Bund gives me an exasperated sigh after handing me the first portion of the payment.
For the sake of his purse, we agreed to make three installments.
"It will be in a month; they have already challenged the Hunters Guild, as far as anyone is concerned you are just a nameless hunter".
Before walking out, I ask, "How did you know"?
He gives me a knowing smile. "Your kills are too clean," he says, echoing in my mind.
I closed the door gently, 'note to self be more paranoid.'
Back at the lake, I go into another round of healing, siphoning mana crystals like a drop in a giant bucket.
My mana core is the bucket.
Only I had this problem, as Isla was developing faster than I ever had.
If I compare us, one could say Mana loved her.
All she had to do was close her eyes and meditate; it would flow to her like it was its child cocooning her.
I had to meditate for a long while to get a good flow going, and it was nothing like hers.
Instead of absorbing mana stones into my core, I let the energy seep into my body, which was being damaged.
I had opened the volute to four percent of the diameter.
I was baptized by electricity daily and even added small fireballs around me when resistance was built.
Isla has started training at night and hunting during the day because I consume so much food.
We needed to keep on the hunt constantly.
It was another week into training when I was slammed to the ground by Isla.
But this time, I didn't lose my conscience.
I got up, ready to go again, but I twisted my ankle when I fell and didn't notice because of the adrenaline.
Instead of calling it quits, I tackle Isla to the ground, and rain punches from above.
She flexed her midsection and kicked out with her knee, attempting to roll me over, and she succeeded as our positions switched.
She began her assault, smashing her mana-enforced fists, beating my arms that were guarding me until they were bruised and nearly broken.
I stifle the pain, boxing it up and neatly putting it away somewhere in my mind where I won't ever look at it again.
A habit built to maintain my sanity.
She notices my distress and swiftly gets off me.
I crawl to the electrical field, circulating my energy through my body.
I had already laid a pile of mana stones beforehand.
My mana circulation this time was different.
I could feel every pore in my body condensing every time I inhaled.
Every time I exhaled, I could see a deep red fog come out of my mouth and then be drawn back in when I inhaled.
It was a deep vermillion color, barely existing in my body for a moment before dissipating.
The bruises, this time, healed at a visible rate, taking minutes instead of hours.
Letting out a moan of ecstasy, a content smile plays on my lips from the orgasmic feeling.
From the outside looking in, you would see patches of burnt skin being healed rapidly, a smile on my face making me look like a masochist.
The red energy produced acted as a direct stimulant for my cells.
It was much weaker than mana, but my body reacted like a sponge soaking in every drop.
Continuing this cycle of absorption and repair until I could not take it anymore
Two hours after healing, I ate everything that we had
Isla had made mushroom poultry that she didn't even get to taste.
"I'm sorry, let's go hunting," I apologize.
"About time," she muttered.
It was close to night when we got out.
I felt different and didn't know what it was until I took a deep breath. The craving was gone.
It smelt like plant oils and soil; the sweet smell of evening wafted into my nose.
I closed my eyes and sent my mana to feel what I could sense. I could feel blades of grass, rocks, fish, and water in the lake clearer than ever.
The already extensive range of the mana increased, but not by much.
Our hunt that night was ruthless and efficient.
We headed west for over twenty miles, clearing that distance in an hour.
I softened the ground with mana by removing all the hard rocks in my way.
I direct the wind's energy to propel myself and use mana to connect all my joints, forming a smooth-moving exoskeleton.
It feels like the world is bending for me.
Maintaining my gate, I blast past Isla, the wind blowing through my hair.
I looked like a shiny beacon of light, and the energy flowed out of me as I sprinted.
We hunted with wild fervor that night and went a little past our hunting route, but that was not an issue.
I could not hold myself back I needed food and mana rich beast meat is the best nourishment for a growing boy.
I even brought fish from a river, hoping they would grow and populate my lake.
When we returned to the construct, we stored our rations and continued training; the skiles had been freed long ago.
The large one stuck around, surviving on its own near the lake.
Instead of ramping up the current, I stretch in the electric field.
It doesn't burn my skin but leaves a sharp pain that convulses my muscles.
I make sure to expose my whole body to the current.
Isla watched me as I dipped my back into a downward dog position and stretched thoroughly.
My enhanced body makes the movements smooth and mechanical.
I won't turn up the current for another two days before I pick up my sparring sessions with Isla.
I am still getting beaten every single time.
But with each spar, my time lasted just a bit longer.
I could last a whole minute without needing a mana crystal.
I was always on the defense the whole time; it helped that Isla held back with every strike.
The following week passed like this, and as the date drew closer to my match and mana stone payout, the stones I had on hand were running out.
My mana core was like a bottomless pit of energy. No matter how much I stored, nothing changed.
We brought our hides to Bund again, and for the first time, I think I saw him twitch when I handed him another portion of the payment.
"When do I get my final payment"? I asked him.
"Come here after the match and I will arrange everything".
He said through clenched teeth.
"And when do you plan on taking care of this Livet family"?
"I won't give them time to retaliate, " Bund replies, sensing my concern.
"As soon as the match has started, we will raid the compound and secure all their property."
'These guys are probably more worried about the mana stones and raw materials they accumulated, the slave's lives be damned,' I thought.
"You aren't waiting until the match is over? I asked.
I don't know where this faith in my combat prowess comes from; for all he knew, someone else could feed me these pelts and meat.
"Should I be waiting for the match to end"? He asked, looking for a reason to pay less.
"You'll get what you paid for.." I left the room, leaving Bund to grind his teeth again.
The match was tomorrow, and I didn't want to risk staying at the inn, in case it was leaked that I was the one fighting they would try and attack me.
Even if I retaliated and fought back, they would accuse me of being the aggressor.
How could Bund's name deal with centuries worth of persecution?
I camp outside in the forest, which is not too far away. My paranoia is usually unfounded, but today, it bore fruit.
Twenty-one figures with the Livet house crest on their armor, a ball with rays surrounding it, making it look like a childish picture of the sun, probably depicting a mana core.
Instead of waiting for them to come to us, Isla and I started the offensive.
I drew them into her traps built with the iron wires and doubled back around.
While she attacked them directly after using the element of surprise, I cut off the retreat and slaughtered them quickly.
Isla has no qualms about slaying these men, using mana for the first time to flood their eyes and mouth, crushing them from the inside.
After the initial rush, where we flooded the area with energy, the runners fell into our traps.
It was a massacre, but only because we were prepared, I stress to Isla how these people could be us on any given day.
"I hate this…" Isla said as we sat at the campfire.
I say nothing; I know what she means.
She sees how Terrans lives and thinks their life has more potential for happiness than hers.