Ambient Mage

*Lucas' Pov*

I didn't realize when exactly I regained control of my body, but it was clear to me what I did.

I mutilated, damn near killed someone.

My mind cleared and the intense hate I felt, was swept away like dust in the wind.

I had nothing to say about my actions.

They were downright horrific, but even then, I think I would still do it again.

'This is called mana cloud, it is a function of your ambient powers.'

He gave a new power.

Well... more accurately he defined a new power to me.

For the last few years I had only had the few ambient powers that I had always known.

, , , the healing ability and dispersal ability I never named.

But now I had a name for an ability I never could really use.

Mana cloud.

'It allows you to convert any mana not in use by another into your own.'

Essentially as long as it wasn't mana in someone's body, it was mine.

'And from there it can transform into anything you want, a clone, a sword, or shield.'

I heard his words as we fought Karine.

Speaking of Karine, I stood over her bloodied body.

While not dead, and still able to get up and move, it wasn't because I didn't inflict enough damage on her, in fact it was quite the opposite.

I had inflicted so much I had to physically heal her.

Not exactly the easiest to do, since my mana was not predisposed to do so.

And even then, despite the healing, I couldn't heal the damage done to her psyche, and her soul.

I- we, had done a number on her soul.

She looked dead internally, like life was something that meant less than death.

"Stand up".

Foreign and cold words left my mouth.

"You still have an apology to give."

In the broad daylight of the dueling arena, Karine stood up and followed me to Aura.

"Apologize."

I ordered.

"You will do no such thing!"

The marquis yelled. 

But it was of no use to either of us.

I looked over at Karine who had yet to apologize.

'This is the last thing I can do right now.'

A feeling of refreshment washed over me.

And apparently Karine as well, as the light in her eyes reappeared.

"I'm sorry".

She bowed.

She then proceeded offstage.

I took a knee as I looked over Aura once more.

"Celeste, get ready."

"What do you-"

I put my hand on her shoulder as I began to funnel mana from the atmosphere directly into my body, which I promptly shot into Celeste.

"Woah, Lucas, this is too much. I can't control this."

Her mana began to grow wily.

I slowed down the mana transfer.

"Thanks."

She responded.

"No, thank you for healing Aurelia."

"That's what friends are- oh my god!"

***

*Vice-dean Rachelle's Pov*

He didn't kill her thankfully.

While I didn't exactly see everything that went down in that fight due to the giant cloud, I did know that whatever he had done to her would have driven any person insane.

Or so I thought, because he made her apologize, and instead of groveling, or just being defeated, she just apologized- sincerely at that, and walked off stage.

"I declare Lucas, knight of the Svarmet duchy the-"

Suddenly a wind blew into the arena grounds.

"Everyone there's an intruder."

I yelled out.

I saw everyone get into battle ready positions, but the being only said one thing.

"I'll be taking this with me for now."

The voice was haunting and authoritative, like a mother to her disobedient child.

Following that, the wind picked up Lucas' body before vanishing in what I assumed was a warp.

The feeling of oppression that being gave me.

I knew exactly what it was.

Dragon.

***

*Celeste's Pov*

"No, thank you for healing Aurelia."

As I began to play down my work, he passed out.

And then something even worse happened.

His body got taken.

By something, someone?

I wasn't sure, but I didn't know how I was going to explain it to Aurelia.

"Celeste, it's okay, he's going to be fine."

"What? Oh Nyx above, Aurelia you're awake? You're very injured, go back to rest, we'll talk later."

"Mm".

And with that Aurelia fell asleep once again, putting me at ease again.

***

*Aura's Pov*

I heard Karine's voice.

It was apologizing.

If only it were real.

And suddenly I felt warm.

Was I going to die here?

I don't want to.

I want to see and hug Lucas.

To be wrapped in his embrace, where it is warm and safe.

I want to have children and be a family with him.

I want to laugh and play with our sons and daughters.

I felt choked.

Like tears were stuck in my throat.

"Oh my god!"

I heard Celeste scream

'Mommy is here.'

Alea said.

Ah.

The spirit mother is here.

At least I know the mother spirit blessed Lucas, and will keep him safe, despite what I can only believe to be her taking her rage out onto the arena.

I did my best to wake up, to let Lucas know I was alright.

And then an eternity passed.

And I waited.

And I waited.

And I waited even more.

And finally I woke.

Celeste was holding my head up with one hand and my hand with the other.

I wanted her to know I knew Lucas was safe in the spirits' hands.

"Lucas. He will be safe."

At least I tried to convey it.

Unfortunately I was too weak to properly convey any meaning, and Celeste knew it too as she lulled me back to sleep.

I hated being weak.

I hated feeling like a burden on Lucas.

But I felt okay knowing he would wait while I became less so.

***

*Vice-dean Rachelle's Pov*

"What the hell was that Rachelle?"

The pig like marquis questioned.

"I do not know."

I responded.

"But you have an idea, don't you?"

And with that he stormed off, presumably to find his daughter.

"Student Celeste."

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Follow me to the infirmary would you?"

"Yes, ma'am."

The boy named Mark answered for both.

I picked up princess Aurelia with mana and carried her to the infirmary with two nervous ducklings in tow.

"She isn't in as critical condition as when I first got there."

Celeste commented.

"Really? How did I let it come to this."

I covered my mouth and began to think.

"The results say she currently has a few major wounds, and more than several more than minor ones."

"She has roughly 56% of her body covered in serious, not severe wounds. As for the other 9% they are only moderate wounds. She has no minor wounds, at least wounds that were minor increased in severity."

I bit my fingernail, as the doctor in charge gave his diagnosis.

I would have a lot of work to do.

***

*Fiadh's Pov*

I moved his motionless body back to my cave.

I laid his body bare onto a stone bed.

I covered him with a blanket before curling up around him.

Then I went to sleep, it would be some time before he woke up.

***

*Lucas' Pov*

I woke up on a hard surface with a dark cloth covering my body.

Darkness surrounded me, and as I reached out, my palm felt something rough up against it.

"Hhph"

A snort-like breath came out of the darkness, and soon it began to uncoil.

"Fiadh?"

"Yes, my partner."

"Why am I here? Don't get me wrong I'm grateful, but I'm quite the ways away from the capital."

"You're here because you've endured more than physical damage this time, you've suffered a little soul damage this time."

"How?"

"I cannot say, but for now you will rest with me."

"No complaints here."

"Mm. Good."

I moved off the bed and lied down on the dragon.

"I should get Alea here."

"Leave her with your maiden, after all, she needs Alea more than we do."

"Maiden?"

"Do you not intend to make her your mate?"

"Jeez Fiadh, that's a little-"

"Please, I'm not going to spare your feelings."

"Like you'll spare anything else."

"What was that?"

"Sorry sorry."

I rubbed my hand over Fiadh's scales.

"Mm."

She put her head down next to my body and we drifted back into sleep.

***

*Karine Iproline's Pov*

He absolutely destroyed me.

It made me squirm.... with delight.

His hands around my neck were so forceful.

I wonder if he would do it if I angered him again.

I shuddered thinking about it.

Lucas didn't know what he had done.

"Karine!"

"Do you know what you have done?"

"Ah, father-"

He raised his hand and brought it down across my face.

I fell as his hand brushed across my cheeks.

"You know what, that's fine too. Stay on the ground and think about how you disgraced the family."

I put my hand on my cheek.

Then I placed on it on my neck.

As I thought. His hands on my neck were truly an irresistible feeling.

***

*Rose's Pov*

"What?"

"Yes ma'am, the princess fought and lost to the eldest Iproline daughter. Then the new viscount stepped in and won, before being taken away by an unknown force."

"Hahhh."

I put a hand on my forehead.

Truly there is never an uneventful time when that man is involved.

"Prepare a search party, get ready to act on my orders. I have a friend to comfort."

"Yes, miss."

With that my subordinate cleared my room, and I headed to the infirmary.

As I made my way in, three people sat near Aurelia.

First was Celeste who was still actively helping the recovery process of Aurelia.

Second was the Vice dean of the school of magic.

Lastly was Mark.

"Ah, so rumors have reached the outside world, have they? In that case I shall take my leave."

With that the vice dean left the room and the three of us to our own devices.

"Celeste how is she?"

"Better."

"Better?"

"Better."

"Are you guys speaking in code?"

"Heh. Beep Boop."

I laughed

Mark did too.

"Celeste, I think he meant it as a joke."

That only made us laugh harder.

"Hehe."

"Aurelia?"

"Aurelia!"

"What?"

Celeste and I looked at Mark who was once again out of the loop before going back to Aurelia.

"How do you feel?"

"Like 100 carriages just ran me over."

"You've been ran over by a carriage wrote?"

"No, but Lucas actually stopped me from nearly being hit by one before."

"Really? When did that happen?"

"Hold on Celeste."

"Uh, Okay?"

"Aurelia, do you know where Lucas is?"

"No, but I know he's safe with that person."

"Alright. I had my subordinates ready to go on a manhunt nationwide to find him."

"Thanks Rose, but you can tell them to relax, he's fine, probably sleeping like a child while his wounds are tended to."

"But wouldn't he want to be here making sure you're safe?"

"He did that when he ended the battle and gave me back my pride."

"Yes, I heard all about how he made her apologize to you sincerely."

"I don't know what he did, because she's infamous for being far to proud to do anything like admit fault, much less apologize."

"Aw, guys, this is so nice."

I looked at Mark.

Sometimes he's too nice.

"Anyways Aurelia, what will the duchy say?"

"I don't know, this is one of the few times I was injured quite seriously, but seeing as I'm not really tired, and I recovered pretty quickly I think the family will profit from this battle."

That's good to hear.

"You know Aurelia, with your family's power and influence, and my family's fiscal power and influence we could take down the Iproline family in a month."

"Don't. Despite their glaring envy and pride, they are still somewhat useful to the functioning of the kingdom. I think Charlotte would agree."

"Hell yes I would, but with Rose, they are a stain on this kingdom I should really consider removing."

"Can you do that?"

Celeste asked.

"Well, not me, but since I'm loved by almost all my family I'm sure my father or whoever rules the kingdom in the coming month would definitely do it for me."

"Is the succession battle already coming to a close?"

"Yes, it's going to be finalized and father will be either abdicating the throne to the crown prince or princess, quite soon, as in within the next 2 years."

"Wow. How funny would it be if Lucas was the king?"