Seeing Jon succeed ignited the fighting spirit in all of the volunteers. It also gave hope that perhaps more would be successful with their core creation. Unfortunately, the reality is often disappointing.
I was able to witness that cruelty before my two eyes. They all died... Their nas now remained carved on the tall pillar. The only two that survived were the youngest boy and the elderly woman.
I glanced at them with a complicated expression, a part of wanted to dissuade them from attempting to continue. But another part decided it was not my place to intervene. I was only here to guide and help them, not dictate what they should or should not do. Except when it ca to the mana stream, which was a red line.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked to which the old lady with a hunched back replied;
"As ready as I would ever be, my lord. Please give the chance to be helpful. I have lived a long fulfilling life, I don't mind if I die today or tomorrow. I'm already satisfied."
Seeing the resolution in her eyes, I simply nodded before speaking;
"Okay then, step forward and receive the mana blessing." That was what they called the process of bestowing them with the whisp of mana.
"I, Morena Ruz accept the lord's blessings!" Saying that Morena threw her walking stick away and limped the rest of the way until she was standing before .
"Are you ready?"
"Yes!"
I nodded and reached out to the mana before I gently sent a whisp inside her body. Morena shuddered but was otherwise fine. It was still not enough to get my hopes high, however, since I've seen many who failed after that even when their initial reaction to the mana was quite good.
The mana began to circle her body. For so reason, even after knowing where the core was to be created, I could still not force the mana to go there and instead had to wait for it to continue its circles.
I didn't understand the reason for that until I saw I visibly saw Morena's wrinkly skin smoothed as she slowly seed to grow younger. The first circle removed most of her wrinkles. The second one cleared her skin completely, and the third one reverted her hair back to black, removing the grey hair strands.
When It was finally ti for the final circle, Morena looked like a young lady in her thirties, her back was straight, her hair was black, and her skin looked as smooth as silk.
The mana finally began to gather around her heart as it created a cocoon over her heart energy. The strand that linked her to the mana stream slowly grew more visible. She took a few breaths before she exhaled, and opened her eyes.
Her gaze was confused as she glanced at her body, and she kept staring at her hands in disbelief. As far as I knew, the humans had no magic that reverse back the effects of aging, so it was understandable that she was in shock. Truth be told, I was quite surprised myself as I didn't expect that.
At first, I didn't really pay that much attention to it, but it was clear in Morena's case. The reason the mana circles the body is to nourish and prepare it for the creation of the core. So people with high affinities to it can handle the pressure, while others could not.
"I-I'm?" Confused, Morena stuttered.
"Looks like It's not yet your ti to die." I grinned in reply.
She raised her head and glanced at with tears in her eyes. I could sense her complicated emotions, relief, guilt, and sadness.
The church head along with a few other priests kowtowed as they saw the scene before them.
"A miracle! A miracle by the lord!" He scread before he hurriedly fell to the ground. The others quickly followed after him.
None of the priests present had any affinity with mana, so they were not suitable to join the experint, hence why I could see the jealousy and envy in so of their gazes. Still, I ignored them and instead turned to glance at Morena who was quietly sobbing.
"Use your mana, child. Let us see what elent you have been blessed with," I spoke in a gentle tone causing her to hurriedly wipe her tears and close her eyes in concentration.
Soon enough, all the elents left her core leaving behind only one. Water...
My eyes lit up in pleasant surprise as I watched Moreana summon a water ball the size of a fist above her hand. Her control over it was surprisingly good for her first ti. Still, she could not maintain the connection to the stream for too long, and so the water ball fell to the ground with a splash.
Morena then opened her eyes and glanced at with a weak smile;
"Thank you for the blessings, my Lord." She said and bowed her head.
I nodded and instructed her to go down the platform;
"Your task will be the sa as Jon, carve your na and affinity on the pillar. Although your control over the mana is not bad, it's still far from good."
"I understand, thank you, my lord!" Saying that Morena stood up and wiped her tears before she went down the platform where the priests gathered around her and offered their congratulations.
They were all extrely respectful, except for the head of the church who still maintained a degree of respect, but was not over the top. From their conversation, It seed like Morena was already an established mber of the church for a long ti.
She conversed with the head of the church, the bald priest for a while before she made her way to the pillar, where Jon was already trying his best to carve his na. He barely managed to carve the first two letters in the pillar, and still had a long way to go.
Morena sat down next to him and closed her eyes in ditation. Her aura slowly cald down as she breathed in and out. Soon, she opened her eyes with newfound resolution and began her attempt.
"Well then, that only leaves you," I said and turned to glance at the fearless young man standing with his back straight.
"I'm ready, my lord!"
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