Chapter 4: Crazy Dream
Jaxon started to groggily wake, opened his eyes, and was blinded by the glaring light shining through the window. He immediately shut them again. "Stupid window," he thought, "I forgot to shut the blinds." He felt around for his pillow, snuggled into it, reached down, and pulled the super soft doona over himself, then went back to sleep.
Sometime later, Jaxon didn't know when he started to wake up again. He wasn't sure what time it was; he just remembered having the best sleep of his life. This pillow and blanket were the softest he had ever felt, and the room temperature was absolutely perfect—cold enough for snuggling under a doona but not too cold to freeze your boogers when you breathe. "Hmm," Jaxon thought, "now I just need someone to snuggle with." He smirked at his lewd thoughts, and then natural sensations made him realise he was naked again. "Wait! What? Where are my boxers?" He reached for whatever sheets and doona he could as he sat up, opening his eyes. "Shit, this is not my bedding or my bed." He flicked down the bedding and looked down at himself. "Oh Allah on a Harley Davidson, I'm still fudging green!" Jaxon cursed out loud. "I thought it was a dream. Wait, how did I get in this...what is it, a house?" Jaxon thought. Looking around the room, he saw a full-length mirror. "HEY, FINALLY A MIRROR." Jaxon leapt from the bed and ran over to look at his reflection. "WOW," he thought, "I'm so green, like the Hulk."
Jaxon looked at his face and was surprised to find the tusks again. "Oh yeah," he thought, "I forgot about them," and was shocked to realise that his mouth and lip actually stretched around the tusks a bit, like someone was playing chubby bunny and was about to burst, but it felt completely normal, and when he spoke, his lips parted but stayed sealed around the tusks. "That is weird to look at," he said out loud. Then he realised how tall he was and that his arms were longer but thick, and his legs looked like sculpted tree trunks. Thinking of trunks, he checked everything, and it seemed to be correct apart from being different shades of green. "That's funny," he thought, "normally you'd see a doctor if anything down there was green." He then noticed that there was no hair apart from his underarms, eyebrows, and hair. "Hmm," he thought, "low maintenance."
There was a vibrating, gurgling laugh coming from the window that shook him out of his naked mirror gazing. "Blobby, how long have you been there watching me?" The look the blob gave Jaxon implied “long enough!” "Hey, do you know where my clothing is?" Jaxon asked the blob. The blob looked at Jaxon, then looked to the other side of the room, then looked back at Jaxon. Jaxon turned around and saw a small stool with his clothing on top, appearing freshly washed and folded. "Okay, alright, I would have found it. I was just distracted, okay?" said Jaxon. The look of disbelief from the blob made Jaxon shake his head; the blob had no idea what Jaxon had been dealing with.
Once Jaxon was dressed in a shirt and pants, Blobby floated to the door and nudged it. "Okay, so what happened yesterday?" Jaxon said to Blobby as he opened the door. "All I can remember is..." His voice trailed off as directly outside the door was an open field with the biggest tree he had ever seen, with extremely bright, unbearable light emitting from the tree in bright white light. "WOW, now that's thick," Jaxon said out loud. Blobby gurgled, bubbled, and beckoned Jaxon to the tree. Jaxon got halfway to the tree when he remembered it was his senses making the glowing light. He focused on lowering his Spiritual Awareness, and the brightness dimmed down to a light glow. "That's better," he thought as he took in more detail of the tree. Now that it was no longer burning out his eyes, Jaxon could see how majestic and huge the tree was. His entire house could have fit in the base of the trunk, no problem, and the huge tree roots were the size of a large SUV. He also noticed what were fireflies. No, wait, he focused and saw they were more elementals, all with their own glow of different colour mana, some brighter than others. But Jaxon just didn't realise it because the huge tree had so much mana and power that they were like grains of sand in an ocean.
As he gazed at the beautiful site in front of him, he identified not just blue water elementals but also red, yellow, orange, purple—so many different types. Jaxon could only wonder what elements they were. When he was almost at the tip of the longest exposed root, a powerful voice washed over the field: "Welcome, Traveller. I hope you are well-rested." Jaxon was so overwhelmed and did not know what to do, but he knew that something with that much mana power inside it should be respected. Jaxon kneeled down on one knee. "I have, and I thank you for your hospitality." The voice rang with bells of laughter rippling across the field. "Well, I must say that I am surprised," said the voice. "An Orc that kneels. You don’t need to kneel here, friend of Dorothy." "Um, Wait, What?" said Jaxon. "It's okay," said the monumental tree. "I have heard all about your experimentations and adventures with your stamina, and I have been told you can last quite a long time before getting tired." Jaxon just stood there dumbfounded for a few seconds. "Um, who told you what now?" He said with a look of confusion. "I'm not sure what you have been told," Jaxon started to protest, but Dorothy the tree said, interrupting him, "Dorothy, the young water elemental you rescued from the mana snatchers." Jaxon looked at Blobby, who had a pleased expression on its face. "Oh snap, your name is Dorothy?" The water elemental jiggled about happily. "Oh, thank goodness," Jaxon said out loud; everything the tree said was making more sense now. "Yes," Jaxon continued, "I'm sorry," he said, "but what is your name?" addressing the tree.
Again, the fields rang with bells of laughter from the tree. "How rude of me," the tree said. "It has been a long time since I have conversed with someone in the ancient language, and I have quite forgotten the order of holding a conversation. My name is Marion, and it is indeed lovely to meet you, Jaxon, saviour of Dorothy." Jaxon took a breath, moved his hand up to his eyes, and rubbed the sleep from them. "So," he said with some disbelief, "let me get this correct," he said, pointing at Blobby, "your name is Dorothy," and then he moved his pointing finger to the tree, "and your name is Marion." "Yes," the tree replied, "and you are Jaxon, a Traveller." "Okay," said Jaxon, "and may I ask why you call me a Traveller?" "Because I can see your mana and magic is a mix of native Eldorian mana and a permanent deity core." Jaxon paused with excitement. Was he about to get some answers? "My apologies," Jaxon said to the tree. "I don't quite understand. May I please tell you about my journey?" "Why yes," said the tree, "that would be delightful." "Please, allow me," said Marion. Then, all of a sudden, the ground started to move, and roots pushed forth from the ground and into the shape of a table and a chair big enough for him to sit on. "Please sit," said Marion. "Would you like something to eat or drink?" "Oh, um, yes please," said Jaxon, who just noted that he had not eaten or drunk any water for two days.
Then a wooden cup grew from the table. The cup then filled with the most crystal-clear water he had ever seen. He picked up the cup that seemed to adhere slightly to the table and took a big gulp. It was the most refreshing, purest water Jaxon had ever had in his life. It felt amazing to drink, and as he had not been drinking anything for a few days, he drained the cup completely. Then he put it back on the table when he saw that there was an array of the freshest fruit he had ever seen actually growing out of the tabletop, with the stems of the fruit pointing down into the wood table. "Please help yourself," the tree said, and Jaxon picked one of the most beautiful apples he had ever seen in his life. As soon as he picked it, another grew immediately in its place, and then Jaxon glanced at the cup to find that it had magically refilled itself. "Please eat and drink and tell me about your journey."
As Jaxon shovelled fruit into his face and quaffed down water, he told the tree how he went to bed a human in one world and woke up as an Orc in another and about how he was thrown in a holding room and how he had these orc abilities and how he was learning to use them. He told her everything and then said, "So I'm very sorry, but I don't know what you mean when you say I have a mix of native Eldorian
mana and a permanent deity core." "I see," said Marion, "that is quite the story." "I know," said Jaxon, "but it's true unless this is really a dream. In that case, it really doesn't matter if it is or not," he said. "Well," said Marion, "please allow me to tell you a story."
"Of course," Jaxon replied as he held his cup, nestling himself back in the surprisingly comfortable chair. "Two days ago, I noticed one of my water elementals was missing again. And so I checked and, as usual, it was Dorothy. Now, she has always been a wanderer, a sort of head in the clouds, to use the ancient expression. However, she normally comes back before nightfall. You see, I have created a protective fog that surrounds our home as humans have found a way to take an elemental and enslave it by casting a bonding spell on the elemental and forcing it to do the bidding of a mana user. Or, worse still, holding the elemental in a barrier cage while slowly siphoning off its mana to create a core of that element. You see, larger adult elementals can produce a concentrated core of magic as a gift to someone. However, humans have found a way to exploit this and profit from core farms. However, the cores are only half as strong when they are forced from an elemental rather than gifted and created with love by the elemental. So, the few of us core Mana Trees decided it was time to stop pulling mana from the planet and cease creating mana elementals and go into hiding. That was over 3000 years ago, and our elemental spirits live here safely within our walls so they cannot be taken or enslaved. Anyway, I digress. Yes, Dorothy always wandered, but when she did not come back, I worried something bad had happened. You see, as hiding ourselves also means we don't extend our mana senses out of our secure home for fear of it being detected. And then all of a sudden, I sensed the return of my dear Dorothy, but she was being chased by a young Orc. So naturally, I put the young Orc to sleep to save Dorothy and let her escape into the fog that protects us. But upon her arrival and her telling me of the story of you saving her without a weapon or anything to protect yourself from the mana snatchers, I carried you into my woods and into the clearing. And forgive me, I rooted around in your mind and read your memories to understand what kind of Orc would do this, only to find that you were not indeed originally an orc," Jaxon felt a bit violated but didn't interrupt the core Mana Tree's story. "After I read your memories, I created the room and let you sleep. That is how I knew you wanted a mirror and what temperature you prefer to sleep in. And the Dorothy comment and the way you phrased that sentence?" Jaxon interjected hopefully. "What comment? What sentence?" said Marion.
There was silence as Jaxon tried to think of a way to explain what he thought she meant when again laughter erupted from the tree. Jaxon smiled, shaking his head. "Ok, ok," he said, "that was epic. Ten points to Gryffindor." "Actually," said the tree, "I think I'm more of a Ravenclaw." Jaxon looked at the tree and sighed. "You really did read my entire mind, didn't you?" "Yes," she said with humour in her voice. "Then why did you have me tell you the story if you knew it all already?" Jaxon asked. "Oh, I thought that would have been obvious," said the tree, "to see if you would tell me the truth." "Naturally," said the tree. By now, Dorothy was sitting in my wooden cup, laid back like a porn star in a hot tub, enjoying the crystal-clear water. "Hey, I was drinking that," Jaxon said to Dorothy. The little elemental looked at him, then squirted him in the face like a water pistol, and then vibrated and bubbled as though she was laughing. "She has taken quite a liking to you," the tree said.
"And so," began Marion, "I can see your mana the same as you can sense mana around you with your Orc ability, but of course, I can sense it on a much finer level, and I can see you have a pool of Eldorian mana within you that is untouched, and I can also see that your body is infused with a “Deity Strength” core power, as your interface thing tells you. I would, however, just say that your body is infused with a power that has the potential to reach deity strength that is currently locked, as it seems you don't have any experience with mana and so it was locked by the deity. I can only assume, until you have gained knowledge of it and how to use it. However, I don't know what you did to the deity to grant you such power. I did not see the deity give you the power, so I don't know if you were born with it or it was bestowed upon you when you travelled here. However, as a thank you for rescuing Dorothy here, I want to give you some gifts."
"Oh, you don't have to," Jaxon began, but Marion cut him off. "I know I don't have to, but I want to, and so I shall. First off, you are travelling with no supplies, so please reach out your hand and take this cup." Jaxon looked down at the table and saw that Dorothy was no longer in the cup he was drinking from as it had disappeared, and a new huge Orc-sized mug appeared to grow out of the table with beautiful coloured roots woven together and a handle. Jaxon lifted the cup and examined it. "This cup is made from every type of root found on this world." "Wow," said Jaxon. "Whenever you thirst, simply press this cup to a tree, and the tree will share its water with you. If there are no trees around, you can place the cup on the ground, and it will extract water from beneath the ground. And not only that, the cup purifies and removes all toxins and poisons from the water source, be it tree or ground, or any water or liquid you pour into this cup will be 100% pure as that water you consumed today." "Wow, are you serious?" Jaxon said. "That is unbelievably awesome of you. A thousand times thank you."
"You are very welcome," said the tree. "Now, another gift you may choose not to accept, but I highly suggest you do, is I would like to give you a special class." "Yes," said the tree, "I say class, as that is what your world would call it. Training schools here used to call them “Mana Professions”. You see, some people are born with mana inside them that they can tap into to use the mana like what your world calls wizards or spell-casting mage or sorcerer. There are, of course, many for you to choose from in the world. However, the class and knowledge I wish to bestow upon you is ancient and particularly powerful, and I believe has been forgotten over the years as people and knowledge are lost throughout generations." Jaxon replied, "I would be a fool indeed if I refused the teaching, wisdom, knowledge, and experience of a tree as old as well, however old you are," Jaxon finished. "However, I think it goes beyond foolishness if said tree had read my mind and thoughts and knows all of me, my fears and wants." "I knew I made the right choice offering you this gift," Marion, the core Mana Tree, said. Then the ground started moving around Jaxon's feet, and roots emerged, encasing his feet and intertwining up his legs. Then he received a notification on his interface.
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⁉️ ATTENTION ⁉️
Marion, the Senior Ancient c0re Mana Guardian Tree for the world of Eldoria,
Would like to improve upon your Spiritual Sense ability.
Ability: Detect Ancient c0re mana trees.
Do You Accept? Yes ✔️ OR No ❌
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Jaxon mentally thought, "Yes," and immediately felt a surge of power shoot from the bottom of his feet into his body's mana pool. It was like someone had just turned the lights on inside of him, and he could feel his mana shooting and moving around inside of him. He could feel the mana racing around his body and into his arms, legs, and then all the way to his fingers and toes. Once the mana fully started to circulate, Jaxon's skin began to glow, with light shimmering all over him.
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🎆Congratulations!🎉
You have selected your primary class!
Class: Raw Elemental Druid
Effects: This Special Druid class allows the user to manipulate the mana of all different Elements without penalty & unlocks an array of abilities.
For more information about these abilities, please refer to your Traveller's Guide interface.
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🎆Congratulations!🎉
You have unlocked a new ability:
Ability: Conjured Weapon - Staff level 0
Effects: Allows the user to conjure and dismiss a staff made of their mana, which may also be used as a tool to enhance mana casting. The complexity and power of the weapon are dependent on the caster.
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🎆Congratulations!🎉
You have unlocked a new ability:
Ability: Raw Mana Manipulator
Effects: Allows the user to use the forgotten and extremely rare ability to extract, combine, and merge mana cores.
Some cores cannot be merged together, for example, Fire and Ice and/or Water.
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🎆Congratulations!🎉
You have received a special ability from a Deity.
Ability: Naturally Present Mana
Effect: The deity has modified and increased your body’s natural mana production and pool capacity by 400%.
Effect: Your body has been preconditioned for a predetermined Deity mana ??? Will be absorbed directly into your body and will not count towards your regular four core capacity.
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🎆Congratulations!🎉
You have consumed a mana ???
Core: level 5 Lightning Deity ???
Effects: This ??? Unlocks the ability to wield Lightning Mana.
Note: As this ??? was created by a Deity it is significantly more powerful than a regular core and can be levelled up past the regular level cap of 10, to a new level cap of 25.
Note: This ??? is a Level 5 and, therefore, cannot be used unless your mana pool has the capacity to support it.
Note: This ??? has been absorbed by your body and not your mana pool. You have 4 of 4 Mana core slots remaining.
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Suddenly, Jaxon's body began crackling with blue-purple electricity that passed over his body. The heat and power were so intense it burnt away his clothing and the hair on his body. Jaxon envisioned Darth Sidious and went to say “Unlimited POWER!” out loud as a joke, but instead, he just passed out unconscious.
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"Well, that was good," said Marion sarcastically to Dorothy. "Two unexpected reactions in one day. How very exciting," she said. "Oh well, we better see what happened, shall we?" As she propped Jaxon up in a crèche shape made of roots, then some small roots attached themselves onto his now bald skull, and she sifted through the last 12 hours of memory. After a few seconds, the roots retracted and she sighed, "Well, what was the deity thinking? Expanding his mana pool, generation rate, and loading him up with a level 5 mana ability that would put any mortal flat on their back if they processed it all at once."
Dorothy vibrated, "Yes, I think the deity locked the level 5 mana inside him until he selected a class. That way, the natural abilities that came from the power would fit more in line with the class he would potentially choose. Still, imagine him doing this at a manaversity; it still would have happened but would have been more embarrassing in that setting. It's good that he is here; we can let him rest and let his body recover."
Dorothy vibrated again, "Yes, I like him too, not just for what he did for you but also because he is genuinely a good person, or should I say Orc. I think I will ask him to check on my sisters."
Dorothy vibrated again, "Well, he may not be up to it now but give him 50 years or so, and I think he will be a most formidable ally to our cause for mana."
More vibrations, "Oh, you like him that much? Hmm, let me think," as she grew roots over the crèche all the way to Jaxon's shoulders and then the Water Elemental felt a cool breeze start to emanate from inside the crèche as a cotton soft blanket and soft pillow and padding grew under Jaxon.
"He could be resting for a while," said Marion. Dorothy again vibrated, "Well. If you’re sure, you always have been a wanderer," Marion said. "And it’s a permanent thing if you choose him, and he has to accept, of course, but I’m sure he will. You’re going to have to help him, fight alongside him, and try and protect him. Are you sure you’re prepared for that?"
Dorothy paused for about 15 seconds, and then vibrated and gurgled, "Okay, fine. When he wakes, we will ask him, and if he accepts, I will assist with the bonding. And perhaps give you a little kickstart so you’re not so helpless."
The next day, around midday, Jaxon started to wake. Instead of feeling refreshed and super comfy, he felt as though he had just run a marathon; his arms and legs ached with pain. "Wow," he thought, "that was a hell of a thing." The now familiar sensation of the doona and blankets reminded him he was with Marion and Dorothy. As he started to move, the tree roots retracted and moved him into a standing position. "Hmm," Jaxon said, "I seem to remember my clothing being burnt away." "Yes," said Marion, "I figured you were quite sick and tired of waking up in the nude, so this time I grew the cotton around you." "Why, thank you," said Jaxon as he stepped out of the roots and into the chair that had grown before him again.
Once he sat down with Dorothy vibrating and giggling, zooming around his head with excitement, Jaxon said, "I'm glad to see you too," with a smile on his face. "But I feel like I've been hit by a bus," Jaxon stated.
"Yes, I apologise for that," said Marion. "I could see that you had a hidden mana gift, but the strength and effects of the mana gift were hidden, even from me. I'm afraid when you accepted the class, it triggered and unlocked the gifts the deity had bestowed upon you. Now, let's get down to business. I'm sure you are eager to read and try out your new abilities, but I have a request for you."
"Go ahead," said Jaxon.
"You see, as I was telling you, ancient mana trees went into hiding about 3,000 years ago as men sought to abuse us and use us only to gain power. And so, we have very little to no knowledge of what is going on in the world at large. I don't even know if the others are alive or safe, or if they have been found by man and stripped of their mana. So, my task for you, throughout your journey in this world, is to find my sister trees and inform them of my well-being. Now, I should clarify that this request is for you to complete in your whole lifetime. You see, a hundred years to us trees is but the blink of an eye. And the journeys around the world will be fraught with peril and things like you have never seen or even dreamed. I suggest you travel to the city of Crest Haven that is marked on your map, and see if they have a manaversity. A hunter came wandering into my woods roughly 80 years ago, and his memory informed me of some of the goings-on in the world."
"Now, should you agree to this task..."
"Of course, I agree to this task," Jaxon interrupted.
"Dorothy has expressed her wishes to join you."
"Wait, what? To join me?" Jaxon echoed. "I don't understand. If I have so long to find your sisters, do I come back and get her when I'm ready to go?"
"No," said Marion, "she wishes to join you now, permanently, as your ‘Familiar’ and friend. A bonded Familiar can be a great help in your life, someone to watch your back, so to speak, and aid you in battle. You see, other mana users sometimes choose to select a Familiar by using a spell to bind the creature to them, even if it is against the creature's will. The user can then force the creature to do its bidding, issuing commands or attack spells. However, the most powerful bonds are bonds that are created by the creature, elemental, or demon, and are forged with friendship, love, and respect. What's more, a Familiar will grow with you, and as you become more powerful and formidable, so too will your Familiar. Dorothy has requested, if you approve to accept her, for me to complete the bonding. However, I warn you, it is a two-way relationship. You should look after her and care for her the same as she looks after you and cares for you."
"Absolutely," Jaxon said. "That's called friendship and Dorothy is the best, and I would love to have you accompany me!" As he turned to look at the water spirit and smiled.
“Very well then, I have agreed to give Dorothy a little boost so that she is not so reliant on you in the beginning." Vines and tendrils began to come forth from the ground and became very thin near the tips as they went inside Dorothy. This time Jaxon activated his Sense mana ability and watched as little pulses of mana pulsed from the ground up the roots into the Elemental. Then suddenly Dorothy began to grow in size, pulsing like she was being filled up like a water balloon. She eventually reached the size of a watermelon and Jaxon noticed her colour had gone from a deeper blue to a deep blue with pale blue to silver swirls inside.
Then all of a sudden roots came out of the ground where his feet were, and he felt mana flow between himself and Dorothy. He noticed a tendril of mana waving and whispering and spiralling slowly, a bit like a growing vine that was moving and searching at high speed. As the vine grew towards Jaxon, it slowly began to wrap itself around him. After it did about three loops around his torso, the link surged with brightness and then disappeared. The roots retracted from Dorothy and Jaxon immediately felt a difference. It felt like Dorothy was an extension of him, and it seemed like he had always known her. He could sense where she was in relation to him, and if he increased his sensitivity to mana, he could see that the link of mana between the two of them was still present but faint.
Dorothy suddenly zoomed into Jaxon's chest and snuggled into him, vibrating and gurgling with happiness. It was then that Jaxon noticed something different apart from her much larger size. In fact, the first bubble of her tail was now the size of an orange. Then it quickly kept reducing in size to the size of a peach, then a golf ball, and then an olive. “You got big and you got colder,” he said with curiosity in
his voice. Suddenly, Dorothy giggled and then all of a sudden little flakes of frost started appearing on Jaxon's shirt where Dorothy was pressed in, and suddenly it became unbearably cold like a block of ice had been put down his shirt by his dad. “Waa! So cold,” said Jaxon. Dorothy floated back in front of him. “So you're ice now?" said Jaxon. Dorothy looked at him as though he wasn't very bright and then shot a spurt of water in his face. Jaxon said, “So you're both,” with a questioning look on his face. Dorothy wobbled up and down but surprisingly Jaxon didn't need her to do the action because he kind of felt the approval coming from their link. Along with the approval, there also seemed to be a hint of questioning or concern of acceptance, a kind of self-doubt. Having felt it many times before in his life, he immediately went to reassure Dorothy. He plastered a big cheesy grin on his face and said, “That is so cool, we are going to have so much fun together.” She vibrated and gurgled with excitement and Jaxon felt a sense of agreement.
Meanwhile, a bunch of notifications had been building up in Jaxon's interface. In the side of his vision:
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⁉️ ATTENTION ⁉️
You have passed out.
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🎆Congratulations!🎉
You Have Levelled Up!
New User Status:
Name: Jaxon Angel
Race: Orc Level: 2
Class: Level 1 Raw Elemental Druid
Sex: Male
Age: 18
Height: 2.4 Metres
User Attributes:
Conversation level 4
Movement level 3
JuJu Level 8
Lift Level 6
Smart Level 5
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🎆Congratulations!🎉
A Mana Core has unlocked a new ability.
Core: Lightning Deity ???
Ability: Lightning Bolt
Effect: Generate and throw a simple bolt of lightning from the user's hands or staff.
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🎆Congratulations!🎉
A Mana Core has unlocked a new ability.
Core: Lightning Deity ???
Ability: Static Shield
Effect: Creates a barrier of static electricity around the user, providing minimal protection against physical and magical attacks that last until destroyed or dismissed.
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🎆Congratulations!🎉
A Mana Core has unlocked a new ability.
Core: Lightning Deity ???
Ability: Bolt Blink
Effect: The user can teleport to a location they can see but lightning must be able to strike the location. If the location is close, the user will turn into a bolt of lightning and travel as lightning to the destination.
Note: Player, their belongings, and Familiars must be in contact with the user to teleport.
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🎆Congratulations!🎉
Your Traveller Status, in combination with your recent level up, has unlocked a new ability.
Ability: Pit Stop
Effect: The user can focus their mana into a door. The door leads to a private room, only accessible to the user and Familiars. Any items placed in the room will return to the user's inventory, and when the door is conjured again, the items will return to their previous location in the room.
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🎆Congratulations!🎉
You have bonded with a Familiar.
Note: Your Familiar’s information can be found in your menu.
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“Wowzers," said Jaxon, as he finished reading the last notification. "This is just so unbelievable.” “Yes, I see that it may be quite a bit to take in," said Marion. "Now how about you have a crack at that door." "How do you know about the door?" he asked. "Did you read my mind again?" Crossing his arms and looking at the tree, "Well, yes I did," said Marion. "I wanted to make sure you are okay and I wanted to find out why you passed out.” "Okay," replied Jaxon, "fine. Do you have any idea how to use this door thing?"
Marion said, “Well, most abilities come naturally to the user, kind of as though you will them into being, or you think what you want to happen. It really is all rather natural, like a natural extension of yourself. The best thing is to follow your instincts. Other mana users do not have this interface system that you possess and other users rely on instinct and practice, trial and error. I am afraid having all of your abilities handed to you on a silver platter with a description could be a hindrance for you. Perhaps you should try not to rely on it too much, except for your mapping ability; that thing is… well in the words of Ron Weasley, 'bloody brilliant.'”
Jaxon looked at the tree, shaking his head. "I'm starting to feel like you absorbed a bit more than just my thoughts. Anyway," he said, "let me focus." Jaxon stood there trying to clear his mind, he closed his eyes and focused on visualising a door. He wasn't really sure what type of door he should visualise or whether he should visualise it on a wall or what type of door, so he focused on a large circular door like a Hobbit hole door with the door handle in the middle. Suddenly, he felt the urge to reach his hand out and as he did, lightning and electricity surged from his hand in different arcs and sparks striking the air. Where the electricity struck, the electricity was left behind floating in the air as the electrons continued to flow from him, drawing the outlines of the door he envisioned with little sparks coming from the drawing. Crackling and sparking, the door completed and then it kind of congealed and settled into a solid object as the sparks stopped coming off the door. He saw that the door was made of a dark blue door frame and the door itself was purple with blue streaking colours through it. The pattern was as though it was made of wood planks, but because of its colour, it looked like it was made of plastic.
“Wow,” Jaxon laughed in disbelief. "It looks like I just 3D printed a plastic Hobbit hole door with Sith lightning."
Jaxon reached out his hand and grabbed the door handle in the centre. He felt electricity humming from the door as he turned the doorknob and pushed the door inwards. Light started to come from the door crack as he pushed the door all the way and saw that the room was a simple three-metre by six-metre rectangle. It had a toilet, shower, and basin along one of the short walls. “This is mental!” he said to himself as he walked into the room. Dorothy followed him into the room. He said as he looked at her, “This is our crib. What do you think?” At first, Dorothy zoomed around and around in the room, then she looked a little deflated and promptly zoomed out the door. Jaxon wondered what happened as he followed her out the room and back into the green field where the tree was. When he left the room, he saw Dorothy conversing with the tree.
Jaxon only understood one side of the conversation, however, due to his link with her, he understood there were requests being made or questions from Dorothy.
“I see," said Marion. "Okay, if you want, really it would be my pleasure.”
Soon a kind of birdbath pushed forth from the ground with a beautiful ornate stand and a very big deep bowl on top, followed by a small square table and two sturdy very comfortable chairs, and then much to Jaxon’s surprise, a large single bed with the same beautiful ornate legs, headboard, and the super comfortable padding, blankets, duvets, and three deluxe pillows. Followed by another four piles of sheets along with pillow and duvet covers. And then on the table grew piles and piles of clothing in different styles and pants in different lengths, and much to Jaxon’s relief, a double pile of luxurious soft underwear.
"This is the best thing ever," Jaxon said as the items appeared before him. Then last of all, a sort of mini cabinet combination workbench grew from the ground.
Jaxon understood exactly what was going on. "Thank you so much," he said to Marion. "You are the kindest, most generous, well, I was about to say person… but saying tree really reduces the compliment because you're really the only tree I've ever met. Anything!" Jaxon exclaimed, stopping himself from rambling. "You are the kindest anything I have ever met in my life. Thank you so much. I will look after and protect Doro with my life."
"I know you will look after, there was a moment's hesitation, Doro," said Marion. "But there's one more thing to know. Dorothy or Doro, as you seemed to have already nicknamed her, has a slower mana regeneration rate than you. If she is hurt or low on mana, you simply need to feed your raw mana into her using your link. You will need to be sure to send raw mana, not electric mana, as she is not an electrical elemental, and Dorothy will convert and use it as she sees fit."
Jaxon looked at Doro with a grin on his face and received back a sense of happiness and excitement from the Elemental.
"Well," he said out loud, "I suppose I better put all this in my inventory." Jaxon walked up to each of the items, placed his hand on them, and pulled them into his inventory. As he did, each of the items appeared in his inventory and some of the items stacked.
Then he returned into their room and Jaxon started placing the furniture down. In time, they had a charming little apartment kitted out. When they were done placing the furniture, Jaxon put the extra linens and clothes in the little cupboard.
After he closed the beautifully carved door, Doro sent a sense to follow to Jaxon as she floated out the door again. Jaxon walked outside and reached out his hand towards the door and attempted to recall
the door. Suddenly, the door collapsed inward into a big bolt of electricity and into his hand, back into his mana pool. This time he felt his mana pool fill about 35% back to full.
"So cool," he said quietly to himself. As he turned to face Doro, she bounced happily and sent an urge to run to Jaxon. Jaxon looked at her confused. Then she shot off toward the edge of the clearing. Jaxon laughed and threw himself toward Doro. Suddenly there was a sense of distortion and his vision changed to a gliding instead of an up-and-down motion of running. Then his vision went into fast forward, and then he was suddenly there standing next to her. Doro had wide eyes and sent the emotion of amazement to Jaxon. "Did I just fly?" Doro shook no, and Jaxon thought for a moment and then thought about his abilities. "Did I just turn into a lightning bolt and fly across the field?" he said in amazement. Doro nodded her head. "Wow," Jaxon thought. "This is the most amazing day of my life."
As he looked at her, he had the feeling she wanted to show him something. "Um, did you want to show me something?" She beamed, happy that he was able to pick up the more complex sense she had just sent him. "Cool," he said, still smiling. "What was it?" Dorothy moved away slightly, then vibrated and then shot five little frozen but rock-hard ice stakes that were perfectly shaped about the length of a pencil and the tip of a sharp pencil at one end, increasing the thickness to a golf ball at the end. "Wow, that would suck to get hit by them." Jaxon ran over to where they landed. Three of them had stayed the entire way in the ground. Jaxon retrieved them and ran back to Doro. They only just started to melt when he got back. Then Doro floated over to Jaxon's hands and absorbed them. "Wow," he said, "that's a cool trick, and you can spurt water too," Jaxon questioned. He got a sense of confirmation and then, "Better." "What better?" he asked. Then he got "Fix Better." "Fix better?" he said questioningly. She kind of made a sideways wobble as if to say "kind of." "Oh well," he said, "you will have to show me." He got the sense of later then. "Let's move from here," he said. "Okay," he looked around at the sky and saw there were still a few hours of daylight left. "So we should go back to Marion and say goodbye. Want to run?" Then Doro shot off again. "Hey, no fair, that's cheating." And then he started taking big steps and sprinted towards her, this time being careful not to will himself to her. And he zoomed off. When he arrived next to Marion, she had created a massive banquet table full of fresh fruit with berries and nuts. She said, "I know you're leaving now but quickly put this all in your inventory and this should see you on your journey." Jaxon quickly moved it all to his inventory, and then she extended a root from the ground and tapped him on the head.
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⁉️ ATTENTION ⁉️
Marion, the Senior Ancient core Mana Guardian Tree for the world of Eldoria,
Would like to improve upon your Spiritual Sense ability.
Ability: Detect Ancient core mana trees.
Do You Accept? Yes ✔️OR No ❌
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Jaxon accepted and began to glow. After about 15 seconds, it passed, and Marion said, "If you ever get in the vicinity of a mana core tree’s defences, they should glow purple on your map and show as a purple haze wall through your Spiritual Awareness ability. Now enough dilly-dallying, goodbye my friends. If you're in the neighbourhood and by yourself, please drop by."
Doro zoomed up to the tree trunk of Marion and squished herself against the ancient tree, and vibrated lovingly towards the tree. Then zipped back to Jaxon's side. "Okay?" he said, looking at Doro. Doro sent approval in return. "Okay then," Jaxon said to Marion. "Thanks again for everything, and I promise we will take good care of each other!" "Farewell my friends," said Marion. Then Jaxon and Dorothy ran off towards the fog.