Chapter 565 126.2 - Evergreen

Chapter 565 126.2 - Evergreen

Mana.

When we think about what mana is, most people tend to imagine it as just another resource—something to be harnessed, controlled, and expanded. But in truth, mana is much more than that. It's not just the lifeblood of magic, but the essence of the world itself. It flows through everything—living beings, the land, the air. Every part of the environment is a reflection of the mana coursing through it, and how that mana interacts with the world tells you more than just its surface appearance.

Mana isn't simply raw energy; it's a language. One that, if you understand it, reveals far more than what the naked eye can perceive. When mana is abundant, the land flourishes, teeming with life. When it's disrupted or drained, everything suffers—the soil dries, plants wither, and even the air grows heavy with stagnation.

It's everywhere, integrated into every aspect of existence. In the way crops grow, how the wind shifts, and even how people interact with their surroundings. By reading the mana in an environment, you can infer the health of the land and the stability of the climate or even detect hidden threats before they become visible.

And with the right eyes, like mine, that's exactly what I can do. My vision doesn't just let me see farther—it lets me read the currents of mana, like tracing the flow of a river.

I've done it more times than I can count. In battle, it's second nature to scan for disruptions in mana flow, giving me an edge. In unfamiliar environments, I use it to understand the balance of the land.

And now.

Mana is, in many ways, like electromagnetic waves. It has properties—frequency, intensity, and flow—that can be read, analyzed, and understood by those attuned to it. And just like waves, mana interacts with everything in its path, influencing the environment, living beings, and even objects. By analyzing those properties, you can learn not just about the surface level of things but the deeper truths that lie beneath.

That's what I've been doing all this time, unconsciously. Reading the shifts in mana around me, letting it inform my understanding of the world. Whether in battle or in unfamiliar environments, it's become second nature to perceive mana and break it down in my mind. A constant stream of information flowing through my senses.

'This place is different.'

In front of me, the special properties of mana were different.

The mana here wasn't following the same rules. It felt heavier, denser. From my eyes, I could see it—an intricate weave of energy swirling beneath the surface, not chaotic, but tightly controlled in its own way.

As I focused, I began dismantling the mana in my head, breaking it down piece by piece. The flow, the intensity—it was far richer than anything I had encountered thus far on this journey. The patterns it formed were unfamiliar, almost foreign. It wasn't just that there was more mana here; it was the way it behaved, the way it interacted with the environment. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

'This is...' I let the thought hang as I visualized it. In my mind's eye, the mana took shape, forming an intricate network of currents and streams, each one more vibrant than the last. It was like a living organism, pulsing and breathing with its own rhythm.

And then I saw it. A barrier.

It wasn't visible to the naked eye, but my senses picked it up clearly. The mana shifted abruptly as if I had just crossed an invisible threshold. 'A sphere,' I thought, watching as the energy curved around the land in a protective dome, enveloping the entire region in its embrace.

Moments later, the airship began to slow, gently adjusting its course as it prepared to land. I could feel the smooth alignment as the ship descended gracefully toward a special hangar just beyond the mansion. The hangar was well-concealed, but its design was unmistakably for personal use. It was clear that this landing site had been built with the airship in mind, reserved for its frequent—though not recent—visits.

The ship touched down with hardly a sound, the engines powering down with the same quiet efficiency that had carried us through the journey. The hangar itself was sleek, built into the landscape to avoid disturbing the natural beauty of the surroundings.

The moment the door to the airship opened, a rush of mana flooded my senses, assaulting me with an intensity I hadn't anticipated. It wasn't just the air that was different—it was as if the very pressure of the atmosphere had shifted.

'Ooof....'

My head spun for a brief moment, the weight of the refined, ancient mana nearly overwhelming. But within seconds, I regained control, steadying myself as I took a slow breath.

"Haaah...."

The air outside was cool, carrying with it the scent of nature—fresh, earthy, and untouched by the industrial rhythms of the world. It was a refreshing change from the more structured environment I'd just left behind. A gentle breeze drifted in, wrapping around me like a soft embrace. But amidst the natural smells, one distinct fragrance stood out. Familiar. Inviting.

It was subtle at first, but as I focused, the scent became unmistakable—a fragrance I had come to associate with a certain someone. Natural, delicate, and distinctly her.

I raised my head, and there she stood.

Senior Maya.

Her purple hair cascaded effortlessly down to her waist, glimmering in the light as if it had been spun from silk. Her pink eyes, sharp yet soft, were locked onto mine, radiating a quiet strength that only she could possess.

"Junior," her voice came, calm and warm, carrying an undercurrent of familiarity that immediately grounded me in the moment.

In the blink of an eye, she was before me, her presence commanding yet serene.

Maya stood before me, just as I had always seen her—serene, kind, and radiating a purity that seemed almost at odds with the power she carried. Despite the subtle shift in the air around her, she remained composed, her gaze never wavering as she took me in.

"Senior," I replied, my voice calm but watchful. I took a moment to observe her more closely. At first glance, she seemed the same—lively, her complexion bright and full of life. But there was something else, something faint yet undeniable. A red glint in her eyes, subtle but present, hinted at a tension she was holding back. It wasn't just the usual calmness she exuded; this time, it felt like she was keeping herself in check.

I noticed the faint blush on her cheeks and how she briefly wet her lips with nothing but saliva. The small gestures, though seemingly insignificant, told me enough.

'She is trying to suppress herself.' She was trying to suppress her vampiric urges—urges that had clearly grown stronger.