Chasing the Golden Chicken to Mana's Core
I got it—the mana core! My eyes darted left and right, tracking the fluttering house deed.
"So, where is it?"
The 20% commission was way too steep, but the photo of that house right in front of the deed Sion was holding had my heart racing.
"Hmm~ So, where could it be?"
"...Fun, huh?"
Sion let out a nasal hum and flashed a smile. She'd clearly picked up on my wavering resolve.
"Ah, screw it, I'm out. Not doing it."
Irritation bubbled up. Like anyone wants to jack it up to 20%. I was already stressing over the huge risk.
With an attitude like that, any lingering interest vanished.
"No, wait, sorry! I'll tell you!"
Sion grabbed my shoulder as I turned to leave.
But the train had already sailed. I'd just ask Cheonhwa and learn from her instead. Why bother with you?
"Wait! Just hear me out once! The house is close to the guild and the tower...!"
"I said forget it!"
I could find my own damn house. That was the plan anyway.
Just as I shook her off—
"Security! I'll cast security magic on it too!"
"Deal."
The exact response I wanted. I tamped down my ear-to-ear grin and sat back down.
"Ha...?"
Sion stared at me, head clearly not caught up.
Yeah, you got played. What an easy mark.
If Taejun had been here, it wouldn't have been so simple. Lucky break.
"Ah... damn it."
Sion smacked her forehead. She'd finally clued in. Too late.
"Spill it quick. It's a 'bet,' right?"
I tossed a lifeline to the deflated Sion. After all, her conditions hinged entirely on the bet. I just had to awaken mana within her deadline.
"Right, yeah. Hang on."
Sion stood up.
"So, where to start... Deadline first? Or straight to mana?"
No brainer. Mana? Piece of cake, right? Everything I'd used so far was mana-related anyway. No way I couldn't pick this up.
Just dive in headfirst!
"Mana first."
"Got it!"
Sion nodded at my decisive answer.
"Let's jump in. What do you know already? Basics?"
"Nah, don't even know the 'ma' in mana."
Less than a month since awakening—no mana techniques or breathing methods on my radar.
"For real? Never heard of heart methods or breathing techniques?"
"Meditation techniques, yeah."
"...No."
She shot me a look laced with some unreadable emotion. What? Why stare like that? Should I slap on a golden eyepatch and bust out a sword dance too?
As fury toward magicians welled up deep inside, an unexpected line popped from Sion.
"But... you're in a good spot."
"Good?"
"Yeah. Blank slate beats unlearning weird crap any day."
Ah, so like a fresh canvas? Solid logic.
"Then let's start from scratch?"
Sion raised her index and middle fingers skyward. I watched curiously—a flickering golden flame sparked at the tips.
"What do you see?"
"Golden flame."
"Nice, you can see mana. Mine's golden, as you see. What color's yours, you think?"
...Never crossed my mind. Isn't it just set from birth? I shook my head: no clue.
"Hmm... Short version: heart-technique-body. Know it?"
"Yep."
"Color's the heart part."
Heart didn't quite land.
"How to put it... Roughly, matches the person's personality."
"Like... Han Seorin's navy blue mana earning her the Navy Queen title."
"Ah..."
It clicked. Picturing Han Seorin with navy blue—perfect fit.
But still, so what?
"But why..."
"Mana color's shaped by your mental image. You'll get it with practice."
"You can see mana, so skip body. Technique's last."
Sion beckoned me over.
"Why?"
"Quick—head a bit closer?"
I leaned in. She placed her hand on my head. No idea what for.
"Flowing mana in now. Signal comes—close eyes, imagine chasing an animal or person with a golden tag."
Warm energy seeped from her hand, slowly soaking into my head.
Then the signal: "Now."
I squeezed my eyes shut. Golden tag. Chicken with one, per her example.
It materialized in the dark field of view.
What the...?
As I puzzled over the weird sensation—
Tingling started in my fingertips and eyes. Amid pitch-black vision, a sense of space lingered. Fingertips grasped at abyss-like darkness.
Sion's voice echoed: How's it? What do you see?
"Darkness... endless darkness with a tagged chicken."
Darkness, huh... Chicken? Why?
I didn't reply. Just went with what popped up. And honestly, Sion's goofy side did kinda chicken-vibe.
Anyway, follow that tag straight on?
The chicken bolted into the void. I trailed like a dog paddling after.
Really nothing around.
Pure void, darkness only. Followed the golden marker forever.
Faint light—not golden—ahead.
"Some light-thing here."
Yeah, fine. Almost there, no sweat.
Almost where? Doubting, I chased the chicken.
Vision shifted. Abyss warped; blinding white light flooded in.
I shielded my eyes—something peeked through the fingers.
Thump. Thump. Heart. Massive, pulsing, brimming with life.
Instinct screamed: That's mine.
"Uh... Sion? Guild leader? Heart's visible?"
Yeah, close. What's on the heart?
What? Heart's a heart... Wait?
Rubbed eyes, peered through the glow—something inside.
Mobius strip...?
A Mobius strip encircled the heart, owner of the white light.
"Strip. Mobius strip visible."
Relayed to Sion.
......
Silence. Issue?
At least say something. Don't leave me hanging.
As anxiety built—voice returned.
Ah, sorry. First time hearing that shape.
You've used tower skills or originals, right?
How'd she know? She'd clocked my skill use tied to the heart-strip instantly.
"Yes."
Cool admission. Mana learning was the goal—no problems.
Yeah, skills sans mana training can spawn arbitrary circles in the heart.
Skip awakening step.
Don't freak.
"Yes?" Freak out? Sudden much?
"Eh?!"
Dumb squeak escaped. Eerie sucking pull enveloped me.
Scene cracked like shattered glass.
"Gasp-!"
Mystic vista gone; training room snapped back.
"Ah, you're up?"
"...Yes?"
Sion spouted nonsense. We'd been chatting.
Up? Gaped confused.
"No worries, first-timers all do that. Out for about 10 minutes."
"R-Really?"
Out...? 10 minutes? No time-lapse feel. Unsettling.
Then odd deja vu hit.
...How's Sion overhead? I'd been flat on back. Ceiling perch?
"Ah, no—what're you doing?"
Obviously not. Head-back felt no pillow—unfamiliar softness: Sion's lap.
Why me? Weak to this stuff.
"Sorry. Hard floor—neck ache?"
"......"
Girl default? Lifelong solo me—women bonds a mystery realm.
"So, first mana core peek—thoughts?"
"...Core?"
"Yeah, that's your mana core and hub."
Mana core. Didn't click. Other-dimension jaunt vibe.
Inside me? Sketchy.
"Normal. Hands-on'll make it stick."
Sion read my face like a book. Others must blank too.
"Skip talk, direct teach."
Index to my chest center.
"Heart ain't here really, but assume for simplicity."
"Got it."
"That strip—odd, but imagine circulating. Mana rushing feel."
Eyes shut, recalled heart-strip.
Spin... whirl...! Conveyor belt. Mana hauler.
Self-hypno hammered.
"Circulating mana—eject fingertip flame-style."
Focused fingertip per her.
Flame. Flame...! Faint build-up.
"Pfft! Not happening?!"
Nothing. No feel, no sight. Maddening.
"Totally normal. Some take over a year."
Sion grinned.
"Week deadline. Nail it—you win. Flop—20%. Go get 'em."
Her innocent smile grated.
Ignored: "Eh, chill first—not that sim—"
Reframe. Ditch belt, dumb ideas.
Got it. Mana core! Mobius strip. Flow.
Scrap abstracts. Not my jam.
Peak circulation imago? Jet stream!
Wind-mana looping strip. Cool breeze touring body.
Gather.
Yanked winds fingertip—like ponytail tug.
Slow. Form irrelevant. Gathering matters.
Then hellfire skill feel. Nerve-hot blaze. Greedy inferno fury. Sun too.
All ammo deployed.
"Later when done, contact..."
Whoosh—
"Got it!!!"
"......Impossible."
Success. Ignite crackle—eyes open: fingertip void-black flame danced.
Behind: Sion, world-lost shock-face.