Chapter 122- Ravenna’s… Wrath?

"What an unexpected surprise. I assume there is a good reason for this intrusion?" Jiran intended for his voice to be intimidating; what he didn't intend was for his words to be laced with so much mana the room shook. He stiffened his manabody protectively around Mayalyn and Olive who were sleeping on the floor in the corner. He barely managed to repress his excitement at seeing the results of their ascensions, before immediately feeling frustrated at the need to hide his feelings at all.

His gaze turned sharp as it swept over Ravenna. She took a step back, fear flashing in her eyes while Reihnhardt looked over his shoulder, suddenly unsure of who he should be protecting from whom. The man’s voice was strained as he faced the woman again, "This is merely a misunderstanding, I assure you, Master Mortemer."

Charisma: + 1

Master? Oh, maybe it's because they still can't move their auras. Didn't expect mine to get so much stronger. I was a little rough on them when I came out of my… egg?

"Well, by all means, enlighten me as to how I am misunderstanding the situation," His voice was foreign and harsh to his ears. His evolution having dropped it several decibels to a deep rumble that vibrated within his chest.

Jiran released their auras after he spoke, allowing them to mingle with his own rather than being pressed close to their bodies. Ravenna took a step back, quickly schooling her expression as she examined Jiran with new intensity.

There we go. Crazy, I have to actively concentrate to not release mana when I talk. So wasteful.

Without moving her icy glare from Jiran, she spoke at Reinhardt with an apathetic tone, "Stand aside, pup. This child is suspected of colluding with rebels and heretics. I'll not be leaving until he's been thoroughly questioned," Jiran’s mind raced as he swept his gaze over the room. Seeing remnants of his old mana shifting through the air, and knowing what his current mana looked like, he came to a rapid conclusion.

She doesn’t realize I'm the same person because my mana is so different. She only knows the person she’s looking for was here recently. Interesting, my thoughts are so clear and calm now. Even when I was surprised and angry at them, it was easy to control myself. Maybe I’ve been unstable from a lack of willpower for a long time. That or Remalons don’t function on the same emotional wavelength as humans do.

While a portion of his brain dug through the nuances of his changed mana, Mana Omnis pierced Ravenna’s skin. Muscles, bones, nerves, and wisps of coiled mana were revealed to him in a visceral display that should have left him queasy. Instead, he was absolutely fascinated by the multiple insights into how she connected with, and moved her mana. He took a moment to study the spectrum of colors within her manapool: Oranges, reds, and yellows danced in an intricate pattern like the flickering of an open flame.

Mana Omnis: + 2

The little mana that coiled within her called to him and he knew claiming it would be… delicious. He knew he wouldn’t even need to form a thread of coating, just a single thought, a wish, and it would be his. Jiran brushed off the feeling, annoyed at the intrusive nature of the desire.

Brave of her to come here with barely any mana and not fully healed. Maybe she assumed Reihnhardt would help her, or she’s just that confident. Then again, if she only assumed I was in contact with the one she's after, maybe she didn’t expect a fight at all.

"First time you've seen a pair of tits, boy? My eyes are up here," Ravenna's mask was broken by an easy smile that did not at all reflect the venomous look in her eyes.

Jiran was completely unaffected by her goading as his gaze slowly tracked up to meet hers, "My apologies, Elder. I was thinking of something else and allowed my gaze to wander. I meant no disrespect." Ravenna’s eye twitched at his casual remark and the duke stepped out from between them while giving Jiran a look that screamed, ‘Have you lost your mind?’

"Do you have any idea who you’re speaking to, child?! As if colluding with criminals isn’t enough, now you’re insulting a duchess? I could have you castrated!”

Jiran took a deep breath, savoring the cool nighttime air. His thoughts were serene and calm as he rapidly analyzed everything about the woman. Her posture, the muscles coiled beneath her skin, the subtle vibrations in her mana, and the quivering of her aura. She was afraid, her posturing nothing more than a reminder that she held more power than the weakness that stood before him. Jiran smiled, the sight causing a cascade of minute responses within her body that he tracked with clinical curiosity.

“Since you have yet to so much as introduce yourself, I assumed the title that I felt bestowed you with the most honor. It would appear assigning you any at all was a mistake on my part. How foolish of me,” Reihnhardt groaned and clamped his eyes shut as something new flashed within Ravenna’s eyes.

Is she actually enjoying this? Who cares! Why am I enjoying this? I’m definitely not acting normal. Is this my new instincts again, or something else? Hmm, between my aura and their depleted mana, I could crush both of them in a second. This has to be the new instincts, I’ve never enjoyed being cocky before. I’ll have to work on that.

“You tread a dangerous line—” Jiran’s aura cracked down on her like a vice. It easily smashed her defenses and squeezed the air from her lungs until her eyes bulged.

“That’s enough. It’s time you leave. My companions have recently ascended and I will not have you disrupting their rest. I would be happy to have a civil conversation with you and answer your questions another time,” She stumbled as he released her, her face turning scarlet.

Wow, great start with the whole not cocky thing. Oof, this is going to be hard. I wonder what Olive will say when she wakes up.

Jiran smiled at the thought, which Ravenna clearly misunderstood. Her mana boiled before a flash of light within her manapool roared to life. Jiran was about to suck every ounce of mana from her body when she suddenly stiffened and fell back a step with a ratcheting breath. With a hand held over her racing heart, she huffed, turned in a swirl of dirty blonde hair and green fabric, and then stalked to the room’s double doors. She gave him one last calculating glance before vanishing from sight.

Did she sense that I was about to kill her? Impressive, maybe I should deal with her now before she recovers. It wouldn’t be hard—

“By the voice, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her back down like that. I don’t know whether to be impressed, or begin composing your obituary.” Reihnhardt chuckled with a shake of his head.

Jiran made a show of glancing at the sleeping girls before meeting the duke’s eyes. “Is there something I can do for you, Duke Reihnhardt? I know we have things to discuss, but I’m from a tiny village and even I know not to disrupt someone’s rest after an ascension. Perhaps we should move the conversation elsewhere.”

“No, no, that won’t be necessary. I’ll be going in a moment. I merely came to repay my debt. I didn’t expect it to cost me a mountain of merit, but I’ll consider it a debt well paid.” The man’s aura tried to firm a sphere to block sound but Jiran beat him to it. “Rebels and heretics? Is that true?”

Jiran didn’t answer, asking a question of his own, “Debt? I wasn’t aware we had one.”

“You saved my city and my Grandson. I’ve no clue how you did it, but not a single healer I’ve commissioned has ever yielded results. Yet you cured his illness as an afterthought, while embarrassing my entire family line, I must add. Only to then sally forth and stop the newest Graymin monstrosity from ending all our lives. Now, you’ve even attracted the attention of the Flash Witch. You certainly don’t lead a boring life, Mortemer.” The Duke chuckled again while placing his hand on Jiran’s shoulder.

“You remind me of my son. He was quite daring as well, before he fell to the Graymin. Don’t lower your guard, the empire is in dire need of youth with your spirit,” He gave Jiran a firm nod and squeezed the hand on his shoulder before stepping back.

Within the duke’s manapool, Jiran saw the same flash he noticed within Ravenna. This time, he recognized it for what it was: The activation of a skill. The framework around the man shimmered as a single synapse pulsed in response to the flash of mana. Jiran instinctively understood he could bar the man’s skill by seizing the synapse with his mana and intent. He did neither, and the man vanished from the room.

He smiled as he approached the sleeping girls. They were completely fine, having slept soundly through the disturbance with the aid of his manabody. He lifted them to the bed, careful to not disturb the draped sheets protecting their dignity. He tucked them under soft blankets and doused the mana-lamps burning by the nearby window before exiting and softly closing the door.

Wow, they’ve both changed so much. Olive’s much more mature. It would be impossible to tell her age just by looking at her. She’ll look that way forever, too, since aging pretty much stops at the fifth tier. But the changes in Mayalyn, yowza. My physical appearance shifted significantly at tier four, too. She’s lost her youthful cuteness. She was always pretty, but now, she’s straight-up gorgeous. I really struck gold. I can’t wait to see her animated expressions. And her eyes… Focus, Jiran! Now’s not the time to get distracted. Those two being in my face right when I emerged  delayed me long enough.

He nodded to Niya through the wall. She was curled up in a comfy bed having watched the entire exchange through her manabody. She yawned, snuggled deeper into her covers, and tossed him a rude gesture before closing her eyes. Jiran shook his head with a chuckle. A feeling of warmth spread through him as he realized just how happy he was that she chose to come with him.

I’ll help your friend soon, cuz. Promise. But first: Daughter.

After leaving the sitting room, Jiran sat and leaned against the wall in the hallway. He sent his focus inward to his mana. He didn’t have to go far, considering it was everywhere within him. Still, he fell into the sensations of the ephemeral energy, allowing it to set him adrift amidst a sea of churning impressions. He remembered the moment he originally formed the revelation technique; he was in a semi-conscious dream state, but before that, he had spent the entire day attempting to listen to his Mana.

Now, his mana wished for nothing more than to obey his commands, but revelation wasn’t about commanding, it was about receiving. He opened himself to the messages from his mana, waiting patiently for a response. When there was nothing, he listened more intently. He tried flooding his mana with intent, willing it to speak. A pang of sadness and dread washed through him when that failed as well. Like all his emotions since evolving, they merely brushed upon the canvas of his consciousness before fading.

I refuse to believe she’s gone. I’m doing something wrong.

Ahh, of course. There was always more to the technique. It was never only about receiving. It was about giving wholeheartedly, allowing it to drain all of my mana, and then receiving in turn.

Jiran tried again, this time surrendering his mana. He released his absolute control and authority over it, actively wishing, without intent, that it would spend itself however it desired. All around and within him, mana raged, though he saw none of it, as he closed his eyes in surrender. He fell into a dreamlike state; a heaving boat surging amidst a turbulent sea of existence. "Talk to me, Daughter," his words caused the sea to rumble and vast tsunamis to form. They crashed through the cosmos before colliding with a distant set of sparkling eyes.

"She said you would fail to find me; that no Remalon would ever relinquish their grip enough to divine one of us. I knew she was just a big dummy," Daughter’s haughty aloofness faded into a childish giggle that set Jiran’s heart at ease.

Moisture beaded at the corners of his tightly clenched eyes as he flashed her a smile. "If Madra understood any of us at all, we wouldn’t have gotten off to such a rocky start. I'm glad you're okay. You had me worried there for a minute."

"I know."

"Can you not appear in your old form without the technique?” Jiran wondered.

"Perhaps when your understanding grows. For now, I'll be in here when you need me."

"Sorry, I'll work at it. I know how much you enjoyed having a physical body."

"This place isn't so bad. Certainly better than ceasing to exist. Now shoo! You don't have a way to recoup your mana while watching over everyone. I would feel awful if you burned it all on me."

"Alright, alright, I'm going. I'm glad you're safe. Bye," Jiran pulled himself out of the sea with a twist of his will. He placed a chokehold on the last fifty percent of his mana, surprised at how much the short conversation had consumed.

I suppose I should make sure none of my other techniques were affected after being ‘absorbed and combined.’

A flicker of lightning arced between his outstretched fingers. His skin, flush with mana, absorbed the current, reclaiming the element into mana without a single iota of loss. A toe-curling thrill of amazement and anticipation coursed through him at the feeling of his skin's resilience and instantaneous adaptability. Unable to contain himself, he moved to the next technique.

He created a tiny ball of increased gravity. It drew in the dust from the air as it gently bent the light in the hallway. Next came fire, then ice. Each element was simple to create, manipulate, and reabsorb. Jiran found himself completely mesmerized as he flowed through them one at a time.

Elemental Castigation: + 1

Jiran closed his eyes, dedicating all of his brain power toward his next test. He placed a finger against the wall, willing his mana to tear a tiny hole in the firm plaster. A white, powdery substance was collected in his aura as a square centimeter of the wall fell apart. His intent was clear, his will absolute, his knowledge, lacking. Despite his unfamiliarity with the old skill, the white powder rejoined the wall before forming back into its original shape and appearance.

Forming works too. Amazing. What else can I do? Is my imagination the limit? I bet I could even teleport, though I won't be trying that without observing it several more times. How annoying would it be if I ended up on another continent by accident… again? I'll have to find someone willing to demonstrate it for me a few times. Hmm, who do I know that’s tier six or above and willing to let me experiment with their skills? I think I know the perfect woman for the job. Since we have so much to talk about, I can kill two Graymin with one thrust.

Jiran knew exactly where she was since her aura had been in contact with his since she left, likely to make sure he didn't run away. He knocked on her door and watched with a smirk as she took her time straightening her hair and hoisting her brassiere. In her defense, she only had one arm to get the job done. She sauntered to the door and opened it slowly, her lips set in a mischievous smile.

"A young man coming to my door so late at night? Oh, the scandal this will cause."