Poisonous Mana

After eating his fill and finally cooling his overcooked brain, Xion felt like he could think properly again.

He wiped his mouth with a napkin, then turned to the man sitting across from him. "Your Grace, can you show me your mana?"

Darius arched a brow at the sudden request but complied without question. With a snap of his fingers, a murky green flame flickered to life at his fingertips, twisting and curling like a restless serpent.

Xion's blue eyes reflected the eerie glow as he leaned in, studying the way it moved. Unsteady, wild, and untamed.

But he was too far away to observe properly. Without hesitation, he grabbed his chair and dragged it to the other side of the table, plopping himself down next to Darius.

Now this was better.

As he slumped onto the seat, he gathered a very small amount of his own mana.

A soft white glow wrapped around the dark green tendrils like a mist.

And then... Boom!