I took a deep breath, letting the residual energy settle within me as the effects of the Sylvara's Essence finally calmed. I felt… different. Lighter, stronger. It was as if my body had been revitalized from the inside out, filled with a new vitality that made every muscle feel more responsive, every movement smoother. The entire process had been painful—far more than I had expected—but the end result was worth it. I could feel the difference, not just in strength but in every fiber of my being.
'This… is quite the transformation,' I thought, flexing my fingers experimentally. My senses were heightened, sharper. Mana flowed through me with a clarity and ease that hadn't been there before. It was almost effortless now, as if the barriers that had once held me back had been stripped away.
"Junior…" Maya's voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I glanced over at her. Her eyes were wide, still locked onto me with a mix of shock and something else I couldn't quite place.
