Chapter 15 - Humans

Observing the blue ball on his left palm, which appeared to be formed from swirling blue gas, Ethan didn't immediately take any action. He instead focused on its visual aspect.

After collecting himself from the initial rush of emotions triggered by the appearance of the mana ball, Ethan shifted his attention to the sequence of events that preceded and followed its manifestation.

He now understood that casting a skill required both voicing its name aloud and holding the intention of casting it in his mind. However, he remained uncertain whether the same effect could be achieved by merely thinking of the skill's name.

Ethan was eager to experiment with this notion, but several reasons held him back. For one, casting the mana ball spell had consumed his mana. Although this world followed some game-like rules, it didn't display health points (HP) or mana points (MP), leaving Ethan uncertain about his current mana and health status.

Ethan wished for health points (HP) and mana points (MP) indicators to be available here, as they would provide him with a clearer understanding of his current state. This would be far more reliable than his current guesswork and attempts to deduce his condition based on observed factors.

Nevertheless, Ethan swiftly adapted to the situation. Regarding his health, he surmised that as long as he didn't suffer damage that would fatally harm an ordinary human, he should be okay.

Mana management presented a different challenge, but Ethan managed to make rough estimates. This revelation came when he cast the mana ball spell and sensed something draining from within him. Though he couldn't quite pinpoint the exact sensation, game theories indicated that it was his mana.

This experience enabled Ethan to roughly sense his mana reserves. He gauged that he could still cast the mana ball skill four more times. If his assumptions held true, Ethan deduced that his complete mana reserve should allow for casting the skill five times.

Although this quantity might seem small, it was a rational and understandable amount for a level 1 individual like himself. However, what concerned Ethan more than the usage limit of the skill was the extent of damage it could inflict.

Ethan could already envision a future where he would need to rely on a sword as his primary weapon until he grew accustomed to his role as a mage. Thus, any spell he could cast became an additional tool in his arsenal, prompting his main concern to shift towards their damage potential.

He hoped these spells would prove useful to a certain degree.

With this consideration in mind, Ethan turned his attention to his surroundings, seeking a suitable target to test the mana ball on.

"...."

However, the area was mainly populated by trees, making the search unnecessary.

Mia, who had been attentively observing the scene, immediately understood Ethan's intentions with the mana ball now in his hands. She took a few steps away from him before he could unleash the spell.

"..."

Witnessing Mia's cautious movement, Ethan could only offer a guarded smile before redirecting his focus to the environment around him.

Ultimately, he selected a random tree as his target.

"So, how do I attack with this?" Ethan pondered aloud. Just as he contemplated this, the mana ball, initially hovering above his left palm, shot up into the sky, dispersing after reaching a height of ten metres.

"..."

Mia: "Hehe"

"Did I just waste an attack without checking its power?" Ethan muttered, his expression a mix of regret and wry amusement. He shook his head, attempting to dispel his chagrin.

On one hand, he hadn't been able to assess the mana ball's potency. On the other, he had inadvertently made a rather embarrassing display in front of Mia. If he were alone, Ethan might have shrugged off the mistake of prematurely firing the mana ball. However, the situation was different when in the presence of another person.

It wasn't as though Ethan placed a great deal of importance on Mia's opinion of him, but which man wouldn't want to unconsciously appear capable in front of an attractive woman? This wasn't to say Ethan had been swayed by Mia's appearance, though.

To sidestep the awkwardness of the situation, Ethan opted for silence, hastening his pace forward. Observing this, Mia's smile took on a slightly more mischievous edge as she quickened her steps to catch up with him.

********

"The forest ends here?" Ethan muttered, glancing around before speaking again. "No, it's not that. But why the hell would a structure like that be in a place like this?" Ethan exclaimed aloud, his gaze fixed on the magnificent castle structure standing in a spacious clearing within the forest.

The structure possessed an aged yet resilient appearance, suggesting it could endure for decades to come. Additionally, the golden light descending from above seemed to converge at the centre of the castle.

"So, are we going in?" Mia's slightly quivering voice emerged from behind Ethan as she stared at the imposing structure, her apprehension about the uncertainty of the situation evident.

"We've come this far; entering is the obvious choice," Ethan affirmed, determination slowly shaping his expression.

The castle loomed so large that even from several dozen metres away, it appeared deceptively close. Its magnificence was further enhanced by the massive golden light radiating from its core, lending it an almost magical allure. The castle embodied the very image of a treasure-laden stronghold.

Ethan took a deep breath to steady his nerves. Fixing his gaze on the castle gates in the distance, he emerged from the forest into the clearing encircling the castle.

However, just as he emerged, a group of other humans materialised seemingly out of thin air. They hadn't literally appeared out of nowhere; rather, they emerged from various sides of the clearing not near Ethan. Nonetheless, the sudden appearance caught the young player off guard.