"Long live the King. You pesant!"
" Haha, my piratie ways are true, Only the gods can judge me, and no man can stop me on guard, you filthy Count!"
Mars swung the sticks we found as he was dual Wielding. I blocked the first one, but the second hit my hands he flinched, but I did not falter as I aimed for his leg poking it with my Stick, which was longer than both his he began Limping as he yelled at me.
" Argh, a limb is a worth price for your life, ha!"
He fell forward, making me catch him as both his sticks hit me, one in the chest over my heart and the other in my gut.
We both slid as he acted like his leg was bleeding out. While I just cold turkey died in his arm. He was so into it that he went on.
" No, you were my friend, and you brought it to this point. Why, my friend!!! "
He laughed as the girls came into the cargo bay. Don't worry, everyone knows. Everyone understands that Ken is a girl since no one can ever alter nature... It happened on our third day on this ship here, so it was something we all had to actually sit down and discuss our real situation, which brought us a bit closer.
Turns out there is no comparison, and I am no more than a mere bug in the presence of two princesses and an actual child, King, that was before they got stuck with me. Now we are just four orphans on a ship left to us by the orphanage patron.
Their stories are our smaller problem. The bigger one was only one of us, which was me, knowing our location and objective, so I decided to keep it to myself. However, over these past few days, I have noticed that the situational awareness of the other three is low... On this ship is like being in an escape room. there are puzzles and so much more around us. The little android I have taken to calling Alien is my new Tamed Creature, who has been evolving into a new being called a robotic golem. It knows something but remains silent. Even though it recognizes me as its leader!?
I felt my mental strength bolster again as my soul shook, feeling the connection to the egg, but having two connections has made it harder for me to hatch it as the Split is distracting. Unfortunately, when they ask for food, I only have mana to give them, but they can make it enough. The Golem has finished evolving but also requires a small amount of mana. It has Shown No New development and seems to just sit in a corner.
It's been closer to five days now, and we began exploring through their own awareness they have started to find the puzzles.
The real thing I was surprised about was that once they found it, the game was on.
We took a whole two days searching the ship, finding hundreds of puzzles.
When we all sat down for lunch, obviously, I had thought that since I had known more, I was going to get the most out of any. Instead, I looked over to Ken, who had a large pile of notes, Toys, Candies, and even a few keys?!
The next biggest was me, then lumi, and last was Mars. everyone looked, please, either way, as we had taken the time to go over everything. Most of the notes had a clue all pointing to a hidden room within the ship with some secret information about all four of us. seems we have become an actual mystery? It took us another five days to find that room, The frame of time was something it seemed we had lost. In between searching, we would meditate to circulate mana and soul strength. none of them needed to stretch their souls, but I didn't tell them that... to be honest, I was just going through the motions like the teachers at the prep center showed. I had no idea if it made a difference or not, but it was something to pass the time in between searching and sitting. There was not much else to do, but search and wait. There were two things we couldn't figure out the case in the safe and the cockpit.
They were both locked tight. At this point, we had no choice but to accept our fate as everyone got tired of looking around, and that is until Mars found something in the cargo bay. he was in the cargo bay laying down when I pointed out the safe was smaller than the wall!? after we took time to measure, we noticed there was a small shape missing and that it had something to do with the safe.
We had just started to call out to the girls when we heard an alarm. It was the first time the ship had done this, A few moments later, we felt a shake that threw us all to the ground! we had no way to find out what's happening outside the ship, but it went eerie quiet. something washed over the ship as I felt my veins bulge. a screen popped into my view.
[ Mana Beast Has Initiated a mental Test]
I felt my mind go blank as I appeared in a white room all around me. Twinkled Light green sparkles like fireflies. I reached out to touch one only to feel a zap like no other.
" That is unwise, child."
I looked around only to find no one present.
" Do not Panic Young one, You are not dead. You and those other four children are Merely frozen in a Mana wave. In which I reside, I felt your essence and decided to test you. Though I feel it is Your choice to say yes or no. As it is nothing special. Those other children will not be tested, although what they see in my mana Wave can vary greatly from good to bad. "
" All I need to know is will we be safe if I say yes or no. Respectively?"
" Shu Gone, mana beast of the void hereby gives his Word. No harm shall befall you nor kin. In the face of my wave, even if you are to do nothing, the benefits to your mana core, mana heart, Meridians, and Mana veins will all strengthen a fair amount."
" Thank you, GrandBeast, I accept!"
Even though I couldn't see him, I bowed.
In the moments of time it took me to bow, the world around me changed.
When I awoke, I was standing in my room next to my couch. On my couch was the Little Robot golem. He was kicking his new legs in joy as he fiddled with a flash light he found. He was absorbing the idea as He shifted his shoulder. A similarly shaped flashlight appeared, although its light was brighter and seemed to follow its view.
I looked at my room, feeling nostalgia it wasn't much, but it was mine. This small Ten by twelve room, My bed had purple and Grey sheets. My dresser was an old, brown pull drawer. the couch was a furry futon again from the old days they had been my Grandparents. It was the only thing my parents gave me. As they told me that these people were no longer around... When they told me I was alone.
No family outside of this house. I felt a pin hit my heart as I looked around on my dresser, which was a small Pedastool sat an egg covered by glass. it had a purple crystalline base that it sat atop. I noticed the pattern in the gemstone it wasn't exactly printed more like it was a curled tail. It moved, and I noticed that there were two different tails moving.
then I felt the connections as mana wrapping my body released it was like a torrent I couldn't stop it. next to me appeared a small Black turtle with a golden shell. I knew this turtle, I reached out for it, calling its name, feeling tears well up! the image broke as I felt myself shrink.
the room began to shatter as all that was left around me was Black! I hurt in my chest, but this small memory brought me back. my first companion, my friend who was taken from me. the memory repression lifted as the flames licked at my soul. I felt the connection I once had faded as my mind closed it off my last soul link slightly cracked as I looked at the cracks. The small vessel had a soul imprint that lost its luster. it's once golden hew melten into a rusted copper.
I reached for it but knew it was lost. I felt a warmth as I accepted that it was gone. I felt the sadness of my companions. Even the golem seemed to twist in angst as it couldn't comprehend its saddened state. yet doing its best for me, it placed its emotions out, making me smile. the connections from the egg were a bit more reserved, but I reached the three equally as I felt them all respond.
"I guess there was some trauma locked behind my eyes. I can see that there are flaws in my soul, but together, we will heal them... the cracked vessel that mark, no the will of its founder can carve a path for Our foundation that will make us stronger!"
I felt the acceptance as my mind once again shifted to a new field. This time, I was in an unfamiliar place with trees all around me it was peaceful, the ground shaped under it, leaving a small garden, the trees grew fruit, and the grass slowly grew as if time-lapsing was taking place for it alone. I spun as if sensing behind me. There was a large creature that I could not make out it connected to my mind as i watched its eyes open, and I noticed that his gentle stare rested not on me but my soul I felt his stare as if that cracked vessel was not inside my soul!
As if I was holding out to him, he followed it, waiting for something.
" I apologize for failing GrandBeast."
He scoffed at my words as we sat there silently for a while. Very few times did his eyes break contact with that vessel, but when it did break the contact, he stared into my eyes.
I heard him smack his lips, making me feel even worse as time went on. I failed his test, and He must have really wanted me to pass...
" You did fail, Boy, but not in a way that I will say I expected... that reason, it seems you have a strong heart even if you have a weak mental force. I can't give you the inheritance I hold, but I can give a way to fix that soul and strengthen that mental fortitude. Meditate with me Boy, and I will impart unto these words of advice."
He let me sit in front of him as I felt him connect to my mind and soul through mana. It was warm. At first, that is then I felt my veins light up like lightning. Electricity was tingling my entire body. I heard his voice speak at me, not to me.
" You will die tensing up like that while meditating, don't you know that if you get interrupted or interrupt yourself, you can implode!"
I let my whole body relax in a second as I felt his approving gaze.
" Let me explain first! You are going to inhale picturing the mana passing at the base of your nose, drawing the mana into the veins the entire time. when you meet the limit, exhale outwards through your mouth. You will picture those impurities as you exhaust that breath, leaving only the pure mana that you will limit into a string as thin as you can mentally make it. Then, you will weave those strands through those veins into the core, wrapping the core. It will be done. Continuesly, until the Strand Are fiber and the fiber are wires, the goal of it is to get those wires as strong Steel Wires. Bolstering your mental strength. As the repairing of the vessel, there is only one way. after you cycle the strand at least once, I will inform you of that method."
His eyes looked to the sky as he Harumphed, then looked back to me.
"we have What could be Six Days, Inside my mana Wave Time rolls Slower as My mana Carries times origin essence. take your time and truly picture the task at hand."
I underestimated the serious issue with his statement. Thinking that the project was easy. it took me almost a day just to get a mental image that was harder than you think. Every time I took a breath and let the mana pulse through the veins, I was only able to get a millisecond of a glance as the mana rushed to it target my core. eventually, I found a path from each limb, including my brain and heart under my mana core. Though through examining the mana patterns, I found my core and heart are connected via veins but are not actually touching.
So Five Strings From each Connection must be woven From Those limbs! Now that Ha! That shit took me Days Two To be Exact it is Easy To make an image but keeping the image, allowing the thread to grow, as I add mana, and Circulate the wild mana that Seems to be muddied with an Impure strange light!?
I put that light aside as I used a strand to follow along the Mana Veins wall wrapping Mana into a fine strand slowly as I go from my biggest meridians in my arms, legs, and head The fourth night, I finally got one strand from each limb to connect to my core, trying them in the center of my core. The Knot formed at the center of my core, but at the same time, I felt a pulse as the light that was Slightly Different From the Mana Started to Fire off wildly. It's Purple Color Muddied the View of my mental space. although it was just a white room with a vascular view of my Bodies veins and organs... this purple felt mustie like a nasty cold. next to my vein guy with as much strength as I could. I created an image of my body using mana, pushing that energy into the body guy without mercy he began to glow with a purple Hue soon enough it had pushed free of all the mana leaving a purple crystalline skinned body.
I could see through him to vein guy, but it felt so much more different as the image felt wrong. It's not like it's missing anything, but I am missing a little information!? I have no clue what, but the white View returned to the room as the Purple crystalline body condensed. It was a purple replica of what looked like armor... No SKIN!! it reminded me of Skin. Like this was the muscle and skin to my vein Guy! Although unlike the vein guy, the crystal body had the eyes, and the family marbles...
I felt pressure immediately set into my spine as I dropped to my knees. I could feel my skin Tighten and Harden, my muscles ached as I went limp noodles on the ground.
I could hear the sound of rocks nashing. I was making a grating sound as my skin and muscles tightened past their point of breaking, and I could see my veins and bones. My skin was so tight, and then it just stopped. My skin went back to normal, my normal old chubby self. although I felt lighter even though I had lost no weight. My skin felt a bit smooth, and it was weird as my eyes cleared, and that was hard to get used to as everything that seemed far away was clear as if it was right next to me, I could see it all in detail.
The mana beast appeared in all its Might as its size was like a mountain in my view. except this time, I could see more of its body it looked like a lions head with a large Turtle Shell on its back it was an obscurity that was never clear no matter how I looked or squinted or Tried to make out something. it bellowed a laugh at me.
" Hahaha, I see you comprehended the crystalline body and even completed a compression cycle. this works for you well, and then the next step may seem so much worse. That may lessen that problem you will face."
I looked at the mana beast that was there it made me shiver as sweat rolled down my back. The mana beast bellowed once more.
" Haha, now let's begin meditation this time instead of mana. we are going to look inward for the soul space, not the Mana Core Space. Something totally separate that feels almost impossible to reach Unless you lose that connection to the realization you have made. Let that space Carry Your Consciousness in revealing your soul, touch that realm, and enter it."
When I had let wise words carry my mind into a peaceful state, I saw a small island with an egg that favor Two Strands that connect them and that island. As for the golem, he was connected with the islands Base, and he had also made a burrow into the island. I could feel it. Searching through the soul ores my soul has created from unpure Manas. it was eating them, making my soul feel cleaner. I felt the meridians fluctuate with every piece it absorbed. It beeped and gave me a thumbs up, He got that from lumi that's like her signature for doing something, be it good or bad. but it makes it work for itself, I guess.
I heard the mana Beasts voice resonate.
" Good, only a day was needed for that Revelation. Now step two Listen close for there is not much time leftover. Take that island, gather all the strength of the walls of that realm, and then think Squeeze. you will feel a zap do this until you break through that realms. Walls and are able to mold that island By will. When you are capable of doing that, then you will probably determine the other uses molding has."
the Beasts voice faded as I felt my body slowly fall into a new field. I woke up on the floor of the ship with Mars laying not too far from me shifted and had begun to wake up. He sat up, looking at me before his mouth sputtered.
"Big Bro, I think I am able to see mana!?"
" Yeah, I'm sure you can. With them eyes glowing like that, I bet you can see anything!?"
He felt his face holding his hand about an inch or two from his face, noticing the light emanating from his eyes. he blinked a few times before it came to his normal eyes, the light only a small glow around his pupil.
The girls came down the ladder only to find us in as much confusion as them. lumi looked at me, accusing me immediately
" What did you do, silver?"
I looked at Mars and then back at her.
" Why me and not someone else?"
" It's the same thing. Even if it was him, you were involved! now spill it what happened and why does my Hands and Feet feel tingly?"
" Hmm, well, what happened was a manawave it may have had Origin mana, which affected us..."
I looked at my feet in thought, and as she said, I also felt a slight tingly feeling through my body, although it wasn't just my hands and feet!? I felt it in my veins, and my skin, and even my muscles felt tingly...
" Does anyone else have a new skill relating to mana?"
I asked the other three, and they looked at me a bit acquisitive.
" Don't look at me like I can see your stats or something!? I am asking because I have a weird skill called mana-gement... "
Mars looking shocked said.
" Ah yeah, Mines called Manawatch? but how is it? we can see the screens without interacting with an A.I. Port?"
lumi looked at him before her eyes flashed a dull look, noticing a hue over her eyes. I realized that whatever was in my eyes was also in theirs but had not been activated until now. What was the change... the mana Wave must have overcharged them and activated them!?
Ken had finally figured it out, making her eyes dull. thinking about that, it sat atop my mind heavy weighing on me. I spoke up, drawing their attentions, making that dull look disappear from their eyes.
" Let's not do that Status looking thing unless we are in meditation or are just our group... it leaves a dull look in your eyes, which is noticeably creepy..."
Ken touched her face before she said.
"Can you show us?"
I sighed heavily as I pulled up my status. They seemed to notice what I was talking about, and we all agreed to look at when in meditation only. I sat down and took the time to teach them like the mana beast taught me.
Ken asked me before i left them to complete a cycle where I learned this, all which I had come up with an answer : the mana told me...
And none of them complained!? they all just accepted it. I didn't lie it indeed had taught me it all. But who wants to tell them there is a giant monster that is intelligent enough to control mana and is probably ten time bigger than this little ship we are on!? Yeah, nope, that's not going to happen. I will tell them eventually, but right now, with nowhere to go or no outlets to vent to, that's not information you need.
I am unusual, on the other hand... I am a bit crazy I guess, so it intrigued me rather than scared me. One day, would I be able to contract a creature like that one. What even was it? I got lost in thought as the others decided to search that small room it took them a few minutes, but Mars got it. Inside was very snug, but it was a hallway that led to a room in the hull of the ship between ladder and the safe, but the room was under the rooms on the top deck which would make it hidden enough.
however, when we got into the secret room, it was exactly what I hoped it wasn't. inside that small room was a biopod... The biopod is a version of the medical pods we use to heal wounds or do surgery. but instead of just healing this, one can suspend someone in a torpor state, allowing them to live in their minds while they travel frozen and unaging. she looked a few years older than us as we all just stared at the pod, not knowing the next step.
Mars was going to say something, but lumi beat him to it as her scream made us all jump. Mars fell, and We all heard a hissing noise!? we all jumped up and ran into the small hallway! peeking around the corner to look at the pod, we could hear the gears whir and the pod opened as its computing system let out a few beeps it spoke aloud.
[ waking patient: ZERO ELEVEN, ROSE EQUINOX.]
< Patient danger Level : (Triple S Chaotic Disaster Class)>" Proceed with extreme caution!"
It was in the next few moments that I felt my body go into a mode of panic from the pressure it was not mana but an altogether different one it felt like a predator had its eyes set on me. It's not like I was the Prey but that I was lower than that, like I was unable to do anything more than fatten the Prey for it to catch!
I wanted to run, but I couldn't even muster a breath in, I turned to look at the others and saw them on the ground clutching their throats. The person in that pod took a step out, and I regretted my life, not the choices, just the whole thing.
I felt my body go limp as the oxygen loss made my eyes go black. I felt them roll back as my mind only had a single thought!
"Will the others be alright?"
I Mustering all my strength told Alien Through our connection the last thing I remember.
before it all went blank, those words echoed in my soul realm.
"Save those three NOW!"