I try without much success to find a comfortable position. My shirt makes a poor pillow but it's better than having the back of my head against the dusty ground.

First things first, lets poke at my Status a little.

Status Time since initialisation : 00:00:10:27:41 Localisation : unknown mountains (Wilderness) Name : Marc Rosel Race : Human Gender : M Age : 28 Level 1 (0%) Characteristics STR : 105 DEX : 98 HEALTH 101/105 END : 105 MANA 128/128 INT : 128 M. HEALTH 91/94 SAN : 94 Traits Mental Traits Prudent : "What's the worst that can happen?" - Famous last words you do not live by. Split personality [B] (2) : You're never quite alone. At least he's friendly! Cynical : People are selfish, and will always be so. Never trust too much. Altruistic (-) : You're a really good friend to have, shame you rarely get along with people Makeshift Crafter (-) : Forming : 1% Physical Traits Adaptable [Racial] (+) : Humans have countless defects, yet they always adapt and overcome Adaptable [B] : System-granted superior adaptability. Survive and thrive. Hiker (-) : Forming : 4% - Racial compatibility

Looks like we don't get the flavor text line before traits are formed, that's kind of sad.

If only that was my only problem... I'm somehow missing both normal and mental health already, in spite of having gained Endurance.

Health Points - 101/105

Your Health Points reflect the general state of your body. As Endurance is the measure of how much physical stress you can bear, its value is usually the maximum of your Health Points. Certain circumstances such as missing limbs or certain illnesses may reduce your maximal Health more than they affect your Endurance.

If you reach 0 Health Points, your body is clinically dead. While unusual circumstances may still bring you back from the other side, the S.T.U.D.Y. will assume you are definitely dead after 30 minutes at or below 0 Health Points and take appropriate action.

I guess the top hp are really very sensitive because all I have is some sunburns, some scratches from the thorny bushes and handling rocks, tiredness, and I haven't eaten in a while.

...

Right.

Mental Health Points - 91/94

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Your Mental Health Points reflect the general state of your mind. As Sanity is the measure of how much mental stress you can bear, its value is usually the maximum or your Mental Health Points. Some rare Traits and conditions might affect your maximal Mental Health without changing your Sanity.

Mental Health is generally harder to affect than physical Health, both positively and negatively.

Reaching 0 Mental Health reflects that your mind is completely broken. Your sense of self is considered lost forever. In every way that matters within the S.T.U.D.Y., it is death.

Well that sounds fair enough. Maybe even better than expected considering I’ve been talking to Bob all day. It’s not exactly talking to myself, but pretty close.

Now, for the interesting one.

Mana Pool - 128/128

Your Mana Pool reflect how much mana is currently available within your body to affect the world surrounding you through arcane means. While its base value is directly matched to your intelligence, there are practically endless ways to improve your maximum Mana temporarily or permanently. The most accessible of those being Traits, and the associated knowledge related to the arcane.

Mana is on a linear scale, however, more experienced arcanists are able to do more with less Mana.

Reaching 0 Mana has no other effect than hindering further use of the arcane.

Mana regenerates naturally as your body slowly accumulates the mana present in your surroundings.

Okay, so, any idea on how I can possibly do magic? Or “use the arcane” as the system puts it.

Well, obviously we need to spend mana. How about telekinesis? Focus on a pebble and make it fly!

If I could stare at Bob like he’s an idiot, I would. The mental equivalent works though, and somehow, along his answer, he conveys back the idea of fidgeting.

Well, it's never going to work if you don't believe.

It's never going to work full stop. Nothing we've seen so far was obviously magical like that. There’s no reason I could wish telekinesis out of the blue...

The mana description seems to imply magic could be rather free form though. Sure, knowledge and traits help, but there's also that "endless ways to improve your mana" line.

Bob's got a point there. So... Just try any and all things that come to mind that might somehow trigger magic.

My little cave is pretty dark now, the sky I can see through the triangular entrance is a deep navy blue. The first stars are going to appear soon. Well, if there are stars. But that much seems likely since the local sun should be a star.

You're stalling bro.

I know. I'm not looking forward to staring at a pebble hoping it flies alright? I mean, it would be pretty awesome for sure, but... You know.

I've done similar things as a kid, like all kids do, and it obviously didn't work back then. I never got any magical letter through the chimney, I did everything I could to try to learn bending and be helpful against the fire nation, for months I hoped everyday I would trigger superpowers...

Then I grew up. Dreams of magic were crushed away pretty thoroughly by the reality of my life experience.

Until now.

I pick up a tiny pebble and place it in the palm of my hand with a sigh, then I start focusing. I try to imagine it floating up, slowly, quickly, moving left and right… Nothing happens and the angles of the wall behind me are uncomfortable.

Wow, nice focus, that lasted at least 3 seconds.

There's no way this will work. Honestly, even if it works, what's the use of moving a pebble with my mind? What I need is a spark to light a fire, that would have some real application. I’m fine for now but I’ve only got a pair of pants and a T-shirt to resist the chill of the night.

Maybe trying for magic straight away is too ambitious, minor as it may be. What about feeling our mana pool first?

Right, we can try that. I can feel the state of my body after all, and I've got at least some perspective on my mental health. I suppose I should somehow be able to feel the magic inside me. Maybe meditating or something?

I do have a vague idea of how to meditate... Probably. Relax, find a slow breathing rhythm and clear my mind, close my eyes, calmly breathe in and out while keeping my mind clear.

I’ll try it too.

…

Now that I’m trying to calm down, I start really feeling how deeply tense I am. it’s all because of this unknown context situation, damn Knowledgeable tossing me out here missing memories.

That was really a dick move.

And even more than that, I hate not knowing what exactly is missing. I’m fairly confident I’ve forgotten stuff about the Study because I hardly remember any of the investigation I’ve done. That’s fine, I can deal with that. But take right now for instance, I’m pretty sure I never gave meditation a real try, but would I know if I simply forgot about it?

I can't say.

I can’t say if it’s the correct way to feel mana either, because all the fatigue from the day caught up to me like a crashing wave and I fall asleep before I know what hit me.