It was the last day before he was set for exile, and Eitan paced around his room antsily. Just a short while ago, he had received news from Farrel that he had managed to procure the last ingredient. His entire body itched with anticipation, causing him to feel as if he would go mad if he remained still. Just when he was about to take another lap, his head whipped around as he heard the shifting of the bookcase.
"Forgive me for my tardiness, my liege." Farrel pulled down his hood and bowed as he emerged from the secret passage. "It took me quite some time to track down a herbalist who had what you desired." He respectfully presented a glass vial filled with a glistening purple liquid. "But my liege…"
Eitan took the vial with an excited gaze, casting a glance at Farrel, who was hesitating. "Speak your mind."
"May I ask what use you have for such a potent poison?" Farrel inquired cautiously.
"You'll see shortly. Come with me to the bathroom." Eitan evaded answering for now, and Farrel didn't question any further, just following him obediently to stand in front of the bathtub.
Eitan had already arranged everything so he could begin the process without a moment's delay. Lind had already filled the tub with hot water at his request, and a neat stack of containers stood next to it. Eitan began pouring things into the water in the prearranged order, enlisting Farrel's assistance for the heavier items. The only thing he did not add was the blue liquid inside a glass bottle that sat on the tile floor. This was a common item created by alchemists called a mana potion. As its name foretold, it was basically a chunk of mana condensed into liquid form.
A strong stench of herbs soon emanated from the water, and Eitan began mixing the solution with a metal rod. The different fluids and powders slowly merged into one viscous solution. Once he was satisfied, he dropped the rod and began disrobing. He clenched the poison vial tightly in his hand and looked back at Farrel. "The moment I give a signal, I need you to pour that mana potion in my mouth. Can you do that for me?"
Farrel was visibly confused but nodded dutifully. "I will follow your orders."
"Excellent. Then, this is an order. No matter what happens from now on, don't do anything without my signal." Eitan spoke these final words to Farrel before popping the cap on the vial and pouring the contents into his mouth. The moment he did this, he hurriedly submerged himself in the medicinal concoction. The entire process occurred so swiftly and unhesitatingly that Farrel didn't even have the time to react.
"My liege-!" Farrel shouted with shock. The poison Eitan had just consumed was concentrated and lethal enough to exterminate an entire town if poured into a well. His instincts screamed at him to grab Eitan and provide immediate medical attention, but he did not. He just picked up the blue mana potion on the floor, clenching it so tightly it almost wouldn't be strange for the glass to break. He had just found another purpose in life, and there was now a chance it could be cruelly ripped away from him yet again. But even at this thought, he endured. He endured and just concentrated on his lord's last order. He fixed his gaze on Eitan's body, every single sense strained to the limit, so he wouldn't miss any possible signal he may give. My liege, I will not move until the moment comes. So, please don't die.
Eitan was currently in so much pain he couldn't spare a single thought for Farrel's turmoil. Fucking shiiiiit, this really hurts like hell! He gritted his teeth to prevent himself from screaming, instead just letting out a strained groan. The poison felt like fire coursing through his veins, and the medicinal concoction in the tub felt like a million needles against his skin. It was the most agony he had ever been in, even including getting his arm chopped off.
This was the reason that even after the method was discovered, there still wasn't a huge uptake in aura users. Not to mention the high cost, the process itself was excruciatingly painful. It wasn't something any child could endure. Most would immediately lose consciousness from the pain, but doing that spelled the end. If one were not awake to control the mana from the potion, they would explode from the overload and die. Even if one did not take the potion, the poison would kill them instead. So, even if it would grant one aura with a bonus of immunity to most poisons, few people, save some of the most elite or desperate, chose to put their children through such a thing.
Eitan finally felt the poison had circulated through every inch of his body, and that meant it was time. But the pain was so all-consuming he couldn't even move a finger, much less speak. So all he managed to conjure was a half blink at Farrel, hoping he would understand.
The highly alert Farrel naturally didn't miss his cue and hurriedly opened the potion, stuffing it into Eitan's mouth and tilting it up. He positioned it so that the liquid would go down Eitan's throat, whether he was actively able to swallow or not. Eitan's veins bulged as the mana began permeating his body, and he clenched his mouth shut so as not to scream. For if he did so, some of the precious mana would leak out of the gap.
He immediately began circulating the mana according to the methods he had extensively studied in his past life. His entire body was terribly flushed, and sweat streamed from every pore. Soon, not just sweat but brown and black pus began leaking out as well. It produced not just a dreadful sight but smell as well.
Farrel anxiously watched over Eitan's condition, and when he saw this, he was stunned. Body metamorphosis? It was a process only those highly accomplished in the usage of mana could ever hope to undergo. But here was a man, rather a boy, who couldn't use even a drop of aura or magic, undergoing just that.
Only when the mana fully settled inside him did Eitan finally open his eyes and look at Farrel with a smile. "It's done. Great job." He actually wasn't certain Farrel would be able to hold himself back, but took the chance anyway, and the result was obviously excellent.
"My liege, are you alright? How's your body? Is there any pain?" Farrel cared less about finding out how on earth Eitan had just accomplished such a feat than checking if he was experiencing any aftereffects from the poison.
"I'm fine. More than fine, actually." A wide grin blossomed on Eitan's face as he felt the mana at home inside his body. Finally, finally! He raised his arm, and a dark red aura emerged to coat his skin. I can use aura! Now that the mana inhabited his body, condensing it into the aura was only a matter of know-how. And there were few with more knowledge than he, who had studied so desperately and so long in the vain hope of someday making this energy his own. Pure elation flowed through him at his success, causing him to actually tremble slightly due to the overwhelming excitement. He only calmed down a bit as a putrid stench hit his nose. My god, is that coming from me? He saw the grime layered on him, and his face wrinkled; the smell was even worse than that of a rotting corpse. "Fetch me some water to wash with."
Farrel had a lot of questions left buzzing in his mind, but after confirming Eitan was of sound health, he just bowed his head. "I will return shortly." He quickly departed to fulfill his lord's request.
Eitan drained the tub but remained in it to prevent dirtying the rest of the room, distracting himself from the smell by conjuring his aura on different parts of his body. I'm finally an aura user. It was impossible to push down the emotions bubbling in his chest. This was his lifelong dream. No matter how powerful he became, the fact that he couldn't use mana remained as a shackle he could never break. Until today, that was.
He took a deep breath to calm himself, but immediately gagged upon inhaling. Gah, I can't believe this crap was inside me. The main aspect of body metamorphosis was expelling the impurities inside the body. Traditionally, it was undergone when a master swordsman or mage pushed their mana to the limits and their bodies evolved to better suit it. The method he used was an artificial way of doing this, and instead of being a sign of mastery, it worked as a puberty of sorts. It forced the body to grow and change in a way that was better able to accept mana, which is why it didn't work on anyone whose body was fully developed. Their body would instead be pushed past its limits, killing any poor bastard who belatedly tried to change their fate.
Farrel returned with the water, and Eitan eagerly washed himself of the horrid stench. He then got up and put on a clean robe he had prepared before stretching with satisfaction. His regular exercise had set the foundation, so his body, enhanced first by the medicine, then supported by mana, no longer felt so weak. He could only barely be considered to have physicality on par with the average adult man now, but it was leaps and bounds better than when he had first regressed. He finally turned his attention to Farrel, who had not spoken a word more, but he knew there were plenty of questions in his mind. "I'll tell you what I can, so ask now." He did not want to lie to Farrel, but there was also no way he could tell him the whole truth.
Farrel stared at Eitan for a moment before opening his mouth. "Was that a method that enables a regular person to utilize mana?"
"Yes."
"How many currently know of it?"
"Officially, none besides me, for now."
"Is your body healthier now?"
Eitan's expression softened at this. "Yes."
Farrel smiled and lowered his head. "That is all then, my liege."
No questions about how he knew of this method or what any other usages there may be. Just a simple confirmation and absolute, blind trust. Eitan was filled with gratification for this knight of his. Every day that passed cemented that his decision was the right one. "Thank you, Farrel."
Farrel's eyes widened, and he bowed deeply to Eitan. "No, thank you, my liege. For the trust you've shown in me." From helping him seek revenge, to exposing the secret passages, and revealing such an invaluable method. The good faith Eitan had shown him was more than enough to make him willing to die for such a lord.
Eitan gazed meaningfully at Farrel for a few moments before turning away. "We'll be departing tomorrow morning, so if there are any loose ends you need to tie up, take care of them tonight."
Farrel raised his head to watch Eitan leave the room. There is no longer anything in my life except for you, my liege. But he kept this statement in his heart and just silently tidied up the bathroom. He soon exited and bowed one last time to Eitan before departing for his quarters.
Eitan lay in his bed with an outstretched hand, manifesting flickers of aura between his fingertips. Today marked the beginning of a new path, and tomorrow the start of a new journey. He extinguished the aura and rolled over, putting his hand to his chest. There lay the cracked blue pendant just over his rapidly beating heart. Mother, if this really is the new life you've given me, I'm not letting it go to waste. It was with this thought that he closed his eyes and put himself to sleep.