The library was silent save for the occasional rustle of pages as Leon flipped through another book. Stacks of texts surrounded him, each opened to sections about plants, magical phenomena, or mana-infused environments. Despite the knowledge before him, Leon felt a twinge of frustration.
For hours now, he had been reading, hoping to find something that could help him better understand his fusion ability. Though he had already learned much about the flora and fauna of mana-rich forests, there were no mentions of anything resembling his ability—or any guidance on how to refine it.
His gaze shifted to the objects on the desk: a small clay figurine, a pair of flowers, and two polished stones. These were the latest items he had attempted to fuse, and every single attempt had ended in failure.
Leon leaned back in his chair with a sigh, rubbing his temples.
Why can I only fuse apples?
The fusion process, which had felt almost instinctive when he worked with apples, now seemed impossibly difficult. Every time he tried to fuse something new, the mana would falter, the energy dissipating before the process could complete.
He picked up the clay figurines again, holding one in each hand. Closing his eyes, he focused on the familiar warmth of his mana, channeling it into the objects. For a brief moment, the figurines glowed faintly, their edges beginning to blur. But just as quickly, the light flickered and vanished.
Leon let out a frustrated groan, setting the figurines back on the desk. His mana reserves were completely drained again, leaving him lightheaded and weak.
I'm just not strong enough, he thought grimly. My mana pool is too small to handle anything more complicated than apples.
The realization prompted Leon to make a decision. If his mana reserves were the problem, then he would have to fix them. For the next ten days, he dedicated himself to rigorous mana training, using every spare moment to push his limits.
Each morning, after completing his duties at the shrine, Leon would return to his house and begin his exercises. He practiced controlled breathing, visualization, and mana circulation techniques—simple but effective methods for expanding his reserves.
At first, the progress was painfully slow. His body, long unused to such exertion, struggled to adapt. But as the days passed, the exercises became easier. He could feel his mana flowing more freely, and his control over it grew stronger.
By the end of the tenth day, Leon felt a newfound confidence.
It's time to try again.
Leon descended the mountain staircase, the cool breeze carrying the scent of earth and greenery. His destination was the lake at the base of the mountain—a place he had read about in the books. The area was rich with vegetation, many of which had unique properties tied to the mana-infused environment.
As he approached the lake, the glistening water came into view, its surface reflecting the pale morning light. Leon crouched by the shoreline, his eyes scanning the plants growing in the damp soil.
His gaze fell on two familiar species: Watersedge Grass and Aqua Lilyleaf.
The Watersedge Grass grew in clusters near the water's edge, its slender green stalks topped with delicate white flowers. Nearby, the Aqua Lilyleaf spread its broad, waxy leaves streaked with pale blue veins, the plant's roots dipping into the water.
Leon carefully uprooted one stalk of Watersedge Grass and a single Aqua Lilyleaf, making sure to keep their roots intact.
These will do, he thought, cradling the plants gently as he made his way back up the mountain.
Once back in the library, Leon set the plants on the desk and took a moment to collect himself. The books and failed experiments from the previous days still surrounded him, silent reminders of his earlier struggles. But this time, he felt different—stronger, more prepared.
Sitting down, he placed the two plants side by side and closed his eyes.
The warmth of his mana flowed through him, gathering in his chest before spreading to his hands. As he channeled the energy into the plants, they began to glow softly, their forms blurring at the edges.
Unlike before, the process felt smooth and natural. The resistance he had faced in earlier attempts was gone, replaced by an effortless connection. The plants pulsed with light, their glow intensifying as the fusion neared completion.
With a final surge of mana, the glow flared brightly before fading away.
Leon opened his eyes, his breath hitching as he looked at the result.
In place of the two original plants was a single, newly-formed specimen. Its appearance was striking—a blend of the Watersedge Grass and Aqua Lilyleaf, yet distinct in its own right.
The plant's slender stalk resembled the Watersedge Grass, but faint blue veins ran through its surface, pulsing softly with light. The delicate white flowers at the tips of the stalks had merged into broader petals, their edges glowing faintly.
Leon held the plant in his hands, turning it over to examine it from every angle.
It's beautiful, he thought, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
Setting the plant down gently, Leon reached for the nearest book on flora and began flipping through its pages. After a few minutes of searching, he stopped at a familiar entry: Mana Reed.
His heart skipped a beat as he read the description.
"Mana Reed is a plant commonly found in mana-rich environments, particularly near lakes and rivers. Its unique properties allow it to purify water by removing impurities and enriching it with mana, making it invaluable in both natural ecosystems and magical practices."
Leon stared at the illustration accompanying the text. The plant in the drawing was identical to the one he had just created.
For a moment, Leon was stunned. The Mana Reed wasn't some entirely new creation—it was a plant that already existed in the world. But the implications were still profound.
I didn't create something unknown… I recreated something natural through fusion.
The realization filled him with a mix of awe and excitement. If his fusion ability could mimic natural processes and produce results identical to real plants, what else could it do?
Leon leaned back in his chair, staring at the glowing Mana Reed on the desk before him. Though it was a common plant, the significance of the achievement wasn't lost on him. For the first time since discovering his ability, he had fused something more complex than an apple—and it had worked flawlessly.
This is just the beginning, he thought, his excitement building. If I can do this with plants, what else is possible?