Nao:
I was in the Academy library, trying to figure out how to hide my mana.
I wasn't sure if this method actually worked, but if I just ignored it, I might get exposed again.
I walked through the aisles, scanning the shelves for any book titles that might match what I was looking for.
Finally, I found a book titled 'Energy and Spiritual' placed high on the shelf, tucked away at the end, making it hard to spot. This was the one I needed. It had exactly what I was looking for.
I found a comfortable spot to sit so I could focus, then opened the book, flipping through the pages. There were a lot of interesting things, but I concentrated on the information I specifically needed.
"Here it is," I muttered to myself.
I read carefully, taking my time to understand the details. The process of finding this info took a lot longer than I expected.
I looked outside and saw the sky turning orange as evening approached, and fewer students were left in the library.
After reading, I closed the book, leaned back in my chair, and thought that this stuff was better to digest slowly, rather than rushing through and missing out on key details.
Let me break down what I learned. First of all, this book was really good, but it was hidden in such a hard-to-find spot. The author's name was 'Leornard,' just like the 'MAGIC' book I read before.
Back to the topic—mana is an internal energy that every living being has, but in different amounts.
Then I found out that only someone with high mana can see other people's mana—provided they have Mana Detected Eyes.
Mana Detected Eyes are extremely rare and are usually found in exceptional people, like geniuses.
Next, I found out how to hide my mana. One way was by wearing the first king's bracelet, which is currently kept in a museum under tight security. This method was impossible for me, so I needed an alternative.
The second alternative was much faster, but risky. It involved gathering all the mana in your body and focusing it on your heart.
This method was quick, but anything that's fast and efficient comes with huge risks. I had no choice but to take the gamble for myself.
I sighed deeply, realizing how difficult and risky both methods were.
Honestly, the second method could only be done by someone really skilled, like a mana master.
I yawned, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
"There's nothing impossible in this world, except believing in yourself," I said to myself, trying to motivate myself. That was something my uncle used to tell me when he saw me lying on the ground.
---
Theo:
Time passed quickly, and now it was getting late, but we still hadn't found Talia's friend.
We searched the rooms, classes, and all the places Talia suggested.
I glanced at Talia, who looked a bit down. Maybe she felt guilty.
I patted her head gently and said, "Maybe your friend is just busy right now."
She stopped and looked at me, her eyes full of sadness. "But tomorrow the mission starts, and there's a chance you'll run into problems," she said.
I smiled at her words. "Don't worry, Talia. We've always faced problems together," I said, remembering all the moments we shared when we were kids.
Her face turned bright red, and she looked away to avoid making eye contact with me.
"Talia!!" someone called from a distance, making both of us turn toward the voice.
A muscular woman with slightly dark skin and a scar on her cheek was walking toward us. Her red hair was tied up, making a small bun on top of her head.
"Aida!!" Talia called as she ran and hugged her friend.
Aida glared at me with a serious face. "Who's this guy, Talia?" she asked as she released the hug and walked toward me, looking angry.
Talia held Aida back and whispered something to her, making Aida's eyes widen in surprise.
"So, you're Theo," Aida said, realizing who I was.
Aida walked up to me and whispered in my ear, "If you make Talia sad, I'll kill you," she said, sending a chill down my spine.
Talia pulled me away from Aida, hugging me from the side, her face slightly pouting as she looked at Aida.
Aida sighed and then extended her hand for a handshake. "I'm Talia's classmate. Nice to meet you," she said with a somewhat regretful look on her face.
I shook her hand, but she gripped it so hard that my hand started to hurt.
I couldn't help but grin, finding her rough way of greeting others a bit funny.
Talia grabbed my hand and pulled me into a side hug, which made Aida stop and stare at her, shaking her head in disbelief.
What was going on here?
"I'm the defender we were looking for," Aida said as she let go of my hand, her expression softening.
That snapped me back to the task at hand. "Aida, could you join us on this mission?" I asked, trying to sound serious.
Aida looked at Talia, who was clearly serious, and decided to agree.
"Fine," Aida said, which made me feel relieved because now I wouldn't have to worry about any problems during the mission.
I smiled at her. "I appreciate your help for the future," I said with a small bow.
Aida smiled and said, "See you tomorrow," before turning to leave.
Talia and I exchanged smiles. "We did it," I said, grinning.
She smiled back at me, but then we both realized how close our faces were, and we both blushed.
Talia let go of the hug and said, "Theo, we'll meet tomorrow," before walking off toward Aida.
I watched her leave, and just as she was about to walk away, she turned and waved. "Goodnight," she called out with a smile.
The night was falling, and I figured it was time to head back to my room.
---
Nao:
Night fell, and I was in my room, sitting cross-legged on the bed, preparing myself for the crazy task ahead.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my heart and breathing so I could focus on this insane process.
I also put earplugs in so I wouldn't be disturbed during the procedure.
Trying the second method was a huge gamble, with three possible outcomes.
First, my heart could stop, and I'd be seriously injured. Second, my mana could overflow, causing my heart to stop. Third, I could die because this process had less than a 5% chance of succeeding.
I focused again, clearing my mind, loosening my muscles, closing all my senses, and concentrating on the mana flow.
It took me a while to keep everything steady.
My heart wasn't beating fast anymore, so I knew the time had come to carry it out.