A creature resembling a porcupine, with scaly skin and razor-sharp spines, hissed as it charged at the zebras, launching a barrage of tiny quills that cut through the air with a dull whistle. Its jagged claws tore at the ground, and its bloodshot, fierce eyes tracked their every movement, waiting for the moment to strike again.

One of the zebras, a tall and sturdy stallion, raised a hoof, and a phantom bear appeared beside him, glowing with a dense, pulsating light. The bear dropped onto its forepaws, blocking the creature's path. Sensing danger, it snarled, baring long fangs.

The phantom beast’s heavy paw slammed down, pinning the monster to the ground, forcing it to pause for a second. Seizing the moment, the other two zebras stepped forward, their own spirit beasts—a panther and an eagle—emerging onto the field, attacking in unison.

The panther circled the foe gracefully, its predatory eyes flashing in rhythm with each attack, claws slicing into the beast’s scales, preventing it from rising again. The eagle soared high, trailing a blinding light before swooping down, wings spread wide, aiming at the creature’s head. Its hiss mixed with a final death cry as, pierced by the eagle’s beak, it collapsed to the ground, frozen in its last grimace.

The zebras sighed in relief, sinking to the ground in exhaustion. Their sides were scraped raw, every part of their bodies ached in protest, and the embedded quills turned them into walking pin cushions.

Soon, the phantom beasts returned to their masters, melding smoothly into their bodies and fading into tattoos that now lay calm on their battered flanks.

The zebras exchanged glances, each seemingly hearing the same thought: “We need to get out of this damned forest.”

Today had been a dreadful day—one that felt cursed, with attack after attack. Though the trophies were valuable, a single look at their injuries made it clear they’d be at a loss no matter what.

“Let’s call it a day,” sighed the stallion who commanded the phantom bear. “These quills are worth something… we can count that as luck.”

The two zebras plucking quills from their hides rolled their eyes but said nothing. He was right: the day was ending, and it was time to find a safe place for the night; tomorrow, they would resume their search. They had a few days left here to gather enough alchemical ingredients before the long trek back to the nearest settlement.

They had barely reached for their healing potions when a soft rustling sound came from the forest. Instantly, all three tensed, rising quickly and turning toward the noise.

“Apologies if I startled you; I was just passing by,” a calm voice came from the shadows of the trees. “I need help.”

The words relaxed them just enough to keep from attacking instantly, though they remained wary.

A figure emerged from behind a tree, wrapped from head to toe in heavy cloth, so unexpectedly that the zebras glanced at each other in confusion. Then it hit them: they’d seen this face only a few hours ago, on a wanted poster! A face they remembered in every detail.

The tattoos on their flanks flashed, ready for a summoning, but a sharp pain pierced down their spines, and they collapsed to the ground, paralyzed.

Their vision began to blur, and soon they sank into darkness.

Of course, Alexei had been the one guiding the beasts to wear them down, exhausting their strength for this moment. While the zebras fought the monster, he lay hidden in the forest, growing a hollow tentacle, compressing air inside it, and shooting a tiny tendril into each of them. Amid the chaos of battle and the storm of quills, the zebras hadn’t noticed a thing.

Nor did they notice as the tendrils burrowed into their bodies, reaching their spines to temporarily paralyze their nervous systems, forcing them into unconsciousness. No spell necessary.

“Not bad at all,” Alexei thought to himself, stepping closer to the motionless bodies. “Now I’m a mage, but with pneumatic weaponry… or is it biological?”

Suddenly, a piercing headache tore through his mind, like lightning splitting his very self apart. It surged, transforming into a storm that shattered everything in its path. Alexei doubled over, clutching his temples, stifling a silent scream desperate to escape. Waves of agony struck him again and again, knocking his senses as hot blood dripped from his nose.

He grimaced, attempting to suppress the flash of pain searing through his head, but it was useless—the usual trick to dull sensations wasn’t working. Time, however, wouldn’t wait.

Pulling himself together, he quickly erased the battle’s traces, tossing the bodies of the zebras and the quilled beast into the void of a pocket dimension.

After half an hour spent finding a suitable layer, he finally opened a rift to the Depths. At that moment, his anxiety was crushed by resolve: the time for real experiments had come.

Time flowed faster in the Depths than on Equus, a convenient factor for him, but it also meant that his core was nearing collapse even more quickly. The intensifying headache refused to leave him, a constant reminder of the approaching crisis.

“Grandmother Nadira,” Celestia smiled, embracing her tightly as if they hadn’t seen each other in ages. “What brings you here? I thought you…”

“Thought I’d kicked the bucket already?” The zebra snorted, gently but skillfully nudging the princess aside. “And since when am I your grandmother? I’m younger than you… well, by a bit.”

Celestia laughed, making no attempt to argue. This nickname, “Grandmother,” was more of a secret title, a mark of respect she held for the zebra. After all, it was Nadira who had once foretold the return of Nightmare Moon, along with countless other major events. She was a great seer, only a few decades younger than Celestia herself, and her ability to peer into the future had, no doubt, contributed to her long life. Who knew what methods and secret longevity techniques she’d uncovered in her travels?

But Nadira herself looked nothing like an ancient, wise oracle. She was a zebra with vibrant blue eyes, saddlebags barely hanging onto her sides, and a red scarf that looked as though it had accompanied her on every wild road across the world.

Breaking free of Celestia’s embrace, Nadira turned her gaze to Luna, who stood a little apart.

“Glad to see you’re all right,” her gaze softened, and a faint warmth surfaced in her eyes. “Prophecies can be so vague…”

“It’s all thanks to you,” Luna replied quietly, bowing slightly. “I will repay my debt to you. If you need anything…”

“Then bring me something to eat,” the zebra chuckled, cutting her off. “I’m as hungry as a pack of manticores.”

“As if it’s our fault,” Celestia rolled her eyes with a sigh. “Who made you tease my guards? You could have just sent a signal.”

“Too boring,” Nadira replied with a pleased smile. “You just don’t know how to have fun, Tia.”

The alicorns merely shook their heads, resigned to the eccentric seer’s antics.

At Celestia’s signal, the servants began setting out dishes, and soon the table was laden with every delicacy royal kitchens could offer. Fortunately, becoming an alicorn meant not only gaining powerful abilities but also an endless appetite.

The zebra immediately dove into the food, like a manticore indeed, playfully teasing Celestia and telling Luna amusing stories along the way. The princesses tried to maintain their royal composure as their striped guest happily devoured dish after dish.

When all was eaten, Nadira leaned back with a satisfied sigh.

The princesses exchanged glances, and Luna, with a slight shrug, gestured for her sister to take the lead.

“So… why are you here?” Celestia began, trying to sound welcoming yet with a hint of curiosity. “We’re always glad to see you, but…”

“Don’t worry, nothing terrible has happened,” Nadira waved a hoof, licking her lips and eyeing the empty table like a victor. “I’ll help you with finding Cadance. That cloaking artifact has caused you trouble, hasn’t it?”

“We’re in your debt,” Celestia sighed in relief. “With you, finding her will be much easier. You arrived so quickly that…”

“Actually, I’m not here because of her,” Nadira slowly shook her head, lifting a glass of juice to her lips.

The princesses exchanged worried looks, sensing a strange unease. The zebra seemed in no hurry to continue, which only added to the tension.

“Then… why?” Celestia finally broke the silence.

“I’m not entirely sure myself,” Nadira replied thoughtfully, staring into the rippling orange juice. “But I feel a prophecy coming soon.”

The stallion felt a pang in his heart as he looked at his magical core, encircled by a single ring that marked the first rank.

Clenching his teeth, he exhaled slowly and focused. As if obeying his singular thought, the ring disintegrated with a faint hiss, shattering his protection. In an instant, the core cracked and dimmed, and a surge of powerful energy shot through his body. The stallion cried out, collapsing to the ground, blood streaming from his ears and nostrils, staining the earth red. Breathing heavily, he lay there, drained and exhausted.

A hand gently lifted his head, tilting his jaw, and poured a cold liquid into his mouth. He coughed as some of the potion went down the wrong way, involuntarily swallowing the rest, tasting its bitter flavor. Gradually, his breathing steadied, and his wounds began to close.

Lifting his head, he saw a man intently studying some papers.

Turning his head, he noticed his companions, locked in cages. The mares watched him anxiously, silent but with eyes full of quiet support. His nostrils flared, and anger boiled in his chest at the thought of the one responsible for their captivity—this…

“I think you’ve recovered,” a voice came from behind, startling the stallion.

“Yes,” he replied hoarsely, swallowing as he turned to face the man, who was now looking at him. “What am I supposed to do next?”

“Study this,” Alexei said with a slight smile, handing him three folded sheets of paper. “Please, be thorough. It’s in your best interest.”

The stallion’s eyes skimmed the pages. The sheets detailed a mental meditation technique, complete with notes and commentary, explaining potential challenges and how to overcome them.

He knew they were being used as test subjects, but he could do nothing about it: since their awakening, they had lost their tattoos, their belongings were confiscated, and they were under the effects of a strange poison. But this meditation technique could be their chance to break free. If he could master it, he might use the new strength against this man.

Alexei was particularly impressed by the zebras’ attitude. For the first time since arriving in this world, he hadn’t had to resort to threats, tricks, or force. Once the zebras awakened and realized their situation, they quickly composed themselves and began cooperating with him.

“Reputation really does open many doors,” Alexei mused inwardly.

Perhaps it was due to the leaflet, or maybe it was their heightened intuition that allowed them to sense danger and hostile auras. The zebras clearly felt something was off about him. They looked at him with the same awe and apprehension that he himself felt toward those colossal monsters from the Depths.

An hour later, the stallion had memorized the technique and internalized the mental energy control diagrams, feeling prepared for the next step. Setting the sheets aside, he looked up at Alexei, who sat in the shadow of a black tree looming ominously behind him. The mere proximity of this tree made the stallion’s fur stand on end.

“Do you remember your promise?” the stallion asked quietly, watching the man.

“Of course,” Alexei replied with a serious nod. “If everything goes well, I’ll release you. But I’ll have to erase your memories of what happened here.”

“If I manage to do this…” the stallion said, gritting his teeth, “then at least release them.”

“Then do your best,” Alexei smirked, staring intently at the zebra. “Did you really believe what was written there? ‘Alive only,’ ha! I happened upon a few secrets, and the alicorns want to get their hooves on them, so they slandered me. I’m no monster.”

The stallion might not know the whole truth, but he doubted the accusations were entirely false.

It wasn’t just the tentacles or the ominous black trees. One look at this man sent a chill down the stallion’s spine. What unsettled him even more were the man’s eyes: there was no anger, no other emotion—only an endless, terrifying void.

Settling himself comfortably, the stallion closed his eyes and allowed his mind to sink into ringing emptiness. Whispering the first steps under his breath, he began to channel mental energy, creating fine streams that flowed precisely along the described patterns. He felt his energy swirling and coalescing into a single, tiny point in the core of his soul.

Bright and radiant, this point quivered momentarily before stabilizing, and the stallion exhaled in relief. Though unfamiliar with mental energy techniques, the experience reminded him of the early steps in creating a magical core.

Sinking into a trance-like state, he guided the mental energy rhythmically, forming a ring of gray smoke around the core, wisps drifting toward his face, slowly obscuring his features and turning him into a faceless figure.

Alexei stood nearby, observing the process with a pleased smile. Everything was proceeding as planned—the modified technique, which he’d painstakingly refined day and night, was finally bearing fruit.

Despite concerns over a potential conflict between magical and mental energy, so far, things looked smooth. The stallion had passed through the necessary stages: breaking the previous technique had weakened his magical core, allowing mental energy to take the place of magic. That was the fundamental basis.

Magic stemmed from two sources: magical and mental energy. If magical energy served as fuel, mental energy provided direction, like a command directing the source of power. As long as one energy dominated, they worked in harmony, but developing both simultaneously was a risky endeavor. Few could balance both energies, and only exceptional beings, like Luna, possessed the strength to create two distinct cores.

Zebras, however, possessed potent mental energy, inherent from birth; their heightened senses gave them a remarkable advantage.

Thanks to potions made from creatures of the Depths, the mental energy of this stallion had reached a level sufficient for forming a complete mental core. Alexei understood that this rapid enhancement and the type of ingredients used would have consequences for the stallion, but that wasn’t his concern.

Watching the silent, trance-immersed stallion, Alexei touched his chin thoughtfully, then decided to prepare dinner—there was nothing more he could do for now except wait.

Time passed, but the stallion remained in his trance, with gray wisps of smoke continuing to mask his face.

Alexei routinely checked the zebra’s condition, but when nothing changed, he merely shrugged and went back to his usual tasks.

He continued moving between Equus and the Depths, monitoring the stallion and supporting his companions.

His presence went unnoticed—caution was second nature to him. Even with the bounty leaflet out, Alexei knew he was safe. He had prudently erased all traces of his mental energy in the Crystal Empire and removed any possible blood evidence. The alicorns had nothing on him!

Otherwise, they would have attached an energy sample to the leaflet. Even the portrait was useless for identifying him, as he could alter his appearance. Sure, visiting populated areas had become risky due to bounty hunters and those who might see through his disguise, but Alexei accepted that as an obvious part of the game.

On the fourth day, as Alexei had just immersed himself in a book, the gray smoke suddenly dissipated from the stallion’s face, and he collapsed to the ground, exhausted as if waking from a deep sleep.

Alexei rose and approached him, but the stallion suddenly opened his eyes, froze for a moment, then roared like an enraged bear and tried to strike him with his hoof.

The stallion posed no real threat to Alexei, and it was easy for him to restrain and subdue the furious zebra.

Using mental energy, he carefully scanned the stallion.

“In a way, it’s a success,” Alexei murmured thoughtfully, raising an eyebrow after a while. “There are still a few issues with the technique, but it’s not just that…”

Alexei cast a calm glance at the stallion, then shifted his gaze to the zebras in the cages. In the end, he still needed more data for success—and the resources were right within reach.

Author's Note

Nadira

The pace has slowed down a bit, and the last two chapters have been rather everyday, haven’t they? Wrong! Don’t you feel it? This is the calm before the storm! Now, onto the main announcement.

Dear readers,

I’m incredibly thrilled that we’ve been having more regular updates recently and that the story is gaining new depth, thanks to your active involvement and support. Your responses inspire me to keep going, giving me the strength to create quality chapters more frequently, so everyone can enjoy this world.

Today, I’d like to share some news with you—I’ve created a page on Boosty! It was not an easy step, but I realized that with your support, I can not only improve the regularity of chapter releases but also expand the possibilities of the story and develop the plot in greater detail.

What is Boosty, anyway? Well, essentially, it's similar to Patreon.

What does this mean for you?
Chapters will still be available for free. Boosty is just an option for those who want to access new chapters early and support the story directly. Your subscriptions will help me dedicate more time to writing and work on enhancing the quality.

For subscribers, I also plan to add some enjoyable perks: early access to chapters, an invitation to the Discord server, and unique materials that I won’t be able to release publicly.

For anyone who wants to support—here’s my Boosty. Subscribing is entirely optional, and even without it, you’ll always remain an essential part of this story.

Thank you for joining me on this journey! None of this would be possible without you. I hope that together, we can create something even greater.

With gratitude and respect,
Serene Wish.

P.S. Discord might be a bit... rough around the edges at the moment. I created it just a few minutes ago, but content will be added there soon.