He sat still for a moment, letting the reality of what had just happened settle in. The faint warmth of the flame inside him pulsed softly, like a heartbeat. He had done it—he had gained control over fire magic, something he hadn’t even dared to believe was possible just a short while ago.

But as the adrenaline from the process faded, a question nagged at him.

Time to mastery: High.

That had been the warning from his Wisdom skill. Yet, despite this, he had gained fire magic relatively quickly. The process had been difficult, sure, but it wasn’t the grueling, drawn-out struggle he had expected. Why had he acquired the skill so fast?

It doesn’t make sense, he thought, frowning mentally as he tried to puzzle it out. The steps had been clear, the process detailed. He knew mastering magic would take time, practice, and focus. But the skill itself had come to him faster than he anticipated.

The bee larva next to him must have sensed his inner confusion through their telepathic link. She had been quiet during his internal struggle to acquire magic, but now her presence flickered in his mind.

Is something wrong? she asked, her mental voice tinged with concern.

I don’t understand... he replied, his thoughts a bit jumbled. It said it would take a long time to master fire magic, but I gained the skill really quickly. Why?

There was a brief pause as she considered his words. Maybe... it has something to do with your other skills?

Her suggestion clicked in his mind almost immediately.

Wisdom.

Of course. His Wisdom skill wasn’t just some passive ability—it actively helped him understand and process the world around him. It guided him, gave him knowledge, and helped him figure things out. What if the Wisdom skill had played a bigger role in acquiring fire magic than he realized?

He focused inward again, calling on his Wisdom skill directly this time, searching for answers. The familiar hum of knowledge stirred inside him, and slowly, the pieces began to fall into place.

The Wisdom skill didn’t just make him smarter or more aware. It was like an internal encyclopedia, constantly feeding him information on how things worked in this world. When he had focused on learning fire magic, Wisdom had done more than just guide him through the steps—it had accelerated his understanding. It was like having a cheat sheet for the process, showing him exactly what to do, where to focus, and how to absorb and control the heat.

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That’s why I gained the skill so quickly, he realized. The Wisdom skill helped me learn it faster than I would have on my own.

But that didn’t mean he had mastered it. No, far from it. The flame inside him was weak, flickering, barely stable. He could create fire, sure, but controlling it, mastering it—that was going to take time. The Wisdom skill had given him a head start, but the real challenge was still ahead.

He turned to the bee larva, sharing his realization through their telepathic link. It was my Wisdom skill, he explained. It helped me understand the process faster. But I still have a long way to go before I can really control the fire.

She seemed to mull over his words, her antennae twitching slightly as she thought. That makes sense. Skills here don’t just come from effort—they come from understanding. If your Wisdom skill gives you that understanding faster, then you can gain skills more quickly. But you’re right... mastering them is a different thing.

Exactly. He felt a bit more at ease now that he understood why the process had felt quicker than expected. But the weight of the challenge ahead still lingered. He had the ability now, but it was raw, unrefined. He needed to practice, to grow, if he wanted to survive in this world.

I’ll need to be careful, he thought. Fire magic is powerful, but if I lose control of it, I could hurt myself—or worse.

He felt the bee larva’s cautious agreement through their link. We’ll have to practice, both of us, she sent, her mental voice steady. If we want to survive, we’ll need more than just raw skills. We’ll need control.

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their new reality settling over them. The forest around them still hummed with life, but now it felt different. He could feel the heat in the air more keenly than before, the warmth of the sun above them, the energy that pulsed through the plants and creatures. It was all connected, all part of the same vast system.

And now, he had a small piece of that power.

This is only the beginning, he reminded himself. There were more elements, more abilities out there—things he hadn’t even begun to explore. Fire was just the first step. With the help of his Wisdom skill, he could learn more. He could grow stronger.

But for now, he had to focus on mastering what he had.

The bee larva nudged him gently with her mind. We should keep moving, she sent. This place is peaceful, but we don’t know how long that will last.

He nodded—at least, as much as a larva could nod—and they both began to crawl forward again, more cautious but also more confident than before. They had magic now, or at least the beginnings of it, and that made all the difference.

As he was moving, he thought about his Wisdom skill. He had that skill when he was born and to be honest, he didn't really understand the mechanism of this system. How is it that he got this wisdom skill when he reincarnated? Was this skill something anybody could get? Or was it something special he was born with? Were there other people who had the same skill as him?