The Revolution (WMMAP reader insert/OC)

Part 13

A tall man, shrouded in a mystique aura, wandered through a secluded forest. Verdant hues enveloped him in every direction, nature in full display—yet he remained thoroughly uninterested. His ruby-red eyes, dull and indifferent, reflected his boredom. A small beauty mark beneath his left eye only emphasized his expression of apathy. Silky black hair flowed behind him, carried by the breeze as he moved forward with effortless grace.

Now, you might be wondering—what's a handsome, emo, narcissistic man like him doing here, clearly unimpressed by Mother Nature's charm?

After awakening from a long slumber, he had encountered a young girl—a princess, no less—who had somehow piqued his interest. Their "pleasant" meeting had ended, and he'd returned to his tower to check on things, only to realize how much had changed. After all, he had been asleep for quite a loooong time.

During a brief stroll, something tugged at his senses: a faint yet potent mana signature. It was distant and difficult to detect—especially with most of his own mana reserves depleted from his years of sleep—but it intrigued him. It was the only thing, other than the girl from yesterday, that had managed to catch his attention. And for someone like him, that was no small feat.

He stopped, closed his eyes, and gathered what little mana he had left to focus.

Southwest. Not too far from here, he thought. Without hesitation, he set off toward the source, determined to uncover its origin—whether by asking politely or... not.

"Oh?"

He let out a light sigh, his thoughts interrupted as he found himself face-to-face with a brick wall. He had been so lost in thought he nearly walked straight into it. Fortunately, he'd stopped in time to spare his nose the impact.

Still, as if a mere wall could ever stop him.

Examining the tall brick structure, a flicker of recognition crossed his mind. Wait... isn't this the Garnet Palace? he wondered silently. Circling around it, he came to a sudden halt.

There she was—the girl from yesterday.

He squinted, scrutinizing the figure before him: a petite girl drenched in sweat, clad in a white dress shirt and gray-blue skirt, black leggings, and childish running boots. Her golden-blonde hair, tied in a ponytail, shimmered subtly in the light. Her complexion was fair, and her eyes—bearing the distinct traits of the Obelian lineage—carried an unusual pink hue that made them stand out even more.

No way... that brat from yesterday?

The girl gripped a wooden sword tightly, her stance steady. Anastasia exhaled deeply, gritted her teeth, and raised the sword above her head.

"90! 91! 92! 93! 94! 95! 96! 97! 98! 99! 100!!!"

She suddenly let out a loud groan as she tried to envelop her wooden sword with mana, aiming to launch an attack. With a determined dash toward the hay dummy, Ana raised her sword high, ready to bring it down with force. The mysterious man's eyes widened ever so slightly in surprise as he observed—a little girl, no less—attempting a high-level mana technique that even seasoned magicians struggled to master.

Ana slashed sharply. A flicker of mana sparked around her blade, and smoke began to rise from the point of impact. Her ragged breathing filled the air as the haze slowly cleared. When the smoke finally faded, the man bit his lip to suppress a snicker.

There stood Anastasia, both bewildered and thoroughly pissed off, staring at her sword—which was stuck halfway through the hay dummy. Not only was it not a clean cut... it was stuck.