《I Was Reincarnated as Someone's Mana??》


 Chapter One: Where am I?

    I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever been not tired. Whenever I walk, I slouch, and I have never been able to get up more than two flights of stairs. When I was a kid, my mum always said I¡¯ll grow out of it. My father was a strong man, working full-time as a martial artist. He had high expectations for me. I guess I squandered those, didn¡¯t I? I just never understood why he always looked at me so reproachfully. And I worked hard, believe me. To earn his favour, I didn¡¯t hesitate to get a couple of bruises and fractures.


    When he passed, around when I was twelve or so, I was broken. But, then again, this did lend me time to focus on what I did best. Be a disappointment. But, unlike the last twelve years of my life, this time, I was disappointing my mother. She had high expectations too, I guess all parents do, but she hoped I could at least pursue the culinary arts like she did. But I couldn¡¯t. I was too weak. I could barely whisk a couple of eggs into an omelette, much less do something so consuming as to cut up a piece of meat or, god forbid! actually fry it.


    When I had my eighteenth birthday, she practically threw me out. I lived on government grants for a while, but I really needed a job. I kinda wish I hadn''t gotten myself into such a situation, but, well¡­


    So I started writing erotica professionally. Not a pleasant job, far from it, but¡­ it payed the bills. Atleast, that is, until someone broke into my home. You heard that right, some stupid wanker just had to break into the home of someone so weak he could barely step out of the door, much less earn any cash he could use for anything except rent and take-out(couldn¡¯t cook myself, remember?), resulting in a situation I¡¯m a bit hesitant to explain.


    Well, long story short, he got extremely irritated when all he found was a bunch of porno-mags and a computer from the late nineties, and I guess he, once more, just couldn¡¯t help himself and had to take out his frustrations on someone. That someone being yours truly. Simple to say, I didn¡¯t exactly survive. I would probably have been able to fight back if I had been able to just plow through as a kid and actually get strong, but¡­ then again, I wouldn¡¯t be here if I did, right?Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    So, where am I now? I have no clue. Hell? Heaven? No clue. All I know is, it¡¯s really blue. Like, sky blue. A cloud here and there¡­ pleasant, really. But I can¡¯t feel my body. At all. It¡¯s like I¡¯m just floating about in this endless sky, no horizon in sight, with only my eyes to go by. Actually, now that I think of it¡­ I can actually hear something. You know when you¡¯re sitting in a park on a pleasant summer day in May, reading some good book or another, people talking all around you, but since you¡¯re focused on other things, you just can¡¯t hear them, and all you hear is a buzzing murmur? Yeah, that.


    It¡¯s like people are talking, but I can¡¯t hear what they¡¯re saying. Extremely annoying. But, if I turn this way, I think¡­ I can hear the more clearly? Yeah, yeah, that¡¯s it. Right over¡­ there. If I look that way, right up, just outside the endless sky, I think I can see¡­ people? Holy-, they¡¯re humongous!! I can only barely see them, it¡¯s so murky and their faces are so distorted, but that is most definitely people. No, not people, more like giants! Their faces extend beyond the horizon I said I couldn¡¯t see, taking up the entire visible sky. There are three, I think. Two men, one young, the other old, and one woman, looking weary and anxious. The young man looks¡­ well, he sure doesn¡¯t look very approving, but¡­ the old man looks excited, atleast. How do I know he¡¯s an old man? Well, firstly, he has a beard, so¡­ yeah.


    Actually, wait. Now that I think about it, if I can turn around to face these giants, then¡­


    Hey!! I¡¯m here!!!


    I quickly struggle and squirm in their general direction. The bearded man looks excited, the woman seems (somehow) even more distressed, and the young man turns his gaze to the bearded man expectantly. Alright. Alright alright alright. They CAN see me!!


    I move closer towards them, squiggling whatever it is I¡¯m squiggling to the best of my non-existent abilities, and suddenly, as I get even closer, I can feel myself hitting a soft wall of sorts, but I don¡¯t stop, no, I sink into it, and the light is blinding, and¡­


    Where the fuck am I?

 Chapter Two: Who are these guys and why am I not even human??

    I was in a room. That much was for sure. The three people mentioned were still staring at me intently. Or, well, the woman¡¯s gaze was shifting between me and something just above me, the young man was averting his gaze, only occasionally taking a peek at me with an appalled expression, and the old man¡­ well, I hadn¡¯t noticed it before, but the old man was actually doing something rather strange. His right hand was right up by his face, making an OK-sign, and he was excitedly looking through the hole, his other eye being shut closed. Hmm.


    Something was strange.


    From the hole in the OK-sign, I could somehow see something like an icicle, sticking out from the hole, having a vague purplish colour, thicker by the hand and thinner further out. H-, hey, isn¡¯t it almost touching me¡­??


    I could somewhat feel something, and so, using the will I had yet to cast away, I stretched out my hand towards the stalactite. I-, I think I can see myself, it¡¯s¡­


    It¡¯s blue? Light blue, thing, and almost transparent, much like¡­ that stalactite¡­


    What in the name of God am I?...


    Actually, don¡¯t answer that, I think it¡¯ll only make it worse. My arm-ish slowly extended towards the stalactite, my every little movement causing the old man to gasp in amazement, until, finally¡­


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    ...eh?


    The tip broke offfffff???


    -You have stolen 1 mana -


    Ehhhhh???


    What¡¯s that supposed to mean???????


    ¡°Astonishing!¡± the old man gasped, stumbling back as his right hand fell to his side. ¡°To think such a genius could be born in such a common household¡­ no offence to you, Mr. and Mrs. Woodsworth,¡± the old man said thoughtlessly. As he stared me down in¡­ astonishment, I think? That¡¯s what he said, anyways.


    ¡°None taken, master Tipdale,¡± the woman answered hesitantly. She slowly made up her mind before nervously saying: ¡°Well, Master Tipdale¡­ may I call you Henry?¡± ¡°Of course Mrs. Woodsworth,¡± ¡°Thank you, I-, I was just wondering, the orb¡­¡± ¡°The orb? Ah, yes. Of course, his orb. Don¡¯t worry, mutations such as this are common with genii such as him. I¡¯m sure there is no misconduct here to speak of, believe me,¡± he proudly answered, most likely quite happy to answer questions such as that.


    Question being¡­ orb?


    I can tell that I¡¯m probably not human, though I¡¯m certainly not sure of what I actually am, but¡­


    Actually, now that I look closely, all three of these people have a strange orb in the middle of their chest, around the size of their fist¡­


    The old man has a deep purple one, the woman has a dark blue one, like that of the depths of the sea, and the man has a transparent one. Not like white, just entirely transparent. And thanks to that fantastic transparency, I can easily see into his chest. Gross. I hate describing this, but there are various veins connected to the orb, pumping blood into and out of it constantly, as if it were an organ¡­ are these even humans?


    ¡°MUUUMMM JOHANNA HIT MEEE¡± a young lad shouted, bursting into the room through a nice oaken door, immediately capturing the attention of all present, including yours truly. ¡°George! What did I tell you about just barging in when we have important guests visiting??¡± the woman, most likely being his mother, shouted back at the kid. The kid looked disheartened and shamefull, but then again¡­ on his right cheek, he had a bruise, most likely from when Johanna hit him. He seemed very close to just breaking down and crying right on the spot. Poor kid.


    The woman uncaringly rolled her eyes and left to take care of George. ¡°Ah, right, Arthur?¡± ¡°yes, Henry?¡± ¡°What were you planning on naming him?¡± ¡°Allan,¡± Arthur finally said. His mouth was smiling, but his eyes weren¡¯t.


    I don¡¯t think I like where this is going.

 Chapter Three: Working Out cuz Apparently Thats a Thing?

    I didn¡¯t.


    Arthur took one, good, disgusted look at me, and turned back to Henry, told him it was a pleasure having him and that they should meet again some time. He had to get back to work. The fields wouldn¡¯t plow themselves. Once Henry had left, Arthur sat down beside me(?) with a soul-wrenching sigh. He glanced once at me before beginning to monologue.


    ¡°See, kid, I don¡¯t hate you. Allan. I just hate what you represent. You know what you represent, Allan? You represent eighteen years of misery. Eighteen years I just barely have. Eighteen years with a wife who must have slept with half the village and a kid ¡°genius¡± who doesn¡¯t even have my own colour. In fact, hating you would be a very stupid and amoral thing to do. You¡¯re just a kid. A baby. Not even a month old. I don¡¯t know whether we can keep you or not. But that¡¯s a question for another day. We¡¯ll see whether Marlene can sustain you or not,¡± he said solemnly before suddenly regaining his sense of anger. He gave me one last look, mainly dominated by anger and regret, yet a small trace of sorrow and love shone through like a single star on a blackened night.


    I¡¯m sure I should hate him, I mean, he did just tell me I may or may not be ¡°not sustained¡±, but, you know¡­ he just seemed so sad. It¡¯s hard to hate someone who regrets what they do.


    Wait. Gasp! Is this¡­ Stockholm Syndrome???


    Nonono. I shan¡¯t. This man shall be my enemy! He may be my father, but he will never escape my wrath!!


    ¡°G-, gaaa¡­¡±


    Wh-, what was that??


    ¡°Gaa.. Gaaaa!¡±


    A¡­ baby? Who, where, I-,


    Oh no.


    Please don¡¯t let this be what I think it is.


    ¡°Gaaaaaaaa!!¡±


    ...I¡¯m the orb of a baby, aren¡¯t I.


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    I may have denied it in my heart, but, most definitely, I am the orb of a baby. A baby named Allan. Da heck.


    Alright. Give me a sec. I¡¯m currently alone in this room(apart from Allan), nobody is here, only me and these chickens.


    Time to try some stuff out.


    I know I can do things, I did ¡°steal¡± a piece of that weird stalactite, so, I should be able to do more.


    Keyword being ¡°should¡±.


    I stretched out myself. I can move. That¡¯s good.


    ...what more can I do?


    I wonder. If I extend myself downwards¡­


    Can I pick up Allan?


    I barely wanna try, but¡­ here goes!


    I slowly extended myself downwards. Well, more like ¡°I-went-underneath-Allan-and-pushed-with-all-my-might¡±, and, well¡­ you remember I said I was weak as a chicken? Well¡­


    Allan went up. I lifted him around three centimetres into the air before¡­


    Phuha!


    ¡°Gaga!¡±


    He fell right on back.


    Luckily, he was laying on a pillow of hay, so he wasn¡¯t damaged, but¡­


    - due to exorcising, you have gained 1 mana -


    There it is again! A little row of text hanging in front of my face for three seconds while a mechanical voice tells me what is written! Perheaps¡­ could it possible be¡­


    Experience points?? Status?? Menu??


    Game stuff?????


    But why would that exist in a real life-, oh wait.


    So, if I understand that voice correctly, I gain ¡°mana¡± by either absorbing someone else¡¯s or by¡­ exercising?


    Well well well. It would seem that the ultimate weakling may yet grow strong!


    I hope.


    Well¡­ since I¡¯ve got who knows how much time to do nothing¡­


    Let¡¯s work out!


    Man, this is going to be nostalgic!


    And so, for and hour and a half(or so) when nobody seemed to care about of for Allan in the least, I used him for rigerous training! Lifting his body up and down as if doing push-ups! Lifting his legs, excersicing not only myself but him as well! I found a little stick in the crib, most likely meant to be used as a plaything, and lifted it up and down like a dumbell. All and all, during the whole excersise, I gained 12 mana(meaning I have around 14 in total, then?) and, believe it, 3 exp!!


    I¡¯m not sure how exp works and if I¡¯ll gain a level when I get god knows how many, but I think it¡¯s safe to say that I¡¯ve gained quite a lot during this hour and a half or so!


    What interrupted my work-out-session? Well, the mother, Magdelene? Marlene? Anyhow, she burst in, tears in her eyes and cheeks flushed, and ripped Allan from the crib. He was startled awake from a nap and was just about to cry as if god was dead and we had killed him when she shoved her breast in his face.


    Silence.


    ...I¡¯m not going to describe any more¡­


    Five minutes later, she puts him on her shoulder, pats his back(he burped), and sets him back down.


    - Status buff: fullness achieved; Effects: Calm Lv.1, Increased Exp Lv.1, Agility -2p, Drowsiness Lv.2 -


    Whoa.


    I see.


    Very interesting.


    Allan bubbled happily before almost immediately falling asleep once more.


    Sc-, scary!


    What a powerful buff!


    Marlene looked at me(us) with great pity before quickly leaving the room. Now I could hear how she walked down a flight of steps. Are we in an attic?...


    Well, I guess¡­


    Back to training!

 Chapter Four: Training Really Pays off, Eh?

    ...Hey, isn¡¯t anybody going to take care of Allen¡­?


    Hasn¡¯t it been like, two hours or something??


    He¡¯s still sleeping, but when he wakes up I¡¯m sure he¡¯s going to be really, really hungry¡­


    I¡¯ve been training, as usual, and I¡¯ve gotten quite a lot more mana, but it seems I hit a wall when I got to 20 mana¡­


    What really astonishes me is my size though.


    Why would I be astonished about my size, you say?


    Well, at first it was pretty normal. I steadily grew stronger and bigger, eventually getting so big I could even reach all the way to the door(and I got to confirm that I can, in fact, interact with larger objects, it¡¯s just pretty hard. Hard as in ¡°I can¡¯t open the door send help¡±. Help.


    I tried knocking, but nobody answered¡­


    As for my size, well¡­


    Now that I¡¯m at 20 mana(I think?) I¡¯m large enough to see myself, sorta. I can see him. Allan.


    He¡¯s a very cute child.


    Bubbly and rosy and healthy. And on his chubby little chest, there is a bright blue orb, the colour of the sky, with little fluffy clouds, and a little dark-blue wisp-like thing swimming about. If the orbs of those three who were in here before were glass marbles, then this was one of those fancy glass marbles with layers of colourful glass, shaped by a master.


    ...It totally looks like she cheated.


    This better not cause me any trouble down the road. I¡¯d hate to see this innocent kid become, well¡­


    Like me.


    That¡¯d be a true shame.


    Ah, but enough with the doom and gloom!


    If I were to almost entirely separate myself from Allan(I can¡¯t entirely separate me for whatever reason) I can form an entire adult person! Made out of mana, that is. It¡¯s like playing with clay. Really, quite fun.


    It is in this semi-human form that I gently picked up Allan from his crib(I¡¯m powerful enough to easily lift him now, fu-fu-fu¡­) and rocked him back and forth all gentle like. As long as he sleeps, he¡¯ll be content enough.


    So there I stood, rocking Allan back and forth, watching the settling rays of the summer-sun fade into the distance from the one window in the room. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    That¡¯s when it happened.


    Slowly, but surely, the door behind me was opened, and a feminine face peeked in.


    Startled, I almost dropped Allan, but some fatherly sense of obligation in me must have kept that horrid destiny from coming to fruition, and instead I quickly, but gently, placed him back in the crib.


    Turning around, my gaze was met with the surprised, horrified and somewhat amazed face of Marlene, Allan¡¯s mother, most likely back to feed him once more.


    ¡°You-, I¡­¡±


    I didn¡¯t do anything!!


    Talk to my lawyer!!!


    However, before I could defend myself with even more infallible arguments and undeniable proof, she quickly walked RIGHT THROUGH ME and to Allan, cautiously picking him up from his crib and holding him tightly in her arms.


    Her horrid, distraught eyes quickly scanned the room, looking for something, anything, to flee from. But she was met with nothing. Nothing except my transparent, invisible form, staring at her in bewilderment and distress.


    What am I, a ghost?


    Marlene took a deep breath and sighed.


    She was just about to start breastfeeding Allan once more when a thought seemed to hit her. Violently.


    Startled, her eyes went wide and she swallowed audibly. Shivering, she carefully placed Allan in his crib before making that OK-sign that that old man¡­ Henry, right? Well, the sign that he had used. She placed the hole before her eye and closed the other. I could see how the little mana she had(very little, less than even me) moved and writhed, trying desperately to form into a stalactite like the one Henry had made. Eventually, it formed just enough, it would seem. It was a decimetre or so long and very blunt, being more of a long cylinder than a stalactite.


    But it was enough.


    When she pointed the strange created at me, she gasped loudly and faltered, falling to the floor with a loud thud.


    Following my natural instincts as a human, I lunged forwards, extending my hand for her to grasp so I could lift her back up.


    Of course, when she had fallen, she had stopped making the OK-sign, so she couldn¡¯t see me.


    She made a terrified noise(something like ¡°hiiii!...) and crawled backwards before turning around, going on all fours, getting up, and, finally, storming down the stairs.


    The door was wide open.


    My, oh my.


    Hesitantly, I followed.


    I didn¡¯t bring Allan since that would just confirm her fears, even though that meant that my ¡°main body¡± would gradually become smaller as I went downstairs, but¡­


    It was worth it.


    Down we go, to adventure abounds!


    When I went down the stairs, I was first met with what I would call a storage room. There were a couple of old, dusty tools laying around, some of which I could not even name, others I could at least recognize.


    There were two doors. One going to the right, the other to the left.


    I¡¯m sure there¡¯s supposed to be some saying about whether to always pick right or left, but I don¡¯t remember any of that, so I just followed my gut and went left.


    Remember I said a while ago that I couldn¡¯t open doors since I was too weak?


    That has changed.


    It took far more power than I had expected, but with ten seconds of constant pushing and groaning, it opened!


    ...then I realized that if she could pass through me undisturbed, I could probably pass through doors no problem¡­


    God, I¡¯m stupid.


    ...This must be the kitchen, right?


    There was an open fire which probably served as a stove, two large wooden tables, strangely enough a double bed in a corner, and a door-frame through which you could enter another part of the house.


    ...this is probably not a modern house.


    Medieval? Probably.


    Other-worldly? Definitely.


    Just as I thought that, a kid happily ran through said door-frame, laughing happily and with a gleeful gait to his step, wearing nothing but what he was born with.


    Good grief.


    Following closely, Arthur ran with a huge grin on his face, his arms and hands in that classic ¡°I¡¯m going to tickle you to death, child¡± posture. He was naked as well. How shameless.


    Eventually, he caught the kid, tickling them savigaly before raising them into the air, proudly shouting, ¡°TIME FOR A BATH RICHIE¡± to which the child had trouble whether to A, happily laugh and giggle or B, stubbornly protest. It went with A.


    Arthur, still holding the child high above his head, quickly re-exited the building, walking out into the summer sun.


    I followed.

 Chapter Five: Getting Some Milk for Allan

    Or, I would have, had my mana not been stretched so thin I was basically just a floating piece of string.


    It hurt a bit.


    It felt as if, were I to stretch just a bit, I¡¯d metaphorically dislocate myself from Allan, which probably isn¡¯t a very good idea.


    However, looking outside¡­


    I almost felt tempted to try and stretch further anyways.


    The golden sun was just about to set beyond a blue horizon of water(this place must be right beside a lake or something) and Arthur, along with Marlene and¡­ a dussin or so kids of all sizes and ages, were all entirely naked, swimming about in the water and splashing each-other.


    Looks pleasant.


    Wait just a moment!


    A dussin or so kids??


    What was that melodramatic ¡°Marlene might not be able to sustain you¡± speech about then??


    This is¡­


    This is just the sort of happy family Allan should grow up in.


    I¡¯m going to do everything I can to make that a re-,


    ¡°GAAAAAAAAAAA-¡±


    I almost instantly used the tension my body had already built up to pretty much slingshot myself back into the room where Allan was.


    Shhhhh, don¡¯t cry Allan, mommy¡¯s sure to come feed you soon¡­


    ¡°GAAAAAAAAAAAAA-¡±


    I hate doing this since I really don¡¯t want Marlene to find me again, but¡­


    I gently rocked Allan back and forth in my arms.


    But he kept crying.


    I nervously placed him back in his crib.


    Come on Marlene, your kid is crying for god¡¯s sake!


    WIth speed I had no idea I could muster, I returned back to the door leading down to the lake/sea to see if Marlene even cared.


    She didn¡¯t.


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    She was occupied with some other kid, 5-6 years old by the looks of it, who desperately didn¡¯t want to wash her long, brown hair.


    M-, Marlene! Hey!!


    ¡°G-, gaa¡­¡±


    Allan gave out a final, defeated scream before giving up entirely on getting his mother¡¯s attention.


    Th-, that isn¡¯t the normal reaction, right?


    He should be crying as if hell broke loose, right?


    Allan¡­


    You poor, poor kid¡­


    Well, if she won¡¯t give you anything to eat, perhaps I can?


    I soundly retreated from the doorway and back into the dining area.


    Let¡¯s see¡­ cupboard, cupboard¡­


    There!


    Cautiously opening a mysterious door, I found a small room filled with wares of all kinds.


    Dry sausages hung from the ceiling along with dried and salted meats, on the many shelves along the walls were countless rows of pickled goods, including pickled herrings, various vegetables and preserved foods of all kinds.


    The star of the show being the two glass jugs filled with milk.


    Great! Good good!


    I snatched one of the jugs from the shelf, hoping desperately it wouldn¡¯t be missed, and immediately returned to Allans room.


    Waitaminute.


    Houston, we have a problem.


    Problem one: I think Allan wants his milk warm.


    Problem two: I don¡¯t really have a bottle for him to suckle on, so¡­


    Solutions?


    Well, I think I know how to solve the first one, but it¡¯s going to be a doozy¡­


    Heat is mostly like, friction, right?


    So, if I were to rub the jug intensely¡­


    It would heat up, right?


    Well, no point in dilly-dallying about, let¡¯s give this a try!


    Rub rub rub.


    Rub rub rub rub rub rub rub.


    Rubrubrubrubrubrurburbrubrurburbrubrurburburbrubrurburbrurbubrubrub.


    ¡­


    I don¡¯t think this is helping, do you, Allan?


    Allan looked at me with big, blue eyes.


    I gotcha, I gotcha.


    Alright.


    How about this.


    I think the reason it isn¡¯t working isn¡¯t because I rub too little, but instead because I just don¡¯t have any inherent warmth? Like body-heat?


    So, the idea is that, since I am a sort of intangible, phantom-ish creature(I don¡¯t know either), I should be able to, instead of simply rubbing the jug, actually make my molecules, like, move faster?...


    I have no idea, but it can¡¯t hurt to try?


    This¡­


    This is hard.


    And wierd.


    But I think it might be working?


    My otherwise slightly blue-tinged body became slightly reddish as I exerted myself to the movements, and when I held the bottle, I could definitely feel it growing warmer. I have no idea how I could register heat since I¡¯m pretty much a gas, but¡­ I did it. Somehow.


    Now, onto problem two¡­


    Well, since I¡¯ve now got confirmation that not only am I noticeably in-human, I am also more of a gas. So, I don¡¯t necessarily have to have this human form¡­


    Couldn¡¯t I just make a bottle out of¡­ myself?...


    Gosh, that sounds weird, but¡­


    Yup.


    Could work.


    Only one way to try out.


    ¡­


    This is¡­


    Surprisingly hard¡­


    Taking a human form was easy, but this is like¡­


    Twisting my body out of its natural shape and into something strange¡­


    But, on the other hand, I think it just might be working¡­


    Just gotta create the general shape¡­


    The hard part is the cavity inside, but¡­


    I think I did it.


    Now, all I have to do is pour the heated milk inside the container and feed it to Allan.


    Easy peasy lemon squeezy.


    Hey.


    Allan.


    Wakey wakey.


    Come on.


    Poke poke.


    ¡°Gu gu?...¡±


    Theeere you aaaare¡­


    I gently put the nozzle of the bottle into his surprised little mouth and he immediately started suckling.


    This.


    This is extremely weird.


    I don¡¯t like how this feels.


    But I have no choice!


    Come on Allan!


    You can do it!!


    Five minutes and one bottle refill later and Allan is fast asleep.


    What a sweet child.

 Chapter Six: The Revolutionary Forces of West Pralleria

    Day quickly turned to night. Nobody visited Allan, so I was left to caring for him, feeding him some more milk, exercising with him (he really liked moving about and would laugh his bubbly little laugh whenever he got the chance to crawl about) and exercising myself as well, until¡­


    - You have gained 1 exp. Exp has hit 10/10, you have leveled up to Lv.2. Mana storage has increased from 10(+10) to 20(+20). 20 exp required to level up. -


    Oho? Ohohohoho?


    I quickly set down the happily giggling Allan, grinning to myself.


    I knew this would come. Huheuheuhe.


    Allan didn¡¯t really understand why I was so happy, but he chimed in with a ¡°kukukuku¡­¡±


    Hey, what¡¯s with that spooky laughter??


    Babies don¡¯t laugh like that???


    Ahhh, anyhow!


    I no longer hear any activity downstairs, so I¡¯m going to guess everybody¡¯s gone to sleep. Nighttime¡­ prime time to snoop!


    I¡¯m feeling kinda tired, guess even mana has to sleep, but¡­


    Gotta take a look around first!


    I try out what I¡¯ve been waiting to do for a long time.


    Marlene could see me if she really tried, and I don¡¯t want that, so¡­


    I gently float/disappear through the floor and into the storage room below.


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    ¡°Ga!?¡±


    Oh, right, I don¡¯t know how or why, but Allan can see me, which is good since he doesn¡¯t get surprised when I disappear, but¡­


    ¡°...uu¡­¡±


    I¡¯d really like it if he didn¡¯t cry!


    Popping up my head through the ceiling, I wave slightly to Allan, who immediately stops crying and instead starts laughing and clapping his clubby little hands.


    Good, good¡­


    Alright you just sit there real tight, alright?


    Reeeaaaal, tigggghhhtt¡­


    Slowly, I removed myself from the room, Allan giggled slightly before promptly falling asleep. I¡¯ve never seen such a lazy baby but for the moment, it¡¯s good news.


    Let¡¯s see what¡¯s beyond this wall-, huh?


    I peeked into the room right behind the stairs, hoping to find something interesting, and, well¡­


    That I sure did.


    Unlike the other rooms in the house, this room was fairly well maintained, various red cloths hanging on the walls all fancy-like. In the middle of the rather large room was a round table of dark, gorgeous oak. There was a red cloth laying on it that must have been velvet or some other fancy material.


    Now that I look closer, all the red cloths had a peculiar golden crest engraven on them. It looked like a three-pointed star, and it had what looked like a golden olive-branch below it, along with a scissor almost cutting said olive-branch in two.


    Looked very¡­ ¡°political-organization-ish¡±...


    Everything looked very fancy.


    Around the round table were thirteen men and women in fancy suits and dresses.One of them was Arthur.


    There was a clamour of sorts in the room, and it really felt as if everybody was murmuring, that is, until Arthur cleared his throat and stood up.


    I barely recognized him.


    He was wearing a military-looking uniform in black and red, as well as a cap of the same colours. His chest was jeweled with countless golden medals with designs I had never seen before. Most of them included either the olive-branch being cut or the three-pointed star.


    All and all, he looked like an extremely high-ranking officer of the military. Or something.


    ¡°Honored ladies and gentlemen, it is my humble privilege to welcome you all to this evening''s meeting of the Revolutionary Forces of Pralleria. As the chairman of the west branch of this glorious organization, Arthur Woodsworth, I bid thee welcome. (here he nodded to a woman sitting placidly beside him who certainly wasn¡¯t Marlene) The first issue on today¡¯s agenda is the recent marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lillywhite!¡±


    The whole party stood up to give a courteous hand to the newlyweds, who both blushed and smiled.


    Wh-, what is this?...


    ¡°Now, as for the matter of my son, whom I introduce to you all yesterday¡­ as it turns out, he may very well be a genius. Isn¡¯t that right, Henry?¡± Arthur said, turning his gaze to Henry, who was sitting to the left of him, wearing more common evening-wear(a top-hat, monocle, long-coat and carrying a staff), who nodded as a reply.


    ¡°After a long day of thinking, I have decided that weather or not my wife Marlene agrees or not, he must be kept as a valuable future asset for the Revolutionary Forces,¡± Arthur said with great conviction. The listeners clapped excitedly.


    I think this is quite enough for today. This is really¡­ quite overwhelming.


    ¡°But if we can¡¯t use him, we must kill him,¡± Arthur added just as I floated through the wall. Henry nodded solemnly.


    But as I returned to Allans room¡­


    Eh?


    Where¡¯s Allan?

 Chapter Seven: Allans Kidnapping

    Allan? Allan where did you go?


    Did you get out of your crib?


    No, but the crib is still upright, and I can¡¯t see him at all¡­


    Wait, wait.


    Looking behind me I noticed the tail-like thin extension of my body that connected to Allan was going straight out the door.


    A-, Allan?


    Oh please god don¡¯t say he fell down the stairs.


    I wasn¡¯t sure whether I hurried or slowly sneaked down the stairs, my mind was in such disarray, but when I got down¡­


    The line was going outside. Through the kitchen.


    ¡­


    It was so dark.


    There wasn¡¯t a single light to see anything by.


    Well, if there is no light, can¡¯t I just¡­


    Make one myself?


    I did what I did before, with speeding up my molecules even more, and lo and behold¡­


    A little fire.


    A little sky-blue fire, burning brightly.


    Argh, hot!


    - Due to transmutation into plasma, you will now love 1 mana per second. If you lose all mana, you will dissaperate and cannot reform for an hour. -


    Wh-, what?


    Turn that off!


    With some thought and effort, the little fire was put out, and in the end, I only lost around four mana. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Huuu¡­


    What a waste¡­


    Ah! Allan!!


    Light or not, I hurried out and into the darkness.


    Following the thread of mana extending from my behind, I made my was into what I could only barely understand as being a forest.


    A pitch-black, damp, thick forest.


    I could barely see anything, but, then again¡­


    What in the hell could attack a being made of pure mana like myself?


    ¡°Chiee!¡±


    It would seem my prayers have been answered.


    Before me, a small, rat-like creature stood valiantly on all fours, hissing loudly and threateningly at me.


    Or, it would be a rat, if it wasn¡¯t so obviously¡­ strange.


    On the end of its very long tail, a small, white orb shined brightly in the darkness, allowing me to see what the heck was going on.


    Its white eyes shined menacingly as it pounced at me.


    Hey, this thing can¡¯t be seri-, ouch! Hey! No biting!!


    ¡°Chieieieieieiei!!¡±


    The rat exclaimed as it chewed stubbornly at my left arm.


    - Will ¡®o wisp has attacked you, stealing 3 mana. -


    Whaaaaat??!


    Goddamnit, fuck, gotta, fuckn...


    Pow!


    ¡°Chieeee!!¡±


    The rat squealed as it fell. Yup. I punched it.


    Hey, why do you think I exercised if not to punch magical rats?


    The rat, apparently called a will ¡®o wisp, weakliy got back up, swinging back and forth in pain and, probably, frustration.


    Hm.


    That is a light¡­


    The rat turned around, preparing to escape a powerfull enemy that could utterly destroy it in another punch, but before it did, I grabbed the glowing tail with vigor.


    ¡°Chieheiehieheie!?!¡±


    Gotcha!


    I easily changed my grip so that I held it by its belly, making sure that the tail was undamaged.


    Alright. How do you¡­


    Pop.


    ¡°CHIEEEEEEEEEE¡±


    It squealed a stomach-churning squeal before it went limp in my hand, dead.


    Wait.


    What?


    It¡¯s just playing dead, right?


    Hey.


    You¡¯re not dead, right?


    Shake shake shake.


    ¡­


    Well, as long as I got the, hey!


    The little glowing thing at the end of the tail started fading out.


    Nooooo! Don¡¯ttttt!!!


    - You have absorbed 11 mana from Will ¡®o wisp. You have killed Will ¡®o wisp and thus gained 7 exp. -


    That¡¯s great and all, but I needed the lighttttttt!


    Ah!


    Allan!!


    God fuck-, you better be alright-,


    It wouldn¡¯t be an understatement to say that the forest was a maze of sorts.


    Stumbling, I only just barely were able to follow my own tail, worry growing inside my chest with every step.


    Finally, after five minutes or so, I came to a little clearing in the middle of the woods.


    The moon had finally come out, shining brightly down in the middle of the clearing.


    The clearing was mainly composed of a small hill, covered with beautiful white flowers.


    And on the very top of the hill, I could see something small and moving and slightly snoring.


    A-, Allan!?


    I ran with great haste, finally falling to my knees in front of him.


    His face was so bubbly and rosy.


    I barely even noticed the little rustle of the bushes as Marlene took her leave, leaving her child to die exactly where she had left the previous two. The animals, magical or not, would come and take care of it. She didn¡¯t even have to wake him up.


    A-, Allan¡­


    A cold wind blew through the clearing, causing Allan to stir and squirm in his little woolen covering.


    I need to get him back home.

 Chapter Eight: Lost in the Woods

    ¡­


    I don¡¯t know where I am¡­


    Hell, I can¡¯t even remember which way I came from!


    Allan¡­


    You poor, poor child.


    I gently picked him up in my non-material arms, and chose a direction at random.


    North(?) it is.


    ¡­


    ¡­..


    ¡­¡­¡­


    ¡°Guu?...¡±


    Shhh, don¡¯t worry Allan, we¡¯ve only been wandering around the impenetrable darkness for an hour or so, I¡¯m sure we can get back home soon.


    ¡°Gu.¡±


    His little blue eyes moved left and right, peering into the black night.


    ¡°Gu?!¡±


    Ssshshshhshhhhh¡­!!


    I know it¡¯s super spooky and dark and cold but don¡¯t worry I¡¯ll keep you warm and cozy for as long as I can Ally!


    ¡°Gu¡­¡±


    D-, don¡¯t look at me like that!


    I didn¡¯t do this!


    A-, anyhow! We must almost be the-,


    *Shuffle*


    Hii!!


    I clutched onto Allan, who didn¡¯t make a sound in response to the rustling of the bushes.


    ¡°Chihiihihi¡­¡±


    Wh-, what was that?...


    Are-, are those eyes¡­?


    From within the bushes, a thousand little red eyes peeked out.


    At me.


    And Allan.


    Oh fuck.


    ¡°CHIHIHEIEHEIHEIEHIEHEIHEIEHI¡±


    ¡°CHIHEIEHIEHEIEHIEHIEHEIHEIHEIHEHEIHEIEH¡±


    ¡°CHIHEIHIEHIEH¡±


    ¡°CHIHIEHIEHEIHEIEHIHEIEHE¡±


    Oh god oh fuck that¡¯s a lot.


    You remember that rat-thing I killed earlier?


    There¡¯s a bunch of them.


    Like, fifty.


    At least.


    Can they turn off their glow or something?...


    I have no idea, but¡­


    I need to protect Allan.


    This is going to be-,If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Chie!¡±


    - You have lost 1 mana. -


    Ouch fuck!


    One of the rats fucking bit me!


    I¡¯m¡­ not going to die here, right?


    This kids life hangs on me!


    We¡¯re not going down like this!!


    But, then, ho-,


    ¡°Chieheie!!¡±


    - You have lost 1 mana. -


    Argh!


    Alright, fuck, uh, this is going to hurt even more, but¡­


    Arg-,


    - Due to transmutation into plasma, you will now lose 1 mana per second. You have a total of 21/40 mana. -


    Come here you piece of fucking shit I¡¯ll burn you alive


    ¡°Chie¡­¡±


    Ah! Don¡¯t retreat on me! Come on man!


    It¡¯s just fire!


    Lunging at the little hairball, I pressed my one burning finger into its fluffy little belly, which immediately caught on fire.


    Ooo, nice and hot.


    ¡°CHIEEEEEEEEEEEE-¡±


    The little piece of furry shit ran in circles for a second before runnings away into the darkness, most likely never to be seen again.


    The rest of the rats stared at me blankly.


    Come on, I got plenty of mana to burn¡­!!


    ¡°.......¡±


    - You have gained 6 mana and 4 exp for defeating a Will ¡®o Wisp. -


    Niceeeee, now fucking get over here


    ¡°Ch-, CHIEEEEEE!!¡±


    A rat lunged at me, shrieking like hell all the while.


    Yeah, just come and get i-,


    ¡°Guu?...¡±


    OH FUCK ALLAN


    Using my burning left hand, which wasn¡¯t clutching Allan, I attempted to grab the rat from the air.


    It must have been an acrobat of sort, since it twisted in the air, clutching onto my arm instead of being caught in my burning hand.


    ¡°Chiehiehie!¡±


    - You have lost 1 mana. -


    Fuck!


    This is gonna hurt, but fuck it, I gotta set fire to my arm!


    I could probably get entirely intangible so they would go through me, but then they would probably attack Allen, which is just wo-,


    - You have lost 1 mana. -


    Ow fuck okay!


    My entire arm burst into flames, causing the little shit to screetch loudly before falling to the ground in agony.


    - You are now losing 5 mana per second due to the size. -


    Fuck shit put it out!


    - You are now losing 1 mana per second. You have 12/40 mana left. -


    FuuuuUUUUCk


    ¡°CHIIEeeeeee-...¡±


    - You have gained 6 mana from defeating a Will ¡®o wisp. -


    Alright! Fuck! Get over here!!


    Can I?...


    If they won¡¯t come to me, can¡¯t I just¡­


    Extend my burning finger to them??


    Hehe.


    Hehehehehe.


    HEHHEHEHEHEHHEHEH


    FUCKING DIIIEEEEEEEEE


    ¡°Ch-, CHIEEEEEEE-,¡±


    ¡°Chi-chi-CHIEEEE¡±


    ¡°CHIIIEEEE OWWW FUCKKK CHIEEEEEEEEEE¡±


    ¡°CHIEEEE¡±


    HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAA


    - You have gained 5 mana and 3 exp from defeating a Will ¡®o wisp. -


    - You have gained 6 mana and 2 exp from defeating a Will ¡®o wisp. -


    - You have gained 3 mana and 4 exp from defeating a Will ¡®o wisp. -


    - You have gained 7 mana and 2 exp from defeating a Will ¡®o wisp. -


    - You now have 33/40 mana and 21/40 exp. -


    HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH BURRNNNNNNNNN


    HAHHAHAHAHAHA-, wait.


    Where did they go?


    Look to the left, nothing.


    Look to the right, nothing.


    Eh?...


    GAH-,


    - You have received magical damage from the Light Strike(lv.2) spell. You have lost 6 mana. -


    Whaaaaatttt???


    I spin around to where the blast came from.


    Is-, is that?...


    A tiny pyramid of rats.


    Ten rats stood on eachother, their individual manas forming into one.


    The one at the very top was standing on its hind legs, arms in the air, tail and glowing ball high above its head.


    M-, mage?!


    ¡°Chiechierrma chierraroro chieie chiorma¡­¡±


    The mage mumbled some spell(maye??), making the eyes of the other rats light up, and say:


    ¡°¡±¡°Chieronomo!!¡±¡±¡±


    All in unison, as light started gathering in the glowing ball.


    Th-, this is?!?


    The light shot out in a beam, and if I hadn¡¯t already been shielding me and Allan, it would definitely have hit me.


    - You have received magical damage from the Light Strike(lv.2) spell. You have lost 4 mana. -


    Ow fuck!!


    Shit!


    Take my flaming vengeance, heRATic!!


    ¡°Chie!?¡±


    Flame spilled out of my hand, knocking the tower of Ratylon right on over, and as the flaming construction crumbled in flames, the mage looked up at me, stating:


    ¡°Chie, chiehie, chiehie chi. Chie!¡±


    Ch-, chie.


    I see.


    - You have gained 32 mana and 12 exp from defeating 9 Will ¡®o whispers. -


    - You have gained 17 mana and 6 exp from defeating Willy. You now have 40/40 mana and 39/40 exp. -


    ...Willy¡­


    You were a great foe.


    ¡°Chie¡­¡±


    Chiehie¡­¡±


    I could hear squeaks all around me.


    From every bush and every tree and every little corner between the roots of trees, a squeak could he heard and a pair of read eyes gleamed.


    ¡°Chiechiechiechiechiehciechiehciechiechiechiechiehciechiechiehciehicceichiehchichichcehecicehcheichiccihceichichichichcihichcihcihcihcichecihceichechicehehciehcihehhceechcihi¡­.¡±


    ¡­


    That is¡­ extremely worrying.


    ¡°CHIEEEEEEEE¡±


    One rat squealed loudly, lunging at me from the top of a tree.


    Aha! Time to bu-,


    Oh


    Fuck


    All the rats just lounged.


    At least twenty or thirty of them.


    I didn¡¯t even had time to thing before I cradled Allan in my arms, and set my whole body ablaze in a glorious, single blast of magical fire and fury. I couldn¡¯t even hear the dying shrieks of the endless charred rats before I had used up all my mana and the world went dark.


    As I hoped to god Allan survived, I heard messages popping up in the back of my head.


    - You have gained 4 mana and 2 exp from defeating a Will ¡®o wisp. Exp has hit 40/40, you have leveled up to Lv.3. Mana storage has increased from 20(+20) to 30(+30). 60 exp required to level up. -


    - You have gained 5 mana and 3 exp from defeating a Will ¡®o wisp. -


    - You have gained 6 mana and 2 exp from defeating a Will ¡®o wisp. -


    - You have gained 3 mana and 4 exp from defeating a Will ¡®o wisp. -


    - You have gained 7 mana and 2 exp from defeating a Will ¡®o wi...


    - You have gained 3 mana and 1 exp from defeating a Wi...


    - You have gained 8 mana and 3 exp from defeati...


    - You have gained 4 mana and 2 exp fro...


    - You have gained 7 mana and¡­


    - You have gained 9...


    - You have...


    - Yo...


    ...

 Chapter Nine: I Overslept

    ¡­


    Zzzzzzzz¡­


    Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz¡­


    ¡°Wake up!¡±


    Zzzzz¡­!?!


    Wh-, wha-, I-, uh-...


    I must have fallen asleep.


    What did I miss?


    ¡°Young child, what did I tell you about falling asleep whilst meditating?¡±


    ¡°Uhh¡­¡±


    Uhm


    ¡°¡®You must always be ready to make a couple of sacrifices for the sake of the betterment of all?¡¯¡±


    ¡°No! In order for you to finally unlock your dormant mana, you simply must meditate, and falling asleep whilst doing that will-, wait a minute.¡±


    Who is this old lady?


    Why do I feel so¡­ small?


    Where am I??


    The old lady mentioned, standing a meter or so from me, looked me up and down suspiciously. She was wearing a long, black robe and she had her thin, white hair in a bun. Her wrinkled ears(pointed??) were decked with all sorts of fancy jewlery, mostly crystals.


    Her suspicion must have had some good reason, since she did that OK-sign before her face.


    Whoa.


    Unlike Allan¡¯s mother or that Henry fellow, this stalactite was formed imidietly, with razor-sharp precision. If she leaned just a little bit closer, she would definately prick my eye out.


    ¡°...indeed¡­ I¡¯d be damned! After eleven years of lazily studying under me with no interest in magic whatsoever, you have somehow gained a single mana! I¡¯m not proud in the least, but I am flabbergasted at how such an unkept and insolent pupil such as yourself could even gain one! And in your sleep, nonetheless!¡±


    ¡°...Is that praise or criticism, Mistress Cromwell?If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°Both and neither. Now, since you¡¯ve finally unlocked your mana, how abo-,¡±


    Sneaky Henry manuever!


    - You stole 21 mana. -


    Huehuehueuheuhe.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...what¡¯s the problem, cat got your tounge, Mistress Cromwell?¡±


    Hehe¡­ wait, was this a bad idea?


    Now that I look closely, her mana is just¡­


    Why is it so dark?


    And how come I got 21 mana from a little stalactite!?


    ¡°...Did you do something, Andrew?¡±


    ¡°I thought you, if anybody, would know that I have absolutely no controll over my mana. I can¡¯t even feel it! Haha!¡±


    Andrew?...


    Wait.


    Hold up.


    Alright, I got some mana, I should be able to¡­


    It took some gargantual effort, but after just a few seconds, I had successfully reformed my humanoid shape.


    It is as I thought.


    The where: in the middle of a beautifull meadow.


    The who: an old lady dressed in not just a normal robe, but a coal-black one adorned with countless black jewels. The chest part was open in a V-shape, allowing one to see the orb within. It was black. She must really like black. In front of her, a young child of maybe ten or eleven or so sat with his legs crossed. His hair was short and blonde, and his eyes were a heavenly blue. He was so fair it was kind of strange for him to sit with both arms and legs crossed rebelliously. As for his clothes, we was wearing a robe as well, however, this one was white, adorned with two or three blue gems. This one was also open in the chest area with a V-shape, and the orb was¡­ a heavenly blue, with little clouds and a dark-blue wisp-like thing swimming inside.


    A-, Allan!?


    How did this happen?!?


    Why are you so old?!?!


    Why didn¡¯t I wake up!!?!?!?!?


    Allan!...


    I couldn¡¯t help myself.


    I tightly embraced Allan, hugging him close.


    I may not have been able to see his face, but I have a feeling he was in extreme dismay.


    I could see that ¡°Mistress Cromwell¡± fella though.


    Her hand was up and in the OK-sign shape before even a second had passed.


    ¡°My!¡±


    ¡°M-, Mistress Cromwell, what is it?!¡±


    ¡°Give me a second, child. - Analyze -¡±


    Hm? What¡¯s that? Why did the mana she¡¯s peeking through start to glow?


    ¡°My, oh my.¡±


    ¡°Wh-, what is it?!¡±


    ¡°Well, if I were to look at you, I would see Lv.4, 0/0 mana, Physical Strength 36, Agility 47 etc, but if I were to look at your orb¡­¡±


    ¡°Y-, yes?!¡±


    What in the-


    ¡°It would say Lv. 7, Mana 22/140, Magical Strength 98, Spells: Transmutation Lv.2, Telekinesis Lv.7, and the like. Nothing at all about strength.¡±


    ¡°What does that-,¡±


    ¡°It means that this orb is a being of its own.¡±


    ¡°Whaaaaatttt!?!¡±


    Well, I already knew that, but Lv.7!?!?!?


    How did this happen!?


    Wait.


    What¡¯s the last thing I remember?


    Well, I was being attacked by those rats, and I went out in a burst of flames, and I got a bunch of messages, and¡­


    Whoa!


    I must have leveled up quite a bit!!


    ...But why didn¡¯t I wake up earlier?...


    Didn¡¯t that message earlier say that I would return to being one hour after dissappearing?...


    - Due to the effects of Pillar of the World Lv.X, this was impossible. -


    Wha-, what¡¯s that skill??


    - ...It¡¯s a skill that causes the following effect: Mana Drain Lv.7(7/1 sec)(increases according to main Level). Your current Mana Regeneration per/sec is 7/1 sec. -


    So you¡¯re telling me my mana regeneration is entirely nullifieddddd??????


    - yes. -


    Well shit then


    Guess I¡¯ll just-,


    ¡°H-, How can that be?! Isn¡¯t the orb just the soul in a crystalized form!?!¡±


    ¡°I see you¡¯ve at least studied well. Indeed, the orb is the soul.¡±


    ¡°Th-, then if this isn¡¯t mine, then¡­ whose is it?...¡±


    Mine. It¡¯s my soul.


    Sorry.

 Chapter Ten: Time to Catch Up a Bit

    ¡°Well, whoever it is, they must love you immensely.¡±


    ¡°E-, eh?...¡±


    He gasped, blushing.


    I hope he isn¡¯t thinking something weird.


    ¡°Is-... is it a girl!?¡±


    ¡°I seriously doubt that.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Don¡¯t make that face.


    It¡¯s not what it looks like.


    I waved my hand dissmissivly.


    ¡°Oho. Well well well. Mr. Soulio. What¡¯s your name?¡±


    Name? Well, of course, it¡¯s Magnus Karlsson.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡­


    Oh, right, you can¡¯t hear me.


    Silly me.


    I shook my head exaggeratidly to make sure she could see she couldn¡¯t hear me.


    ¡°Oh, right. Wait right here.¡±


    She quickly left, leaving me and Allan alone.


    ¡°U-, uhm, Mistress?...¡±


    Why do you look so tense, Ally?


    Here, let me massage your stiff shoulders.


    Oh! How muscular!


    ¡°Hiii!!...¡±


    Don¡¯t make girly sounds, now.


    ¡°Pl-, please, whoever you are, let me retain my chastity-¡±


    Now, what¡¯s that supposed to mean?!


    I should slap you for saying such things, humpf!


    But I won¡¯t, since hitting children is illegal(in most countries).


    But oh, alright, I¡¯ll sto-,


    ¡°Alright, now, what¡¯s your name fella?¡±


    ¡°Mistress Cromwell¡± came right around the corner, carrying a little jewel-adorned horn.


    Geez, why is everything here covered with jewels?


    ¡°It¡¯s so mana can flow through them freely, Mr. Spookster, and not dissipate into the air.¡±


    H-, huh!? You can hear me?!?!


    She was holding the horn up to her ear, and, now that I look closer, it is indeed covered with mana, flowing about like a current!


    ¡°Yes, I can. I must ask, why are you monologuing? Anyhow, do tell me your name. I can¡¯t stand to come up with any more nicknames.¡±


    A-, ah, yes, I¡¯m Magnus. Magnus Karlsson.


    ¡°A great wizard, eh? No wonder you control the mana so expertly.¡±Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Great wizard?...


    I wouldn¡¯t exactly say so, but I¡¯m no expert, so I¡¯ll take it.


    And you are?


    ¡°Me? I¡¯m Mary Cromwell. I¡¯m sure you recognize the name, but no, we were not related. At least not by blood...¡±


    ...ah, yes. That other famous Cromwell. I know them for sure.


    But what are you doing with Allan?


    ¡°Allan? You mean Andrew here?¡±


    Allan looked extremely confused.


    Yes, uh¡­ Sorry to say, but his name isn¡¯t Andrew? It¡¯s Allan? Allan Woodsworth?


    ¡°Allan Woodsworth¡­ I see¡­ Andrew, would you mind changing names?¡±


    ¡°Uh-, I-, um,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a yes. Now, Allan, would you like to greet Magnus Karlsson, the man whose orb is in your chest?¡±


    ¡°Uhh¡­ hi?¡±


    Nice to meet you too, Ally, even though I¡¯ve known you for quite a while now.


    Sorry about being asleep, I didn¡¯t mean to.


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°...He said hi back, called you Ally, and apologized for sleeping. Ah, right, why did you sleep for so long? Mana regenerates by itself, so it shouldn¡¯t have been a problem, unless you¡¯re a lazy student like And-, Allan here who can¡¯t regenerate mana at all.¡±


    Well, I¡­


    I went out in a blaze of glory, like a decade ago(god that sounds weird) and used up all my mana, and as I found out just recently, I¡¯m under a curse that steals all my mana?...


    I think it may be that the only reason I came back was because Allan somehow regenerated a single mana.


    Ah, sorry about stealing your mana by the way, it won¡¯t happen again.


    Probably.


    ¡°...I see. So, if And-, Allan here had just regenerated a single piece of mana earlier, you wouldn¡¯t have slept for so long. Allan.¡±


    ¡°Do I have any say in this?...¡±


    ¡°Sure you do. Would you like to hear Mr Karlsson speak? You may borrow my Hear-Horn, but if you so much as put a scratch on it, I¡¯ll throw you to the Wolololves!¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°Just like you wouldn¡¯t destroy my automaton? And my hand-written certificate in Creutzish? I worked hard for that, you know!?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t! Geez, I just wanna¡­¡±


    He carefully cleaned the thin end of the horn with his robe before hesitantly sticking it in his ear.


    ¡°H-, hello?...¡±


    Allan!


    ¡°Gah!!¡±


    He fell right on his back. Well, atleast he didn¡¯t drop the hear-hor-, oops, there it goes.


    Not if I can stop it!


    Extending my arm quick as I can, I easily caught the horn in my hand and presented it to Allan with a tinge of pride. Hear-horn? Whatever.


    Allan, are you alright??


    You eyes are bulging!


    ¡°I-, I-, I¡­¡±


    Just take it!


    ¡°My, my.¡±


    Ah! Mrs. Cromwell took it first!!


    Hey, give it back to Allan!!


    ¡°He might have put a scratch on it! These things are expensive, you know? And anyhow, if you want him to see you, can¡¯t you just use the ASE on him? For a mage of your caliber, altough I¡¯ve never heard of you before, should be able to do something so simple, right?¡±


    The AS-what?


    ¡°You know. The ¡®All-Seeing Eye¡¯?¡±


    Never heard of it.


    ¡°Ugh.¡±


    She grunted before making that OK-sign before her-, ah! I see!


    I think you¡¯ve misunderstood somehow! I am not a mage in any way!


    ¡°You bear the title of Magnus, do you not?¡±


    No, that¡¯s my name!


    I have no title, apart from ¡°Fuckwad¡±!


    ¡°...I see¡­ but you can still do it, can you not?¡±


    The ASE? Yeah, probably!


    Hey, Allan, stick out your hand and make the OK-sign, will ya?


    ¡°...he¡¯s asking you to make the sign of the All-Seeing Eye.¡±


    ¡°Oh-, ah! Yes!¡±


    Allan blushed slightly before making the OK-sign.


    Is he shaking?...


    Nah, must be my imagination.


    Alright, let¡¯s see¡­


    First, make a stalactite form, gotta be super-sharp¡­


    There we go!


    Perfect!


    The ultimate murder weapon!


    Now to just gently insert it into Allan¡¯s eye¡­


    Blunt side in, of course.


    Just gotta¡­


    Stick it¡­


    Oh!


    It attached itself!!


    Nice one-,


    ¡°GRARGH!!!-, wh-, what¡¯s that!?!?!?¡±


    A-, Allan, are you alright!?


    Stop falling over!


    I reached out to help him get up, but he must have gotten spooked, since he started crawling just the other way.


    Hey!


    Alright, gentleness isn¡¯t ideal, better bring out the big guns!


    I grabbed his hand and jerked him back to his feet.


    Allan looked absolutely stunned.


    Hm?


    I didn¡¯t realize it before, but¡­


    Allan, you¡¯re pretty short, aren¡¯t you?


    ¡°Not for his age.¡±


    Gragh!!


    Y-, you were listening?


    ¡°I heard everything.¡±


    I-, I see. Well, I said nothing strange, so¡­


    A-, Allan, don¡¯t look at me like that!


    T-, take it back!!


    ¡°No can do.¡±


    Can¡¯t I talk to Allan?...


    ¡°If he doesn¡¯t drop the Hear-Horn again, then sure.¡±


    Allan¡­


    Don¡¯t you dare drop the horn. Hear-horn. Whatever.


    I looked him stern in the eye and waved my finger real menacingly so he knew I wasn¡¯t messing around.


    He looked terrified and gulped loudly, so it must¡¯ve worked?


    Mrs. Cromwell carefully handed over the horn.


    Alright.


    I know you can hear me, Allan, since you¡¯re freaking out, so I¡¯m telling you for both our sakes. Don¡¯t mess this up. I can see this lady has some mad mana, and I¡¯d really rather like it if she didn¡¯t do something wierd to us both, and she can¡¯t hear us right now, so I¡¯m just going to ask real calm¡­


    How have you been? Has she treated you alright? I¡¯m so sorry for abandoning you, I did it in order to protect you, so I hope you¡¯re not mad-,


    ...why are you looking at me like that?


    I¡¯m just trying to, y¡¯know, make up for lost time?


    ¡°Look, I, uh¡­ whatever happened when I was a kid, I can¡¯t remember. Like, at all. I¡¯ve lived with Mistress Cromwell all my life. I have no idea who you are, but¡­ I¡¯ve suspected it all my life. I¡¯ve never truly felt like her kid, so, you know¡­ who are my parents!?¡±


    H-, hey. Don¡¯t look at me like that either.


    You¡¯ve got stars in your eyes!


    Well, I shouldn¡¯t, it might be bad, but, I¡­


    Well, alright then!


    So it was like this¡­


    ...

 Chapter Eleven: Melodrama and Talking Jewels

    ¡°Th-, that can¡¯t be!¡±


    Hm? What can¡¯t be?


    ¡°I just can¡¯t accept that my mother would just leave me for dead!! You barely even saw her!¡±


    No, I, I know I barely saw her, but that was definitely her, the mana was just the right colour, and-,


    ¡°And nothing! Do you even have any proof for what you¡¯re saying?! No, you don¡¯t! You just suddenly appear out of thin air and expect me to believe everything you say?? Well, I won¡¯t! I hate you for even suggesting that my mother would do such a thing!!¡±


    A-, Allan-, don¡¯t say that! You can¡¯t possibly mean it-,


    ¡°Well, I do!¡±


    Allan, you¡¯re crying! I would never lie to you, no matter the situation!


    Don¡¯t¡­ Don¡¯t glare at me like that.


    ¡°Good grief, Allan, I sense no hostility from him.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re only saying that to cover for him!¡±


    ¡°Now why would I ever do that, Allan? You know I have a psychic sensor to pick up emotions. And all I feel from Magnus is sadness and grief. Now apologize to him, before he starts crying. Although, if that would result in some mana-elixir, I wouldn¡¯t mind too much~¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care he¡¯s lying or not! How do expect me to believe such a thing!? I hate you both!!¡±


    Allan¡­!


    Allan, even you should know that if you run off crying like that I¡¯ll eventually be forced to come alo-,


    Wheeeeee


    It hurts inside, but it¡¯s a little fun to be flung around like a slingshot-


    ¡°Good grief. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll come ¡®round, Magnus!¡±


    I sure hope so, Mrs. Cromwell!


    Ah, he dropped the horn¡­


    ¡°Stupid kid better fix this himself¡­¡±


    Eh? Did I hear something?


    Must have been the wind.


    ¡°Stupid Mistress. Stupid Magnus. Stupid orb! In fact, I hate Magnus so much, I¡¯ll just call him straight up ¡°Mana¡± from now on! He doesn¡¯t deserve a name. Hmpf.¡±


    ...I¡¯m right here, y¡¯know.


    Where is this, anyways?


    He ran through the whole house/hut, and before I knew it, we were here.


    It¡¯s a rather small room, containing only a hammock to sleep in, a desk to work at, a jewel-encrusted sack hanging from the ceiling(boxing-sack-thing maybe?), and, oh?


    Did I mention the thousands upon thousands of little gadgets and jeweled items and stuffs lying on the floor and desk? In fact, the hammock is filled to the brim with them!


    Each and every one has one or a few little jewels in them.


    Allan sternly stomped over to the said hammock and roughly shoved everything out of it.


    H-, hey! Those things looked expensive!!


    ¡°Tch. I can¡¯t believe it. I finally have mana of my own, and I can¡¯t even use it. The mistress even said I had a really rare orb, but¡­ What¡¯s even the use of having some rare orb if I can¡¯t use it? The mistress said that this orb isn¡¯t even my own. My real orb must be super-common. I should just shatter this ¡°rare¡± and build a couple magical items with it. Just as well.¡±


    H-, hey! That¡¯s my soul you idiot!!


    He wouldn¡¯t dare shatter it.


    ...Right?...


    Let¡¯s not think about it.


    Ah, is he already asleep?


    Aren¡¯t you even going to take off your robe?...


    I guess not.


    Well, I¡¯ve slept for quite a while now, so I¡¯m not really tired.


    I don¡¯t have too much mana, so I doubt I could leave the room, but¡­


    Might as well explore, right?


    Let¡¯s see¡­Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Weird little knife, weird bell thing, big rock with smaller rocks in it, candle with a rock on it, a rock in a pot, pen with jewel on it(real fancy), a pair of brass knuckles encrusted with jewels(where do all these jewels come from? That Mary Cromwell lady must be loaded¡­ n-, not that I plan on stealing anything, of course!), a sword with jewels, a goblet with jewels, a stuffed cat plushie with jewels for eyes, a scythe with jewels, a stuffed rat plushie with a jewel on its tail, a book with jewels on it, a red plush elephant with two jewels on its head, a single coin with a jewel, a pair of katanas(I think?) with jewels on them¡­


    A lot of weapons.


    And a lot of stuffed animals.


    Now that I think about it, there''s a whole pile of plushies over there¡­


    Not very manly, are you, Allan?


    Ah, but then again, the weapons kind of make up for it?...


    But! Regardless, why does he have any of this?!


    Kids shouldn¡¯t have swords!


    Or plushies!!


    Well, the second one is only applicable to boys, but¡­


    Anyhow!


    Mrs. Cromwell, what is this supposed to mean!?


    Hm.


    Most of the jewels are black.


    The mana surrounding the objects are also black, so¡­


    Most likely, the jewel effects the mana?


    Hm.


    Very interesting.


    My guess would be that the jewels create the mana?


    Maybe?


    But, then again, if we look at the gems that aren¡¯t black¡­


    All of them are entirely transparent.


    But, unlike my fat-, ehem, Allan''s father¡¯s gem, no mana surrounds these.


    None at all.


    By the way, Allan¡¯s father - Arthur - had a milkish white coloured mana, so completely transparent is out of the picture.


    So, what does that mean?...


    Hm.


    Hmmm.


    Could it be¡­


    You need to use your own mana to activate the jewel?


    Well, I mean¡­


    Allan can¡¯t use magic, right?


    So, then, only Mrs. Cromwell could activate them?


    Maybe?


    Well, it can¡¯t hurt to try.


    Alright, so¡­


    Which one¡­?


    Hmm, this one¡¯ll do.


    It¡¯s a little carving knife(seriously, why does she let him have these?), with a red handle and probably an iron blade. It seems pretty dull.


    It has a single gem(most items have one or two at most) on the end of its sheath.


    Well, let¡¯s try it!


    Alright.


    Step one: seperate a single point of mana from my own body.


    I have no idea weather it will evaporate or something after it¡¯s left me, so¡­


    Alright, here goes!


    Hnnng!


    Hrmmmm¡­!


    Hushahahahaha!


    Wolololo!


    Kamehame(removed for copyright-reasons)!!


    Nope.


    I can¡¯t do it.


    Sorry knife-kun, it¡¯s impossible.


    Wait.


    Knife.


    Knives are sharp, right?


    Can they¡­


    I experimentally cut off my own finger.


    Ow fuck that hurt!


    Wait, I¡¯m not getting a ¡°you lost 1 mana¡± message?


    Hm??


    Wait, my finger¡­


    Is floating!!?


    Whoa.


    Whoahwoahowa.


    C-, can I move it?


    I better be able to, right?


    I mean, this could be telekinesis, right¡­?


    Well well well!


    Finger, move to the right!


    ¡­


    It didn¡¯t do it¡­


    Maybe it¡¯s more of a psychic thing?...


    Hrmmm¡­..-da!


    I moved my whole hand slowly to the right, aiming it in the general direction of my silently floating finger.


    In response, the finger floated ever so gently to the right, as if following the breeze.


    It-, it moved!!!


    There it is!!


    Telekinesis!


    Every kid¡¯s dream, accomplished!


    Especially mine, since I was so weak I could barely move a chair, and constantly dreamed I could just move it with the flick of my wrist.


    Hm?


    Now that I thing about it, isn¡¯t my life much better now?


    I can move freely, and before, I could even lift an entire baby!


    It¡¯s like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders!


    It¡¯s so-, oh, right, my finger.


    Now¡­


    Do I just insert it into the jewel, then?...


    Hmmm¡­


    Come over here¡­


    Alright, it follows my directions!


    Closer, closer, closer¡­ that¡¯s enough!


    And now, to the left, just a little more¡­


    And now¡­


    Right down!


    ¡°Slurp¡±


    Ueee, what sound, did you have to slurp up my mana?...


    ¡°Nomnomnomnomnom¡±


    Look, I know this is supposed to be a magical fantasy world and all, but does the gem really have to make eating noises?


    That¡¯s part of me, you know?!


    My body!


    My soul!!


    - You have sacrificed 1 mana and are now down to 20/70(+70). -


    ¡°Nomnomnomnomnom¡­ more.¡±


    Eeeeeehhh??


    I am so gracious as to give you my blood, my flesh, and you ask for more??


    Who do I look like, Je*us Ch*ist?!


    ¡°Feed me.¡±


    Now what¡¯s that supposed to mean??!?


    ¡°Feed me, Magnus.¡±


    Why do you know my name!?!?!?!


    Where are your eating manners!?!??!?!?!


    ¡°Feed me. Please.¡±


    Well, there you go, that wasn''t too hard, now was it?~


    Sure sure here you go~


    *shlitt*


    OW FUCK RIGHT THAT HURTS


    ¡°Slurp¡±


    D-, don¡¯t you dare enjoy that.


    ¡°Mmmm~¡±


    Goddamnit.


    - You have sacrificed 1 mana. -


    ¡°More.¡±


    What, you want my whole hand?!?


    ¡°Feed me.¡±


    ¡­


    *SchLiTT*


    OH FUCK ME IN THE ARSSESSSEEEE


    Well, here you go! Come on, eat it!!


    ¡°Chop it up.¡±


    Wh-, what?...


    ¡°I¡¯m starving!¡±


    Alright alright!


    Sheesh!


    What a spoiled brat!


    Hnnn, this is going to hurt me more mentally than physically¡­


    *snitt*


    OW FUCK WHY DOES IT STILL HURT


    *chop chop chop*


    I THOUGHT ONLY ONIONS MADE CHEFS CRY ARGHH


    JUST TAKE IT ALREADY


    ¡°Slurp~~¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Munch munch munch~¡±


    - You have sacrificed 8 mana. -


    That better be enough.


    If you start singing, so help me god¡­


    Oho?


    Well would you look at that, it¡¯s starting to change colours!


    I wonder why¡­


    Oh, right, I was trying to infuse it with mana!


    Haha, I forgot!


    Well, if I atleast get a cool magical knife, the trauma is worth it.


    The gem quickly took on a sky-blue colour, even having those little clouds shroud some parts.


    Hm.


    No dark-blue wisp thing to speak of, though¡­


    Interesting.


    Anyhow, I think I better sleep.


    Even beings made of pure mana need some rest, you know.


    Eh?


    I¡¯ve been sleeping for a decennia, I shouldn¡¯t be tired, you say?


    Well, when you¡¯ve slept for twelve hours, don¡¯t you feel much more tired than if you slept for seven or eight?


    Exactly!


    So, good night everybody~

 Chapter Twelve: While He Slept

    Mistress Cromwell woke me up in the middle of the night by sending me a telepathic message.


    I think she has done that twice before, to train me in case anybody ever attacked for some reason and I had to escape.


    The message was:


    ¡°Run¡±


    And I immediately knew that this was the night.


    My orb didn¡¯t so much as stir. If that Magnus-, no, if Mana was awake, he was completely unaware of what was happening.


    The second I jumped out of bed, I could already smell it.


    Charred, burning flesh, reminding me of that time the Mistress tried to teach me how to convert mana into magical fire and she set a Will ¡®o wisp ablaze. Wood, too. In fact, the several smokes all blended into one, creating a raw mixture of all the things I¡¯ve ever known and loved going up in smoke.


    I took one look around my room.


    Some things were out of place, but I didn¡¯t know what.


    I will need a weapon in case I get attacked.


    Something banged on the door and I jolted, quickly grabbing the one knife I saw closest to me.


    I didn¡¯t even notice how the gem was not black or uncoloured, but instead a sky-blue.


    I wanted to shout, to tell them not to come in, and that I was ready to kill.


    But if I did, they would be alerted of my position.


    If they have come this far, they must have gotten past the Mistress¡­


    N-, no time to think about that!


    I need to grab as many things as I can!


    A wand, a little mechanical bird, a scalpel, and-,


    The banging grew louder.


    What more will I need?...


    My eyes fall upon a little stuffed, black cat, with empty gems for eyes.


    The Mistress had made that herself for my tenth birthday so that I could fill the eyes with my own mana once it awakened.


    But I can¡¯t carry more than what is absolutely needed¡­


    I glance thoughtfully between the hundreds of various items. Some too large to carry, some to large to wield, others useless, and some¡­


    The banging grew too loud.


    I could hear a commotion downstairs, people shouting and screaming and weapons flying and making a racket.


    Whoever was pounding on my door were in no mood to give up.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    They knew I was here.


    ...I grabbed the cat.


    His name is Sven.


    The Mistress had told me he would protect me if I ever got the nightmares again.


    All I had to do was pet him and call him by his nickname, ¡°Fjutten¡±.


    I had never been able to pronounce it well, but¡­


    Grabbing his soft body in my left arm, I pointed the knife at the door and ran towards it.


    If I can burst the door open, I may be able to escape before he comes after me.


    But the door gave way first.


    I stopped dead in my tracks and stared blankly at the rough-looking man who peeked inside.


    His eyes fell on me.


    His blank face immediately turned into one of boundless, savage glee.


    ¡°I found him!¡±


    He shouted, but as he turned his face away, I rushed at him, with knife in hand.


    The knife had stabbed deep into his heart even before he had noticed me.


    At first, his face was lit up in astonishment.


    But it quickly turned to despair.


    The mouth, earlier crooked into a grin I will never forget, gaped open a couple times like a fish out of water, but nothing came out.


    He was so, so silent.


    His eyes kept jumping erratically between me and his wound in complete and utter despair and agony.


    At last, he gave one gut-wrenching cough, splattering my face with whatever his lungs were filling up with(blood?) and he slumped over.


    I had to leave him.


    But even as I shoved his body aside to run downstairs, even as he fell over like the meat-puppet he had become, his agonized eyes still followed me.


    They followed me down the stairs, through the kitchen where the Mistress had taught me how to make pancakes and jam and roast beef and outside the door and beside the little smithy where she had showed me how to smith knives and to magically infuse them with shards of magic gems and into the meadow where she had lulled me to sleep as a child when the nightmares wouldn¡¯t stop and into the forest where we had hunted and I never once looked back at the house where I had grown un burning in a purple fire and even as I ran into the last place I would ever see my Mistress his eyes followed me to hell and back.


    In the little cove.


    The one she had shown me when I was 7 and wanted to know where gems came from, and it had been so beautiful and I had been so happy and she had been so proud, there she was.


    The gems adorned the floor and the ceiling and the walls and it was just as pretty as it had been so long ago.


    They were all glittering, eagerly feeding on her life, seeping out in big red splashes.


    She must have teleported here.


    The house was filled with people but I had noticed none of them.


    She looked at me with pleading eyes, and I obeyed and came closer.


    Her old, trembling hands were so soft, as they had always been.


    I held her close, and I cried.


    She simply smiled, and I knew what she meant to say.


    I had to go back.


    I shook my head.


    I could never return.


    Her thoughts were mine, and I knew.


    In the drawer, all the way up in her work-room, in the lowest drawer.


    No.


    I can¡¯t.


    Please.


    I know I have to.


    The Mistress always gets her way.


    ...yes, Mistress, I do remember.


    I do remember that time you won Tricker and I had to call you Mistress.


    ...It was funny, I agree.


    But I couldn¡¯t laugh.


    I wanted to cry, but she simply smiled.


    You mean you forfeit?


    I can call you it for this l-, last time?


    A-, alright, grandma.


    I¡¯ll miss you.


    She smiled, and a single tear rolled down her peaceful face, and it was over.


    I wailed, and in my sorrow, I felt as if all the gems in the cove cried along, pitying me so dearly.


    ...I had to go back.


    My legs felt so heavy and yet so weak.


    I could barely stand.


    But I had to.


    I knew, in that burning memento of my life, my future lay.


    With heavy steps and a clump of darkness growing in my stomach and an emptiness growing in my chest, I returned.


    It was still burning, and it was still surrounded by people I had never seen in my life.


    Some were speaking with each other in hushed voices, others were laughing loudly, patting each other on the back, and one man, with purple eyes, shouted at another.


    I had to get in there?...


    I-, I can¡¯t¡­


    But I must.


    In the cool darkness of the night, illuminated only by the restless moon and the fiery purple blaze, I returned to what was once my whole life.


    I didn¡¯t know why the flames didn¡¯t affect me, nor did I care to find out.


    I tried my hardest to keep my emotions under control, climbing the steps without giving the pyre around me too much thought, and yet I could still feel the sadness welling up within me, bursting out of my eyes and down to the burning floor.


    Everything was purple.


    Everything was warm.


    And yet, I was cool.


    All the way up, in her working room, in the lowest drawer on the right side¡­


    I found a paper, a pair of magically enhanced glasses, and a pouch of empty gems.


    I didn¡¯t even bother reading the paper.


    The floor collapsed under me and I fell into the darkness and down down down into the ruins of my life, and I fell and it hurt so so so much but I still ran and ran and ran back into the forest, clutching all I had left of what I once was and once I had ran for so long that I knew nobody could have followed me, I collapsed in the darkness and dragged myself into the safe darkness of a bush, and clutching the stuffed cat,


    I wept.

 Chapter Thirteen: Waking Up and What Follows

    Nggg-, good morning!


    That was a pretty good nap-,


    Wait a minute!


    What happened to that knife?!


    Why was I so tired I couldn¡¯t even stick around to check out what happened to it??


    Well, whatever.


    Hm.


    Where am I now¡­?


    Well, it would seem I am still shrouding Allan like a big ¡®ol blob of mana, so I¡¯d better form myself.


    Shhhhhwiup.


    It has definitely become easier.


    Alright.


    Now, where are we?


    F-, forest?


    Wow, it¡¯s dark¡­


    Actually, it wouldn¡¯t be an understatement to say that it was still night.


    ¡­


    I better not have slept for like fifteen years or something or so help me god¡­!!


    Wait, are we moving?


    Allan, is that you?


    A-, Allan¡­?


    Sitting in the shrouding darkness of a large bush, Allan was all curled up, breathing quickly and ruggedly, clutching a stuffed black cat in his trembling arms. His head was covered with a black cowl, but I could still see his swollen, red eyes, staring blankly into the night.


    Is-, is he crying?...


    Allan, is this about yesterday?...


    ¡°G-, Grandma¡­¡±


    Allan gently laid out whatever he was holding in his arms on the ground.


    I could barely see what it was, but by the looks of it, it was a piece of paper, a pair of glasses, a pouch filled with something, a scalpel, a wand, a little bird mechanical bird, and¡­


    My knife!


    Aw nea-,


    ¡°...When did the gem get activated¡­?¡±


    Allan¡¯s voice was almost choked by tears, only barely being able to look questiongly at the hilk of the knife.


    ¡°It-, it can¡¯t be¡­!¡±


    He quickly grabbed the pair of glasses, unfolded them and sloppily put them on.


    Hm? What¡¯re those supposed to do?


    ¡°Grah!-,¡±


    Allan shouted, but quickly covered his mouth with his hands to silence it, only falling back a little.


    ¡°Y-, you!¡±


    Me?


    ¡°You¡¯ve been here all along, haven¡¯t you!?¡±


    All along how long?


    ¡°I¡¯ll even bet you summoned them!¡±


    Summoned who?


    Can you even hear me?...


    He stared at me in pure rage.


    Nope.


    He cannot.


    I carefully brought up my hands and made that silent shoving motion, meaning something like ¡°there there¡±, but he just looked even angrier.


    ...Don¡¯t tell me¡­


    You ran away from home!?


    ¡°Because of you, all because of you, Grandma d-, died! They killed her!!¡±


    Who-, I-,


    ...what?...This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    Tears started welling up in his eyes, but he violently dried them.


    ¡°If only you never¡­ I¡­¡±


    What in the world happened?...


    ...Hm?


    What¡¯s that smell?...


    Fire!?


    You stay right there Allan, I have to check this out.


    ¡°Wh-, where are you going? Y-, You¡¯re leaving?? We-, well, go ahead! I¡¯m better off without you!! I¡¯ve always been better off, even without mana! Even though I knew grandma wanted me to be a great mage and believed in me, I couldn¡¯t because I had no mana! But I desperately tried and tried and tried, and in the end, this is what I get! Mana I can¡¯t even control!!¡±


    ¡­


    Like a lizard, I silently climbed up the tree.


    ...hearing him say things like that make my heart wrench, but¡­ he can¡¯t hear me, now can he?


    I can¡¯t explain a thing, and¡­


    Oh-,


    Oh my god.


    It¡¯s burning.


    The fire, it¡¯s¡­


    Purple fire?


    Allan, you¡­


    He¡¯s crying again.


    Oh, my god, this is¡­


    I¡­


    I¡¯m ashamed of myself.


    This is just¡­


    Unacceptable.


    I pretend like I could be a father to him, and yet, when he needs me the most¡­


    He¡¯s right. It may not be my fault, but if I had just stayed awake¡­


    I could at least have tried to stop it.


    Purple fire¡­


    Henry?...


    A-, Allan, stay there, I have to¡­


    ¡°What? What are you looking at me for, you monster? I don¡¯t-, I don¡¯t need you! I can do just fine on my own!!¡±


    ...Right.


    This is going to be pain full, and I don¡¯t know if I can, but¡­


    I need to stretch as far as I can.


    I have to be thin, thinner than a strand of hair.


    At first, it¡¯s possible to just walk, but after a while, my tail/connection to Allan starts tugging.


    I¡¯m not sure whether Allan can feel me tugging or not, but I really don¡¯t think so, so¡­


    I start crawling towards the house, pulling with all my might, burying my non-material fingers into the hard ground.


    I can barely feel what¡¯s happening behind me, but I know my legs are gone, entirely stretched out so thin I can¡¯t even use them.


    I start using the trees and rocks to pull.


    If I were to let go for even a second, I would snap right back with a violent force.


    But it isn¡¯t time.


    I need¡­


    To keep¡­


    Going..!


    Eventually, only my head remains.


    I use my teeth and jaws to move forwards.


    I feel so sore.


    My body is aching.


    I can feel the hot winds from the house wafting towards me, and the smell of something roasting over a fire follows.


    I can¡¯t feel anything.


    Not my legs, not my torso, not my arms, and not even my face.


    I might just snap.


    But then, I see it.


    A little bonfire, around which a dussin or so men and women sit gathered. Over the bonfire, a large boar is roasting.


    And beside the bonfire, the house is still lit.


    Looking into the small crowd of people, I immediately see him.


    Henry.


    Henry Tipsdale.


    And right beside him¡­


    Fa-, Allan¡¯s Father?...


    Arthur Woodsworth?...


    What in the name of god are you-,


    I forgot.


    My concentration was lackluster for a single second.


    And as the sound of their laughter reaches my ears, I fly through the forest, my whole body retreating like a yo-yo, and when I finally stop flying through the air, I feel like a pile of string.


    Ah, Allan, did you fall asleep?


    I¡¯m glad you can sleep, but you can¡¯t sleep out here, there are so many beasts who would gladly have you for breakfast, I¡­


    I have to get you out of here.


    Hupp-, he¡¯s grown quite heavy since I last held him, haha¡­


    Twelve years¡­


    Ah, no time to think about that!


    Do we have everything?


    Plush toy, knife, glasses, paper¡­ yup all here.


    Alright.


    Time to do what I should have done back in that forest so long ago(still only feels like two days tho).


    I¡¯ll call it: - Locate -!


    First, I¡¯ll spread out a single strand of mana, thin as a hair, and then, I¡¯ll just move it all around me, like a radar!


    Hehehe¡­


    Alright, let¡¯s see¡­


    Tree, tree, tree, tree, rock, big bear(oh lord), tree, tree, wolves, tree, tree¡­ cave!


    There it is!


    Now, all I need to do is make sure the mana-strand doesn¡¯t move, and then, I can just hurry right along and follow it!


    I just have to make sure not to bump into any scary animals, I may not be able to keep them at bay¡­


    Carefully, we made our way through the restless forest, carefully maneuvering around any possible dangers, and, eventually¡­


    Cave!


    It¡¯s dark and spooky, but at least it¡¯ll keep me and Allan safe.


    Let¡¯s just make sure it¡¯s safe first by sending in a couple of those hairs, and¡­


    Wolves.


    There are no empty caves, I guess¡­


    Alright, let¡¯s just put Allan down for a second¡­


    If I were to just have a couple of strands cover him from a distance¡­ I can find out whether he¡¯s safe or not!


    Alright, great!


    Hmm, I guess it¡¯s time to attack?


    I only have a limited amount of mana though, and according to my strands, there must be at least two dussin wolves in there¡­


    I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be fine!


    ...Man, it would sure be since if I could light a little flame to see, but¡­


    Hm?


    Can¡¯t I just light a torch or something?...


    Hmm¡­


    I quickly scour the surrounding area and find a stick.


    Neat.


    I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll find any bandages or oil or tar, so¡­


    Super-ultra-mega-quick-flame!


    - You have lost 1 mana. -


    The end of the stick burst into sky-blue flames whilst me, myself, did not.


    Very convenient.


    Oh, right, since it¡¯s here, could I just borrow this knife real quick?


    ¡­


    I¡¯ll take that as a yes.


    Helloooo, I know you¡¯re in here wolvie-wolves-,


    ¡°Grruff?...¡±


    Ah!


    It¡¯s a wolf!!!!


    No, wait, it¡¯s¡­ red?...


    Red wolf.


    And not like light-brown reddish wolf, no, this is just straight up a red wolf.


    That can¡¯t be good camouflage.


    In fact, that will probably make you far more likely to be noticed than any other colour!!


    It also has a red orb in it''s chest, so...


    ¡°Grrr¡­.¡±


    Better get ready¡­


    I raise the knife defensively.


    ¡°Wolo¡­ Wolololo!!¡±


    Wh-, what!?


    The wolf, it¡¯s waving it¡¯s little front paws, and sitting up on it¡¯s but, making a begging gesture, and¡­


    Awww~


    It¡¯s so cute~


    Just look at those widdle-,


    No, wait!


    Looking down at my hand, I noticed it was slowly turning red, but the second I noticed this, it went back to blue.


    Wh-, what in the world¡­??


    N-, No! I won¡¯t be fooled!


    Come at me, beast!


    ¡°Wolo-... grrrr¡­ graff!!¡±


    It gave a loud bark and lunged at me, it¡¯s fangs glimmering by the light of my torch.


    The knife in my right hand snaked its way right up, easily lodging itself in the abdomen of the wolf.


    Hm, there¡¯s something strange about this knife, it seems to react to my mana, somehow¡­


    If I look closely, I can see how the red blood flowing out of the red wolf''s wound starts seeping into the gem on the knife, making it shine brighter.


    H-, hey, that¡¯s pretty spooky¡­


    I hope that isn¡¯t what I think it is¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m starving!¡±


    Oh god


    It¡¯s Aud*ey II


    The wolf whimpered as the blood that would generally just splash on the floor is absorbed into the knife.


    Th-, that¡¯s¡­


    - You have gained 21 mana and 13 exp from killing a Red Wolololf. You now have 43/70(+70) mana and 13/70 exp. -


    Whoa-, nice!


    I feel much more powerful now!


    Actually, considering how illuminating this knife is, I don¡¯t even think I¡¯ll need that torch!


    Let¡¯s go kill us some Wolololves!!

 Chapter Fourteen: Delving into the Cave of Wolololves

    ...This might be a bit harder than anticipated¡­


    Current situation: surrounded by three adorable red wolves all chiming ¡°wolololo¡­¡±.


    Weapons: bloodthirsty knife.


    Me: awwwwwww


    Wait, shit!


    Snap out of it, me!


    These wolves want to do nothing less than to eat and kill you!!


    Right, right.


    They might look cute as all heck, but if you look deep into their eyes, into the windows of their very soul¡­


    They are nowhere as cute as Allan!!!


    ...that sounded a bit, well, wrong, but¡­


    It¡¯s true!!


    One of the wolves, realizing their magic had no effect, barked loudly at the two others, who stopped being cute.


    Hehehe.


    As long as I keep myself together, this will be a piece of cake!


    Before one of them can even get their bodies in the lunging position, I run right at it(the one on the right) and stab it in the throat.


    Good lord.


    I should A, not be this good at killin¡¯, and B, definitely not be this eager to do it.


    I really wanna blame the knife, but that feels a bit ingenuine-,


    ¡°Slurp slurp slurp hehehehhehehe blood~¡±


    ¡­


    ...it¡¯s the knife.


    I should get rid of it.


    ¡°Hey! Without me, you¡¯d be nuthin¡¯!¡±


    I feel like it¡¯s going to start singing.


    I stop that by stabbing the dying red wolf once or twice.


    See, that¡¯s better, isn¡¯t it?


    ...Though, I would love it if it didn¡¯t make noises whilst eating, it¡¯s disturbing¡­


    ¡°Gr-, GRAff!!¡±


    One of the two remaining red wolves barked loudly at the other and they pounced on me.


    You know when a big, large dog gets all up on you, licking and cuddling and stuff?


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Yeah, it¡¯s like that, but with biting instead of licking.


    I pull Audrey II(Twoey?) out of the definitely dead red wolf and thrust it into the one currently standing on my chest.


    I didn¡¯t even aim anywhere specific, but it would seem that I stabbed the, uhm, orb?


    ¡°GROUUUUUUUUU¡±


    The red wolf howled loudly before slumping over.


    Daym.


    - You have gained 25 mana and 17 exp from killing a Red Wolololf. You now have 68/70(+70) mana and 30/70 exp. -


    Wait¡­


    Could it possibly be¡­


    The weak spot???


    Pushing the limp red wolf aside, my eyes met with the last red wolf.


    Why hello there~


    It looked at me as if I was Hann*bal Lect*r or something.


    Ah, it whimpered.


    And then, completely silence.


    Clutching Twoey closely, I rose from the ground.


    Hm? What¡¯s that?


    From deeper within the cave, I could definitely hear the sound of ¡°tippity-tappity¡±, like a little dog on a wooden floor.


    - You have gained 22 mana and 14 exp from killing a Red Wolololf. You now have 90/70(+70) mana and 54/70 exp. -


    Hm? Oh, that other red wolf hadn¡¯t died yet? Oops-,


    The red wolf still in the room with me looked deeper into the cave along with me, anxiously expecting the arrival of what is likely to be reinforcements.


    The tippeti-tappetis got closer.


    And soon, from behind a wall, a furry little red face peeked out. Seeing the two dead bodies, it whimpered, almost as if gasping. But when it saw the one red wolf standing in front of me, defenseless¡­


    ¡°Chichichichichichi¡­¡±


    And it was gone.


    Did it just¡­ laugh?


    Can wolves laugh??


    Well, this isn¡¯t my world, so¡­


    The other wolf looked despairingly in the direction that the other red wolf had left in.


    It looked back at me, fire in its eyes, as if one second from saying ¡°I¡¯ll fucking maul him¡±.


    ...yeah, sure, go ahead.


    Fuck him up.


    I waved dismissively, and off he was.


    Quicker than a speeding bullet, the red wolf was off to fuck some shit up!


    Well, I guess I better head in further as well?


    How is Allan doing¡­


    ¡­


    Still fast asleep.


    Good, good.


    Alright, further into the cave, let¡¯s go~


    Hm?


    Wait, where did Twoey go-, oh.


    He¡¯s still stabbed in that red wolf.


    Alright fella, time to get going¡­


    ¡°More, more, more!¡±


    There is no more!


    He¡¯s all dried up!


    I forcefully un-stab the poor wolf and we head further inside.


    ...Man, Twoey sure can glow.


    The whole cave is shining brightly¡­


    No, wait, that ain¡¯t Twoeys glow!


    That¡¯s a huge ass fireball!!


    Headed my way!!!


    Shit fuck heck-,


    How do I even-,


    Can I absorb it¡­?


    Better fucking can---,


    I hold out my arms, doing a sideways un-spirit-bomb, and catch it.


    Fuck me it¡¯s burning hot!


    Should have expected it but gorsh I¡¯m not that bright!!


    Not as bright as this fireball!!!


    ARGGHHHHH-,


    FuCK-,


    It¡¯s-,


    I think it might be shrinking?...


    Still fucking hurts though, yeowch!


    Alright.


    Alright-,


    Alright!


    Well, here we go!


    - You have absorbed 50 mana from a fireball. You now have 140/70(+70)(MAX) mana. -


    Whoa. I¡¯m at maximum capacity?!


    Whoa whoa whoa.


    I feel pretty large, but I can¡¯t really see myself at the moment, and furthermore¡­


    Who the fuck threw that fucking fireball at me?!?


    *whimper*


    DId you?!


    *Whimper-whimper*


    You know I can¡¯t forgive you.


    *whimper-whimper*


    Just get over here.


    A little red wolf, wearing a little pointy wizard hat stepped out of the darkness.


    ...I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen anything more apologetic than this little guy¡­


    Solemnly, the little wizard-wolf lowered its head.


    God, I mean, now I can¡¯t you¡¯re just a puppy!


    ¡°Feed me¡±


    Shut up Twoey this is an important moment.


    ¡­


    Alright, run along, but if you even so much as trip another human, you know I¡¯ll find you!


    ¡°Yip!¡±


    It almost bounced away into the night.


    Very well.


    And what have we here¡­


    Oho?


    So, I guess everybody is here?


    (I decided to call the magic wolololf-pup Fido :3)

 Chapter Fifteen: Boss Wolololf!

    The cave opened up into a large cavity, around five meters high and ten meters broad, in a circular shape. The cavity was filled with a dussin or so red wolves, one of which was at least twice the size of the rest.


    In a corner of the cave-in-a-cave, two familiar wolves were fighting roughly.


    Fuck him up.


    The other red wolves in the cave all looked at me, either in curiosity or in surprise, which tells me that they were either expecting me or were completely taken by surprise at my arrival.


    The two in the corner continued to fight, despite my arrival.


    Hmm.


    If all these gang up on me¡­


    It¡¯d be a problem, right?


    I wonder if I can run away with Allan quickly enough¡­


    ¡°GRAU.¡±


    The big wolf barked loudly and deeply. Like  a real man(wolf?).


    The two wolves in the corner stopped fighting.


    Oho?


    What an alpha!


    He looked me up and down.


    If they all went wololo and looked real cute¡­


    Could I still defend myself?...


    Very good question.


    Probably not.


    But that won¡¯t stop me from tryi-, wait, what¡¯s he doing?


    The big red wolf looked me up and down before coming a bit closer, his sharp eyes staring daggers into me.


    ¡°Gruff. Ruff ruff ruff. Wolo. Woof.¡±


    ...I see.


    Yes, I agree.


    I nodded.


    Because of course I did.


    ¡°Woof!¡±


    The big red wolf came a bit closer before parting his legs a bit, and I could literally see him clenching every muscle in his oversized body. He must be at least twice my size, geez¡­If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ...Wait.


    Does he want us to fight?...


    Hey hey hey man, I ain¡¯t suicidal. Ain¡¯t ever even thought about it! You think I¡¯ll just lie down now??


    ¡°Gruff.¡±


    ¡­


    ...Alright then.


    I see how it is.


    Twoey.


    ¡°Come on and give me some grub~¡±


    Twoey! Stop singing and get ready!!


    ¡°It¡¯s suppertime?¡±


    Sure whatever!


    ¡­


    Can knives smile?...


    I¡¯m asking for a friend, of course.


    Alright, come at me you oversized teddybear!!


    ¡°Gruff!!¡±


    Surprisingly, unlike the other red wolves, this one actually jumped from side to side, most likely to confuse me.


    But I don¡¯t get confused easily!


    I just start monologing real easy¡­


    Like that time ive years ago when I tried to bake a cake but dropped the flour-,


    ¡°Gruff!!¡±


    FUCK-,


    HOLY-,


    He took my arm!!!!


    My whole left arm!!!!!!!


    Fucking chow!!!!!!!!!


    - You have lost 30 mana. -


    Sure whatever!!!


    This guy is dead!!!!!


    I swing the knife in his general direction, but as I soon find, despite his size, he is really quite agile.


    He easily jumps out of the way, somehow also giving me a hard push in the chest with his hind-legs.


    What are you, an acrobat?!


    I know I¡¯m off my scating insult game today, but bear with me!


    At least I didn¡¯t lose any more mana¡­


    Alright.


    You just come over here and I¡¯ll stab you real good¡­


    Or I just throw the knife right at ya!!!


    *swoooosh*


    *kling klang*


    ¡­.I missed.


    ¡°Gruhuhu.¡±


    D-, don¡¯t laugh!


    Twoey, please tell me you have some secret ability that can conveniently take out a three-meter long magical wolf.


    ¡°Da-doo¡±


    ...the heck does that mean?...


    Alright.


    I see how it is.


    One arm, no weapon.


    Just me against a three-meter wolf.


    Normal day.


    Or not!!


    Pointing my remaining arm at the extremely confused wolf, I someone made a finger loosen at the same time as it caught fire.


    And¡­ shoot!!


    Flaming bullet!!!


    *Shwoooooosh!*


    *Boom!*


    *Tsss¡­*


    ...it didn¡¯t even burn.


    Why¡­ why are you looking at me like that?


    Yes, that was my very best, what about it?!


    Well, if you opinion of me is already so low, why don¡¯t you let me even the playing field by letting me grab Twoey?


    I mean, come on, I¡¯m obviously going to die here anyways, so¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°Ruff¡­¡±


    ...Yoink!


    Hahaha, get ready, ya poodle!


    Stabbeti-stab!!


    Stop dodging!


    ¡°Gruff.¡±


    You¡¯re not even trying anymore!


    Alright, if you¡¯re not even going to try fighting me, I¡¯ll just get to you!


    Huehuehuehue he won¡¯t know what hit him!


    As I walked at a quick pace towards his stationary body, I suddenly made my legs extend, which he didn¡¯t expect in the lease, since he made a horrid grimace, but he barely understood what I¡¯d done until I was right on top of his back.


    Stabbeti!!


    ¡°Owoo!¡±


    Hahahah! How d¡¯ya like THEM apples??!


    He started panicking, attempting to shake me right loose, but I just wouldn¡¯t let go. Or, rather, Twoey just wouldn¡¯t stop ¡°having fun¡±...


    Eventually, the wolf attempted the classical putting-out fires option of rolling on the ground.


    Bad idea, since I just used the moment to crawl right on his stomach(not without great resistance from Twoey though) and stabbing Twoey right into the brilliantly shining orb.


    For a second or so, whilst in his grasp, he scratched and clawed and bit at me, but after that moment was over, he slumped over.


    - You have gained 67 mana and 37 exp from killing an Alpha Red Wolololf. You now have 140/70(+70) mana and 70/70 exp. You have leveled up to Lv.8. Mana storage has increased to 80(+80).  -


    Nice!


    Alright, now about the rest of you all¡­


    Huh? Oh, they¡¯re gone? Very well then, not like I had anything good to do.


    So, then, I guess, all I have to do is bring Allan inside-,


    Wait.


    What¡¯s that tunnel over there?

 Chapter Sixteen: Compressing

    In the very back of the cavity, behind a rather large rock, I could definitely see the deep darkness of a tunnel going, well, somewhere.


    ...It would be a waste not to explore it, right?...


    -But I¡¯d better bring Allan inside first, it would be a real shame if he caught a cold.


    With a simple flick of the wrist, a tug of the mind, I sling right on back through the cave(hitting myself on a couple of rocks and walls in the meantime) and back to the entrance.


    ...Allan, you look rattled.


    ¡°Th-, there you are!¡±


    Here I am! Glad you missed me, not that I missed you or anything, b-, baka¡­


    ¡°Were those red wolololves running by your making?!¡±


    My making? Wolololves? Oh, right, they are, in fact, named Wolololves. Weird name.


    Yup, that was me.


    Nodd nodd.


    ¡°You-, and-, what¡¯s this mana floating around me?!¡±


    Well, I was afraid something might attack you, so I covered you in mana so if anything got close I could come right on back and defend you.


    ¡°...I see you¡¯re making a lot of explanatory gestures, but I can¡¯t hear you at all. I have no idea what you mean by that.¡±


    Well, anyhow!


    It was really just for proofing, and it seems to have worked, so¡­


    With a wave of my hand, the mana previously floating around Allan quickly snaps, becoming a thick layer of mana directly around him instead.


    Hm-hm-hm.


    That¡¯s a lotta mana.


    Now that I think about it¡­


    Don¡¯t I have like 140 mana or something?


    Wait.


    Did all the mana I gained just flow right on back to Allan!?


    Well, no time like the now!This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°I-, I really don¡¯t like the way you¡¯re looking at me¡­¡±


    Huehuehueheuheuehuheue¡­


    Mana!


    cOMe!!


    Almost all the mana enshrouding Allan suddenly flowed through the tail-thing that connects the two of us, and right on into me.


    POWER!! UNLIMITED POWER!!!!


    Allan looks very concerned.


    My body, however, is too pumped for plebs like him.


    I start to swell in size, eventually becoming at least twice my original size.


    T-, this¡­


    Is very useless, I don¡¯t like being this big.


    Maybe letting Allan have some mana around him would be good protection?


    Then again, that might make him rely too much on me¡­


    Considering my wierd fight with the large red wolf just now, I could disappear at any time, along with my mana¡­


    But, then again, being this big is sort of inconvenient.


    I can barely get back in the cave¡­


    Can I maybe¡­


    Compress myself?...


    Yeah, no, that sounds weird.


    So, what do I do¡­


    Hmm¡­


    Ah! I know! I can ask Allan!


    Allan!!


    ¡°Ah! Don¡¯t turn to me like that!¡±


    Like what?


    ¡°Like someone just remembering that last piggy he didn¡¯t lead to the slaughter!¡±


    I¡¯d never turn to you like that!


    ¡°But you did.¡±


    Wait.


    Hold up.


    Can you hear me.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re just very expressive.¡±


    Like what?


    ¡°Well, you held up both hands and waved a bit, like ¡°stop¡± or ¡°be quiet¡±, and then you pointed to yourself and then to me. I¡¯d be pretty stupid not to catch that one-¡±


    Ah! I see!


    ¡°In fact, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen someone who moves as much as you do¡­¡±


    Well, I only have my body, so¡­


    Ah! Well then! Perhaps you can help me?


    ¡°I do what to you?¡±


    Help me. You. Help. Me.


    ¡°...I get that I¡¯m supposed to do something to or for you, but¡­ I really, really can¡¯t understand that sign in between. What does rubbing your hands together even mean?¡±


    Help!


    Help me!!


    Well, you already seem quite confused enough, so¡­


    Alright.


    Me. Shrink. How?


    ¡°You wanna get smaller?¡±


    Yes! Exactly!!


    ¡°I thought you were a Magnus, aren¡¯t you supposed to be a master of mana?¡±


    Not quite. Nonono. Not.


    Come on!


    Help! Me!


    ¡°You want me to shrink you?¡±


    Just tell me how. Please. I want to explore the tunnel before this chapter ends.


    ¡°Well, there goes my expectations¡­ I don¡¯t quite remember what grandma told me, but I think she told me that once you reached Lv.10, all the mana you had would become compressed to double density, making it easier to control and more powerful. Maybe you could try that?¡±


    Aha! So that was the answer!!


    Well well well, nothing can stop me now!


    Hnnnngggg!!


    Hooouuuuu¡­


    This is going to be hard.


    I¡¯m going to have to control my very mana-atoms, aren¡¯t I?...


    Last time I did, it hurt and I got burned, literally¡­


    Anyhow.


    Compress compress compress compress¡­


    Instead of each and every molecule coming closer, maybe I should just exert great pressure into the center of me?


    Hm.


    Forgive me, Allan¡­


    ¡°Wh-, what are you-,¡±


    All my mana rushed back around Allan, creating a one or two meters thick shell.


    Now to just¡­


    Pressurize¡­


    ¡°What-,¡±


    Huuuu¡­ Thuum!!


    I could feel my orb shaking in response to the constant pressure I was putting on myself(and Allan(RIP)).


    And with a loud boom, I was suddenly half my size.


    - You have compressed to double density. All mana gained will be automatically compressed. -


    My body, or, atleast, what I could see from Allans perspective-ish, was far more blue than before, and it even shimmered a little.


    I quickly detached from Allan and reformed my body.


    Nice.


    Alright Allan, let¡¯s head inside!~

 Chapter Seventeen: The Killer Knife and Finally Delving into that Tunnel

    ¡°In there? Why would we-, wait, don¡¯t tell me you cleared the cave of Wolololves¡­?¡±


    Yup! Now come on, I wanna explore the tunnel!


    ¡°Look, I know you¡¯re all excited, but Wolololves are dangerous! Even if you scared that many off, they might have a mage wolololf, or even a Leader wolololf! Worst case scenario, they have an Outcast, but that¡¯s really unheard of so¡­¡±


    Ah, I defeated both mage wolf and leader wolf, yes.


    The mage wolf pup got away but atleast I killed the leader wo-, hold-, hold up.


    I can¡¯t ignore it anymore.


    Did I just kill like half a dozen fucking wolves?


    I don¡¯t care if I got reincarnated as someone¡¯s mana(??), I¡¯ve never even hurt a fly!


    And that leader wolf even had some human traits, like arrogance and leadership!


    How in the-,


    You.


    Twoey!


    Twoey was lying all calm and silent beside the very much confused Allan.


    I rushed and grabbed Twoey like a little hurricane, making Allans eyes widen significantly.


    ¡°Hey, what are you-, th-, that knife¡­¡±


    That knife? You mean this knife that made me kill some to-be-dogs in cold blood??


    ¡°It¡¯s gem has the same colour as your orb¡­ ah, did you infuse it? Ah, I see, but, I-, well, I hadn¡¯t programmed it yet, so, what abilities does it have?¡±


    Abilities? Well, mainly, it has the ability to fuck people up, wouldn¡¯t you say so, Twoey?


    ¡°Hey, take it easy! I was just making it easier for you to help a brother out!¡±


    ¡°It-, it talked!?¡±


    ¡°Believe it, baby, it talks!¡±


    Just you-, shut up, will you? So you admit to doing some mumbo jumbo to make whoever hold you go all Ichi the Killer on everybody they know and love?


    ¡°Not everybody, sugar! Just those who may harm sweet-peas over there!¡±


    I looked over to Allan, who had a horrible expression on his face, and cautiously shoot my head.


    What a muppet, wouldn¡¯t you say so, Allan?


    ¡°Hey! You¡¯re walkin¡¯ on thin ice, buddy!¡±


    Oh, what do I care?!


    Allan, what in the holy heck should we do with this poor excuse for a knife?


    ¡°Well, I¡­ I don¡¯t know why it¡¯s like that either¡­ I may have some rudimentary skills in enhancing and smithing, but this is really outside my grasp-,¡±


    Nonono, what should we DO with it. DO.


    ¡°Da-do?¡±


    Shut it!


    I don¡¯t want to hear a single verse from you!


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    ¡°Oh! Um, you¡¯re wondering what we should do with it?¡±


    Two thumbs up. Heck yes.


    ¡°Well, I mean¡­ I¡¯d love to throw it away, but, really¡­ isn¡¯t it the only weapon we have?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re nuthin¡¯ without me, pal!¡±


    You-, I-, well¡­


    I guess you¡¯re right?


    I don¡¯t think I could have cleared that cave without it, I mean, it certainly did make it easier¡­


    If anything, I would definitely have been unable to defeat that leader wolf, it didn¡¯t even burn, so...


    But do we really want to keep it?...


    ¡°Yes. You may be fully equipped to take on whatever may attack us, but I¡­ I¡¯m weak. And for that matter, altough I may have trained quite a lot with the sword¡­ this is a knife! So even if I wanted to, I could barely defend myself even with this knife!¡±


    Oh, ah, yes. True.


    Alright!


    I guess, since that whole debacle is over, let¡¯s go explore the tunnel!!


    I enthusiastically headed towards the cave.


    ¡°Ah, are you going in there? Give me a jin and I¡¯ll gather up my stuff.¡±


    I have no idea what a jin is, but I¡¯m going to guess he means ¡°sec¡±.


    Allan carefully swabbed everything on the ground into his arms, which really was quite a lot, but once he realized he¡¯d forgotten to pick up the knife, he looked pleadingly at me, arms filled to the brim with stuff.


    Well, alright.


    Don¡¯t think I¡¯m doing this because I want to, b-, baka!


    Standing about two arms-lengths away, I picked up Twoey using a very, very long arm, and only touching him with the very tips of my thumb and index-finger. Very girly.


    Once I had him in my grasp, I made my arm return to normal, meaning that Twoey was about one arms-length away from me.


    Terrifying.


    ¡°You¡¯re breakin¡¯ my heart!¡±


    Your achy-breaky heart, eh? Well, I couldn¡¯t care less!


    ¡°Come on, babe!¡±


    And don¡¯t call me babe!


    ¡°Lighten up!¡±


    You-,


    ¡°Wait, can you two understand each other?¡±


    Eh?


    I mean, yeah, I guess we do?


    ¡°Sure we do!¡±


    Yes. Nodd nodd. Though I wish we didn¡¯t.


    ¡°I¡­ see¡­ Well, let¡¯s go into the cave then!¡±


    Yes!!!


    Finally!


    I almost skipped into the cave.


    Actually, scratch that, hell yes, I skipped the fuck into that cave.


    Allan probably looked at me weirdly, but I really don¡¯t care about that!


    The cave was as dank and dreary as always, but Twoey really lit it up, so it didn¡¯t matter, right?


    Looking back, I didn¡¯t notice Allan having quite the distraught look on his face, but I¡¯m sure that¡¯s just the lighting.


    Yup.


    Must be.


    We quickly made our way into the main hall, and Allan, foolishly thinking this was the end of the line, sat his stuff down and took a rest.


    ¡°Phew. That was spooky.¡±


    Spooky?


    ¡°Yeah. Um, you know? I mean¡­ It really looked like I was just following right behind a ghost holding a knife, and that¡¯s, well¡­ spooky.¡±


    Knife?


    Oh, yeah, Twoey!


    I immediately dropped twoey to the floor.


    ¡°Take it easy!¡±


    I am, droop-snoot!


    Oh, right, we still have to go into the tunnel¡­


    So I have to pick Twoey up? Again?


    ...Do we really need him?...


    ¡°But that knife really was a godsend, it could replace any torch, any day!¡±


    ¡­


    Oh, Allan, you correct little child.


    I solemnly picked Twoey back up.


    Hey, Allan, over here!


    ¡°Where are you going? There¡¯s nothing over-, oh no.¡±


    What is it? Are you a chicken? Bwak bwak bwak bwak bwak¡­!


    ¡°I have no idea what those flapping motions mean, but somehow, they make me feel bad.¡±


    So come on! Don¡¯t be a chicken! Aka me!


    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t know if you know what that tunnel means, but¡­¡±


    I know exactly what it means!


    Mystery! Adventure! Excitement~!


    Wait-, scratch that last one, it sounded weird. But let¡¯s go!


    ¡°...Right.¡±


    Allan carefully stood up, looking over his stuff closely.


    Whatcha doin¡¯ there, Ally?


    ¡°Hm? Oh! Ah-, you spooked me! Don¡¯t sneak up on me like that! This?... Oh, well, I¡¯m thinking of what I should bring¡­ We can¡¯t bring everything, after all. I¡¯m thinking of bringing my scalpel, the automaton, and¡­ Sven.¡±


    Sven?


    ¡°The p-, plush.¡±


    Why would you-, ah, I understand.


    No worries, I won¡¯t tell nobody~


    ¡°I don¡¯t like that mischievous look you got, but¡­ alright. Let¡¯s go. To think I¡¯d delve into a Catacomb at this tender age, ahh-,¡±


    Catacomb? I¡¯m sure there will be no dead fellows down there! Apart from me, of course.


    ...Let¡¯s not think about it.


    Alright! Twoey, you lead the way!


    Twoey gleamed brightly in the dark tunnel. I had to hunch to fit, but Allan did just fine, so, I guess I¡¯m just really tall?


    Or it might be that I¡¯m the size of a full-grown man and Allan is still just a kid.


    Well, doesn¡¯t matter!


    Tjo-hooo!


    The tunnel was quite long, at least a hundred or so meters, but it eventually opened up to a larger cavity, much like the previous caves.


    The cave was mostly empty. Mostly.


    I couldn¡¯t see too clearly, but there seemed to be something moving about in the shadows¡­


    Slowly, I made my way into the cave, Allan following closely behind.


    As we entered, six torches lining up around the walls lit up in a blue, eerie light, taking whatever was moving into view.


    Rats.


    Big, fat, muscular, grey rats.


    Allan, understandably, shrieked.


    So would I, had I had windpipes.


    I did not.


    Hey Allan, how about we turn this ship around and bolt for it-,


    H-, hey, Allan, you¡¯re frozen solid-,


    There was a great skittering noise behind me.


    I turned around.


    My eyes met theirs.


    Good god.


    There must be atleast five dozen of them. Each one must have been a solid meter long.


    I don¡¯t want to explore the tunnel anymore.

 Chapter Eighteen: Burrnnnnnnnnn

    What am I saying-, get yourself together, me!


    It¡¯s just a couple rats!


    Oversized for sure, but a rat is a rat!


    ...Do we have any rat poison on hand?


    Allan?


    Twoey?


    No¡­?


    Well, then, there is only one thing left to do!


    Burnnnnnnnnnnnnnn


    Holding out both my arms in the general direction of the humongous rats, two pillars of flame shot out. It hurt like a bastard, but it¡¯s worth it.


    ¡°SQUEEEEEEEEEE¡±


    I couldn¡¯t see how Allan was taking this since he was behind me and all, but I¡¯m sure he appreciates not having to stab rats.


    ¡°Good god¡­¡±


    Yes, Allan, I know. Disgusting creatures.


    After a couple seconds of burning everything I could, and couldn¡¯t, see, I eventually let my flames dwindle out.


    Before us was just a whole bunch of small piles of ash.


    Nice.


    - You have lost 13 mana due to continuous use of - Fire Lv.1 -. - Fire Lv.1 - has leveled up to Lv.2. You have gained 36 exp from defeating 16 Fat Rats. -


    Also nice.


    Hm.


    Did they have orbs or not?...


    I don¡¯t really remember seeing any orbs on them¡­


    Brr.


    A chill came over me suddenly-, hey, don¡¯t walk through me, Allan!


    ¡°¡®Scuse me-, lord, you really burnt them to a crisp, didn¡¯t you? I know I panicked too, but I¡¯ve read that when entering a catacomb, you should try to kill any animals gently so you can eat them later, since you¡¯ll often be there for a while.¡±


    Ah, yes, I see.


    I¡¯ll remember that for next time.


    Until then¡­


    Why didn¡¯t I gain any mana from killing these?


    I gained a fair bit of exp, so, maybe¡­


    Maybe the mana is stored in the orb?...


    Good god-, of course it is! I¡¯m stored in the orb!


    Aaah, I¡¯m stupid-, but this is quite valuable. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Alright.


    Kill animals gently.


    Like stabbing.


    And burn the ones with orbs?


    Sounds good!


    Let¡¯s go!


    At the very end of the little cave, there was an opening, about as large as Allan.


    Aka, a little to small for me.


    But fret not!


    If I so desire, I can simply phase through walls, like this!


    Hnnng-,


    - You have lost the ability of - Phase - due to compression. -


    Ah, yes, I see.


    It seems I shall have to hunch my back to get inside.


    Very well!


    But this isn¡¯t the last you¡¯ve heard of me, Dr. Magnus Madman!!


    ¡°Why are you shaking your fist at me, did I do something wrong?...¡±


    Hm? Oh, no, sorry, that wasn¡¯t for you-,


    But come on, let¡¯s continue!


    The next room remained dark despite the both of us being inside.


    Hey, Allan? How ¡®bout you go grab one ¡®o those handy torches from the room right on over?


    Just kidding, I can literally put myself on fire.


    My index-finger quickly lit up in a brilliant little blue flame, illuminating the very much empty room.


    Empty?


    Yes, yes, very empty.


    - As you have set your finger on fire, you will now lose 1 mana per 2 seconds. You have 124/80(+80) mana left. -


    The room was small and perfectly circular, like being in a very small dome, with no door in sight.


    Very interesting.


    Allan, what the fuck is going on?


    ¡°I-, I¡¯m not sure, maybe we went the wrong way?¡±


    This was the ONLY way, fella.


    Well, let¡¯s go back and see if there¡¯s any other way we didn¡¯t see-,


    Wait.


    Where did the door go?


    Allan?...


    What did you do?...


    ¡°What is it now-, oh. I-, I think I may have heard of this. It¡¯s a type of room where you have to figure the trick out/learn a moral lesson before you can leave, and you have to do so quickly, since the air can run out at any second. But, then again, this isn¡¯t much of an issue since you can just create air to keep us alive.¡±


    Create air?


    ¡°...What, didn¡¯t you understand?¡±


    Nope. I know I can set myself on fire, but air?... That¡¯s a bit far-fetched, isn¡¯t it?


    ¡°...You can do that, right?¡±


    I don¡¯t think so?...


    ¡°Make air. Right?¡±


    Nope.


    ¡°Good lord. Alright, uh¡­ You can make fire, right? I see you can, so¡­ Well, making air out of mana is surprisingly easy. Firstly, you really need to understand what you are and what you want to make, and then you need to-, what are you doing?¡±


    Hm? Ah, yes, I¡¯m making air. Atleast, I think I am¡­ I haven¡¯t taken a breath in a real long time, but I think I know how air is done.


    - You have gained the ability - Air Lv.1 -. - Air Lv.1 - uses 1 mana per sec. -


    There we go!


    Easy peasy!


    ¡°What are you-,¡±


    I shot the fresh air in his face.


    Pssshhhhh.


    ¡°I-, you-, hm. You¡¯re quite versatile, aren¡¯t you? Well, we still need to get out, but¡­¡±


    My mana is running out, like, really fast.


    I¡¯m just worried that the fire will eat up all the air¡­


    ¡°Oh, the fire? Don¡¯t worry about that, magical fires only need mana as sustenance.¡±


    Convenient!


    Damn, you¡¯re like a little walking encyklopedia!


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m assuming you¡¯re wondering why I¡¯m so knowledgeable on this stuff, and that is, well¡­ Grandma believed that once I ¡°unlocked¡± my mana, I would go on exploring the world and stuff, and since she wanted her memory and everything she had learnt to live on, she taught me everything she knew. Well, not everything, but almost everything.¡±


    Oho! Nice!


    So, can all that good knowledge get us out of this situation?


    ¡°Well, I¡­ I¡¯m not sure. Could you shine a bit brighter so that I can see the walls more closely?¡±


    Huh? Oh, sure.


    This is going to cost even more mana/sec I can tell¡­


    My entire hand was quickly consumed by flames, making the whole room brighten up so much that once could see every little detail.


    Hm.


    The walls of the room were covered in strange symbols, going from the horizon to the very roof. The colour of these was a dusty, bleak beige, and the symbols, having the same colours themselves and only barely protruding from the walls, were near invisible.


    ¡°Aha!¡±


    What¡¯s it now, dear?


    ¡°Look! Here, at the very bottom, it just cuts off!¡±


    Cuts off?


    ¡°Yeah, I think we may just be standing in one half of a larger sphere, and this is where it cuts off!


    I see¡­


    ¡°These symbols must be Fanfandera¡­ I can¡¯t read it, but, could you come a bit closer? I think there may be some Yan mixed in there, and that I can actually read. Not fluently, but¡­¡±


    Right right, I¡¯m coming.


    As I stepped closer, my hand stretched out towards the wall, some of the smaller, much more elegant and smooth than the others, started shining brightly.


    Oh!


    ¡°Oh!! Look, I think I can read what it says! Let¡¯s see, huh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh¡­ Something about light? I¡¯m not sure, I kind of sucked at Yan since I didn¡¯t think I would ever need it¡­ But try shining a bit brighter, will you? And maybe like, if you do it in the middle of the room, I can see the rest too?¡±


    Right, sure.


    I¡¯m just not going to tell him that it hurts like a motherfucker, even if he asks-,


    Alright, here we go.


    Middle of the cave.


    Everything¡¯s shining brightly.


    But I¡¯m sure it can shine more!


    What little mana is around Allan will protect him, so¡­


    Here we go-,


    The flames enveloping my hand quickly spread to the rest of my body, and the second I was entirely lit, I could see the whole room light up in a brilliant flash of red, and I could only just see-,


    - You are now losing 100 mana/second due to overexerting the - Fire Lv.2 - skill. -


    Oh shi-,


    I think I might have exploded just before I passed out.

 Chapter Nineteen: Good Morning~

    When I woke up, it was very dark, and very silent, and a little bird was staring me in the face.


    Gah!!


    I wanted to draw back in fear and surprise, but something was hindering me from moving.


    Where-, what-, who-,


    Oh, right, I passed out.


    Allan, you better not be fifteen, I have yet to teach you the dangers of GHB¡­


    Hm.


    Considering my size, I must have, oh, I don¡¯t know¡­


    - You currently have 1/80(+80) mana. -


    A single point of mana??


    Alright. Well, if memory serves me right, I should be able to shift my focus from where I am(presumably my orb) to some other, far more preferable location.


    First up, I collected all the mana that was currently dispersed around Allans body like a fine, protective layer, and focused it on his shoulder.


    Why his shoulder, you ask?


    Well, I¡¯m certainly too small to create a full body, but if I just make a tiny one that¡¯s really close to Allan, I should at the least be able to, well, exist.


    So, soon enough, a tiny little blob formed on Allan(whose shoulder was the size of a mountain I tell you), which soon took the form of a very small little creature I would best describe as a Brownie-like creature, if you¡¯ve ever seen one of those.


    At this height, I could actually see what was going on and where we were.


    The where was a small crevice in a larger cavern, right beside a small fire. Hey, isn¡¯t it dangerous to have a fire inside, wouldn¡¯t the smoke-, oh.


    There was a pipe-like hole right outside the crevice in the roof of the cavern, into which all the smoke went/was sucked into.


    Ah, yes, I see.


    Allan was-,


    ¡°So, did it work?¡±


    ¡°Chririchririchwie¡±


    ¡°Really?! It did?! Where is he?¡±


    Where who what


    ¡°C, chwie¡­¡±


    ¡°On my wh-, AH!!¡±


    AH!!


    Don¡¯t look at me that suddenly, you''re the size of mount rushmore!


    ¡°There you are, I was really worried!¡±


    Why, how?


    ¡°I had to meditate for almost a whole quarter of an hour!¡±


    Wait, more importantly, why can you talk to that bird?!


    I pointed (with the whole hand) at the weird bird perched on his index-finger.


    ¡°Oh, this? It¡¯s my self-made automaton, Kricky!¡±


    ¡°Cwiewiewie!¡±


    Ah, yes, I see.


    Wait, automaton?!


    As in, robot?~


    Don¡¯t tell me that¡¯s a robot.


    ¡°What, you want to ride her? I¡¯m not sure¡­¡±


    R-, ride?...


    I can ride her!?


    I¡¯ve cared for you since you couldn¡¯t even get your own damned milk, and this is how you thank me?!?


    ¡°You look quite upset, is everything-, ow!¡±


    I know it¡¯s generally frowned upon to hit a child, but when the child is the size of the Globe and you have the proportionate strength of a worm, it should be alright, right? Right.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Anyways, I punched him in the neck until he caved in.


    Couldn¡¯t stand the strength of his old man, could he?


    Nope, I¡¯m simply too powerful.


    Putting the finger upon which the bird was perched to his shoulder, he gently cooed to it, telling it to ¡°just go along with it¡±, whatever that meant.


    Kekekeke.


    The bird anxiously hopped over to me.


    H-, huge!


    It was at least twice-, no, trice my size!


    Come over here, you oversized parrot!


    The bird gently bowed its head, and I nimbly mounted it.


    Hm?


    It may have a fluffy shroud of feathers, but underneath, it¡¯s as hard as steel!


    Curious.


    So it really is a robot?~


    Fly me to the moon~


    ¡°Cwie¡­¡±


    It waddled like a duck over to the edge, and taking a deep breath(do robots breathe?) it plunged to the depths below.


    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


    Spreading its wings, what was once a one-sided plummet became a swooping arc, and within only a second, it had turned around entirely, going upwards instead, and with a few beats of the wings, we were airborne.


    For a moment or so, I enjoyed the freedom of it all with perfect fashination and freedom, but after that moment was gone, the realization that I could fall to my(seeming) death at any time stole that pleasure from me, replacing it with boundless dread and fear.


    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-,


    I did not scream.


    AAAAAAAAAAAAAA-,


    Not in the least.


    Allan chuckled with a thundering intensity, bringing him to my attention.


    Sitting beside the little fire, wearing his gown and glasses like always, he looked as he always had.


    So, most likely, no years have passed since I passed out.


    But, then again, if that¡¯s the case, where are we, and¡­


    What¡¯s that roasting over the fire¡­!?


    Looks like a lizard.


    Or something.


    I can¡¯t say that I was thinking this in clarity when I was soaring on a horse-sized bird hundreds of meters(my perception) in the air, but I almost thought it like that, so¡­ close enough?


    My thoughts at the time, in short, were:


    AAAAAAAAPUTMEDOWNPUTMEDOWNPUTMEDOWNoh,AllanlooksashealwayshasAAAAAAAAAPUTMEDOWNNNNN


    And that¡¯s about it.


    Story of my life, really.


    After about a minute of me and birdie circling the maniacally giggling mountain Allan, the birdie must have decided to go a bit further away, so it did just that, while I, my tail already having been at the breaking point, plummeted to the hard rock ground below.


    I gave one last eardrum-shattering shout before Allan gently caught me in his plain-sized hand.


    O-, oh! Nice catch!


    ¡°Wow, you fall really slowly, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Alright, maybe not as nice, but still! Ya saved me!! My life is literally in your hands!!!


    ¡°Hey, hey, are you alright? I know it¡¯s weird to say, but you look a bit pale there, fella.¡±


    How-, alright, I¡¯m finally here, and square, and there you are, so¡­


    How(questioning look, holding jaw between index and thumb, arm resting on the other(clutching the stomach), raised brow)


    Long(Hands together in clasp, hands separate until there is apx. one meter between them, hands clasp together again(slowly))


    Sleep?(Palms together in prayer, pressed against right cheek, body leaned towards the right, eyes closed)


    ¡°I¡¯d say about an hour or two¡±


    Oho! Surprisingly little!


    So, a quarter of an hour was spent on meditating me back from the dead, what did you do the rest of the time?


    ¡°I spent the time fumbling through the dark, killing a couple lizards that dwelled in this cave with the knife and finding a very conviniently placed faggot, along with an even more convinient little matchbook.¡±


    Wait a what


    ¡°Yeah, I was really surprised too! But I¡¯ve heard just about anything can happen in a catacomb, so you¡¯d better not question it!¡±


    No I mean the thing before


    ¡°Anyhow, so I ate one of the lizards and I thought you might like the other?¡±


    A-, anyhow?...


    That¡¯s very considerate of you and I¡¯m proud that it¡¯s your body that I inhabit, but A, I don¡¯t think I CAN eat and B, what did you just call a fa*got?!


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want it?¡±


    Well-, I-, I¡¯m-, alright, sure, whatever, just hand me the lizard.


    ¡°It might be a little big for you, but, here you go.¡±


    Wh-, whoa. It¡¯s much larger like, close by.


    It must be the size of a rhino¡­


    What, you want me to grab it?


    Sir, I am the size of a mouse, I doubt I can-,


    Whoa, don¡¯t just thrust it on me-, oh gorsh-, what is-, oh lord


    Come on muscles, I know you can do it-,


    Arghhh-,


    Current situation: balancing the lizard on the end of the stick above me, trying real hard for it to not fall over.


    I accidentally sent a pleading glance towards Allan, which was taken in frankly all the wrong ways, since he glared at me, and then the lizard, in a ¡°come on, do it¡± manner.


    I-, well-, alright-, I guess I¡¯ll just, like, bite the tail or something?


    S-, sounds good let¡¯s try that-,


    My first meal in twelve years¡­


    ¡°Nomch¡±


    Chomchomchomchomch.


    Not bad, could use some salt, but otherwise very well coo-,


    With a thundering boom, I was suddenly pinned to the ground by what I soon realized to be the tail of the lizard, which had somehow fallen off. The other, more lizard-y part of the lizard fell the other way, hitting the ground with a ¡°THOOOOOM¡± like some nord lizardman warrior shouting.


    I stared in horror as my life crumbled down.


    I was no less disturbed when I noticed that the little meat that I had eaten was visibly travelling through me.


    Through the neck, down the torso, into the abdomen, and then¡­


    Into the tail?


    My tail.


    My tail always makes me realize what a weird situation I¡¯m in, but this time, that sensation was taken to the max as a little clump of chewed-up lizard-meat travelled with startling speeds towards Allans chest.


    How was Allan taking this?


    Well, at first he was laughing at my precarious situation, but once he noticed I had stopped struggling against the five-tonne tail and was instead staring at my tail, he noticed why I was staring.


    And his face turned pale.


    Actually, what did I expect?


    Well, not this, but still.


    ¡°Hey-, can you stop this?¡±


    Allan, you look a bit pale, are you alright?


    ¡°Stop smirking!¡±


    Smirking? What, noooo, why would I ever smile at your sorrows?


    Allan, realizing I wouldn¡¯t/couldn¡¯t help him feverishly grabbed at the little string of mana through which the clump was travelling, but it was of no use, no matter how hard he held the hair-thin strand, the clump just went right on through, like some god-damned juggernaut.


    Nice.


    The second the clump hit the ord, at which point Allan was extremely confused/put off, it gave out a little sheen of light and disappeared.


    - You have gained 1 exp and 1 mana. You now have 2/80(+80) mana and 1/80 exp. -


    Hm. Nice.


    Now, what to do with this new mana¡­


    Grow bigger?


    No, wait, Allan needs to have some mana around him so I can keep an eye on him.


    ¡°What just happened?...¡±


    I gained more mana.


    Alright¡­


    First up, form a thin layer of mana around him, then, make all the mana in tiny little strands, curl them, and¡­ pristine!


    ¡°Wait-, why am I all fluffy-, oh!¡±


    Hm?


    ¡°Right, I¡¯ve read that all reputable mages do this with their mana to be able to perceive everything around them! I think it¡¯s called ¡®Curling¡¯?¡±


    Y-, yes.


    Nice to know I¡¯m a reputable mage, at least¡­


    ¡°Hm. Well, not that you¡¯re finally to and all, I guess we can continue exploring? I was thinking that you could scout ahead and check it out before I go in as well? I¡¯ve got the knife here, so don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    Sure, alright, I¡¯ll do that, where¡¯s my soon-to-be-sarcophagus?


    He pointed over to a hole in the corner, small enough for Allan to only barely get in if he were to crawl. Hm.


    I made my way through the darkness until I stood face to face with the hole.


    Looking back, I could see Allan doing a thumbs-up for me.


    Alright, alright, I gotcha.


    Let me just mentally prepare myself, alright?...


    I¡¯ll have to use all the mana I¡¯ve got around him just to walk in here¡­


    Anyhow, back to the hole at hand.


    It was very deep, at least like five meters, and I really couldn¡¯t see what¡¯s at the end.


    Cautiously, I entered the hole.

 Chapter Twenty: The Light at the End of the Tunnel

    Th-, this is not spooky. Not at all.


    How long have I been walking?...


    It¡¯s so dark, I wish I could light myself but then I¡¯d die after two seconds, so that¡¯s a no-no, but¡­


    I look forwards, it¡¯s dark.


    I look behind me, it¡¯s dark. But atleast I can see my tail extending into the unknown distance.


    Above, dark. Below, dark.


    Also, I think I might have become even smaller as I moved forwards.


    But anyways!


    I need to keep going!


    I hope Allan is alright, I had to retrieve all the mana-fuzz around him to continue moving¡­


    Anyways, back to the-,


    Is-, is that¡­?


    A light?!


    Gasp!!


    Let¡¯s go!!


    I started running, but was soon caught dead in my tracks.


    N-, no, not now!


    I can¡¯t move.


    I¡¯m too small to continue.


    No choice left¡­!


    I tugged twice in my tail.


    We hadn¡¯t talked about any special signs for when he should follow, but¡­


    It¡¯s safe so far, so he should be alright.


    I could feel Allan tug my tail twice in response, and I could move again.


    Nice.


    I couldn¡¯t see Allan behind me, but considering how my tail was loosing up, he must be gaining on me quite quickly. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Well, I ain¡¯t falling behind!


    With newfound motivation, I almost ran through the small tunnel, only hearing the occasional grunt behind me.


    And, eventually, I saw the light.


    I gasped in exhaustion, feeling the unfamiliar light bask me pleasantly.


    The room itself was lined with grey bricks, resembling a medieval chamber of some sort.


    It even had some chains hanging from the ceiling, how very spooky¡­


    Hm. Now that I look back at this tunnel, well, in a word¡­


    It seems dug out.


    As if someone who escaped from this place just dug a narrow hole to escape.


    Hm. Very interesting.


    Allan should be out soon, so until then¡­


    I¡¯ve been thinking.


    And what I think is¡­


    Holding a knife is impractical, and I really don¡¯t like Twoey.


    Burning hurts me and uses up mana.


    But, as I¡¯ve known for quite a while, I can interact with things.


    So, if I could simply use my body more effectively, I should be able to, well, you know¡­ ¡°move things¡±(kill) far easier.


    For example, instead of burning them, I could simply form my arms¡­


    Like¡­ so.


    I formed my very small arm to resemble a javelin of great sharpness and stabbing-ability.


    So, if I could simply stab someone, that would be quite harmful, right?


    But even more, once I do, you know¡­ get in there? I could try and envelop, like, the organs¡­ cut off it¡¯s access to the rest of the body, and, well¡­


    It feels horrible to describe, but if I can just get in there, I should be able to dispatch just about anything(and anyone).


    Anything to protect Allan, I suppose¡­


    And myself, too, but, well, I¡¯ve died once already, and I don¡¯t think it¡¯s that bad.


    But, for the moment, I must life, if only to keep Allan alive!


    Speaking of the devil!


    Allan¡¯s dirty little head popped out of the hole behind me, a little cloud of dust exiting along with him. His brown glossy hair had turned a dim, grey-ish colour, and his glasses were entirely muddied.


    Allan! Excellent timing!


    With just the slightest jerk of the mind, my body had not only snapped right back around Allan¡¯s body, but reformed as a little guy on his shoulder again.


    ¡°You¡¯re, koff-, getting real good at that. Or have you always been?¡±


    I¡¯m quite proud of my proficiency, I¡¯ll have you know.


    Going from a human to a purely energy-based lifeform ain¡¯t easy. I can now sympathize with Superman, something I never thought I would/could.


    ¡°...I have no idea what you mean by that, but this place sure is eerie, right?¡±


    Hm? How so-, oh-, heck-,


    How did I not notice a skeleton before he pointed it out!?


    God, I almost had a heart attack!


    ¡°...Did you not notice it?...¡±


    Shut it!


    Let¡¯s-, let¡¯s not think about it, ok?


    He¡¯s just sleeping, ok?


    Ok.


    ¡°...¡±


    O-, oh, look! There¡¯s some stairs over there, let¡¯s go check them out!


    ¡°Yeah, sure, let¡¯s go up, this is really quite spooky, after all.¡±


    Allan took strides that must have spanned plains(had I been normal sized) and made his way to the stairs in less than 5 seconds, atleast one tenth as long as it would have taken me to run.


    Damn.


    What a beast.


    The stairs only went up five or six steps, and after that we were in a rather short corridor. An empty one.


    I¡¯m getting real tired of hallways, but the stairs were a nice diversion.


    ¡°I sincerely hope that no spooky skeletons will jump out at us¡­¡±


    H-, hey! Don¡¯t raise any flags!!


    Luckly, not a one spoopy skeleton jumped out at us from the dark.


    ¡­


    ...Two did.


    Two spoopy skeletons.


    Their jaws made a kittering sound, much like someone laughing ¡°NYAHAHAHAHAHAHHA¡±, but I don¡¯t think skeletons can laugh, since they don¡¯t have any throats. To laugh with.


    One was holding a sword and the other a spear.


    In both of them, in the very middle of their chests, inside their ribcage, an orb floating menacingly. One was blue(in the shorter one(with the spear)) and the other was orange.


    Mana was spilling out of these cores, filling up the whole skeleton and the outside too, making it look like a mana-human with some bones in there.


    Hm. So that¡¯s what I would look like if I didn¡¯t like Allan¡­


    L-, let¡¯s not think about it!


    Spoopy skeletons!!


    Let¡¯s kill!!!

 Chapter Twentyone: Spooky Scary Skeletons

    I am aware that my last entry might seem a bit morbid, especially since I¡¯ve never seen a skeleton in my life and this is really and truly(and actually) spooking me out, but if I just keep going at it, I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be fine.


    ¡­


    Why is nothing happening?...


    The skeletons are gnawing their teeth and glaring at me and Allan with two very evil eyes(one for each), so, why aren¡¯t you doing anything, Allan?


    Who, me? I should be doing something?


    I¡¯m like two mana! At most!!


    Even if I wanted to help, what could I do?


    I could probably have phased through them, gotten straight to the core and, I dunno, destroyed it? But I ain¡¯t how I used to be!


    Allan, you¡¯re my only hope!


    A-, Allan, you look pale¡­


    You always look somewhat pale, but you look straight-up porcelin at this point!


    Come on, go at them! Stab stab!


    ¡°Th-, this, no, I-, we have to retreat-, this is not something I can do anything about-, we should just-,¡±


    Just go back? There¡¯s nothing behind us, remember? There¡¯s only one way to get ahead- through them!


    ¡°...¡±


    Ah. I see how it is.


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    No worries, papa Magnus is gonna show ya how the big boys do it.


    Atleast I think so?


    I¡¯m kind of apprehensive about putting my little plans into play, but, you know¡­ mistakes are required to pregress, right? Unless they result in your death, then it was kinda, well, useless?


    Whatever-, my little mini-body swiftly and soundly dissolves into the thin coat of mana around Allan¡¯s body before the whole mass suddenly pools on his forehead, forming a little blob.


    ¡°What in the world are you-,¡±


    Locking in on target, calibrating¡­


    Alright.


    Right in the forehead of the blue one.


    That oughta do it, right?


    Right.


    Here we go.


    Ptoom-


    With a silent ¡°ptoom¡± only I could hear, my needle-thin body was thrust through the air, and into the forehead of the blue skeleton. However, unlike my expectations, instead of cracking it open or something, instead, I somehow created a little pinprick through which I kind of fell.


    Where in the heck am I-,


    - Would you like to absorb the 23 corrupt mana in this cavity? It will cost 1 mana to purify. -


    Huh?


    Uh-, uhm-, yes?...


    - Commencing. -


    Tch, I can never be as robotic as that voice¡­


    ¡°Hey, what did you do-?¡±


    I have no idea, but I can feel what little mana I have pooling in the hole-cavity. In the skull. Where the brains hould be.


    Ugh-,


    I can feel how around half of myself is drained and dispersed in the skull-cavity.


    The complete darkness in there was lit up for a second, revealing the pale, yellow-ish bone and my little mini-me form that I apparently took in self-defense standing in a huge blob of slowly dissappearing dark blue goop.


    Please don¡¯t be brains please don¡¯t be brains


    The goop slowly dissappeared, the blue light shining quite brightly. I could feel myself getting bigger already.


    Soon enough, I just about filled up the entire cavity with just myself, and the blue goop was gone, so I guess that was the ¡°corrupt mana¡± the voice spoke of?


    - You have absorbed 23 mana. You now have 24/80(+80) mana. -


    Nice!


    Alright, this farce is over, time to mimic a terrifying sci-fi villain!


    By just flexing my newly created muscles, the bony dome that was my prison shattered into pieces, my small, doll like body bursting out in it¡¯s place.


    Graaahh!


    But instead of the skeleton falling apart as expected, instead, a pair of bony hands grabbed me.


    Urk!?


    And I was promptly thrown to the ground.


    ¡°What in the world-,¡±


    You-, I-,


    The head-less body stood on it¡¯s own for a second before actually collapsing, as I wanted it to.


    But the orb, along with all the corrupt mana(?) glooping around it, threw itself to the other skeleton, who happili accepted the reinforcements.


    In fact, the orange orb already in the skeleton smoothly swiveled up to the face of the skeleton, where it entered one of the eyes, filling it up with, well, orb-stuff.


    The other orb did the same, entering the other eye.


    ...Did I create a boss-monster?


    If so, I¡¯m very sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to.


    Allan, please save me.