A field of flowers laid ahead in front of me.
Random bunch of different flowers planted on the ground. Looking at those flowers made me remember the favourite thing my family likes to do on vacation. Back on earth, we would go on a picnic together and watch flowers slowly bloom. My heart ached as I started to miss my family again.
'Will I ever see them again?'
As I stared in a daze ahead of me, a white handkerchief suddenly appeared in front of my face.
"Here," Kendra said, handing a handkerchief to me.
My brows furrowed at her.
Kendra then approached me wiping something wet in my cheeks.
My eyes widened since I didn't realize that tears started falling on my eyes. I backed away a bit from Kendra and said, "sorry, I…"
Kendra stepped forward again and offered her handkerchief.
I took it, wiping the tears in my eyes and mumbling, "thanks."
Kendra shook her head. "It's nothing, but why are you crying?" She asked in a faint soft voice. Her brows then knitted in concern. "Do you not like this place?"
I shook my head as I hurriedly mumbled, "no, I like it, this place is simply amazing, and I just have weird emotions, so…"
"I see," Kendra said, nodding her head understandably.
After wiping the tears in my eyes, I put Kendra's handkerchief in my satchel bag, and told her I will return it after washing them. Kendra didn't refuse and only nodded.
I stared at the flower field again and couldn't help but say, "it's beautiful."
"Indeed," Kendra said beside me.
I glanced at her and found that those ocean blue eyes were staring at me.
"This place is beautiful, thanks for bringing me here," I said, grinning excitedly from ear to ear.
"Well, I made you walk with me for so long, so seeing you happy makes me relieved and glad," Kendra replied. "It's the least I can do after wearing you out," she added as she looked down at her feet then ahead of her.
"Oh, that's fine, I came here in this forest voluntarily," I said then I slowly started walking on the flower field.
Kendra followed beside me. We walk together side by side in silence. The silence this time isn't awkward, and instead, it felt just right.
The breeze whistled gently in my ears as it made flowers bend to its will.
As Kendra and I walked together, our shoulders would graze each other ever so slightly, making me feel strange.
I hug Pula tighter to my chest. Some intense emotion is happening in my chest that I couldn't put a word to describe.
Pula nuzzled near me. I stroke its head gently.
"So are you taking that back with you to the academy?" Kendra asked.
I looked down at Pula and smiled. "Hmm? I don't know, I brought it with me absentmindedly," I answered puzzled.
I tilted my head to the side in wonder as I mumbled, "now that I think of it, why did I take this rabbit with me?"
Pula, who seemed to understand me, whimpered. Its ruby eyes stared at me looking pitiful.
Kendra chuckled lightly. "The red rabbit already claims you as its master," Kendra said.
"Master? What do you mean?" I said as my brows knitted in confusion.
"I mean you already tame it, look at your palm," Kendra said.
So I looked at my palm and saw nothing but the smooth soft hand of this body. I glance at her with furrowed brows.
"No, your right palm," Kendra said, shaking her head with a helpless smile.
So I looked at my other palm and saw a small bunny symbol in the middle. "When did I get this tattoo?" I said, puzzled.
"It's a marking symbol of your tame red rabbit," Kendra explained.
"But I didn't do anything…" I mumbled, still confused.
"Well, you didn't, but the red rabbit perhaps did, and when you started naming it, that's when the taming process was completed," Kendra explained again.
"Oh," I replied.
I looked down at Pula who licked the symbol in my palm.
My brows furrowed, feeling guilty. It isn't my intention to tame this little fellow. "Sorry Pula, I seem to have tamed you unintentionally," I said.
Pula lick my palm again as if comforting my guilty heart.
I glance at Kendra who seems amused by my interaction with Pula. "Is there a way to free Pula from this taming contract?" I said expectantly.
"No, once the taming process has been completed, then there's no way of unbinding it unless…"
"Unless?" I urged.
"Unless one of you dies," Kendra answered.
I frowned as I looked at Pula again. Pula nuzzled me comfortingly. I caressed its bunny ears and said, "don't worry, I'll take good care of you from now on like a family."
Pula lick my hand happily. I smiled, stroking its cheeks. This little fellow from now on is a family. Once everything settles down; I will take Pula with me and go live a hermit life in a far away forest.
"What are you thinking?" Kendra asked.
I turned my face to her and smiled. "My future," I said.
Kendra tilted her head as she curiously asked, "what is it like?"
My smile deepened and said, "it's like this."
Kendra's lips curve playfully. "Like this…?"
My eyes widened as I realised that my words seemed misleading, so I opened my mouth and hurriedly explained, "oh, I mean, uhm, peaceful like this."
"I see, that's wonderful," Kendra replied, smiling as she tucked her platinum blonde hair behind her ears.
"How about you?" I said, staring curiously at Kendra.
Kendra shrugs and says, "I don't know…well, I had a goal but then something changed, so I'm not sure what to do from now on."
"Hmm, you'll eventually find it," I replied.
Kendra glanced at me. "What is?"
"Your purpose," I said.
"Purpose, huh, I don't know about that," Kendra replied, looking lost as she stared in a trance from the distance.
"You know, everyone has a purpose, everything doesn't happen for no reason, so I think…whatever that changed it is that you're talking about, I believe it also happened for a reason," I said, stroking Pula gently on its head.
Kendra turned her gaze at me. "I see, you have a point," she said.
"And maybe you just need to look deeper into it to find that reason, well, that's just my opinion," I said.
Kendra stared at me with an enlightened look on her face. Her ocean blue eyes stared at me deeply and intently.
I smiled at her comfortingly. I didn't know that the protagonist also had these worries. It made me relate to her because I'm also trying to find the purpose behind this sudden transmigration.
"I understand then I will start searching for that reason from this moment forward," Kendra said solemnly.
I nodded and didn't respond, but I silently hoped for the two of us to find the purpose and reason we're both searching for. I smiled to myself as I became optimistic for the future.
Whatever that purpose was…
I hope we both discover it.
We walked some more in the middle of the flower field. Silently enjoying the view together in peace.
"Why don't we sit here?" Kendra said as she stopped, then she sat down in the middle of the flower field.
Kendra started to read the book she took with her in the library.
I followed after her and sat down as well.
Pula flopped down next to me, and I started reading in silence.
Peace and flowers surrounded the three of us as time passed by. Kendra and I both read in silence. Neither one of us disturb the silent peace of the other.
Shortly after, I closed the book and my brows furrowed together. I finished reading volume 1 of the Mana Manipulation book, but once again, I don't seem to understand anything and yet understand at the same time.
The book explained that mana is around us and within us.
If an individual wants to be able to use that mana. They have to imagine and visualise what to make of that mana.
At the same time, the individual has to feel and search for the right mana that corresponds with their attribute. The user should not use a mana that isn't compatible with their attribute.
According to the book, mana that isn't compatible with the user's body will react negatively, and the user's body will receive irreversible damage.
That's it. That's the summary.
I understand now that mana is around us and blah blah blah, but the book didn't explain how to sense this thing mana.
The book said that mana manipulation is the capability to control mana, and mana can be controlled by anyone who is capable of thinking.
Well then, why can't I sense this thing mana? Am I not capable of thinking? Am I missing something here?
I sighed, feeling exhausted from reading a bunch of words. I feel like I'm back again to my college days; where I need to figure out everything again from the start.
"What's the matter?" Kendra asked.
I sighed again and said, "I seem to not understand everything I just read."
Kendra chuckled. "Are you serious?" She said, smiling playfully at me.
My face heats up from embarrassment. "I wish I was joking," I said, pinching the bridge of my nose.
This isn't good. I came here to the academy so I could learn some skills. However, the books here don't explain specifically how to sense mana. What should I do?
Another sigh escaped my mouth as I stared at the flowers in a trance.
Kendra cleared her throat which attracted my eyes. I glanced at her, giving her my full attention.
Kendra smiled at me then said, "well, why not just ask me? I've read that book many times when I was four or five, so I'm confident that I could answer the worries in your heart."
I smiled brightly hearing what Kendra just said. "Really?" I said, scooting closer to her.
Kendra raised her lips and nodded affirmatively.
"Then can you tell me how to sense mana?" I said expectantly.
Kendra nodded and said, "mana, huh, well if you're a beginner, I suppose you should first start meditating as much as you can."
That sounded easy. Will that be enough to sense mana?
My brows furrowed worriedly. "Will I sense mana if I do that?" I said.
"Why don't you start now so you can see for yourself," Kendra replied.
I nodded at Kendra then closed my eyes quickly.
I waited and waited but I didn't feel a thing. My brows knitted as I kept my eyes closed.
"Clear your mind and let your senses take over your body."
I heard Kendra mumble next to me. I nodded as I tried to clear my thoughts.
Okay, stop thinking, stop thinking… I chanted in my head, keeping my eyes closed.
Yet, no matter how much time passed, I can't sense anything except for the passing wind around me.
My brows furrowed deeper and I opened my eyes, sighing as I said, "it's not working…"
"Maybe you're not meditating correctly," Kendra said.
"I did," I argued.
"If you did, then why do you have a stress expression on your face while meditating?" Kendra replied back as she raised her brow.
"Because I can't sense this thing mana, is there no other way of doing this?" I said, lying down on the ground.
Kendra smiled then she replied, "of course, there is…"
I sat up, glancing expectantly at Kendra waiting for her to continue.
"...no easy way," she finished.
My shoulder slumped and I lied down again.
"Well, I'm sure that you'll eventually sense mana if you keep on meditating," Kendra cheered.
"I hope so…" I replied somewhat dejected.
Kendra sighed, smiling at me helplessly. "Controlling mana requires every magic user to concentrate with a calm rational mind. If you're too distracted then the mana will not bend to your will, and you might receive damage if you lose control of mana. That's why I told you to meditate because it will help you calm your mind," Kendra explained.
"Mm," I replied tiredly, staring at the bright blue sky.
"It doesn't always work the first time, so maybe if you do it again, you might start to sense it this time," Kendra urged, motivating me.
Kendra is right. I shouldn't give up just because I failed the first time.
Waah, I'm showing my pathetic self in front of this angel. I hope Kendra doesn't mind.
I glanced at Kendra and saw her smiling at me. She doesn't look particularly repulsive with my actions, so I guess she didn't mind then.
However, I still can't afford to lose my awesome reputation in front of Kendra. I want to look cool in front of her because, well, I just want to. There's no other meaning. Sometimes people just want to look good in front of others, right?
My brows furrowed as my thoughts became complicated, but before I could look deeper into my thoughts, I got distracted by Kendra.
She grabbed my arms and pulled me to sit up. "Geez, stop thinking too much and just try it again," Kendra said, smiling encouragingly.
Our faces are just a few inches away from the other. I held my breath and the lavender scent entered my nose once again. It calms my tense heart instantly.
I cleared my throat awkwardly as I sat up straight, then I discreetly scooted a little distance away from Kendra.
It doesn't seem Kendra noticed as her smile remained plastered on her face. That made me heave a sigh of relief and focus on the important matter.
I took a deep sigh again and glanced at her. "Alright, I'll keep trying," I said.
"That's the spirit," Kendra said, smiling.
I smiled back at her and closed my eyes.
"Try to concentrate on your senses or your breathing," Kendra suggested.
I followed Kendra's suggestion and tried to focus on my breathing.
I still didn't sense or feel anything, but it helped relax my stiff and stressed body. My chaotic messy mind became serene like the wind. I inhaled and exhaled over and over until something started to ring in my ears.
A faint sound of ringing resounded in my ears. Like the buzzing sound I often hear when the television runs out of shows to display. That's what it sounded like.
I open my eyes, and I seem to still hear this buzzing sound in my ears. I look around me, but there's nothing particularly weird.
My brows furrowed in wariness. "Do you hear that?" I said, turning to Kendra.
Kendra tilted her head to the side amusedly. "Hear what?" She said, curling her lips.
"That buzzing sound…" I mumbled.
Kendra chuckled. Her ocean blue eyes gaze at me as if watching something entertaining.
I turn to look at her weirdly. Kendra chuckled again.
"Let me guess, you're hearing a loud buzzing sound, right?" Kendra said.
I nodded and said, "yes, so you hear it too? Where is it coming from?"
Kendra chuckled again. Her ocean blue eyes look at me amusedly. "Oh, sweetheart, that's the sound of mana that surrounds us," Kendra answered in a sweet soft voice, tucking her loose hair behind her ears.
My eyes widened excitedly in awe as I scooted closer to her. "Mana? That's mana? So I'm sensing mana, right?" I said, grinning from ear to ear.
Kendra laughed at my antics. "Calm down, you have to go back into meditating again lest you want to lose your concentration," said Kendra.
So I hurriedly closed my eyes again, concentrating on this buzzing sound, however I can't help but think how lucky I am that Kendra is here with me right now. If it weren't for her, I might still be struggling with sensing this mana.
I'm starting to believe that Kendra is really an angel in disguise.
My lips curled at the thought.