Ch 3.3

“I couldn’t help but notice your healing earlier,” she said, her voice smooth—almost kind—but edged with curiosity. “Such mana… pure, yet somehow corrupted. I’ve never felt anything like it. It makes me wonder—are you even human?”

Ben met her gaze and felt a twinge of unease. They’d only just met, and already she was dissecting him with nothing but her insight. He was human, yes, and the disciple of the Old Demon—but beyond that, everything else about him was meant to stay hidden.

He opened his mouth to reply. “Actually, I—”

Before he could speak, Eliguen smiled faintly.

“Before you answer,” she said, tilting her head, “you should know that my eyes are blessed to see through any lie.”

She could’ve mentioned that after I answered.

Trying to catch me off guard.

Ben’s jaw tightened as the weight of her words settled. He could feel the invisible net of her scrutiny tightening around him, and for the first time since boarding the carriage, he felt truly cornered.

Suddenly, every gaze in the carriage turned toward Ben.

Lukero glanced between him and Eliguen, uncertain. Rukas watched from the side, curious but silent. Grimor and Heilfem looked wholly uninterested—the lion gnawing on jerky, the elf staring lazily out the window.

Eliguen’s coy smile deepened as she studied Ben, clearly entertained by his restraint.

Ben drew a slow breath.

“I’m human,” he said evenly. “And I know my healing is… unusual. That’s probably what caught my master’s attention.”

Eliguen nodded once.

“Well, at least you speak the truth.”

A faint hum filled the air as a luminous magic circle bloomed over her right eye. The iris flared with pale light, runes turning like clockwork as she examined him from head to toe.

Is she scanning me?

A chill crept down Ben’s spine; it felt as though her gaze peeled him open layer by layer.

I can’t let her pry any further.

Before he could speak, wings rustled sharply beside him.

Lukero stood, one broad wing sweeping forward to block Eliguen’s gaze entirely. His tone was calm but edged with disapproval.

“Lady Eliguen, it’s rather rude to use your True Eye on someone you’ve just met. I’d like to know the reason behind that—if you don’t mind.”

The hum of magic dimmed, the tension in the carriage hanging like held breath.

Ben was taken aback that, for once, the beastmen were actually standing up for him. He stayed quiet, watching to see what the elf would do next.

Lady Eliguen smiled demurely.

“It’s rather unladylike of me. I apologize for being so nosy.”

The apology rang hollow. Everyone in the carriage could sense it—from her tone, she wasn’t sorry at all.

Lifting her chin, Eliguen turned to Lukero.

“Well, I only wanted to know more about the disciple of the Thousand‑Tendril Demon. Mr. Grimor tested him, and you didn’t stop him—so why can’t I?”

Lukero’s brow twitched.

“Actually, I did try to stop him,” he replied. “But you’re using a spell outright. That’s not exactly fair to Ben.”

Eliguen’s lips curved into a coy smile.

“Oh? So Mr. Grimor can openly threaten his life, but I can’t use a little technique to gauge the boy? Isn’t that a bit hypocritical?”

Lukero faltered, words catching in his throat, his eyelids dropping in quiet frustration.

Rukas, who had been silently watching, finally spoke.

“Let her,” he said evenly. “If she wants to gauge the boy’s strength, let her. No harm in that, is there?”

Lukero turned to him, disbelief plain in his face.

“Even you, Rukas? You’re siding with her?”

Rukas met Lukero’s glare without flinching.

“I understand Lady Eliguen’s reasoning. The human isn’t allied with any tribe. Knowledge is a weapon, and knowing the boy’s full potential might prove useful if we ever face a threat.“

Ben sat stiffly, very aware of the weight of their gazes.

Exactly why I prefer to travel alone, he thought grimly.

Lukero frowned.

“So you’re saying Ben might become a threat? He’s the disciple of the Old Demon—the one who’s saved this continent more times than we can count. Have you forgotten that?”

“The Old Demon is bound by oath not to harm us,” Rukas replied, his tone low. “The boy isn’t. And he’s not of this continent. We can’t just trust him blindly.”

Lukero’s feathers bristled.

“How can you say that so casually?”

Rukas’s expression hardened.

“You know how humans have treated our kind. We’ve been hunted and enslaved for being different—called beasts and chained like wild mana creatures. Across the mainland, beastmen were wiped out or sold off. The Isle is all we have left, and now humans threaten even this last home. You know how deceitful they can be. If a little prejudice keeps us alive, I’ll take it.”

Lukero stared at him, stunned.

Even Ben was caught off guard; Rukas had always been quiet, measured—not impassioned like this.

Across from them, Grimor chewed contentedly, enjoying the rising tension.

Heilfem didn’t even glance their way, wholly unconcerned.

And Lady Eliguen only smiled faintly—just as if everything were unfolding exactly as she had intended.

Luke sighed, the tension in his features easing just slightly.

“So that’s how it is, Ruk…”

Ben pushed aside Luke’s wing that had been shielding him and let out an exasperated breath.

“Fine, I get it—I’m an outsider, and you’re all wary of me. Lady Eli, if you want to use your eye technique, then go ahead. As long as it doesn’t hurt me, I don’t care. I just want this drama over with so we can reach the port in one piece,” he snapped.

Lady Eliguen’s lips curved in a polite smile.

“Thank you for your cooperation. Don’t worry, I’ll only use a basic diagnostic spell—to assess the rank of your mana core, nothing invasive.”

Ben lifted his arm with a shrug.

“Well, if that’s all, go ahead.”

A faintly glowing magic circle formed before Eliguen’s right eye like an arcane monocle. The sigil shimmered as she peered through it, her gaze slipping past skin and bone into Ben’s ethereal mana plane—into the glowing sphere of energy that marked his core, its flow, and affinity.

At first she seemed calm, even amused—but as the light deepened, her smile began to fade.

The carriage fell utterly silent. Only the steady gait of the Hail Gekko, the creak of wheels, and the faint scent of the driver’s cigar filled the air.

After a long minute, the glow vanished. Eliguen lowered her hand and smiled again, faint and unreadable.

“Thank you for your cooperation, young man. Please, sit and make yourself comfortable. We have a long road ahead.”

Ben blinked at her easy tone but did as told, sliding back into his seat.

Rukas leaned forward, narrowing his yellow eyes.

“Lady Eliguen, since we’re allies, would you share what you found?”

“Ruk—” Lukero warned.

Eliguen tilted her head. “Very well. The boy’s mana leans strongly toward life energy. He can heal and manipulate plants.”

“That’s it? What else?” Rukas pressed.

“The boy’s mana core has already matured into a mana heart,” she said evenly. “He also bears a divine spirit’s mark—but I can’t discern which one. Few humans achieve such a state so young. He has… remarkable potential.”

Lukero turned to Ben, feathers fluffing in surprise.

“You’ve already reached the true mage state?”

Ben scratched the side of his cheek with an awkward smile.

“I guess I did.”

Rukas eyed him warily.

“Are you really human? How old are you?”

“I am human,” Ben said. “And I’m twenty.”

Grimor chuckled and clapped a heavy paw on his back.

“See? I told you he had talent from the start!”

Lukero sighed. “Alright, that’s enough questioning. The Old Demon himself asked the guild to see him safely to the port. The last thing we need is him complaining to his master—he’d hike potion prices again. Best we stay on his good side.”

Rukas nodded, a hint of guilt crossing his face.

“Sorry for labeling you too quickly, Ben. War keeps us all on edge.”

Ben waved it off.

“It’s fine. I understand.”

Rukas settled back, and a quiet finally returned to the crowded carriage. After a moment, Ben glanced at them all and scratched his cheek thoughtfully.

“…So, is it right if I ask what war you’ve all been talking about?”

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Trivia: When a mage evolves and grows stronger, their mana core undergoes a transformation, evolving into a mana heart. The mana heart is a powerful upgrade of the standard mana core, enabling the mage to form contracts with spirits and gain even greater abilities. Mages who possess a mana heart and have bonded with a spirit are recognized as True Mages.