I tighten my grip on the slippery hold of the wet mountain, careful not to fall.
I had to use all my focus, energy, and sanity as I made my way up the treacherous path.
Failure would mean meeting my demise.
I was scared.
Scared of what laid behind that unchangeable destiny.
Desperately and pathetically, I continue my pitiful struggle.
Once again, my hand finds purchase.
Pushing heat into my body, I lift myself up.
The motion caused my entire body to creak and scream. I ignored it.
Moving further up, a voice calls out to me.
"Do you need help?"
The voice lent me a hand, giving me a glimmer of hope.
"No", I said firmly, my teeth chattering from the cold.
I didn't need help, aid, or any kind of support.
"No", I repeated, this time to myself.
I needed help.
I wanted help.
I longed for somebody to reach out to me and tell me it was all going to be okay.
That it was fine to be weak.
That it was fine to be ugly.
That it was fine if nobody accepted you for the way you are.
Ignoring the familiar voice's outstretched hand, I continue my ascent.
The air thins, leaving me breathless.
Gripping a very sharp rock, my hand slips.
The bruised hand stabs into the rock, piercing through the other side.
It hurts.
It really hurts.
But I had to continue.
Redirecting my attention to the peak of the mountain, I was once again reminded of the thick clouds obstructing my goal.
Slowly, and very painfully, I free my hand from the murderous protrusion.
As I continue to reach higher and higher heights, another voice speaks out to me:
"You should do better"
The voice's sweet and harsh tone pierces my eardrums, filling my soul with it's sadistic love.
"You should be faster"
Yes…
"You should be stronger"
Of course…
"You should be smarter"
I'll do my best…
"You should take a rest"
…
No…
I can't do that…
"Why?"
…
…..
….....
"Because that's not me"
I lift myself onto the mountain's peak, my arms simultaneously breaking.
My vision clears, revealing the bright blue sky above the heavenly clouds.
I look up.
There, was a mountain.
It stood tall
It stood proudly
It stood to be conquered
Getting up to my feet with great difficulty, I stretch my legs.
"What are you doing?"
The familiar voice said, care and concern bleeding out from every word.
"Getting ready"
With one reluctant step, I make my way to the base of the mountain, my mind filled with only one thing:
This is the only way…
This is the only choice…
This my only path.
◇◆◇◆◇
My vision flickers into existence. The world was dark. So very dark. If I wasn't careful, the darkness would swallow me whole. Eventually, the darkness fades–though not without mocking me. I knew that whenever I closed my eyes the darkness would still be there, watching me.
The scenery fills my vision. The sudden increase–or is it decrease?–in colors blinding me for a few moments. My attention caught a stream of beige, flowing into the mage's staff.
I study the mysterious phenomena, amazed by the stream's behavior. I felt like a child watching an image move for the first time. Excitement and wonder filled my chest, warming my otherwise ice-cold heart.
Each strip of beige was moving with purpose and direction, guided by the staff. I looked closer.
The staff, it seemed, had the property to absorb and refine mana. Each strip that was being attracted had a duty to fulfill. My eyes burned at the sudden increase in light, steam coming out of them. Belatedly, I realized that the lines on my arms were glowing. Each one was emitting a soft glow, burning the skin closest to them.
Damn 「Light Weakness」, I cursed my ineptness. 「Night Vision」 was directly tied to 「Light Weakness」, the stronger the former, the weaker the latter. Evolution could possibly get rid of my unwanted skill–though that would require a deep understanding of the 「system」. Giving up on my discommoding skill, I focus on the cause of the burning heat.
Mana
I could have gotten out of the quicksand if I wanted to, but chose otherwise. Doing so would mean having to face the dozens of soldiers currently surrounding me–I wasn't ready for that yet. Even though I surpass them individually in agility and endurance. If these creatures weren't as well-trained as they are, I doubt they would still be alive.
Lifting my burning, seething arm I point it at the knight. The knight immediately raised his sword with practiced efficiency. I could tell that he has spent a long time training in the sword.
Forcing the blue mana around me into the circuit-like array of black lines, I condense and purify it. Immediately, my mind went numb. The brand-new sensation of a sixth–or is it seventh?–sense filled my head. I felt like my head was going to crack open from the sudden influx of information.
Filtering my mind of any unnecessary thought, I will the energy into my desired shape. Slowly and painfully, the blue mana coats my arm, eventually seeping into my skin. I open and close my fist, feeling the mana empowering my muscles by leaps and bounds.
The soldiers noticed my sudden transformation and immediately pointed their bows at me. I look at my strengthened hand, feeling it's new power.
Let's see what you can do