"How are you feeling?" Victoria asked, her voice soft but curious. She was eager to learn more about the demon she was supposed to rescue—a demon she already knew quite well, though she didn't realize it. After all, she had been talking to William through the sword for weeks without knowing his true identity.
William clenched his fists, feeling the familiar surge of mana coursing through his body. "Pretty good," he said, a hint of relief in his voice. "I can finally use mana again."
Despite the relief, there was a lingering frustration. During the time he had been trapped in the mansion, unable to access his mana, he hadn't leveled up once. For someone as driven as William, it felt like wasted time—time that could have been spent growing stronger and preparing for the challenges ahead.
