I stood still for a few seconds, observing the field in front of me. At first glance, everything seemed to be working. The plants were standing tall, green, growing at a good speed. To someone without experience, it could even look like a good sign.
But it wasn't.
I approached one of the rows and crouched down. I lightly touched one of the leaves, feeling its texture. It was firm… but far too light. It lacked density.
"Growing too fast," I murmured.
Lyannis stepped closer, curious. "But isn't that a good thing?"
I shook my head. "Depends."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms while observing the field. "There's something wrong at the foundation."
"Exactly."
Scarlett took a few steps around the area, analyzing it. "The external structure looks healthy, but…"
Elara completed: "The nutrients aren't keeping up with the growth."
Vespera concluded: "Unstable result."
Liriel moved closer, closing her eyes for a moment. "The mana… is interfering."
I lifted my gaze.
"It's not just interference."
I focused my perception on the environment.
The energy there wasn't flowing naturally.
It was… pressuring.
It was as if it was forcing the plants to grow beyond what they should.
I slowly stood up.
"This isn't natural."
The elf king, who had been observing us from a certain distance, spoke calmly. "We noticed."
The elder remained silent, but his expression showed that he already knew.
Lyannis commented quietly. "So they were just waiting for someone to solve it."
Rai'kanna replied. "Or someone to confirm it."
Scarlett said: "External validation."
Elara stated: "Comparative analysis."
Vespera completed: "Now there's no doubt."
Liriel looked at me. "Can you identify the source?"
I closed my eyes for a moment.
I concentrated my perception.
The surrounding mana vibrated irregularly.
There was a pattern… but distorted.
"It's not something direct."
I opened my eyes again.
"It's influence."
Lyannis tilted her head. "Like… residue?"
"Something like that."
Rai'kanna frowned. "From the Demon King?"
"Most likely."
Scarlett analyzed: "Indirect contamination."
Elara completed: "Environmental expansion."
Vespera said: "Without physical presence."
Liriel took a deep breath. "So that explains it."
I slowly continued walking through the field.
Every step confirmed the same thing.
Accelerated growth.
Reduced quality.
Instability at the foundation.
I stopped again.
"This is going to get worse."
The elf king replied: "It's already getting worse."
The elder finally spoke. "At first, it seemed like a blessing."
Lyannis let out a soft laugh. "It always starts like that."
Rai'kanna nodded. "Then it demands a price."
Scarlett said: "Side effect."
Elara stated: "Inevitable consequence."
Vespera completed: "Imbalance."
Liriel looked at the elder. "Did you try anything?"
He answered calmly. "Yes. But we were unable to completely purify it."
That caught my attention.
"Not even you?"
The king replied: "Our magic maintains natural balance… but this is not natural."
I remained silent for a moment.
Makes sense.
This wasn't just mana.
It was something corrupted.
Not in a crude sense… but in a subtle one.
Harder to detect.
Harder to remove.
Lyannis looked at me. "So?"
I took a deep breath.
"There's a solution."
Rai'kanna raised an eyebrow. "You already know how?"
"Yes."
Scarlett said: "Fast response."
Elara stated: "Analysis complete."
Vespera completed: "Action imminent."
Liriel looked at me attentively. "You're going to use…"
"No."
I interrupted before she could finish.
"This time, it's not me."
She blinked lightly. "Then…"
I looked directly at her.
"You."
Silence fell for a moment.
Lyannis smiled. "Makes sense."
Rai'kanna nodded. "Light magic."
Scarlett said: "Ideal affinity."
Elara completed: "High compatibility."
Vespera stated: "Superior efficiency."
Liriel stayed silent for a moment.
Then she took a deep breath.
"I can try."
"It's not trying."
I looked at the field again.
"You're going to do it."
She gave a small, awkward smile.
"That's a lot of confidence…"
"You can do it."
Lyannis crossed her arms. "He doesn't say that for nothing."
Rai'kanna said: "Then do it already."
Scarlett commented: "Decisive moment."
Elara stated: "Necessary execution."
Vespera completed: "No delays."
Liriel walked a few steps forward.
She stopped at the center of one of the more affected areas.
She closed her eyes.
The environment became quieter.
The surrounding mana reacted slightly.
I kept watching.
Without interfering.
Without interrupting.
She raised one of her hands.
The energy began to gather.
Unlike the surrounding mana… hers was pure.
Stable.
Without distortion.
Lyannis murmured: "You can already feel it."
Rai'kanna said: "It's different."
Scarlett analyzed: "Clean flow."
Elara stated: "No interference."
Vespera completed: "Precise control."
The elf king watched attentively.
The elder… even more so.
Liriel opened her eyes.
And in that moment…
The light began to form.
Not intense.
But enough.
Enough to change the environment.
And I knew.
She was going to succeed.
I took a step back.
And spoke calmly:
"Begin."