Villain's Second Heart: Trapped in A Fantasy Novel (BL)-Chapter 57: Mentor Magic

When Oberyn finally popped his head out of the room, he saw Rav immediately, but didn't catch any sign of Ezra.

He retreated back inside for a while, but the next time he did so, it was the same.

"He's gone," Rav said casually, not even bothering to turn toward Oberyn. "Good morning, sleepyhead. Must have had quick the night, hm?"

"Yeah, we stayed up late," Oberyn said. "I learned a lot."

"Hm, hm. I'm sure you did."

Rav peeked over his shoulder. Oberyn, surprisingly, was fully dressed, wearing one of the outfits Rav picked out for him at Asteria.

"Don't you look adorable!" Rav purred. "Of all the days you picked to wear clothes, though...a shame."

"W-what do you mean? Why would you say it like that!?"

"It's absolutely sweltering, can't you feel it? Oh, and since Ezra's gone, I'd have had you all to myself. Less fun when you're dressed. But, at least it's a cute outfit, and one I picked out for you myself!"

Oberyn crossed his arms and turned his body away from Rav.

"All in good fun," Rav hummed. "Say, we spoke the other day about your Magician training. I'd love to get started on that. Ezra is out until dinner time - went to kill some monsters. What say I teach you some things, hm?"

Oberyn grasped at the front of his shirt, lost in thought.

"I shouldn't be using my mana. Not while -"

"Don't you worry about that one bit, little man, for the ability I want to teach you is only going to help with your...situation."

Rav floated up from the couch and landed softly on the ground a few steps in front of Oberyn.

"Maybe it's because you're, well, explosive - but your mana is out of control. I've never seen anything like it. No idea how they let you out of basic training. With mana control like that, it's no surprise the curse has you beat. But I, the Great Sage of the Clouds, happen to be peerless when it comes to mana control. The best there ever was! Look it up."

"So, are you looking to gloat about your accomplishments, or to help me?"

"Help, of course. From one Magician to another. We've got to look out for each other, hm?"

"The only other Magician I've interacted with recently tried to kill me - and she almost succeeded."

Oberyn shivered. Just thinking about Marxie, the Magician of Crystal, made his skin crawl.

"Well, don't count those Asteria slouches. None of them are worth their bread or butter or whatever the saying is. None except that Marxie, hoo-boy. Now that's a Magician I would never want to fight against."

"Yeah, she's the one who tried to kill me."

Rav blinked. "Oh, you sweet thing. If Marxie tried to kill you, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Her magic is a close second to mine."

Rav flicked his fan into the air, catching it with his tail and tucking it away. He held out both of his hands, palms up, toward Oberyn.

"Come, come along now," Rav beckoned. Hands on mine. Let me see what we're working with."

Oberyn stared at Rav's hands for a moment before gulping down his pride and obeying Rav's instruction. As the two touched, their respective magical powers activated. Oberyn was engulfed in a orange, explosive glow, while wispy white clouds began to churn around Rav.

Rav closed his eyes, reading the flow of Oberyn's magic with quiet curiosity.

It was different than Rav imagined it would be. The power was calm, steady - but with an irregular beat that flared up and down in an erratic, arhythmic pattern. It was a profound disturbance unlike anything Rav had felt prior.

Rav pulled his hands away slowly, his finger tips catching on Oberyn's as he slid away. The cocky grin that was ever-present on Rav's face faded.

"Well?" Oberyn asked.

Rav fidgeted with no fan in his hands to distract him.

"Well, uh, you see..."

"Out with it!"

The way Oberyn looked at him, so expectant, so desperate - Rav hated to be the one to put that expression on his face.

For a split second, he considered lying. Playing it off. But even he wasn't that much of a bastard.

Rav exhaled sharply. "If you can believe it, you have ANOTHER curse on you. One that's making your mana all...unstable, chaotic. Some might even say... Dangerous?"

"That's impossible, I think I'd know if I was cursed."

Rav clicked his tongue. "Yeah. Well. This curse has been on you for at least a year."

Ezra couldn't believe the words. Nothing Rav said made any sense.

"You're obviously mistaken, Rav. A year ago, I was still on the moon. I -"

A curse. One that made his mana erratic. Dangerous.

His mind descended into a million possibilities.

Was it possible that this curse was the reason he was outcast from the moon? If the curse could be cleansed, could he return?

Could he see Tiana again...?

Oberyn clutched his arm. How could be be thinking of Tiana still? After everything that happened between he and Ezra yesterday, it felt wrong. Like even thinking about her was disloyal to Ezra.

And yet, his heart stung whenever he looked at the moon. Any thought of her brought the pain flooding back.

He wasn't over Tiana. Deep down, his heart was still on the moon. He had loved her, after all. Planned to get married. Perhaps even have children with her...

Oberyn forced himself back on track.

"If what you say is true, Rav...then I was cursed on the moon. But that seems impossible. I wasn't even a Magician a year ago. Who could have -"

"I surely don't know. Not even I can fly that high - not like I could ask your lunar buddies which one of them strapped you with a curse."

Rav glanced to the horizon, his mind drifting for only a moment. Oberyn was far from the only person to have a curse from home...

"It doesn't matter HOW many curses you have - my technique is the best! Allow me to teach you the Great Sage's signature technique - Mana Breathing!"

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.