-Ah I'm sorry I should've told you if you didn't even know you had to eat and take a shower.
Fayt was talking to me through the messaging app. I was taking care of the falcons in the morning. After spending the whole afternoon and night trying to find a trainer for mana manipulation and not finding anything, I decided I had to send Fayt a message and ask him.
…
Just kidding, he sent me a message in the morning asking me if I knew about mana. Of course I didn't.
-It's basically what separates the real gamers and the casual ones.
Hmm it felt weird how he said real gamers.
-You have to basically learn by yourself, some learn by meditating, others by saying long chants of power, and there's even some who did it by battling a lot. I believe you can do it, you are a real one for sure.
-Oh o-ok I'll try then!
I have to, my whole build depends on it. There goes another thing in the book: learn mana manipulation.
First things first, get a salary.
-J-Jarvan!
-Yes?
-Ineedtospeakwithyou…
-Youngling you need to speak better than that.
-I-I need to speak with you.
-Sure.
-I was thinking, as I am helping you guys here in the morning, would it be possible, if I could get… Some…salary?
-You already got one. 5 coppers a day, just talk with Petra to get them.
-Oh… Thank you…
-You're welcome, now go back to work.
Now with the afternoon and the nights free, He has to find a way to learn mana manipulation. Somewhere, someway.
It's easy to realise he barely knows the city. He never went out, he only knows the plaza, the coloured house, the baths and the guard post.
What to do, what to do?
Could he use the training grounds of the guards? Maybe he could ask Petra. After finishing his work with the falcons he goes to her, not only to get his dues but to ask her.
-Hi Petra, how are you?
-Hey sweetie, how can I help you?
She passes me a pouch with my copper coins.
-S-so is there any way I can use the training grounds?
-Oohh finally want to be a guard too? Are you gonna be a falconer?
-No no, I need to learn mana manipulation.
-Ouch, that is quite a thing to try, not a lot of people can do it.
-Y-yeah, I know, but I need it. I have to learn.
-Well, technically you already are part of the post, so of course you can use the grounds. But maybe not in the afternoons because there are drills at that time.
This answer was all I needed, I could use it during the night, and during the afternoon maybe I could go to the library to find something about mana.
-Petra, is there a Library in Tairo?
-Not really, we have prominent families with many books, but not one Library.
Well that sucks. I still have one skill point, I guess that's what I'm going for now.
Dmitri went to the plaza to spend the afternoon. Or try to. He's been so cooped up doing his own things both in real and now in VR, first in a room with just birds, then with just one other person, he has never been in a place with a lot of people.
His heart starts to race and quickly he turns his face around looking at all the people around him, almost as if they were suffocating him.
He needs to leave.
Looking around he tries to find somewhere with less, much less people. He starts walking aimlessly letting the beating of his heart lead him until a small shop draws him in.
He entered immediately and started breathing in and out.
-Are you okay honey?
A fluffy voice and person asks him.
-Here let me get you some tea.
Soon a sweet smell embraces the places and Dmitri is drinking the sweetest tea he has ever had. Otto, the owner of the shop, has made it for him.
This was Otto's Hands, a handicraft shop in the town. It wasn't very much famous, but the grandmas loved it.
-Are you feeling better now?
-Y-yes, thank you so much.
Dmitri took a look at the shop and saw all kinds of things, from pottery, to drawings, to jewellery, to woodcraft and papercraft.
-These.. Are very pretty, did you make all of them?
-Yup, all with my Handicraft skill.
-All of them with only one skill?
-It's a very open skill so long you're doing very much by hand all the processes. It's very good to learn about many things and mix and match, but I'm the first to say it's never going to be as good as a specialised skill.
-Y-you can't say for sure
-Oh I can honey, and it's okay.
-Then, can I learn?
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
What? Are you sure about that?
-Are you sure about that?
-N-no, but sometimes, when I'm in my bedroom, I feel like doing something, but it's never the same thing. Sometimes it's a drawing, sometimes it's to create something, sometimes it's something with my hands that I don't know about.
Dmitri did have some bouts like that during some depressive states.
-It's always creative but I never had an outlet because I always thought I had to choose one. But looking at your shop… I think I don't need to choose.
-You definitely don't need to choose. Very well, why don't come when you can and I'll teach you the best I can.
-O-Ok! I can come every afternoon. That's when I'm free.
-Perfect.
Dmitri stays there for lunch and keeps being there for the afternoon training.
-The best way to learn how to do something is to do it, that's what I believe, so that's how I will teach. We'll start with buttons.
The afternoon was pleasant as Otto was as fluffy teaching as he was before.
Now it's getting dark and it's getting close to the time he will try to learn mana manipulation.
-Goodbye Otto, it was a pleasure meeting you!
-See you tomorrow!
The Guard Post was really different at night. Last time he stayed at the tower all the time, this time Dmitri is coming from the outside.
The defence is still tight, there are guards up and running even during the night in town and in the post. Dmitri enters the post but Petra is nowhere to be seen.
-Hi, you must be Mitras, Petra told me. I should expect you.
A very handsome man was in Preta's place. Long dark hair, dark eyes, sun kissed skin. He even raised his hand to meet mine.
-I'm Patroklos, nice to meet you.
-N-nice to meet you.
His hand was warm.
-The training grounds are empty, just dark, but you can use it.
-T-thank you…
Dmitri bolts away to the training grounds trying to find the darkest place. He isn't sure what to do now, but he used to read manga, manhwa, and watch anime, before the depression. Maybe he could use some of what he remembers?
He sits cross legged and thinks maybe he should meditate. Doesn't those meditations have different ways depending on the user? Maybe I should make my own way.
Let's make an insect mana manipulation meditation technique!
…
How to?
How does mana work? Browser!
In the many ways mana has been used, be it in games or what not, or even been used as mana or something else like ki, it's usually a liquid, something that gathers inside you.
Hmmm, something that gathers.
Ants do that! And they live in colonies, gathering resources for the queen. Their kingdoms are full of twisted turns just like our blood system.
Yes, Dmitri likes that.
Sitting on the ground he imagines ants crawling on top of him, just a few, non coloured ants walking around his body, like they are trying to find an entrance.
Dmitri stays like that for a long time.
-Hey.
Another scare!
-Sorry! Sorry! It's me Bjarke, saw you sitting there, and got curious.
-O-oh I'm trying to feel mana.
Thank the gods after the last fiasco he is taking daily showers. He is probably blushing like crazy now.
-Really?! Wow, that's amazing, not everyone can do that, did you know? In town I think we have 2 maybe 3 people who can. Of course this not counting you Travellers.
When he puts his arm behind his head, you can see how big it is. I want to touch it so bad. Why is he sitting so close, I won't know what to do…
-So what are you going to do? Just going to sit there? Many people tried that, you know? Not many did it.
-I-I do have a plan
-Really? That's good, else I would be worried about you.
Even in the dark you could see he had caramel eyes and they shined like a star right now.
-Ahmm these pink eyes, is it like a family thing? Sorry for the question, we don't really know much about Travellers.
-N-no, I actually chose them, I really like soft pink.
-R-really? It's like, my favourite colour hahahah.
Does he like Dmitri? Is it even possible? He knew VR could be the answer to find…. Someone, something, but this fast? It's been a week in game.
Ehhh his Charm skill is already on lvl 4 untrained?
-So, anyway, can I just stay here for a while?
-Y-yeah o-of course you can
The night was spent in silence. Dmitri didn't get to feel mana that night, but he did get warm all over. Until it was very late they stayed there together and when it felt like it was the right time, Bjarke left and instead of keeping playing Dmitri logged off to eat something and mumble to himself.
He spent a week like that.
In the morning he took care of the falcons as always.
In the afternoons he did handicraft with Otto, everyday a different kind of handicraft, using different kinds of tools and different types of materials.
At night he would go to the training ground and meditate his ant colony meditation method. Bjarke would appear at some point and just stay there with him, some days they would talk about what they did on the day, but some they would just exist.
It was at the end of the week-long training that something changed. Usually he always meditated that the ants walked around him, as if his body is getting used to the idea of ants walking on it. Then… One ant entered him and he breathed out differently
adquire Mana Manipulation (untrained)
Unlocked Spells
Unlocked spell Catch’em
Unlocked spell Cheer
He didn't stop because of the messages he continued meditating through the night and the early morning, only getting up when it was time to work.
He was Mana Manipulation Untrained 5 now. He wanted to get to 10, he knew where to put his next Skill Point, the better his mana manipulation, the better will be his spells.
He would only wait to get his Handicraft skill and then he would finally go out of town and get his first insect!
Dmitri is so excited he wishes he had someone to tell! But who could he possibly tell who would care. Of course there are some, but he didn't think they would really care.
Only another week passed before he got the Handicraft skill.
adquire Handicraft skill
-Congratulations! To a well deserved accomplishment.
Otto prepared cakes and teas, like a mini party for the two of them.
-This is for you, my first student.
Dmitri opens the box and inside is a full kit for handicraft tools.
-T-this is too much.
-No it's not, you should go out, try new things, new materials, that's the beauty of handicraft.
-T-thank you.
He hugged the box tightly, it's been years since he last received a gift.
Dmitri Mitras Human Level 1 (PW 3) HP: 10 MP: 10 Skills: SP: 0 Health - Trained 0 Mana - Trained 0 Common Language - Untrained 10 Dance - Trained 0 Tame - Trained 2 Charm - Untrained - 5 Handicraft - Trained 0