Next morning was training.
Wake up.
Eat some newly obtained meat.
Stretch.
Wake up Jacob.
Do some basic running.
"Gosh! Huuh, you call this..... basic running?!"
Jacob breathed heavily and barely followed me and Noora.
'I guess she naturally has more stamina since she's a werebeast? Wereperson?'
After that a short stretch break.
"Ugh, I'm gonna die."
I ignored Jacob's complaint and admired my body for a moment.
'Huh, I guess this body is very flexible. Saves me the trouble.'
"Oh, that seems productive."
We all stretched and Raijin ended up joining as well.
Then we all did a few push ups, sit ups, s- blablabla.
Anyway, we just did a lot of different activities and eventually came to mana cultivation.
"What? We'll..... do what? I don't think... that's possible."
Jacob was sitting on the ground and asked confused while Noora just stared at me.
"Oh, yeah you haven't felt mana before."
I thought about it and looked at my skills.
[Avatar skills]
[Swordsmanship(C-)] [Swordsman's blade(C)] [Mana circulation(E)] [Physical enhancment(D-)], [ [sealed]
'Hmm, I have to make them feel the mana as a start.'
I looked at Raijin and got an idea.
"Hey, do you have a sk- technique that uses non elemental magic?"
Raijin thought for a while and unsheathed his sword.
"Not really but I can change my sword aura to a certain degree."
*Spark!*
His sword sparked briefly and he closed his eyes.
'Huh, he's definitely skilled.'
[Developing skill...]
It was faint but I sensed mana being released, it wasn't visible to the naked eye but it was there.
"Good, how long can you keep it like that?"
I asked while feeling the faint mana.
"Uh, I don't know. I'll say when I'm about to stop."
He answered with a confident expression.
'Oh, I guess that's reassuring.'
*Clap!*
"Guys, try to check if you can feel a difference when you approach Raijin."
Noora nodded and walked up to Raijin's sword.
"Uh! Hotter!"
Noora quickly backed off and hid behind me.
'Oh, she realized it instantly. She even accurately said its element even though.....'
I made a small realization and felt a little stupid.
'She has talent to say the least. A tenacity that made her survive. I guess that wasn't the only thing.'
"Wow, that's impressive. Jacob?"
Jacob nodded and walked up to Raijin.
"Eh, is he currently doing anything?"
He looked confused at me.
"Alright try that again but try to focus on if anything changes."
[Re-awakened skill: Mana sense(B+)]
'Oh? B+ already? Is it because it's a re-awakened skill?'
I started feeling strange.
'I don't think it should be like this.'
My senses felt like they were expanding.
"Urgh-"
I felt extremely nauseous and wanted to throw up.
"Are you okay?"
Raijin looked at me and asked.
"Yea- ugh just give me a minute."
I sat down cross legged and started focusing on only on the new feeling.
'I should've accounted for this. Thinking about it, whenever I focused I could easily sense mana.'
It was a stupid oversight but it wasn't necessarily bad.
Before I knew it my nausea disappeared and I opened my eyes.
"Ah."
I saw blue particles and I felt like I could easily absorb and interact with it.
[Mana sense(B+) has been upgraded!]
But what surprised me was something I could only call impurities everywhere.
'Is this what elves see?'
I looked around me while feeling uncomfortable.
"Oh, I guess I win."
Raijin said while looking at Jacob and Noora.
"No fair, you cheated!"
"I guess that's what being an adventurer is like."
I guessed why they were complaining and asked.
"Did you guys bet on when I would wake up?"
Raijin and Jacob flinched slightly and Noora nodded.
"Yeah, two and a half hours!"
Noora exclaimed excitedly.
I sighed lightly.
"You guys, did you stop training to bet on me waking up?"
Raijin and Jacob flinched again.
"Uh, I don't think training so much is good for you. Too much of anything is bad for you right?"
I looked confused at Raijin.
"Don't you think it's necessary?"
'A lazy regressor??'
I didn't understand why mr. regressor wasn't training. He had the goal to prevent corruption from spreading, right?
"Oh, I don't think this type of training would have an effect on me."
I looked at Jacob and sighed.
"Sure, anyway Noora what have you been doing?"
"I can't touch the blue dust. Frustrating."
I looked at Noora dumbfounded and looked at Raijin who had a similar expression to mine.
"Already? Uh, give me a second."
[Activating skill: mana circulation(E)]
I quickly rushed to try and absorb mana.
[Developing skill...]
I tried to breathe in mana and manipulating it.
After about five minutes I completed the minimum.
[Re-awakened skill: Mana breathing(F)]
"Huff, I feel like I'm doing something stupid."
[Activating: mana breathing(F)]
[Absorbing mana]
"Oh, Raijin."
I decided to ask a question.
"Yeah?"
"Do elves exist here?"
Jacob immediately tensed up and listened.
Raijin casually looked around and nodded.
"Yes, but they don't involve themselves with the human world. They live within an unknown forest. At least that's what I've read in a book."
I nodded and tried to use my accumulated mana.
"Noora turn around real quick."
She nodded and did as she was told.
I placed my hand on her back.
[Releasing accumulated mana!]
"Oh!"
Noora's ears perked up.
She closed her eyes silently and when I released all my accumulated mana she looked at me.
'Huh?'
It felt weird. She looked like she was accepting something.
'I don't know why she's looking at me like that but.'
I nodded and placed my hand on her head.
"Let's make sure you're strong enough to defend yourself."
She nodded with determined eyes.
Meanwhile Raijin was practicing mana cultivation and Jacob was trying to feel mana.
"Alright now it's Jacob's turn."
[Accumulating mana...]
********
It's been about a week since we started training.
I was sent a few messages by Alius saying he found something and to meet up at the forest of wishes. My stats also evened out a little.
[Stats]
[STR: D-] [VIT: D+] [AGI: D+] [INT: C-]
Something weird happened when I reached C- in INT.
"Uh, did you colour your hair?"
Raijin looked at me confused at the time and Noora thought it looked cool.
I got a line of pure white hair. I checked my original body as well and it was the same.
"I don't know why it happened. Anyway I don't feel any different so I think it's fine."
I also learned to tie my hair for convenience.
Jacob also learned to sense mana although he could only sense it when he was meditating.
"Ah, so it was possible after all. It's nice to see you stepping closer to your dream. Thank you for helping him."
Laura got emotional and ended up thanking me for five minutes straight.
I felt uncomfortable because she bowed at about a ninety degree angle.
"It's alright, you're letting me stay here for free after all."
Noora also improved and learned to move mana and absorb it.
Although she couldn't store it in her body and it left after ten minutes.
Raijin also practiced and I learnt about his original plan.
Noora wasn't even supposed to appear until this week and he was planning to train her for a month.
'I guess that's good?'
He changed his schedule a few times and apparently he had plenty of rest time.
'Lazy regressor....'
My fantasies of overpowered regressors quickly crumbled.
'Anyway is it time to go back to the forest of wishes?'
I looked at my system window while typing on a floating keyboard.
[Private chat: Quint-Martial,Puncher]
Quint: So what do you need my help with again?
Martial Puncher: I discovered some secret scheme and propaganda.
Quint: You sure you're not crazy?
Martial Puncher: Definitely not. Anyway the more the merrier right?
Quint: Do I go now?
Martial Puncher: Yup, let's meet up outside the forest on the west side.
Quint: Then I have to go through the forest....
Martial Puncher: It'll be fine! You'll be fine! You've even won against me!
Quint: Yeah but that was with specific conditions. Not a proper fight. And you even helped me.
Martial Puncher: What does it matter! Anyway let's meet up!
I sighed and closed the system window.
"Anyway, I guess I should go now."
I had said my goodbyes and even made a small promise to Noora.
I decided not to bring Jacob and Noora with me, Raijin decided to stay behind to make sure nothing happened and to make sure those two were strong enough.
'I'm not 100% sure what he meant but whatever.'
I walked towards the entrance of the village and saw a guard.
"Ah, so I guess you're going back into that forest?"
The guard said looking amazed.
"Yes."
I waved goodbye and left the village.
******
Home was gone.
'I'll become stronger.'
But a new home appeared.
'I have to.'
It was familiar yet it wasn't the same. It couldn't be.
'Mana? Is that your name?'
Noora looked towards the direction Sira Katsumi left.
'Mana, help me. I want to grow stronger.'
Silently a green light materialized.
"Ah, your name is-"
*******
[Activating skill: mana breathing(D-)]
'Why did I not use this skill more often?'
It could be inconvenient to use but it was incredible.
It increased mana regeneration and it was a nice way to regulate breathing.
'I guess earth was trash after all with its corruption. But why didn't I use it more in gates?'
I sighed at my incompotence and then I got an idea.
"What would happen if you purify the mana while inhaling it?"
I thought about it and stopped walking.
'Here's the forest. Wow, it looks ominous.'
[Activating skill: Mana sensing(A-)]
Now I could even see mana all around the forest as well.
I entered the forest while looking at the sun.
'Seems like I have a few hours left.'
I thought about what my plan would be and activated the broken watch.
[Activating: Broken watch(EX)]
'Insurance in case I die.'
Better safe than sorry.
Then I focused on getting through the forest.
I met a few wolves and quickly killed them.
'Damnit, why did I have to use her sword.'
I didn't feel the effects outside of battle but it really bothered me when I fought monsters.
'Like switching from a premium cutting knife to a one dollar knife.'
I sighed and decided to switch bodies.
'I think I'm close. I would rather not cause a misunderstanding.'
[Switching avatar...]
[Equipping title: weapon master(Legendary)]
My vision quickly darkened.
******
"So, why did I have to come with you?"
A baggage carrier complained while following a man.
"Isn't that obvious? It's to carry food."
Alius answered as if it was obvious.
"But do we really need thirty pounds worth of food?"
He nodded seriously.
"Yes, I don't know his preferences so may as well bring whatever I can."
The baggage carrier sighed.
"The only reason I'm doing this is because of money you 'know."
After a few minutes of walking they reached the edge of an ominous forest.
"So this is the place?"
"Yeah, it's recommended to not stay there at midnight because everyone that has either went missing or came back half dead."
Alius scratched his chin curiously.
"Alright, let's take a break here and wait for a friend."
He sat down cross legged at the entrance of the forest as if it was normal.
"Uh, I've been meaning to ask but who is this friend?"
*Thump.*
The baggage carrier asked curious while placing down her backpack.
"Hmm, I don't know a lot about him but I doubt he's evil. Even after I started a fight against him he didn't hold any grudges."
Alius checked his profile just to be ready to compare to Kazumi.
Avatar name: Naoki Kichiro
Lv: 36
Avatar stats: [STR: C+] [VIT: C-] [AGI: C] [INT: D-]
Avatar skills: [quick steps(C+)] [Martial law(C)] [Broken divine heavenly martial arts(A)], [Parry(C-)], [Broken divine heavenly aura(A-)]
Group: none
Equipment: Enhanced sleek gloves(S+)
'I wonder if your level is higher or lower than mine. Although I don't think it matters for us constellations.'
Alius grinned and looked into the forest.