Chapter 5 - A Helping Hand

Victor's days settled into a rhythm of discovery and adaptation. The village, though small and primitive by his standards, was beginning to feel less like a foreign place and more like a living laboratory. His initial demonstrations had made an impression but were only the beginning. He needed a deeper understanding of the world around him and the tools to make his experiments more precise.

The village was simple; its buildings were made of wood and stone, surrounded by a natural landscape that seemed to pulse with the same unseen energy that Victor had felt the first time he awoke here. It wasn't much to look at, but it was a foundation—one he could build on.

Victor walks through the village each morning, and the villagers watch him curiously and warily. He'd clarified that he didn't share their superstitions about mana being a mystical force, but they were still unsure about his methods. They called him a "strange one" behind his back, but there was no denying that they were slowly starting to see his power as something more tangible.

One morning, as Victor passed the blacksmith's forge, the clang of hammer on anvil echoed through the air. The blacksmith, a burly man named Garwin, looked up and nodded at him.

Garwin raised an eyebrow, clearly sceptical. "You want me to make your tools for... magic? That's an odd request, even for someone like you."

Victor smiled, understanding the hesitation. "Not just magic. I'm going to prove that mana can be manipulated scientifically. I need tools that will help me measure, shape, and control it—tools that a blacksmith would make."Garwin scratched his chin thoughtfully, clearly intrigued. "I don't know much about magic, but I've worked with metals all my life. I can get you some wire and plates. You'll have to make the rest work yourself.

"Victor's face lit up with a quiet excitement. "That's exactly what I need. Thank you, Garwin. I'll be back tomorrow."Later that afternoon, Victor stood at the edge of the forest, his thoughts already racing ahead to the next phase of his research. He needed something to test his hypotheses—something that could help him control mana in a precise and repeatable way. The village lacked the resources of a modern laboratory, but that didn't mean he couldn't make do.

As he walked back toward the centre of the village, a figure approached him. It was Elira, her arms laden with a basket of herbs. She stopped before him, eyeing him with a serious expression."You've been working nonstop," she said, concern in her voice. "You need rest."

Victor shook his head. "There's no time for rest, Elira. I've barely scratched the surface of what I can do with mana. I must continue proving that this world's magic is just another science waiting to be understood."She tilted her head, studying him for a moment before speaking again. "I understand. But even a great mind needs rest to think clearly. You're pushing yourself too hard."

Victor paused, considering her words. He was aware of his growing obsession with his experiments, but rest had never come easily to him, especially not when the pieces of his puzzle were just within reach. Still, Elira had a point.

"Perhaps you're right," he admitted, though his tone was reluctant. "But there's no time to waste. This world... it's not like my old one. I need to understand how things work before it's too late."Elira smiled softly. "Then let me help you. I'll gather some more resources. The village has tools you could use—an old loom, some tethers, things you might find useful. But you'll need to ask the elders for permission. Some tools belong to the village and aren't to be used lightly."

Victor nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Elira. I'll speak with them. I'll need all the help I can get."

"Victor Alchemion," the eldest of the group, a woman named Mira, began, "we've seen your power and heard of your claims about magic. You've shown us that there is more to this world than we understand. But you must understand that the tools you seek are not just for anyone.

Victor bowed his head respectfully. "I will not forget."

Victor worked tirelessly for the next few weeks, using the tools he had acquired from the villagers. The loom's metal threads were repurposed for electrical circuits, and the old tethers became conductors for his experiments. With each passing day, he honed his ability to control mana more precisely, using scientific methods to guide its flow and shape it into useful forms.

He worked in isolation, only venturing into the village to gather more supplies or discuss his progress with Elira. Slowly, the villagers began to see his methods not as a threat but as a tool that could lead to new ways of understanding the world. As Victor's experiments continued, he could feel the energy of this world growing stronger and more malleable in his hands.

The road ahead was long, but Victor felt a sense of purpose beyond mere survival for the first time since his arrival. He would change this world, not with magic alone, but with science.

The sun had begun to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over the village. Victor stood in the town square, the familiar mana hum in the air almost soothing now. It had been weeks since his arrival, and the villagers had come to respect him, even if they still didn't fully understand the strange methods he used. His experiments were getting more refined, and he was becoming more comfortable with the flow of mana, now using it not just for self-discovery but to help others.

Elira and Garwin approached him as he sat, sketching notes into his journal. They had come to see him more frequently now, often bringing him things they thought might aid in his experiments or even offering assistance when he needed tools. Today, they had another request.

"Victor, we could use your help," Garwin began, looking a little sheepish. "Some of the crops are withering, and we're unsure why. We've tried everything we know, but nothing's working."

Victor glanced up at them, then followed Garwin's gaze toward a patch of farmland at the edge of the village. The crops were yellowing, the leaves wilting despite regular watering. It wasn't the soil—it looked fertile. And yet, something was wrong.

Victor stood, brushing off the dirt from his pants. "I can help with that."

Elira raised an eyebrow. "You think you can fix it?"

"Let's find out."

Victor didn't wait for further questions. He approached the fields, his mind already analysing the situation. The crops were thirsty, but something deeper was off. He could feel the mana in the earth, the air, and the plants themselves were out of balance. The energy flowing into the crops was weak and scattered. They weren't getting what they needed to thrive.

Victor knelt and tested the soil, rubbing a small amount between his fingers. It wasn't dry, and it didn't seem overly compacted. His instincts told him the issue wasn't the water but the soil's pH.

He focused on the mana around him, allowing his senses to feel the subtle shifts in the elements. He was no stranger to chemistry, so this felt like a puzzle to solve rather than an insurmountable challenge. The pH of the soil was off—too acidic—and that was preventing the plants from absorbing the nutrients they needed.

Victor stood up, formulating a plan in his mind. With his scientific knowledge, he knew that the chemicals—lime, specifically calcium carbonate- would neutralise the acidity and restore balance. But here, he had no access to such chemicals in this new world.

Instead, Victor drew in the surrounding mana, weaving it into a more complex pattern. He imagined the raw ingredients needed—calcium, carbon, oxygen, and others—and focused on the specific transformation required to create calcium carbonate from basic elements.

Victor stepped forward, sprinkling the substance evenly across the soil. "This should balance the pH. The soil will absorb it and begin to neutralise the excess acidity."

Garwin and Elira watched in awe. They'd seen magic before, but this was something different—Victor was using mana to convert raw materials into something purposeful, something that could solve a practical problem.

Victor stood back and wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling the tension leave his shoulders. "It'll take a few days for the soil to adjust fully. Once it does, the crops should begin to recover."

Garwin scratched his head in disbelief. "You made… lime? From air and rocks?"

"Victor," Elira said after a pause, "what's next? What else can you do with this magic?"

Garwin smiled. "You've got a way of making people believe in things, Victor."

"I don't want them to believe in me," Victor replied quietly. "I want them to understand the truth. That's the only way we'll ever truly progress."