{Distributing bonuses from the quest [Creations of A Mage I]...}
{Congratulations! You’ve earned a Spell: [Magic Breath]!}
{Congratulations! You’ve earned a Spell: [Mana Manipulation]!}
{Congratulations! You have gained 10 attribute points!}
Jonn could hardly believe the content of the system’s message boxes. He merely wanted to absorb the Aether Tears and thought of a viable method of doing so. He didn’t expect it to create a {Skill}!
But the system didn’t lie. He felt the attribute points at his disposal, and before checking what his new {Skill} and new {Spells} could do, he considered how to distribute his available points.
The first mana crystal gave me the equivalent of 29 mana units. I still have another to absorb, so I’ll focus on the attributes I’ve neglected so far.
[Luck] and [Charisma] have their importance. I’ll add 3 points to each of them.
As for the remaining 4 points, I’ll distribute them among [Constitution], [Strength], [Dexterity], and [Endurance].
Then, before proceeding to absorb the second mana crystal, he examined the system’s presentation of his new {Skill}.
{[Universal Breath]: The user can amplify their ability to transform ambient mana into their own by circulating mana through the lungs and hands. Through it, the user achieves 50% better efficiency in absorbing mana from Aether Tears. The Skill can be used passively, resulting in greater resistance to toxic mana (60%) and better recovery of mana reserves per minute (40%).}
Curious about the effects of the new {Skill}, Jonn repeated what he had done with the first crystal. This time, however, he achieved more significant results.
Interesting. I got 43 units of mana from the second crystal, yet it should have practically the same mana density as the other one. The system’s description seems to be quite accurate.
{Name: Jonn Irondoom}
{Age: 17}
{Level: 2 (38.7%)}
{Reputation: Level 4 “Elder of the Eternal Village!”}
{Stats:
[Health: 283] [Mana: 387 (417)] [Stamina: 259]}
{Attributes:
[Strength: 25.1 (29.1)] [Agility: 23.7] [Dexterity: 22 (25)]
[Constitution: 28.3] [Endurance: 25.9] [Intelligence: 38.7 (41.7)]
[Wisdom: 34 (37)] [Charisma: 19 (22)] [Luck: 18 (20)]}
{Resistances: Fire (level 1)}
{Skill: [Analysis]; [Essence of Life]; [Projection]; [Universal Breath].}
{Artifacts: [Wildheart Talisman]; [Mysterious Magic Dagger].}
{Spells: [Air Palm]; [Magic Breath]; [Mana Manipulation].}
It was gratifying to see his status values improve. Jonn silently observed his current amount of mana for a few seconds before turning his attention to his other prizes.
[Magic Breath].
[Magic Breath]
[Description: By using the mana from your lungs, the user can create pure mana-rich air breath capable of harmlessly nourishing living beings. The mana in the user’s breath does not dissipate until it is absorbed. It works best with plants.]
[Type: Air/Mana spell, level 3]
[Cost: 30 mana.]
[Duration: Indefinite.]
[Range: 12 meters.]
[Cast Time: 1 seconds.]
[Cooldown: 6 min.]
Oh?
Jonn’s eyes lit up, as he couldn’t help but shake his hands.
“That’s amazing!”
With a skill like that, I could do unimaginable things!
[Essence of Life] kicked in, and various ideas flashed through Jonn’s mind.
I could nurture the animals in the village into beasts faster!
He considered the best things he could achieve in the short term when suddenly the system surprised him once again.
{Ding!}
{+1 progress point in the quest [Save the Eternal Village].}
...
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[Save the Eternal Village]
[Progress: 5/20]
He was only surprised by the sudden appearance of this new message before concluding that it was only natural. He moved on with his investigation of his new powers.
[Mana Manipulation].
[Mana Manipulation]
[Description: The user can manipulate various forms of mana, absorb or transform mana into liquid or solid forms. The user can repel mana and protect himself from areas rich in harmful mana left over from mages’ Spells.]
[Type: Mana spell, level 3]
[Cost: 20 mana.]
[Duration: Indefinite.]
[Range: 3 meters.]
[Cast Time: 2 seconds.]
[Cooldown: 60 min.]
[Mana Manipulation] didn’t seem inferior to [Magic Breath].
This ability will essentially allow me to explore areas where powerful mages fought their toughest battles around the Barren Hills of Deepshadow and even enhance my mana absorption through [Universal Breath].
But… this aspect of transforming mana into different forms… Does that mean I can create mana crystals like plants do?
That would be quite a possibility for Jonn, and he tested it right away.
He circulated his mana in a special way, making one of his hands glow as it had earlier. But this time, he felt more confident about what he was doing and noticed greater efficiency in both the result he desired and the process needed to achieve it.
The surrounding mana, not very dense in the area where he stood, concentrated closer to him as if attracted by his hand.
As he tried to concentrate all this mana into a minor point of space, Jonn felt a pressure working against him, but he persisted. After almost half a minute of this effort and 200 mana spent, he saw a small crystal, the size of a fingernail, form in front of him.
Unlike the crystal from the plants or the crystal resulting from Count Francus’ blood, the crystal floating above Jonn’s right palm was blue. However, like the green crystals, it seemed harmless for absorption but much more stable.
Jonn sensed that even if he threw it forcefully against the ground, it wouldn’t explode.
I succeeded, but I’m not sure if it’s worth it.
Jonn took a deep breath, feeling tired with a strange pressure at the back of his neck.
This blue crystal has 20 units of mana, which is quite a lot, considering I absorbed just over 40 from a green crystal 20 times larger. But it’s not worth the expense. 10% efficiency is very low.
Getting up from where he’d been sitting for the last few hours, he felt the stillness of the night and left the house, facing Ice, who was waiting for him.
I don’t know if I’ll repeat what I did today often. But this is a good {Spell} for nourishing the animals when they are closer to their breakthroughs. I don’t think [Magic Breath] will be as efficient as it.
In a way, I’ll be able to use my powers to nurture a stronger village… That’s probably why I earned another progress point on the quest.
I need to test this {Spell} to absorb ambient mana…
He gave the blue crystal to Ice while he used [Mana Manipulation] along with his new {Skill}.
Jonn noticed his recovery of the 200 spent mana was much more efficient than before, and even better than what [Universal Breath] alone promised, a clear sign of [Mana Manipulation].
Meanwhile, he saw Ice disappear again and followed the wolf’s tracks until he found the animal in a cave. Ice seemed to have chosen it as a refuge.
As he saw the wolf sleeping during what should be his surveillance shift, Jonn smiled and returned to the animal area and greenhouses, pretending to watch the village for Ice.
He waited for an hour and then returned to the walled part of the village when Ice was done, having improved 17 units of mana from the blue crystal.
----------------------------------------
The next few days passed quietly.
Jonn and Elia were now leaving the village for another venture to the north.
They bid farewell to those staying behind, including Eliot, who would not be joining them this time.
As they passed close to Arnald’s group, they were on the carriage that once belonged to that man.
They headed for another meeting with Acelin’s group. This time, they carried more resources with them—gold, weapons, and iron—but also a longer list of what they intended to bring back to the village.
“Are you sure it was the right thing to leave Eliot behind?” Elia asked, looking back at the village shrinking in the distance. “He’s an outstanding warrior. He could contribute a lot in case of trouble.”
She glanced at Jonn, then at the sword she carried as her primary weapon. Despite months of training with her fellow villagers, she didn’t feel confident about fighting.
“Don’t worry. We’ll be fine.” Jonn laughed confidently.
He couldn’t match Eliot’s ability to handle distant opponents. His friend certainly excelled in that regard. But Jonn felt confident in managing everything else himself and ensuring Elia’s safety.
“We probably won’t encounter anything. We haven’t heard from travelers going to the Lost Treasures for weeks, and the wild animals are becoming scarcer in the region.” He tried to reassure her.
Elia was aware of the problem with the animals. Wy and Eliot had been venturing further afield to find animal meat.
Fortunately, the village’s food situation had improved with Jonn’s animals and plants. Otherwise, they would have been in dire straits now.
“I’m not worried about the animals, but about human greed, Jonn. Your grandfather always taught me to distrust even allies. Acelin may have been a good trading partner in the past, but that doesn’t mean much,” she said, looking ahead at the barren road devoid of natural beauty.
Apart from the horse that seemed to adore Jonn, there was nothing else in sight.
She sighed and added, “He didn’t know about old Hewet’s death before… But this time, the situation will be different. He’ll already be prepared to see us without the old man.”
“Do you think that would be a problem?” Jonn asked, narrowing his eyes as he looked at her.
“Maybe… I don’t know. Like I said, old Hewet taught me to doubt people.” She looked at him with a gaze that wasn’t as serious as her words suggested. She said, “I even have my reservations about you.”
Jonn ignored the comment and continued, “Well, I hope nothing happens. But I also have my skills in combat, Elia. And despite our disagreements, any enemies would have to get through me before they could touch a hair on your head.”
She looked at him again but remained silent, seeing the sincerity in her leader’s eyes.
After a minute, she sighed. “I’m sorry, but I can’t promise you the same.”
He laughed, appreciating his companion’s honesty at the start of their journey.
----------------------------------------
On the third day since Jonn and Elia’s departure, night fell over Eternal Village and its surroundings, and once again, the village’s bamboo gates closed.
Arnald and his family settled into the small house they had built on the east side of the village, while the animals went about their nightly routines.
Phantom took his position around the village, while Ice patrolled the grounds further from the homes of the 44 inhabitants there that night.
Since absorbing his master’s mana crystal, Ice felt more energetic. His heart beating stronger, and his thoughts focused on defending the village. The Eternal Village was his home, his master’s domain. The plants and animals of the village were vital to this sacred territory, and no being should disturb the peace of his master’s sanctuary.
But Ice felt ashamed. He craved an opponent!
He didn’t wish trouble upon the village, but his teeth and claws yearned for a challenge. Ever since his transformation into something more than a mere animal, he had longed to fight.
Annabelle and Mimosa were not his opponents. They were confident and powerful in their own ways, but he didn’t see them as warriors. Perhaps Roulf could pose a challenge, but the big bull was too simple-minded. As for Phantom, he still lacked mana in his body.
However, in the middle of yet another chilly night in the Barren Hills of Deepshadow, Ice stopped atop a small hill and lowered his head. His eyes widened, sensing something nefarious approaching the sacred Eternal Village.
‘Blood!’ The creature sprinted as fast as he could toward the west, howling to alert the vigilant Phantom of his discovery.