The Liberation of Mana
The Queen’s footsteps sliced through the corridor like a blade.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
The solid floor trembled with every step.
The closer she drew to the research wing, the sharper the mana waves became.
Hummm.
Hummm.
Seraphina refused to slow down. Eyes narrowed to slits, she followed the epicenter of the disturbance.
Here.
The instant she prepared to plant her foot harder, she froze.
Hummm.
The wave had changed. The twisted mana, the violently surging currents, were slowly settling, calming, sinking back into order.
Seraphina’s toes halted on the stone.
It stopped?
One more careful step. She tested the flow again.
No longer a rampage. The currents were organized now. Stable.
“It has stabilized…”
She exhaled slowly. Her pace eased completely.
At the end of the corridor waited a single closed door. Faint traces of mana leaked from within.
Seraphina stopped before it. Before raising her hand, she closed her eyes and traced the waves once more.
“Jun…”
Only then did her fingers touch the door.
Click.
It was locked.
Seraphina’s eyebrow rose a fraction.
“How dare you.”
She gave the handle a light twist.
Creeeak—
A lock meant nothing to her.
The door swung open slowly.
Inside the room: maps and documents scattered across the table, signs of hasty disarray. And between them, the two figures locked together.
Seraphina’s gaze swept the space, reading the air itself—the flow of mana, the rhythm of breath, the heat rising from skin. Everything painted a vivid picture.
Their posture confirmed it beyond doubt.
Fucked.
Seraphina simply stood in the doorway, silently taking in the scene.
Jun, and beneath him—Elara. Legs spread wide in the unmistakable posture of mating, body trembling atop the table with him still buried inside her.
Elara’s face drained of all color.
“…Y-Your Majesty…”
Her body shook as though her breath had been severed. She tried to rise in panic, only to realize he was still deep within her. She shoved him back desperately, slid off the table, and dropped to her knees with a dull thud. Hands fumbled frantically to pull her clothes back into place. Her voice quivered.
“…I…”
“…have committed a crime worthy of death…”
“…I have…”
Seraphina remained motionless. Her gaze simply rested upon them. The only sound in the room was ragged breathing.
Elara’s head sank lower and lower until her forehead nearly touched the floor.
“…Your Majesty…”
“…I beg for your mercy…”
Seraphina finally spoke, looking down at her.
“Elara.”
Even in that calm, measured tone, Elara flinched violently.
“Both of you.”
She paused, then turned her crimson eyes toward me.
“Finish what you are doing and come to my chambers.”
Elara’s eyes flew wide.
“…Pardon?”
Seraphina’s gaze shifted with subtle intensity.
“…Hm?”
Finish?
Seraphina offered no further explanation. She turned, presenting her back. Her long silver hair flowed like liquid starlight as she walked away.
Creeeak—
The door closed behind her. She was gone.
Silence swallowed the room.
Elara, still frozen, slowly lifted her head after several seconds.
“…Jun.”
Her voice was thick with tears.
“…Am I…”
Her lips trembled.
“…still alive?”
I let out a breath of pure relief.
“Seems like it…”
Neither of us could find more words. Elara’s gaze drifted back to the door.
“…Finish…”
She muttered it under her breath, and her face flushed crimson in an instant.
“…Continue…”
She squeezed her eyes shut.
“…do we have to?”
The storm of sex that followed was relentless.
----------
Some time later.
Deep inside Celes Palace, before the Queen’s private chambers, Elara and I stood side by side.
Elara’s hands were still trembling faintly.
“Your Majesty.”
“Lady Elara and the outsider have arrived.”
A voice answered from beyond the door.
“Enter.”
The door opened. Inside, Seraphina stood by the window. As she slowly turned, Elara dropped to her knees at once, pressing her forehead to the floor.
“…Your Majesty…”
“…I have committed a crime worthy of death.”
Her voice shook uncontrollably.
“…As a royal researcher…”
“…I have violated the taboo I was sworn to uphold.”
The words poured out as her fingers clawed at the floor.
“…Everything is my fault.”
“…Jun bears no responsibility.”
Her breath fractured.
“…Please, direct all punishment toward me alone.”
The room fell deathly quiet. Seraphina’s gaze descended slowly—first to the kneeling Elara, then to me standing beside her. The Queen’s eyes narrowed.
“My loyal subject, Elara.”
At the quiet summons, Elara’s body trembled again.
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Explain.”
It was a short, absolute command.
Elara swallowed hard and pressed her palms flat against the floor.
“…It was a mana outburst.”
“…With Jun…”
She faltered, then forced herself to continue.
“…We made contact.”
Head still bowed, she pressed on.
“…Jun’s mana suddenly erupted. The structure had completely collapsed.”
Seraphina’s eyes flickered minutely.
Elara continued, voice thin.
“…So I had to let the mana flow outward.”
Her breath hitched.
“…Your Majesty.”
“…I have committed a crime worthy of death.”
Her shoulders quivered.
“…I beg your forgiveness.”
Seraphina blinked slowly, then spoke with perfect composure.
“So that is what happened.”
Her crimson eyes slid to me.
“You controlled the mana outburst.”
“And released it outward.”
The Queen’s eyes narrowed once more.
“How intriguing.”
She took one slow step toward me.
“Yesterday in the training grounds, I suppressed your mana. Do you remember?”
“Uh… yeah, that time…”
Seraphina’s voice dropped lower.
“I forced your mana down. Yet I could not teach you how.”
Her gaze drifted into the air.
“It was beyond my capability.”
I remained silent. Seraphina clasped her hands behind her back and began to pace, organizing her thoughts aloud.
“Mana is something that flows. You feel it. You accept it. You manipulate it.”
She stopped and looked directly at me.
“It is not something you eat.”
Elara glanced at me, lost in thought. Seraphina observed her reaction before continuing.
“Yet you do exactly that.”
She took another step closer.
“You devour it.”
A brief silence fell. Seraphina’s gaze shifted to Elara. Her eyes gleamed with subtle light.
“And then you released it.”
Elara’s shoulders jerked.
The corner of Seraphina’s mouth curved ever so slightly.
“Predation and release.”
I frowned.
“So?”
Seraphina met my eyes squarely.
“That is why it is strange.”
She exhaled slowly.
“However… I believe I understand now.”
She studied me intently. A thoughtful quiet settled over the room.
“You obtained Leona’s ability, did you not?”
Elara’s eyes flew wide open.
“And mine—mana absorption. Their combination triggered the outburst.”
Elara bowed lower.
“…Your Majesty… that has no precedent…”
Seraphina raised a hand, cutting her off lightly.
“Enough.”
Her gaze lowered again.
“Does the situation you just experienced have any precedent?”
Elara’s lips trembled.
“…Th-That is…”
“…None, Your Majesty…”
Seraphina spoke deliberately.
“Then we shall verify it.”
“My loyal subject Elara.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
Those red eyes flicked between us.
“Repeat what you did moments ago.”
Elara’s face flushed scarlet in an instant.
“…Pardon?”
Seraphina continued as though discussing the weather.
“Release Jun’s mana once more.”
The Queen added calmly,
“Now.”
The room fell silent. Elara’s fingertips shook.
“…Y-Your Majesty…”
“…Right now…?”
Seraphina didn’t blink.
“Correct.”
Short. Decisive.
“You succeeded earlier. Therefore you can do it again.”
Elara swallowed hard.
“…Your Majesty…”
“…But…”
She couldn’t finish. Seraphina tilted her head slightly.
“Is there a problem?”
Elara’s purple eyes wavered.
“…N-No…”
“…It’s only that…”
I let out a small snort from the side.
“Idiot. Not that!”
Elara’s head snapped toward me.
“…Jun…!”
Seraphina glanced between us, then summarized crisply.
“Lady Elara.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You can do it, can you not?”
Elara closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them slowly and nodded.
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“…I will attempt it.”
Seraphina’s gaze moved to me.
“Manifestation. You can do it, yes?”
I nodded.
“Yeah. I’ll try.”
"Physical Enhancement."
"Manifestation."
⟨ Physical Enhancement ⟩
Hummm.
Mana stirred inside me. A hot surge spread through my body, accompanied by a mounting pressure that felt as though it were continuously filling me.
The Queen’s eyes turned to Elara.
“Begin.”
Elara looked at me. After a brief hesitation, she stepped closer. She paused, hand half-raised, and glanced at the Queen.
Seraphina gave a single nod.
“I permit it.”
Elara lifted her hand once more and placed it carefully on my chest.
"Mana Analysis!"
⟨ Mana Analysis ⟩
The light vanished from Elara’s pupils. Her eyes began darting rapidly.
Seraphina stood with hands clasped behind her back, observing us closely.
“…I can see the mana.”
“…It keeps pouring in.”
“Continue,” Seraphina said curtly.
Elara swallowed.
“…It’s not just entering…”
“…It’s accumulating.”
She pressed harder against my chest.
“…Inside Jun’s body…”
“…The mana is stacking without end.”
I grimaced.
“I already know that. It hurts like hell.”
Elara shook her head.
“…No.”
“…If this continues, it will explode.”
Her eyes trembled.
“What?”
I swallowed.
“Then what the hell do I do?”
“…Send it outside.”
Hoo… If I could do that, I would’ve done it already!
Elara’s hand slid downward slowly and stopped just above my navel.
“…Here.”
“…Push it out through here.”
I snapped, irritation thick in my voice.
“I keep telling you I don’t know how!”
Elara cried out urgently.
“It’s becoming dangerous!”
“What?!”
Seraphina remained perfectly still.
“You must let the mana flow out!”
I clenched my teeth.
“Fuck, I said I don’t know how!”
Elara shouted again.
“Just push it out!”
“Outside your body!”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
“Goddammit!”
I tensed every muscle in my abdomen with all my strength. The sensation of forcing something outward surged through me. Scorching mana poured from my body.
Elara’s eyes widened. Seraphina’s gaze followed the flow.
“…It’s coming out!”
Energy spilled into the air. My body suddenly felt lighter.
Huh…?
It doesn’t hurt anymore…?
Elara exhaled deeply.
“…Yes.”
“…That’s it.”
I muttered blankly.
“That?”
Elara smiled weakly.
“…You keep drawing mana in, Jun.”
“…So it overflows.”
“…So it bursts.”
She caught her breath and added,
“…You simply need to let it flow out.”
I still couldn’t believe it.
“This actually works?”
Elara nodded.
“…Yes. It’s simple.”
From behind us came a quiet voice.
“Indeed.”
Seraphina walked forward slowly.
“If you cannot release mana, you die that way.”
She looked at me, the corner of her mouth lifting.
“Now you will be able to use mana.”
