As I come back to consciousness, I open my eyes to find myself in a small, dimly lit cabin. At the same time, blinking notifications appear before my eyes, their presence filling my vision and demanding my attention.

I try to roll onto my side, but pain shoots through my body at even the slightest movement. My muscles ache and throb, protesting loudly as I try to prop myself up in bed.

I lower my eyes to my torso, taking in the sight of the bandages wrapped tightly around my chest. Blood has soaked through in several places, evidence of the damage inflicted by the beast's claws. Even looking at the wound causes a sharp pain to radiate through my body.

A woman's voice breaks through my pain-fogged consciousness, bringing me back to the present moment. "You shouldn't move yet," she says, her tone gentle but firm. I turn my head in the direction of the voice, groaning as I struggle to make out who's speaking.

My eyes fall upon the woman who spoke, taking in her weathered appearance. She is elderly, her long grey hair braided neatly over her shoulders. There's a wisdom in her eyes, tempered by the lines of countless years and hardships.

I watch her as she approaches, her movements slow but graceful. As she reaches my bedside and carefully unwraps the bandages around my chest, examining my wounds with a critical eye. I feel a strange sensation coursing through my body, a cool liquid flowing towards the site of my injuries.

As the sensation of the tingly liquid continues to travel through my body, I become more aware of the path it's taking. It moves through my veins in intricate patterns, tracing a complex network that follows the path of my injuries. I try to focus on the feeling, to follow its progress, but it's difficult to keep track of its movements.

The older woman seems to sense my awareness of the liquid flowing through me, and she gently places a hand on my shoulder. "Relax," she tells me in a soothing voice. "You're unconsciously fighting off my mana. Let it heal you."

As the woman continues her healing process, I feel my body beginning to mend itself in response. I take a moment to catch my breath before speaking, asking in a weak voice, "Where's my brother?"

The old woman's eyes soften slightly as she replies. "Your brother is fine," she responds. "He's in better condition than you, actually. The young woman who was with you has been taking good care of him."

A small smile tugs at the corners of my lips as I hear the woman continue. "He's been by your side constantly," she continues. "It's surprising that he hasn't come barging in here yet, to be honest."

As if on cue, the door to the room suddenly bangs open, and I turn my head to see my brother rushing inside. Alex rushes over to my bedside, a mixture of relief and concern etched on his face.

He looks up at the old lady as he reaches my bedside, his voice tinged with concern. "How is he?" he asks, his eyes taking in the sight of my bandaged form.

The woman's smile widens slightly as she replies, her voice reassuring. "He'll be fine," she says. "There's no need to worry anymore."

The woman turns her attention back to me, her expression turning stern. "Physically, your wounds are healing fine," she says. "But the damage to your mana pathways is the problem. What were you thinking?"

I look up at the woman, confusion etched onto my face. "What do you mean?" I ask, my voice still weak from the effort of speaking.

The woman looks at me, her stern expression softening slightly as she explains. "You pushed too much of your mana through your pathways," she says. "It's caused some damage, but they will heal with time. You just need to take it easy, young one."

What the hell is this lady talking about.

As the memory of my heightened state during the fight comes back to me, a look of realisation crosses my face. I remember the sensation of power coursing through my body, enhancing my strength and speed. "I was using mana to enhance my body," I mutter to myself, the pieces falling into place.

The old lady nods as she hears my mumbled words, confirming my realisation . "Yes," she replies. "It's a fairly common trait, but yours is quite strong. You have a natural aptitude for it, it seems."

I'm aware of the constant notifications in my peripheral vision, clamoring for my attention. I realise that checking them will likely shed more light on my current situation and the abilities I am possessing, so I decide to give them my attention.

I turn my gaze back to the old woman, speaking in a weak voice. "Sorry," I say, my voice slightly strained. "But could I please rest some more?"

The old woman smiles gently in response to my request, and she nods understandingly. "Of course," she says softly. "Get some rest, young one."

With those words, she turns and leaves the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Alex pulls up a chair beside my bed and takes a seat, his gaze fixed on me. "So," he starts, his voice tinged with concern. "What's going on, man?"

Alex continues speaking, "I got a report from some of the villagers," he says, "and they said your final arrow cleanly took the monster's head off."

A small smile begins to spread across my brother's face as he carry’s on. "Others say the whole body exploded," he says, his tone filled with awe. "They're calling you their saviour."

I can't help but smile as well, feeling a sense of satisfaction despite my injuries. "Just another day in the office, really," I quip, a hint of humour in my weak voice.

Alex chuckles softly and gives my shoulder a gentle pat. "I'm glad you're okay, Balin," he says, his tone turning serious.

He glances toward the window, a solemn expression on his face. "There's a lot of dead out there," he says quietly. "And there's a lot that needs to be done. So I'll leave you for now."

I nod in agreement, my thoughts filled with memories of the burned bodies I saw earlier. "Okay," I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. Alex stands up and exits the room, closing the door softly behind him.

With a deep breath, I steel myself and turn my focus towards the constant stream of notifications that have been vying for my attention. I reach out mentally, pulling them up before my eyes.

You Have Defeated x1 Level 17 Leshen

You Have Defeated A Named Monster. Bonus Experience Awarded

Level Up 8–10

You Gain 10 Free Stat Points

You Have Completed Quest - Save The Village From The Beast Of The Forest

Award Received - Forest Guardians Tunic

Startled, I blink in surprise as the air suddenly begins to crackle and a soft thud sounds as something falls onto my lap. I look down, curious to see what has appeared out of nowhere.

A soft, deep green tunic, its fabric cool and smooth to the touch, sits on my lap. I pick it up, examining it closely and feeling the material between my fingers.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

As I hold the tunic in my hands, my mind is flooded with a rush of information. It's as if the fabric itself is speaking to me, revealing its secrets and properties. I can sense the power contained within the garment, the subtle enchantments woven into the fabric itself.

Forest Guardians Tunic - Uncommon - A light weight tunic, made to blend in with the surrounding forest. Set item. +5 Dexterity

That’s awesome!

My attention is suddenly pulled away from the tunic as the notifications in my mind clamour for my attention. Reluctantly, I set the green garment aside and turn my focus back to the mental notifications.

You Have Unlocked A Trait - Mana Circuit - Mana infuses your body. Intricate mana veins enhance your form. Empower yourself by channeling mana.

You Have Unlocked A Skill - Mana Infusion - Channel Mana into an object and infuse it with your power.

You Have Competed Quest - Reach Level 10

Award Received - Class Skill Selection

Skills:

Piercing Arrow - Shoots an arrow that can penetrate multiple targets

Silent Movement - Move silently to avoid detection by enemies

Survival Instincts - Your sense of danger is multiplied. Detect threats around you. 20 feet radius

I look over the new skills that have popped up, my curiosity growing as I read through each one.

As I read over the description of the Piercing Arrow skill, I can't help but wonder if it would be redundant with my newfound ability to infuse my arrows with mana.

After giving it some thought, I turn my attention to the Silent Movement skill. It seems like an incredibly useful ability for navigating the forest, as it would allow me to move silently and avoid detection by enemies.

This skill would probably come in handy when sneaking up on a target or trying to avoid being spotted by dangerous creatures lurking in the shadows of the forest. I find myself tempted to immediately choose it. Its usefulness in the forest environment seems undeniable. However, I also take a moment to consider the third ability listed.

While Silent Movement had initially caught my attention, I can't deny that Survival Instincts holds its own appeal. Being able to detect potential threats and avoid them altogether in the forest could prove incredibly useful, sparing me from unnecessary danger or confrontations.

While Survival Instincts has its merits, I also can't help but consider the limitations of its 20-foot radius. If an enemy is already close enough to be within that range, it likely would have already spotted me anyway. Perhaps Silent Movement would actually be the more practical choice for now.

After weighing the pros and cons of each skill, I finally settle on Silent Movement. Its practicality in the forest environment seems unmatched. And hopefully I’ll be able to select Survival Instincts in the future.

Although Survival Instincts seemed like a useful skill, my decision to select Silent Movement feels like the safer choice for now. Being able to move stealthily will help me stay hidden and avoid drawing attention, which seems like a more immediate benefit in the forest.

As the skill settles over my body, I feel an immediate change. It's as if a lightness has spread through me, making me feel almost as if I were floating. The sensation is subtle, but noticeable.

Next I take a moment to delve deep within myself, searching for any signs of mana. As I do, I feel a strange and unfamiliar sensation. It's as if there are tiny tendrils of energy flowing through my body, faint and barely perceptible but undeniably present.

I follow the tendrils of mana through my body, tracing their path and attempting to make sense of their patterns. My attention is eventually drawn to a specific spot, where a ball of vibrating energy seems to pulse with power.

I continue to observe the pulsating ball, taking in the myriad of colours and understanding that it's a concentrated form of pure mana. It appears to be the source of my power, my very own core.

I spend some time observing my mana core, mesmerized by the way it spreads energy throughout my body. It's a captivating and complex system, one that I find myself increasingly drawn to study.

With a thought, I decide to pull up my entire Status.

Status

Name: Balin Tellis

True Name: N/A

Trait: Mana Circuit

Class: Ranger

Level: 10

Stats:

Strength - 8

Dexterity - 35

Constitution - 16

Mana - 10

Free Stats - 10

Skills:

Mana Infusion - Channel Mana into an object and infuse it with your power

Silent Movement - Move silently to avoid detection by enemies

Quest - Discover The Demi-Humans Plans (Unknown)

Quest - Kill 10 Monsters (Reward - Gear)

As I take in the stats and skills listed before me, a small smile creeps onto my face. It's a satisfying feeling to see the culmination of my efforts and growth condensed into these numbers and abilities.

With some deliberation, I decide to hold off on assigning my free stat points for now. Before making any decisions about what to increase, I feel like I need to learn more about my newfound abilities, particularly regarding mana and how it interacts with my mana circuit.

My stomach grumbles, reminding me of my need to eat. I decide it’s time to get up, stretch my legs and find some food.

With determination, I push through the pain still coursing through my body and slowly stand up. My muscles protest at the sudden movement, but I force myself to push through the pain, refusing to let it hold me back.

I glance down at my injured body, noting that my clothes have been removed and that bandages still cover certain parts of my frame. It's a stark reminder of the recent battle and the toll it has taken on me.

With a sigh, I reach out and pick up the soft, green tunic laying on the bed. Slowly and carefully, I pull it on, wincing slightly as the fabric brushes against my wounded body. I spot my hunting boots resting nearby, and with a great deal of effort, I manage to pull them onto my feet. Each movement sends a jolt of pain through my body, but I push through it.

As I emerge from the cabin, I am met with the sight of smoke still wafting off burnt buildings and the acrid stench of death lingering in the air. It's a grim reminder of the destruction that the monster had wrought.

I scan the surroundings and notice my brother engaged in conversation with a few unfamiliar women. I make my way over to him, my steps still a little slow due to pain and stiffness.

As I approach the group, I catch snippets of their conversation. It seems they're discussing the damages and the women are expressing their gratitude to my brother. I stand quietly, listening in and waiting for an opportunity to chime in.

Startled, my brother nearly jumps out of his skin as I place a gentle hand on his shoulder. He spins around, clearly surprised to see me standing there so abruptly.

The women with my brother burst out laughing at his reaction, clearly amused by his surprise. Alex turns towards me, his expression a mix of relief and amusement. "Where the hell did you come from, man?" he sputters. "You almost made me pee a little!"

My unexpected appearance seems to have provided a good dose of entertainment for the women present. They continue to giggle at my brother, clearly finding the situation humorous. Alex grins and nods at me, his expression filled with relief. "It's good to see you up and about," he says, his voice warm.

He introduces me to the two women standing beside him, gesturing towards them with a smile. "These two here are Asha and Leah," he says, his voice filled with a hint of amusement.

As my eyes fall upon the two women, I'm struck by their striking resemblance. They have to be identical twins or something, They both look to be in their late twenties but they are both exceptionally beautiful.

There's no denying it, the twins are both beautiful. They share the same striking blonde hair, which cascades in waves down their shoulders, and they both have sparkling blue eyes that practically shimmer in the light.

I nod politely in response to my brother's introduction, making sure to acknowledge the two women. "Nice to meet you both," I say, my voice still a bit hoarse. "I'm Balin."

Asha speaks up, her voice holding a hint of teasing. "Alex was just telling us all about you," she says, her tone light. "He says you have a knack for getting yourself hurt."

Before I can respond to Asha's comment, my brother pipes up again. "Never mind about that. These two are mages, Balin!" he says, a note of excitement in his voice.

Leah chimes in, her voice soft and melodic. "We're healers, actually," she explains, a slight smile on her lips. "We use magic, but it's for healing purposes only."

My eyes dart back and forth between the two girls as their words sink in. A sense of excitement fills me as I realize the implications of what they've just said. My voice is filled with barely suppressed enthusiasm as I ask. "Wait, you know how to use mana?"

Both the twins let out small laughs at my question, clearly finding the situation amusing. Leah responds, her smile warm and genuine. "Of course we do, silly," she says, her tone light. "We're apprentices under Madam Lucy. She's the one who helped heal you.“

Alex chimes in, his voice filled with excitement. "I've been learning a lot," he says. "We have lots to go over now that you've finally woken up."

His words catch my attention, and I turn to look at my brother with a mix of confusion and curiosity. "What do you mean 'finally woken up'?" I ask, my voice puzzled.

Alex notices the perplexed expression on my face and quickly elaborates. "You've been asleep for two days," he explains, his tone solemn. "Something about your mana being depleted."

Alex speaks again, his tone suddenly serious. "Actually, now that you're up, let's go have a chat," he says. "I have some things I want to fill you in on."

I nod silently, still trying to process the fact that I've been asleep for two days. Alex swiftly says his goodbyes to the girls before grabbing my arm and practically dragging me away.