After the intense battle, we finally took a breather beneath a towering tree. Lilla, slightly injured during her clash with the alpha wolf, sat against the trunk. Her wounds were already closing—thanks to her vampire regeneration—but even then, I could tell it was slow. At least slower than mine.
A few minutes passed, the silence only broken by rustling leaves and the occasional exhale of relief. Then, Pepper stood up and walked over to the fallen alpha beast. Without hesitation, she unsheathed a small dagger and stabbed it into the creature's skull. With a swift motion, she pulled out a glowing orb the size of a marble—shimmering faintly with a soft blue light. Without a word, she handed it to Lilla.
Strangely, no one reacted to the orb. No awe, no questions—it was as if this was an everyday thing. I could feel the question brewing inside me, and despite trying not to look like a total newbie, I eventually crept toward Lilla.
She noticed my approach and asked, "What can I do for you?"
Trying to act casual, I asked, "That orb... what is it?"
She paused, then chuckled. "You really are new to all this, huh?" Her eyes sparkled with amusement, but there was no malice. "Alright, time for an info dump."
She sat up straight and began. "So, what do you know about elements and magic?"
"Umm…" I scratched my head. "There are basic elements… like fire, water, earth, and air. Some are rarer, and beasts and vampires can have elements too."
"Close, but not quite," she said with a smile. "Let me explain properly."
She continued, her voice steady and clear. "Any living being in this world can have an elemental affinity—humans, beasts, vampires, even werewolves. But most beings are limited in how many elements they can possess. Typically, it's one. Rare individuals can have two, and in extremely rare cases, three."
I listened closely as she began listing the elements.
"The basic elements are fire, water, earth, and air. They're common because they're easier to awaken and control. But that doesn't mean they're weak—each has devastating potential. Fire is volatile and destructive. Water can be calm like a pond or wild like a flood. Earth brings stability and strength, and air grants speed and flexibility."
She paused, then leaned in. "Now come the derived elements, these originate from basics. Ice comes from water. Thunder from air. Steel or iron from earth. There are various types of fire, too—blue fire, soul fire, and more."
Then her tone turned more serious. "Next, there are special elements, blood, shadow, poison, and more. They're less common and harder to control. And finally… the supreme elements: Light and Dark. Extremely rare, near-mythical. There are whispers of even more, but they remain hidden in legends."
I was stunned. I had no idea the elemental system was so vast.
"Magic," she continued, "requires mana to function. Mana is everywhere—in the air, the ground, in living things. It's the base source for magic. Alongside mana, there's Qi and Aura—each with its own system and uses. Mana is singular in type, but Qi and Aura have multiple branches. Cultivators like you use Qi. Knights or warriors use Aura."
I nodded, trying to process it all.
"Anyone can access elements," she said, "but two things matter most—affinity and talent. Affinity determines your natural connection with an element. Talent, however, affects how far you can grow using mana, qi, or aura. Those with higher talent reach higher grades."
She pointed at the orb. "That right there? That's a Mana Core from a C-grade beast. Beasts form their cores at C-rank, while beings like us form them at D-rank, though we can't sense them until we hit C-grade."
I looked at the orb in a new light.
"Cores with or without elemental affinity will be sold. We sell them for coins and can buy refined cores—ones that help us increase our own grade. But…" She looked at me seriously. "A person cannot surpass more than two grades above their talent. If your talent is C-grade, the limit is A-grade—unless fate intervenes with some miracle."
I stayed quiet, absorbing her words. So much of this world was still a mystery to me, but piece by piece, it was becoming clearer. And with it… the path I needed to walk.
As the info dump ended within just five minutes, I couldn't help but let out a long sigh. The amount of knowledge Lilla packed into those few minutes was vast—so vast it felt like my brain might start overheating.
While I was still absorbing everything, the others were casually talking among themselves, intentionally leaving me and Lilla some space. It seemed they understood we were mid-conversation and didn't want to interrupt.
Once Lilla stood up, I followed her lead, and we resumed our walk deeper into the forest. The light chatter quickly gave way to silence. Everyone became cautious, eyes scanning every movement in the surroundings. Even the air felt heavier, charged with a sense of alertness.
Curious, I leaned toward Lilla and whispered, "Why is everyone so tense again? You're a C-rank… shouldn't this area be manageable?"
Her expression turned serious as she replied, "This territory… it's not ours. We've entered the edge of an A-rank beast's domain. No matter how skilled you are, if you're alone and run into an A-rank beast, you run. Even if you're an A-rank yourself."
I blinked in disbelief. "Wait… even an A-rank needs to run?"
She nodded, her tone grim. "Yes. It takes at least three A-ranks working together to reliably take down one A-rank beast. They're not just strong—they're monsters. And the worst part? Inside their territory, they can command other beasts. It's like fighting an army with a commander who never makes mistakes."
Her words sent a chill down my spine. This world's food chain was brutal. Strong didn't mean invincible—it meant surviving just a little longer.