"No" I said politely.
I wasn't ready to drop the armor I didn't trust anyone like that.
"If I wanted to hurt you it wouldn't take much" she said her eyes glowing.
A green energy flared only to get sucked back into her body before she abruptly stopped and went back to normal.
That mana purity was on par with Rumi, I had no chance at all.
She was right, besides I reeked something unholy.
What made it even more believable was the thought that I had nothing she wanted.
I untied my armor from my belt and lifted it over my head making Kata wrinkle her nose.
I placed my bag and my sword along with my cloak on the side and began to strip.
What Kata saw next wiped the playful smile from her face and made her cover her mouth with her hand.
A tapestry of scars that documented my life was on full display.
My arms had scars from where bones broke and I forced them back in to heal properly.
knees and legs had scars from climbing and falling, my shoulders from carrying packs.
Deep cuts all over my body from combat that didn't heal properly.
On my chest the deep gash from fighting the wolves when I was younger.
I picked up my blade and headed into the water placing it behind me on the wall as I rinsed the grime off my body.
I kept my eye on my bag but she never touched it only picking up my shoes, clothes and cloak before walking up the hill leaving me alone.
'Pervert' I whispered while soaking in the water.
She came back down shortly with white robes folded neatly, and a cup of something fragrant that sat on top of the clothes.
Mana made the cup rise and float towards me.
It was a soap of some kind, the first I have seen in this world.
I sighed as I rubbed it into my hair that was growing back.
After washing I put on the clothes finding them to be too baggy but five slips of white cloth allowed me to tie the excess to my wrists and legs using the last one around my waist.
I looked uniform to the other children.
I slipped on some brown sandals and headed back up finding Kata with her arms folded in front of her ample chest.
She walked to her left further into the large boulder until we reached another area furnished with Um bones and hides from different beasts.
Unlike the other cavern I was in this one had low ceilings.
"You are young and I can see your at the core condensation stage".
She sat down and touched on an array on the chair and a thin beam of mana was sent out going into the wall.
"I don't know what that even means" I said shaking my head while remaining standing.
"Sit down" she said pointing at the floor next to her.
I went over and sat cross legged.
This was more hospitality then I was prepared for.
"What did they tell you about mana"? she asked while crossing her legs.
I began to recite the story of the 'big bang' and how life was created for purpose of utilizing mana for the gods sake.
She listened silently until I was finished.
"What do you think about that"? she asked while a few people came in with a hot plate of food and a jar of nectar.
My stomach was growling the whole time and she pretended to not hear it, but as soon as the scent of the food came the noise was echoing in the wide toom and my cheeks looked like they sunk in even further than they already have.
But my eyes didn't leave hers, "I think it's a load of nonsense".
She smiled even brighter and told them to place the food in front of me in her language.
"Your a smart boy Ambrose... but that can be a bad thing where you are going" she sighed and peered at me trying to see through me.
"What they tell you is what they tell all the followers, followers are those that are recruited into the Association to serve one of it's founding houses".
"For example House Kiseson which I'm sure you have heard of" I nodded still not eating the food.
"They bring in young children from across Zefria usually they only need one per region but at times none survive the trial of reachi-"
"Would you eat the food already your stomach is offending me" she said scowling.
I didn't have to be told twice I dug right in starting with the jug of nectar downing it and stuffing my face.
The juices from the vegetables and fruit made me moan out loud involuntarily.
This made Katas mouth twitch.
"As I was saying... They come to the Association and are further tested and divided up by house. those who fail to reach core condensation are deemed as coreless mages and sent back to wherever they came from".
"Those who excel are taught mana manipulation, if they reach the foundation establishment stage they are no longer bound by any House only the Association".
"Those who don't reach foundation establishment only have hundreds of years of servitude to look forward to".
She paused letting the words sink in slowly.
I didn't stop chewing, with my mouth full, staring wide eyed at her.
'Now this sounds more like it' I thought.
That fairy tale bull about serving the gods sounded like something out of a Kool-Aid party.
"Core condensing is what it sounds like, creating a well of mana within yourself".
"Not many can do this only one in twenty children have the potential and one in ten of those will actually accomplish it, some even die in the process".
"I don't understand, how will they die"?
She looked at me silently for a moment, "You didn't feel it? Didn't your body heat up and it feel like it was melting when you condensed your core"?
I remained silent not knowing how to answer.
The first time I condensed my core I was in the womb and felt nothing, the second time it was a relief as too much energy was being accumulated in a small body.
After moment of silence where all she heard was my mouth chewing she continued.
"Which brings me to foundation establishment, only one out of one hundred core mages will ever reach foundation establishment, that is when your body begins the process of making you one with your mana core".
"Have you ever seen red energy rushing around your body when you get hurt or are in a dangerous situation"?
I nodded slowly.
She leaned over still looking me in the eye she bit her palm and instead of red blood a thick dark green liquid dripped out and hung in the air.
With a few hand signs the green blood under my astonishment shaped itself into an array that looked like a flower with seven petals.
She closed her fist and a perfectly round fireball appeared.
"Foundation establishment means to awaken an energy that helps to bind your mana core, this energy is called Aura".