Okay, now let's aim again for the horses.

  Despite the bad feeling from the choking earlier, I was able to absorb a bit of life, which already negates any damage to my throat.

  Though if I look in front of me, I start feeling bad.

  The poor horses are totally freaked out now.

  Who can hold it against them, the way I just drained their very life from their muzzles?

  They must know what's waiting for them.

  Yet the sickly one doesn't seem capable of putting up a fight, while the other one is strangling itself with the reins.

  "Change of plan! Go for the right one. Otherwise, that one's going to kill itself before you get to it. Also, you can go a bit closer if it helps your manifestation. You need control over range." (R)

  "But-" (Y)

  "No 'buts'! Do as you're told!" (R)

  I'm so sorry, horsies.

  I walk closer, feeling with my steps how Relia gives me more leash.

  When I'm right next to it, I feel its fear.

  Yet I just can't help it.

  Once more, I call upon the void inside me.

  This call for life.

  "Whooaaaaaah"

  Once more, I start to breathe.

  This time, though, I focus solely on the right one.

  I intentionally avoid even gazing at the others.

  It's by no means easy, but then I see the green smoke emerging again.

  Seeping towards me, down my throat, blessing me with pure life.

  But then, it happens.

  Only a shallow waver to the side, but it's enough to designate the other horse as a target.

  "Stop it!" (R)

  If I could just!

  "I said: Stop it!!" (R)

  Once again, the leash pulls me back.

  Once again, my breath gets stifled.

  I keep lying on the ground for as long as I can.

  "Mhm, that's certainly something." (R)

  Urgh, what is it now?

  "What is 'something'?" (Y)

  "It's dead. Good work, I'd say, but I guess you'd need to admit as well that this was a bit of a messy job." (R)

  I killed it.

  Worse, the people on the field saw and are now whispering among each other.

  Especially, the archers make me nervous.

  I would've preferred to stay in the good graces of those stationed here to kill me if something happened.

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "Well, that's about it with target practice. Now for the last one, I want you to try to cut off your pull once it starts. At best, right when it sets in." (R)

  "But the poor animal! That's torture!" (Y)

  It's one thing to do it in one go, but another to poke it to death in short bursts.

  "You got your orders, officer! Act on them!" (R)

  I don't have a choice, do I?

  I look at the poor horse.

  Still exhausted from its earlier panic, its weary age only allows it to look in fear at me, who will bring about its end.

  By now, I think I got a good grasp of my ability.

  I know how to bring the drain forward, how to focus on what's in front of me, and how to start draining.

  "Whooaaaah"

  The one thing I don't know is how to stop!

  Damn, I can already feel the tug on the choker.

  How do I stop?

  It has nothing to do with how I move my mouth.

  If I can't completely constrict it, as the choking does, I won't be able to cut it off.

  Not to mention that I lost all semblance of control over that part while the drain is pulling the life away from this poor creature.

  "Chrrrrk!" (Y)

  Once again, I get choked for needing too long.

  While I don't need to worry about breathing, a crushed windpipe is anything but pleasant.

  I need a bit before I can get myself in order again.

  "That was unnecessary! I almost had it!" (Y)

  "Sadly, the horse didn't!" (R)

  I look back, and it's true.

  The poor animal is at its last gasp.

  Already sunken to the ground.

  The most terrifying thing about this is that I completely ignored its suffering while I was at it.

  This whole sensation of receiving life is just so invigorating, I simply forget everything around me while I'm at it.

  "So next time, I'd like you to know what you're doing before you do it." (R)

  Might've mentioned this earlier!

  Yet I guess, this is it.

  After this one, it won't last anymore.

  I step closer again.

  The horse is already too weak to truly care, while my guilty conscience ravages me.

  Once again, I have to activate this vile ability.

  Yet before that, I need to figure out what I'm doing.

  Closing my mouth doesn't work to make it stop.

  Neither does any other body function.

  Nothing I can control normally, as the magic just takes over.

  No, I need to stifle the process at the source.

  That means... the crystal!

  Yes, the crystal is what this whole thing revolves around.

  That means I'll have to somehow gain control over it.

  Nothing easier than this, right?

  I already got a pretty good handle on the activation.

  Once again, my magic surges, forming a void that draws in all life.

  Pure death that wants its share from the living.

  "Whoooooooh"

  Great, now I just have to figure out how to stop it again.

  Would you please?

  No, of course not.

  Who am I kidding?

  This thing is notoriously acting out as it pleases.

  But I can't accept this.

  If this thing is already replacing my heart, it could at least just do as I say.

  So goddamnit, Shut Off!!!

  "Whoo..."

  I, I did it.

  I did it!

  I got it done!

  "That last one looked good. Not like we would've had any more tries." (R)

  I ask myself what she means before becoming aware of the second horse corpse.

  Urgh, I did it.

  "That was good enough for today. You get a break. Seeing as you take after a mage, I suggest you try to meditate in your quarters and attempt to get a better grasp on this. But be prepared for evening practice. And tomorrow, we'll do the same." (R)

  The same?!

  "You have horses for me to drain every day?" (Y)

  "Don't be ridiculous." (R)

  I wouldn't have put this past her, but it relieves me a bit that tomorrow I won't have to kill.

  While it feels good how my head is a lot clearer now that I got back some energy, I really shouldn't enjoy getting this full of it.

  There’s only one way for me to get it, after all.

  "Of course, you'll have to make do with something smaller. But I'll make sure that all the meat supplies for the fortress will go through you. You're basically going to be our sole butcher." (R)

  Oh god!

  I, I guess that's a good arrangement for me, but having it laid out that I'll have, from now on, to kill another animal every day is pretty hard to come to terms with.

  I want to say something, but before I can, I notice a commotion on the far side of the field.

  "Relia! You incorrigible menace! What did you do?!" (?)

  I, I think I know this voice.

  "Oh damnit, it's that asshole." (R)

  Is that appropriate speech for an officer of her station?