As soon as Vector opened my eyes and inspected his state, he grimaced. He was as thin as a skeleton, obviously not having been feed well. While having barely any muscle mass, as well as being fully dehydrated, and most all exhausted.
Mentally.
&
Physically.
Even if his soul repaired the inside of his body and revitalized him to a certain extent… the damage was too severe right now. The first thing in order was to get more servings and get healthy again. How tho? That's the questions isn't it… hmmm
I was in laying in a fetal position in a dark corner on the outskirts of the mining camp. Various figures in the same state could be seen. Even in here, the various slave camps for miners had a hierarchy.
'Like I said before, the strong exceed and the weak fail.' The one good thing out of my situation was I had no Anti-Magic shackles. As a former dud there was no need for them… The influx of mana is rich here and I can clearly feel it as well as sense it in the air.
However, I cannot risk them noticing so I will only explore that path later tonight… Every 12 hours we get one portion of food. However, these portions are often fought for and usually taken by Jerome. A big mean bastard alright, often having no mercy.
In the 3 years my split soul has been, … no in the 3 years I've been here I've seen him kill over 23 inmates. Over various petty schemes and mostly because of dumb arguments really. The slave mining camps are located all across the caverns in certain sections with the inhabitants of each sleeping a tent.
If your lucky of course, with most only sleeping on the hard ground.These camps are not split my gender .. and so as a byproduct, the strong who ran a given camp would often have various females. It would mostly play out in 2 different scenarios. The female did not want to be with the male, and therefore most likely she got overpowered and raped and then "trained" to be submissive or would quite commonly die fighting in the process.
However, most of the time the females would actually accept this proposal for extra food, protection and power over others. In my case a mean Fire-Fae named Bertha, and a young wind Hob-Goblin named Xen.
Not that it did any good to classify them with an elements since no one could use magic here… well expect me now ofc … hehe. Oh god the hunger and pain is coming back. I need food now, and so like that, I slowly picked myself up off the ground and shakily stand up on my wobbly legs.
Which appear as two toothpicks at the moment. Barley with enough strength to even move, I manage to walk to a small pond nearby, from the constant water leakage from the cavern ceiling above. As soon as my head leans over I'm immediately astonished.
Since merging with my other half, I knew how I looked from memories… but still seeing it now in person was simply shocking. Besides my deathly appearance at the moment, I would be a ladykiller no doubt. Yandere's would be all over me!
The first thing I noticed were my eyes, they were indeed much different after my soul was fully emerged and complete. My eyes that were once the normal zenith lineage color of navy blue, turned into a dazzling, and deep rich purple.
The insides of my pupils obsidian black like space itself, with flecks of yellow and white appearing like stars. My height barely breaking over 6 feet currently. Standing at 6'2 with my deathly skinny frame, ribs showing to a maximum, bones protruding out. I really did look like an undead skeleton, barley hanging on to life.
My hair was a jet black , with various natural white lines and hairs spread across, and the length was to my shoulders. Dirt all over my ripped clothes snd face. After being shocked with my appearance no more than 2 minutes, I immediately dunked my head in, and started drinking gulps of water as fast as I could.
After taking an efficient amount I slowly washed my hands and started looking around from my memories. Everything was the same… expect me.
The mana atmosphere all around me is so abundant. I've never felt so much ecstasy and impatience. Since awakening mana, I can feel my body slowly taking it in as another form of nutrients. My impatience was partly due from my attributes as well.
Spacial Magic is very rare and very diverse depending on its caster. From my knowledge in the royal archive, Spacial Magic is not just teleporting, and storing stuff in a voice space commonly shown in those earthen novels.
A Spacial master could call meteors or even summon the power of various stars to fight! They could warp the fabric of reality to a certain degree as well. Gravity could also be affected ! However, vector's body still needs time before that. Slowly but surely mana was rapidly infusing my bones and every cell in my body.
' It would take quite a while for my body to adept since I've never been exposed to mana before. I also could not rush this process as it would effect me negatively in the long run. Therefore, extending my time in this shit-hole. '
' However, now I needed real food. I needed nutrients to gain my health back as fast as possible. So I can fully immerse myself into mana gathering and meditation.'
' Hmm I remember having 10 stat points for transmigrating successfully. What should I put them in? No one in this camp is above level 30, and even less without magic.'
' From my general knowledge of the world, I would say the Demonic-Fae in charge wouldn't be over level 80 either. No one would dare attack this mine.
Reason being the location of this mine. It's in the heart of their territory and no army or small force could sneak past that much land or defenses. Hmmm.. it might be difficult to escape so soon.
I cannot unfortunately go up to get food in the 12 hours feeding periods either. Otherwise it would be taken as soon as Jerome or his minions eye me… '
' I might have to steal, but no one would simply allow me so. In order to survive I must become cold and ruthless. Shit.. I gotta kill. It's not like I haven't, been in the military in countless fights. I just didn't feel good of attacking a defenseless man. However, I have to return to find someone to cure my mother's crippled legs! I also need to return home and see that Old Man again. Ugh I bet he's bored af without me.. hehe.. cough*.. cough*…cough*.. ugh f#ck that hurts. Let me stop laughing.'
' I need a weapon first and foremost. I cannot beat anyone nor have the chance hand to hand combat. I also cannot engage head one with practically anyone. It must be a cheap kill. Swift and silent as well. It might not be honorable.. but what else can I do? I need to survive. Their sacrifice will not be in vain! '
' Hmm I see 3 prime candidates close by my location. This cavern is massive with various tunnels expanding through the cavern and torches that lead the way. On the outskirts of my camp, where I'm located, the area is darker, with much more water constantly dripping, which is actually good for me. It will cover my footsteps good, even if the trade off of it being colder away from the nice fires and nicer tents. '
' The guard towers located around don't even bother if it's not our work shift. They just lay back and relax, while the rest of us are took for
advantage of, by Jerome and his goons. Therefore I do not need to be worried about their interference either. The figure I decided on was a sickly old man barley holding to his life on to my right. '
' The reason I chose him thought was for one key fact, he snitched on me in the past for sneaking my full food portion past Jerome. The old man was rewarded with extra food as compensation, while I got beating almost to my death like usual. Since feeding period was only 10 minutes ago he has barley touched his bread and oats. '
' Jerome usually only taxes peoples food, but with me being past "royalty" he always treated me worse then others. Hmm f#ck him for real. I slowly walk towards my intended target who is slowly eating and drifting away in his thoughts. A tinge of remorse and pity comes up, but I slowly push it down. Now's not the time. Eat or be Eaten. '
As soon as Vector was two feet away, He slowly picked up a sturdy rock the size of a football in my right hand. The old man leisurely eating and humming tune, didn't even have a clue of his impending death.
Vector quickly looked to his right and left making sure the rock he's behind is hidden from viewpoints of the main camp. As soon as he was in striking position, a slight noise could be heard from his step, the old man turned around with a odd sense behind him.. the last thing Vector saw was surprise, shock, and dread on the mans face.
* WHAP. *
* SPLAT. *
The old man who's name I didn't even know took his last breath in that very moment, looking up at the cavern ceiling. His skull cracked, blood leaking out, brains smashed across the back of the wall he was leaning on. If I had any food in my stomach I might've thrown up…
After staring at the scene in shock and hearing a few voices nearby echoing off the tunnel walls, Vector quickly grabbed the bread and oats, then took off running as fast as he could manage, to the dark corner barely visible in most angels.
If Vector's hunger wasn't at a all-time high, I might've thought back on my first kill in this life. Alas, that was not the case. Vector's survival instincts were through the roof. The hunger was going to kill him if he didn't eat soon.
Vector knew his body couldn't process all of the food in big gulps, so with the upmost will power, he slowly fed myself the oats with slight pieces of bread torn off. Little by little.
His body slowly feeling energy coming back, and my malnutrition slowly taking a turn for the better. His past experiences, in both lives, dealing with this type of shit and injustice. His will is unbreakable now.
' Whenever I get out, I will make my territory a place with no poverty or injustice. I swear on my last name Zenith.' Vector swore in his mind.
After eventually finishing his meal, Vector made his way to one of the big canals located by the camp's outskirts. With a depth no one even knows, Vector dropped the wooden bowl down the cliff side, with great reluctance… knowing I have to get rid of all evidence.
' Since no evidence remains, it's now time to sleep and slowly recover. Tomorrow I will scope out the camp more, find another way to get food, and hopefully integrate mana a little more in my body. What a shit 1st day …'