Chapter No 6. The Flames Of Purgatory.

Lucius and Sia engaged in a tradition common among adventurers following the loss of their comrades. They gathered the belongings of their deceased team members, including weapons, artifacts, and personal items. Lucius chose to stay close to June, whose remains were scattered at the scene, marked by the blood that surrounded them. Before departing, both Lucius and Sia took a moment to bow in gratitude, honoring the sacrifices made by their fallen friends.

Approximately one hour later, Sia found herself seated on a flat rock near the final cliff that divided the outer rim from the city. Lucius, having no other activities to engage in, leaned against Sia, the battleknight's armor offering a sense of comfort. Sia was lost in thought, reflecting on the day's events: the mission, the unexpected encounter with Lucius, and the tragic loss of her entire team due to the ghost bear. Now, in a moment of relative safety, she had the opportunity to contemplate her experiences. While she had many questions about Lucius and his background, she opted not to press him for details, allowing for a moment of peaceful silence between them instead. Lucius, too, held numerous questions but chose to respect the quiet companionship they shared.

***

Lucius's POV

I remained silent, allowing Lady Sia a few moments of peace with herself. Although my own injuries were non-existent, she had suffered several visible wounds during the fight. Some were deep, her armor barely holding together in certain places. Yet, despite her pain, she stood with unwavering composure. I glanced at her arms—her dominant one had taken the brunt of the damage, but the other seemed better, which was at least some good news.

The silence between us was thick, lingering in the aftermath of battle. It felt somewhat awkward, yet at the same time, there was a strange sense of easiness to it. A mutual understanding. We had both just survived something brutal. The smell of blood still hung in the air, the earth was torn and scarred, and the memory of what we had lost weighed heavily upon us.

'I'm glad I found you, Lady Sia,' I thought. I considered saying it out loud but decided against it.

Her voice broke the silence.

"Tell me, Lucius, you had a little exchange with Raga before he saved me, right?" Sia's tone was calm, but there was an underlying curiosity in her voice.

I met her gaze and nodded. "A short one, but yes."

I still remember the moment vividly. I had been with Raga when he was almost killed by that devastating blow. He had come flying toward me, his massive frame hurtling through the air like a boulder. If I hadn't reacted in time, he would have crushed me under his weight. Fortunately, I had been fast enough to move out of his landing trajectory. That was when I had spoken to him—just before he gathered what little strength remained in him and returned to battle.

Sia exhaled softly, her expression unreadable. "His chest injury had damaged his core, you know?" she continued, her voice quieter now. "Since you don't have one, you wouldn't understand the unbearable pain we go through when our core is injured…"

She was right. Only a mage could truly comprehend the agony Sir Raga must have endured.

I recalled that moment again—Raga, lying on the ground, his breaths shallow and ragged. He had collapsed near a tree, barely conscious, his body struggling to recover from the brutal injuries he had sustained. Acting on instinct, I had helped him, dragging his limp frame against the rough bark, trying to provide him with some support. It had taken time, but I had managed to steady him.

The wounds on his chest were horrifying. Four massive holes had been blasted through his flesh, leaving his internal organs visible beneath the torn remnants of his armor. But the worst of it was his mana core—shattered. A large portion of it was simply… missing, as if it had been violently torn away from his body.

'How?' I had wondered in that moment. 'How is he even still breathing?'

Even now, I couldn't understand it.

Sia's voice pulled me back to the present.

"There were holes blown through his chest and core when he tried to defend me," she said, her words heavy with something I couldn't quite place—admiration, grief, respect. "With that kind of injury, I can only imagine how he mustered up the strength to stand, much less return to battle and hold his own against that sadistic monster."

Her praise for her fallen captain was genuine, and I understood why. He was truly an incredible warrior. Even in his dying moments, he fought with pure intentions—to protect his comrades, to avenge his fallen team members. He deserved a better ending than the one he got.

But before he rejoined the fight, Raga had asked me something. A question I hadn't expected.

"What are your dreams, kid?"

I had frozen for a moment.

Back then, I didn't know. My consciousness had barely existed for a few hours when I met these people. I had no memories, no grand ambitions that had been nurtured over years of experience. Yet, I had wanted to answer him. I had wanted to say something meaningful.

So I had forced myself to speak.

"I'm going to be a strong, honorable man like you, Sir."

Even as I said it, I wasn't entirely sure if it was true.

But now… now I wanted it to be.

Lady Sia, with her unshakable will and indomitable spirit. Sir Raga, with his unwavering sense of duty and courage. And even Sister June, whose kindness and selflessness had left a lasting impression on me. They had all inspired me. They had all shaped my understanding of what an ideal person should be.

Raga had looked at me then, his breath unsteady, his body shaking under the weight of his injuries. Yet, despite his pain, his voice had remained strong.

"You're not sure what you want to be in the future," he had said. "Your tone carries doubt. And that's fine. It's okay to question yourself, to wonder about your place in this world. But remember this, Lucius—you have time. You have Lady Sia, an honorable knight, to guide you. You don't need to have all the answers right now. Just make sure you figure it out."

His words had stayed with me. They still echoed in my mind even now.

He had inspired me to want to be better.

Despite the agony he must have been in, Raga had pushed himself to stand. His sword had been his only support, his balance unsteady—like a newborn trying to walk for the first time. I had stepped forward, reaching out to help him, but he had gently refused my assistance.

Even in his final moments, he remained strong.

He had walked toward Lady Sia, his steps slow, deliberate. And in that moment, something inside me had shifted. I couldn't let this moment pass without saying what I needed to say.

I clenched my fists, straightened my posture, and spoke with unwavering resolve.

"Sir Raga, one day, I will become a strong and honorable man. I will protect my family and those around me. That is my resolve."

For a moment, he didn't respond. Then, with visible effort, he turned slightly to glance at me. A faint smile appeared on his battle-worn face. A small, fleeting expression—but filled with something that looked like satisfaction.

"Is that a promise, Lucius?"

"Yes, sir!"

And those were the last words we ever exchanged. A promise. One I would never forget.

***

"Lucius, how much do you truly understand about mana?" Sia's voice cut through the air, challenging the depths of my comprehension regarding this vital entity that serves as our life force. She leaned forward, her eyes glinting with a mix of curiosity and intensity. "Mana is not just a concept; it is an omnipresent energy that permeates everything around us. It flows through the vast skies above, courses through the earth beneath our feet, and dances over the mountains we ascend. The oceans we plunge into and the rivers from which we drink are all manifestations of mana. In essence, our entire world is woven together by this rich and vibrant fabric of mana."

As Sia spoke, a flicker of realization ignited within me, as if her words were unlocking a dormant understanding buried deep within my mind. "Please continue. I'm eager to learn more," I urged, keen to delve deeper into the mysteries of this life-giving energy.

"Mana is the very essence that empowers all forms of life," she explained, her voice steady and authoritative. "It doesn't matter if a creature is immense or minuscule, powerful or feeble; every living being thrives because of the mana coursing through their veins. It is this life force that enables existence and reproduction. Without mana, a sentient being simply cannot exist—"

"That's incorrect," Sia interjected sharply, her tone interrupting my thoughts. "While you are largely accurate, there's a key distinction to be made. Yes, without mana, a sentient being would indeed cease to live, much as we would if deprived of necessary elements like oxygen or water. But the critical difference lies in the immediacy of those consequences. The absence of oxygen, for instance, leads to a slow and agonizing demise; we can only hold our breath for a few moments before we begin to perish. The absence of water, on the other hand, may grant us a week at most before we succumb to dehydration, and three weeks is our absolute limit."

I nodded thoughtfully, piecing together her argument. "So, mana, like oxygen and water, is essential for survival?"

Sia's eyebrows shot up in surprise at my conclusion. "Our?" she echoed, her voice tinged with skepticism. At that moment, an unsettling realization crept over me, coinciding with the peculiar connection I felt toward her. I sensed that she was hinting at something profound and troubling, something I knew was impossible to accept.

"Lucius, my dear," she began, her expression shifting to one of concern, "we met only seven hours ago, and throughout our encounter, not once have I sensed the circulation of mana within you. You lack a mana signature entirely. It should be impossible for you to be sitting here, conversing with me, breathing, and yet here you are, as if nothing is amiss. In all my knowledge, I have never encountered a human who can survive without mana for more than a minute. Those who have, barely cling to life after such an ordeal; they endure lifelong injuries that cripple their bodies and restrict their cores indefinitely."

Her revelation left me stunned, the weight of her words pressing heavily upon my mind. A thousand questions surged forth, but one overrode the rest: "What about others like me? Are there beings who can exist without mana?"

"There are none, Lucius," she said, shaking her head. "In nature, mana beasts show no mercy. They either eliminate their younglings or abandon them at the first sign of any defect suggesting an inability to circulate mana properly. It may be brutal, but it is a necessary measure to ensure that those who might jeopardize their species are not allowed to reproduce, which could endanger their very existence. In fact, in our own history, during the tenure of the previous ruler, humans who could not harness mana to defend themselves—or their empire—faced cruel discrimination for decades, even centuries in some parts of the empire."

My heart raced at her words. "Wait, are there humans who can't circulate mana at all?" My hope surged as I focused on this startling new angle.

"No, Lucius," Sia clarified, her voice firm but sympathetic. "Even those humans do possess the ability to circulate mana. They have a mana core just like any of us. The key difference is..." She paused, the atmosphere around her shifting as her focus intensified. With a fluid motion, she conjured a linear, brilliant spear-like structure beside her: the mana spell known as the mana arc. The arc hovered gracefully in the air, emanating a soft yet vibrant glow. Slowly, she drew my attention to the particles of mana escaping from it, dissipating into the atmosphere one by one. As I watched, the beautiful spell gradually faded into nothingness, leaving me with a profound sense of loss, mirroring the realization of my own unique plight amidst a world governed by mana.

"They are utterly incapable of conjuring even the most rudimentary mana spells, such as the mana arc. Furthermore, they lack the ability to enhance their physical forms—reinforcing their muscles or sharpening their senses—abilities that, over time, contribute to the extension of life itself. The absent flow of mana circulating within their bodies restricts them to merely experiencing an ordinary existence. That's all it amounts to. Their inability to perceive, to feel, and to manipulate mana renders their already brief lives pitifully mundane."

This revelation sent a wave of uncertainty crashing over me. "That means... wait, what does that mean for me?" The thoughts raced through my mind, escalating my anxiety. I had always sensed something was amiss within me, but I could never have anticipated it being this dire. If what Sia claimed was accurate, I was forever destined to be powerless, unable to wield mana like she did or like Sir Ragnar could! How was I supposed to navigate this cruel world and grow stronger if I was abandoned by the very force that governs the entire universe?

"What—what am I supposed to do now?" My mind spiraled into a panic as I was overwhelmed with dread, the situation feeling more hopeless than the terrifying encounter I had earlier with that monster lurking in the shadows of the trees, lying in wait to strike at the most opportune moment. In that fleeting memory, I recalled a bizarre sensation, the ability to feel that creature even when a seasoned knight like Lady Sia could not. Tentatively, I brought this incident up to her, and to my surprise, she recalled every precise detail. However, the shift in her expression and demeanor showed her clear disapproval at being reminded of that moment.

"So you're telling me that YOU were the first to sense that beast? Before I did?" Her question felt like a challenge, subtly implying that my senses might surpass hers. I took a solid minute, weighing my response carefully. While I knew the truth might provoke her anger, I chose to take the risk for my own sake. After all, I had nothing to lose. In the worst-case scenario, she might abandon me; in the best-case, she would take me to her city, where I could face others who might echo her inquiries, though with less kindness than Sia.

"Yes, Sia," I answered, my voice steady despite a tremor of fear coursing through me. I was relieved to note that she exhibited no signs of an emotional outburst, a welcome sign. For a moment, I couldn't help but think, 'At least her ego isn't as inflated as her br—' I abruptly turned my gaze elsewhere, desperate for her not to notice where my eyes had strayed for that split second. 'What is wrong with me?!' I internally scolded myself, mentally picturing a punch aimed at my own foolishness for harboring such an unforgivable thought about my savior.

"Lucius, I can hardly believe it, but you are the first person I have encountered in recent years who has exhausted my mind to this degree," Sia declared, her frustration mingling with an air of determination. "But fine, let's get to work. The sun is already rising, bathing us in light and warmth. Together, we'll arrive at a solution. First things first, we must address one crucial misunderstanding. Your perceived inability to... exist without mana is most definitely NOT a defect. If anything, it could be an ability, something previously unheard of."

"How so?" I blurted out, my curiosity overriding my caution. I noticed Sia didn't mind my interruption and waved my apology away, encouraging her to proceed.

"To begin with, the fact that you are alive, well, and essentially normal like others—like me— is a sign. It indicates that wherever you come from, you may not be alone; there might be others like you with similar, um… abilities!" She corrected herself hastily, her hands moving toward my chest region as if she were trying to scan me with her fingers. I instinctively closed my eyes, focusing on what she could sense, but my inherent inability to grasp the essence of mana left me in the dark about her intentions.

"Unbelievable," was all she said, yet that single word captured my undivided attention. I felt an intense anticipation for her next statement, a gut feeling that it was going to favor my future.

"Not only do you have a perfect circle embedded in the center of your chest—a mana core, albeit depleted—but you also possess an entire network of mana veins, mana points, and channels coursing throughout your body. What a remarkable phenomenon! Truly, it is a gift of divine proportion, I would dare say..."

"Listen to me, Lucius. You are not as unfortunate as I initially perceived. Your mana core, while non-functional, is perfect; your mana veins and channels, along with the points connecting them, are astonishing. In fact, the connections in your body may even rival those of our noble society's elite! The scanning I attempted earlier—do you know what that was all about?" Despite forming a hypothesis about her motives, I was still unsure and welcomed her correction with an open mind.

"Were you trying to inject mana into my body?" I asked bluntly, unfazed by the potential risks. I figured that if I accused her of such a thing and my body rejected it, I could lose several basic abilities, not to mention ruining my already tenuous connection to mana.

"Yes!" she replied, exuding pride, her voice bold and confident, with no hint of uncertainty regarding the outcome. And to my immense relief, nothing went wrong.

"Lucius, from what I can tell, your body can simply live without mana for I don't know how long, at the same time, when I injected a small amount of mana inside you, your core, your veins and your channels were, for a very small moment, activated. Which meant, your body is indeed capable of absorbing, purifying and circulating mana just like me and a billion others in our empire." Her voice, eyes, and expressions suggested this was the best piece of news she shared in a very long time. Is she that happy because of me... or for me? I wondered as I watched her.

"If what you said is true, that means..." "There's a small chance that the connection between you and mana can be restored if I'm able to pour an extraordinary amount of purified mana into your core." She finished my assessment, and her on-point way of proceeding further was the best-case scenario, but I still had doubts regarding which type of mana she'd pour directly into me.

"Why purified mana? Why not the raw, chaotic mana that fuels our attacks?" I pondered aloud, but the truth was, I didn't have a strong preference. My primary goal was to reconnect with the mana that once flowed through me. There was a nagging sensation deep within, hinting that something had happened before I found myself waking up in that dense, shadowy forest, something that had severed my bond with mana. I strained to recall the details, but they eluded me like wisps of smoke. Still, there was a flicker of certainty lurking within me: I possessed the inherent ability to manipulate mana.

"Allow me to share a story with you, Lucius," she began, her voice a mix of authority and nostalgia. "Back when I was actively serving in the military, there was a time when our division was stretched thin, embroiled in conflicts across the continent. Among us was a pregnant knight, close to her due date, who was denied maternity leave. The higher-ups deemed our mission too critical, ignoring her cries for help. During one of our deployments, in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, she went into labor. It was a dire situation; we had no qualified doctors with us, only our healer, Lady Adriana.

That night was fraught with obstacles and setbacks—every minute stretched into an hour as we huddled together in the cramped confines of our encampment. The labor was arduous, and despite Adriana's determined efforts, the delivery ended tragically. The battleknight lost her child—a heart-wrenching moment that nearly cost her own life as she succumbed to despair and a sudden loss of connection to her precious mana.

Fortunately, Lady Adriana was attuned to the gravitas of the situation. She sensed the impending danger, felt the life force slipping away from the battleknight. Without hesitation, she poured every ounce of her divine, purified mana directly into the knight's core. I can still recall the blood-curdling scream that erupted from the battleknight's lips; it was a sound filled with pain, a manifestation of her agony—her body fought against it, yearning for release, wanting to let go after losing the sole reason that inspired her to fight, to persevere.

Sitting across from Sia, I could feel the weight of her memories and the sorrow that underlined her words. It was palpable, a heavy fog between us that I longed to dissipate. I wanted to reach out, envelop her in an embrace, express my condolences for the profound loss she and the battleknight had endured, yet I held myself back. Now was not the time for outbursts of emotion.

"What happened next?" I inquired softly, careful to maintain the calm atmosphere, unwilling to pry too deeply into what seemed like a festering wound.

"Miraculously, she was saved," Sia sighed, a bittersweet smile flickering across her lips. "The moral of the story? There is a way to tether yourself back to mana after such a severance—but it's fraught with risks. Just the slightest miscalculation could spell disaster, crippling both your body and mana core in an instant. I cannot assure you of success, Lucius. However, the choice rests with you: do you wish to proceed?"

"Yes, I do," I replied steadfastly. The truth was glaringly obvious: I had little to lose. Sia was the first—and perhaps the only—person I felt connected to in this strange new world. If this process led to my demise, sure, I would lament the loss of her, but beyond that, what else was there? After witnessing the raw power of mana just the day before, it was abundantly clear that only by mastering it could I hope to achieve my goals—the promises I had made and the responsibilities entrusted to me. I needed mana to be my ally in all my endeavors.

"I'm ready, Lady Sia. Please proceed," I asserted, my resolve solidified, and I silently thanked her for still offering me a choice in this precarious situation.

"Very well," Sia nodded, her expression grave yet determined. "I will commence the process in half an hour. Until then, I need you to prepare your body. Engage in some light exercises—running, stretching, whatever feels right to you—just get your body warmed up."

I nodded obediently. Watching her settle down on the rough-hewn rock, her back straightening with purpose, I noted her eyes closing as she fell into a meditative state. With rhythmic breaths that resonated calm and strength, she began to absorb mana, her posture reflecting her commitment to the arduous task ahead.

Taking her guidance to heart, I launched into a series of short, swift sprints across the open ground, the wind whipping through my hair, invigorating my senses. I climbed trees—a challenging yet exhilarating endeavor—and flowed through yoga poses, each stretch unknitting the tension coiling in my muscles, easing my mind as well. The world around me faded, the only constants being my determination and the anticipation of what was to come.

***

"Are you ready?" The Blacknight asked, her voice devoid of its usual warmth. It was colder now, distant, detached. As if she had to steel herself against the possibility of what was about to happen.

She was prepared for the worst. Her armor covered every inch of her body, reinforced with enchantments meant to withstand even the most catastrophic failures. The likelihood of an overload— a polite way of saying "explosion"—was low, but low wasn't zero. And unnecessary risks were never an option.

"Any potential last words, little one?" she asked.

There was no humor in her tone, no teasing like before. It was an honest question.

I exhaled slowly, forcing my nerves into submission. "In case I die, just know this—this was what I wanted. Do not blame yourself if things don't go as planned."

She said nothing, just nodded once, her expression hidden beneath her helmet. But I could still feel the weight behind her silence.

"Very well. Lay down on the ground."

I obeyed, lowering myself onto my back. The earth beneath me was rough, uneven, but it hardly registered. My thoughts were elsewhere, cycling through memories I barely had time to form. I had more to say, more to do—but I told myself this wasn't the end.

Hopefully.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared. I was terrified. The fear of dying, of ceasing to exist after only eight hours of life, coiled around my mind like a suffocating vice. But this wasn't reckless abandon. This was necessary. This was a chance I couldn't afford to miss, a door that, if closed, may never open again. Before she could begin, I reached out and took her hands.

She tensed slightly, startled, but didn't pull away.

"Before you start, I just want to say… I'm truly sorry for your loss. I'm sorry."

She didn't reply.

She didn't need to.

She only gave a small nod before gently pulling her hands free and positioning them over my chest.

Then, without warning, it began.

At first, it was… pleasant.

A strange warmth spread through my body, like being submerged in a hot spring. My muscles loosened, my thoughts became hazy, and for a brief moment, I thought maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

I was wrong.

The heat rose, and what was soothing quickly became unbearable. It climbed higher, hotter, until my skin felt like it was blistering from the inside out. My blood turned to fire, my nerves igniting with searing pain. And then, before I could even process that, something far worse took over. Flames erupted from within me. Not physical flames, but something deeper, more violent. It coursed through my veins, burning away everything in its path. My organs, my muscles, my very bones—it felt as if they were being incinerated one by one.

I screamed.

The sound tore from my throat, raw and desperate.

"Sia! Stop! Please—!"

She didn't.

I thrashed, my body convulsing, arms and legs fighting against the pain, but I couldn't move—not truly. An invisible force held me down.

Mana Force.

She was restraining me, ensuring I didn't interfere. I barely registered the realization before a new agony consumed me.

My chest—

Something was happening inside my chest.

At the center of the suffering, in the very core of my being, I felt it—something foreign, something new. It spun, twisted, churned violently, like a storm struggling to form.

My vision, which had blurred from the pain, flickered for a moment.

Through the haze, I saw her—Sia.

She was screaming too, though not in pain. Her voice was urgent, commanding, desperate.

"DO NOT STOP! KEEP ABSORBING!"

Absorb?

I didn't understand. But even through the agony, I could feel it—this wasn't just destruction. It was creation.

The fire in my chest… wasn't just consuming me.

It was forming something.

I ignored everything else. The pain, the fear, the panic—I focused solely on that feeling. The swirling energy inside me, the vortex of mana desperately trying to stabilize.

And I spun it faster.

I had no idea how I was doing it, but I did.

The heat, the pressure, the agony—it all condensed into a single point. I forced it into motion, spinning, turning, accelerating until a blazing inferno swirled within me, a storm of raw mana taking shape.

Sia gripped my hands. "FASTER!"

I tried. I pushed myself harder, but the faster it spun, the more unstable it became. My body trembled violently, the energy inside reaching critical mass.

Then—

It stopped.

Not because I willed it.

Because it couldn't go any faster.

And worse—

It was slowing down.

I felt it falter, and panic overtook me. The energy I had built up, the fire I had forced into form, was dying. My core was stalling, and with it, my connection to mana.

Sia's voice grew frantic.

"NO! KEEP GOING! DO NOT LET IT STOP!"

I wanted to. But I couldn't.

I had given everything. And it wasn't enough.

My body had reached its limit.

I was weak. Empty. Done.

And yet—

I needed to survive.

A memory surfaced.

Raga.

The man who had placed his trust in me. The one who had not only believed in me but entrusted his weapon to me.

I could not let him down.

I would not let Sia down.

If my core couldn't surpass its speed going forward—

Then I would force it to move backward.

Gathering the last remnants of my willpower, I restructured the mana within me. I pulled the scattered flames together, compressed them, realigned them into the core of my chest.

And then—I reversed the spin.

The moment I did, my body reacted.

The core didn't just resume its motion—it exploded into acceleration, faster than before, spiraling with unstoppable momentum.

"NO—! STOP!" Sia's voice barely reached me, but I ignored it.

It was working.

A massive buildup of energy swelled inside my core. It was too much, too vast to contain.

I knew what was coming.

A Mana Discharge.

I tried to warn her, to tell her to get back. But I didn't know if she heard me.

I had no choice.

I had to release it.

With every ounce of remaining strength, I guided the fire mana, directing it, controlling it, stabilizing it just enough.

Then, as the last of my consciousness faded, I whispered the words that felt as if they had always belonged to me—

"Mana Zone: Flames of Purgatory..."

The world exploded in fire.