Chapter 7
Life Mana
Dux patted me on the back gently, it felt like he was hitting me with a hammer. I felt my bones rattle with each touch. It felt like they might break. I asked the System mentally to show me the relevant parts of my status.
Name Angel
Race : Spirit Beast
Level : 3
Class : Adventurer (Wild Mage)
Str 1 (25) Con 1 (20)
Agi 1 (20) Dex 1 (15)
Int 11 (21) Wis 9 (19)
Per 46 (36) Cha 13 (3)
Condition: extreme starvation
I groaned, that looked about right. I felt weak and shaky, each joint seemed to creak when I moved. My thoughts felt sluggish, and my senses were in a painful form of overdrive. The increase in charisma confused me, but I supposed that was accounting for the pity my state would engender.
"It's going to be okay, as a mana beast you have a particularly interesting way to restore yourself with mana. Air aspected mana won't work, its restorative potential is limited, you will have to eat it first. Your personal mana will be able to restore you to health with enough time. You have already started working on it instinctively. I want you to meditate, and look at what you are doing. If you put conscious effort into it, it will be faster. This process can be used to bring your body back to health from nearly any state." Dux said, his voice felt painfully loud to my sensitive ears. I bowed my head, and began to do as he asked, desperate to fix what the System had done to me.
I sunk into my core, and at first I didn't see anything special going on. But then I noticed when it pulsed, it was expelling mana into my body at a much greater rate than normal. I had seen it losing a miniscule amount of mana with each pulse before. Now, each pulse released a sizable portion of its contents. I looked to my pathways and found that they too had begun pulsing, where they had been still before as far as I could tell. They expanded and contracted in time with my core's pulses, forcing mana out of themselves with each contraction. I followed the mana. I watched as it saturated my flesh and bones, and filled my organs with its presence. It carried a will for restoration that I had been subconsciously projecting to it.
I started consciously pulling more mana into myself, and focused strongly on my desire to be healed. I pushed my desire into my mana like I did when I was trying to use it to communicate with the air mana before. It seemed to work. But it was going to take a very long time.
"Very good, you've got it!" I heard Dux's painfully loud voice say, jolting me out of my meditative state.
I cringed, huddling into myself, Dux looked so large standing over me. "Thanks Dux, this feels like it will take ages, weeks at least. Is there a faster way?"
"Yes Angel, it's time for you to do something I told you not to do. I'm going to change the area again. This time all the mana will be life attuned. Life mana is practically everywhere in the real world. I want you to connect to it directly. Bring it into yourself, and ask it to restore you. Once you are restored, I want you to do your best to disconnect on your own. Doing this will be something of an emergency measure for you in the future. Every time you make a direct connection with mana, you will risk some of its core concepts attaching to you. Some mana types are more harmful to our goals than others. You should try to avoid circumstances where you frequently connect directly with fire, earth, or death for instance. Now let us begin, try not to lose yourself completely Angel. I will remove the life mana from the area if you seem to be lost to it, but then we'll have to expose you again. This is an important skill."
Dux shrank down to his original small size, and took to the air. The world changed around me, turning from a meadow to a jungle. I found myself at the foot of a large tree, and gratefully curled up against it. The soundscape changed, I heard the distant calls of many creatures. Dux seemed to have remembered how my instincts reacted to too much silence. I watched as he alighted on a branch of a nearby tree.
A new type of mana began to fill the area. It was green in my mana sense, and spots of it clustered around every living thing. The mana floated in the air like motes of pollen that slowly drifted towards me. It tasted amazing, when I consumed it, it was like the juiciest, most tender steak I could imagine. I hadn't even connected to it yet, and I felt lost in the sensation of it. I was almost literally a starving person being served a steak dinner. I wanted to stay unconnected, and get used to the taste before diving in, but I couldn't help myself. I called the mana into me, and touched it with my mind, to ask it for aid.
As soon as the connection was made, I felt a connection bloom with every living thing around me. It was overwhelming. In that instant I understood that every plant, animal and creature alive was part of a greater whole. First I felt the tree I was leaning against, I felt its roots deep in the soil questing for nutrients, I felt its leaves reaching for the sunlight. It felt so peaceful. Then it expanded outward, I felt the bird on the tree's branch hungry and hunting an insect that was searching the tree for its own dinner, unaware of the danger. The connection expanded further still, and I was feeling every living creature within the realm. I felt the terror of the insect as it was caught by the bird, the satisfaction of the bird as it got its meal. On it went, I felt joy from the monkeys playing in the trees some distance away. I experienced every possible emotion, all at once. I even experienced the simple life of bacteria, doing its work to break down waste on the forest floor.
It was beautiful. I felt love for everything. The mana itself heard my plea for health, and flooded to me. Giving itself happily to fill the void in me that the draining from the System had left. Everything about it was love and connection. I sank into the world around me, one with it in my entirety. My body which was currently not much more to my perspective than another part of the world around it, quickly started to return to health.
After a time I realized I felt my bond with Dux, but the life mana had not connected me with him. I turned my attention to him, it was difficult. I had to use the eyes of my physical body to see him. The life mana did not register his existence. I tried to send the love I was feeling through the bond to him. But as I mentally touched the bond I felt how it was passively working pushing feelings into me, altering my mind to think positively of the little dragon. I felt how the life mana was partially shielding me from the effects of what it registered as a false connection. I was momentarily horrified by the implications, but there was no space for horror in this beautiful connected world. I became distracted by a pair of birds engaged in a dispute over a female. Things which were not connected to the great web of life could not keep my attention for long.
When my body was fully returned to health, I barely noticed. I was busy experiencing the life of a tree some distance away. I found I truly loved connecting to plants. The world experienced through them, was one of unmatched peace. Just consume and grow, sometimes creatures would eat parts of me but that's what I grew them for.
I wondered if I could become a plant. As a shapeshifter it seemed possible. I dug my toes into the soil. I was about to ask the mana for help with the idea when a part of me rebelled. I realized that I had accomplished my goal of regaining a healthy body, and reluctantly pulled away from my connection.
I felt so alone. I sobbed at the loss of connection. The loss of belonging. I felt Dux through the bond, our connection a pale imitation of what life mana had provided. He flew down and landed on my shoulder, and leaned against my cheek. "You did well. Take a little while to rest, maybe have a nap. Then you can try to practice connecting with a mana barrier to protect you. Life mana is the second most common mana in the world, after air, and you will want to know how to work with it outside of emergencies. I can't tell you exactly what you can do with any mana type, but I bet you have some ideas what you can ask for."
I nodded, still reeling from going from all that, to just myself. I felt like I didn't fit in my body anymore. I leaned against the tree, and closed my eyes. Dux's advice seemed good, I felt like a short nap would help after what I'd experienced.
I felt the System prompting me with a new notification. Apparently I'd earned another level from the feeling. I acknowledged it, thinking it would make a good distraction.
Congratulations
For taking novel actions in accordance with your class, you have been rewarded by:
Level up × 2
Wisdom + 6
Intelligence + 6
Perception + 4
Free Stats + 6
The System's mana descended bringing with it much less discomfort than the previous levels, but it was still entirely unpleasant.
Please focus on the desired placement of free stats
I didn't let myself consider anything else, I focused on my desire for charisma. It was easy, I already felt lonely, going into a world ruled by stats with three charisma seemed like it would keep me with Dux as my only friend. Much as I loved him, my time connected to life mana had made me realize that the love I felt for him came from an artificial place. I wasn't sure I wanted to unpack that, I felt like I needed him, and I didn't want to fight what I felt.
6 free points distributed, congratulations
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I felt the mana of the System work itself through me, the strange sensation of parts of my body shifting slightly in ways that were supposed to make me more attractive, or at least less frightening I suppose. The most mana, however, settled itself in my throat, I felt something inside shifting uncomfortably. I requested the relevant part of my status.
Name Angel
Race : Spirit Beast
Level : 5
Class : Adventurer (Wild Mage)
Str 25 Con 22
Agi 20 Dex 15
Int 27 Wis 25
Per 40 Cha 9
I nodded happily, next level I'd be out of single digit territory with my charisma! Then I noticed my constitution I blinked, I was pretty sure it was 20 before. The life mana obviously did something when it was running through me. Something I didn't ask for, not that I was complaining. But if it did something to make me more durable without my consent, what else could it have done? I looked myself over, and couldn't see anything wrong.
"Dux." I said, ready to ask him if he saw anything but I was floored at the difference in my voice. As I asked him to look me over for any changes I listened to my own voice. It seemed the System had changed it quite a lot when it worked on my throat. While before I sounded like I ate rocks for fun, now my voice could be described as a rich baritone. There was still a rumble to it, but it was more purr less growl. Overall I was very happy with the alteration.
Having finished his inspection, Dux spoke up. "I don't really see anything I would be worried about, your body is slightly different, but that's to be expected any time you level up and apply physical stats. Your fur has a bit more shine to it, and I get less of a feeling that you are doing a cost benefit analysis on eating me when you look at me. Maybe you've got a bit more sturdiness to you, I don't know. But that's a pretty good outcome for letting mana run free inside you. Life mana can be pretty dangerous if you accidentally give it the wrong idea."
I nodded, thinking of how I'd almost asked it to help me become a tree. The idea seemed preposterous now that I'd come back to myself. Even with the memory of how at peace they felt. That wasn't the type of life I wanted, not at all. Yet when I was in the mana it made total sense. I needed to learn to protect my mind. This world seemed frighteningly full of things that could alter it. I thought again about the effects I'd sensed about the bond with Dux, and again I quickly decided that it was okay. Dux was here to assist me, I had felt how his whole existence was dedicated to me. It honestly made sense that I would think positively of him, the life mana just didn't like that bond. There was nothing wrong with it.
I shook my head and rubbed my temples feeling slightly dazed for a moment. I lost track of what I had been thinking about. Then I remembered, I was thinking about how scary the influence of mana could be. I needed to make sure not to let it influence me like that too often. Dux had told me how to communicate with it without as much danger, but even using that with the air mana I had let myself be called by the mana to form a deeper connection than I should. It must be disappointing to my bond, though he'd only shown me love and concern in response. I had to do better.
"Okay Dux, you said I should learn to work with life mana right? I'm going to start trying now, you're right, I do have a few ideas, there's something I want to grab though." I got up and dusted my fur off, as I did, I realized I hadn't actually used the ability I'd gone through so much pain for. I mentally called to the System wanting to wear the clothing it had removed when the bonding process happened. It appeared on me without fanfare, I felt a miniscule amount of mana get removed from my core, with no notification. I jogged into the jungle to find a tree I had felt while connected. The extremely large tree had thorns in places along its trunk, and in its branches.
It was a tree covered in claws, my inner spirit beast could respect that. I searched around at its base for a bit until I located a seed pod that I had sensed. I moved to a somewhat clear area, and buried a seed.
"Alright Dux, here goes nothing, I hope this works!" I said to the little dragon that was comfortably perched on my shoulder.
I closed my eyes, and firmly held an image of what I wanted, as I reached out a strand of my own energy to contact the life mana in the area. It instantly responded to my touch, offering to reconnect me with the web of life. I held back, sending my gratitude, and my request. The mana responded, sending me an amended version of what I had asked for. It was better than my wildest ideas. I gave an enthusiastic assent.
The life mana flooded in from all around, all of it seemingly eager to aid my request. The air became so thick with it, I could sense nothing else. The life mana communicated to me that it wanted to weave parts of my personal mana into the creation I had asked for. I gave it freely, almost emptying my core, I held back from eating the mana around me while it worked, the slight sensation of hunger was nothing compared to the starvation I had only recently experienced.
The seed I planted began to glow so brightly I could see it through the soil I had buried it in. It soon started growing, but not into a tree, it has no branches or leaves. It grew without bark, and mostly straight, to a height that would be perfect to act as walking stick for me, when it reached the height I had requested, it grew a large solid knob that was leaning off to one side like a shillelagh sized for an ogre, or, well, me. It would be utterly unusable by a normal sized person. Then there was its other notable feature: the whole thing from tip to top was covered in thorns. The thorns on the shaft were curved like claws, the ones on the knob were straight as nails. When it was finished I received a prompt.
Living Wood Thorn Staff Offers You Its Bond
Living Wood Thorn Staff recognizes you as its creator
Congratulations are due for creating a new form of life
Acceptance will provide permanent feedback between the Living Wood Thorn Staff and yourself.
This is your first step on the path to the profound. Analysis indicates the lifeform's mind is simple. Analysis indicates the creation method is impossible outside of a controlled environment. Analysis indicates the creation method is impossible without specific boons (Mana's Friend, and Mana's Student)
Calculating…
Achievement Reward Distribution Required
For actions taken in creation of a novel life form:
Level up × 1
Wisdom + 3
Intelligence + 3
Perception + 2
Free Stats + 3
Permanent Boon awarded [Nascent Creator]
Boon Nascent Creator to be flagged as hidden
Nascent Creator: All life forms created by boon holder feel innate loyalty toward their creator.
The universe is vast, and life is fragile, creating new kinds of life is an act to be honored. Be sure to safeguard your new creation. Reality frowns on those who neglect what they create.
Please focus on the desired placement of free stats
It was hard to focus on anything. But I managed to think of charisma long enough.
My mind felt like it was turning to jelly, and I lost all my senses for a moment as mana sank into me. I wondered where the terrible sensation was coming from, but my thoughts were turning slippery, and scattered.
3 free points distributed, congratulations
Name Angel
Race : Spirit Beast
Level : 6
Class : Adventurer (Wild Mage)
Str 25 Con 22
Agi 20 Dex 15
Int 30 Wis 28
Per 42 Cha 12
This time I felt a huge change wash over me, all sorts of little changes over the entirety of my body. The quantity of mana I felt was considerably higher than when I had applied 6 points. Perhaps 10 was a benchmark?
I also accepted the bond with what I had only originally intended to be a cool toy. Maybe something to brain people with so I wouldn't have to use my teeth and claws if things got physical.
The feedback I received from it's mind was indeed simple, its only desire was to be used for its purpose, and be allowed to sink its short roots in the soil from time to time. I could feel its location, and its mana levels. I reached out a hand and the thorns retracted to a smooth surface where my hand went.
A self-healing staff hardy enough to stand up to my strength and more, with thorns that would retract when I wasn't using it as a weapon. Its roots were meant to fuel its mana when it was in contact with the ground which it could use to move its roots, and retract and extend its thorns. That was all that the life mana had conveyed to me. The mana created a new lifeform, not me. I didn't intend to make something that could think. Dread filled me as I thought about how I really wasn't cut out to be a parent. I lifted it up and its roots spun themselves together to create a perfect staff. It seemed like a silly accessory for the aspiring mage, I'd only intended to make it as practice. It was almost a joke, since I had pictured something weighted for hitting things as needed. There wasn't anything about the stick that would help me use mana.
It felt warm in my hand. I felt a little fuzzy, my thoughts hadn't really cleared after the level up. I wondered how long it would take, maybe breakpoints were every 10 points? That seemed like a lot. I'd have to ask my little buddy when I saw him. I wasn't sure where he got off to. When I went to look for him, my face knocked him off my shoulder. "Oh! Hi Dux" I slurred.
Preparation for Boon application has begun.
Please assume a comfortable position.
Boon application will occur in 10 minutes.
"Angel, would you mind telling me what exactly you just did? The System is saying I need to change the biome. That this one is being discontinued for use with Wild Mages in general and you in particular. …and I sense that you are feeling a lot of different things right now. Are you okay?"
"Dux, can you make the bedroom again? I'm not feeling so good. The System said I should get comfortable so it could apply a boon. It's already flooding me with mana and oh man, words are pretty. I could hear me all day." I was entranced by the colors I was hearing and the sounds I was seeing. The System was doing something but I couldn't tell what, all I knew was it felt good. I'm really not sure what he heard me say but that is what I remember saying.
The jungle disappeared and the room from before replaced it, it was in pristine condition. I carried my staff with me into bed, thankfully all of its thorns had retreated leaving its surface smooth, like it was meant to. I hugged the staff, I had the thought in my head that it was a poor baby, I didn't mean to make something with a mind. Not even a simple one. In my befuddled state I felt like it shouldn't feel unwanted, even if it couldn't feel much of anything. I drifted off to the color of my heartbeat, closing my eyes to the sounds all around me.
I think the System might have drugged me.