Jiran’s perspective

Jiran looked at First Father’s dawn light as it played across his hand. He clenched his fist then released the grip repeatedly. He raised the hand a few centimeters from his face, closed his eyes, and intensified his scrutiny.

A new layer of sensations assaulted his brain. Everything within the range of his new mana body was laid bare before him. Even with his eyes closed, he could still see his fist, and in even greater detail than his eyes would ever perceive. The overwhelming sensations had caused a headache that was stubbornly refusing to be healed.

Focusing again on just his fist, Jiran examined his bones, flesh, blood vessels, skin, and muscles. He could see the blood that pumped through his body, or count the number of hairs that covered him in exact detail.

He shook his head in an attempt to regain his focus.

I wonder if this is what doing acid feels like? Nothing I read said anything about being able to feel and see with the mana body as if it was an extension of my senses. Is this the mana body or something else? I suppose I’ll just have to run some tests.

Jiran grinned in excitement at the chance to test something completely new.

The first test would be a simple application of the mana body Jiran remembered from a book about tier skills from Samris’s library.

Jiran flexed his will through the mana body that surrounded him. He pushed a small portion of that aura onto his dinner bowl from the previous night.

Next he activated a weak shaping of air that flowed around his hand. Picking up the bowl with that same hand caused the mana and aura to combine.

With a focused effort, he tied off the shaping onto the bowl.

The mana stuck to the bowl and instead of the shaping dissipating shortly after leaving his skin, it continued to retain its effect. The mana used was being drained rapidly but would likely stay active for another few seconds.

Jiran assumed this was due to the cage that had been constantly trying to claim his mana since he had been thrown into it.

He estimated the shaping could normally stay active for several minutes before it ran out of the mana powering it.

Excitement coursed through him. It should be impossible to hold a shaping away from his skin at only Tier two, what he was doing emulated a much higher tier skill.

I really unlocked my mana body before Tier five! I should have read more about it. What else can I do now?

Jiran happily played with the new energy field surrounding him, pushing its unique mana through his usual molding and shaping exercises. His attempts to create multiple distant shapings simultaneously failed every time.

Even beginning to form a second shaping instantly destabilized the first. After an hour of testing, he noticed his mana body had shrunk by several centimeters.

Through careful observation and using his food dish as a marker, he tested exactly how much distance his aura shrunk with every use. Jiran found it largely depended on the amount of mana used.

So the field has a static amount of energy, just like me, which means there must be ways to recharge it.

Do I need to breathe through the mana body to get it to absorb mana? That doesn't make much sense. I convert Density to mana inside my body. Can I also convert Density into aura?

Jiran was about to try and breathe in Density through his mana body when he remembered he was in a cage that blocked ambient mana.

With a sigh of annoyance he changed tactics.

Deciding to try what felt natural, he pulled at his mana through the sensations of the Mana Body, firmly holding the intent to blow up the balloon of aura that surrounded him.

Like a trickle of water pushing through packed dirt, his mana ever so slowly formed a connection with his aura. The mana seemed to invert, vanish momentarily, then absorb into his aura.

The sensation from his mana body's perspective was completely different. It felt like grabbing a fist full of wet hair out of a drain, disgusting and alien. Like a slimy film surrounded the mana until its transition into aura was completed, then the uncomfortable feeling vanished.

Jiran opened his eyes and looked to the sky. First Mother had yet to make her appearance.

I still have so many experiments I want to try with molding and shaping. Now I have a whole new type of energy that comes with its own senses.

Jiran sifted through his memories of Brandon, trying to find a time he had ever felt so overwhelmed with joy and excitement.

Nothing compared.

Even trapped in a cage, surrounded by enemies, with a deadly-dangerous bandit lord ready to kill him, this felt like the best moment of his life.

He had put in so much effort. Gone through so much pain. Persevered, when in his old life he would have long since given up. Now, he felt more alive than ever.

With a sigh of contentment, Jiran dug into his mana, forcing drop after drop into his aura. The conversion rate was atrocious, but he pressed on. He wanted to test the limits of his new skill.

When First Mother was nearing her highest point, he hit a wall. No matter how hard he squeezed, not one more speck of mana would convert to aura.

His mana body extended almost a full meter away from his body in every direction. A significant increase from when he first unlocked it.

There was a distinct feeling of fullness that spread through his aura. It was such a comfortable experience, he decided to work on something else while he enjoyed it.

His mana was also full since the trickle he could push into his aura was less than a third of what he absorbed from the Densoon waves.

It looks like the guy I healed yesterday is awake. I should talk to him soon.

Oliver’s staring at me again. What a creep. I get there’s not much to do in here but maybe find someone, something, anything to look at other than me.

Not yet, I need food. Focus, one thing at a time. I'm starving and I've only been in here for a day. I wonder how long the others have been stuck in here. They aren't looking very healthy.

Jiran dug through his memories looking for a possible solution. He knew the body used carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to create energy. The exact way it did that escaped him.

There was also a process where those three types of nutrients were converted to something else for the cells to absorb.

ADG? APT? ATP! Yeah, that's it for sure, ATP. Yeah, I have no clue what that is.

Hopefully, the image of the body converting food to carbs, fats, and proteins is enough for me to create a shaping.

Jiran looked at his fellow inmates and the bandits outside the cage. The moment he thought there were no eyes directed his way, he pretended to cover his mouth with a yawn.

The attempted shaping was a disaster. Pushing mana through his upraised hand, a sludge far fouler than yesterday's meal entered his mouth.

Gagging and coughing Jiran spat out the mixture, nearly emptying the bile from his stomach in the process.

He did his best to ignore Dommell’s howling laughter and the dozens of eyes on him. Red-faced, he reconsidered his approach.

Jiran sighed at his own foolishness.

I'm an idiot.

Of course, that was going to be disgusting! I was picturing the food after it had been broken down with stomach acids.

I can also convert the mana to food directly in my stomach, why did I even try to swallow that!?

His body gagged involuntarily at the memory of that taste. Once more eliciting laughter from Dommell.

He sounds like a hyena. Ignore the Croissant, Jiran. Focus.

Moments later, Jiran’s belly was full of the foul mixture. A satisfying feeling of fullness now spread through two portions of his awareness.

Unable to hold back, a huge burp escaped his lips, startling everybody. With a wave of his hand, he dispelled the awful smell.

Alright, what's next? Escaping isn't an option with Markhiss out there. I've got food and water covered, at least for me.

I wish there was something I could do for the others without blowing the fact that I have mana. I really don't want to give up that advantage.

I doubt any of them would be able to eat that sludge anyway. Forcing a shaping inside another conscious person is supposed to be impossible unless you’re much higher tier than them.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Seriously, Oliver? Find something else to look at!

Moving on. I should try out that idea I got from healing that guy yesterday.

Jiran held his right palm open on his lap facing up. Without forming an image for a shaping, he used pure mana control to form a small spike like he had used to penetrate the man yesterday.

He distinctly ignored the fact he had penetrated anyone with spikes of any kind and focused on what he wanted to do.

With a gentle touch of mana, he extended the spike from his palm until it was half a meter long. The length of invisible mana began to wobble with instabilities when he tried to make it any longer.

The insignificant force from the cage continually attempted to seize his mana. However a brief pulse of emotion was more than enough to remind his mana who was in control.

The instability in his stick of mana remained, so he created a second one starting from his shoulder and connecting with the end of the first. With the two now connected and stabilized, he made a third from his left knee and connected it as well.

Like a spider building a web, he continued to create more connections. Soon he had an awkward mana structure branching out from his body in every direction except underneath him.

Jiran noticed that whenever one of his mana bridges touched the cage, they would become impossible for him to maintain. The mana would be absorbed by the strange blue metal within seconds.

With enough bridges to reach the still-unconscious man with a big nose, he began the second phase of his plan.

Jiran closed his eyes and extended his thoughts out through the tangled web of mana. He tried to perceive what was wrong inside the man, but there was too much interference.

With a sigh, Jiran tapped the man with a single extended mana bridge over and over. Getting used to the feeling.

His goal was to figure out how to tie off the web of moldings. If he could have a constant web around him that could feel whenever someone came into contact with it, hopefully, he could avoid being ambushed constantly.

With his mix of successes and failures completed, Jiran released the weave and got up to go talk with the man he had healed.

As he walked across the cage he felt every pair of eyes in the cage track his movements.

How is it that everyone staring at me is more comfortable than just the one pair of creepy eyes? That kid seriously needs to find another hobby.

As he approached, the man stood up. Wariness permeated his stance and suspicion filled his eyes. Before Jiran could introduce himself the man spoke.

"Whatcha want, kid? Don't come any closer y'hear."

"Hi, I'm Jiran. I used the last of my mana yesterday to fix your head, you had a nasty bruise."

Motioning with his head to the trio of kids in the other corner Jiran continued. "They told me you stood up for them. Something about food?"

The man's stance eased considerably at Jirans tone and words. His shoulders loosened in relief and he cracked a toothy smile.

"Oh, uh, thanks, Jiran. Name’s Rogney, that was right nice of you. I ah, don't have nothing I can pay you with."

"I'm not looking for any payment Rogney, I was wondering what we should do with this guy."

Jiran motioned toward the still unconscious man on the ground.

"Oh, well, that's Skimpy, least everyone calls him that. Real bastard that one, would clip his own mums purse a'fore pullin her up from a cliff. Not sure what we can do fer him besides. You have sumthin in mind?"

The suspicion had partly returned to Rogney's eyes after Jiran’s question. Deciding to only tell the man a partial truth Jiran replied.

"Well, I'm fine giving him my portion of food, not sure there's anything else I could do for him other than that. But if you don't think he's worth saving…”

Jiran let Rogney complete the thought on his own, not wanting to say anything that might make the man even more wary of him.

Rogney looked between Jiran and Skimpy while wringing his hands nervously. He was clearly unsure of how to respond, so with a shrug of his shoulder Jiran turned back to his corner.

"The foods not here yet anyway, we can figure it out later." With those parting words, Jiran sat down and resumed his work on his mana web.

He needed to be able to create the web faster and with fewer bridges. The thought of never being ambushed again supplied excellent motivation.

Jiran only got to practice another hour before a bandit came along with the day's food. Predictably there was one less bowl than there were occupants.

Jiran didn't mind what the others did with the disgusting gruel and was prepared to resume minding his business.

A massive explosion blasted a hole the size of a wagon in the camp wall to his right. Wood and metal shrapnel flew through the air, peppering holes in tents and stabbing into the camp’s occupants.

Screams of pain and confusion rippled through the air.

A second explosion left another hole in the same wall, only a few meters away from the first.

This time Jiran didn't hesitate to drop to his belly. The last thing he wanted was a stray needle of wood in his eye.

After the debris settled, Jiran jumped to his feet and scanned for what was attacking the camp. Defenders were flooding toward the two holes so he couldn't see anything other than the backsides of a throng of poorly equipped bandits.

The familiar sight of Markhiss flew through the air. Heading not toward the holes but straight up into the sky.

Jiran's heart soared as he saw the handsome silhouette of Samris, floating a hundred meters above the camp.

Jiran's fists clenched so hard he felt blood wet his palms. Tears sprang to his eyes as relief and hope overwhelmed him.

They came for me.

Markhiss flew up until he reached Samris, the two locked gazes, hovering only a few meters apart. They stood in the air as if it was solid ground.

Markhiss was waving his arms, shouting something that Jiran couldn't make out. Samris just gazed at him unmoving, as if he were relaxing outside a store waiting for a friend to emerge.

Markhiss reached the end of his patience, his body exploded into a raging inferno of wind and fire. The heat he gave off was so hot Jiran could feel it from over a hundred meters away.

Saliva built up in his mouth forcing him to gulp. Terror overwhelmed Jiran as he got his first glimpse of what the madman was capable of.

With a wave of his arm, Markhiss sent the massive inferno in Samris's direction. The explosion that followed created a fourth sun.

Jiran flopped to the ground immediately, landing just as the explosive force ripped the camp to shreds. Half the tents were blown to pieces. The walls groaned as they leaned precariously, nearly falling over from the single attack.

The throng of bandits turned into groaning crumpled heaps of tangled limbs.

The massive shockwave that blasted into Jiran felt like a giant beast had jumped on his back. He reinforced his body with mana as much as he could.

After the shock passed he made a quick examination, checking for injuries. His aura made the scan much easier, due to the real-time feed of sensations from his entire body all at once.

Not seeing any damage, Jiran jumped back to his feet searching the skies for any sign of Samris.

The fourth sun still roiled in the sky where Samris had been. Its surface was white-hot, and tongues of flame, like solar flares, licked the surface of the deadly orb.

Jiran clenched his fists again, his jaw ached with how hard he was biting down. Stress and worry for Samris clouded his thoughts.

A hand on his shoulder jerked him from his intense scrutiny of the sky. Looking back with wide eyes, Jiran saw the second-best sight he had seen that day.

Lenton stood behind him in all his wizened wizard glory. His long white beard and hair fluttered gently in the currents of air caused by the raging inferno above them. A small smile played across his face.

"Looks like you got yourself into a spot of trouble Jiran. Far be it from me to take away a perfectly good opportunity. I'll be waiting for you at the training field in two days. Don't be late."

Lenton glanced over his shoulder at the three kids still laid out in a heap on the ground from the Shockwave.

"An opportunity indeed. I'm interested to watch your performance, Jiran. Oh, and don't worry about Sammy, he'll take care of that nuisance."

Then he was gone. Like a ghost that only popped into reality to scare the crap out of you before vanishing once more.

Jiran stood there with his mouth hanging open for several seconds trying to process what had just happened.

What!? What opportunity, why did he just leave me? Two days? What field?

His thoughts spiraled out of control. He knew there were things he should understand but events were coming at him too quickly to cope. He felt like he was rolling down a steep slope, unable to find purchase, falling, tumbling.

With a powerful force of will, Jiran smacked himself in the face, hard. Spots speckled his vision from the impact.

A series of rapid explosions from the sky grabbed his attention. He looked up to find a completely unharmed Samris exchanging blows with Markhiss.

Saber against dagger and knife, they fought as a blur. The only reason Jiran knew they were exchanging attacks was from the sonic booms that reached him like a machine-gun firing. The sound was so deafening, Jiran had to stuff mana into his ears before they ruptured.

Deciding to trust Samris and Lenton, Jiran looked away from the incredible battle and focused on the area around himself. He quickly gathered information and formulated a plan.

He was still in the cage, which was perfectly intact. All five of his cellmates were unconscious. Looking at the three other kids, a pang of sorrow pierced through him.

They looked so weak, starved, beaten, and now broken by that massive blast.

Jiran walked a few paces to the door of the cage. He examined it, locating the hinges and lock.

He wasted no time creating the shaping he had thought of specifically for the task of breaking the gate. With the image of the most potent acid inside the human body firmly grasped in his mind, Jiran pushed mana through his fingers and away from his body.

Hydrochloric acid sprayed from his outstretched hand soaking the lock and hinges. A disgusting and pungent odor filled the air. An acrid steam rose wherever the acid contacted the blue metal.

Knowing it would take time to work, Jiran turned and dashed toward the fallen kids. He reached out and touched Cameron first, the bigger boy was in the best shape and would be the most useful to watch Jiran's back while he worked.

Jiran scanned the boy’s body as rapidly as he could, healing wounds and mending bruises.

He filled Cameron's stomach with nutrients, it was so shrunken from their lack of meals that it barely took a whisper of mana. The worst injury on the boy was his shoulder which appeared to be dislocated.

Jiran had no idea how to fix it properly. He also knew it would repair itself as soon as the boy got some mana, so he left that injury be.

He felt frustration as most of the mana he sent into Cameron was drained by the cage. He had been too hasty trying to leave tied-off shapings behind so he could move to the next patient.

Jiran reached out his other hand to Dommell and started the scanning and healing process. Splitting his focus between two tasks had long since become familiar.

Healing both at once left him vulnerable if anyone attacked. Not seeing any threats other than Markhiss, who was getting further away every second, he decided it was worth the risk.

They needed to escape soon if they wanted to get out without fighting an army of waking bandits.

It only took a few minutes for the two boys to stabilize. Other than Cameron’s shoulder and Dommell’s right knee, Jiran was able to heal all their injuries.

The two had been severely damaged by the shockwave from Markhiss. Multiple organs had ruptured and were leaking blood inside their bodies. Without his knowledge of the human body, and his aura’s ability to penetrate and see inside their unconscious forms, they almost certainly would have died.

If they were full of mana, they probably would have been fine within a few hours.

Neither boy woke up as Jiran reached out to Oliver, a quick scan of his body revealed similar ruptures as well as severe damage to his groin.

Wait, that's not damage— Are you kidding me!?