I sat down on the warm red intricately-patterned rug in the middle of my room, the Fundamentals of Core Reformation book beside me. I crossed my small legs and joint my hands together in the way one would meditate. I had read something about meditation in my previous life. I wasn't the type to believe in such stuff till now so I didn't give it much thought.
Focus… I thought.
I was trying to understand the sensation of opening my 'gate' so I could do it on command. But, right now I was just a helpless infant who was clenching his stomach tight, trying to gaslight himself into thinking that I was making progress, yet I wasn't.
Agh! It's all so fucking frustrating!
I slammed my small fist onto the rug, a mild crash on the floor.
"Just how does someone manage to do this..? I think there's no getting past the age barrier.. I should just give up.." I spoke in a frustrated tone.
I was easy to give up. Just like Leiter in my past life.
"No…" I quietly muttered.
I can't give up.. that would mean that Leiter and I would be the same.. I don't want to be that sorry bastard version of myself. I'd rather die.
I'm not Leiter now. I won't be the disappointing wretch who gives up every time a little wall blocks my way.
I'll climb it, even if I break my feet jumping down.
"I don't care what I do… I'll become the ideal protagonist." I declared. I'm not sure if it's the delusion of a fantasy reader that fueled me or my distasteful past self, but I was suddenly filled with motivation.
I sat down once again. I would get up either successful, or disappointed.
Alright, let's do this. I thought.
There wasn't much of an in-depth explanation about Manual Cultivation. It seemed that it wasn't that popular and was believed to be orthodox.
I searched for the feeling of blood in my body. I could sense it there, the warm, liquid feeling flowing in my body. I was starting to feel another fluid, this one cold.
Alright! This has to be my innate Mana!
I heard the sudden chitter of a bird outside my window, my eyes opened wide and looking towards it, breaking my focus.
I gritted my teeth.
Focus, Tori. You need to stay focused.
I once again found the feeling of blood pumping in my veins, the warm flow. I felt another fluid in my body. This one was my innate Mana.
I spent seven tries trying to get this feeling, and now, I finally understand what the book meant.
Well, next I need to focus on directing this feeling to my Solar Plexus.
I subconsciously directed the flow of Mana from generally flowing in my body to the center of my stomach. A cold sensation was felt in it. It made my stomach churn but I endured this weird feeling.
As this sensation swirled in my stomach, I felt a sudden warm air around me– despite the early arrivals of winter.
This warm air enveloped my body, concentrating the most at my solar plexus. I understood it quickly.
This was the feeling of Raw Mana. Raw Mana was making its way in the gate that opened in my core.
I suddenly felt this overwhelming weight in my body.
It felt as if a large object was somehow placed in my body and was growing by the second. Maybe this is what the book meant when it said that the body must be able to handle the core.
Shit… it kind of hurts.
The pressure soon turned into a pain that grew rapidly. I quickly got up, dissipating the Raw Mana around me.
The pain disappeared with the Mana, though there was a warm feeling lingering in my body.
It was the Mana I collected in this short while.
So this.. this is what Mana feels like..
I felt a sudden pang of excitement flow out of me.
I jumped in triumph, my eyes closed and my mouth open wide as I cried out a joyous laugh.
"I did it! I did it! I can't believe it! I'm finally on the right track to become the rightful protagonist of this world!" I shouted in elation. Jumping relentlessly.
I then stopped myself, calming the child-like excitement in me down.
"Alright.. I shouldn't get too ahead of myself.." I spoke to myself.
It was true that I managed to do something at the age which I doubted any other person in this world has done before, but after all, it was still a little step, no matter what age, it could be accomplished fairly easily.
I had to make sure things like this wouldn't get in over my head. I needed to stay calm, composed and as fair and ordinary as possible. If I want the life I so wholeheartedly desire.
Well, I should read more about Core Reformation. I want the exact period of time it takes for my core to reform. I can plan what I want to do in the next four years– actually three, since I was about to be 3 years old.
Alright! I've set my goals!
To make sure I live the best life I desire, I'll become strong to protect myself and my family! Well, my father is very strong, so I won't really have to worry until I turn into an adult.
Plus, I'm an aristocrat, so hailing from a noble family surely has its many perks– as I've seen in my almost three years living here.
I took the book off the rug, in my hands and moved to my desk again. After the little Mana breakthrough, I certainly felt very light, refined and firm. I could feel these soft baby muscles were not as soft as they were before. Though, I'll need to train my body to keep up with my growing Mana.
I'll need to observe my dad's training routine.. Great..
I wasn't all that fond of physical work, considering the fact that I worked breaklessly in my past life at many Warehouses, transporting goods from one place to another by-hand.
I read patches of text talking about the various phases of Core Reformation. Such are the following:
Initial phase: A period when the Reformation period is young and budding, constantly growing the body and its limits.
Semi-Mastery phase: A stage where the Reformation is in the awkward stage of incompletion and less constant growth– Mana usually growing in irregular batches.
Seasoned phase: The final stage, where the growth is very small and Mana increase almost halts. In this phase, the power of the person grows by not just meditating, but by killing beings and creatures alike containing cores of their own and absorbing them.
You heard it right. 'Killing'. We had to kill to grow. Such was the cruel rule any person who wanted to grow their power was compelled to. Of course, I knew this would be inevitable. But still, I was partly against it. Partly because- Firstly, I grew up alone, leading to no bonds and no relations. Ever. Secondly, because this world wasn't the same as my old cruel world. This world had kind people. They all cared about me. I didn't want to imagine myself killing anyone that kind.
Well, I'll just focus on the first two phases for now.
With that, I began training myself and focused on increasing my Mana reserves. I would spend three hours everyday cultivating Mana.