Inspired by the dawn of a new day and the early success with his golem, Tian decided to stay awake. With the meeting with Aria not till the following day, he had ample time to delve deeper into the art of 'mana control'. Every time he focused now, he could instantly feel the threads of mana, each one vibrating with a subtle, unique frequency. He attempted to tie them together, to weave them into a fabric of his command. Yet, each attempt met with a resistance he couldn’t quite fathom, like a silent wall rebuffing his advances. The system marked each small advancement, 'Understanding of 'Mana Control Novice' 3/100', 'Understanding of 'Mana Control Novice' 4/100' and so on. Despite the incremental progress, the resistance frustrated him yet spurred him on.
As he sat there, experimenting with the mana threads, Tian’s mind wandered to the life he had led a year ago. The evasion, the subterfuge he had to employ to escape the Wayfarers’ scrutiny. He had managed to dupe them into believing he had perished in a portal, but for how long had that belief held? Did they still think him dead? The uncertainty was a thorn in his side, but he pushed the thoughts away, focusing instead on the task at hand.
Every time he attempted to weave the mana threads together, the golem would react bizarrely—its arm would fling out or its leg would twitch. Despite the odd reactions, Tian could see the potential; mastering this could give him an unprecedented control over his golem, and likely all summons in the future. The thought was a beacon of hope amidst the tedious, grueling process of mastering mana control.
Hours rolled by unnoticed, the room now bathed in the full light of day. Tian’s eyes were sore, but his determination unwavering. His apartment, once a sanctuary of solitude, now felt like a crucible, each moment in it refining his understanding and control over mana.
By mid-afternoon, his system marked 'Understanding of 'Mana Control Novice' 10/100'. It was a milestone, albeit a small one. The golem's movements became less erratic with every thread he managed to weave together. It was a dance of patience and focus, a test of his resolve.
He took a break, the physical fatigue catching up to him. As he nibbled on a modest meal, he reflected on his journey. The title of 'Weapon Master' was now a relic of his past, a past he had no choice but to distance himself from. Yet, in its place, new skills were burgeoning, promising a different, perhaps a more profound mastery.
Returning to his practice, Tian pushed on through the day, the sun dipping below the horizon once more as he continued his work. The room was a tableau of persistence, the golem now responding with a semblance of control to his attempts at weaving the mana threads.
As the system marked 'Understanding of 'Mana Control Novice' 15/100', Tian allowed himself a small smile. The golem moved its arm smoothly at his command, the movement fluid and controlled. It was still a far cry from mastery, but it was progress.
He decided to call it a day, the exhaustion enveloping him like a shroud. As he lay down, his mind still raced with the possibilities. He knew he had barely scratched the surface, the path to mastery was long and arduous. But for the first time in a long time, Tian felt a spark of hope, a glimmer of the control and power he once wielded.
Before drifting into a restless sleep, he glanced at the status screen that floated before his eyes. His skills, his stats, they had changed, yet he had not.
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Tian woke up feeling unusually refreshed, the insights from the caster in the Wayfarers Guild, Arlan, having granted him an unexpected advantage. His skill in 'Mana Control Novice' had advanced further in his sleep. But the thought of Arlan, the man who had betrayed him so coldly, darkened his mood. He couldn't forget or forgive the backstabbing, the betrayal that had altered the course of his life.
He sighed, pushing the bitter memories aside as his phone chimed with a message from Aria. She wanted to meet earlier than planned. Tian quickly replied with an acknowledgment and began preparing for the meeting. As he headed to the cafe, his thoughts were a mix of anticipation and unease.
The cafe had a comforting ambiance, with a warm scent of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the aroma of baked goods. Tian spotted Aria in their usual quiet spot, looking particularly nice today. Her presence brought a sense of normalcy, a welcome change from the chaos of his life.
As he approached, Aria looked up anxiously. "Are you okay?" she blurted out before he could greet her. Her concern was palpable, and she quickly added that she could help him disappear if needed. Tian appreciated her concern, but he didn’t want to burden her further. He reassured her that he was alright, even though her anxiousness was evident in the way she bit her lip.
Then, Aria handed him a few items, her nervousness transitioning into a look of hopeful expectation. "I didn't know exactly what to get... So I bought everything I could find... And a few more."
Tian examined the items, each one astonishing in its rarity and value.
Item Status:
Name: Chameleon Scales
Rank: C
Description: Scales from the magical drake hunter Chameleon with a faint color shifting property.
Item Status:
Name: Changeling Silk
Rank: A
Description: A type of silk produced by a rare species of spider that constantly changes color and texture.
Item Status:
Name: Shapeshifter’s Bone
Rank: A
Description: Bones from creatures known for their ability to change form, resonating with the transformative nature of doppelgangers.
His jaw almost dropped in disbelief at the quality and cost of these items. The Chameleon Scales alone were worth a fortune, let alone the Changeling Silk and the Shapeshifter’s Bone. Even in his prime, Tian would have balked at the thought of spending so much on a single item.
He looked up at Aria, who was watching him with a mix of nervousness and expectation. It dawned on him then just how much she understood the gravity of his situation. She had always been perceptive, and her actions spoke volumes of her understanding that he was in some kind of serious danger. The realization both touched and saddened him; Aria, despite her cheerful demeanor, was deeply worried for him.
"Aria, I... this is too much," Tian started, his voice heavy with emotion. "I can't thank you enough, but I can't accept all this. It's too valuable, and I don't want to put you at risk because of my problems."
Aria shook her head firmly, her determination evident. "I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't prepared to help, Tian. You're not alone in this, you know I’m always here to help."
Tian nodded solemnly; he genuinely appreciated her kindness to him. However, he couldn’t help but feel like he was taking advantage of her goodwill. It must have cost her an arm and a leg to acquire these items, so Tian couldn’t possibly ignore this.
“Can you give me the receipts I need the items… But, please let me repay you when I can.”
Aria rolled her eyes while smiling; “No need, it’s on me.” She stuck her tongue out to tease him to appease him as he had seen her previously dimmed mood. “I trust you’ll tell me if you absolutely need me.”