We entered the tunnel at the same time, our bickering echoing off the walls but our minds keen and our eyes glued to the shadows. I wasn't sure what to expect, but plenty of magical creatures could have sent the hill to attack us. All they would require was an earth attunement.

I was confident in my chances of victory.

“[Earth Manipulation].”

The earth was my domain, and I spread my will over the world around us as we dove further down into the tunnel. I could see through the hill, every rock and mineral making itself known to me as I moved my will across it.

It was one with me, and I was one with it.

Each step was illuminated by Amanda’s claws of flame and her hair. I noticed that the flaming strands of red were stronger than usual, and shone clearer as well. It was like she was a torc—

“If you call me a torch I will light you on fire.” She said.

“I didn't say anything.” I held up my hands in surrender. "I can't be held accountable for my thoughts.”

Agni chirped in amusement at my words and the flame’s on Amanda’s head grew bright red. It made the tunnel much easier to see.

“What do you think?” I asked Gold.

The puffer raised his head, looking and Amanda and then back at me. Then he lowered his head and studied the ground, purposefully ignoring me.

He was smart enough not to touch that topic.

Our footsteps echoed out across the tunnel and I breathed in the atmosphere of comfort around me. There was no denying that there was tension in my shoulders as I watched out for an attack, but being around this much earth was refreshing.

I closed my eyes and took in the sensation of being one with the world around me, my footsteps guided by my element and not by my senses.

Then something smacked into my face.

“What the—”

My shout of surprise came out higher pitched than I’d thought it would and I opened my eyes, raising my hands and the earth around me to protect from the oncoming attack.

In front of me was the enemy that had caused my shock and surprise.

It was a vine.

The plant swung in the air mockingly and I brushed it aside. I hadn't been able to sense it because my communication only extended to the earth around me, not the plants. The long green creeper was as thick as my hand and it ignored the glare I sent it. The sound I’d made was less than dignified.

Unfortunately, there were witnesses to my embarrassment. Gold tittered in amusement and Agni chirped joyfully. Amanda stared at me with barely restrained laughter dancing in her throat.

“Are you vine?” She asked.

Amanda pursed her lips as her terrible pun echoed across the tunnel.

I gripped the vine and threw it at her. She yelped and a single flaming claw carved through the plant, turning it into ash.

"Hey!” She said. “That's a fine vine you're crossing. I'm the only source of light.”

"Nope. I'm not going to rise to the bait.” I said.

Amanda's head popped up beside me, her beaming smile and teasing grin digging into me.

“You already did when you responded.” She said. “You lose.”

“I didn't know it was a competition.” I said. “But I humbly concede and accept your victory.”

Amanda threw up her hands in triumph and the tension in the air dissolved, replaced by chuckles and a feeling of comfort. The earth surrounding us wasn't showing me any danger, and nothing attacked us.

For the first time I realise that I wasn't just exploring a tunnel. I was exploring a wild zone and doing it on my own terms. Usually I was accompanied by civilisation or my parents, but here there was only myself and the nature around me.

It was exciting.

Right until another vine smacked me right in the face.

"Not. One. Word." I said.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Amanda said.

She didn't have to say anything. Gold chirped from my shoulder, laughing the entire way down the tunnel. A few minutes later he stopped as we reached a dead end.

He let out a single chirp.

Culprit?

Amanda and I followed his gaze, and saw that he was staring at the wall that was at the end of the tunnel. A single flickering light shone as an object reflected the red of Amanda’s flames. The culprit of the attack was lodged steadfast into the wall, twinkling in greeting as it spotted me.

“Of course.” I said.

It was an earth mana crystal.

This object was the source of the intent that I had felt. Now that I was standing next to it I could confirm that the mana hadn't created the hill to attack us.

“They sensed my connection to earth and tried to reach out to me.” I said.

Even now I could hear its words in my mind, greeting me as a friend and companion.

“You should tell them that there are easier ways to get your attention.” Amanda said. “I've found setting you aflame to be very attention grabbing.”

“If you know a way to get earth to make fire I’m all ears.” I said.

Gold chirped a question at me.

It grabbed you. How. Why?

"That's a good question." I studied the crystal carefully.

There were no signs that it had been manipulated, and for all intents and purposes it was the same as normal mana, only highly concentrated.

“I know why.”

Amanda joined us and I moved to the side to give her room to study the crystal.

“The mana is so thick in the holy land that its intentions can manifest into real consequences.” Amanda said. “I mean, usually it doesn't go this far. I think it might be because of your… circumstances. Not the actual… thing. Just the sheer mana in your body might be attracting it.”

I smiled as I watched Amanda flounder with her words. She was trying to avoid saying that I was Marked, and I thanked her silently for that. With magic existing it was hard to tell who was listening in at any time.

Her words caused a few things to click into place. The earth mana crystal would normally be hidden underground, but it had decided to come to me directly.

“I think you're huge manapool is why the fire crystal appeared as well." She said. “In layman’s terms, you're the magician equivalent of fat.”

The birds chirping amusement and I looked up at her sharply.

"Excuse me?" I asked

"You're not just fat." Amanda’s eyes twinkled. "You're so fat with mana that you have my own orbit.”

"And I own it." I waved my hand dismissively.

I was more surprised than insulted. My manapool hadn't been an issue before, but I'd also never been somewhere where the mana was this highly concentrated.

“It wanted to greet me, so it formed a hill to be able to reach me.” I looked up at Amanda. “I guess that means I have more friends than you. Or at least I'm more popular.”

"The holy land doesn't revolve around a single element.” Amanda said. “Every element of mana in this world is amplified, but mostly flames. Which is why I'm more popular than you. You got a single crystal, but the whole forest is burning to greet me.

“Although, this is strange.”

“Yeah, I thought the hill had come alive.” I said.

“No, not that.” Amanda pointed at the mana crystal. “I’ve never seen earth mana before. It's really sturdy. Or maybe that's not the right word for it. Heavy? Chunky?”

Amanda poked the crystal and the mana within glimmered in greeting.

“Your description isn’t wrong. I'd say it's stoic, and steadfast.” I said.

Out of all the elements it was the only one that preferred to remain in one place and stay walled off from everything else.

A smile tugged at her lips as she felt the intentions of the mana. To her surprise the crystal retreated as she brought her hand around to poke it again, and a deep depression formed in the stone where it hid.

“The mana thinks you're a stranger.” I said. “I guess that's what happens when you never talk to them before you attune to their element.”

"Actually, it's weirder that you can see fire mana before you're attuned.” Amanda said. "I won't lie, I'm kind of jealous."

“Good." I replied.

Amanda shot a ball of flames at my face.

I laughed as the fire splashed harmlessly off my skin. She hadn't given it any heat or added ill intentions to her attack.

I'd been around enough magicians to know that all of them had some form of [Mana Sense]. The skill itself wasn't uncommon, but the impact varied depending on the user. Amanda could see fire mana and Roxxy could see water and connection mana. I could see everything except air.

“You look like you're realising how special you are.” Amanda said. “Don't go getting a big head now.”

"I've always had a big head. I'm just good at hiding it.” I said.

"You’re no William when it comes to acting.”

Both of us chuckled and made our way out of the tunnel. There was no treasure here, only clumps of mana that waved and twinkled as I walked past them.

Or at least that was what I thought.

Talons gripped onto my clothes as Gold leapt onto my shoulder. I hadn't noticed the puffer leaving, but now that he was back I could see that he wasn't empty handed. His talons carried a gleaming object between them, and I stared at it.

He'd taken the earth mana crystal.

"You realise you can't take that outside the holy land, right?" I asked.

He chirped joyfully and pecked at the crystal. He was going to use it for inscribing, just like how he'd tried with Amanda’s fire mana beads.

I left him to his devices, and the moment that we hit the open-air he flew off into the trees. I didn't doubt that he would be back the moment he destroyed the crystal, and as I gathered the platform together I tried looking out for any signs of rare materials or attuned plants.

"I'm not seeing much lake for a place called the burning lake." I said.

"I think I'll leave that as a surprise." Amanda said. A coy smile spread across her lips.

So I dropped the platform several feet without notice.

"Hey— that's just petty!” She shouted.

Her hair flowed with raging flames and I gulped, pointing toward the upcoming sanctuary wall.

“I think I spotted something.” I lied. “We should check it out immediately.”

A flood of relief crossed through my heart as Amanda glanced down at the wall and frowned. To my surprise she didn't dismiss my excuse out of hand, and instead pointed toward the wall and brought her claws up to battle positions.

“Somebody beat us to it.” She said.

My eyes shot toward the spot she was pointing at, and then they widened. I couldn't tell if there was actually a treasure down there, but a Koshima student was lying against the wall, his eyes glancing at the ground as water lapped around his body and dug into the earth beside him.

He was wearing a third year uniform, and long hair cascaded down his shoulders. As we drew closer I realised he looked familiar. Then I saw his face.

"Pit donkey.” I said.

Amanda looked at me curiously but I focused on the student. I clicked my fingers and the stone spears that had been formed to fight the mountain hovered around me protectively. The [Heart Silver] slithered out of my inventory and formed a shield across my body, followed by two spears of metal that were ready to fire at my command.

I was ready to rain destruction down on our opponent the moment he made a suspicious movement.

"I'll go down first. Stay up here just in case he attacks." I said.

Stone steps formed underneath my feet as I made my way down to the ground. The other student gazed at me curiously, but there was no panic in his eyes, only calm.

“Hey, Crijik. Fancy meeting you here.” He said.

I looked at the third year student and then at the ground beside him. There was something there. A small wisp of smoke escaped from the hole he was digging with water and I saw glitter trailing inside it.

My mother's lessons on valuable holy land plants crossed my mind, but I dismissed them as I brought my focus onto the person in front of me.

“Hey, Kyle.”

It was my ranking battle observer. Despite having seen me fight dozens of battles, I'd barely seen him use his skills. I was at a disadvantage here.

"Why don't we talk this out like proper friends?” I asked.

He looked at Amanda on the platform above us and then back to me, and a smile tugged at his lips. His hand moved up and water filled the surroundings. One moment the wall was clear, and the next crystal-clear blades of liquid were closing in on me.

“Nah.”