Chapter 21: Take it back (1)

“Now, do you have any experience controlling your mana?” Charles asked, not lingering on his supposed mistake earlier.

Michael thought for a few moments before shaking his head, “Outside of using the basic chore magic, I don’t know much else…” he admitted, feeling a little vulnerable.

In front of him was a genius from one of the most prestigious mage acadamies. Though he knew that he shouldn’t compare himself to such a person, Michael couldn’t help but feel inadequate.

“You can’t even control your mana!?” A shrill voice called from behind, causing both boys to turn to the source.

Michael’s face reddened as he heard Melody’s harsh words directed at him. The young lady had a hand covering her mouth, her blue eyes painted with incredulity, as if what she’d heard was completely shocking.

“How can an Ember mage not know how to control their mana?” she said, “can you even perform chore magic?”

“I can…” Michael replied, lowering his head.

“Then whoever taught you how to do chore magic just told you to use the incantations? How absurd,” she exclaimed, wearing a disgusted expression.

Michael flinched, his anger bubbling from within. However, he knew that he could not snap at the young lady, not when her parents had shown him such kindness.

“Now now Melody, not everyone is as fortunate as the Winterborne’s. You’re very lucky to have the means to afford a personal tutor like myself.” Charles spoke up, his tone even.

But Melody didn’t seem convinced, “Controlling your mana is the first step to being a mage, you told me that Charles. I mean what kind of an imbecile teaches someone incantations but not mana control?”

Michael felt his body heat up as her harsh words fell upon him like daggers, piercing him deeply.

But it appeared that she didn’t notice, as the girl continued on her tirade. “Father says this is the reason why the strength of mages are declining. If it weren’t for these two-bit mages teaching, Wintervalley Town wouldn’t be declining.”

“Take. It. Back…” Michael said through gritted teeth, his thin frame shaking with barely suppressed rage.

“Huh? Why are you getting angry?” Melody replied, her high pitched voice like stone striking iron. Her expression turned irritated, but she didn’t back down, “I am simply stating facts. Any teacher who doesn’t teach these principles is nothing but a useless hack.”

Michael’s nails dug into the palm of his hand causing droplets of blood to drip from the wound onto the floor.

It wasn’t mom that was useless… It was me! He screamed in his heart.

Since he had been a mere white ringed mage back then, he could barely cast chore magic. It was only through the help of his mother’s teachings that he could finally grasp the incantations to produce the spells.

Only through her love and patience was he able to succeed. Not only that, she gave up her life for him, allowing Michael to run away into the mana-scarred lands.

But right now, her honor was being dragged through the mud by this doll-like girl, each of her words scathing like lashes from a leather whip.

“TAKE IT BACK!” Michael screamed, his body on fire as righteous indignation consumed him. It was taking all of his willpower not to launch himself at the girl.

“You… How dare you speak to me like this.” Melody’s voice rose an octave, her left hand now raised. Two orange rings glowed dangerously on her wrist.

“Alright, that’s enough.” Charles had finally had enough, putting himself in between the two, trying to mediate.

“A-ARGH!”

Michael shouted in pain, his hands shooting up to his head where it felt like he’d been stabbed. The barrier surrounding his inner palace shook violently, as if someone was slamming against the door.

Every time it shook, a sharp pain shot into his mind.

Before he could stop it, the barrier burst open, causing Michael’s eyes to roll back, exposing the whites of his eyes. His body went limp, but he did not fall to the ground.

Within Michael, his pure white soul emerged from his inner palace, slinking into his meridians. As it made contact with the slowly circulating orange mana, it pulsed with energy.

These affected mana particles began to gather, their hue darkening.

As more and more mana was gathered, its color turned from orange to red, then to blue. His soul swept through the meridians until a green hue began to take shape.

“W-What is happening?” Melody exclaimed, her fear and shock evident.

Charles’ expression darkened. He grabbed melody, retreating to put some distance between them.

“Stay back, I’m sensing the aura of a Verdant mage…” he said, raising his left hand.

“What!? But he’s only got orange rings…” she squeaked in reply.

However, Charles didn’t reply.

“Sufflaria Nihil. Spirare Nolo. Corpus Dormiat—Asphyxiate!”

The two green rings upon Charles’ wrist came alive as he spoke the incantation. They began to rotate in opposing directions like cogs interconnected. In the next moment, their brightened and a complicated white magic circled appeared in the air in front of the young mage’s hand.

The air surrounding Michael’s limp body turned viscous, as if an invisible air lock had appeared. The oxygen in this small sphere was completely eradicated, leaving only carbon dioxide.

“He’ll go unconscious in a few moments, but don’t move until I say so.” Charles said to Melody behind him. His hand was still outstretched, maintaining the spell.

However, his expression changed a moment later.

“H-How can this be!?”

The sound of screeching echoed within the room before the airlock surrounding Michael’s body began to show signs of cracking.

Before Charles could react, his spell shattered. But what happened next almost caused him to cry out in horror.

The mana which he’d used to cast the spell was suddenly absorbed into Michael’s body. The Verdant mage aura suddenly exploded, exceeding even Charles’ own magic power.

“Run and get your father! Quickly!” Charles urged, his face painted with fear.

Melody didn’t need anymore prompting, she quickly turned and ran out the door.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep