CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP!
Now it's been a few days since I started sleeping in this house and I still can't get used to it, really. "Looks like I did not get a good sleep again," I said to myself after opening my eyes and it's a bit blurry. I touched my face and felt a thin cloth covering a small part of my face. "What is this now-!"
My face instantly turn red the moment I realize that it was Amira's underwear. "What in the world?!" I immediately put it away hoping that no one saw with that on my face because it would look like I fell asleep sniffing it!
"Damn it. Why is this happening to me?!" I feel embarrassed for myself. It turns out that my window was open and the wind is blowing extra stronger today. "So it's windy today, huh? That aside-" I turned to the underwear and thought how fragrant it was.
Realizing what kind of stupid thing I was just thinking about, I slap myself.
SLAPPPP!
"What the fuck! William?! You are not a closet pervert, you retard!" I hate myself.
How could I admire how it smells? "Well, it smells like that and I can't deny it. William, living alone in a house with a girl is getting to you, huh?" to get rid of my lustful thoughts, I think about the things that I have learned while staying in this place.
"It is definitely peaceful, there's no doubt about it and the people here are friendly, too friendly." Thinking about the experience I had with the people in the last few days made me realize how vulnerable they are if ever a group of bandits invades their village. "Just thinking about it gives me an unpleasant feeling. Let's just forget about that for now." I said to myself.
When that was sorted out, I started using my transformation magic. I held out my hand and it slowly starts to freeze, though I am not suffering from any drawbacks like frostbite.
It's like I have become one with the ice. "This is strange no matter how many times I see it. How come none of the Void Mages before me not able to discover this?" I ask myself that question over and over again.
The freezing reached my elbows and even with just that, I can summon ice and snow at my will. "Partially transforming into the magical beast that I have consumed is the best way."
That is a conclusion that I have arrived at after countless tests that I have conducted. "Now that I think about it, Void Mages might be the strongest mage there is. Our growth will be endless as long as we consume and memorize the spells and natures of the magical beasts that we consume, we can be on top."
That is what I want to tell myself but that will be a huge task, "Easier said than done since I need to consume something that contains their DNA, and after that, there is still recoil in consuming such a thing. Not to mention the taste, geez. Looks like getting a power-up will also be hard."
While I am thinking about my next move, I thought of the magical beasts that might be here in this forest to help me get started on my journey to become the strongest mage, Amira arrived and brought me a glass of milk and half a loaf of bread.
"I thought you are still sleeping so I figured that I'd bring you something." She said as she puts them all on the table. "Thanks, Amira. I was just about to head down after sorting things out, but thanks." I awkwardly replied.
Just when she is about to leave, she sees her underwear on one of the chairs. Her face instantly blushes and I can understand that. It's just I'm acting like I did not see anything. "Keep a straight face, William. You did not see anything," I said to myself though I know I have done something even worse than that, I smelt it.
She took it as fast as she can before I can see it and heads into her room to hide for a moment. That's what she has been doing every time she gets flustered. I don't know why, "Is it because I'm a guy?" back on Earth, I heard from the girls talking in our school that when they stay up all night watching movies, they would always find our female classmate's room littered with her underwear.
I did not mean to eavesdrop but they were so loud and proud about it. "I guess it is different in different worlds," I said to myself. And because of that, I lost track of where I was. "Oh, right. If there are magical beasts here in the forest. Based on what Amira told me when I arrived, I accidentally took down a giant bear. Whether it is rare or by chance, hearing that something like that exists in this forest means there are more, right?"
And at that moment, I realized something when thinking about the giant black bear. "Wait, back in our hometown, the animals or creatures have normal sizes. Let's see, what makes it different from the creatures here….." I thought about the location as well as the population at first. "Hmmm, mostly in the people back in my hometown are mages, and only a few people here are mages. Is it the….mana?"
I look at my hand. I was sure that I used mana earlier. "I'm sure I used some mana earlier so why do I feel like my mana core is still full?" I gathered my thoughts and did not realize that Amira had already gone out of her room and observed me probably because of how focused I am.
Loads of possibilities flood my mind at that moment, and the highest possibility of answer I arrive at is the density of mana. "Yes. That must be it! I'm sure I used mana earlier. But because this place is concentrated with mana it made the creatures rather unnaturally large." A smile crept on my face as I finally realize what is going on.
"It's because of the Mana Theory that I have read in the past! It says that all beings have a mana core! They believed that magical beasts evolved from normal animals. Though don't know how it all happened, their theory about creatures having mana cores was true and I just proved it right!"
"Pfft! Haha! Right about what? All that gibberish?" Amira hugged her stomach as she rolls on the floor laughing at me. "That was hilarious. I never thought that I would laugh at someone this hard!" she continued.
I felt embarrassed and angry at the same time but I can't just lash out at her because of that. "Were you watching me the entire time?" for a brief moment, she stops laughing and nod her head before continuing what she was doing. "Damn it! How many times did I embarrass myself in front of her?! Damn it, Amira. I will make sure to pay you back!" I grind my teeth in frustration.
"Let it go, for now, William. You are in the most important part!" I cleanse my thoughts and it is easily achieved since the hype is still on. "We Void Mages can absorb that mana core after only acquiring their essence. Without their mana core, I cannot pull off everything that I had done! In short! We acquired not only their mana core but their entirety! It's like I copied their blueprint and use it for myself!" enthralled by what I discovered, I can't help but hold back my laughter.
"THIS IS AMAZING! Void Mages are known as empty vessels and with the acquisition of mana core from magical beasts, we can use magic that is within that certain beast's ability! This is cheating magic! And the only requirement is that we somehow transform a part or even just a small portion of those magical beasts!" my head is about to burst. I cannot contain this excitement!
"Screw it! I'll just be happy for now!" and like a madman, I laughed as hard as I could.
"BUWHAHAHAHAHAHA! Take that you unfair world! This bastard will show everyone that a sword is not made in a day!" and even at that moment, I still forgot about Amira being with me in that same house. I turn in her direction and saw the most horrified expression that anyone can make. It's like she had just witnessed a murder or something based on the look on her face. "-ah, fuck!"
This time, not only that I might have embarrassed myself in front of her. I might have also scared the shit out of her and it might scar her for the rest of her life. "Amira? Did I scare you?" I know it is stupid to ask that even after seeing her reaction, but still, I had to!
For the first few attempts of asking, I have not heard a single answer. But when I approach her, she immediately moved back. "...."
We both stare at each other for a few moments before she starts blushing again, and that's when she turns away from my direction and gives me an answer, "N-nothing! I was just surprised!"
"Surprised my ass, you were terrified!" I wanted to tell her that but that will not make things better. After a few moments, we can calm ourselves and we returned to our usual selves. I ask her about loads of things about the chance of magical beasts in this forest and she confirmed that there are some in this forest.
Later that night,
The cold wind swept the entire village and dark clouds gathered on the horizon, it is about to rain. Lightning light up the night sky and thunder comes after, sending a deafening sound throughout the forest.
The trees where the houses are built are swaying to the strong blow of the wind but no matter how strong the wind gets, the houses remain untouched nor do the trees bend in the direction of the wind.
"Huff! Huff! Huff!"
William wakes up to the distant sound of someone breathing heavily close to him that he can feel their breathing and when he opened his eyes, he sees Amira sitting on top of him with the same flustered look on her face. "Sorry to wake you, William but can you help me with something? You are the only person that can help me at the moment."
He can't process what was going on maybe because he just woke up or he is utterly shocked by what he is seeing. "...help with what?" he also starts to blush as Amira looks at him affectionately. "What's with this situation? How on earth did this happen?" he ask himself as he could not think clearly.