After a few more minutes, Lian's body stopped radiating heat. A sigh escaped his lips as he pondered what to tell Seline, his mind racing to balance truth and secrecy.
"So?" Seline asked, her green eyes piercing into him, urging the truth.
"It's… part of my talent. I can absorb mana faster. That's why I'm advancing so quickly." His voice was steady, but his heart was not.
Seline stared, her eyebrows slowly arching. "Faster? In what way?" She was not letting it go, her curiosity as sharp as her spells, a trait that defined her.
"I do not know how to explain it," he replied, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "It's just part of my talent. I can absorb Mana Cores… that's why I'm close to Bronze 2, even though I awakened just days ago." His words were a half-truth, carefully chosen.
"No one can absorb Mana Cores directly. Are you sure you're okay?"