Adonai:

Three months have passed since I figured out how to filter mana particles and transform them into pure mana. In these three months I was a shut in, focusing on reading, and filtering mana, trying to achieve the best outcome, which would be a natural filter, but having to actively think about where the mana should go and how it should reach the destination takes time.

At first I could only do it by forcing myself into a state that separates me from everything around and filter only the mana that is already stored in my mana center, in a month and a half I managed to open a passage while in the meditation state that directly connected the exterior mana to the depths of my soul, eliminating the middlemen in the process.

That is still a far cry from my goal but at least right now I don't need to depend on stored resources to do the process. But because I didn't get rid of the extra need for concentration required, I devised a system that helps me the most in my current state. While awake I'll focus on storing mana like I previously did but significantly increasing the quantity during the day, and at night I would filter what's stored then continue filtering a natural flow of outside mana, refining the process while switching from stored to outside mana.

This way I can train my assimilation process at day and my filtering process at night, while my sleep took a big hit, it's worth it, mana consistently flows into the body in a natural rhythm, so I need to reach a stage where the process of filtering becomes like breathing if I want to pass like a nobody.

I've spent the rest of time until now trying to get myself to think of it as something natural, but today is a big day, today I finally see the sun again!

Kath, Anwir, Maverick, Stella and Me. We decided, soon after everything started, that each of us will focus on our training and objectives and meet every three months to catch up and report our progress. Today is that day. And we're meeting at Stella's house ... even after she got discharged her condition didn't get better, she was weak ... she is weak .... she doesn't have a strong heart and she became a shut in but not to develop her abilities ... out of fear of the outside world.

"Seems like I'm the first here" I said aloud while waiting outside, knowing my friends. I expected an ambush from at least one of them, but she didn't get here yet. So instead of waiting I went ahead and rang the bell.

*Ring*

No response ... While it might be impolite to enter someone's house without their consent we already informed her of our coming, also she agreed more or less with this three months ago. And also to make sure she's okay I made my way through the entrance, up the stairs and to her room.

*Knock*

"Stella, is me, I'm here a bit sooner, sorry for inviting myself in but since there was no response I got a bit worried."

"A... come in." She said from the other side of the room in a frill voice, almost non audible.

And after that I opened the door and saw her ... thin ... pale ... almost a corpse ...

"... Why?" I asked, looking at the poor display of a human being in front of me, asked with a voice that expressed nothing but concern for my friend.

"You know ... I just don't feel like eating ... or drinking ... I force myself to ... at least to survive a bit longer." She responded to my question, again, in almost a non audible tone.

*Sigh* "Forget it, let's get you changed before the others arrive, you might not feel like it but you need to take more care of yourself, how long since you've taken a bath?"

"Two weeks..."

"... Let's get you to the shower first, I'll start cleaning and you try to find something to wear before you're going. Kath can take care of the cooking when she get's here."

"..."

"You move on your own, or I'll drag you into the bath and take a shower with you"

"... I'll go." She said in the same frill voice as before.

And now that she left, it's time to start cleaning this place out.

After about half an hour of labor I heard the front door bell.

"Coming."

As I came face to face with my friends, two out of the three that should be present I realized the state I'm in ... looking like a ...

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"Woah, since when did you took a job as a housemaid, or are you a husband?" Marwick said with the ring of a joke in his voice shortly after he saw me.

Meanwhile Kath is looking at me ... deadpan.

"It really suits you, but how you can't be so active in your own house disturbs me, did you propose to her or something?" She asked with a face filled with a mocking confusion.

"I'm gonna propose your face to that wall, now get in."

"How overprotective of your new wife awh." She said.

"You know what they say, happy marriage?" He said.

And so they both started to make fun of me. When we got to Stella's room I started explaining to them the state I found her, and that she's taking a shower as we speak.

Without a second word Kathlyn went out of the room heading to the kitchen, leaving only me and Maverick to discuss.

"So where's Anwir?" I asked.

"He said his father took him abroad to give him more opportunities to learn from different cultures and stuff like that, he won't be back until the next reunion." He responded as a matter of fact.

"I guess it's just the four of us then, so how's your progress going?"

"Nah, nah, nah, no spoilers until everyone is present, I think I'll surprise everyone of you."

I'm looking at him with an air of disbelief but after all nothing we can do now but wait.

As Stella came out of the shower, and Kath came back with the food, we sat together in the not so big room.

"If no one wants to start, then I will, better than to sit in silence." Maverick said, the slightly older one of us, reliable most of the time, and full with humor at other times. "As you can all notice ... I started working out!"

Me and Kath went ahead to take a better look at him while Stella remained in the same position barely lifting her eyes from the food.

"You started working out ... brain cells?" I asked.

"How rude of you, it might not be that visible but I'm trying to get in shape as much as I can, after all we can't only rely on magic in the future."

What he said holds a bit of truth, while magic is useful, having a body that can't handle running or anything else that requires an excessive physical effort would be troublesome. Note to self to start exercising.

But in reality it was a bit noticeable, the tall guy with a decent build now started to show muscle, confidence, he keeps his blue hair as short as ever and his green eyes always looking for the best outcome. Like how he did back then when he tried to calm everyone up after the dragon left.

"What about magic?" Kathlyn asked.

"I have basic control over all four elements as most of us, I'm not trying to go into a specific direction ... so I'm just trying to get a hold of everything and see if I can find something I excel more at."

A normal response, at this stage none of us should have a speciality, and this road might led him to become a jack of all trades which is not too bad.

"Hmm, well I can't say I'm doing a lot better, as you know I'm training to stand on the side lines but my progress is there." I said as a matter of fact.

"So you train in doing nothing?" He asked me confused.

"Pretty much." I responded again as a matter of fact.

"How about you Stella?" I asked in hopes that this will make her talk to us.

"I ... uhm ... don't know, didn't try a lot ... I've been stuck here with my thoughts mostly ... bad thoughts."

I can sense the mood in the room changing, and I need to do something.

But just as I thought that.

"Plant Magic." Kathlyn said.

"What?" The three of us asked at the same time.

"While our Mav here might not have a special line of magic I do and it's plant magic."

"So uhm like flowers, and thorns and such?" I asked, confused.

"Yea like that, and on top of that I also started to delve into lightning magic." She said while puffing her chest out.

That's impressive, not only has she been able to go past the basics but in two different domains of magic, as expected of someone like her. I thought

"That's truly impressive, I agree." Stella said ...

"What are you talking about?" Maverick asked.

"Ado, he said that it's pretty impressive that she's able to go past basics into two different domains of magic ... meanwhile I haven't made any progress cause ... I'm scared." She said while keeping her voice down.

"But he never said something like that, he would never praise me like that without blackmail." Kathyln retorted.

"Huh?" She asked, confused.

"Huh?" I asked, annoyed.

"I never said it ... but I thought it ... word by word." I said, not knowing what's going on.

"I don't know what's happening either, Mav." Stella said again, seemingly responding to Maverick who wasn't talking to begin with.

....

"My assumption is that being by yourself while absorbing natural mana and going through your own thoughts have led you to a road of something like mental magic, you are able to read our thoughts and who knows what else." Kathlyn said.

I felt impressed, not about Stella, but about magic itself. I guess it might've been sort of lucky but magic can really extend a person's capabilities, even if they are not aware of them, or that they are not aware of developing them. But what else is this that I'm feeling ... hope, accomplishment?

Feelings that are not mine are entering my body as I'm staying at the table, and by looking at the people around me I can tell they all feel the same.

"Glad you can see some hope Stella, congratulations." I said aloud and started clapping, the others following me.

"How did you know?" She asked.

"You'll find out for yourself."

I said giving her a wholehearted smile, this is probably the first time since the incident for her to feel something other than terror. And so our reunion continued, and came to an end, leaving Stella with a positive feeling.