His expression became thoughtful.
He could have taken out a Mana Potion and restored his depleted reserves in a matter of moments. He had one stored in his space ring, and using it would certainly make preparing for the dungeon much easier.
But he had deliberately chosen not to use it.
There was a reason for that decision.
His talent, Infinite Adaptation & Evolution, was one of the greatest advantages he possessed. Although he still didn’t fully understand its limits, he had already noticed that putting himself under pressure and pushing his abilities to their limits could help him improve.
The battle against the Goblin Commander had provided an excellent example.
As the fight progressed, his combat awareness sharpened, his reactions improved, and his swordsmanship became more effective. He had gradually adapted to the commander’s attack patterns and learned how to respond to them.
Naturally, Severin wanted to see whether the same principle applied to his mana.
If he used a Mana Potion immediately after exhausting himself, he wouldn’t be able to properly test whether his talent could help him improve his mana reserves through natural recovery.
At least, that was his current theory.
He had no intention of treating his assumptions as absolute truths. There was still much he didn’t know about his talent, and the only way to understand it was through careful experimentation.
For now, he wanted to see what happened when he recovered naturally after pushing his mana close to its limit.
If the process helped increase his mana pool, even by a small amount, it would be worth the wait.
And if it didn’t?
Well, he would simply learn something new.
"All right, then. Time to meditate."
Severin straightened his back and adjusted his position beneath the tree. He crossed his legs, rested his hands on his knees, and slowly closed his eyes.
He had learned the basics of meditation and mana cultivation through his studies and training. Although his mana rank was still relatively low, he at least understood how to calm his mind and focus on the energy circulating within his body.
He took a slow breath.
Then another.
Gradually, the surrounding sounds began to fade into the background.
The rustling leaves, the distant cries of birds, and the occasional noise coming from the dungeon entrance became little more than faint impressions in his awareness.
Severin turned his attention inward.
He could feel the faint traces of mana remaining within his body, scattered and sluggish after the intense battle. Rather than forcing them to move, he carefully followed the natural rhythm of his breathing and allowed his mana to circulate at its own pace.
He wasn’t trying to rush the process.
For once, he was willing to be patient.
After all, he had already discovered that recklessly pushing forward didn’t always produce the best results.
’Let’s see what you can do, Infinite Adaptation & Evolution.’
A faint smile appeared on his face.
’I’ve given you a pretty good opportunity today. I fought until my mana was almost completely exhausted, faced an opponent stronger than myself, and survived a battle that could easily have ended badly.’
’Now, let’s see whether all that effort amounts to anything.’
He remained motionless beneath the tree, focusing entirely on his recovery.
The dungeon entrance stood only a short distance away, concealing countless dangers and opportunities beyond its mysterious barrier.
But Severin wasn’t in a hurry to enter.
For now, understanding his own abilities was just as important as becoming stronger.
And if his theory proved correct, this quiet period of recovery might become another step toward unlocking the true potential of his talent.
Kragdeep City was not particularly large, at least not by the standards of the world Mira Ashford had come to know. With a population of barely a hundred thousand, it was more of a modest city than a true metropolis. Yet, for a place situated so close to the renowned Aethryndian Academy, it was far livelier than one might expect.
The streets were lined with shops selling everything from enchanted trinkets and alchemical ingredients to weapons, armor, and all manner of strange objects that Mira had never seen before. Vendors called out to passing customers, adventurers bargained over the prices of equipment, and the occasional group of Awakeners could be spotted making their way through the crowd, their appearances ranging from ordinary to downright eccentric.
Some wore polished armor that gleamed beneath the sunlight, while others preferred simple robes, their weapons concealed beneath their cloaks. A few even carried the unmistakable air of people who had faced death so many times that they had grown bored of being afraid of it.
Naturally, Mira found the entire place fascinating.
She turned her head from one shop to another, her eyes constantly moving as she tried to take everything in. Every few steps, something new caught her attention. A stall displaying glowing crystals. A shop selling peculiar-looking potions. A blacksmith hammering away at a blade that occasionally sparked with blue lightning.
There was simply too much to look at.
Beside her, Evelyne de Roselle observed the city with considerably less enthusiasm.
That was not to say she found it boring. Kragdeep was certainly interesting, and she had no intention of pretending otherwise. However, having grown up in a noble household and seen places considerably grander than this, she was not quite as easily impressed.
Where Mira saw an extraordinary collection of wonders, Evelyne saw a reasonably busy city with decent shops and questionable road maintenance.
Still, there was a certain charm to the place.
"It really is bigger than I imagined," Mira remarked, slowing down to stare at a shop displaying a collection of magical accessories. "Do you think they sell those everywhere?"
"Sell what?"
"Those little glowing things."
Evelyne followed her gaze.
A merchant was displaying several palm-sized crystals, each emitting a different shade of light. One glowed a soft green, another shimmered with silver sparks, and a third changed colors every few seconds.
"Probably," Evelyne answered. "Although I suspect the price depends on whether the merchant thinks you know what you’re buying."
Mira immediately withdrew her gaze from the crystals.
"Oh."
Evelyne glanced at her.
"Don’t look so disappointed. I’m sure there are plenty of other ways to spend your money."
"That’s exactly what I’m worried about."