"Comment?"
My jaw hit the floor.
Lou had always made it sound like an Eidos was something deeply personal—something forged through struggle, self-discovery, and sheer will. Yet here he was, casually claiming that some big shot just… handed him his Eidos?
"Hold on," I sputtered, pressing a hand against my forehead as if that would help me process this insanity. "You're telling me your Eidos wasn't something you, you know… figured out yourself?"
Lou shrugged—SHRUGGED—as if I'd just asked him what he had for lunch. Infuriating.
"Not just me," he replied lazily. "All Sponsors—well, except one of us."
I stiffened. "Excuse me?"
Lou rubbed the back of his head, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. "Argentum bestowed our Eidos upon us. Guess I forgot to mention that, huh?"
"Forgot?!" My voice spiked in pitch as my hand collided with his empty skull. I swear the impact echoed.
Lou flinched, eyes widening comically. "Ow—what the hell?!"
"And why are you so damn nonchalant about it?!" I all but shrieked, throwing my hands in the air. "This is insane!"
Lou sighed, rolling his eyes with practiced ease. "Alright, alright. Meltdown averted. You're right, it's not exactly normal. But for Sponsors, it's just… part of the deal."
"Part of the—" I sucked in a sharp breath, forcing myself not to deck him again. "And just who the hell is Argentum to be handing out Eidos like party favors?"
Lou's expression shifted.
For the first time that day, his usual flippant attitude faded.
"Argentum…" His voice dropped to a reverent murmur, as if the name alone carried weight beyond comprehension, "Well… uh… He's just, a legend…"
Silence settled between us.
Even Lou seemed to hold his breath for a moment, as though merely speaking of him demanded respect.
Argentum.
The name rang in my head like a whisper from ancient history. A legend wrapped in myth—a figure spoken of in hushed, almost fearful tones.
The first of the Flow users.
A being whose strength was said to be unmatched, his aura otherworldly. A god among mortals.
And this god understood the nature of Sponsors so well that he could just… gift them their Eidos?
A shiver ran down my spine.
I clenched my fists.
This Argentum dude.
I really wanted to meet him.
I stifled a groan, shoving Argentum's mysteries aside for now.
"Forget it," I muttered, massaging my temples. "Just... tell me about your—"
Then, it hit me.
"What the?" My world tilted mid-sentence. Every nerve in my body flared to life, a jolt of raw awareness crashing over me like a wave.
My breath caught. My eyes snapped wide open.
Lou stilled, sensing my abrupt shift in focus.
But his reaction wasn't like mine. Because this wasn't Flow.
No, it was something else. Something eerily familiar. Something powerful.
Something I hadn't felt in forever.
I twisted sharply, head snapping toward the forest. To any ordinary eye, it was just an empty stretch of shadowed trees, nothing out of the ordinary. But I knew better.
A faint tingling sensation crawled along my skin.
Not Flow.
Something else.
Like a gentle water current, filling every void, pulsing so faintly it was barely there. Tiny bluish specks floated just above the grass—weightless, shimmering, ephemeral.
And then—
It vanished.
Gone as quickly as it had come, like a fleeting whisper in the wind.
But I'd felt it. I knew that power.
My heart pounded against my ribs.
"M... Mana?"
The word tumbled from my lips, my voice barely a whisper.
…
"Hey, Bug, you alright?"
Lou's voice cut through my daze, grounding me before my thoughts could spiral further.
I shook myself, blinking rapidly, trying to mask the whirlwind in my mind.
"Yeah, yeah, fine!" I stammered, a bit too quickly.
Lou narrowed his eyes. "Uh-huh." His tone was laced with skepticism. "You sure? You went paler than a ghost for a second there."
"No big deal, Lou!" I interjected, a little too forcefully. Desperate to steer the conversation away. "Just... tell me how your Eidos works, okay?"
The urgency in my voice betrayed me.
Because even as I spoke, I could still feel it. That ghostly trace of something forbidden. Forgotten.
Mana.
But… how?
How could I sense it now, in a body filled with Flow?
And why… hadn't I felt it in the earlier years?
A shiver crawled down my spine.
Something wasn't adding up.
But now wasn't the time. I shoved the mystery down, locking it away for later.
Lou's Eidos had to take precedence. At least for now.
And that insufferable showoff tapped his chin with an exaggerated hum. "Ah, where to begin?"
He raised a hand, the familiar silver healing dust shimmering around his fingers, dancing in the air like fireflies.
"As you know," he began, his voice taking on that smug, I'm-so-much-better-than-you tone, "us Harmonizers have a deeper connection to living cells. It allows us to manifest our Flow in a physical form—like this healing dust, for example."
The dust swirled around his palm, a faint silver halo pulsing at its core.
"Once this touches damaged tissue," he continued, "it transforms into calories, protein, vitamins… basically, all the good stuff your body needs. It accelerates the natural healing process by feeding the cells directly."
I crossed my arms, unimpressed. "Yeah, yeah, miracle healer, got it."
Then, he grinned. That infuriating, smug, you're-not-ready-for-this grin.
"Ah, but because I'm—how should I put this—slightly more talented than your average Harmonizer," he added, throwing me a wink, "my understanding goes beyond mere healing. I can delve into the very essence of life... and unlife."
My brows shot up. Wait. Unlife?
"Precisely..." Lou's smirk widened.
He flicked his wrist, and a second layer of silver dust materialized, coating the first like a protective shell. But something was off. The energy it radiated felt… wrong.
"This," he declared dramatically, "is Destructive Dust."
"Destructive?" I echoed, warily eyeing the swirling particles.
"A dust that eats away at living flesh instead of feeding it." He flexed his fingers, the dust pulsing in response. "I wrap it around my healing dust so it doesn't, you know, consume me."
A shiver crawled down my spine. So that's how he did it. I always wondered why Lou, despite his insane abilities, wasn't classified as a Wild Dard. But now it all made sense. 99% of his abilities were pretty much about living tissue, a Harmonizer's specialty.
"And let me guess," I muttered, piecing it together. "Argentum didn't just discover this power—he mastered it and passed it down to you."
Lou gave me a mock bow. "Bingo."
I frowned, a new thought striking me.
"Hold up."
Lou deactivated his Eidos, raising an eyebrow at my sudden outburst.
"If Argentum's this god-tier dude who just hands out Eidos like candy," I said, leaning forward, "imagine all the crazy ones he must have for himself, right?"
Lou smirked, but there was something almost… knowing in his expression.
"Actually, believe it or not," he said, "Argentum doesn't have a personal Eidos."
I blinked. "Come again?"
Lou nodded. "Any abilities he possesses beyond the Sponsors' Eidos? They weren't just for him. Every technique, every power—he's shared them with others. He gave them away."
My jaw hit the floor. Again.
"You're joking."
"Dead serious."
If Lou wasn't exaggerating, then this Argentum guy wasn't just strong. He was something else entirely. A man who didn't keep a single ability to himself? Who the hell does that?
A thrill shot through me, excitement surging like wildfire in my veins.
"Huh..." A wide grin stretched across my face.
Lou eyed me warily. "What's gotten into you?"
I leaned forward, practically buzzing with energy. "Dude. I need to meet this guy."
Lou's expression soured instantly.
"Oh no."
"I mean, do you think I'd even stand a chance against him if I reach my full potential?"
That earned me a flick to the forehead. Hard.
"Whoa there, Bug!" Lou scolded, clearly annoyed. "You're progressing fast, I'll give you that. But don't get ahead of yourself. You can't even beat us Sponsors yet, let alone a walking, talking legend!"
I rubbed my forehead, scowling. "Ow, what the hell—"
"Listen up, Bug," he interrupted, "Argentum isn't just strong. He's practically a god. The gap between you and him? It's a chasm."
I stayed quiet.
Because… he wasn't wrong. For now.
Lou sighed, rolling his eyes as if the very act of dealing with me was exhausting.
"Seriously, Bug," he muttered, "so arrogant."
"Yeah, yeah, say all you want..." I muttered.
BUZZZ.
Another jolt.
That same, inexplicable sensation slammed into me, stronger this time. It pulsed through my body—a warmth laced with a haunting, bone-deep nostalgia. My breath hitched.
I shot to my feet, every nerve on edge. My hands trembled at my sides.
"Bug, what the hell—?" Lou stood too, his brows furrowed in concern.
I barely heard him.
"Can't you feel it?" I grabbed his arm, my grip tight with urgency. My other hand shot forward, pointing frantically into the darkened forest. "It's coming from there! Don't you sense anything, Lou?"
He stared at me like I'd grown another head.
"What are you talking about?"
"Hush!" My pulse pounded in my ears. I locked my gaze onto that spot—the same one from before.
And this time…
This time, there was no mistaking it.
Not only did I sense the familiar white pulse of Flow in the air, but woven within it, faint yet undeniable, was a different energy entirely.
Shimmering blue.
They glittered like fireflies, dancing between the currents of Flow, flickering in and out of existence. The exact same way they had in my past life.
A cold shiver crawled up my spine.
My throat went dry.
The very same Mana that fueled my existence as Ash Wyvern.
A tremor ran through me.
"Lou," I whispered, "This might sound crazy, but please, just follow me. Now. And no annoying questions!"
"Huh?" He blinked, clearly thrown by my intensity. Even by my standards, this was erratic behavior.
Still, after a brief pause, he let out a sigh, rubbing the back of his head.
"Alright, alright. Lead the way, Bug."
I didn't waste a second.
"Thanks!"
I bolted forward, chasing the surge of Mana like a moth to a flame.
This makes no sense.
Mana had no place in this world. It shouldn't exist here. Yet, here it was—unmistakable, familiar, calling to me like an old friend.
More importantly…
Why could I sense it when Lou couldn't?
Was it because of my past life as a Mana user?
Right now, that was the only logical explanation.
But logic didn't matter. Not when something this impossible was happening right in front of me.
The deeper we ran into the forest, the thicker the Mana grew. It wasn't just present in the air—it clung to my skin, pulsed with an almost tangible force, leading me like an unseen hand.
We're close.
Then—a sudden yank.
Lou's iron grip clamped down on my shoulder, halting me mid-sprint. I barely kept myself from stumbling.
"Someone's here, Bug," he murmured. His free hand instinctively found the hilt of his sword, fingers curling tight. "Can you feel them?"
I swallowed hard, nodding.
But what exactly was I sensing?
A physical presence? Or was I just honing in on the overwhelming leak of Mana?
Lou's brow furrowed. His earlier nonchalance was gone, replaced by cold caution.
"Strange," he muttered. "I specifically requested the Beast Territory remain off-limits. No humans should be here except us…"
I exhaled sharply, steadying my grip on the Morphblade.
"Anything might happen, so get ready!"
"Don't worry," I shot back.
Then—a sound.
Low at first. Rhythmic. Eerie.
A voice. Chanting.
The words slithered through the trees, sharp and deliberate, the cadence crawling under my skin.
The thick foliage ahead thinned—and in the open clearing beyond, bathed in an ethereal glow of swirling blue Mana—stood a woman.
A crimson-robed mage.
Her arms stretched skyward, her lips weaving an incantation in a hypnotic refrain.
"All hail Marloth... All hail Marloth..."
And then I saw them.
Eight figures. Bound. Shackled.
Chains crackled with stolen Mana, binding them to her will. Their clothes were in tatters, their bodies reduced to skin and bone. Starved. Drained. Nothing but puppets now, their spirits ground to dust beneath her spell.
A dull roar filled my ears.
Rage. hot. All-consuming.
My vision blurred at the edges, swimming between past and present. Mother's pain. Her broken body, shackled and used, coursed through my veins.
The crimson mage's face became theirs—the slavers who had shackled her, the ones who had stripped her of dignity, turned her into a tool.
The Morphblade trembled in my grip, my knuckles turning white.
I wanted blood.
I wanted to slice her apart, piece by piece.
I wanted to throw her onto a pyre and watch her burn.
I wanted her to suffer.
A snarl tore from my lips. The edges of my breath came ragged, feral. My aura spilled out, the obsidian tendrils licking at the air, unrestrained. The concealing cloak started tearing apart, my Flow too much for it.
I stepped forward—
SLAM.
A heavy force drove me down, pinning me to the dirt.
Lou.
His hand gripped my head, his knee pressing into my back, keeping me locked in place. His voice was low, firm.
"Easy there, Bug," he growled. "We need a plan, not a berserker charge!"
I writhed beneath him, my breath coming in short, broken pants.
"Lou..." My voice shook. I twisted against his hold, my vision still locked onto the mage. "They're slaves. Just like—"
My throat closed up.
Lou stilled.
He didn't say anything, but I could feel the shift in his grip—less force, more grounding.
I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms.
"I've waited so long for this," I whispered, the words barely making it past my clenched teeth. "To finally get revenge. To finally take what they took from me."
This time, no one was watching me.
No chains bound my body.
No restrictions.
I was free.
And that woman—she was prey.
Lou's grip tightened.
"Listen, Bug," he growled, voice taut with frustration. His gaze flickered toward the shuffling line of slaves, his jaw clenching. "Nine years old with a vendetta the size of a dragon? I don't get it, but I can't watch you throw your life away. Got it?"
I gritted my teeth, refusing to meet his eyes.
How could he understand? How could anyone?
The woman's chanting droned on, a sickening melody seeping into my bones.
"All hail Marloth… All hail Marloth…"
Then—a sickening thud.
Silence.
I snapped my head around.
One of the slaves collapsed. His body hit the dirt like a lifeless doll. His eyes—hollow, drained. His cracked lips trembled with a final, pitiful plea.
"No more… Please..."
I swallowed hard.
Damn it.
He barely had any Mana left. Any more siphoning and he'd—
The woman moved.
A harsh kick to his ribs, the impact muffled by his ragged clothes.
"UP, YOU WORTHLESS SACK!" she snarled, the sweetness of her chant now replaced with venom. "You haven't offered yourself fully to Marloth! Stand up!"
The fallen slave didn't move.
But in his dim, fading eyes, I saw it.
That same defiance.
The same look I once had.
The look that had earned me scars. That had nearly cost me my life.
A shiver ran down my spine.
She saw it too.
With a disgusted sneer, she released the chain binding him and raised her hands over his crumpled form.
A low, guttural chant spilled from her lips.
Then—a glow.
Her palms ignited, swirling red tattoos pulsing as they lit up with a dull brown light.
Earth Magic.
I sucked in a sharp breath.
"Lou."
His hand was still clamped on my head, his grip firm—unyielding.
"Lou, we have to stop her!" My voice cracked, the words spilling out in desperation.
Still no response.
He didn't move. He remained a statue, his hand heavy on my head.
Tsk… "Lou, we wait any longer, and he'll die!"