Chapter 21 – She is too close!

"Huek~" A weird, awkward noise escaped my mouth as I opened it in a failed attempt to speak. My stomach churned uncomfortably from the sudden flight, leaving me dizzy and disoriented. The morning sky stretched endlessly above me, calm and serene, a stark contrast to my chaotic emotions.

I blinked, finally able to take in my surroundings. My heart, still racing, slowed slightly as I realized where we were. Below us was a breathtaking view of a pristine beach, the kind that would've been perfect for a postcard. The golden sand stretched out to meet the turquoise waves, and the soft sounds of the tide gently lapping against the shore filled the air. The scene struck a chord of familiarity. It reminded me of the beach I'd seen the first time I arrived in this strange world.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Sophia's voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to look at her. Her red hair swayed gently in the wind, and her horns and wings shimmered faintly in the sunlight. She was smiling, her expression radiant and carefree, as though this was just another ordinary day for her.

I swallowed hard, still feeling a little off from the unexpected flight. "Y-Yeah," I managed to stammer, my voice hoarse and shaky. "It's beautiful…" My words trailed off as I looked back at the scenery. Despite my initial panic, I couldn't deny that the view was breathtaking. The colors of the sky blended seamlessly with the horizon, and the gentle breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean.

Sophia landed gracefully, her wings folding behind her as her boots touched the soft sand. She set me down carefully, and my legs wobbled as they adjusted to solid ground again. "You really need to loosen up," she said with a chuckle, patting me on the shoulder. "Flying Isn't that bad once you get used to it."

I gave her a weak glare, brushing sand off my clothes. "You could've at least warned me before taking off like that," I grumbled, still feeling the ghost of vertigo lingering in my head. "I thought I was going to fall!"

"But you didn't, did you?" she replied, smirking. "Besides, now you're here." She winked mischievously before turning to face the ocean.

I sighed, realizing there was no point in arguing. My initial frustration started to fade as I looked out at the tranquil beach again. The morning light made the water sparkle like it was dotted with tiny diamonds, and the soft crash of waves against the shore had a calming rhythm to it.

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked, curiosity slipping into my voice. I didn't understand Sophia's intentions, but she seemed to have a reason for everything she did — even if it wasn't immediately obvious.

"Why… huh?" Sophia tilted her head, her crimson hair swaying slightly with the motion. Her golden eyes studied me, a glimmer of mischief hidden behind her gaze. "Because… you're cute? And I'm lonely?" She said it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world, her tone light and teasing. Then, with a shrug, she added, "Is there even a need for an explanation?"

Her bluntness hit me like a splash of cold water. My face immediately heated up, and I took a step back, unable to form a coherent response. "W-What kind of reason is that?!" I stammered, feeling my ears twitch involuntarily. "You can't just—just kidnap someone because you think they're cute!"

Sophia grinned, clearly enjoying my flustered state. "Oh, but I can, can't I? After all, here we are," she said, spreading her arms as if to present the idyllic beach around us. "Besides, it's not kidnapping if you're having fun, right?"

I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes at her. "That's not how it works, and you know it," I muttered, though I couldn't help but feel the tension in my chest loosen slightly at her playful demeanor.

"Fine…" Sophia sighed, her energetic demeanor softening as she stared out at the waves. Her crimson eyes seemed to glimmer with something deeper, something more thoughtful. "Hey, Mashiro, do you know why monsters spawn?"

I tilted my head and shrugged. "Not really. Is there some kind of magical explanation for it?"

She nodded, folding her arms as her scaly tail swayed lazily behind her. "Well… monsters are like a mirror," she began, her voice unusually calm. "They're a reflection of living beings, born from the culmination of mana. You see, every living being—whether it's an animal, a plant, or even us—gives off mana naturally. It's like an invisible energy that surrounds everything."

I frowned, trying to wrap my head around the concept.

"Does that mean the skeleton I saw also appeared because of mana?" I asked, my brows furrowing as I tried to connect the dots.

Sophia shook her head, her red hair swaying gently with the movement. "No, no," she corrected, her tone a mix of patience and seriousness. "A skeleton is an undead, not a monster. There's a key difference between the two."

I tilted my head, puzzled. "What's the difference, then?"

Sophia sighed, crossing her arms as her wings twitched slightly. "Undead don't form from mana in the same way monsters do. They're born from something much darker—conscious emotion. Hatred, longing, regret, despair… strong emotions that linger in the soul after death. They're tied to what remains of a person's spirit, clinging to this world instead of moving on."

A shiver ran down my spine as her words sank in. "So… you're saying that skeleton was… someone who couldn't let go?"

Sophia nodded solemnly. "Exactly. It wasn't created by the natural flow of mana like monsters are. Instead, it's a manifestation of unresolved emotions—a trapped soul, in a way. That's why dealing with undead is… different. You're not just fighting a creature. You're facing the echoes of someone's pain or sorrow."

I swallowed hard, the memory of the skeleton flashing in my mind. It had seemed so… cute? but now I wondered what kind of life—or death—had led it to that state. "That's… kind of sad," I murmured.

Sophia smiled faintly, her usual carefree demeanor replaced by a quiet understanding. "Yeah. It is. But it's also why people like Catherine or me step in when things like that appear. Someone's got to make sure those souls find peace—or at least stop them from hurting others."

"I... see," I said slowly, tilting my head as Sophia's words sank in. "But why are you telling me this?"

Sophia's lips curved into a knowing smile, as if she'd been waiting for me to ask that exact question. Her golden eyes glinted with mischief and just a hint of something deeper.

"You see," she began, gesturing vaguely to the distant horizon, "we're in one of the most isolated regions on the eastern side of the continent. There's almost no mana that naturally culminates here, aside from the dragon nest up in the mountain. It's practically a dead zone for magic."

I frowned, puzzled. "So, what does that have to do with anything?"

She held up a finger, signaling for patience. "As a dragonborn," she continued, her voice taking on a proud yet casual tone, "I possess an absurdly high amount of mana—so much that it overflows needlessly. It's both a blessing and a curse."

Before I could respond, a bright red aura began to radiate from her body, shimmering like embers in the sunlight. The energy was intense, pulsating with raw power. My fox ears twitched instinctively, sensing the overwhelming magic in the air.

"Remember when I told you that monsters are mirrors of living beings?" she asked, her smile widening. "Well, here's the fun part. If I use my skill to transfer some of my excess mana into you, it'll act as a catalyst. The mana will radiate from you and interact with the environment. And do you know what that means?"

I shook my head, a mix of curiosity and unease bubbling within me.

"It means," she said, her voice dropping into an almost playful whisper, "we can make monsters 'spawn.' And because the mana originates from you, the monsters will reflect your current level and abilities. In other words, we can tailor-make challenges for you to face."

My eyes widened in shock. "You're saying you can create monsters just by pouring mana into me?"

Sophia nodded, her aura still glowing around her like a fiery halo. "Exactly. It's a great way to train—or at least, it is for someone like me who has more mana than I know what to do with. And since this area is so devoid of natural mana, it's the perfect place for something like this. No outside interference."

I swallowed hard, torn between excitement and dread. "And… you want to do this because…?"

"Because," Sophia said with a wink, "I think it's time you start figuring out what you're capable of. And besides…" She tilted her head, her smile turning a little softer. "It'll be fun. Don't you think?"

"Huh…" I mumbled, my brain struggling to keep up with the situation. "How do we do that?"

Sophia's mischievous smile widened, her golden eyes twinkling with amusement. "Like this," she said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Before I could react, she threw herself at me, wrapping her arms tightly around me. My entire body stiffened as the sudden warmth of her embrace enveloped me. Her soft chest pressed against mine, the fabric of her maid uniform clinging slightly to my dress. My fox ears twitched in utter confusion, and my tail puffed up instinctively.

"Wha—!?" I managed to squeak, my face flushing bright red.

Before I could untangle myself or demand an explanation, Sophia leaned in closer and, without hesitation, kissed me on the cheek. The sensation was warm and soft, sending an electric jolt down my spine.

"W-What are you doing?!" I stammered, trying to back away, but Sophia held me firmly in place.

She giggled, clearly enjoying my reaction. "Relax, Mashiro. This is just how I transfer mana. It's efficient and… fun, don't you think?"

"Fun?!" I sputtered, my mind racing. "You call this fun?!"

"Well," she said playfully, her voice dripping with amusement, "you didn't ask for the specifics, so I thought I'd show you instead. Consider it a hands-on lesson. Or rather…" She smirked, tilting her head. "A full-body lesson."