Sam stared up at darkened ceilings.
Last night he dreamed of home.
He dreamt of the small dorm with just enough space to contain all that he needed. The computer where countless nights were burnt away studying and, from time to time, gaming. The near empty cupboards of his kitchen and the subpar leftovers in his mini-fridge. The racket raised by his fellow students. Ear mufflers had been a must.
He should’ve felt happy or at least relieved. Bloody nightmares plagued most nights.
All he felt was an odd numbness.
He wouldn’t survive this shit. The cards were stacked against him from the start.
“There’s no shame in giving up. Many mortals have found solace in surrender.” Hecate said.
She laid beside him on the luxuriously large bed. When did she appear? How long had she watched him stare at nothing? He couldn’t say but her words snapped him out of the daze.
He held back a glare. What solace could be found in having everything he worked towards taken from him?
“And they’re fools.” Sam asked.
“Who is truly the fool? One who looks forward and accepts that the obstacles ahead are insurmountable? Or the one who stumbles forward, blind to what awaits them?” Hecate floated over him, golden eyes boring into his. “You invite nothing but suffering by treading down this path.”
“And what happens to me when I die?” Sam threw out. He could guess her answer.
“You will-“ Hecate paused. Her mouth opened then closed several times before her wings curled around her, a deep frown now in place. “I lack the authority to answer that question.”
As expected. It’s not like he would’ve believed anything that came out of her mouth in the first place; blind faith was a fool’s gambit.
He took a breath and rose.
The room -his room- was big like any other in the mansion. The luxurious bed beneath him would’ve taken up most of the room in his college dorm but barely took up any space from the corner he pushed it into.
Sam felt far safer with a back to the corner. Less exposed.
He hadn’t bothered with much else in the room; fancy sofas and the coffee table near the room’s entrance for company with all other furniture or decorations left in their place.
He stood and stretched until satisfying cracks left him then made his way into the bathroom. It continued the grandiose presentation of course, tub far larger than it needed to be and pristine white walls decorated with fanciful but ultimately meaningless designs.
Sam placed his hands on the sink, noticing Hecate floating behind him in the mirror's reflection.
“I’m going to bathe so…” He trailed off, unsure of what exactly to say. How did one go about demanding privacy from a deity? That weight of yesterday’s pressure lingered on his shoulders, a sharp reminder that she wielded power he could barely understand.
“Ah, you’re overestimating my capabilities, little one. Many rules limit my freedom in this world. As the sole participant from my realm, both my presence and, to some degree, perception are directly tied to yours. I can not simply leave the room, as it were.”
“Then-“
“Worry not. I have been watching for quite sometime. There is nothing I haven’t already seen.”
How comforting.
Slight burn of embarrassment aside, he honestly couldn’t be asked to care much about the invasion of privacy. Modesty placed low on the list of current troubles.
Sighing, he discarded his shirt.
He’d never been particularly fit even during the rougher days of his youth. From time to time he hit the gym but without consistency those one off visits meant nothing. Somehow, his flat stomach lost what little fat he once had, accented by the faintest outline of developing muscle. The same went for his arms.
Physical activity filled the past few weeks but that didn’t justify the changes.
“Mana promotes growth in all things.” Hecate said, picking up on his silent confusion. “That reigns especially true for your kind. You humans have all been taken from lower realms with thin amounts of mana and dropped into one teeming with it. Whatever knowledge you think you have about your body should be casted aside.”
Good news for a change. It didn’t mean much when everyone else had the same benefit combined with power gifted by deities but it was better than nothing.
After some hesitation, he discarded the rest of his clothes.
Soon submerged in soapy steaming water, Sam opened up the mansion’s status.
「The Phantom Estate 」
「Description: Built by a powerful mage, The Phantom Estate is more than just a mansion. Powered by mana, the structure boasts various features. A moldable appearance, teleportation, and defenses all keyed to the owner’s will. The intricate enhancements weaved into its walls extend far beyond the understanding of most mortals and perhaps the gods themselves」
「Synchronization: 1/100」
「Mana Reserve: 500/1000」
The synchronization, whatever that meant, hadn’t moved at all. Mana reserve was a different story. For now it sat at its usual half empty state but as more people awoke and made use of the mansion’s many facilities it would slowly but steadily decline. Overnight it returned to its usual amount, never surpassing the halfway point.
Was there some system in place that allowed for passive regeneration of mana? Back up batteries maybe?
He glanced past the window and up at the metal shower head accented by glowing crystals of varying colors. Trying to apply logic to this place would do him no favors.
Luckily, he now had a talkative source of information floating about.
“Do you know anything about this place?”
“Not a one.” Hecate said. She floated over and scanned the window. “It’s certainly a curious thing, not something just any mortal could’ve created even with immense power at their disposal. I imagine the sooner you achieve some measure of control over mana, the sooner the mystery will be unraveled. That diary you recovered should prove quite the read.”
He hummed in agreement.
“And what about divinity points?” Sam asked.
Hecate frowned. “I’m truly baffled that you managed to obtain any. As for their use, they’ll allow you to-“ Her explanation came to an abrupt end, her voice silenced. So she could answer him? “Let’s just say it’s something that will be a major help to you.”
Not much of an explanation but it’ll do. It had to do.
Sam closed his eyes, contemplating what to do.
As tempting as it was to lock himself in the study and focus solely on understanding mana, he couldn’t risk falling further behind in other areas.
Tonight he’d get through as much of that book as possible.
----------------------------------------
A precise slash split two arrows in half, one slamming into his ribs, another volley already on the way. Sam rolled out of the way, the fresh volley bouncing off of the stone wall with thuds, their tips made out of blunted wood.
Countless arrows followed.
Control his breathing. Limit unnecessary movement. Keep his aura under lock and key.
Mai’s directions faded away, overtaken by mounting exhaustion and pain, the blunted projectiles hitting with rising frequency as he struggled to stay a step ahead. He tried to power through it but everyone had their limits.
Entire body thrown away out of the way of a fresh volley, Sam succumbed to exhaustion, skidding across the stone floor, huffing and puffing.
「Attributes Improved」
「Description: Through extensive physical activity, your [Agility] and [Endurance] have improved. 」
He ignored the window in favor of wrestling back the embers that’ve begun to bath his bruises in the beginnings of a soothing warmth. His aura might not be quick to rebel against superior forces but it never hesitated to heal wounds whenever possible. A double edged sword. That made it all the more difficult to control in a situation like this.
The embers reluctantly sunk beneath skin, rejoining the network of heat that coursed through him.
“Good.” Mai said as she walked over to him, bow lowered.
She suggested this unorthodox training method. It was one thing to keep aura under control sitting around. Doing the same covered in injuries and constantly on the move was another beast.
Rigorous as it was, he raised no complaints.
“You’re right to be cautious of this one. Her strength is a rare sight among humans.” Hecate appeared, floating around Mai. The woman didn’t bat an eye, unable to perceive the deity revolving her. He tried to do the same; however, feigning ignorance of Hecate’s two cents was proving to be difficult. “How did she come to wield aura, I wonder.” Despite his best attempts to contain it Hecate picked up on his silent curiosity as he stood. “As I’ve said, mana promotes growth in all things. Do you think it a coincidence that your aura responds so readily to danger here yet never made an appearance in your life beforehand? Under normal circumstances, the few humans that possess latent abilities should never see them manifest, the lack of mana in their home realm guarantees that.”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
So Mai was also an anomaly not just to him, but according to the standards of a deity. The caution he employed around her felt all the more justified.
Mai remained silent, yellow eyes staring into his own. He’d adjusted somewhat to her off demeanor. At first she’d been distant and detached and while that still held true, the look in her eyes felt different at times. Like she was looking beyond him rather than at him.
“How long have you been using aura?” Sam asked.
“Years.” Curt as always, Mai didn’t care to provide any more information than what was necessary. He wanted to ask how she came about it but hesitated. She called aura a curse and so far he’s failed to see why. It wasn’t easy to control but in the end the energy aided them in various ways, a versatile and powerful tool that boosted their survivability.
He nodded and moved to leave the room.
A hand stopped him in his tracks. Tensed up, Sam twisted around to face Mai who gripped his shoulder not quite hard enough to cause discomfort but he wasn’t going anywhere without a struggle.
“Dinner.”
“W-What?” Sam said, thrown for a complete loop.
“Sasha and Ivan asked me to bring you to dinner.” Mai said.
Sam released a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Who would’ve thought a simple dinner invitation could be so threatening?
He wanted to turn down the request but he knew those two. Ivan would carry him out of the study, laughing all the while. If by some miracle that didn’t come to pass, Sasha would interrupt his focus with food.
Best to show up for a bit then leave so he could throw himself into training his mana sense without distraction.
He nodded and together they left the room, navigating the stony corridors of the mansion’s basement side by side. They came across no one. After getting their weapons and armor no one bothered coming down here aside from the two of them. The dancing blue flames certainly made for ominous lightning but he’s come to appreciate them in a way he hadn’t expected.
They were beautiful. A mystically creepy type of beautiful.
It didn’t take then long to reach the first floor. At the same time a tug at the edge of his mind revealed some rather odd information.
Everyone was in the cafeteria. Everyone including those who were suppose to be on guard duty.
Any hopes for a normal meal and quick get away just went out the window.
Chatter reached them long before they reached their destination. And, as they turned the corner, a distinct pop overpowered it.
Eric stood at the center of the spacious room, a tall glass bottle held up and foaming, the cork freshly removed. Crates sat stacked beside him, each chock-full of the same bottles. Others were around him cheering, passing around other bottles after they filled up their glasses.
“You both made it!” Ivan greeted them loudly as he strolled over, an unopened bottle in hand. “It wouldn’t be much of a paper without the two of you.”
“Is that alcohol?” Sam asked.
“Good eye. Some kind of wine I think. Come on, let’s find Sasha and celebrate.”
“Celebrate what?”
“Life, friendship, and hot water my friend.” Ivan clasped Sam’s shoulder, grinning widely. “Tonight we toast to anything and everything. Its time we finally had some fun instead of working.”
“And you think it’s a good idea to leave the place unguarded?”
“No questions, only drinking.”
Sam suddenly found himself off the ground, thrown over Ivan’s shoulder like a sack of old laundry as the bigger man took off towards the center of the room. Sam met Mai’s eyes and couldn’t help but look away in faint embarrassment despite them being as blank as ever. He really shouldn’t be this use to being dragged around by somebody.
“Tonight’s stars have arrived! Make way!” Ivan exclaimed. The crowd eagerly separated, allowing the three of them to join Eric in the center of the gathering. Ivan handed off his bottle and one swift motion snatched up Mai, placing her on his free shoulder. Unlike Sam she was given the dignity of sitting on it rather than being tossed over it. “Let’s have a toast to Sam and Mai, the two bastards who might just be insane enough to get us through this!”
Cheers reverberated through the room, followed by more pops.
“Sorry.” Eric mouthed to him with a smile, a mix of amusement and sympathy on display.
Sam opted to simply hold back a sigh and let things play out. The sooner this was over, the sooner he dove back into mana training.
----------------------------------------
“Where did all this even come from?” Sam questioned as he twirled his glass and watched the pinkish-purple liquid slosh around the clear glass. With all the initial toasts and cheers out of the away he had found himself a nice corner beside a window sill.
“Some of the people on cooking duty found it buried beneath old pots and what not.” Eric said, his own glass in hand. Unlike the others, he drunk in moderation, only a few sips taken. “Thankfully it doesn’t seem particularly strong. Unless people overindulge, we shouldn’t have a problem.”
Sam glanced towards a nearby table where people were spurring each other on to down their glasses in one gulp.
“Point taken.” Eric said while adjusting his glasses. “I admit I’m not particularly thrilled about no one being on guard duty but this is for the best. We raise moral now, reap the benefits later.”
At least it sounded like there was some thought put into this. Surface level thought that could easily backfire and have people becoming too lax, but who knows. Maybe Eric knew what he was talking about.
“Fair enough.” Sam said, nodding. He’d remain vigilant tonight. It wouldn’t be too problematic to open up the window of the study and keep an eye on the surrounding area.
“Not much of a drinker I take it?” Eric said after a moment of silence. Ah, small talk, Sam’s favorite pastime.
“Never saw the appeal.” Sam said. His own glass remained untouched despite the countless toasts and Ivan’s attempts to make it otherwise. In his youth Sam had been far too broke to even consider indulging in such a thing. As an adult, he’d seen enough alcoholics alongside other addicts to consider the use of such things nonsensical. What did people find so relaxing and entertaining about exposing themselves to substances that often ruined lives?
He'd enjoyed his quiet secure life, thank you very much.
“Fair enough.” Eric tipped his head to Sam. “Well I should get to mingling. I’ll try to at least keep the people on hunting and guard duty tomorrow from overdoing it.” Eric moved to take off but paused. “Take this chance to unwind as well, Sam. I have a feeling we won’t get many days like this.”
“Unwind huh?” Sam muttered to himself gaze drawn back to his glass. Ivan claimed the bubbly purple liquid was too fruity for his taste but wasn’t bad. And everyone was still throwing the stuff back like water.
Maybe….
Nope. He still couldn’t find the appeal. He placed the glass on the sill with a sigh.
He missed his games, scrolling the web, and watching TV. Hell, a lifetime of schoolwork would’ve been preferable to this fucked set of circumstances. It wouldn’t be enjoyable but it’d be safe and predictable. What more could a man want?
“H-Hello.” Sasha greeted him with a smile and a wave, taking a spot on the opposite end of the window. She looked away from him almost immediately, looking at the starry enchanted skies that the glass displayed 24/7 unless opened. “It’s a nice night for a party.”
Sam bit back a sarcastic comment. She obviously wasn’t talking about the pitch black forest that actually surrounded them. Instead he hummed.
Sasha nursed her glass, occasionally taking a sip from it. Likely contemplating how to get a conversation going. He wasn’t exactly making it easy for her.
Maybe it was just to get things over with. Maybe it had to do with the joyful atmosphere, a massive departure from the somber mood that ruled over them since their arrival. Or maybe, just maybe, her earnest attempts at getting to know him brought forth enough pity for him to push his dislike for idle conversation to the back of his mind.
Whatever the case, he decided to jumpstart things for her.
“Enjoying yourself?” Sam asked.
“Huh? I mean yes. This wine is surprisingly good.” Sasha said. “Thought I wish we had better food to go along with it. Something salty would go a long way to offsetting it. I think seafood might do the trick.”
“Who knows, you might get your chance to catch something and try it out. We are on an island.” Sam said, nodding along with the idea.
“If we even have any left by then.” Sasha nudged her head towards Ivan who, as the tallest among them, stood out no matter where he was. The man was still making toasts to random things, others fully encouraging the reckless behavior. Come morning he’d be in a very intimate relationship with a little something known as a hangover. “Maybe I should try using some of the plants I’ve found instead? If I use the right ingredients I might be able to make-“
Sasha begin talking to herself, throwing out ideas only to poke holes in them before he could get a word in. It wasn’t until she was red in the face and fed up with all her failed ideas that the mumbling came to a stop.
“Do you like cooking?” Sam questioned with a raised brow, his lips curved upwards in thinly veiled amusement. Sasha might be a bit weirder than he first thought.
“I, uhhh, well it was one of the few things I got really good at.” Sasha admitted, twisting and turning her glass. “Ivan might act…is a complete simpleton sometimes but he’s always been good at everything he tried. He’s barely touched a bow since we were first taught but is probably still just as good as me. It’s difficult trying to keep up with him; it always felt that way with everything we done.”
“But when it came to cooking I was never worried about who was better. I just enjoyed throwing things together and seeing whether or not what I cane up with would be good. It was just me, the ingredients, and infinite possibilities.”
“I-I'm sorry, I’m rambling. I guess all that’s to say that I love it.”
Sam couldn’t help but smile.
While he couldn’t claim to particularly like people in general, he still admired them. As shitty and ridiculous as they could be there were still people like Sasha and Ivan.
Ivan stood so firmly on his morals that going against them, even indirectly, left the man pained but determined to be better. Then there was Sasha who’s love for cooking would’ve been apparent to both a blind man and a deaf man. Every word she said seemed to stoke the fire in her blue eyes and she didn’t sound nearly as meek as usual.
Had he ever felt so strongly about anything in his life? He sincerely wished he could say so but honestly? Sam didn’t know for sure. Maybe for his own survival but didn’t everyone feel that way?
Maybe if he had that drive, some things would’ve played out differently.
“Its cool that you have something that gets you so excited.” Sam said.
“You really think so?” Sasha finally looked towards him. At his nod, her smile grew, though curiosity quickly overtook that joy. “Is that how you feel about reading? You spend more time in the study than anyone else.”
He shrugged. “Not particularly. It’s just another way to pass the time.”
“Yeah, I guess there really isn’t much else to do.”
More cheering came from behind them, drawing their attention.
“Isn’t it amazing?” Sasha said. “Just yesterday most people holed up in their rooms and kept to themselves but now everyone seems so hopeful.”
She was right of course. With their move into the mansion more people had taken up active roles under Eric’s guidance but the bone deep despair that infected the group couldn’t be shaken so easily. What was that one saying? The darkest shadows come from the brightest lights? Or maybe it was the opposite. Either way, somehow people were able to see something beyond the hardship that laid before them.
Not long ago he would’ve found it inspiring.
‘Give up your ignorant hopes for survival and cease this meaningless struggle.’ Hecate’s words filled his head.
Sam just couldn’t find it in himself to see what they saw. What did he have to be happy about? The god that forced him into this world desired his death. That desire prevented him from growing at the same rate as others and the way she spoke about this whole situation alluded to dangers yet to come.
It wasn’t a change in circumstance but ignorance that gave birth to the hope spread throughout the room.
“There’s nothing to be happy about.” Sam said.
“How can you of all people say that?” Sasha said without missing a beat.
Sam’s face scrunched up, as he gazed out across the illusionary sea of stars and beautiful lights. “You saw what we’re up against, Sasha. Before all of this most of the people here had never picked up a weapon and we’re suppose to defend ourselves against someone who can control the dead? It all sounds like a bad joke. We’re lucky to be alive at all.”
“That’s exactly why you should be happy.” Sasha’s voice picked up not quite to the point where others heard them but her passion was evident. “I’m not sure what happened but I know that the reason I survived getting stab that day is because of you. It might not matter in your eyes since we’re nothing but strangers to you, but I’m sure other people owe you their lives too. That’s something to be happy about.”
From the corner of his eye, Sam watched Sasha draw closer, almost glaring up at him.
“And if that isn’t enough, think about the small things. We don’t have to sleep in cramped caves anymore. We can take real baths. We literally have magical weapons and armor now. How can you stand there and say there’s nothing to be happy about?”
Maybe she had a point. Dammit, she did have a point.
‘Give up your ignorant hopes for survival and cease this meaningless struggle.’ Hecate’s words filled his head once more.
But in the end those were nothing more than distractions. A distraction from distance threat of death that continued to loom just out sight but never out of mind.
Sam pushed off the sill and turned to take his leave.
He shouldn’t have bothered wasting his time here. Survival required strength and he needed to dedicate every tick of the clock to his pursuit of it. No matter what form that strength took -mana, aura, or raw physical improvement, he'd grab hold of it and put it to use.
Sasha’s hand shot around his wrist. It was rough and rife with calluses, like his own. A telltale sign of the her and Ivan’s experience as hunters. “I-I’m sorry if I said something wrong but-but-“ She fumbled her words, grip slowly loosening before it suddenly tightened enough to make him wince.
Sasha’s skills weren’t even geared toward strength and she might already be on the way to eclipse his. Further evidence that he didn’t have time to waste.
“Sometimes you seem harder to understand than Mai but I know you’re not a bad person, Sam. Otherwise, you wouldn’t work so hard to help us all. It’s kind of like cooking- none of that work will mean anything if you never take the chance to enjoy what you’ve done.”
“Your right. Everything you’ve said is right..” He said after a moment. “I’m just not the type to enjoy parties.”
Sasha’s grip slackened before she finally released him. “R-Right, that makes sense. I’m happy that you stuck around anyways.”
He nodded and took off without looking back.