I noticed the moment that Christian started to succumb to the pain. For a few seconds, his core went wild as his mana tried to escape and defend him. It took everything I had to just hold it all inside until he passed out. Then his mana went still. Seeing this, I returned to my part. Grinding away at the edges of his core.

  So far, I had only managed to strip off a fraction of what I needed to. The wall was just too dense for me to be able to go any faster. Taking my mana, I formed it into tiny bdes and resumed carving away. Moving in loops around the sphere with my consciousness. Being careful to not dig into spots I already carved while not missing others.

  Focused as I was, I didn’t realize I was finished with the first step until nearly too te. Pulling back at the st second. With a few words, I commanded my mana into a fast-spinning torus a fraction smaller than his core.

  Moving it into position, I watched it grind away and smooth the surface. The end result was a bright purple ball hanging in his center. Swirls of mana were visible as the blue-green liquid moved and curled around inside. Finally, I backed away and went to find my mother and her brother. There was no way I could do the st part, and they were likely done anyway.

  Their spirits were hovering outside the body. Gregory’s spirit taking the shape of his dragon. In contrast to this, my mother’s spirit form was that of a human body with dragon wings and horns. Bowing to them as I approached, I said, “His core has been thinned and smoothed.”

  “And the connections to his network?” My mother asked. Her voice more regal than her physical form allowed.

  “I do not feel confident in doing such a task. I was hoping to ask one of you to do so if it would not be much trouble.”

  She snorted as Gregory sighed. A thin stream of fme licked out of his mouth as he did so. “Fine. You have done enough to pass the test anyway.” My mother said before fshing away. Her spirit moved so fast that I couldn’t even see a streak of movement. A moment ter, our surroundings quivered as mana streamed toward us. At its front, my mother flew along at a sedate, for her, pace.

  Seeing this, I turned and flew toward the edge of his network. Toward a point where I could exit without causing any damage. Even flying as fast as I could, the mana slowly caught up. My mother grabbed my hand, pulling me along behind her until finally leaving through an exit.

  Returning to our bodies, I opened my eyes and watched as the stream of sunlight thinned before finally going out. At nearly the same moment, the light of mana flowing through the spell lines flickered out. Christian y at the center of the now destroyed circle. Slumped to the side and passed out. Jumping up, I raced over to him. Skidding on my knees as I came to a stop. Lifting his body until it leaned against me. His head cradled against my neck.

  My mother and Gregory stood over us, each giving him a once over before she said, “He looks good. The ritual went off without an issue. He will be out for at least the next few days. You are free from all your lessons until he wakes.”

  With that, they both walked off. I stayed where I was, holding him for a little while longer. Only when I heard the sounds of various nocturnal insects did I get up. His weight making the task harder, I grit my teeth as I made my way up the stairs and into my room.

  Setting him down on the edge of the bed, I stripped him of everything before curling with his unconscious form under the bnket. Quickly passing out from the mental exhaustion.