I sat by the edge of the pond, the soft ripple of water soothing my nerves. The fish glided through the clear water, their movements slow and graceful. The new one—a young koi I hadn't quite named yet—darted between the reeds, exploring its new surroundings. I leaned back on my hands, letting the warmth of the sun seep into my bones, trying to let go of the tension that had been gnawing at me.

The pond was a sanctuary. It always had been, even back when I first built it. Before everything had gotten so complicated. Back when the village was just a loose collection of people trying to survive, rather than this tangled web of politics, emotions, and expectations. I sighed, staring at the koi as it swam closer to the surface. It didn't have a care in the world. Lucky fish.

But I needed to think. No, scratch that. I needed to clear my head. The events of the day kept swirling in my mind—Evelyn's accusations, Scott’s attempts to keep the peace, the villagers' uneasy glances. It was all noise, and I needed to quiet it if I was going to find any sort of direction. So, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, slipping into a meditative trance.

The sounds around me faded away—the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, the babbling of water—all of it turned into a soft, distant hum. I felt my breathing slow, my heartbeat becoming a steady rhythm. I let myself drift inward, into that familiar place where the lines between myself and the world blurred.

It wasn’t an immediate escape. Thoughts kept intruding, but I gently pushed them aside. Focus, I told myself. Feel the flow.

I concentrated on the sensation of the water beneath the surface of the pond. I could feel the subtle currents, the swaying of the reeds, the darting movements of the fish. Slowly, I expanded my awareness, reaching out to the plants along the pond’s edge, to the roots spreading through the soil, drinking in the nutrients and life around them. This was my Verdant Dominion, the pulse of life that stretched through the land. It was always there, like an undercurrent, ready for me to tap into.

My mind wandered further, sensing the stretch of the forest beyond the pond, the network of roots and vines weaving through the earth. I could feel the life of the village, the plants, and the trees, and yes, even the people. Their footsteps vibrated through the ground, their voices sent faint ripples through the air. This was the extent of my power—my awareness that so many found unsettling. It wasn't like I actively watched anyone; it was just... there, like hearing a background hum.

As I sank deeper into the trance, I let the worries slip away, becoming part of that hum. The village’s concerns, their suspicion of my power, it all blurred into the greater fabric of life around me.

This wasn’t about spying or control. It was about balance. I was a part of this environment, and it was a part of me. I couldn't separate my existence from it any more than I could stop the pond from holding water. I didn’t choose to have this power—this domain. It simply was.

For a while, I just existed in that space. A part of me floated through the roots of ancient trees, feeling the steady pulse of life through their bark. Another part followed the movements of insects skittering through the underbrush. The world was so vast, yet so interconnected, and in this trance, I felt both impossibly small and infinitely large.

But I couldn’t stay here forever. I knew that. Eventually, I would have to open my eyes and face the village again. I would have to deal with people’s anger and their fear of what I represented. I would have to make decisions.

What will you do? A voice echoed in my mind, one that sounded like a blend of my own thoughts and something more primal, more ancient. Will you bend to their will, or will you leave this place behind?

I didn't know the answer yet. Not completely. But I let the question settle into the depths of my awareness, letting it roll over and over like a pebble in a stream.

Power isn’t an obligation, I had told Thor earlier, and I still believed that. But... I had grown attached, hadn’t I? To this place, to the people, even to those who now questioned my very presence.

Slowly, I began to pull back my awareness, drawing myself out of the trance. The pond came back into focus first, the koi still darting playfully around the reeds. I could feel the warmth of the sun on my skin again, hear the rustling of leaves and the distant sounds of the village.

I opened my eyes, staring into the clear water. The reflection staring back at me was that of a man caught between two worlds—the one he had built here and the one inside his own mind.

"Well," I muttered to myself, "I guess I’ll just have to figure it out one step at a time."

With that, I pushed myself up from the edge of the pond, brushing the dirt off my hands. My mind was clearer now, even if the path ahead wasn’t. At least I knew I didn’t have to decide everything today. For now, I’d just keep moving forward, one small ripple at a time.

I dusted off my hands and turned away from the pond, only to find Gabby standing there, arms crossed, watching me with those eyes that seemed to contain entire galaxies. She had a knack for sneaking up on me, moving as silently as a shadow.

“Deep in thought again, Gav Gav?” she asked, her voice melodic yet tinged with that ever-present mischief. She approached with the fluid grace of a dancer, her presence both comforting and unnerving at the same time.

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“You could say that,” I replied, giving her a half-smile. “Needed to clear my head before I get caught up in all the politics and drama.”

Gabby tilted her head, her cosmic eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “You know, for someone who doesn’t want to rule, you spend an awful lot of time making things happen. Even if it's in the background.”

I shrugged, glancing back at the pond. “I don’t like the idea of being in charge. Too much noise. Too many people looking to you for answers. I prefer just... being part of things, you know?”

She sighed, stepping closer until she stood beside me, her gaze following mine to the koi swimming below. “Perhaps. But you already have a kind of rulership, whether you acknowledge it or not. Your Verdant Dominion makes you a part of this land in ways others can’t even comprehend. And that comes with certain responsibilities.”

“Yeah, I know.” I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of her words settle on my shoulders. “But power isn’t an obligation. Just because I can do something doesn’t mean I have to.”

Gabby turned her gaze on me, her eyes gleaming with a cosmic light. “True, but it doesn’t mean you should avoid understanding that power either. The more you understand about mana and the system that governs it, the more you can use it to shape your reality. Which brings me to what I really wanted to talk to you about: taking better advantage of the system.”

I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “What do you mean?”

Gabby’s lips curved into a smirk. “You rely heavily on instinct, Gavrin. And yes, you have a natural affinity for mana that most could only dream of. But the system? It’s like a cosmic bureaucracy. It has rules, shortcuts, and loopholes. You need to think of it less as magic in the fairy-tale sense and more as a complex set of protocols that you can exploit.”

I chuckled at her description. “Exploiting the system, huh? Sounds a bit… underhanded.”

“Not at all,” she replied smoothly. “It’s about efficiency. You’ve already got your Verdant Dominion, but you're using it in the most basic way. Mana is the currency of this world, the essence that binds everything together. The system is like a set of laws dictating how that essence can be manipulated. Understanding the nuances of those laws is how you get ahead. Take your abilities, for instance—you have barely scratched the surface of what you can do.”

“Okay, I’m listening,” I said, folding my arms. “What do you suggest?”

Gabby’s eyes sparkled, her enthusiasm almost infectious. “First, you need to recognize that the system categorizes things into spells, skills, and abilities. Right now, you’ve been focused on growing plants, reshaping landscapes, and using mana in ways that feel natural to you. That’s great, but it’s chaotic. The system doesn’t just reward raw power; it rewards specificity. Naming things, structuring your spells, focusing your intentions—that’s how you gain greater control and efficiency.”

I nodded, mulling over her words. “So, you’re saying I need to compartmentalize my abilities?”

“Exactly,” she said, a hint of pride in her voice. “Think of it as giving the system something to quantify. Right now, your Verdant Dominion is like a massive, sprawling spell with no defined edges. You need to break it down. Define the skills within it. Are you manipulating plants? That’s Verdant Manipulation. Are you enhancing growth? That’s Verdant Amplification. You need to name these sub-skills and focus on them individually. The system will recognize them, and you’ll gain experience in each category, which in turn will make the overall ability stronger.”

“Interesting.” I paced around the pond, the gears in my mind starting to turn. “So, if I name my abilities and make them more precise, the system will reward that specificity?”

“Not just reward,” she corrected, “but amplify. When you give the system a clear structure, it can channel mana more effectively. Take, for instance, your communication with the village’s flora and fauna. Right now, it’s an instinctual thing for you. But if you classify it as a skill—say, Verdant Whisper—and practice it consciously, the system can provide you with benefits. It might increase the range of your communication, or allow you to receive clearer information.”

I paused, the implications dawning on me. “So, by naming and refining my skills, I can actually shape the way mana interacts with the world around me?”

“Precisely,” Gabby said, a satisfied smile crossing her face. “Mana is the tool, but the system is the manual. You’ve been wielding the tool without reading the manual, so to speak. By paying attention to the system’s guidelines, you can create more refined spells and abilities that operate within its framework, making them more potent and reliable.”

I nodded slowly. “I see what you’re getting at. I’ve been treating everything like a blunt instrument, when I should be using it like a sculptor’s chisel.”

“Exactly,” she affirmed. “Mana will flow more efficiently through pathways that the system recognizes. Once you master this, you could even create skills that draw power directly from your Verdant Dominion. You could create wards around the village, defensive barriers that tap into the network of roots and trees you control. Or you could develop focused spells—like growing a plant with medicinal properties in seconds, rather than minutes.”

I pondered her words, feeling a sense of excitement building within me. “So, it’s about directing my power into specific, recognized forms, instead of letting it sprawl out uncontrolled.”

Gabby’s eyes twinkled. “Exactly, Gav Gav. Mana is infinite, but your ability to harness it depends on how well you understand and work within the system's rules. Take your Verdant Dominion and break it into pieces you can define. Make it work for you, not the other way around.”

I grinned, feeling the fog in my mind lifting as the path forward became clearer. “You’re right. I’ve been too broad with everything. It’s time to refine, to sharpen my abilities and use the system to my advantage.”

Gabby’s smile widened, and she gave me a playful nudge. “That’s the spirit! You’ve got so much potential, Gav Gav. Don’t let it go to waste because you’re too busy worrying about what others think or say. Shape your power, and let the system bend to you.”

I nodded, determination settling into my bones. “Alright, time to get to work then. I’ll start with the Verdant Dominion. I’ll carve out the skills and see where the system takes them.”

“Good,” Gabby said, turning to leave. “And remember, I’m always here to help... and to remind you when you start getting lost in that chaotic head of yours.”

I chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

As she walked away, I turned my attention back to the pond. The koi swam in lazy circles, oblivious to the shift in the air. I knelt down, touching the water’s surface, feeling the pulse of mana beneath it.

Alright, system, I thought, let’s see what we can build together.