The second mission

= "Don't follow me." =

= "I am not, I have a mission from the Seeker's Association I must fulfil. We are merely going the same way." =

Wearing a form of armour made from leather of some beast, I failed to chase away the woman named Feya. Her presence is unwanted, I wish to dispose of her but the one in the shadows will not me to do so.

I walked, and walked, well in my case should I say jump? I have yet to recover my limbs, but surely, after I complete these missions, they should at least grant me the chance to meet a Tier-7 Light Mage.

I wish to recover my limbs so that I can perform even better. Sex and fighting are too hard for me, I can only move passively and rely on my Monsters and Guardian.

However, even the power to rely on my power is useless because of one simple reason.

= "What are you thinking so hard about?" =

= "It is none of your business." =

There are too many eyes. This woman and the mysterious observer, I cannot make my move with the present.

[This is going to be harder than before.]

= "Feather Weight, Earthen Strength, Strong Vitality." =

= "W-wait, how can you move so fast!?" =

Thus, to alleviate the unpleasant feeling of annoyance I cast three support spells on myself and left the area. I left her behind.

= "Why are you running away? Don't leave big sis behind." =

= "Huh?" =

= "I didn't expect you to cast multiple Tier-2 Spells, that is impressive, truly. For a one-handed mage, you are pretty good, is this they call a genius?" =

She has good speed although she is just a Gold-grade Rank-2, it is impressive. But, with this, I failed to outrun her. This is honestly irritating, I am a mage, and I have only one leg, and for Mages, it is already hard enough to move.

A Mage uses every cell of his being to control the flow of mana in their body, a single wrong pulsation in the mana flow will create an adverse result. The only reason I can cast a spell is that my mana control is beyond what a human or any of the four races can muster.

I think I am not a monster but I fail to understand if that is truly what I am. This life is granted to me inside a facility, not from a woman's womb. I am the creation of something else, is that bad? No, it is good, a life is a life, a being who breathes that is who I am, I am alive and that is all that matters.

My fleeting figure dashed through the land, the world was blurred as my perception is not so great but with mana, the world slows down.

My power is increasing by the day, slowly, I am approaching the next level. My mana is improving even without my knowledge, I do not cultivate it nor do I try to do so but it is beginning to raise.

My body is getting stronger also. The influence of mana is not so little that a mage will become frail. Mana is life and with a body that is full of life, a mage can eve match Martials in terms of their strong body.

But, to be honest it is not enough. I need to become stronger as I can still be killed, I need to grow more knowledgeable as I can still be schemed on, and I need to lose my ever-changing emotion as it is hindering me.

But still, Lethias says it is inevitable, and the path to become strong means not abandoning oneself so I can't actually become too cold for my own good. She is now teaching me a way to have emotions and empathy.

As for the thing called Kindness, I still fail to understand its meaning.

= "Why are so serious, boy?" =

= "Please, do not mind me." =

I sped away and after three days of travel with the woman, I gave up trying to lose her as she too was like a workhorse who does not lose mana or stamina. In these three days, I only rested four times, and without my knowledge, I have reached Platinum-Grade Rank-3. A bit of a shocker, I know, but that is the merit of having twelve Mage Channels, it is really convenient.

By my estimates, I may be able to reach Mythril-grade before I return. Mythril is a Tier-7 Mage, if I can harness the power of light by the time I reach that kind of strength, I will finally be able to regrow these limbs of mine and if I can harness darkness I'll be able to leave the Blue Crown.

But for the past few weeks, my willingness to leave the organization is beginning to wane.

One more day passed, and finally, I reached the Olwa Plains and I have to say, the Origin Mana Bandits really lives up to their names of petty bandits who will attack everyone and anyone who seems like they have the cash to do so.

= "Hey kids, you do know that everyone has to pay toll in order to pass this place right?" =

Said the man standing in the middle of a clearing where people use to travel. They are bandits indeed, they do not even have the right knowledge not to make a camp here.

These days, people travel through the skies using Skyships. Why the hell are they still here? Do they think people still use horse-drawn carriage? Those things even soar through the skies these days.

From the records, those things that travel on land became unstable after the war around fifty years ago.

= "A simple question, are you a member of the Origin Mana Bandits, is this place where the Origin Mana Bandits situated their headquarters? And do you really earn money here?" =

= "Hehehe, I know, you must have heard of our infamy, indeed I Reginold am of the Origin Mana Bandit, why? Are you scared? Do not worry, I won't harm you if you hand over your belongings, I can't say the same about your beautiful companion though." =

= "You bastard!" = Feya did not agree with his remarks and was ready to punch a hole through his body.

= "Stop it, lady. Hey, Reginold the Bandit, you didn't answer my other questions." =

= "Huh? What is it with this kid? Hey! Do you even know what kind of situation you are in? I am not playing here, give me everything you have! You­–wait, what is this? It burns, a spell? Are you a mage?" =

This is not going anywhere, I can see the arrogance and belittle in his eyes, I am tired of such a stare, please, will you wipe that out of your face? Is what I wished to say but I already bounded him with a simple spell. He is nothing but a Silver-grade Martial.

Well, he has no intention of clearing my intention.

= "Fire Rope." =

I walked to his side, crouched and looked at him in the eyes. I tilted my head to the side and opened my mouth to speak.

= "Where is your headquarters? Tell me, now." =

Thus, my second mission began.