Leon scowled, lowering his gaze from the broken roof. "You've got an awful lot of secrets for something living in my head."
«Correction,» the voice replied smoothly, «sharing your head. Big difference.»
"Doesn't feel like it."
«You'll get used to it. Probably.»
Leon sighed.
«Look kid, I can't tell you much, but I can assure you I'm here to help,» the voice said in a calm, almost casual tone.
Leon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, sure. Because strange voices in my head are always helpful."
«You'll get used to it,» the voice replied lightly. «Trust me, I grow on people.»
He shook his head, muttering under his breath, "Guess this is just how it's going to be now."
«That's the spirit,» the voice said, sounding almost cheerful.
Leon's eyes drifted back to the small motes of blue light still floating lazily around him. "…So. What were you talking about earlier? That 'ambient mana' thing?"
«Ah, that stuff,» the voice replied, perking up. «I'm honestly surprised you can see it. Most people can't.»
Leon blinked. "Wait—really? Then why can I see it?"
A soft chuckle echoed through his mind. «Because of your Draconic Eye.»
Leon froze. "My… what?"
«Your Draconic Eye,» the voice repeated, almost savoring the words. «The gift you awakened. It lets you perceive mana directly, it's an ability unique to dragons, and those pompous bastards"
Leon frowned. "Pompous bastards?"
«Gods,» the voice said with a note of disdain. «They like to think they're above everyone else. Always watching, always judging. Ugh.»
Leon blinked slowly. "You're… not a fan, huh?" Leon asked.
«Let's just say we don't get along,» the voice replied dryly. «But that's not the point», the voice continued dismissively. «What does matter is what that eye of yours allows you to do.»
Leon raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"
«Technically, it doesn't just let you see mana,» the voice explained, tone shifting to something almost lecturing. «It helps you use it — control it more efficiently.»
Leon's brow furrowed. "Use it… to do what?"
«To cast magic, obviously,» the voice said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Magic," Leon repeated flatly. "You mean like spells, fireballs, lightning—?"
«Exactly that,» the voice cut in. «anyone who can sense mana can learn to use it.»
"Anyone?" Leon asked skeptically.
«Well… not anyone,» the voice admitted. «Most people have affinities — certain types of magic they can or can't use. Even most dragons have limits. But you… you're different.»
Leon frowned slightly as he began walking through the library leaving the chared circle. "Different how?"
«You don't have an affinity. You can use any kind of magic you please, without limitation.»
"That's cool, I guess…" Leon said, not really sure how to respond to something that sounded both impossible and terrifying.
«Cool?» the voice repeated, sounding genuinely offended. «Kid, that's legendary. You have any idea how many beings would kill for that kind of freedom?»
Leon shrugged as he stepped over a half-burned bookshelf. "Yeah, sure, whatever you say." He took a few more steps forward, the crunch of shattered glass echoing faintly through the hollow library.
«You really don't get it, do you?» the voice grumbled, sounding almost insulted. «I'm sitting here telling you you've got the kind of power that entire empires—to—wait, are you even listening to me»
Leon slowed, his eyes locked on the glowing sphere floating between the blackened shelves. Its soft blue light pulsed like a heartbeat, illuminating the ruined aisles in ghostly hues.
"What the hell is that…?" he murmured.
The voice went silent for a moment. Then, quietly:
«…Oh that?»
Leon moved closer. "what is it?"
«Kid, there's a force field around this building, right?»
Leon blinked. "Yeah. Why do you ask?"
«Because that ball—the one glowing over there? That's what's making it.»
Leon froze. "Wait, what? You mean that thing's what's generating the barrier?"
«Exactly. That's the core of the field. They're usually spread out like this in random places that met a certain size requirement.»
Leon took a slow step closer, his eyes narrowing. "So you're saying this little orb is powering the entire force field that covers the whole library?"
«That's right, it's basically a ball of mana with a magic formula inscribed on it» the voice said. «And normally, you wouldn't even be able to see it.»
Leon frowned deeper. "What do you mean?"
«Most people can't detect force cores. They're invisible, even to trained mages.» the voice paused, almost sounding impressed, «you can see it because of your Draconic Eye.»
Leon's breath hitched slightly. "The same eye that lets me see mana…"
«Exactly.»
Leon stared at the orb, its glow now faintly reflected in his pupils. "So this thing's basically the heart of the force field."
Then an idea popped into his head. "Hey… if I took this somewhere else, would it still work?"
«Of course it would. Why do you ask?» the voice replied casually.
Leon shrugged, eyes still fixed on the orb. "Just wondering."
Before the voice could say another word, Leon reached out and grabbed it.
«Wait—what are you doing!?» the voice shouted, its tone flipping instantly from calm to panic. «Kid, stop! Don't—!»
But Leon had already pulled it free.
The air shimmered for a moment, the faint hum around the library rising as the force field fell away—then fading completely. The light in his palm flickered once… twice… and steadied.
Silence.
Leon blinked. "...Huh."
«No way,» the voice breathed, disbelief dripping from every word. «You ripped it out—barehanded!»
Leon turned his hand over, the orb hovering slightly above his palm, its glow calm and steady. "I know right, this is kinda cool"
«Cool?» the voice nearly shouted. «Kid, that's a condensed mana core, it's not a toy.
Leon shrugged, grinning a little. "Well, maybe it likes me."
«Likes you?»
Leon tilted his head, studying the sphere. "Relax. It's just floating."
«Just floating? You're holding a fragment of pure, structured energy. One wrong thought and you could erase this entire building!»
Leon blinked. "...Okay, that's a little less cool."
«A little?» the voice groaned. «This kid is gonna be the death of me.»
"Oh relax uuhh...ummm what's your name?" Leon asked slightly lowering the orb.
«My name?» the voice repeated back.
Leon tilted his head. "So you don't have one?."
«Of course I do,» the voice said, a hint of defensiveness creeping in. «Al, just call me Al» the voice said after thinking for a while
"Is that your real name?" He as skeptical, but there was no answer. "Al?... Are you avoiding the question." But there was still no answer.
Leon sighed, a bit annoyed that he was getting ignored, but nevertheless he decided to not push the topic any further and head back to the study.
As he made his was through the library following the path he came from, the mana core illuminated the shelves as he walked, each step echoing through the library.
At last he returned to the study, Livia and Lara still laid there together, there chest slowly rising and falling as they slept.
Leon made his way into the room, dropping the mana core on the tableas he walked over to them.
They needed to leave, the library was no longer safe. The barrier that had been keeping monsters out was no longer there, so they had only 2 options.
Either they stayed and goet attacked by monster, or they went outside and got attacked by monsters.
There were no good option, but atleast if they went outside they had a higher chance of finding the other girls.
He stood over the girls unable to bring himself to wake them from their peaceful slumber.
The reason? Well they looked too cute, it almost felt like a crime.
He sighed, thinking about the others. Leah, Lena, Lily… hopefully they were safe.
Leon smiled faintly. "Guess we'll be moving again soon," he murmured.
«You sure that's wise?» Al's voice rumbled lazily in his head.
Leon raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so now you can talk?" he muttered dryly. "What happened to ignoring me earlier?"
But there was no answer again, Leon shrugged. "Whatever... I didn't ask for your help in the first place."
The room fell quiet again, save for the soft rhythm of rain against the shattered windows. The mana core pulsed gently on the table, casting a steady glow that made the whole room feel warmer than it should have.
But then Leon's face twisted, glancing up. "…Wait—rain?"
«Kid!» Al's voice cut sharply through his thoughts.
Leon's jaw tightened as he his head turned to a particular direction. "I know," he muttered, already feeling the air shift, there was something outside. "I can feel it too."
---
Outside, a mass of clouds floated just above the library, it was unnatural by any measure and had such an ominous aura around it.
And then suddenly a blinding flash tore through the clouds.Then came the impact — and everything went white.
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