I stood at the entrance of the quaint wooden hut, gazing out at the lush vegetation that sprawled before me, utterly speechless.
Towering trees loomed overhead, their massive trunks stretching skyward and making the hut appear as insignificant as a pebble among mighty mountains. Each tree competed with its neighbors to touch the clouds, their branches casting intricate shadows yet allowing shafts of sunlight to pierce through as if they were mere wisps in the air, effortlessly illuminating the vibrant world beneath the forest canopy.
Glistening droplets of morning dew clung to the leaves and grass, each one refracting the warm sunlight into a myriad of tiny rainbows, shimmering like jewels scattered across the forest floor.
The air buzzed with life as the forest awakened to the morning symphony of chirping insects and rustling leaves, making the lonely wooden hut feel almost intrusive in its stillness. I stepped forward, feeling the crisp leaves crumble satisfyingly beneath my bare feet, the cool moisture from the dew seeping between my toes and soaking into the soles of my feet.
The sensation was somewhat unsettling, but I had no other choice; my previously worn brown leather footwear had been destroyed, leaving me unprotected against the damp earth.
I took a moment to study the thick branches and trunks of the trees surrounding me, marveling at the kaleidoscope of colors—rich browns, creamy whites, warm oranges, and vibrant greens—that seemed more vivid than I had ever seen. Since my eyes had been miraculously restored, my vision felt enhanced, sharper, and clearer than ever before.
Raising my hand, I gently touched the skin around my eyes, recalling that I had never asked how this transformation had occurred, though it was clear that Madam Tsukio's runes played a part in it.
Suddenly, I felt a sharp poke from a fingernail on my right side, sending an icy chill up my spine. I jumped in surprise, stumbling back a few feet, only to turn and find a woman smiling at me playfully, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"Quite lively in the morning, aren't you? Lively men are good men!" she exclaimed, her voice ringing out and startling the birds that had been enjoying their early breakfast of insects perched on branches and fallen logs.
"M-madam Tsukio!" I stammered, my nerves getting the better of me. I was still adjusting to her in this radiant form, having caught a glimpse of her beauty just before sunrise. Now, with the sun bathing her in golden light, I could no longer deny the allure of a woman who called herself—or was referred to as—granny.
My gaze was drawn to her silky smooth, pale hand, still slightly outstretched from where she had poked me. The sunlight danced on her silver-painted nails as I shifted my gaze downward, unable to meet her eyes directly. I noticed the graceful curvature of her waist, accentuated by her strong, curvy hips, atop her elegantly shaped legs.
Her skin was reminiscent of creamy skimmed milk—soft, with a delicate yellowish-white hue and a faint bluish tint that added to its ethereal beauty. She wore a traditional Japanese kimono that seemed to reflect her free-spirited nature; it was casual yet artfully draped in a way that revealed the enticing curves of her figure. The kimono's design had a deep cut in the front, a "boob window" of sorts, that left little to the imagination, showcasing her generous assets and drawing my wayward gaze.
I hesitated, momentarily at a loss for words, and before I could think of a response, she had stepped forward, closing the distance between us. With a swift, delicate motion, her slender fingers grasped my chin, lifting my face to meet hers.
Her creamy white hair floated gently in the breeze, framing her face, which was lit with a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? I told you today would be busy, and I won't delay any part of your training for your time to heal," she said, her tone a mixture of playful lightness and underlying seriousness. I felt a flicker of anger at being treated like a child, sensing the subtle contradiction in her playful expression and the firm resolve in her words.
"Follow me," she instructed, her voice leaving no room for argument as she stepped into the depths of the forest.
Though I was shirtless and shoeless, I followed her, feeling the damp leaves and branches brush against my skin, the crispness of the early morning air sending a shiver down my spine.
"Boy… do you know what mana is?" she inquired, slowing her pace slightly, allowing me to catch up without being distracted by the sway of her hips.
"Mana? I'm not exactly sure what you mean. Do you mean the energy one needs to use a skill or spell?" I replied, tucking my chilled fingers into my pants pockets for warmth.
"Well, you aren't wrong, but your answer is lacking. You see, mana is like the breath that escapes you after inhaling; it's a corrupted mixture of nature's energy and one's life force." She began to swirl her index finger in the air overhead as if summoning some unseen force.
"Mana, in its purest form, is the raw natural energy that surrounds us all. In its natural state, in its natural form one would refer to it as [Mantarai], but when a living creature absorbs the mantarai from the air it creates pathways in the body alongside the blood streams that mixes mantarai with one's life force and that corrupts it and creates mana."
Having heard her explanation I instantly recalled when the system notified me about mana purity, does that have something to do with this mantarai that she speaks of?
"Hmm, unable to keep up?" I looked up at her peering over her shoulder at me as she continued to walk forward.
She had a disappointed look on her face as she did.
"No that's not it, I understand exactly what you said but I just had a slight question…