'll start with a simple exercise to test your control."

Sonder hesitated but obeyed, moving to the center. As soon as she crossed into the innermost circle, the air shifted subtly. It felt heavier, charged with something unseen, like a presence hovering just above her.

If she hadn't known this was likely Vell's mana—or something similar—she might have felt unnerved.

"What now?" she asked.

Vell moved to a chair just outside the circles, his black robes pooling around him as he sat. For once, the chair seemed appropriately sized for his frame.

"Take a stance," he said, almost lazily.

"What?" She asked.

"A stance," Vell clarified. "Like a warrior. Feet apart, arms ready—something that says, 'I'm ready to conquer the world.'"

Sonder followed his instruction, planting her feet firmly and tensing her muscles.

"Good," Vell said, his tone lighter. "Now, extend your mana outward. Direct it toward me."

Closing her eyes, Sonder focused, letting her mana flow outward like a warm current, starting from her core and spreading through her limbs.

"Good," Vell said again, his voice steady. "Now, shape it into a sphere. Think containment, not explosion."

She visualized mana pooling in front of her, forming a translucent orb that floated in the air.

"Steady," Vell murmured, leaning forward slightly. "Hold it firm. No leaks."

The strain began to build as she poured more mana into the sphere. It trembled under the pressure, flickering unevenly.

"Hold it," Vell said sharply. "Do not let it collapse."

"I'm trying," Sonder growled through clenched teeth.

But the sphere wavered, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface. A heartbeat later, it shattered, the energy dissolving into harmless ripples that faded into the air.

Sonder staggered, dropping her hands to her knees as she gasped for breath. "What... what did I do wrong?"

Vell stood, his expression unreadable as he stepped into the circle. "You overextended," he said simply. "You're too afraid of it. It's your mana, Sonder."

He placed a hand on her shoulder, grounding her. "Again," he instructed. "This time, focus on the flow. Forget about the force."

Sonder shook her head, still panting. "I think I need a break."

"Nonsense," Vell replied briskly. He extended his arm, and a small, glowing blue orb materialized in his palm.

"Here," he said, gesturing for her to take it.

She did, turning it over in her hand. It was cool and perfectly smooth, almost like polished glass.

"Eat it," Vell instructed.

Sonder stared at him, her brow furrowing as she held up the orb. "Eat it?"

"It's not a rock," Vell said with an exasperated sigh. "It's mana condensed into a solid form. It'll restore your reserves. Now, stop making that face and eat it."

Still skeptical, she popped the orb into her mouth. The moment it dissolved, warmth flooded through her body, her mana reserves replenishing almost instantly. It had a crunch to it.

"Better?" Vell asked with a faint smirk.

She nodded, standing straighter. "Better."

comment 0 comment

Vote

SEND GIFT

Load failed, please RETRY