Alexis stared at the command line thinking, and before she knew it, the sun was already in the sky as she got ready for her classes.
"Alright Class, this is the whispering forest! Coins have been placed within the first layer of the forest, never go further than that, there will be markers to warn you when you've approached too closely.”
The forest was very unlike what she had envisioned, it looked beautiful as flowers danced in the wind, and trees with a vibrant green swayed as if waving.
Feeling a tap on her shoulder Alexis turned around and saw Lucas, her watcher, and the main obstacle in her venture to find the Witches Tree.
“It may look pretty but be careful, the most beautiful animal can still have the deadliest bite.”
“Thank you for the heads up, I’ll be careful.”
As she looked forward she saw the teacher holding a piece of cloth before swinging it down.
“Begin the Hunt!” He yelled.
Everyone began running ahead as Alexis was pushed around, shoulders and elbows clashing into her until she found herself in the forest as the last of the students that had been with her split away.
“Huff Huff…I wasn't expecting to be carried like that.” Alexis said turning to Lucas, but he wasn't to be seen anywhere around her.
“I guess this works in my favor at least.” Alexis thought with a sigh of relief.
She began walking through the bushes, moving branches as she ventured deeper into the forest.
“Command Line, where is the Witches Tree?”
[The Witches Tree is in the Fifth and final layer of the Whispering Forest, creating guideline.]
“Guide Line?”
Suddenly a thin piece of string came from her body, dashing through trees until she could no longer see it beside's the part connected to her.
As she walked beyond the markers the forest grew darker, the flowers slowly got more sagged and gloomy, the trees lost their vibrance and stood aged as bugs crawled across the bark. But she continued to follow the guideline, unaware of the passing of time as the sun could no longer be seen, making her way only by following the line that stayed bright in color. Until she reached the end of the line, a tree with a door, windows releasing light into the darkness.
“Knock Knock” She softly tapped the door just enough, before hearing a clatter as things quickly moved around in a cluster of noise.
“J-Just a moment!" The voice of a woman yelled from inside.
As the noises stopped the door creaked open to a young woman, probably 2 or 3 years older than Alexis. Large rounded glasses hanging off the tip of her nose.
"Come in come in." She said opening the door fully.
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The floor was covered with books and papers, magic symbols, and gemstones.
"It's been so long since someone found this place so I'm sorry for the mess, I always welcome a witch to my home though, my name is Sercee by the way.." She said with a smile, moving back through the clutter to a table.
"A Witch? What do you mean?" Alexis said following her steps.
"A Witch, were you unaware you were one?" The lady questioned.
"I saw it in my Command Line, but it has question marks after so I didn't understand."
"That's normal, the Class of Witch each holds its own specialization, though you have to figure it out yourself. I myself am the Witch of Fire." She said holding out her hand as a small flame danced around her palm, sitting down at the table.
"If it's normal why did no one around me know why it was question marks?"
"That's because the class of Witch is the rarest, information isn't easily let out unless it is to other Witches like you."
"I see, I was actually brought here by my guideline, it said I needed to do the Trials of Mana?"
"This is the correct place, I'm the Guardian of the Witches Tree, Without it Witches would be unable to gain mana, that's why only Witches can find this place, and why I protect it."
"How do I take the trial then?" Alexis Asked.
Sercee waved her hand as a door appeared behind her.
"This door leads to the cave beneath us, There you will find a blue lake emanating a blue light, undress and submerge yourself into the water, the trials will start then."
"Is there a reason I must undress?" Alexis asked in a suspicious tone.
"The water melts all fabrics it comes in contact with, I learned that the hard way." She said her face flushed red as she reminisced on a past memory.
Alexis nodded although wary as she stood up walking to the door.
"One last thing, I wish you luck!" She said with a big smile.
Her sense of wariness disappeared as she smiled back and nodded, opening the door and going inside.
It was almost pitch black, except for the faint blue light that was hitting the wall up ahead, as she walked and turned the corner she found what Sercee was talking about, a small blue lake that shone like a jewel, and little lights that danced around it. After she undressed she slowly stepped into the small lake, one foot at a time, her body quickly filled with energy, and her exhaustion from days of no sleep disappeared in an instant as she got deeper until she was deep enough to submerge herself, Lowering her body into the water, a warm feeling enveloped her. Like the warmth of a hug from a loved one.
[Trials of Mana has begun]
Alexis saw the message for only a second before her conscience felt like it was sucked into her body, As she quickly opened her eyes but she was no longer in the water, instead she was in the middle of a white room.
"W-Where am I?" She said as she looked around, she was in a box, with no windows, and no doors.
[Welcome to the room of Mana, here your trials shall begin.]
[Close your eyes and sit, sense the room around you, and the mana in the air.]
"What? How am I supposed to sense something I've never experienced? Then again, it wouldn't be a trial without a bullshit challenge included."
Alexis closed her eyes and sat down, crossing her legs, trying her best to sense anything. Very quickly a tingling began to surround her, and countless little sparkles flew around, Alexis could feel it, the room that surrounded her, and the mystical aura that filled it, a vibrant energy similar to what she felt in the lake. The air thick with mana, as it permeates every corner, flowing through the room like an invisible river of energy. The room seems to pulse with life as if it has a consciousness of its own.
"I can feel it, but how exactly? The presence of various magical elements, each contributing to the intricate web of mana in the air, I can feel it all" Each glimmer of mana had a color to itself that sparkled with a beauty she had never seen before.
As Aelxis sat she took a deep breath, feeling the anticipation and excitement surging through her, mana was at her fingertips. taking another moment to sense the mystical room around her. This time not only the Mana around her, but also the Mana inside her, it swirled around, unrefined, like a raging river yet to cut out its path.
With every breath, she attuned herself to the mana, It seemed to resonate with her own inner energy as if they recognize her presence.
"So this, this is mana!"
[Trial 1: Feeling Mana has been completed. Beginning Trial 2]
[Trial 2: Refining Mana has begun]