"Legend has it that back then the gods where close to us, living among us".
"It was a glorious time, the mana was so thick that the whole of Zefria felt like it was breathing".
"We never had to use arrays, a thought alone would suffice in shaping our mana however we deemed fit".
"No one knows when it happened, let alone how".
"First it was the trees, then the beasts and then the land itself lost its mana, as if a river had ran dry... it was called the mana less age".
"As time went on we humans who were once connected throughout all of Zefria under House Lum began to fight each other for food, land and mana".
"Lesser gods rose and fell, and the land split due to the battles taking place daily".
"And so the first Xian who was the apprentice of the gods bestowed their knowledge to the masses in an attempt to empower the righteous".
"Xians are humans with limitless lifespans who serve the gods Under Heaven, their kindness knows no bou-".
"Cut the crap and tell me about the array" I interrupted my eyes never leaving Jashas body leaning against the large root of the tree.
Gritting his teeth that are already cracked from what he called torture and I called pain compliance.
He began to tell me the stories passed down from one generation to the next.
"An array is a way for us to control the energy called mana, they are designed by the first Xians to use mana to mold mana".
"By bringing the energy to our hands and letting the flow synch with the mana core we are able to mold the mana to not just manipulate the world around us but to survive the harshest lands".
"Humans developed aura over time, due the scarcity of mana it seemed like a blessing from the gods and that they didn't completely abandon us".
"But they were wrong... so wrong, those who use mana are doomed to be consumed by their aura... it has been known as The Cursed Energy".
"Those like me who have condensed a mana core but no aura are considered to be fledgling mages with the most potential".
He paused and looked at me as if it mattered how valuable he was to his people.
"I use arrays to mold not my aura but the gods mana".
"Arrays are used to commune with the gods mana-".
"What is gods mana"? I asked softly.
"It is the pure mana that we draw in from all around us" it sounded like he was having a hard time talking as he began to wheeze.
I could see his body getting rid of my energy with every passing moment, but at the same time it was tiring him out.
"Arrays are categorized by what they can manipulate, the one I used was a land array, besides that there is fire, water and wind".
His energy was running out and his heavy breathing was a liability out here.
"Arrays are built to disperse the mana in a way that melds with the gods mana, Xian arrays can part oceans and break mountains".
"Can you imagine a being so powerful? know that you have wronged house Inka and that our God will come for you".
"When she finds you, you won't be able to do a thing".
"Our god is with us".
It was at this time that he accepted his fate.
His eyes glazed over and his breathing slowed.
He wasn't dead, he just lost his will to live.
A thick white tendril whipped out and dived into his diaphram and I made smaller tendrils connecting me to his brain.
I sifted through his memories, moving the tendrils to another part of the brain when the flow stopped, slowly building an image of his life.
I took my time, and Jasha died agonizingly slow.
Ava was greatly troubled by what I was doing and tried to contact me many times but I ignored her.
His words danced a Ballet in my mind.
If this was thin mana what about all the other worlds I have lived on?
These people have had religion forced down their throat for a reason, and I think it's to maintain the power structure.
Even a of bit of history couldn't be explained without bringing up the gods.
Something else that I couldn't help but focus on was the way he said 'Under Heaven' as if it was a thing not a place...
I meditated for an hour assimilating all these new thoughts and sensations.
It seemed like the rule of thumb was the closer the organism was to my biology the better the connection was.
Humans are clearer and readable where fish and beasts are like distant thoughts that are hard to recall.
I continued with my journey until sunrise making camp in a large tree in the middle of an area full of life.
After a few hours of rest I left my cloak behind and doubled back losing any persuers.
Sharpening the dagger thorghroly, I secured the bow and quiver and continued west.
I stopping only to wipe dirt and grime on myself to get rid of my stench.
Also the dung of predators acts as a deterrent.
'If these gods exist I am going to need to have a chat'.
If I can't die in peace then I will see what I can do about living forever.
Either way I needed to actively find a solution.
The thought of the blender made my knees weak but I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on what was at hand.
Landing softly on the ground I continue to run while keeping an eye out around me.
The best part about being in this jungle was that it was large, with plenty of space for predators to roam their own territory.
The bad news was that the deeper I get the more territorial they become.
I smoothly float above them or manuver around depending on the population and the species.
When I came across an area filled with thick Jun I immediately doubled back and went around eventually finding myself in a field of white flowers.
The mountain standing in the distance gave it a picturesque charm, I involuntarily took a deep breath.
I could tell it was much closer, I didn't know how long it would take but I didn't care.
Forward is the only path.
My senses are heightened to the limit but I see no beasts or any living creature not even rodents or lizards making my hairs rise.
For the first time since I slayed Jasha a few days ago, Ava wiggled out of her little vial and fell on the ground.
She began rolling around on the flower petal the odd thing was that the flower petals could be seen disappearing into the little silver blob.
I dropped to my stomach and continued to watch the little droplet devour these things.
I connected with her very lightly and felt her immediate satisfaction.
The hunger that she didn't even know she was feeling was being satiated by these white flower petals.
Even hunger was the wrong word for the sensation, I recognized it as the craving I had before my body started producing aura.
I had an explosion of questions as I watched her finish the petals and move on to the next.
Being so close to the wood line made me nervous so I picked up the flower she was devouring and moved us closer in.
The white flowers glowed in the moonlight, it's beauty would be captivating If I didn't know how dangerous this jungle can be.
I knocked an arrow and continued to watch Ava eat her fill.
I held her on a flower in between my finger where I was pinching the bow.
But after some time I lessened the tension and picked a normal walking gate.
The field extended southwest as far as I could see, the mountain seemed closer from here.
As I walked I continued to marvel at the little creature.
It reminded me of a slime character in one of the animes Leeland shoved down my throat.
Taking a bite out of the thin flower petal it tasted like cotton candy.
Once I connected with Ava she forgot about her previous discomfort and enjoyed the flavors.
The sensation was heightened by the connection we shared, so much so that it made me laugh.
It forced me to create more tendrils of energy to keep the sensation from growing and leaving me giddy and drunk.
The euphoria lasted a moment before bringing me back to reality.
'That was intense'.
'Again'! Ava squirmed with delight.
I was breaking a sweat from all the endorphins and chemicals my body was releasing.
'Let's get over the mountain first' I replied still smiling.
I began to feel the wind blowing hard from the east bringing with it the scent of dew and soil.
It was then that I could see a distant figure sitting cross legged in the field.
I almost didn't notice it but when I did I stopped and raised my arm while flexing my shoulders, the bow was drawn to its limit.
'What...'? I didn't even know what question to ask as I aimed at a cross legged Baboon in a field of flowers.
My heart thumped and as it did the beast turned its head towards me.
An orange glow came from its eyes, it's white fur seemed to glow a little brighter.
A smile spread across its lips, it was eerily human.
I hesitated to release the arrow, that was until I see a ripple coming from the beast and I hear a voice in my head.
It didn't come in a language I knew but I understood the intent clearly.
'Kneel'.