Keal took a deep breath and concentrated. "Hmm, let me test this out," he said, and with a flick of his wrist, a small flame ignited at the tip of his index finger. He watched it dance in the air, a flicker of excitement building within him. "Okay, I like this," he murmured to himself.
Since his arrival in this strange land, he had noticed something unusual: whenever he focused, a radiant glow seemed to emanate from everything around him—from the trees to the animals and even the very air itself. It felt like a palpable energy. "I wonder if this is what they call mana," he thought, recalling snippets from a manga he had read before coming here. The idea intrigued him, especially the notion that he could absorb this energy.
Curiosity sparked, he decided to experiment further. "What if I try using fire again, but this time wrap just a little mana around it from the world around me?" With determination, he focused on channeling the surrounding glow into his flame.
He concentrated, carefully wrapping a small amount of mana around the tiny spark. To his surprise, the flame intensified, glowing brighter than he expected, flickering with a life of its own. It was powerful, nearly overwhelming, and he quickly realized it was growing dangerously close to engulfing a patch of the forest. Panic surged through him. "No, no!" he exclaimed, instinctively summoning water to extinguish the blaze. He managed to douse the flames just in time, his heart racing as he grasped the extent of the power he had tapped into—and the risks that came with it.
Keal's mind raced with possibilities. "If I can use elemental magic, doesn't that mean I can control earth, wind, water, and fire?" he mused, excitement bubbling within him. He recalled another manga he had read, where the main character wielded powers over light and darkness as well. The thought thrilled him. "Maybe I can try those too," he said to himself, determination replacing his earlier panic.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the essence of the elements around him. First, he reached for the earth beneath his feet, visualizing its strength and stability. With a gentle push of his will, he felt a small tremor ripple through the ground, a testament to his burgeoning connection with the element.
Next, he turned his attention to the air. He lifted his hands, envisioning a breeze swirling around him. To his delight, a gentle gust began to pick up, ruffling his hair and rustling the leaves overhead.
Encouraged, he then focused on water. He closed his eyes and imagined a stream flowing through him. To his amazement, a small orb of water formed above his palm, shimmering in the light. Then an idea struck him. "If I add some science to this—like reducing the temperature of the water—will it turn to ice?" With concentrated focus, he willed the temperature to drop, and to his astonishment, the water froze, forming a delicate crystal of ice.
Feeling emboldened by his success, he turned his thoughts to darkness. "If I can use dark magic, then can I maybe enter my own shadows?" he wondered aloud, intrigued by the concept. As he concentrated, he felt a pull, a sensation of slipping into the very shadow beneath him. Suddenly, he was enveloped in darkness, only to find himself in a shadowy realm that felt like an extension of himself.
"This is incredible!" he exclaimed, a mix of awe and exhilaration coursing through him. Each element and ability he explored deepened his understanding of this world—and his place within it. But as thrilling as it was, he reminded himself to tread carefully; the potential for both creation and chaos lay in his hands.
Keal's curiosity pushed him to explore further. He spotted a nearby tree, its branches reaching for the sky, and another not far away that looked sickly and withered. "Let me check something," he thought, excitement bubbling within him. "Can I make that tree grow even more and help the sick one become healthy?"
He took a moment to gather his focus. "I think I can control the mana over there with the mana that flows in the air, almost like a string to manipulate it," he mused, feeling the energy surrounding him.
Standing still, he closed his eyes and reached out mentally. He visualized the vibrant tree, imagining its roots extending deeper into the earth, drawing nourishment. As he concentrated, he felt a surge of energy flow through him, and slowly, he directed that energy toward the healthy tree. To his amazement, he saw its leaves shimmer as if responding to his call, growing greener and fuller right before his eyes.
Next, he turned his attention to the sickly tree. He envisioned its roots revitalizing, absorbing the nutrients it desperately needed. With focused intent, he summoned the ambient mana around him, feeling it flow like a stream toward the ailing tree. A warm glow enveloped it, and slowly, he noticed the bark regaining its strength and the leaves beginning to unfurl.
"It's working!" he exclaimed, a thrill of accomplishment rushing through him. Keal felt a connection not just to the trees but to the very essence of life surrounding him. He understood now that his powers extended beyond mere control; he was capable of nurturing and healing.
An exhilarating thought struck Keal. "Why not create a fireball?" he wondered, envisioning the flames coalescing into a perfect sphere. "If I can shape fire, I should be able to launch it with a bit of pressure." He focused on the mana around him, molding it into a swirling ball of fire in his hands. As the energy concentrated, he felt a rush of power.
With a determined flick, he pushed the fireball forward. It shot through the air, a brilliant orb of flame streaking towards the distant trees. The exhilaration of creation surged through him as he imagined its impact.
Then, another idea sparked in his mind. "What if I could make long icicles from the mana around me?" he mused. With a thought, he summoned the cold energy, shaping it into sharp, glistening icicles that extended far away from him. He directed his will, flinging them toward the tree with a swift motion.
"Let's see how this works," he said, adding enough force to ensure the icicles would strike with impact. They flew through the air, piercing the tranquility of the forest. As they collided with the tree, he envisioned a rapid freezing effect.
The tree shuddered as the icicles struck, enveloping it in a layer of frost. Keal held his breath, watching the icy tendrils spread. The tree was frozen solid, its once vibrant leaves now coated in glistening ice. He felt a pang of guilt but quickly reassured himself that this was part of his experimentation.
For a moment, it seemed the spell had worked perfectly, but then he noticed the ice began to crack. The sudden shift in temperature caused the tree to splinter, branches breaking under the strain. "It's working!" he exclaimed, exhilarated by the display of power.
As the shards fell away, revealing the frozen core, Keal realized he had succeeded in manipulating the elements in ways he had never imagined. Each experiment was a lesson, and with every success, he felt more attuned to the magic of this world.
Keal took a moment to assess his surroundings, feeling a mix of exhilaration and responsibility. "I should check my range of mana reach," he thought. "Fifty meters around me seems reasonable for now. If I keep practicing, I know my potential is endless."
As he prepared to head home, a thought struck him. "Oh, but first, I need to clean up this mess." He took a deep breath, centering himself, and focused on the shadows around the trees he had damaged.
He opened the shadows, envisioning them as a safe container. With careful intent, he drew the remnants of the shattered ice and splintered wood into the darkness, watching as they disappeared from sight.
Then, he directed his energy toward the roots of the trees, imagining them healing and restoring. "Let's bring them back to how they were," he whispered. As he concentrated, he felt the flow of mana surge through him, reaching out into the soil.
In an instant, the trees began to regenerate, their branches straightening, leaves unfurling, and the damage vanishing as if it had never happened. He stepped back, satisfied. "Perfect," he said, admiring the vibrant, restored trees.
With the area tidied up, Keal felt a sense of accomplishment. "Time to head home," he decided. Tomorrow would bring new opportunities for discovery, and he was eager to see just how far he could push his abilities. As he walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of his journey into the depths of magic and mastery.
Keal headed back home, feeling the thrill of his earlier experiments still buzzing in his veins. As part of his routine, he did some exercises, pushing his body to stay fit. Afterward, he made his way to the bathroom for a relaxing soak, but just as he was about to unwind, his stomach growled loudly.
"Oh right, I haven't eaten yet," he reminded himself, realizing that all that mana testing had drained his energy. "I'm sure I'll get more accustomed to it with time." With renewed determination, he headed to the kitchen, recalling the former host's memories that suggested there should still be some food stashed away.
As he opened the cupboard and began searching, the world around him suddenly blurred, and he fainted, collapsing to the floor.
In his unconscious state, Keal found himself in a dimly lit space, facing the former host. The figure looked calm yet grateful. "Thank you for what you are doing," the former host said softly. "It's not your obligation, but thank you all the same."
Keal smiled, feeling a strange connection. "This is my body now, so your pain is mine," he replied. "I hope you're watching from up in heaven. Better make sure you have a front-row seat to see me in action."
As the former host began to fade away, he paused. "Under the old lady's bed, you'll find a book," he said. "I didn't want to touch it yet, but it has an interesting surprise. She left it for me—hope you can use it to your advantage."
"Sure will," Keal replied, a grin spreading across his face. "Even if it turns out to be something silly, I'll still find a way to make it work."
With that, the vision faded, Keal slowly regained consciousness, blinking against the brightness of the kitchen. Before diving into the mystery of the book, he felt the gnawing hunger in his stomach again. "First things first," he muttered, rummaging through the cupboards to grab a quick lunch. He found some leftover stew and bread, quickly heating it up.
As he enjoyed his meal, he reflected on the vision he had just experienced. The former host's grateful words echoed in his mind. "Thank you for what you are doing," the figure had said, smiling gently. Keal remembered how the host chuckled softly when he mentioned the front-row seat. "I'll try and get a front row seat," the former host had replied, amusement dancing in their eyes.
Once he finished eating, he felt energized and ready for the next step. "Looks like I have a book to find," he said, determination surging through him. With a sense of purpose, he made his way to the old lady's bedroom, eager to uncover whatever secrets awaited him. The thought of the book intrigued him, and he was ready to see how it could aid him on this journey.