Saying their farewells to Fluffy, his devoted mate, and the playful cubs, Ryan and Elora retraced their steps back to her humble cabin. As they journeyed, a buoyant energy radiated from Elora. She wouldn't be seeing the beast companion she had nurtured from a cub for the foreseeable future, but her heart was ablaze, her eyes burning with a newfound fire. The prospect of leaving Akegria Forest was a gateway to rediscovering the life of adventure and exhilaration she had once led.
More than that, she could finally make sure she didn't have any regrets, which she was deep in thought about as she headed back with Ryan.
A contented silence enveloped them as they neared the cabin. The picturesque abode, once her sanctuary, would soon bear the weight of absence. A nostalgic note laced her voice as she murmured, "I guess I no longer have any need for this cabin. It's just a shame that everything inside it will..."
But before she could conclude, Ryan's sudden declaration cut through her musings.
"I'll take it!"
His words brought an arched brow and a quizzical tone to her voice as she questioned, "What do you mean, you'll take it?"
The explanation flowed forth, a revelation of a newfound ability arising from his utilisation of the Mana Ring in their epic bout. The casual manner in which he delivered his revelation belied the astonishment it evoked from the powerful and knowledgeable elf.
"It's just a space that I can access," Ryan elucidated, summoning the Mana Ring with a mere thought and revealing the intricacies of this new power.
With rapt attention, Elora listened, her understanding deepening. His control over the space within the ring seemed almost intuitive, with his mind seamlessly linking a world contained within. It was a small field, suspended within a limitless abyss, circumscribed by an atmospheric barrier of sorts.
The elf's wide eyes sparkled with a mixture of awe and wonder. Her voice held reverence as she defined the nature of his newfound power.
"It must be a Pocket World. I've only heard of them in ancient legends and theories, spaces that can contain life and grow and develop over time. You can think of your Pocket World as literally what the name suggests, a world you can access freely and a sub-space that belongs to you as the owner of the Mana Ring."
Amidst this revelation, Ryan's curiosity surfaced, and he pondered aloud, "Is that really all that great?"
He didn't seem particularly enthralled by the idea of cultivating a small field in his pocket world. It felt more like a secondary benefit to him, aside from the storage capacity the space offered.
Elora's explanation was animated, rife with the potential of this newfound ability. "Of course it is! You can store living beings within your Pocket World as well as continue to grow it into your own world. There is even a tale that..."
Her words trailed off momentarily, but Ryan's mind already connected the dots. He mused quietly, "Earth and even Aria could be the Pocket World of some great being."
The philosophical implications of their conversation cast a contemplative shadow, threatening to plunge Ryan into an existential quandary. But his resilience kicked in, and he promptly regained his focus.
"I guess I could start building a world. This cabin will be a great start if you would allow me to take it," he proposed, casting his gaze upon Elora with an inquiring tone.
A cordial nod signalled her consent. She ventured inside to gather her treasured artifacts and private mementoes, neatly tucking them into a compact Spatial Bag attached to her belt.
She then signalled for him to do with it what he pleased.
-
Curiosity prickled within Ryan as he contemplated his newly discovered power. He then ventured into his Pocket World for the first time, having peered into it momentarily, but still wielding a measure of caution. It was an experimental dive into a realm that, despite its incredible potential, seemed to have a considerable mana toll. As he crossed the threshold, he felt an unusual weight pressing against his consciousness - the hefty cost of the Spatial Manipulation doing so required.
Inside this miniature universe, his explorations took on a muted quality. Within, he surmised, was a space where mana flowed with a capricious extravagance. The environment mirrored a tiny, verdant island, suspended amidst the dark void of the abyss. It was a tranquil yet eerie solitude, where the surrounding endless expanse of nothingness seemed both unsettling and strangely serene.
Soon, he was joined by Elora, whom he returned to and asked if she wanted to see it for herself. Eager to, she placed her hand into his, an unspoken affirmation of her trust in him. When they crossed the boundary into the Pocket World, they found themselves on that same grassy knoll, a haven in the endless void.
The initial experience was a conundrum of fear and serenity, a place that defied convention by its very existence. It was like standing at the precipice of the universe, vulnerable yet inexplicably secure.
"I'll go back and get the cabin," he said before disappearing once again.
Returning to Akegria Forest, situated in a remote region on the outskirts of Aria, his mind began to sculpt how he would transport the cabin into his Pocket World. With his mind as the architect, he envisioned colossal, unseen hands reaching for the entirety of her cabin. Its structure and the very ground it stood upon trembled with anticipation.
Then, with the potency of his Mana Ring surging forth, he executed his vision. Elora's cabin was absorbed into his newly found Pocket World, a strenuous feat that surpassed his initial estimations. With each expenditure of the Mana Ring's magic, Ryan emitted a majestic golden aura, an iridescent testament to his mastery over this newfound power.
But it was certainly taxing.
"I guess Elora is stranded there until I recover," he quipped to himself, before concentrating on reinvigorating the sapped energy of his Mana Ring. This remarkable space he had unlocked, his Pocket World, was a trove of potential, but it demanded its due, leaving Ryan focusing on recovery.