As Garrick entered the cave again, he noticed that the air was different than before. The fear he had felt the last time he was here was mostly gone, even replaced by a weird confidence. It was however pitch-dark again, as the fire he had put on had burned out, or maybe, Azul put it out.

Walking slowly through the cave, the quiet was broken by a soft and somewhat unsettling sound of Azul’s low hum, it resonated in the cave. Reminded him of a monk’s chanting.

“Welcome again Garrick, to my home, abode, and prison. Now, what did you bring for me.”

Blackened thick tentacle rubbed against his skin. Prickling him uncomfortably. The being seemed very eager, but he did not hunt for the thick of it. He brought the meat forward, Azul, in his unseeable mass of darkness and what often looked like obsidian fire, lunged itself forward, snatching the bundle of meat from Garrick.

He reignited the fire, not comfortable with seeing darkness without direction. The bonfire didn’t die of exhaustion. That meant he didn’t need to carry an extra burning material in here. As the fire started burning, the flickering light cast shadows along the cave, giving a bit more form to Azul’s mysterious figure.

The meat had disappeared from sight. But the sounds it made, did assure him that Azul actually enjoyed the meat.

“You're not totally useless after all,” it growled in the dark. “Savoury, delicious, great but… I need more of this.”

“That’s all I could carry without collapsing, and I did get some help.”

“So get stronger and Yes…word of advice, keep people you know away from here unless absolutely necessary, I don’t like strangers very much.”

Garrick became overly suspicious. It’s not like people will just waltz into the specific cave. Azul had something greater to hide than himself.

As the Azul finished his gifted meal, he gestured with the movement of his limbs.

“Ask me one question, something worthwhile,” he said cryptically. “Don't ask me stupid shit.”

Garrick pondered and wondered. Politics, intrigue, and agendas, then there was the matter of his affliction.

“This curse I’ve been afflicted with, how do I slow it down? At the end of the last two fights I’ve been in, I felt a part of me slipping away.”

“Hmm, You realize if you run out of mana you will die, right?” he nodded at the question. “The witch gave you some herb yesterday, that stopped the curse temporarily, I’d get more of it for starters, and as a general rule, the simplest thing you can do until you are cured is to grow your mana in size and strength.”

“That’s very vague, and how do I go about this.”

“I said one question, but I’ll humor you. It’s simple, eat well, play well, and sleep well.”

Garrick deadpanned, in his eyes, Azul wasn’t telling him anything at all.

“Just get into more fights, eat something that isn’t a leaf salad, and make sure you have proper rest.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Very well, he was in no position to argue.

“Something I wanted to know, the witch told me, my body was changing, is it your influence?”

Azul slammed his tentacles on the ground. It was clearly an angry reaction.”

“No more questions, don’t test my patience. We had an agreement”

Garrick started sweating, he didn’t consent to anything at all, this being was an oddball, but best not to piss him off. Azul, shifted closer, his projected giant white eye, staring over Garrick.

“Now, I suppose it’s time for lesson one.” his tone softened, becoming more instructive and caring even. “In this world, mana is the essence of all living things. Every cell in your body, every breath you take in, every piece of grass you step on, even the water to some extent–is alive, threaded together with mana particles. If you want to understand it, and by extent control your curse. Learn to feel it properly.

His tentacles curled and extended around the cave as he spoke in the dim light. “Your energy all of it, I want you to shift it to your upper body, your torso, then try moving.”

Garrick took a deep breath and focused on the task. He feels a rush of the channeled energy moving upward. He keeps it there, he starts walking taking shaky steps. And for a moment he felt strangely weightless. But then, his body staggered and his legs buckled and he collapsed to the cave floor with a thud.

Azul started to laugh at him, the sound of his laughter like an instrument vibrating underwater.

“Real fucking funny eh!” he swore at his massive teacher.

“Like watching a child take its first step,” the being offered him a tentacle, letting him up. “Now, shift everything down below, into your legs.”

Garrick took another breath and followed instructions, feeling his calves and thighs, surging with reinviograted strength. “Run outside of the cave,” Azul instructed, “Then run back.”

He sprinted forward, feeling unusually light in his legs. He felt swifter than he had ever moved before, his feet practically glided over the rough terrain. Just as he made it outside, he stumbled over a rock but managed to save a secure landing.

He realized just how quickly his energy depleted. The effects of the curse worsened with the evaporation of his mana. He was exhausted but he would not give up yet. He turned around and raced back into the cave, nearly collapsing in front of Azul.

It looked down on him in approval. “Very good,” he said. Garrick struggled to catch his breath, he lay on his back with a mix of regret and excitement. “How do you feel?”

“Like shit. But it seems simple enough.”

“Simple in theory, but the challenge lies in mastery, become one with yourself and you may even learn to fly one day.”

“No shit?”

“Real shit.”

The entity kept on watching him, calculating him, before giving him another task. “Now, I want you to jump as high as you, muster that energy in the soles of your feet.

“What are you nuts? I’m pretty sure I’ll die if I exert more mana.”

“Hurry up, I need to catch sleep.”

He hesitated, his body already aching and tired, and the effects of his ailment gnawing at him. Against his own better judgment, he followed through, mustering the last of the energy into his legs.

He jumped, finding himself rising higher in the air than expected, his body feeling as light as a feather before he landed on the cave floor again.

Azul let out a soft hum. “Now get out.” Garrick surprised.

“That’s it?”

“Yes,” He replied. “Payment plan, you want more bring me something else in two days, and I’ll be waiting for you. And maybe I’ll give you lesson two.”

Garrick felt a wave of disappointment washing over him, he expected something more complex or profound. The entity sensed his disappointment, and his gaze hardened.

“If you came to me expecting magical tricks and spells, you’re at the wrong place.” he sneered at the young goblin. “Strong in body and then in mind, if you can’t move well, why would you able to think well.”

Garrick was silent, processing everything he had just learned. Azul's voice was low, almost whispering. “There are hidden paths you can walk, that no one knows nothing of. Bear with me and I’ll show you when you’re strong enough. ” The entity helped him up. “Your next lesson will be a little harder, Garrick. You will have to learn the first stage of magical cultivation. Body enhancement.

His mind lingers on some powerful people he has met such as the princess, Cidonia, and the bastard that stabbed him.

“Ms.Cidonia, she seems powerful, but she doesn’t seem physically active.”

“The witch girl, she’s a mage. Not the path I’d recommend you walk. But enough of about all that. Get some rest, don’t bother me tomorrow.”

“I’m kinda homeless right now.”

“Are you now, well I don’t want you sleeping near here, find some ruin to sleep in. Maybe head back to Kara dum.”

“But it’s crazy stuff going on there. I might die.”

“Not my problem. But here’s a parting gift.”

He touched him with his tentacle, and Garrick felt a wave of energy rushing over, rejuvenating him. Any pain he felt momentarily disappeared. He stood up with renewed vigor.

“Oh, amazing, thank you.”

“Cool, now fuck off.”

Azul withdrew, fading into the obscure shadows of the cave, as Garrick made to leave. He walked outside, his thoughts swirling, he felt both exhilarated and apprehensive of what lay forward.

The sun was on its way to set, he thought about begging Cidonia for a place to stay, but that would be needlessly pathetic. He sets his sights on the ruins of Kara-dum.

May as well find out what’s going on there.