James was starting to get hungry. The only source of edible food James knew of in this cave was the small lizards that were all around the cave. The only other possible food source that James thought of was maybe the stream was fed from somewhere with water life. The lizards were too fast for James to just run right up to it and catch one. So instead James thought of a way to capture one. Instead of running towards one, James decided to just sit down and stay still. After one minute, a few lizards were walking near James to the water. As soon as the lizards were in front of James, he shot his arm forwards as fast as he could. Two of the lizards managed to escape, but one got caught.

James only just realized that even with the lizard, he had no way to cook the meat. He didn’t want to, but the only way to survive and destroy the abyss was to eat it. James found a sharp rock on the ground to use to skin the lizard. After skinning the lizards, James took the skinned lizard over to the stream to wash it off. Right before James washed the lizard, he heard the voice of his master, Merabel, again. “I forgot to mention, but I set up a spell to teleport a single meal every three days. Your first meal is teleporting now.” Appearing in front of James was a plain-looking meal. It was basically a mashed potato-looking mush, but James couldn’t complain right now. He would eat almost anything to survive. Besides the food, James had a feeling Merabel was going to be an annoying and crazy master with everything she has done to him so far. James put that thought to the side, as he couldn't do anything about it. So instead he dug right into his mashed potato looking mush. James had been prepared for the worst, but the first bite didn’t taste like anything. The food was tasteless. James didn't know if this was a good or a bad thing. While James would miss being able to taste food for the time being it was definitely better then having rancid food to eat. After eating, James couldn’t mediate but also wasn't tired, so he decided to work out before sleeping. James had a routine in place now that he would follow the whole time he was in the cave. Meditate, eat every three days, workout, sleep, repeat was James schedule.

Three days later

James had been mediating for the past three days and was able to feel origin energy. While he had not been back to the plains, James instincts told him he would go back and explore more once he was an official mage. The last three days had also resulted in muscle growth. Usually muscles wouldn't grow this fast, even though magic meditation helps grow your physique, but James was using origin energy, which is the highest form of life energy.

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

Ten days later

James had made a major leap in his magical control ability. He was now able to gather origin energy into a ball and force the energy into what he was touching. While experimenting, James learned that he could only force energy into non-living objects like rocks and soil. This would lead to whatever it was to gain a massive amount of life energy and use it. An example would be a barren field of land that would rejuvenate and be able to grow plant life again. James had also started to gain a six pack while he hadn’t noticed it yet; he would once he got out of the cave. His arcane heart also gained a little process of generating the first mage circle. The activity of the heart increased, leading to magical energy being used more efficiently. Granted, it wasn't that good just yet.

One month later

James had been through so much he forgot what Humility told him. It took until Humility appeared in one of James dreams for him to remember, which used a bit of Humility energy. Now that James remembers and appears in his mindscape. In the center was a core, just like the one Luke has. James walked up to it, and a screen appeared.

Available feature

* Arcane Heart: Forms a connection to users' arcane heart to become a giving arcane heart that can be used to buff teammates.

* Core features: seven virtues

1. Humility:

2. Patience:Error

3. Kindness:Error

4. Diligence:Error

5. Charity: Forms a connection to users' arcane heart to become a giving arcane heart that can be used to buff teammates.

6. Temperance:Error

7. Chastity:Error

James didn't understand until he started to mediate that the core helped him mediate and gather magical energy faster. James was at least two, if not three, times faster than before. He would definitely become an official mage before two years.

Two months later

James arcane heart was so active it was ready to explode. James would condense his first magic circle soon. The origin energy James leaked while meditating would cause the spot to have grass and mushrooms grown all around him. The whole corner dedicated to mediation was full of it.

Three months later

James had finally condensed his first magic circle. The magical energy during his magic circle formation was very intense. James instincts were right. He felt a connection to those plains now. He could go there anytime now, but James knew there was a time limit every day. James noticed the entire cave was filled with vegetation and bugs. James thought he would have gotten teleported as soon as he condensed his first magic circle, but it took until the end of the month for it to be noticed. Out of nowhere he disappeared from the cave and appeared in front of Merabel.