Chapter 104 103: Breakthrough

Sitting in the yard behind the cottage, I yet again took hold of my wind and water mana, isolating the unique feelings of the two as they coursed through my body.

The sharp, cold wind traveled separate of the gentle, warm water.

Like always, I slowly brought the two types of mana alongside one another, controlling both at the same time.

Clearing my mind, I gently overlapped the wind mana over the water mana, before trying to cover the water completely.

Next the wind mana started seeping into the 'core' of water mana, gradually mixing and fusing together.

It took a few revolutions, but the two different manas slowly mixed, only for the water to flare again, pushing the wind mana out.

Screaming in agony, I held my head as my body went numb and cold, the only feeling being the sharp pinprick of the wind inside my veins.

Staring at the ground, droplets of crimson liquid pooled together below me, however I couldn't think as my mind was in turmoil.

It felt like someone was chiseling away at the inside of my skull, tapping away at random.

Coughing, more dark liquid joined the growing puddle below me, and I groaned in pain, my vision blurring.

Focusing on the puddle of blood below me, I tried to center my attention on that, ignoring the sharp pains coursing throughout my body.

Slowly the pounding headache receded, and I wiped my nose and mouth free of blood.

Getting up, I turned my gaze towards the orange and purple sky of dusk, trying to figure out where I was going wrong.

My control on both was quite good, and yet...

Fusion of the two different mana types seemed almost impossible.

Swallowing down the remaining iron liquid in my mouth, I thought about what the Marquess had suggested.

'Use both elements at once.'

Placing my hands on either knee, I opened my palm as I tried to create a sphere of water on my left, and wind on my right.

Closing my eyes, I yet again isolated the two mana's inside my body before guiding them towards the respective sides, pushing them into my palms.

Creating the simple two rune sequence in each hand, I tried to summon elemental spheres.

Gritting my teeth, I desperately tried to control the mana as it exited my body, and upon opening my eyes...

Panting hard, I stared at the two marble sized orbs that hovered above my palms, grinning at them.

However, they quickly dispersed, and as they did I blinked a few times, trying to keep my eyes open as the yard grew dark.

Swaying, my body got colder, only for me to drop to the side.

Drawing in breath, I chuckled as I realized I had overdrawn my mana again, my vision blurring as lay there.

I could hear someone approaching, but the words were heavily distorted and hazy.

Even as they laid their hands on my shoulders, trying to shake me awake, I could barely feel that.

Closing my eyes, I dropped into unconsciousness.

~~~

Groaning, I opened my eyes, instantly covering them as a harsh light blinded me.

"-ar me? Kat?"

Blinking a few times, I groaned again as someone shook my shoulders.

Looking towards them, I saw Jahi leaning above me, her eyes filled with worry.

"Stop... shaking me..."

Jahi's shoulders slumped in relief, before glaring at me.

"What in the world were you doing?!"

Chuckling, I sat up, instantly regretting it as the room spun.

"Whoa... Hah... I was trying to... to create my ice magic..."

Falling forwards, Jahi caught me in her arms, sighing as she gently stroked my hair.

"That's nice and all, but did you need to force it? You've been out there for hours... remember, we still have the Academy tomorrow as well..."

Nodding, I stayed in her arms, enjoying the way her warmth pushed away the chill that lingered in my body.

Eventually she pulled away, glaring at me as she said "So just go to sleep. Anput and Leone are getting food for us, so I'll wake you up when they return. Rest, Kat."

Smiling at her, I chuckled as she pushed me gently back into the bed, sinking into the silky comforters and pillows.

Curling up into a ball, I closed my eyes again, drifting back into sleep.

~~~

That night, and the next morning, were surprisingly normal, my body slowly returning to its equilibrium as I absorbed the mana in the air.

Jahi had suggested I stay home and rest some more, but I waved her off, not wanting to miss a day just because I felt a little drained.

Class was brutal though, as the influx of new information sent my head spinning, trying to connect and decipher the information given as we wrote down answers or took notes.

By that point I sat out of Combat Class, watching as the others practiced again, doing basic workouts and spars.

However, as I watched them, someone came and sat next to me.

Turning, I saw the familiar black haired, snake tattooed Kolia, who was grinning at me.

"Looking like you're mana deprived, Katherine. Let me guess... tried to fuse your wind and water mana together?"

I nodded, making Kolia laugh.

"Yeah, I remember trying to get my wind mana under control... Honestly, the only advice I have for you is to keep at it. For some people, fusing mana together is. simple; after all, Anput there managed to get her metal magic quite quickly. However, fire and earth are notoriously easier to control compared to water and wind, so..."

Smirking at me, she added "I don't envy you, having to fuse both."

Tilting my head, I said "Controlling the water mana is easy enough though? It's quite... calm."

Kolia shrugged, saying "Well, like I said, it's different for everyone. Though, maybe try fusing it over multiple sessions. After all, when you fail your wind is expelled completely from your water, but..."

"If I gradually add the wind over without forcing it, the water gets used to being mixed!"

Kolia chuckled, placing a hand on my head.

"Come find me when you finish. I want to see an ice user besides Draka. You're quite rare, did you know that?"

Shaking my head, the woman just chuckled again.

"Yup, ice magic is rarer than metal, nature, and lightning, but honestly not by a large amount. Though, when that's added on top of how rare they already are, it's not uncommon for someone to be the newest ice mage for a decade or so."

Getting up, Kolia looked towards her sister, who was standing opposite Jahi, gesturing at the Demoness' stance.

"Anyways, can't wait to teach you next year, Katherine~"

Waving goodbye, Kolia slipped out of sight, blending in with the shadows that lingered at the edge of the cavern.

Leaning against the wall, I continued watching everyone practice, refocusing my attention inside.

If it was just a little...

'Grabbing' the two streams of mana, I twined the wind over the water again, before allowing it to seep inside the water for a few moments.

Feeling the water mana tremble slightly, I released the wind, feeling the two mana's stick together as they traveled through my body like normal.

Grinning to myself, I took a deep breath, relieved.

Finally...

Hah...

It took this long to get here, and there's still a ways to go, but...

I'll have my ice magic soon.

---

Shorter, but my minds a little numb at this point. I zoned out midway through and just stared at the screen for like ten minutes, just... blanking, so...

Anyways, 500K Views! Thank you all!

Besides that, I just thought this was funny. Got a Review last night, and the guy said that whoever likes Yuri is down bad... and said 'even if it was a god tier novel' he'd take a step back form it. Like lol okay, if you knew you didn't like Yuri why'd you click onto the book?

People are confusing...

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