Being absentminded is frustrating when you finally think about something you know you should have thought of or realized before. Case in point: I'm practically told what things are when I store them in my Gluttonous Gut. So why did it take me this long to see what those glowing crystals and vial I found behind the rotting shelves are?

Gluttonous Gut

You may choose to do the following at your convenience:

1: Devour items for Nutrients

2: Disgorge items

3: Absorb items for use in Mimicry [Increases maximum size and mass]

Choosing any option will cause the item to no longer be eligible for other options.

Items available:

(03) Tiny Limestone Rock [2,3]

(10) Breath of Air [2]

(03) Stomach Acid [2]

(01) Leather Pouch [1,2,3]

(03) Iron Pill Bug [1,2,3]

(04) Mana Crystals [1,2]

* (2) Fire crystal (red)

* (1) Water crystal (blue)

* (1) Earth crystal (green)

(01) Supreme Healing Potion (sparkly red liquid) [1,2]

"Supreme Healing Potion" will come in handy. The others items were Mana Crystals with the option to Devour or Disgorge them. I'm not sure what kind of Nutrients I'd get from a gemstone, but isn't Mana a source of magic? If so, these have clear types of magic they're associated with. Affinities, I think? Sounds right.

Figuring that may be the case I Disgorge a Fire Crystal and hold it in my hands, the gem feeling much smaller than it did when I found it. Holding it out in front of me I strike a pose and shout "Fireball!"

… and nothing happens.

Well, I "gurgled" the word, since I can't actually speak words. Not sure if that's necessary for magic anyways, but was worth a shot.

I hold it in both hands and close my eyes, focusing on the gem while attempting to absorb its power. A minute later I almost feel foolish as no sense of anything transfers between it and me. Almost, that is, because I feel something. Not coming from the gem, but inside my head; a feeling that something I was missing is there.

Opening my eyes I take a deep breath, focus in front of myself and activate the Firelight attack as I breath out. An inch away from my face the air ignites, turning into a small gout of flame. It only lasts for a second and barely reaches a foot away, but it happens nonetheless!

Which seems weird. I repeat the action with no trouble, then fail to do it when I put the crystal down. Works again once I pick it back up. This confirms that the attack must use Magic -or Mana- to activate it, but why?

Not only did I not know about this when I made the creature, but without the crystal I can't even use the ability- one that's even a part of the creatures description. That has to mean either these creatures already exist here and they can use magic- and by extension other creatures here can use magic as well, or there has to be some way I can gain the use of magic to be able to use it by default as this creature.

I can't help but think about the Class system; I'd about guarantee there's a Mage class in it, but that idea doesn't mix with monsters needing to use magic, which probably means they can do it by default.

That also means at some point I'll be fighting magical creatures.

Holding the gem in my mouth I continue down the hall, wondering what kind of magical mythical creatures I may, but don't want to, encounter.

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—

I'm presented with three options, and none of them seem like a better choice.

After following the less dusty trail this far I find myself at an intersection with all three ways relatively clean. This area must get a lot of foot traffic, but I have no idea if that's from adventurers or monsters, let alone which way they came or went from.

I can "Eenie Meenie Miney Moe" my way forward, but first I sit down the red crystal and Disgorge the three pebbles I still have, sitting two against the wall with one resting on top between them. I need to stock back up on those, but for now the three will work as a marker in case I need to come back this way. Just as a test I pick the crystal up and see if Firelight can scorch the wall, but it's neither hot enough nor lasts long enough to leave a trace.

For no reason I decide to follow the left path, eventually reaching a right turn. It takes me a while down this section of hallway to notice I'm hugging the left side of the wall. As someone left handed I habitually keep my left side open when possible (and thankfully I have hands again), but despite this natural behavior I keep finding myself moving along the left wall. After reaching another right hand turn I decide to force myself to keep to the right side of the hallway and begin to feel a constant subtle urge to move away from the right wall.

I'm also getting a feeling I'm in a loop as I reach yet another right hand turn. Estimating another hour passed as I reach the fourth right hand turn, then after another 30 minutes I reach a well traveled four way intersection, with three pebbles stacked nearby.

Which means I just wasted four hours walking in a circle.

Feeling annoyed I begin walking down the intersecting hallway, only to stop after a few feet.

Turning around I look at the stacked stones and confirm I was heading back where I came from.

My eyes narrow in contemplation as I turn around and head the other way, my eyes locked on the stones as I turn right and head…

I turn around and go the other…

… What?

I back up and sit down in the middle of the intersection, only to find myself facing back down the path I came from, sitting in the threshold of it at the intersection.

I feel like I'm going cross-eyed.

I turn around and sit back down in the same spot.

'Left? Fine. Right? OK. Either way is good, so –....'

I'm literally staring down the path I want to follow, but everything in my head is telling me it's not an option. My eyes fight to avert my gaze down the side tunnels as I consider which way to go.

I push myself to head down the path I know is there, all the while looking like an animal refusing food being shoved in its face. Some subconscious sense is telling me there is no path there, that I'm about to faceplant against the wall even though I can clearly see the path.

'It's… weird. It has to be magic. Is it mind affecting magic? Is that a thing? Or is it because I'm not human? Like anti-monster magic?'

I slow down as I reach another four way intersection, starting to walk on through it before noticing… three stacked stones.

"… crap."

I turn around and sit down, making sure I'm facing the way I want to go.

'Yea, mind magic. Of some kind. The moment I got distracted it got me.'

That's likely the reason the loop is so well traveled; any monster that gets close to this area gets redirected around the right path, possibly even several times before it leaves the area back the way it came. That also makes me wish I had set stones at every intersection I've crossed; I can't help but wonder if i've had this happen before and didn't notice.

Taking a deep breath I force myself to move forward and stay focused. I feel like I'm trying to walk through a roll of cellophane blocking the path, as if the air itself is an insubstantial force trying to make me turn around.

I don't know how long it actually takes, but after what felt like hours a moment comes as if the air pressure pops and all resistance vanishes.

Mentally freed from the force I look up, finding myself standing in front of large wood double doors.

'... no way can I reach the handles.'

Thankfully I DO have an option. I drop my current form and return to my default Mimic form before shifting into the shape of a copper coin.

… except I don't?

Trying again I realize: the option isn't there?

Opening the Mimic Modification Menu I find "Copper Coin" now has [NA] next to it. Looking for a cause I also notice "Limestone Rock" form now indicates a "Small Rock" under appearance, and weight is 22 ounces?

I had just assumed I could turn into anything once I acquired it, but apparently not. I had figured something like this may happen, but expected it to be based on my level.

Checking a different option I turn into a Common Rat and shrink down as small as the form can go, ending up with a two inch long body. Certainly not as small as a coin, but a rodents body is quite flexible and I attempt to fit under the door, the small space at the edge between the two doors just big enough to painfully squeeze through.

On the other side I find a small room before a wide slope leads down. I return to the Giant Armored Rat form and in doing so I realize: at some point while being mentally messed with I had swallowed the fire crystal.

Disgorging it again I cautiously waddle my way down, keeping the fire stone awkwardly in hand just in case I need some firepower.