Jun walked on, the trees a dense thicket, the air thick with hum of mana, whisper of leaves. The weight of the lesson from the ripples and everything he learned of his power settled into him like an old coat, known once, changed. Every move felt charged to him, as if every shadow held a tool. Yet caution would temper his euphoria. Even to the smallest of creatures he wouldn''t touch until he knew how deep his power was.
As he rode towards his home, which would have taken him a whole day to complete now took him four hours. His speed and endurance had increased exponentially. He felt as if he possessed an ethereal swiftness, but his mind drifted back to Riry often. Her laughter, her sharp mind, and unyielding confidence were in his mind like some melody he had learned and never forgotten. The part of him that thought they might go all the way quickly put that on the backburner. There was work to do.
He started preparing the materials brought from the hunted Slouched Bear before he left-it was such an enormous bear, even its skin seemed to consist of layers thick with mana-enriched fibers; both too precious and extremely difficult to be handled. Jun arranged tanning leathers, pulling and drying very carefully. This was a laborious process, almost meditative, as he watched his hands stretch out the fur with practiced care as he looked at the things he could envision using the hide for.
He twisted the sinew into thread. Each strand had to be the same thickness so as not to reduce its strength. It was arduous work, but Jun found he enjoyed the rhythmic, methodical process. Ideas flowed through his head as he worked: reinforced armor, sturdy bags, or even an experimental design for flexible mana-conductive clothing.
---
That night, after cutting the sinew and hanging out the hide to dry, Jun opened a new leather journal. The new pages were waiting for his thoughts that he began to write down with deliberate strokes. It was no diary; it was a journal of his development, his discovery, and his knowledge he wanted preserved for the future.
Quotes from Jun''s Diary:
Shadow Magic and Void Theory:
"The ripple has sunk deeper my relation with Yogundr and the emptiness. Now, with the depth of accuracy I did not even conceive would be within reach, I can command the shadows. It is not inside me, though an embodiment of will and feeling. The empty has no confines to it-it''s a boundlessness-a paradox with creation and annihilation. Know the duality that lets him play it with losing himself
Crafting and Materials:
"The Slouched Bear hide is special. If treated right, its mana-infused fibers are extremely tough but very stretchy. Initial testing seems to indicate it could be a fantastic material for some of the lightest armor without sacrificing too much mobility. Sinew also looks like it''s going to have a bright future, either in stitching or reinforcing composite materials.".
"Riry and I determined that the ripples'' vibrational harmonization with our bestial companions wasn''t coincidence at all. It''s ancient work, part and parcel of Gaia''s structure itself. They steady flow, but any instability can present a problem for the entire realm if left alone. Tuning into the resonant frequency might give us some idea of what keeps the rips closed elsewhere."
The pages grew dense, but so did the writings: the sketches of the Slouched Bear, diagrams for mana flow, and all manner of notations about things that might be experimented on. It was something more than a factbook, it was a testimony to the interest Jun took in his surroundings.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
On the following day, Jun concentrated on the land itself. His small homestead was quite functional but lacked the refinement he envisaged. Terraforming was a tempting prospect, but he knew better than to take actions without a study. Altering the mana flow of the land might disrupt the delicate balance of this system and so should be researched first.
He powered up his Rigg, a thin, humming device that shot full into the power state. The interface produced a list of books for him, though most of those were endorsed by the Library Initiative of the State. Pragmatic, he needed advice on how best to improve. He selected four:
1. "Growing Mana Gardens" by Elitha Vaerlun: This was a very thorough guide on how to grow mana-rich plants as well as techniques for cultivating Chronoweed, Glowroot, and other magical flora. It went into the use of sustainable farming practices as well as how plants were linked to mana.
2. "The Leathercraft in a World of Mana" by Dandrin Fellweather: an extremely comprehensive guide to the craft of leatherworking, from all phases of tanning to infusion of mana in garments. Case studies of rare hides and their properties were also included.
3. "Forging the Ether: Smithing with Mana-Infused Materials" by Torvald Hammershade A master smith''s insights into working with rare ores like Ecliptium. The book promised techniques for creating weapons and tools that harmonized with mana, offering both strength and flexibility.
4. "Gaian Terraforming: Respecting the Balance" by Myra Lonska. A sober consideration of the dangers and benefits of terraforming. She warned against messing with the local mana flows until well-studied, and provided schematics of examples that worked.
Jun downloaded the books on his Rigg and read through all of them together. The more he read, the more he became aware that the Gaian ecosystem was delicate and intricate with its own sense of balance and requirement for survival.
Jun spent the rest of the days reading, and then he experimented on making a mini-greenhouse for the mana plants according to the techniques that had been given in Elitha Vaerlun''s book, with careful control that favored proper growth. Under such controlled conditions, the bulbs of the Glowroot thrived under his careful conditions and began showing an emblazoning light around its glowing hue.
He turned to craft leather goods. With what Dandrin Fellweather said, he crafted the prototype cloak on the hide from the Slouched Bear. That was light with a tough feel with finer fibers set by a very subtle enchantment that repelled minor spells, and Jun didn''t mind, proud to have it on as hours of intense labor were behind its making.
At sundown, he practiced forming with the recovered Ecliptium near the ripple, due to which methods of the smith, Torvald Hammershade, are most practical in working at the forming of ore into the form of the dagger that by now starts faintly glowing due to stored mana. The weapon in his hands seems to breathe - perfect as both form and function.
Days turned into weeks, and Jun couldn''t help but think of Riry. She has this way of turning even the most mundane things into an adventure. Her quick wit and unlimited energy were inspiring sources that made him feel this way all the time. Sometimes, he just wondered how she was doing; if she was missing their repartee as much as he missed it.
One night, outlining a design for a new mana-conductive glove, he came to stop. Perhaps the timing was excellent: it''s a good opportunity to call them out, in knowing if it were possible to help the feeling of connection he''d built evolve to something realer. And, however, went back into working, believing with every accomplishment and skill the person had conquered took him further closer to where his future laid.
The ripples in the distance reminded him of how big Gaia was-a vast unknown yet to be explored. With his journal in hand, full of so many ideas he had in mind, Jun steeled himself for what he was yet to face; every step an evidence of relentless pursuit in quest for knowledge and mastery.