"What is this?" I whispered, my fingers tightening around the shard.
The strange mana continued to flow into me, merging with the natural cycle of my own. Waves of tingling energy coursed through my body, sending shivers down my spine, but I couldn't bring myself to pull away. It was like the intoxicating allure of mana when I first discovered it, awakening a deep-seated craving that could never be sated.
This power was distinct from the mana I knew, yet it felt natural the more I attuned to it. It was as if this new energy was the median point, with the familiar mana and infernal mana at opposite ends of a spectrum.
"Is this mana?" I asked, opening my eyes to look at the remnant.
Arantius raised his eyebrows, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Remarkable, you can already perceive it. What do you think of this power?"
I paused, letting another cycle flow through me before answering. "It's...right. It feels right, like taking a breath of fresh air."