I think I might be developing stockholm syndrome. They give me decent food, the cell is relatively spacious, I have some nice things like soap and pillows and what not. Back on earth I wasn't exactly wealthy you know, so this isn't really all that different. I don't have running water, but I think if I work out a water magic, I can combine it with my existing fire magic and I'll be able to have me a shower. All in all, things are pretty decent. I still plan to escape though, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Mana crystal production is progressing the same as usual. I haven't increased my output at all, but that's all part of the plan. Today I'm going to take a few of the extra crystals I made yesterday and I'm going to practice manipulating the mana into a form I can use. The theory is that if I can amass enough high grade mana crystals in secrecy, then I can use them to power my fire magic. The problem is that I've read external mana manipulation is harder than internal mana manipulation. But it's all mana manipulation in the end, it shouldn't matter too much.
So after filling the quota for mana crystals, dropping them through the slot in the door, and grabbing my hidey hole of mana crystals, it's finally time to begin. First I try pulling the mana directly from the crystals and into a fresh fire spell. Nope, that doesn't work. Next I try pulling the mana from the crystals into a pre-existing fire spell. This works somewhat, but I'm banking on this next idea. Last I try pulling the mana from the crystals, into myself, circulating it throughout my body, and then focusing it into a spell. BAZINGA, that's the golden ticket Charlie!
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It appears I need to work on mana manipulation a bit more, and I need work on mastering fire magic. Currently I leak about 80% of my mana trying to make a fire spell without a crystal, and about 85% with a crystal. It doesn't sound like alot, but when you factor in the pre-requisite mana cost to creat the crystal, it really adds up. I need to perfect my mana crystal making skills so I'l have more time to work on my escape plan. I think I have just the theory to make it work though.
Eureka motherfuckers! My theory was a success. It turns out that if I compress my excess mana throughout the day into a mana crystal, I can then use that mana from the crystal to make another crystal. This sounds counter-productive, but that's only because you aren't factoring one important thing. The more I manipulate mana, the better I become manipulating mana, thus the more efficient my spells become. It's kind of a catch all solution. This increases my mana capacity, improves upon my crystallization skills, and increases my efficiency. It's a win, win, win situation.
The bucket of water they provide each day is well, a bucket of water. It isn't exactly rocket science, they bring in a bucket *presumably while I'm asleep, though I'm not ruling magic out of the equation* and each night after I use some of it, it's refilled. I have a grate to well, do my business over, and it isn't the cleanest. I'm hoping to use this bucket of water to teach me some magic. First I circulate the mana within my body, then I focus it out towards my hands. I then send it out towards the water. I'm hoping I can infuse the water with my mana, and then I can manipulate it from there. And, the water erupts in a cloud of steam. FUCK, there goes my water for the night. Guess I'll have to try again tomorrow. *note to self, drink some of the god damned water next time you dipshit*.