Semi-serious chapters happen guys, sorry if the punch lines aren't coming through. I really wanted to focus on Duorey in this chapter, as the magic system is always my favorite part of everything. Also, I hate bureaucracy.

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"YES!" I screamed.

I had been looking forward to this since I first yelled Status and saw the MP bar. Seriously, magic dude. I guarantee you there isn't one person on Earth who wouldn't jump at the chance to try it. Not that there's one person on Earth anymore. They'd probably jump at the chance to eat a breadless shit sandwich, rather than being, well, dead. But that's depressing! Moving on!

Mom nodded. "The easiest way to learn magic is to read a Skill book, and just start doing it. It'll give you a feel for casting. Unfortunately, we don't have that luxury. We kinda mortgaged our house to just get those accessories for you. So, you're going to learn the hard way!"

"Sit down, and clear your mind. No, don't close your eyes. You need to feel the world around you with your body, not your mind. Magic isn't some archaic concept you need to master to be able to use. It's the very feeling of living. There is magic in everything, it's what makes living creatures live, and inanimate things exist. It's the fundamental building block on which everything is made."

"Feel the sun and wind on your skin, the blood pumping through your veins. Smell the air, taste the lingering food from lunch. Unfocus your eyes, and take in everything. Don't tune out anything, listen equally to every sound."

Mom quit talking, and I did my best to follow her advice. Honestly, it wasn't easy. I guess this was becoming one with nature or something? Should I take off my clothes? I should definitely take off my clothes.

Mom didn't say anything as I stripped, and just waited.

I sat down cross legged, and truly focused on becoming un focused. You know how sometimes you can just go into a daze, and stare off into space? It was like trying to force yourself to do that.

Finally, I managed to slip into a daze, but I felt there was something missing. Like I had left one of my senses unoccupied. A kind of sixth sense which I wasn't currently using. It was strange, because I'd never felt it before. Doing my best to keep my senses balanced, I reached for that feeling.

Clarity blew through my mind, like being doused with cold water when in a fugue, bringing me to a more alert state than just normal wakefulness. I felt...alive, and surging with power. More than that, I felt connected to the world around me, as if the face of the world was my skin. I could tell when the wind would blow, and I could feel the pieces moving. It was like switching from first to third person.

*Ting!*

Skill Generated!

Mana Sense: Allows you to perceive and manipulate ambient mana, as well as your innate mana.

10% easier to access mana pool.

Beginner Level 1

Mom clapped, excited. "Well done, it looks like you've got it! Remarkable, really. It's only been a few hours."

Hours? I looked up, and sure enough, the sun had moved a fair distance. It was probably 3 o' clock now.

"Alright darling, now that you've got a feel for it, try getting back into that state, and gathering that power onto your palm."

I immediately went back into my trance, getting a feel for it. It was like crossing your eyes, once you get the trick, it's much easier. I felt the almost addictive surge of power, and started focusing. Gathering the power was like controlling the flow of blood through my veins, using my mind.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Just above the palm of my hand, I could see wispy blue shimmers of light forming, They wrapped around an invisible core, like the eye of a tornado, and soon I was holding a faintly pulsating shimmering sphere.

*Ting!*

Spell Formed

Mana Orb

The most basic form of mana manipulation, forms energy into a visible sphere.

Variable MP cost

Beginner Level 1

HELL YES!! I just held it and looked at it for a while. It was really pretty. I noticed the mana cost was variable, so I tried to manipulate it further. I pulled a little mana out of it, and watched it shrink. I started pouring mana into it, and it grew to about the size of a basketball. I grinned. This was going to be awesome.

Standing up, I shrunk the ball, and managed to keep it's form. Grasping it with both hands, I placed both my hands to my right side, one hand over the top, one over the bottom.

"KAME!!!"

I started pouring energy into the ball, trying to keep it compact with my hands. The orb maintained it's shape, and started glowing brightly.

"HAME!!!"

I finally reached the limits of what I could pour into it. I didn't feel any of the power left in my veins, it was all in this sphere.

"HAAAAA!!!!"

I thrust my hands forwards, releasing the orb!

It fell over, landing at my feet.

*BOOOOM!*

I sailed about 5 feet into the air, and 20 feet horizontally, doing an awesome pirouette.

"Oh Goddess, why?" My tears sparkled in the air, following me.

Mom caught me before I hit the ground, where I would have no doubt made a very messy crater.

She caught me with me facing towards the ground, one hand landing firmly on my chest, and the other firmly in my tender bits.

"Oof!"

The pain...what horror have you wrought on me, mother. I could see my future children with sad faces, turning away from me.

I was winded, and in incomparable pain. Mom laid me down on the hard ground, and immediately chanted, "Major Heal!"

Nice reaction speed.

Such warm energy. I could feel my vigor rekindled. Come back to me, Jimmy!

I just laid there for a minute, trying to figure out what went wrong. The energy gathering was perfect..It was all compressed, and made an impressive explosion. It finally dawned on me. I had put ALL my mana into the orb, and invested none of it into any form of propulsion. The super explosive energy bomb had been tossed entirely by my Strength stat, which was a whopping 1.

*ding!*

Skill Generated!

Kamikaze

Increases the damage and reduces the charge time of suicidal attacks.

2x damage, 1/2 charge time.

Beginner Level 1

Like hell I was going to level that skill!

+1 Wisdom

+1 Intelligence

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3/1000 ways to die unlocked

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Sorry, only one chapter again today. There's way too much drama in my life atm, so I'll guarantee a chapter a day, but I wouldn't expect 2 a day for a while.