Roots snagged at my boots with every step, making it impossible to walk without stumbling every three seconds, not to mention the occasional branches that clawed on my jacket.
"Remind me again as why did I even came with you?"
I said dusting off some leaves off my head.
"That's simple, Friend. Because you're weak and we can't use students as my living test dummies."
I keep forgetting she's the one who intimidated the likes of Willis who, while being a coward, is still a B-Class. But now that I've thought about it, I haven't really seen Ysinia use her actual powers, I'm curious.
Still, I stared up wondering why we took this route instead of the path actually made for it.
"You really sound like a psychopath, you'd make those Divine Crowns look like saints you know?"
I replied trying to get off the multiple branches that blocked my way at the same time and of course, I kept stepping on every damn stick like it was a trap.
"..."
She stared at my struggles like it was an entertaining show and the moment I stopped after I noticed her—she whistled looking sideways.
"Come here and I'll pinch your cheeks again."
Ysinia simply shook her head while holding both her cheeks as if it was a defensive maneuver. If it weren't for these stupid branches and vines, I would've caught her in a lock by now.
As we pushed deeper in the forest, I noticed that the sun is beginning to set as I felt inease in my chest. She's not planning to throw me into something I can't handle, right?
"What's taking you so long?"
She called for me, signalling for me to hurry up.
"Y-yeah, coming."
She wouldn't right?
Immediately, I rushed to her side as we finally arrived at our destination.
An open area in the forest, I haven't seen this place before and here I thought I found all the places for an introvert back then. Looks like I was extremely mistaken.
And as we stepped into the clearing, a cool breeze passed through which somewhat rejuvenated my mind. The setting sun peeked through the trees like it was watching quietly from the side, casting long shadows across the field.
For a moment, I thought this would be a nice resting place—something to clear my mind but it seems that Ysinia had other plans for this place.
She turned to me catching my attention, I nearly forgot that we're actually here to train and help me test my abilities.
"The reason I chose this place is so that we wouldn't catch the attention of the academy, so watch closely, Friend."
I stepped a bit backwards as I could feel her channeling magic from her surroundings. It's also as if the wind is being pulled around her, spiralling into a tornado.
Then, an eruption of mana skyrocketing to the sky.
I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing.
Surrounding Ysinia was an amount of magic I never saw in my entire life, not that I could perceive them clearly back then but even still—
My Mana Sense can't even keep up!
I gulped upon witnessing this display of sheer power. Is this the power of an S-Class!?
It felt like the very mana around her had weight—like I was being pressed into the ground.
Not once in my past lifetime was I even able to catch a glimpse of power but this... is just plain insanity. All I ever knew of their power came from rumors—this blew them all away.
A minute had passed already and Ysinia's mana gradually kept increasing to the point the air around her is becoming thick.
But without a word—it stopped.
Around Ysinia is a calm glowing mana barely stretching far from her body unlike from earlier, but there's something uneasy from this mana alone.
If she could compress it like that, then her control should be extreme!
Yet even before I could express my excitement and amazement of her, she opened her palms forward aiming at the couple of trees from a distance.
She couldn't be!?
"Remedy."
Without a chant and only a voice barely above whisper—a small orb not even the same size of a thumb was sent to the couple of trees.
And what came after... I couldn't understand.
Within a fraction of a second, a silent explosion engulfing the trees and obliterating them into sheer nothingness and a perfect crater in addition to the lightning that rippled around it.
Then immediately came the sound of an explosion and the thunderous roars similar to the ones above sky and a powerful wind came prompting me to shield myself with both of my arms.
Even then, I was forced to slide back. Seeing the aftermath in front of me, I think the name Remedy fits this magic because of how it will treat those suffering by sending them into the afterlife.
I became worried that some faculty staff may notice us but Ysinia seemed to notice my worry before reassuring me.
"Don't worry, I think they'll let us off the hook with just a minor punishment."
Not after what you did, they won't!
So I've been easing up around a monster like this? I still couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing. Could I even reach that kind of power?
She snapped back to reality by tugging the end of my clothes as she tilted her head like she hasn't committed something astounding.
"I think you can replicate that, Friend. That's just one percent of my power. You can do it."
She sounded way too genuine for that to be a mocking me! How strong do you think I am?!
If I can replicate something like that then I don't think I'd even be an F-Class!
"Are you a hidden hermit or something?"
A question that made Ysinia look dumbfounded. I knelt down in front of her, holding her hands while trembling.
Just say I'm weak! I didn't have to see this!
Damnit!
She moved behind me before pushing me to the place as to where she's standing from earlier. Is she really expecting that much from me?
Please, even if I became your so-called "Friend" I'm way out of your league!
"If you can do it, then do what you think you can."
... Even if she's right. What else can I do when I don't even know what am I capable of?
"Stop worrying too much about what you can and can't do."
Ysinia spoke up as she noticed my anxiety making me look over her.
"Magic doesn't care about how strong or weak you are. It's pointless anxiety. If you think about it for too long, all you're doing is building a cage around yourself and that's what limiting you from reaching beyond your heights."
She taps her temple lightly.
I couldn't say that she's wrong either but...
"If you keep thinking what you are right now but not what you're supposed to be then don't even dream of becoming a new person."
I gulped as a bead of sweat dropped from my forehead, looking at palm—I began to envision.
"Limits are simply useless things that you set for yourself. If you run, you'll trip, yes but even so."
All I've been doing so far is envying others, I wanted to be greedy yet I didn't do anything to satiate it. It piled up into a grudge, a desire that seemed unreachable yet made not move to climb to it.
"But even struggling is better than standing still."
Her words echoed in my head, louder than the explosion earlier. I didn't know what to call it—resolve? Madness? Maybe both.
But for once, I stepped forward.
Cleared my mind and recalled what Ysinia did. All I've known from now since unlocking my limiter was Mana Sense but even that could help.
It was a simple task on paper yet in practice, it wasn't something as natural as breathing when you're not even born with it.
Ysinia didn't say anything more, but she watched me quietly, her silver eyes reflecting the last light of day. Not judging. Not pitying. Just... waiting.
No pressure. No expectations. But for some reason, her silence was heavier than any lecture.
But that helped me develop a steel resolve. A resolve to enter that space, renkidle that desire to breach into the ranks and claim my utmost wish.
I didn't want to just live a stable life—I wanted to see and feel what it was like beyond the trenches.
The thrill of unlocking and learning something not once seen before.
Tell me Ysinia, what is it that you saw in me?
Because that's something I wish I could've seen earlier.
Particles of mana swirled upon me, not the same amount as her's but is sufficient enough for something I could pull off.
For once, I didn't think about my limits and my class—I wasn't tethered down by the earth. I envisioned a something within my core—they're piling up.
With both of my palms, I used this vision as a rough structure for my magic.
"That's right, Friend. Take it."