Another World Story

Day Fifty-Four:

The next day, I woke up earlier than usual to begin my daily exercise. Six hours is all I currently have, but that is enough for my current objective.

Hoo... Haa...

Breathing rhythmically, I focused my senses to the mana inside my body. I'm currently meditating inside my room, though the mana I could feel here is not the same compared to the suffocating natural mana of Seira Forest. How to say it? It's like comparing a sea to a puddle? That's how great the gap between the mana here and there. Though I have no choice, this is the best I could have.

Hoo... Haa...

I breathe in and out, locating every inch where my mana flow. To be honest this is the first time I'm doing this kind of thing. I was inspired by the teaching that I've heard when I was inside the second princess's shadow.

-Control Series: Mana Manipulation-, as the name says, it's one of the control series where one control mana to whatever form they want. Though it's not easy to do at all, especially if the mana around is so low. Based on what the professor said yesterday, the control series can't be done alone, in order to grasp the mana inside the body, a person with greater control must guide it so that the one with lower control could grasp the mana to a certain extent.

"This is the most basic of the basics!", is what he said. Though he only touched on this subject for a short while, as everyone in that Magic Academy could already perform them even if not expertly, I was able to understand how it works. That's how amazing that professor explained the topic.

Anyways.

My current objective is to be able to use -Fate- like it's a part of my body. That's why learning mana manipulation would greatly help in that aspect. Though there are other topics in the control series, like attributed manipulations, where you could interfere on specific mana attributes such as; fire, water, wind, earth, light, dark, time, space and more. The raw mana manipulation is the very first step in order to open the doors for those attributed manipulation. After learning the mana manipulation, I'll focus next on learning that attributed series.... That is if I have time...

"This... is truly hard...haa..."

I muttered as I let out a breath.

'I need to clear my mind!'

Thinking so, I erased the useless thoughts inside my head, adding the effects of 'Grim Demeanor', I calmed my mind.

Hoo... Haa...

I could feel the mana inside me, though slightly, I could feel it flow through my veins.The colorless mana inside, flow through my brain, through my heart, my abdomen, then moving to the other parts.

Hoo... Haa...

Every-time I breathe I could feel the mana flow in, and with every exhale I could feel it flow out and dissipating in the air.

Hoo...

I breathe in once again and tried to graps the mana that flowed inside me. Gaining control on the raw mana, I guide it through my veins, passing through minor organs and muscles and as I guide it towards my heart...

"Ugkh!"

My eyes shot open as I felt extreme pain. I immediately clutched my chest as the excruciating pain numbed me.

'I can't breathe...!'

The raw mana that entered my heart blocked it, resulting for my blood to not flow through it.

Ha- Haa- Ha... Haa... Haaa...

I gasped for breath. I felt like I'd die... my vision blurred, my consciousness fading...

.....

Khuuuuf! Cough! Cough! Ha- Ha- Haa- Gulped. Haa... Haa... Haa...

...and before I knew it I was awake.

'Did I collapsed?'

I thought, I then looked ouside the window.

"It seems not much time passed since I passed out... F*ck... It still hurts..."

Hoo... Haa...

Putting a hand on my chest, I regulated my breathing. After a few minutes, my heart became stable, though the pain was still there it was not much.

"Almost died there... F*ck"

I could now understand why it needs two people to grasp the mana. I was foolish to do it by myself... I'm no genuis nor knowledgeable about this things... I should have let someone guide the mana instead of myself...

By doing it myself, the raw mana that I control, tried to merged with the mana inside me, but the moment it did, I lost control over it. That's why, someone with greater control should be the one doing it... If another person with different 'Mana Identity' controlled that raw mana, it would not have merged with mine and just passed through my heart, and to the other parts, resulting for my body to be familiar with the feel of natural mana. And when I use the natural mana, my body and mana would recognised the mana in the air and I could interfere with it to some extent. And as I practice I'd be able to control it.... That's how it would go, but I was a fool to try doing it myself...

Haa...

"Let's do this again!"

I know I failed in all. But even so, I think I could gain better control if I did it alone... Like those OP MC's who solo cultivate their poweres. I know I'm not an MC material, but I follow the rule; 'No pain No gain'. So if I feel great pain by doing this, it could result in great profit as well. Just note, I'm no masochist.

Hoo... Haa...

Repeating the same process as earlier, I calmed my mind, and grasped the raw mana in the air and guide it through my veins.

"Ugkhh....! Again!"

Groaning as I clutched my aching heart. I repeat the same process.

"F...ck! Again!"

Everytime I fail, I went back to start. Calming myself before repeating the process.

Khuuuuf! Cough! Cough!

"...Once more!"

I don't know how many times I passed out, nor how long it took. I just reapeted the process.

"F*cking...YES! Next! The abdomen...!"

After those many repeats, I was finally able to guide the raw mana through my heart. It merged along the way, resulting for it to disappear. So I grasped another strand of raw mana and guide it through my abdomen. I can't start with the brain, I'll surely die if I did so alone.

Haa... Haa... Haa...

Time flowed as I continue to guide it from the start. This time I didn't let the raw mana merged with the mana inside my heart, I failed numerously, until I was able to finally guide it through my abdomen. The mana inside my heart became much more familiar to the raw mana.

"...F*ck...Yeah...!"

I said, raising my hands to the air. There's only less than 30 minutes left before the servant course starts. I feel so exhausted as if I run a 25 Kilometer marathon without stop!

"Ah- I can't move my body..."

My body felt like lead.

'I shouldn't have done this today...'

Feeling dejected as I wouldn't be able to attend my first class. I looked at the notification infront of me, as I read it, a smile appeared on my face.

-----------------

[Notification]

~ 'Basic Mana Manipulation' have been acquired.

--You are now able to interfere with the mana around, albeit slightly.

--Increasing the skill's level and proficiency could create greater change in the mana control.

-----------------

"F*king worth the pain..."

Though basic, it was a greater profit if you're going to consider that I didn't even guide mana through my brain, and other parts of my body. I think it appeared as my heart was able to familiar itself to the raw mana that keeps entering it.

"I should wash now..."

Deciding so, I moved my body. I stumbled a few times as the fatigue was too much, but ultimately was able to take a bath.

After refreshing myself with 'Everyday Water Magic' boiled using 'Everyday Fire Magic'. I changed to my butler tailcoat uniform.

Before going out I activated, 'Poker Face' and 'Cold Eyes' as to mask my fatigue, then headed towards the Civil Academy building. Passin through many facilities and rooms, I head up to the servant course's rooms. I could see no students talking outside... Though there are still a lot who haven't entered their rooms.

By the way, as a quasi-exception to the system. I'm assigned to the most notable class, where the best of the best's servants are. I entered the most luxurious room designed as a half colosseum, and sat at the far back, all the seats infront are already taken.

After flopping myself in the long wooden chair-c*m-table, I looked around the room.

'Notebooks...?'

Seeing the notebooks that each student has infront of them, I then looked down on my table.

"There's nothing..."

I looked below the table, the chair. Yet no notebook was there.

'Am I supposed to provide my own notebook? I was not told that though...'

Looking around once again, I reconfirmed the notebooks infront of the other students.

'They all have one... Ahh... F*ck. I guess I'll buy after this class...'

Deciding that, I gritted my teeth and fixed my posture. My body still hurts.

I waited for the professor, and after a few minutes, an old-woman wearing maid clothing appeared, some part of her skin could be see peeking from the small maid uniform. And some of those aren't meant to be seen.

I looked around and saw the reaction that anyone would make upon seeing such sight.

'...Yep. I'll bleach my eyes after class'

Resolving myself. I heightened my focus and didn't look anywhere aside from the board infront.