Meanwhile: A Cave, Deep in the Wilderness
A young girl races through the darkness of the cave, tears streaming down her face, her sobs echoing in the cavernous expanse. Her arms are smeared with blood, and her heart pounds as something monstrous pursues her, each step it takes causing the ground to tremble. Desperation drives her to stop momentarily, and with a shaky breath, she raises her hands and shouts, "Chaos Strike!"
A bolt of lightning erupts from her fingertips, crackling with energy as it hurtles toward the beast. But the spell does nothing, barely singeing the creature's hide. Instead of retreating, the beast bellows in fury, the roar reverberating off the cave walls. Her fear intensifies as she stumbles backward, choking out a desperate cry, "Why do they always choose me for this?"
She spins around, searching frantically for a way out, but her heart sinks when she sees that she's trapped. The walls of the cave loom high, spikes jutting from the ceiling, and there's no escape. Panic sets in as she turns back to face the creature—a colossal cyclops, towering like a lighthouse, its massive, humanoid form blocking any hope of retreat.
The cyclops fixes its single, malevolent eye on her, and she sees a firebolt forming, glowing ominously as it prepares to strike. Terror seizes her as she whispers, "Am I going to die?"
Suddenly, metallic chains whip through the air, coiling around the cyclops's legs with a resounding clank. The chains tighten, and with a tremendous pull, the beast is yanked off balance, crashing to the ground. The firebolt in its eye discharges, searing its own face with a burst of flames. It howls in pain, trying to break free, its massive hands grabbing at the chains.
Three figures stand at the far end of the cave, their silhouettes stark against the dim light. They heave on the chains, their heavy machinery groaning under the strain. One of them shouts, "Now!"
From above, a massive boulder plummets toward the cyclops. The beast looks up just in time to see Thorus, a formidable warrior, descending from the cave's heights, his sword gleaming as he drives it straight into the cyclops's eye. The creature shrieks in agony, the sound echoing like thunder.
"Flame God, burn everything!" Thorus roars as he lands, igniting the cyclops's head. Flames erupt from the wound, consuming the beast's skull in a blaze of fiery wrath.
Thorus lands lightly near the girl, his eyes sharp and commanding. "Cherry, attack now!" he orders.
Cherry, still trembling, forces herself to focus. She steadies her breathing and raises her hands, her voice firm as she chants, "Thunder Strike!" A bolt of lightning crashes down from the cave's ceiling, striking the cyclops's burning head. The explosion is immediate, the creature's skull shattering into bloody fragments that spray across the cave.
The three men rush to Thorus's side as Cherry, now visibly exhausted, casts healing spells over herself, mending the cuts on her arms. She looks up, exasperated. "Why am I always the bait?"
Thorus chuckles, scratching the back of his head. "Cherry, you're still new to adventuring."
She glares at him. "You said the same thing three years ago! And Berlin over there started just a year before me. Why doesn't he ever get to be the bait?"
The group exchanges amused glances before bursting into laughter. Berlin grins, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Next cave boss, I'll take my turn as the bait."
Meanwhile in Ura Village
As I quietly roam the halls, I hum a little tune to myself:
"In shadows I roam, Ales Barson by name,
To steal ancient candles, and master arcane flame."
With each verse, I snatch up another candle, gathering them from every corner of the house. I know it'll land me on Santa's naughty list, but it's a small price to pay for the chance to learn magic.
According to the books on enchanting, you can learn the basics of magic but mastering it is a whole different challenge. Simple spells like summoning flames are just the beginning—part of the basics. But there are some magics where, once you grasp the fundamentals, you immediately become a master, like teleportation.
Now, sitting in the sun-dappled storeroom, the light streaming in through a narrow window, I settle into meditation. I've been at it for an hour, trying to channel my focus. With a deep breath, I raise my arms, staring intently at the candle before me. I glare at it. I glare harder.
Suddenly, a sharp, burning sensation flares up in my eyes. In my concentration, I forgot to blink. "Ahhhh, my eyes!" I cry out, feeling as if needles are being driven into them.
This can't be right. This isn't how it's supposed to go! This is completely unscientific.
Frustrated, I reach for the nearest book, pulling it down with a swift motion. I glance up at the eight tall shelves that tower above me, packed with knowledge just out of reach. "These two shelves are all I've got for now," I mutter to myself, fixing my gaze on them as I flip open the book.
Title of the book: Properties of Meditation
Enhanced Focus and Intent: Meditation sharpens focus and intent, which are crucial for harnessing mana. With a focused mind, practitioners can direct their energy more precisely, enhancing their ability to perform spells, rituals, or any mana-related tasks.
"As if I didn't know that," I mumble under my breath.
Creating Space for Mana: Through regular meditation, practitioners can create a mental and spiritual space that is receptive to mana. This space acts as a reservoir, enabling individuals to draw upon and manipulate mana more effectively in their magical endeavors.
"Creating space for mana? Does that mean someone's aura is bigger than others?" I wonder aloud, pondering the implications.
Passive Mana Formation: Through meditation, practitioners can develop the ability to generate mana passively, reducing the need to rely on magical items for replenishing their mana reserves.
I close the book, staring into the middle distance as I consider the lessons. Magic, it seems, will take time to master. But as a toddler, time is on my side, I have plenty of it. With a sigh, I settle back into my meditation, determined to unlock the mysteries of mana.
There were many thoughts in my head.
These Fuzzy clouds around my head are given by the Statue like a mountain lady. Now I can see clearly unlike when I was 6 months of age. This world supports science but as if the backbone is given by the Magic.