When it came to crafting whether it was Blacksmithing, Alchemy, or even Tailoring, Liam would get absorbed and have fun with it. Even when it came to Tailoring before he was given some hints to help him get better at it he still had a little fun. However…as he stood there working on his Construction Crafting doing it the way Uncle Naro had instructed, he had to agree that Key was right. This was hell.
He had used his Mana Type Hands before doing Alchemy, but the objects he had to grab or use the hands on were small, light, and easy to move around. They made doing Alchemy a lot easier when he couldn’t move or just didn’t feel like moving. However, when making something like a chair or two at the same time…he couldn’t get his swings down right. He would either swing too hard or too soft.
His other issue was he was using two Mana Hands to swing the weapons while holding the pieces with his physical hands. So his timing was off by a lot. When Uncle Naro had told him he wouldn’t be using the conventional way of making these objects he had meant that he wasn’t going to use his physical hands to use the tools.
Since he was barely able to use three Mana Hands at a time he was told to only use two until he could get into the swing of things. Uncle Naro had laughed at his own pun before properly explaining that he wanted Liam to get used to using his Mana Hands using the tools before implementing a mixture of his Mana Hands and his physical hands.
When he wasn’t practicing this he would then practicing summoning his Mana Hands and trying to get to four so he wouldn’t be using his physical hands at all during this practice. It was his hope that not only would it help him get more proficient with his Mana Hands, but it would also help with him understanding how to multitask better. It was made clear that the Mana Hand Crafter Fighting Style Uncle Naro was hoping Liam to learn required a lot of multitasking.
When Uncle Naro made that clear, Liam remembered his fight against the hooded figures where his heightened senses were overwhelming, and he had to calm himself down before being swallowed up by them. When he fought with his heightened senses the way they were he had noticed he had to focus on all the sensations going on to help protect himself. His sight, smell, touch, and hearing were all happening at once and if he didn’t pay attention to them all he would have perished easily. It seemed that he needed to multitask his focus on all of them in order to best utilize their efficiency to the maximum.
When he brought that up he saw Uncle Naro looked both shocked and pleased by his question of that. He had informed and proved that he was right in thinking that his Dexterity sub-stats were the right things to train in order to get the best results in that matter as well as the right sub-stats to focus on to receive the Field of Study he and his Patron had wanted him to receive. However, there was more that he needed.
There were three that he needed to work on along the others. They were sub-stats he hadn’t thought, and one of them was essential for him since he was a half-breed. One was the sub-stat Perception. Perception was the sub-stat he believed only helped when spotting errors in his crafting or he used when fighting to help catch things he didn’t see before. However, Uncle Naro helped grow that line of thinking.
Perception wasn’t just a sight increasing or environment perceiving thing. If used right it could also help with his heightened senses. If he focused his perception on things like a new smell suddenly appearing or the wind brushing up against his skin suddenly, then he would be able to react much quicker. Not only that, but his Perception could also help him move his Mana Hands in ways his normal physical hands couldn’t once when he mastered it down.
The next sub-stat was Mental Absorption. While it was good to have a decent Mental Absorption level to help him remember things like learning a new fighting style, the sub-stat could also help him remember how each of his Mana Hands feels. At first he didn’t quite understand what Uncle Naro had meant by that, but after he explained it further it made a bit more sense.
Through Mental Absorption, Liam could remember how heavy a tool, or a weapon was and adjust the swing of his Mana Hands based on that. Each swing or stab using his Mana Hands required different touches, strength, and precision. Through Mental Absorption he could remember those as well as the difficulty of an enemy’s hardness of their armor or protective shells. It also helped with remembering what tools worked best with what and combination of attacks.
The last one was one he hadn’t considered. It was something he brushed off due to it being something he felt should have been a basic thing needed for everything he did. That was Stamina Endurance. Stamina Endurance is a sub-stat that one needs to help manage their Stamina Bar. It helps people run longer, handle difficult task longer, craft longer, and even fight longer as well.
That last aspect is what he needed the most while using the Field of Study Uncle Naro and his Patron wanted him to get. The reason why Uncle Naro said he needed to work on that and why it was so important was because since he was a Beast-kin half breed, he didn’t receive a specific Racial Benefit that a full bred Beast-kin would get, Fatigue Reduction.
Fatigue Reduction was a Racial Benefit that helped reduced the drain of one’s Stamina Bar. A lot of the Beast-kin fighting style required more movement and faster reaction times when fighting. Many Beast-kins focused on their Speed, Agility, Fine Motor Skills, or even their Strength when they fought and the amount of stress it puts on one’s body due to the fighting style and the way the Field of Study worked, it would drain their Stamina Bar quickly without the Racial Benefit.
Uncle Naro’s solution to make up for this was working on his Stamina Endurance. He believed that if he could get his Stamina Endurance up high enough then it could help ease how fast the drain caused by the stress of the movements made. He also believed there was something else he could try and get, but at the same time he wasn’t sure if it would be worthwhile for his path. So instead he told him to work on that for now.
Even though Liam felt this training was hellish, he couldn’t really complain about the results. While the items he tried to make were nowhere near acceptable it did help raise his Focus Point Construction Craft slowly. Not only that, but even a few of his sub-stats gained levels through this nightmarish training.
[Congratulations! Focus Point Construction Craft has reached level 11! Progression to level 12: 100%!]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
[Congratulations! Focus Point Construction Craft has reached level 13! Progression to level 14: 57%!]
[Congratulations! Destruction Points has reached level 11! Progression to level 12: 100%!]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
[Congratulations! Destruction Points has reached level 13! Progression to level 14: 57%!]
[Congratulations! Small Creation Knowledge has reached level 6! Progression to level 7: 100%!]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
[Congratulations! Small Creation Knowledge has reached level 8! Progression to level 9: 35%!]
[Congratulations! Construct Wooden Creation has reached level 6! Progression to level 7: 100%!]
[Congratulations! Construct Wooden Creation has reached level 7! Progression to level 8: 89%!]
[Congratulations! Focus Point Production Craft has reached level 19! Progression to level 20: 0%!]
[Congratulations! Crafter’s Endurance Improvement has reached level 19! Progression to level 20: 0%!]
[Congratulations! Sub-stat Reflex has reached level 27! Progression to level 28: 56%!]
[Congratulations! Sub-stat Stamina Endurance has reached level 27! Progression to level 28: 66%!]
[Congratulations! Sub-stat Crafter Endurance has reached level 22! Progression to level 23: 14%!]
[Congratulations! Sub-stat Mental Absorption has reached level 16! Progression to level 17: 100%!]
[Congratulations! Sub-stat Mental Absorption has reached level 17! Progression to level 18: 91%!]
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[Congratulations! Sub-stat Perception has reached level 27! Progression to level 28: 9%!]
While he didn’t get a lot of levels in these areas he wasn’t really bummed about it. It was going to take time for him to fully grasp how to do what he was asked to do. He was just happy to see he got a level in his Reflex sub-stat. During the first hour of trying to do this he had to dodge his arms and hands from getting hit as he tried to swing the hammers to hit the nails.
He had spent roughly three hours trying to do this and was ready for a break. He needed to replenish both his Stamina Bar and Mana Pool before trying to attempt this again. As he sat there thinking about the problem a couple of visitors decided to come by and see how he was doing. It was Avery and Mercer.
“Yo!” Mercer called out as he and Avery entered the room.
“How’s it goin…,” Avery started to say until she got a good look at his…failed successes. “Are…what are those?”
Liam let out a sigh. He wasn’t proud of them either, but for some reason when he assessed them they did say they were chairs. Even if the quality and rarity was the lowest, they were still considered as completed items. “I call them failed successes.”
Not really wanting to ask the logic behind that, she asked, “So what exactly are you doing in here?”
“Training,” Liam responded with a wry grin.
“Oh?” Avery said as she looked at the pile poor excuse of what he called chairs. A teasing smile grew on her face as she asked, “Training for what? How to make garbage?”
Liam’s wry smile dropped as he stared at her. “Hey now. I worked hard on those. Sure they are trashy and barely holds together, but I still worked hard on them.”
Mercer gave Liam a wary look as he asked, “Are you sure you know how to properly make a chair?”
Liam gave him a mock look of hurt as he exaggeratedly said, “Mercer?! Not you too!”
Avery let out a chuckle as Mercer shook his head. “Seriously though. Are you having that much difficulty making chairs?”
Liam dropped the act as he replied, “If I was doing it normally then I’d have no issues. However, I am not doing it normally.”
Mercer nodded his head. “I figured as much. How is he having you make them then?”
Liam went into detail of what he was doing and how he was doing it. He also explained why it was necessary and what Uncle Naro’s goal was with this training. Avery and Mercer had questions of their own trying to understand certain parts. The more Liam answered and explained the more he was starting to understand what he was lacking and what he was getting better at. However, there was something Liam hadn’t considered and was brought up by Mercer.
“Have you tried to blend the mana of your Mana Hands into the tools?” Mercer asked.
Liam stared at him for a long moment. He wasn’t sure how or why that would be helpful besides having an effect produced by the type of mana the hand was created from. Mercer noticed the look on his face and got his answer from it. He then explained, “I ask because I have some practice with mana blending with an object. It’s actually one of my abilities from my Field of the Bard Focus Points. The Instrument Proficiency Focus Point.”
Again Liam looked puzzled. He did forget that Mercer had that ability and that Focus Point. It wasn’t one that stood out like most abilities and Focus Points so it wouldn’t have been strange that he had forgotten about it. But again…he didn’t understand why he asked him this.
“It might be different than how my ability is, but I think it might help you out,” Mercer started. “Through my Focus Point, Instrument Proficiency, I have an ability called Magical Wonders. It allows me to fill the instrument I am using with mana to allow my instrument to create magical effects whenever I play it. For example, the buffs I create through the music is thanks to that. However, that’s not the part I am talking about. It also does something else that I have noticed the more I level that ability and the more proficient I become with that instrument. It allows me to have a better feel for the instrument.”
“A better feel?” Avery repeated. “Like you can feel the instrument more?”
Mercer nodded. “I have been able to feel more and understand the instrument better. Like how heavy it really is and how I can readjust my holding of it, so I don’t wear my arms out. through that I can lessen the burden of my Stamina Bar draining and play longer. It also helps me understand where and how I was playing the instrument wrong. While it won’t auto correct my mistakes or make me instantly better, it helps me understand what I need to do to improve and what I need to work on.”
Liam continued to stare at Mercer as he listened. He never knew the ability could be used in such a way. He had remembered Mercer bringing up the ability back in the Tutorial Area when they discussed their abilities and had written it off as something those who used the Field of the Bard would only be able to do. Even at this moment he still believed that he would need to unlock that Focus Point and the Field of the Bard to truly understand. However, that would be a waste to him since that ability was for instruments only.
He was about to say as much, but was cut off as Avery said, “So it’s like Mana Blend then, but just for instruments.”
Not only did Liam look at her with a confused look, but Mercer did as well. “What is Mana Blend?”
Avery let out a sigh. “You know I thought it was strange that Key had stopped her lesson all of a sudden and mentioned I should come see how you were doing and to bring Mercer with me. But now I think what she was hoping for.” She looked at Liam and added, “Round about teaching is annoying I think.”
Still confused on what she was saying, Mercer asked again, “What is Mana Blend?”
“It’s a Non-Class magical ability that helps a person blend their mana into an object or weapon,” Avery started. “When Key was giving me a lesson in Rapier training she had shown off some pretty impressive abilities. She has one that coats her weapon with Water Magic and when she swung her weapon it looked like she was wielding water instead of a weapon. It was both beautiful and hard to describe.”
Avery looked like she was daydreaming of something as she stared off for a moment. She quickly snapped back and continued, “She said it was essential for any swords wielder who wanted to become a magic swordsman. That it would help the wielder understand their weapon in a way that not only would it allow them to bring out better effects of the Mana Type being used, but also for them to have a better understand of the weapon they are using it on. For example, it would help them know how much mana the weapon could handle being blended with, how heavy or light a weapon will become depending on the mana type, and how to better adjust swings or stabs. It’s like it gives you a magical understanding of your weapon through mana. To be honest Liam, when she explained it to me it made me think of you.”
Liam felt heat rise to his cheeks a bit as he heard her last words. “Me? Why’s that?” Liam asked, trying not to let his pinkish cheeks.
“Your fight with the Wave Rider Crab,” Avery replied giving him a teasing grin.
“Huh?” Liam questioned.
“During your fight you entered that Trance state and suddenly made all those different Mana Type Hands and gave them your tool weapons,” Avery started to explain. “What she described made me think about that. You swung your tool weapons effortlessly like you have a great understanding of how and where to use them. How much strength was needed to attack as well as how easy it was to change the trajectory of the swing when needed. I think what you were able to do there was Mana Blend.”
Liam thought back to that fight. While it was true he did what she was saying, he didn’t realize that what he was able to do then was something that could be considered Mana Blend. However, if what he did was Mana Blend then that made a lot of sense as to why he was able to swing his tool weapons so much easier. He had believed it was due to the trance he was and that trances only brought out his fighting capabilities. However, if they did more than that and showed him other possibilities like a blend of magic and fighting then…
Liam didn’t wait to think about it more. He summoned one of his newest Hand Types, Arcane Hand. After it had fully formed he handed it his Hammer and stared. Mercer and Avery stared at him with some confusion, but as they watched him stare intensely at the tool they understood what he was trying to do.
Liam focused as hard as he could while staring at the Arcane Hand. He narrowed his eyes and tried willing the mana that made up the hand to blend with the tool. Again, nothing happened. After trying to focus even harder for a minute, Liam let out a frustrated breath of air. Annoyed he said, “What the hell am I doing wrong?”
“Probably everything,” Avery chuckled. This caused Liam to frown at her. Feeling a bit feisty she added, “What? Were you expecting to have it happened right away after realizing you probably did it before during your fight against the Wave Rider Crab?” She shook her head. “It just doesn’t work that way. If it did then there wouldn’t be a need for constant practice, evaluating, thinking, or analyzing things. I mean, you might have done it before during your trance, but if you don’t remember how you did it then it’s pointless to believe you’ll get it done so easily.”
“Don’t remember how…,” Liam repeated the words as he thought back to what he did remember. He remembered the chaos of needing to hurry and kill the Dungeon Floor Boss before it destroyed the final foothold. He remembered he needed to calm his mind in order to fight better due to the thumping going on in his head. As his mind calmed down he remembered that he saw something. Something through Mana Sight. It was lines of mana that went from him to his Mana Hands.
Curious, Liam activated Mana Sight and looked at his Arcane Hand. As he stared at it he didn’t see any lines like he had that day. Instead of getting frustrated, Liam decided he would try and do what he did during that fight. He tried to calm himself.
Under his breath he muttered, “Calm the Storm.” He felt his body start to relax. He softly repeated the words once more and felt his mind start to calm as well. As he repeated the words a third time he saw a faint outline of a line emerging from the bottom of his Arcane Hand. It was super thin, no wider than a hair strand. He repeated the words a fourth time and saw the line start to grow longer until it finally reached the mana that covered his right hand.
That was it. he remembered this thin line being there last time. However, just being able to see the line didn’t matter much since the mana that made up his Arcane Hand still didn’t cover the tool. Liam wasn’t sure what else he needed to do in order to blend the mana with the tool. He tried to think about what he should do to make it work, but nothing he could think of seemed plausible. That was until he had a thought.
Maybe it’s just like that time when I learned how to fuse mana into a bone material so I could create a Bone Ingot. Maybe I need to feed my mana through the line and then it will help fuse them together? Liam thought to himself.
Before he could talk himself out of the idea, Liam focused on the thin line and tried to widen it enough to send more mana through. It was tough at first, the line connected to the mana that coated his hand widened from a hair strand to almost the size of a pencil, but it didn’t move after an inch. It looked like he was trying to suck a pea through a thin straw. The thought of it almost made him chuckle, but he stopped himself. He needed to focus.
He wasn’t in an entire trance, but he could feel like he was experiencing the start of one. If he were to lose focus then he would lose whatever he had so far. He focused his gaze on the area of the line that had enlarged a bit. He tried to will the line to grow so more mana could push through and he had successfully gained some ground.
He didn’t know how long it had taken him to get to this point, but he could feel sweat start to trickle down his forehead. Pushing the feeling off to the side, Liam continued to focus and get closer and closer with each push of his will. After some more time he was almost there. He just needed one final push. He could feel it.
Right as he felt that he was about to finally grow the last bit of the line, he heard Avery suddenly say, “Doesn’t it look like he’s trying to push out a turd?”
That sentence. That one sentence made Liam shout out, “What the fuck?!”
Due to his mixture of embarrassment and irritation, the line of mana suddenly expanded in size by four. Liam felt a rush of his mana suddenly push through the line and connect to the Arcane Hand and then…all of a sudden. Something clicked with in. Right before a chime sounded in his mind and sent a massive thump against his head.