The ceiling of my room looked far more interesting than it had any right to.There was a thin, nearly invisible crack running between the stones — like the structure itself was on the verge of breaking.Just like me.
Chad had taken out Yun in the blink of an eye.
Faster than me. Stronger. Calmer. An unbridgeable abyss.And me? Mana-less.How was I supposed to fight a monster like that?
"It's useless," whispered a voice in my head. "You're a joke."
That's when I heard it — that familiar, raspy laugh, like a kettle boiling over with poison.
— Huhuhu… how are we doing?
— Ever heard of something called knocking? — I turned to face her, annoyed. — Imagine if I'd just gotten out of the shower.
The witch drifted through the room like a sulfurous breeze.Same tattered purple robes, hood shadowing her eyes — but that crooked smile always visible.
— Relax — she said with a dismissive wave. — I've seen plenty of bodies in my life. Some better than yours, actually.
— Hag.
— Hag? Your mother's the old one. Show some respect.
Silence.
The whole room seemed to shrink.
My blood boiled so fast I felt the veins heating under my skin.
— Don't ever bring up my mother again — I growled, voice shaking with fury.
She raised an eyebrow. For a brief second, her eyes glinted beneath the hood.
— Tragic past? Hah… that's standard in every light novel. Let it go. Anyway, I came here to say… maybe I expected too much of you. Defeating Number One is impossible.
— Thanks for the encouragement — I muttered. — I figured that out all by myself.
She took a step forward, hands still hidden within her sleeves.
— That's why I'll just lift Ciny's curse. Take back the promise. Game over.
— What?! No! — I jumped to my feet, heart racing. — Please don't do that.Since I met her… I've never seen her so happy.
She looked at me — a mix of pity and boredom in her expression. Hard to tell which was worse.
— So what do we do, mana-less boy?
— I swear… — I took a deep breath. — I'll find a way to beat him.I won't let her go back to what she was.
The witch smiled. Long and slow — like her grin was dragging shadows into the room with it.
— I hope so.
And she vanished. As she always did — in a swirl of purple smoke and laughter that seemed to echo from the bottom of a cursed well.
I sat there.Thinking of everything… and nothing.
The old magic powder called out to me like an ex I still hadn't gotten over.
"With mana… maybe. Just maybe…"
But everything I'd fought inside myself — every step of progress — would crumble.It would be the victory of fear over faith.
Then — a knock at the door.
Feet still heavy, I got up and opened it.
— Chad?
— Can I come in?
— Sure… go ahead. To what do I owe the visit? — I asked, trying to sound casual.My heart was thudding in my throat.
He walked in like a general surveying enemy territory.Stopped in the center of the room and turned to face me.
— Let's say… I heard rumors from some lower ranks.About your history with mana.
— Oh. Yeah. I used to have mana. Thanks to the powder.I was born with damaged mana channels.
— Hm… — Chad stared at me like he was reading my soul. — That's not what concerns me.If you like narcotics, that's your business.
I swallowed hard.
— But — he continued, narrowing his eyes — they said your mana didn't take form. Not fire. Not wind. But… blue?Like pure mana?
— That's right — I said hesitantly. — Pure.
That's when everything changed in an instant.
Faster than a blink, Chad drew a hidden blade from under his shirt.The cold steel touched my throat.
My body locked up.
— Why is someone from your clan here?
— Let's stay calm… — I raised my hands slowly, sweat forming at my temples.
— Answer me. — he growled.
BAM!
The door burst open like it had been kicked by a god.Ciny charged in like a storm.
— CHAD! — she yelled, seeing the blade at my neck.
She launched herself at him, a blur of hair and fury — but Chad was faster.He dodged with brutal grace, counterattacking in one smooth motion.
Ciny twisted mid-air, barely avoiding the strike.The force of their exchange shook the room.
— STOP! — I shouted, stepping between them. — Chad, put the weapon down. I'll explain everything.