Chapter 4: Accidental Meeting
Muriel was practicing his sword maneuvers with the stick of wood when he finally heard a soft laugh.
"Your form is interesting," a soft voice said. "But you're using too much energy.
He turned to see a young woman watching him with long golden hair and bright green eyes, in clothes that were clean and well-made, unlike the dirty rags worn by people in the slums.
"Who are you?" Muriel asked, lowering his wooden stick.
"My name is Irene," she said, drawing nearer. "I'm a mage. And you're doing all those moves wrong."
Muriel said nothing. He knew his moves were right, but this was the first time he had heard about mages in this world.
"Your body is too weak to move like that," Irene kept saying. "You are going to hurt yourself if you continue training in that manner."
"Then how should I train?" Muriel asked.
Irene lifted her hand, and a small sphere of light emerged above her palm.
"The foundation of strength in this world is mana," she explained. "Even a strong body has a limit without mana.
Muriel watched the ball of light with interest. "Can anyone use mana?
"Yes, if they know how," Irene said. "But it's dangerous to try without proper training."
She looked at his slender frame, the tired eyes. "You're pushing yourself too hard."
"I have to get stronger," Muriel said briefly.
Irene shook her head. "Strength isn't just about muscles. You need to understand mana."
She walked around him, looking at his stance. Her green eyes seemed to see right through him.
"Your movements are weird," she said. "Like you know advanced techniques, but your body can't handle them."
Muriel said nothing. He couldn't very well explain that he had learned these moves in another life.
"Here," Irene said. She produced a small, blue bottle from inside her bag. "A healing potion. You need it more than I do."
Muriel looked at the bottle and didn't take it. "Why are you helping me?"
"Because you're interesting," Irene smiled, "most people in the slums just fight like animals. But you. you're different."
She set the bottle down beside him. "Use it when you're badly hurt. But be careful with your training."
"Thanks," Muriel said in a low voice.
"One more thing," Irene added. "You will never become truly strong in this world without mana. Remember that."
She then turned to go away, with the shining of the gold locks catching in the morning sunlight.
"Wait," Muriel called. "How can I learn about mana? Irene looked back at him. "Find a mana crystal. But be careful-they're rare and dangerous. Most of the people who try to use them die."
Then she simply walked away, leaving Muriel pondering many things.
He picked up the blue bottle and peered at it closely. The liquid inside glowed slightly.
"Mana," he whispered. This was something he had never known about in his past life.
He carefully placed the healing potion in his pocket. It was too valuable to use now.
He looked at his wooden stick and remembered what Irene had said: his body was too weak for advanced techniques.
"But I cannot wait," he thought, "I need to be stronger still more quickly.
He remembered seeing some abandoned buildings at the edge of the slums. Maybe one of those will have a mana crystal.
The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows in the training area.
"Tomorrow," he decided. "Tomorrow I'll find a mana crystal."
He went back to the mercenary tent to clean more weapons, his mind began to ponder on mana and magic while working.
This time, the merc gave him extra food. "You work hard, boy," he said. "Keep it up."
Muriel ate the little food slowly and remained some portion of it for the next day as well. Searching a mana crystal was a hefty work, after all.
That night, under the stairs, he peered at the healing potion. The blue liquid seemed to whisper with power.
"Irene," he thought, "why did she really help me?
He remembered her warning about mana crystals being dangerous. But danger was something he didn't mind.
His body was sore from training, but his head buzzed from planning. The next day would be crucial. The soft glow of the healing potion in the dark was his first real treasure in this new world.
"Thanks, Irene," he whispered, and then he closed his eyes to sleep. And then the dreams came: power, magic, and becoming stronger than anyone in Arslan.
Tomorrow, he would take another step toward his goal. The road would be dangerous, but he was ready.
The blue bottle remained secure in his pocket, a reminder that not everyone in this cruel world was an enemy.