Solo Cultivation in The Apocalypse

Hitori teleported them to the fort\'s backside, then he carried Roen while straining his muscles, to a safe place near the fence– at least safe enough to rest for a while.

Cause the news of an intruder invading Onogi\'s house and trying to kill him, but ending up leaving him unconscious, was spreading to everybody.

Although no one could recognize them even if they see them, Hitori and Reon looked like they came straight out of a battle, and that would raise suspicion.

The fence was sparking with electricity and the guards were on a round, but they were hiding behind trees, deep into the woods near the fence that connected to the forest.

Hitori placed Reon on the ground, she released her hands and made herself comfortable. Then Hitori took out the potions he collected before jumping off the seventh floor.

Hitori gulped down the mana and two healing potions. Then he drew his wand, got close to her, and healed her wounds around the corners of her mouth.

She looked into his eyes, but he concentrated on her wounds. "I knew you would come. Thanks."

"If you had told me sooner, I would not have just come, I would have come with backup," he said.

That made her guilty. She thought this was her fault again. "But… I think it was amazing," she said.

Hitori frowned, stopped healing her, and looked into her eyes. Now she was looking into the sky and not his eyes.

"You know, how you stormed his fortress alone and even managed to knock him." Blood dripped from her ears.

Hitori clicked his tongue. "I would like to look alive rather than cool."

"No, I mean…" she sighed, "thanks, Hitori."

He nodded. Hitori was done healing her, at least enough to stop her bleeding, he knew he had to take her to Eya the first thing after they enter the mage prefecture.

"Can you walk?" He asked.

"My legs are good, it is my face that hurts," she replied and tried to get up.

He was at his limit, so he decided to let her stand up on her own and was turning around when she grasped his hand, used it for support, and got up.

She limped, still using his hand for support. He froze, he did not know what to do, but the confusion last no longer.

He snapped his hand from her grasp, the jerk pulled her towards him, and she was falling over him.

"Oh, crap." He grabbed her shoulders and helped her stay on her balance.

"S-Sory," she said, pushing her hair behind her ear, realizing her mistake.

We don\'t have time for this, he said to himself. He looked at Reon, then glanced behind. We need to get out.

"See, I know you are a scientist and don\'t practice transfer of mana, but I still want you to help me teleport."

Her shy smile faded before it would even open. Teleport? She knew shit about it. How could he expect a scientist to use teleportation?

"W-What? I, I can\'t—"

He interrupted her, checking for the search squad. But safe.

"Fighting that bastard, then teleporting to the ground floor, then to the border, although I drank potions, I have not recovered. If we were trying to get– which we are– I would need your mana to help me. Or we will reach the city border at most and be stuck there till his men find us or the guards shoot us. We have no means of contacting for help without attracting attention, either," Hitori said, stopped, and took a deep breath.

Reon was put into a dilemma. She had never done it before and didn\'t expect the magic to work.

For them to get out, they had to teleport (since they were not spiderman and could not climb the damn wall) and she had to contribute her mana.

"But wait," she said, raising her hand, "do I have mana? Can I even use magic? I have never seen any scientist use magic before," she said.

Hitori shook his head. "Why do you think we, who are born into the mage family, carry mana? Because of genes? Everybody is born with mana in their blood, thanks to the apocalypse, but the reason is: that we cultivate our mana, use magic, and polish our skills.

"While the scientists stick to their artificial weapons– their mana never comes out and hence they think they don\'t have mana. That would be true for the future generation, though."

She stared at him and concluded: "So you mean I have mana, but since I have not practiced transforming it out of my body, it has corroded."

"Exactly!" he said. "And thanks to the shitty hate in our society, you have never seen a scientist using magic," he said. "So yeah, try it. You have to."

Reon gulped. It was like finding a hidden legacy for her, too much to comprehend.

"H-How do I teleport? What is the incantation?"

He smiled, she was pleased to see his smile. "Teleportation is not a spell, it is not a decision. It comes from the heart, if you are willing to, and have enough mana, you will teleport to a place you have been to."

"I don\'t follow…" Reon rubbed her cheek, it hurt where the mask had been.

"Imagine the place you want to go to in your heart, if it is done right, you will find yourself there when you open your eyes," Hitori explained.

"Huh? I, I don\'t—"

He clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. I can\'t believe I am doing this.

He grabbed her hand and said, "Imagine the woods behind my house," he ordered, "and you will see the magic."

She closed her eyes and did what she was told.

Hitori felt terrible, it was like someone sucking the energy out of him and he could not protest, he let the person suck his energy.

Let it work, he said, please let it happen, Reon!

He felt the jolt in his head and heard Reon shriek. Must be due to the unexpected jolt she felt when they had reached their destination.

The terrible feeling passed and Hitori started opening his eyes.

He could not see anything in the dark, but he felt a branch against his neck.

"A-Are we here? Was it possible?" He heard Reon by his side.

"I don\'t know…" Hitori said, "we might even be in the forest."

But the forest would have a lot of fog. When he turned to make sure, he got the feeling of someone staring at him, someone creeping behind him, and someone trying to protect him.

He sighed. "Yeah… this is the woods behind my house," he said, annoyed a little thanks to the annoying vibe of someone spying on him.