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MT - 16 Gift
🕑 Added 2024-12-18 04:32:11 +0000 UTCNight had fallen. The quiet of the evening was broken only by the faint rustle of fabric as Roxy carefully packed her belongings. It was clear—she would soon leave this place and continue her journey.
Roy stood to the side, watching her slender frame, so small and delicate. He didn't want her to go. But he knew he couldn't stop her. Leaving was inevitable.
Even if he tried, he had no reason strong enough to make her stay.
Her azure hair swayed gently with the breeze slipping through the open window, cascading down her back like a flowing river. Roxy was undeniably enchanting, and Roy found himself drawn to her.
She adjusted her mage's robe and straightened the brim of her pointed hat. The room was steeped in silence, an unspoken heaviness filling the air between them.
Suddenly, Roy broke the stillness. "Do you really have to leave?"
Roxy paused. Her gaze fell, shadowed with a faint sadness.
"There's nothing more I can teach you."
Roy let out a sigh, his youthful face momentarily clouded by a fleeting expression of longing. He glanced at her—dressed in a simple white nightgown, her figure lit softly by the moonlight spilling through the window.
Roxy wasn't curvaceous, but her petite and delicate frame held a charm that was uniquely her own.
Roy turned his eyes to the night sky. The full moon hung high, its silver light blanketing the earth in a serene glow.
This farewell felt heavier with every passing moment. He didn't know how long it would be before they could see each other again—if ever.
The thought weighed on him. He remembered how, in his previous life, farewells had always been tinged with melancholy. It was no different now, especially in this world without the convenience of modern technology. The vastness of the land made every parting feel permanent. Once paths diverged, chance reunions were little more than wistful dreams.
No, he thought. He wouldn't let that happen.
The magic seed. It wasn't just a source of power—it also held the ability to track someone within a certain range. If he gave it to Roxy, he'd always be able to find her, no matter how far apart they were. This way, there'd be no tragic near-misses, no moments of passing by without realizing it.
With resolve hardening in his chest, Roy took a deep breath. He summoned the immense ocean of magic within him, feeling the elements of wind, fire, water, and earth coalesce in response to his will. The air grew thick with energy, a surge of mana crashing like waves around him.
Roxy froze. The sudden eruption of power made her eyes widen in shock. She turned to Roy, staring at the young boy standing amidst a maelstrom of raw magic.
"What are you doing, Roy?" She asked, her voice tinged with alarm.
The sheer amount of mana he was channeling—it far exceeded her own capacity. It was overwhelming.
Roy didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gave her a small, reassuring smile.
The darkness of his mana began to solidify, threads of black energy winding together, pulsing with an ominous, otherworldly aura. Around him, the elements surged, replenishing the vast reserves he was depleting as he condensed the magic into its final form.
A dense knot of magic gathered in his right hand, its presence heavy and foreboding. The oppressive energy it radiated filled the room, making the air feel almost suffocating.
Roxy stared, a mix of awe and apprehension on her face. Whatever Roy was creating, it was unlike anything she had ever seen.
Roxy furrowed her brows slightly. "This magic… it feels so sinister." She muttered, her tone tinged with unease. From the very beginning, Roy's magic had always carried an inexplicable air of mystery and danger.
Before long, the manifestation of his spell took form—a dark, ominous seed.
It shimmered with an inky black hue, its mere presence stirring up a chilling wind that whispered through the room.
Roxy narrowed her eyes, suspicion flaring. This thing can't possibly be good.
In truth, her instincts weren't wrong. The magic seed was indeed designed for control, inspired by an old novel Roy had read in his previous life. What he had created was a simplified version of that concept—a tool with two functions. First, it could supply mana, converting the recipient's magic into one that shared the same origin as his own. Second, it allowed for the control of the recipient.
Of course, the magic seed could be removed, but the process was complex and highly restrictive—not impossible, but certainly not easy.
Roy noticed Roxy's wary expression and decided to play along. He let a sly grin curl across his lips, attempting to appear menacing. He hoped the sinister smile would send shivers down her spine. But the boyishness of his youthful face betrayed him, turning his intended malice into something… different.
The result was uncanny, but not in the way he intended.
As his lips curved upward and his eyes narrowed in mock malevolence, the effect landed somewhere closer to mischievous than frightening. His cherubic face undercut the effort, leaving him looking less like a villain and more like an overly smug child.
Roxy's heart skipped a beat—not out of fear, but from an overwhelming urge to scoop up the boy and hug him. She quickly suppressed the thought, although her hands twitched in rebellion.
Roy, blissfully unaware of this internal conflict, interpreted her reaction as fear. A rush of satisfaction swelled within him. Looks like I've found a way to intimidate people! This expression will definitely come in handy.
Roxy, meanwhile, was locked in a battle with her own self-control. She inhaled deeply, repeating in her mind: He's just a boy. He's just a boy.
When she finally managed to steady herself, Roy seized the moment to explain.
"This is the magic seed that will helps you to convert your mana into one that shares its origin with mine. This will cause your mana to increase dramatically. However…" He paused for effect, his voice lowering. "Your life will also be in my hands. If I choose, I could end it in an instant. So, you understand, right?"
Roxy stared at him, her mind replaying his earlier attempt at a sinister smile. Realization dawned—That was supposed to be evil? she thought, incredulous. But because the smile had been so disarmingly cute, she hadn't noticed its intended malice and instead found herself amused.
Her eyes shifted to the boy standing proudly in front of her, clearly pleased with himself.
He's definitely misunderstood something, Roxy thought, suppressing a smirk.
She let her gaze linger on him—his soft golden hair falling against his pale neck, his bright amber eyes gleaming with excitement. The usually stoic and reserved boy had transformed, his innocent eagerness ruining any chance of creating a foreboding atmosphere.
It was almost laughable.
He reminded her of an overconfident rookie attempting to pull off a masterful bluff. His earnestness gave him away completely.
Try as she might to keep a straight face, Roxy couldn't help the faint twitch of her lips. "So all that cold detachment was just an act, huh?" she mused aloud. It was clear to her now—Roy was a novice at this kind of thing. The sheer glee on his face gave him away.
The absurdity of the situation almost made her laugh. If a shady man whispered conspiratorial threats in your ear, it might unsettle you. But imagine if that man were replaced by an adorably smug boy—his attempt at menace would become pure comedy.
Unable to let Roy continue using his "scary face" as a weapon, Roxy stepped forward and flicked him on the forehead, her exasperation evident. "You little rascal, always plotting something." She scolded, her tone half amused, half stern.
Roy winced, rubbing his forehead indignantly.
Her eyes then flickered to the dark seed still cradled in his palm. She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Does the magic seed truly enhance mana?"
Roy nodded confidently. "Of course!"
"And… does it work the way you said it does?"
She was referring, of course, to the life-binding mechanism.
Roy nodded again, his tone serious. "I'm not exaggerating. That's exactly how it works…"
Before he could finish, Roxy raised a hand to silence him. She looked him directly in the eye, her clear gaze holding his.
"I believe you." She said firmly. "You're a kind child, Roy. I trust you."
Her words caught him off guard.
Roy pursed his lips, inwardly scoffing. Kind? She's so naïve. People can be dangerous, you know.
He smirked inwardly, imagining a scenario straight out of a cheesy drama. I'll lock her in a dark basement with only a single oil lamp for light. Every day, I'll demand hugs...
His thoughts spiraled gleefully. Meanwhile, Roxy remained unaware of his peculiar internal monologue, regarding him with an amused, albeit wary, expression.
