"My name is Daynes" The boy in front of her spoke with a ghastly whisper, hoarse and deep.
Sandra gazed at the boy in front, for a minute straight in complete and utter silence. Something was off about him, his composure bordered on the lines of a moving mannequin that had no soul and,
The name he had uttered made the hairs on the back of neck stand, and a feeling of unconscious fear cautioned her like a cold breeze of winter. This was not a normal name, she swiftly made some connections and concluded that this powerful name, was bestowed upon him by the Nexus. For there were some times, rare occurrence, when the Nexus chose some who had no name and gave them a powerful title as a boon to make them adjust more to their surroundings.
Such people were called the chosen of the Nexus, and it was highly uncommon, but not one-in-a-million-years type. Though it was still a shocking thing, no doubt.
"He must be a man of great character" Sandra thought, for the Nexus never favoured those who were aligned with treachery, only the Daemons loved those types of men and women.
The boy in front even during the silence remained unmoving and his once sickly face had a soft smile, yet his dark eyes showed the truth, this was simply formality.
His sickly face which was once shrunken and sunken now had a glow of vitality, with a heart shaped face, that seemingly accentuated his looks. Not rugged. But an amalgamation of delicate and strength gained from surviving a harsh world.
Even Sandra felt a trace of attraction, though she quickly crushed that emotion inside, for she knew her age and she was much much older than him.
His body had became slightly taller and his lanky limbs, were now lithe in manner. With enough training, his already tight muscles would become toned and strong.
---------
Daynes gazed at her, the eerie smile bothered him a little yet he kept his composure,
"Patience is a virtue" He reminded himself, and finally the woman spoke.
"That's a good name. Lovely in elegance. Hmmm, do you know where you are?" Sandra asked with a tone seemingly honey in manner, as she crossed her arms over one another, tilting her head to the side a little.
Daynes was confused, what did she mean? Wasn't he in a hospital? At least that's what it looked like. Yet the appearance of the translucent dark screen on the left, told him enough, there was something wrong.
But until he gets well slightly, he would bid his time. He knew that he will get the answers to his doubt, but for now he would wait and answer the truth to Sandra who was sitting beside him looking at him anticipation.
"I....am in a hospital." He answered in a few words, as he sat up for he was having trouble looking at her, and now his back rested against the white pillow that was the perfect mix of hard and soft.
Hearing his answer, the woman laughed. Amused.
"Oh no no no, you got it a tad confused, dear. Yes you are in an infirmary, indeed, but not in a normal one. Don't you find it confusing? Your body was weak and now it is suddenly strong. Normal medical science can't do this yet.
Let me explain to you in a way easy to understand. You are in a world different from yours. You are in the realm of magic. You possess magic, dearie"
Daynes blinked twice and suddenly a -ding- sound erupted from within his soul, as the translucent panel appeared beside once again.
[Attributes]
[Clear Composure Level: Upgraded]
[Clear Composure Level 2]
The shock that should have came disappeared like clouds, as he remained eerily composed, shocking the woman in front.
-------------
"Oh."
Daynes uttered only one word.
"What do you mean by, OH?! Mana carrying beings from worlds with tainted energy, are usually more shocked, at this sudden reveal as they never believe in preternatural powers. Seriously.
But you? You are awfully calm. Do you not have a soul or something?" Sandra summoned a glass in her hands– the palm and the transparent cup was marked with a blue ruin of teleportation, and then Sandra filled the cup with water and took a swift swig to calm down her heart.
She was overreacting, that she knew. Yet. The boy in front was behaving exactly like a corpse, with his unaffected composure.
There was no chance of him knowing about magic, he ought to be shocked.
"Calm yourself Sandra. You are overreacting. Maybe this is some kind of a way to take in reality shattering information. Yes that must be it."
She took a deep breath and calmed herself but then he asked a question that was a good one.
"How did you heal me? I thought I was supposed to die and yet you possess the power to surpass death itself. I would like to know, so Miss Sandra, may you please indulge my curiosity a bit"
Daynes demeanor was way too calm and formal, to the point that it was eerie, but truth be told Sandra found it quite endearing though surpassing death was a bit of a stretch.
Sure there were magicians who could surpass the concept of death, but she was not one of them, she could only hold it off for a while but in the end it would succeed in sucking away her life essence or in layman's term your soul.
"Focus" She reprimanded herself in her own mind as she started to narrate the whole mechanism behind his healing.
---------------
"I will begin from the beginning, a short intro to the energy that pervades us. More you will learn from the academy's library and classes.
Anyways mana is something that exists everywhere and in everything, it is something akin to gravitational force affecting both living beings and inanimate objects.
We don't know how mana came to be, but some theories suggest that it is older than even time itself but we are not philosphers. So we won't delve much into the theories.
Instead I will be practical, well, simple too so that you can process better.
You see there are some worlds whose mana lives in a tainted form, and in such worlds the mana core usually remains dormant, but rare cases arise–just like yours.
The reason behind your weak constitution and suffering in terms of health is because, from birth your mana core was awakened, in a dwarf stage of course but still that is indeed commendable for your mana core was purifying the tainted energy.
Though this absorption and purifying, your body couldn't handle and you experienced what is known as mana poisoning which can lead to death.
But thankfully the Nexus summoned you here, and my disciple Bryon healed you by pushing his mana inside. You see, those who suffer from mana poisoning and are in its last stage which is the most severe, they can only be healed by absorbing the strong mana of a warlock or something higher.
And my disciple belongs to that rank. He utilised the pure mana around this realm and shoved it in your core which started its circulation around your body removing the impure poison.
After that, your mana core was freed from the debris and started to suckle the pure mana around healing you almost like a baby that is breast feeded to receive nutrition.
Yeah that's about that. If you are interested in learning more, well this academy will help"
Sandra took another swift swig to ease her throat which was tired after the lecture that she gave while Dayne stayed silent, never interrupting.
He was a good student, and that seemed to make Sandra happy, at least he won't be a troublemaker like the rest.
[Objective Completed]
[A lion must understand his surroundings before establishing his pride in a land. Ask Sandra about the details of your revival]
[Rewards]
[Understanding Of Mana: Attribute Received]
[Understanding Of Mana Level 1]
[Increased Affection: Sandra]
The panel stated and Daynes smiled inwardly. He was able to easily grasp the concept and he had to thank this....uh, invisible guide, for giving him this mission.
Though he was still curious, what did she mean by academy?
"Uh Miss Sandra, what do you mean by academy?" Sandra facepalmed for she forgot to give him an explanation about that.
"Oh yeah, I forgot didn't I? Silly me. Anyways, you see those who possess magic and are brought to this realm, have to enter Starsect which is a school for teens who are disoriented like you.
You can't refuse.
Anyways here, this is a guide tablet. This will help you around here. Tata, I will come to meet you later, take a few minutes to rest."
Sandra leapt up from her stool and left, as in Daynes hand rested a tab, which was rectangular in shape and was holographic in nature. And this made him smile.
"I always wanted a phone..... God gave me something better" He thought with a chuckle as he for now turned off the device by clicking on the off button labelled.
Then he turned his attention towards the empty corner where the translucent panel was present just a minute ago.
"Guide?" He tried calling out in his mind and thankfully it worked as the shadow panel appeared once again in front.
[Call me the system, host.]
[Anyways I am at your service]
"Ok, uh, don't mind but how can you help me?" Daynes thoughts were not commanding but instead it was respectful, for there was no sense aggravating someone, who was helping him and plus it didn't harm him in any way so why would he not be respectful?
He wasn't a brat, after all.
[Oh right. You didn't even have the resources enough to read a web-novel.]
[Let me explain, the Nexus or the will of this realm, is somehow feeling affection for you, and thus it awakened me inside you.]
[I will be the one to guide you and develop you into a great magus..... and why am I even taking my sweet time explaining this to you?]
[Downloading System Knowledge]
[Estimation: 1 minute]
Daynes's vision darkened and he closed his eyes feeling a rush of memories, yet he remained steady even in the pain that followed with it.
[Clear Composure Level: Upgraded]
[Clear Composure Level 3]
After a minute, he opened his eyes and his white sclera were red looking as if, he was crying for a hour straight.
"That was painful" An anticlimactic reaction as he remained perfectly calm like a broken robot.
The mixture of the [Attribute:Calm Composure] and his past experiences, proved to be quite deadly. These two things had made him vastly emotionless and dull in manner.
[So do you understand the functions, now?]
"Oh right. Yeah. Yeah I do indeed."
Daynes willed for the soul chart to open and the system heeded his will like a butler who had an arrogant nature.
[Inner Soul Chart]
—————————
[True Name: ???]
[Nexus Name: Daynes The Lion]
[Monikers →]
[The One Distanced From Love]
[The One Disgraced By Fate]
[The Beastly One Of Great Might]
[The Idol Of Truth and Honesty]
[The One With Good Will]
[The Magus Of Destiny]
[Blessed One Of The Nexus]
[The Paradox]
[The Lion]
[The Darkened Husk]
[Mana Core Level 2: You are capable enough to use F + spells, though with great effort, for your mana core is only capable of regenerating 10 MP/min-. MP Regen increased during meditation.]
[MP: 100/100]
[Mana Breakthrough: 20/1000 mana shards.]
[Potential: ???]
[Bloodlines Copied→]
[Physicality Of Bryon Usama (4%)]
[Traits →]
[Might Level 2: Your body is capable of exerting a force that is enough to knock out top class boxers in record time.]
[Nimble Level 2: You are quite flexible by nature and you are agile enough to run past top atheletes.]
[Endurance Level 4: You possess great stamina to run for several hours without sweating and you possess a high pain tolerance and can survive the tortures that could scar any soldiers.]
[Mind Level 2: You possess a high IQ which helps you to analyse patterns and make swift decisions based around it. You possess great decision-making abilities akin to a war captain and are quite adaptable to think on your feet. Your focus is immense and your visualization is awe striking. Your learning speed is good too.]
[Charm Level 3: Due to the pure mana coursing through your veins, you are more attractive than top class models. You are graceful and elegant. People tend to follow your leadership easily, and your words are capable to manipulate even top class politicians]
Daynes gazed at his traits for a bit, and he felt truly happy, he was not stuck with weakness. Instead he was now strong and possessed a supernatural energy in him. He will thank the one known as Bryon later, for because of him his traits were enhanced due to him copying his bloodline.
But he didn't allow his excitement to distract him from his observation, instead he willed for his attributes to show, since he wanted to take a look at everything.
[Attributes]
—————
[Clear Composure Level 3: Your mind is completely still just like a calm and serene sea.]
[Benefits →]
[•Immunity from mind reading.]
[•Emotions dulled.]
[•Slight protection from mental attacks, limit three mental attacks can be blocked enough for the user to become alert.]
[Foresight Of Nexus Level 1: Your eyes are capable of reading subtle cues and are capable enough to gaze at the basic information of any being not protected by a shroud]
[Benefits →]
[•You can see movements of your enemy twenty seconds before they occur. Weakness? Well your speed is your weakness]
[•You can observe the basic attributes and soul sheets of those weaker than you and for those stronger? Well, you can see theirs too but only their emotions at the given moment and rank]
[Understanding Of Mana Level 1: Knowledge is a blessing and knowledge of mana is power in its true form]
[Benefits →]
[•You possess basic knowledge about the history of mana]
[•You can detect the flow of mana around you]
"Only three attributes? No. These are enough. I know I will get the chance to grow far more and the attributes will grow too." Daynes thought, shaking off the disappointment that came for some time.
He then dismissed the panel and turned towards the guide-tablet, but for some reason, he felt sleepy. Maybe it was the tiredness, due to him coming to terms with everything, without letting his gnawing emotions outside?
Whatever it may be, he would for now appreciate some good rest, plus the mattress underneath seemed to be like heaven much different from the pavements and benches he was used to.
With the last drifting though, he closed his eyes and fell asleep entering the realm of infinite possibilities. The Realm Of Dreams.
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Author's note: Hope you loved it and if you do? Well.... then give support 😉.