The X Guide-Chapter 125: A Mother’s Curse (2)

Finally, the mother could not suppress it any longer, and her tears streamed down her cheeks. She was extremely unwilling to part with her child.

She did not want her child to fade just like she did.

It was selfish of her to take the decision into her own hands. Perhaps, someday, her child would resent her for what she was about to do.

She only hoped that her child would not become too lonely.

Sometimes, a mother’s love was also overwhelming.

Ayen could feel it even more. The raw emotions that stemmed from not wanting her child to perish with her. Even if it was not a good decision.

Were parents like that? Or was the woman only one of the few?

Or... his parents were ones different? Ayen could not answer that on his own.

The mother landed a firm kiss on her child’s forehead, and a lone tear fell in the corner of her eye.

All the hesitations and apprehensions were set aside.

For this final moment.

It was not a gift.

But... a curse.

"I’m sorry," the woman cried and cupped her child’s face.

The child frowned slightly. "Mom, you’re so, cold."

The woman merely smiled.

"It’s fine. Mom’s fine..."

Ayen’s eyes narrowed; alarm rose within him. He could not help but glance at Devion and Khal. They were also wearing a solemn expression, seemingly taken aback.

The two sensed Ayen’s gaze and quickly understood his confusion.

If Ayen sensed it, then they must have sensed it too.

"She’s stimulating her wavelength to do something," Khal commented. His tone was also laced with interest besides his confusion.

"Bu, what is she doing?" Devion asked.

Neither of them could answer that, and they could only watch the scene.

Ayen had sensed when the woman activated her wavelength, her mana surging and spreading through her body.

Was she about to use her ability?

Under their curious gaze, the woman’s mana poured into the child. It was not a simple connecting of wavelengths, which was impossible to begin with, unless one of them was a guide.

Her mana was actually shifting and being transferred from her to the child.

"Huh?" Ayen could not help but exclaim. He did not know what she was doing, but he had a feeling it was extremely dangerous.

Khal and Devion furrowed their brows. Devion looked more confused while Khal was lost in his thoughts, as though trying to guess what the woman was doing.

Soon, Khal’s eyes widened when a thought clicked inside him.

Could it be...

"What is it?" Devion asked; he perceived that Khal had finally recalled something. "Do you know what she is doing?"

Ayen also turned to them; he could hear their words. His eyes focused on Khal and waited for his answer.

"Mutation." Khal paused with a solemn expression. "The woman has a mutated mana wavelength."

Light flashed in both of their eyes, and they immediately understood. Ayen was also familiar with the term, Mutant Espers. This was not something powerful or taboo in the world; they were coined like that because of their mutated mana wavelength that gave them powerful but strange abilities.

It was not so powerful either, at least much more powerful than those of the same rank, but not really overpowered. However, it was extremely rare.

The downsides were also the reason no one envies mutant espers. While their abilities had the possibility to exceed their rank, their bodies accumulated mana toxins faster.

Mutant Espers were more susceptible to losing control. Their lifespan was also greatly reduced; reaching their late forties was already a miracle.

In a way, it was called an awakening defect. However, the most unique abilities espers came from them.

"She’s using her ability," Khal then pointed out, and the two quickly turned to the scene again.

Ayen could not tell what her ability was or how it contributed to the birth of an anomaly.

The child had already felt that something was really wrong with her mother and cried. "Mom, why are you, so cold? Mom..." The child tugged at his mother again.

The woman’s face was now so pale; most of her features had dulled. Her lips were devoid of any color, and the color of her pupils also faded significantly.

The shade of her hair was fading in the same manner.

Ayen could even compare him to that of a living corpse, one who suffered a horrible death.

She embraced her child and tightly held the child’s head to her chest so as not to let him see her face. The child would be terrified.

"Don’t be afraid... Mom’s here..." The woman gritted her teeth, and the mana from inside her continuously surged out from her.

Ayen sighed, feeling so heavy.

"She’s... sacrificing her life, isn’t she?" Ayen asked for confirmation, but he knew that the guess was correct.

They both nodded.

"Her ability..." Devion paused and looked at Khal, who finished his sentence.

"It’s related to mana disturbances."

That was the only explanation. The woman’s ability stemmed from a mana disturbance; she was the source herself. While it was not impressive on its own, given the right situation, it was deadly.

She used a loophole and sacrificed her mana and lifespan.

Khal was not certain about the specifics; he had not encountered so many mutated espers before, much less someone who had the ability related to mana disturbances.

So, he could not answer how the woman managed to do it or the principle behind it.

"Mom?" The child sniffed and called her mom.

The woman was no different from a shriveled corpse; her appearance was absolutely terrifying. The child could feel his mother’s bones, and that made him panic.

His mother did not let go and embraced him more tightly.

It was not enough.

Ayen could see such an expression in the woman’s eyes. Despite her becoming skin and bones and the light in her eyes fading, the determination shone through and affected Ayen.

His heart stirred; it was both painful and moving.

A mother’s sacrifice.

It turned out...

Mothers were all different.