Mana rider

Noah was in the forest near the mansion, happily eating fruits when he heard a sharp weasel sound. His ears twitched—Ashan was calling him. Without hesitation, he stopped eating and sprinted toward the sound.

As he neared, Noah suddenly halted about fifty meters away, his body trembling. Ashan noticed the change immediately.

(Noah, why? What happened?)

Ashan narrowed his eyes, examining his companion closely.

His aura… he looks terrified, as if he's facing death itself.

A realization struck Ashan. He closed his eyes and focused inward. His presence—it was blending with something dark, ancient, and overwhelming. The residual energy from the dragon core he had absorbed was seeping out bit by bit.

I completely forgot that this might happen. The black dragon's presence is starting to leak from my body. No wonder Noah is so frightened. I need to suppress it.

Placing a hand over his heart, Ashan focused his will, guiding the dragon's presence and the energy back into his heart. After a moment, the suffocating aura disappeared entirely.

I'll have to do this regularly until my body fully absorbs the energy. Right now, only half of it has fused with my bones and heart. If I don't control it, my own presence will be overpowered.

Ashan waved his hand toward Noah.

(Now it's gone. You can come here.)

Noah cautiously studied Ashan. Sensing that the dreadful presence had vanished, he finally ran forward and stopped before Ashan. Nudging Ashan's shoulder, he let out a questioning huff.

"It was me. I gained something new, and it scared you. But don't worry—you won't feel it again."

Ashan ran his hand along Noah's neck, calming him.

"Were you eating?"

Noah shook his head.

"Alright, let's check your condition."

Ashan activated his x-ray vision and examined Noah's legs. A smile crept onto his face.

"Hey, you know what? You're fully healed. You can run faster than before. Shall we test it?"

Noah let out an excited neigh and pointed toward his back, eager to start.

"Then let's do it. Run to the pond in the middle of the forest—go as fast as you can."

Noah launched forward, gradually increasing his speed. Ashan observed carefully.

See? I told you. You're even faster now.

Before long, Noah reached the pond. It was massive, with a considerable distance separating the two banks. Noah skidded to a stop at the edge, gazing across the water. Ashan followed his line of sight, a idea forming in his mind.

I guess it's time to try it out.

"Noah, want to do something cool?"

Noah tilted his head before shaking it in excitement.

"Alright. Run back until I tell you to stop."

Noah sprinted back. Ashan raised his hand when he reached a good distance, signaling him to halt. He placed a firm hand on Noah's body.

"Listen, Noah. Don't think about anything else—just focus on your body. You're about to experience something incredible."

A soft yellow glow emerged from Ashan's palm, spreading across Noah's body. it's eyes turned bright yellow, and dark green energy pulsed along his form. Noah's breathing grew heavier as power surged through him.

"How does it feel to be strong?" Ashan asked, removing his hand.

Noah neighed in satisfaction, stamping his hooves eagerly.

"I shared my mana with you. As long as my body remains in contact with yours, you'll stay in this form. Now, you can surpass your physical limits. Do you trust me?"

Noah nodded without hesitation.

"Good. Here's what you need to do. Push yourself again, run toward the pond, and when you reach the edge—jump with everything you've got. Trust me, you can do it. Even if you fail, you won't fall in. Get ready."

Noah crouched slightly, adjusting his stance. Strange flames flickered beneath his hooves.

"Go!"

Noah surged forward like a bullet. The surroundings blurred as they picked up speed. Ashan grinned.

There we go. I knew Noah was perfect for mana riding. Now, for the real test.

Noah reached the bank.

"Jump!" Ashan shouted, bracing against the wind pressure.

Noah leaped without hesitation. They shot through the air like they had been launched from a catapult. Ashan glanced down—their shadows stretched across the pond's surface.

So far, so good. It's working.

The opposite shore loomed closer. Ashan prepared for the landing.

I need to soften the impact of landing.

Focusing his gaze on the landing spot, he pointed two fingers .

[Wayo: Reverse Wind]

A powerful gust of air surged from the pond's bank, cushioning Noah's descent. The force of the wind wrapped around him like an invisible barrier, slowing his fall and easing the impact as his hooves met the ground.

Thud.

They landed smoothly on the other side.

Neigh!

Noah reared up, expressing both his shock and joy.

"I told you that you could do it, didn't I?"

Ashan looked to his left.

"Let's go home, Noah."

Releasing the mana link, Noah's body returned to normal. Without delay, Noah turned and galloped toward the mansion.

...

Through a window, Boris watched as Noah and Ashan approached. His eyes narrowed as he studied the horse.

"Son, isn't that an Alpha Horse?"

Leone nodded. "Yes, Father. That's my son's horse, Noah."

Boris turned to him in disbelief.

"Where in the world… No, how did you even catch it?"

"Our men found him injured in one of our forests about five years ago and brought him here. We nursed him to health."

Boris's expression grew serious.

"But who tamed him? Alpha Horses are notoriously difficult. It takes at least four years—no, even longer—to fully tame one."

"Ashan did."

Boris stiffened. "Do you realize what you're saying? How can an eleven-year-old tame such a wild beast? Are you joking?"

"Calm down, Father. I'm not joking. It's the truth." Leone proceeded to explain how Ashan and Noah had bonded.

Boris shook his head in amazement. "This is unbelievable. Alpha Horses are rare. Even seeing one is considered lucky. I only ever saw one before—in Dragoria, belonging to the king himself. This is truly remarkable."

Leone sighed. "That's not all, Father. From the start, something was different. The first moment Noah saw Ashan, he calmed down strangely. No fear, no aggression—just trust. They bonded immediately, as if they were old friends. I thought it was a coincidence at first, but then Elowyn arrived."

"Elowyn? What happened with her?"

"She followed Ashan here. In just a few days, she became unusually close to him, just like Noah. She's friendly with us, but with him… it's different. She stays near him all the time. She's half-animal, so it made me wonder."

Boris chuckled. "My, my. My grandson is truly extraordinary. I have a feeling we'll see even more surprises from him. Ah, and does he have a spirit?"

Leone shook his head. "No, Father. He doesn't."

Boris frowned. "Why? He's at the age when he should have bonded with one. Are they rejecting him?"

"It's the opposite. When he was born, an uncountable number of spirits gathered around him, causing a fuss."

"That's incredibly rare! What happened next?"

"We asked them to leave. Later, three guardian spirits arrived to watch over him, but as time passed, we realized he wasn't fond of spirits. So, we dismissed them as well, believing that one day, he would choose a spirit on his own."

Boris nodded. "That was wise. We'll let time decide."

His gaze shifted back to Noah.

"Can I see him up close?"

"You mean the horse?"

"Yes, I want to see it up close."

Leone scratched his head.

"That might be difficult, Father. That horse is incredibly stubborn and only allows Ashan to touch him. Maria can as well, but only because she feeds him regularly. Even I don't get that privilege."

Boris chuckled. "Is that so? Quite the loyal beast. But it's alright—I only need to see him from a distance."

To be continued…