Arthur’s breath caught in his throat as Yamikage’s words echoed through the cavern. “Dark magic?” he whispered, unable to hide the mixture of fear and fascination in his voice.

  The dragon, in her humanoid form, smiled faintly, her golden eyes narrowing with amusement. “Yes, Arthur,” she said, her voice calm but ced with an edge of authority. “I can teach you. You have potential—great potential—but it’s hidden beneath a powerful curse.”

  “A curse?” Arthur stepped back, his heart pounding. “What do you mean? I don’t feel cursed.”

  Yamikage’s ugh was soft, almost melodic, yet it carried an air of superiority. “That’s how a proper curse works. It conceals itself so perfectly that the victim never realizes they’ve been bound. Someone has sealed your magical affinity, Arthur. Without my help, you’d never unlock the abilities you were born with.”

  Arthur froze, her words swirling in his mind like a storm. His entire life, he’d been told he was worthless. No magic. No talent. Just a disappointment to his family. Could it really all have been because of a curse?

  His doubts were interrupted by a grim realization. “Even if that’s true,” he said, his voice low and trembling, “it doesn’t matter. Dark magic is forbidden. If I go back to my father and show him I’ve learned it, he’ll have me executed.”

  Yamikage tilted her head, the humor in her expression fading. “Executed? For learning magic?”

  “Dark magic,” Arthur corrected, fear tightening in his chest. “It’s considered evil. Forbidden in every kingdom. Anyone caught practicing it is Exececute on sight.”

  The dragon’s face darkened, her golden eyes gleaming with something akin to anger. “How foolish,” she muttered, more to herself than to him. “A thousand years ago, dark magic was the pinnacle of magical study. Its strength lies in its versatility—it can merge with other elements, amplifying spells to levels ordinary magic could never reach. Back then, humans sought it out eagerly, desperate to unlock its secrets.”

  “That was a thousand years ago,” Arthur replied bitterly. “Now, it’s nothing more than a death sentence. Anyone who tries to learn it is branded a traitor.”

  Yamikage’s gaze softened, her lips curling into a small, enigmatic smile. “If that’s the case,” she said, her voice rich with promise, “then I’ll teach you everything. Not just dark magic. You’ll master all elemental affinities under my guidance—fire, water, wind, earth. I’ll make you a mage beyond your kingdom’s comprehension.”

  Arthur stared at her, torn between awe and fear. The weight of her offer pressed down on him, heavy and impossible to ignore. Was he truly ready to step into the shadows, to embrace the power she promised? And more importantly, could he afford not to?

  The choice loomed before him, as dark and vast as the dragon herself.

  ---

  The next morning, Arthur awoke feeling lighter than he had in years. The curse that had pgued him for so long had finally been lifted. His body felt strangely unburdened, but still, there was something unsettling in the air as he tried to make sense of the drastic changes unfolding before him.

  Yamikage stood before him, her golden eyes gleaming with determination. “Focus on your mana, Arthur. Center it at the core of your body and try to open your mana circuits.”

  Arthur complied, standing still, his heart thundering in his chest. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, attempting to reach for the magic that he had always felt, but never truly known. However, after a few minutes, his frustration grew.

  “I don’t feel anything,” Arthur said, his voice tinged with helplessness. “It’s not working.”

  Yamikage looked at him with a calm gaze, but there was a slight edge to her words. “Fifteen years without proper training and use. Your mana circuits are completely blocked.”

  Arthur’s stomach sank. “Fifteen years?” he muttered, still struggling to grasp the magnitude of the situation. “So... how do we fix this?”

  Yamikage’s gaze softened, almost kindly, though there was a hint of amusement. “I have a solution. But... I’ll need you to take off your shirt.”

  Arthur blinked, eyes widening. “You’re that type of person?”

  Yamikage’s face blushed with a rare, brief blush of embarrassment. Without warning, she spped him lightly on the cheek, causing him to stumble back in surprise. “I’m not that type of person,” she retorted, her voice sharp but ced with a teasing tone. “I’m simply going to pce a mana orb inside of you and force your circuits open. It will be painful, but you must endure it.”

  Arthur, though deeply embarrassed, couldn’t stop the sarcastic thought that crossed his mind. “Painful, huh?”

  Before he could speak any further, Yamikage pressed the pulsating orb against his chest. The moment it made contact, a surge of searing energy shot through his body, sending a wave of pain unlike anything he had ever felt before. His body arched as the magic began to work, tearing through his senses.

  Arthur gasped in agony, feeling his body tremble under the intense pressure. A scream tore from his throat as the pain intensified, radiating through every fiber of his being. “What the hell is happening?!” he gasped.

  Yamikage’s voice, cool and calm despite the chaos, filtered into his mind. “This is what happens when you try to force open sealed mana circuits. You’ll survive. It will pass soon.”

  Arthur was barely aware of her words as his mind was engulfed by the searing pain. He felt as though his entire body was being torn apart and remade.

  “Are you okay?” Yamikage asked, her voice distant but still concerned.

  Through gritted teeth, Arthur managed to choke out, “God save me from her...” His vision blurred, and just as he thought he would pass out, Yamikage struck him sharply across the back.

  “Endure it, Arthur,” she commanded. “This is the price for unlocking your power.”

  ---

  As the days passed, Arthur’s training with Yamikage became intense. At first, the exercises focused solely on controlling the flow of mana, mastering the art of absorbing mana from nature itself. Slowly but surely, Arthur began to make progress, his mana control improving as he learned how to convert raw energy into elemental magic.

  After weeks of tireless effort, Yamikage created a magical bed for Arthur to rest on, her spells weaving together a comfortable pce to sleep. However, Arthur couldn’t help but feel awkward about one detail. Looking at her, he asked aloud, “Why are you sleeping in the same bed with me?”

  Yamikage’s golden eyes flickered mischievously. “My, my... Is this your first time sleeping with a woman?”

  Arthur blushed, his face heating up. “Shut up,” he muttered, his embarrassment growing by the second.

  Yamikage only smiled wider, her voice soft but teasing. “How cute.”

  Arthur groaned inwardly. He knew that she would never let him live this down.

  ---

  One year ter, Arthur had fully mastered elemental magic, wielding fire, water, wind, and earth with an ease he never thought possible. To further hone his skills, Yamikage sent him on his first mission: hunting monsters and animals for practice.

  After each hunt, Yamikage used her magic to cook the beasts, preparing meals for him. Arthur, exhausted but grateful, couldn't help but compliment her, “Yamikage-san, your cooking is delicious.”

  Yamikage’s cheeks blushed slightly, and she responded, “Eat as much as you want.”

  Arthur, noticing the color in her cheeks, raised an eyebrow. “Why are you blushing?”

  She snapped at him, “Drop dead.”

  Arthur shook his head, thinking to himself, “She’s cruel as ever...”

  And so, Arthur’s training continued, each day bringing new challenges and discoveries as he ventured deeper into the world of magic and the shadows that awaited him.

  To be continued..........