My Aura flared up around me. The power thrumming through me was intoxicating, with that my control seemed to improve significantly as well. It seemed to heed my call instantly. I had never felt so comfortable working with my mana. It seemed to call to me to be used. My inner world seemed to be growing rapidly in my mind, My summons and the grove-tenders shouting out in joy.

The power I felt was like nothing I had ever thought possible. The growth of my power so far had been slow, and at a far more proper pace was how I was used to approaching my magic.

This new growth in power, however, was like a whole new dimension for what I was capable of.

I was keen to step straight into my inner world, but the look of mild surprise on Unusu’s face would take precedence for the moment.

“So, you survived the ordeal?”

He walked towards, his mana beginning to flare out, I glanced towards where Iirin had been, but he was nowhere to be seen. I was here alone with Unusu, and he was looking very intimidating.

He stood in front of me, staring down, his magic seemed to flood all around, observing and testing my new mana. It held very well considering the strength of the tester. An ocean of mana surrounded me; it was only the little island of my power around me that held firm.

His eyes lit up with a transparent glow; he was only using a small number of his true abilities.

If he went all out I would be on the floor. He was testing me as always and showing as well the still insurmountable gap between me and a real powerhouse of the Hordes.

I had never been told of his true identity.

Still, his authority over my life at the moment was absolute. I had no control. I could only move forward and get stronger as fast as I could.

“It is rare for someone to survive the process, but after one survives the most potent herb, the rewards are more than equal to the risks. I have seen that it is no different for you. Congratulations on reaching the path to becoming a true mage.”

The shift in attitude made my brain ache, one second I was feeling the force of the world crash down on me, the next I was heavily complimented.

I was not happy with the power Unusu had over me. It spurred me to become stronger, to break through every barrier these sick people forced me through. I was going to bring the Empire to their doorsteps and make them bow to its feet.

“Now, we shall spar.”

It took me a second to understand what he was saying. A fist seemed to crash into my brain. What the hell was he thinking, there was no way I would be able to spar him. He was more powerful than pretty much anyone I had ever met, even the Halas would be nothing in front of the man.

“Don’t worry. I will limit myself to the power of a fourth Tier.”

That didn’t do much to ease my worries. He had fought against worse enemies than I could even imagine, him limiting himself to a mortal would be scary for me to face, if we were fighting at the same power, then there was no way I had any chance of winning.

That didn’t stop him from sending out a wave of magic that brought the gravelly ground up into impenetrable walls. They stretched high overhead. The area is smaller than even our practice courtyard. I had no way to escape. No choice but to fight. The Aura around him seemed to shrink in response to the enclosure. It soon matched Iirin in frequency, or at least it would before he took the herb. I had no idea what power he achieved from that.

No matter what, Unusu was not a foe I wanted to face. I hadn’t even got a chance to properly synchronize with my new and improved inner world. The grove-tenders would have led the transition smoothly. Of that, I had very little doubt. I had no idea of the new power I had access to. I would be limited to the summons I could perform before the herb, which was useless against anyone above Tier 3. To think of facing a Grand Mage playing in the lower tiers.

I had no choice as Unusu began to get into what he called the combat pose for offensive specialists. Something he had drilled countless times into Iirin.

I was not ready for this engagement; it was many years too early for me to be attempting to fight someone of this caliber. My power seemed to squirm in front of him, not wanting to be fully unleashed, the towering presence in front of me. Forcing all light from myself. All hope of victory was non-existent.

I tried to call my summons, but they didn’t want to heed my calls. They had seen what he was capable of, but they raged against the fight. I had never thought them exceptionally intelligent, yet they were more than capable of fighting against the call, something I had never realized was possible.

“Are you ready, kid?”

No, I was not ready, not ready at all.

He started simple. He sent spikes of earth shooting towards me. Air seemed to collapse in front of it. I only barely managed to avoid, the second I wasn’t so lucky. Ripping across my shoulder. Sending me hurtling into the ground, The world exploded around me as I was forcefully drawn into my Inner world. The walls to my Inner world lit up with a startling new light. The cosmos now seemed to stretch before me. Compared to the infinite darkness, it was quite lovely, really.

Like that, a new world opened up to me, so similar to the one I awakened to, Yet I could feel it was much smaller.