[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 30: Mana Circle

The dusty memories strangled his chest, forcing Xion to exhale heavily. As his eyes fluttered open, he gazed at the dark grey tent. Unfamiliar yet strangely comforting.

Cocooned within the thick duvet that shielded him from the cold morning air, he lay there in silence for a bit longer. Oh, how he loved those rare moments when he could sleep for a few more minutes.

And yet, even with no one to drag him awake this time, the discipline ingrained over years of routine wouldn’t let him stay in bed much longer.

Shifting carefully, he tried not to make any noise that would disturb the boy, who, he assumed, must be resting behind the curtains separating the tent’s sleeping quarters.

His movements were quiet as he crept outside. The brisk morning air greeted him with icy hands sending shivers down his entire being.

He instinctively hugged his arms around himself as he began wandering around the camp. His steps seemed aimless at first until he reached the glimmer of water through the trees ahead. A lake.

These people had chosen a perfect camping spot which was close to a natural water source. The faint rustle of the wind and the soft lapping of the water brought a small smile to Xion’s lips.

It was serene here, almost peaceful. And he was here to disrupt it.

Xion glanced around before deciding to seize the opportunity for a quick test. Since he had arrived in this world, he had been learning about the mana and its control.

He was able to sense it running in other people’s bodies, and through that, he could judge the perimeter of the injury.

However, after learning from the system last night, there was a sharper awareness of mana’s existence. And it was not just within others but in the air, the earth, and even in the gentle currents of water nearby.

It was as if the world itself had a heartbeat.

Taking a deep breath, he focused on the steady beat of his heart, trying to align it with the subtle rhythm of nature’s energy.

This was a new skill, one he had barely begun to grasp. Slowly, he extended his hand with his palm open.

At first, nothing happened. The air was still.

But Xion refused to give up on the knowledge he had spent all his merit points on!

He closed his eyes, concentrating on the faint tendrils of energy he had sensed around him.

Then, a spark lit up.

It was a faint, barely visible wisp of yellow, like the glimmer of warm sunlight through leaves.

Xion grinned as excitement flickered through him. Encouraged, he cupped his hands together and focused harder to draw in the mana around him.

The yellow light shimmered again, wavering like a candle in the wind before steadying. The spark grew into a tiny, translucent ball of energy, no larger than a marble.

"Come on, just a little more," he muttered to himself.

The ball began to grow, the faint yellow hue deepening as it expanded to the size of a bright golden orange.

A giggle escaped Xion’s parted lips as he marveled at the pulsating orb in his hands. He gave it an experimental toss, and the glowing ball arced through the air before plunging into the lake.

The surface erupted in a small splash. As the sunlight broke through the ripples and scattered across the water, a radiant, fleeting rainbow shimmered above the lake.

Xion’s eyes widened, and his heart raced with awe. "I did that..."

While gasping for air, his gaze remained fixed on the dissipating rainbow. The result brought him an unexpected prize.

There was a reason why most people needed Mana crystals to channel the mana or cast spells. Their bodies did not have that much of energy to support the external use.

However, if Xion had managed to learn to draw a large amount of mana directly from nature, he would not have needed those crystals at all!

Gulping nervously at his daring thought, Xion stood straight as he joined his hands together.

A cold chill penetrated his skin, yet he did not budge even an inch. He willed the mana to flow through his feet and into the earth before snaking toward the lake.

At first, there was resistance, and more than half of the mana scattered before it even reached near the destination.

He could feel the strain of forcing his will upon nature as his chest started to ache slightly.

Minutes turned into an exhausting half-hour. Slowly, the ice on the lake began to crack. Wisps of steam rose from its surface, dancing in the chilly morning air.

The next second, he slumped onto the ground as his legs buckled beneath him. His breath came out ragged and heavy, each exhale of air turned into a puff of mist in the frigid morning.

Xion’s shirt drenched in sweat clung to him like another skin. His limbs trembled like freshly plucked strings, yet a smile stayed on his pale face.

"Finally, hot water..." he rasped as a breathless chuckle escaped his lips.

His body was sticky, and much to his dismay, smelly. Making sure that no one was around, he tossed his clothes aside. Xion groaned in satisfaction as the hot water enveloped him.

By the time he emerged and dressed in a fresh pair of clothes, his face had turned ruddy from the heat.

As Xion was returning he saw Raymond. The knight was exercising. His sword swung with the flick of his wrist, and the leaves floating around him fell on the ground in pairs.

The sight of cleanly cut leaves from the centre made him touch his neck subconsciously.

Xion’s first instinct was to retreat. But before he could turn, Ray looked up and called out.

"Wait."

Xion froze before looking at the older male. His muscles tensed as he braced for another scolding, but there was no angry glare on the blonde male’s face this time.

"I apologize," Ray said abruptly making the silly Xion confused even more.

"Huh?" Xion uttered without even thinking.

With the residual intensity of his battle aura still clinging to his broad, muscular frame, Ray took a step forward with confidence. That was until he stepped on a stray twig and nearly kissed the ground.

The sight of the knight glaring down at the offending (broken twig) enemy made him look a bit... stupid.

Though he managed to suppress the bubble of laughter threatening to spill out, Xion could not control his lips from twitching ever so slightly.

With the atmosphere not so scary, Xion remained standing there, waiting for Raymond to finish his words.

Ray cleared his throat, "It was my fault for suspecting you of being a spy," he said as he scratched the back of his head.

Xion tilted his head in confusion but understanding dawned soon enough. "Oh, so that’s what it was about." This person really thought that I was some sort of spy.

Xion was almost amused by sheepish-looking Ray. "It’s fine, I guess."

"I let my suspicion cloud my judgment. It wasn’t fair to you," Ray grinned lightly.

He did not mention his initial suspicion that Xion had used some charm spell on Darius. It wouldn’t have been the first time someone tried to seduce his grace for ulterior motives.

The Archduke’s uncharacteristic behavior of holding hands had pushed Ray into high alert.

Receiving the healer’s forgiveness, Ray huffed a breath of relief as he wiped the sweat off his forehead.

"Good to hear you’re not upset. Anyway, I need to finish my training. You should head back before it gets colder."

"Got it," Xion replied with a small smile. It was better to have one more ally than a foe.