It's been about a month, and I no longer feel as weak and groggy as before. This improvement is the result of my hard work. Meditation not only increased my mana, but it also boosted my overall health.

I'm not sure about the exact age of this era, but it's clear that these are primitive times. I haven't fallen sick yet, but who knows when I might acquire some unknown disease. I quickly realized that we don't have a proper toilet; it's quite clear that the outdoors serves that purpose.

'I can almost feel those germs... all over my hands.'

Anyway, as long as I keep my health at its peak through constant meditation, I won't get sick. There is no need to worry excessively.

My daily routine hasn't changed much. After waking up, my mother feeds me, and then I continue my training. While my status hasn't seen much change, my mana has surged significantly.

I'm uncertain about how it increases so rapidly... Is this normal? I wish I had an answer.

[Mana: 7,025/7025]

I've also made progress in meditation, and it's already at level 10.

[Meditation]

[Grade: Rare

Level: 1

Description: Stabilize your state of mind through calm breathing. Increases health and mana regeneration by 300%. Removes negative thoughts.]

It's already at 300%... I'm practically bathing in mana. No wonder it's increasing so fast. It's the snowball effect of my meditation.

'Seeing the numbers go up is satisfying.'

Even though I still can't do much with my mana, I sense a change is approaching. The movement of mana during meditation has provided me a clue. I've inhaled and exhaled millions of times since birth.

'I'd be an idiot not to understand something I've been doing unconsciously.'

The question is, how do I move this mana elsewhere?

Mana isn't like air. I can't move air in my lungs, but mana is intangible. It can pass through anything. It can permeate walls and even organic matter like fruits.

Ever since I could feel mana, I've constantly observed everything containing it. Well, it's practically everywhere, so I don't need to look too hard.

'This is something I didn't really want to do…'

Since I've only been able to move the mana passing through my body during mana respiration, I decided to control that process.

'Focus!'

The mana I've been exhaling stops abruptly.

'It's actually working…'

The mana freezes around my windpipe, coalescing into a large ball. I start to sweat as I feel pressure around my throat.

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'This is dangerous!'

Unable to hold it, I release the mana back into the atmosphere. Instead of dispersing, the mana ball maintains its shape and collides with the wall, leaving a thin mark on the cabin's wooden wall.

'Holy hell...'

This is too risky. I truly didn't anticipate that reaction. My options are dwindling, and now even my sole lead seems too dangerous for now.

'No, there's still a way.'

I've been trying to control the mana leaving my body, but there's a better approach. Mana leaving my body isn't the same as mana entering it.

I've been going about it the wrong way. Looking back, I'd have more control over mana entering my body. I should try again.

I prepare myself by taking deep mana breaths. My mom giggles from her workbench.

Ignoring her, I focus on my breath. Taking a deep breath, I begin to guide the mana through my throat; it's much smoother this time.

As the mana passes through my throat, I exert a slight influence. I attempt to shape it into a ball, but the mana dissipates before I can achieve that.

'I have unlimited tries. Let's give it another shot.'

Repeating the process, I guide the mana along the same pathways.

'A bit earlier this time.'

Seeking more control over the mana, I shape it into a ball with utmost concentration. Then I try to split the ball into four paths and...

'Ah, it dissipated again.'

That's okay. As I said, I have unlimited attempts and time. I can keep doing this indefinitely until I succeed.

I've lost track of how many times I've repeated the same action. I'm getting closer and closer to success. I take a deep breath. The mana flows through my throat effortlessly, shaping itself into a much more perfect sphere. The sphere divides into four parts, each rushing toward my limbs.

'It's happening!'

Each of the four parts of mana requires individual control. I can't divide my brain into four parts, so I control each through a designated point of reference.

Given my small body, my legs aren't much longer than my arms. This allows me to designate a reference point around my body's center from which the mana moves the same distance in all directions.

The mana transforms into a thin string, spiraling around my arms and legs. Then, I compel the mana to dissipate while maintaining control. Slowly, the mana dissolves from my extremities all the way to my heart. It's exhilarating, and sweat covers my body. I look around and feel relieved to see my mother engrossed in her work.

'I think it's about to happen…'

[Congratulations! Your skill 'Meditation' has evolved.]

[Active skill 'Meditation' evolves into passive skill 'Rafaele's Hyper Regeneration']

[Congratulations for creating a new skill all by yourself!]

[You have acquired two skill points as a reward.]

[The shop has been unlocked!]

'What… What…? This isn't what I wanted, right?'

Suddenly, intense pain engulfs my body. I start crying almost involuntarily, and my mother jumps from her workbench, rushing to pick me up from the straw bed.

'No… don't touch!'

She barely touches me before her fingertips burn. My body has become extremely hot. I don't understand what's happening to me.

"What? Rafaele! Dear God, what's happening?!"

Even though her touch burns her, my mother lifts me up. She starts running, hurrying out of the workshop and toward the front door.

'Ah, there's no need to…'

I unconsciously know this will be over within minutes. Even before my mother reaches halfway to the herbalist, my body cools down back to normal temperatures.

She glances at me anxiously but still decides to take me to the herbalist.

***

"The boy is perfectly fine."

The herbalist examines me and shakes his head.

My mother looks at him and then at me. She looks at the herbalist suspiciously and asks,

"Are you sure he's fine?"

The herbalist nods.

"If he was actually burning the way you described, it would indicate 'Advanced Mana Poisoning,' and he'd be dead within seconds."

My mom's expression turns even more distressed at that revelation.

'Tsk. This old man has no conscience.'

"Do you not see these burns?"

My mother waves her burnt hand, disregarding the pain it causes her.

This time, the herbalist is baffled. He widens his eyes and touches my mother's burns.

"Ugh...!"

'Ah, I feel so bad now… Damn it.'

"These burns are recent… Are you not lying?"

My mother furrows her brow.

"What reason do I have to lie to you?"

Perplexed, the herbalist rummages around his quarters, shuffling through cabinets before retrieving an old, rusty book.

After swiftly skimming through its pages, the herbalist returns to us and shakes his head.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what could have caused such a reaction in your boy!"

He seems genuinely embarrassed. Well, it's not his fault. This reaction resulted from the evolution of my skill. I don't think anyone would know its cause except for me.

My mother appears tired from all this, yet the worried look on her face persists. She sighs and asks the herbalist for medicine to treat her burns.

***

[Rafaele's Hyper Regeneration]

Grade: Unique

Level: 1

Description: A unique skill that channels mana throughout the body at an intense rate. User always maintains a state of meditation at all times. Increases health regeneration and mana regeneration by 1000%.]

'Wow! I wanted magic but this isn't too bad.'

Ever since acquiring this ability, I haven't felt the need to continue my breath control; it's as if my body has learned the movements from my last successful test and now performs them automatically all the time.

'This was worth it…'

My mana regeneration is already so high that half of my total mana replenishes in a single second.

Since my skill isn't using the unused mana, I decide to make a change myself. The skills are only aiding mechanisms, and there's still room for small adjustments in their workings.

By instructing it to use the regenerating mana as well, its efficiency leaps forward.

'I feel like I'll be swimming in an ocean of mana soon.'

Now that my mana will passively increase, I'm free to pursue other tasks. I also have two skill points to spend and a shop to explore, whatever that entails.

For now, I once again focus on trying to form words.

"Ugh, ouuhg!"

"Gosh, you're never really quiet, are you!"