The heavy momentum of my previous movements began to slow down as a sudden shift occurred within my internal system, allowing me to finally get a firm grip on the massive energy that was rushing out of the servant mark. The wild, chaotic surging of the infinite mana pool started to organize itself under my direct focus, subduing the raw violence of the output that had just shattered the landscape. And my sword is on black fire but I can control its destructibility completely now, feeling a distinct connection between my mind and the dark flames wrapping around the steel edge. The dark fire no longer flared outward in an uncontrollable shockwave; instead, it clung tightly to the metal surfaces of the weapon, flickering with a silent, subdued intensity that responded instantly to my thoughts. I stood on the rough dirt of the forest clearing, balancing my weight evenly across my boots while observing the localized energy. The surrounding atmosphere became calm, and the ambient pressure that had previously threatened to tear the environment apart dissolved into the cool morning air. I could feel the precise limit of the magical force, knowing exactly how far the damage would spread upon physical contact. The dark flames danced quietly along the steel, presenting a strange contrast to the power that had just leveled the landscape. I lowered my arms slightly, maintaining a secure guard position while I prepared to test this newfound precision on a specific target within the regenerated forest clearing.
I focused my sight on a singular, mature tree standing at the very edge of the clearing, separate from the dense clusters of vegetation nearby. I took a deliberate step forward, planting my boot firmly onto the dry leaves and soil to secure my footing before executing a physical action. With a swift and focused motion of my shoulders, I swung my sword against a tree, directing the dark, flaming edge straight toward the center of the wooden trunk. The weapon cut through the air with a clean whistle, and the moment the steel made physical contact with the rough bark, the localized destruction manifested exactly as I intended. And only the tree that I struck that burned and got destroyed completely in a single second, turning into dark particles that vanished into the air without leaving any debris behind. The intense black fire did not spread to the neighboring bushes, nor did it scorch the green grass growing just inches away from the roots of the target. The surrounding environment remained entirely safe, cool, and unaffected by the immense power of the magical strike. This successful attempt proved that my control over the destructive nature of the affinity was now perfectly operational, allowing me to limit the damage to a single point of impact. I pulled my arms back, returning to a neutral stance while the empty space where the trunk had just been standing filled with the ambient light of the green woods around my current position completely.
The dark flames began to recede slightly from the metal surface, shrinking down into a thin layer of flickering energy that allowed me to view the condition of the weapon clearly. I held my sword closer to my face, lifting my right arm and tilting the hilt upward so that the morning sunlight could illuminate the details of the blade. As I scanned the length of the steel from the guard to the tip, I noticed that my sword has cracks on it running through the entire structure. The fine, web-like fractures were deeply embedded in the metal, showing visible signs of severe structural damage caused by the immense pressure of the out-of-control mana pool. The lines were jagged and dark, marring the smooth surface of the weapon and suggesting that the blade was on the verge of breaking completely apart if it endured any more magical strain. I ran my eyes along the damaged areas, feeling a sense of caution as I realized the physical limitations of using a regular metal catalyst for such a potent magical affinity. The weapon felt unstable in my grip, its integrity compromised by the sheer force of the black fire that had just filled its core. I lowered the damaged weapon carefully to my side, keeping my fingers relaxed around the handle to avoid putting any unnecessary pressure on the fractured steel while I considered my next immediate action to keep the blade completely safe from shattering into separate tiny pieces right now.
I turned my physical frame away from the empty space where the tree had vanished, shifting my boots across the rough dirt until I was facing the center of the clearing once again. Chlaire was standing a few paces away from my position, her posture completely still and her attention fixed entirely on my form as she observed the final outcome of my brief training session. I looked at Chlaire and said, "Take me back to the mansion." My voice was very clear and direct, carrying a serious tone through the quiet wilderness as I conveyed my desire to return to our safe base immediately. I wanted to leave the isolated forest behind so that I could inspect the damaged weapon in a more secure environment and recover my composure after the exhausting display of magic. She listened to my brief sentence without offering any verbal commentary or asking any extra questions about the visible cracks on the steel blade. She nodded her head down in a swift, silent gesture of compliance, indicating that she understood my request perfectly and was completely ready to activate her displacement power right away. She adjusted her stance on the soil, preparing to initiate the powerful spell that would carry our physical bodies back across the massive distance separating us from the large stone building where the others were staying. We stood completely ready on the ground as the energy began to gather around our positions in the quiet wilderness space during this morning hour.
The magical force flared up around us, and we teleported back at the mansion hallway in a single fraction of a second. The dense trees and rough soil of the forest vanished completely from our sight, replaced instantly by the familiar structure of the wide upper corridor. My boots touched down firmly onto the flat floor blocks, finding a solid and stable footing once again within the quiet interior of the house. The air inside the passage was perfectly still, carrying no traces of the black smoke or the destructive energy from our brief outdoor excursion. As soon as our relocation was fully completed, Chlaire disappeared entirely from my side without making a single sound or leaving any lingering presence behind her in the corridor. Her physical form just dissolved into thin air, returning to her hidden state and leaving me completely alone in the center of the vacant passage. I stood motionless for a brief moment, holding the cracked metal sword tightly in my right hand while I looked down the length of the empty corridor. The doors to the neighboring bedrooms remained tightly shut, indicating that the rest of the group was still occupied elsewhere and had not noticed our sudden return. I took a quick breath to steady my racing pulse, focusing entirely on the need to reach a secure location before anyone else could see the damaged weapon in my grasp as I stood quiet on the level stone floor blocks of the grand mansion hallway.
I did not waste any time standing in the open corridor where someone might walk by and discover my condition. I just ran back to my room, moving my legs with rapid paces across the smooth floor blocks to hide the cracked steel weapon from view. My boots made a quick, muffled sound against the hard surface as I accelerated down the passage, turning past the corners of the wide hallway in a great hurry. I pushed through the quiet atmosphere of the upper floor, keeping my gaze fixed entirely on the wooden door of my private bedroom at the end of the corridor. I covered the distance in a few seconds, reaching the entrance and grasping the cold metal handle firmly with my left hand. I turned the handle quickly, pushed the heavy door open, and darted inside the familiar space where Elphyete was resting. I pulled the door shut behind my back right away, letting the latch click securely into place to seal myself inside the safety of the room. I leaned my back against the solid wood, breathing heavily as I looked toward the large bed. The interior of the bedroom was perfectly calm, filled with the soft morning light that came through the window. Elphyete was still sleeping soundly beneath the thick blankets, completely unaware of the intense trial I had just faced out in the open wilderness of the ancient forest where we practiced our magical skills together on the rough ground today right now.