Chương 8: Chapter Eight

I hid in the wagon as soon as they let us get back on. Mom gave me a small smile before taking a seat next to Evan for the trip. I could hear her pointing out things to Boyan, just loud enough for me to hear. But I won't leave! What is wrong with me?! Even now I can feel the mana coming to me like a well behaved dog, and I don't know why! Or why it's so important! I pull my knees to my chest and breathe, refusing to let the dampness in my eyes turn to tears. Wait… there is somewhere I can look.

I haven't looked since I Became. Mom and Evan have been so nice. I could do without Boyan's poopy diapers. My status page. I open it with my eyes still closed, and it cuts the darkness of my eyelids, allowing me to tune out the world and still see the information. I skip the first part. I'm still level 1. I still have the same stats, which are so-so except for my mana capacity which is absurd after surviving on pampaw fruit for so long. None of that would explain what's happening. I have to look at my attributes.

I examine the first one in the list, and expand it to read what it actually means. Racial Attribute: Mana Body Your mana capacity exceeds what a standard physical body can contain. Your body has adapted, forming from compressed mana instead of purely physical matter. Effects: Physical damage is partially absorbed by your mana reserves. Regeneration is increased in high mana environments. You remain stable in extreme mana densities. Okay… that… is something. Am I even me anymore? Wait, no. I'm me. I have to be me.

I went to bed. I evolved. I woke up. I just evolved… more than others. Yes. More. There's nothing wrong with more. If I evolved into an elf it would read just like this. Only less scary… and more normal. Crap, what am I? I try to stop worrying by reading the next attribute in the list. Racial Attribute: Mana-Bound Existence Your life is sustained by mana rather than biological processes. Effects: If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

If your mana pool reaches zero, you die. Severe mana depletion causes physical deterioration. Natural recovery depends on ambient mana saturation. I die if I run out of mana?! I squeak in surprise and hear mom and Evan's conversation pause for a moment before picking back up. I can die casting a spell? How much mana do spells take?! Am I going to die going to school? I'm really made out of mana. Then those elves… I shudder.

Then shudder again when I realize I've been holding my breath since I squeaked and don't feel any effects of it even though more than a minute has passed. I force myself to breathe. And after a couple of failed tries, I read my next attribute. Attribute: Mana Sense: Tier 1, Level 5 Allows you to perceive nearby mana. Effects: Sense the presence of ambient mana. Sense basic movement and flow within close range. Clarity and range improve with level. Okay… that is. Normal. Mom said she had that.

She sees everything in yellows and golds like a sun. Or did she say oranges and purples? I try to remember what she said then decided it didn't matter. I saw things in shades of cyan, and have a general awareness of mana. Like a soft breeze on my skin. That's normal… ish. Right? I don't know what it means yet. But I know it's mana. That's enough for now. I decided this one isn't that bad. Attribute: Mana Saturation: Tier 2, Level 1 Your body is adapted to function in high-density mana environments.

Effects: High ambient mana does not cause discomfort. Reduces passive mana leakage to the surrounding environment. That… isn't bad either. Am I pulling mana to me because my body is made out of mana? This one just makes it easier to be in high saturated areas, and stops me from leaking as much mana. That makes sense if I'm made of mana… maybe? It's kind of like I'm bleeding all the time now, and this is just slowing it down. I nod to myself accepting my logic and quieting the part of me that still questions it.

The cart shook, and mom called my name.

"Lyra, we're here. Come and see." I poked my head out of the wagon as it was coming to a halt in front of a four story building with a sign hanging above its door. It showed a lion holding a mug standing on a bed. This is… forget comparing it to my lean-to, this could fit four of the Mayor's houses on its first floor! And stone? Why build a building out of stone? I thought that was only for city walls so monsters couldn't get into town. Do they expect monsters to try to get into the inn?

Are there monsters in cities?

"This is the Dancing Lion. We stay here while we're in Tenoth. They have room for our wagons while we sell the food we picked up in bulk, and pick up the supplies we're bringing back to Enderall. Like I said, we'll be here for five days. If someone can't buy and sell in that time, they don't have any business being a merchant!" His voice carried down the caravan and shouts started coming back.

"Five! Bah, Three's all I need!" while another person doubled down on claiming they needed only two. While yet another said they needed one and would… be doing things that made me blush for the rest. Mom cracked a small smile at the joviality of it, while trying to keep a disapproving face. Evan just laughed.

"Let's go get our room while your father takes care of the wagon. We won't need all the time either, so we'll go shopping after we finish our business. Maybe get you some alchemy equipment." My eyes went wide and glued onto her at the suggestion. I had money… so why not?

"I assume those plants you were staring at along the way you could have used to make something?"

"Yes…" I started to explain as Evan lifted me, seemingly without effort, out of the wagon and set me on the ground.