Chương 13: Introductions

Mana arts and cultivation are two sides of the same coin. Cultivation is when one gathers mana into the core and strengthens the meridians. The meridians grow stronger allowing more push and draw at a given time. The core density determines the pressure of those actions. A dense core with weak meridians pushes potent mana slowly while a light core with strong meridians would push weak mana fast. With that said, "mana arts" is a broad term used to describe what people can use that mana for.

Most uneducated individuals will absorb mana from the environment and it will steadily leak into the muscles and the rest of the body making it healthier and more resilient. As you all can imagine this takes dreadfully long without additional items to draw mana out of like crystals or meat from mana beasts. Those who seek the mage path tend to focus on growing the meridians, to increase their draw from the environment, and condensing their core to increase the potential of the stored mana.

None of this happens independently of the other. There are always limits on how far someone can push themselves physically. Now mana arts can vary wildly depending on the goal of the user. Some fighters boost their body permanently by shoving all mana into muscle growth and bone density. While some focus on external manipulation like enhancing strikes or materials. The more specific the focus a cultivator has, the more efficient the art will be.

If a warrior just wants a stronger body it will cost much more over time than a warrior who focuses simply on their arm strength. Externally this shows with enchanting and runes with very specific enchantments like "sharp" being low mana cost, while broad enchantments like those fancy area effect cooling spells the castle has for summer heat being so expensive it takes actual boxes of crystals to keep up for more than a week.

The complexity of the goal and your understanding of it both play a large part in how efficient the transfer will be. That's why it is important to learn what you can from your mentors. Ultimately no matter the route you choose, the more specific and clear your goal is, the more cost effective your mana use will be. This is extremely important in your first years given how weak the mist cultivation stage mana is.

In layman speak, the cultivation itself is the ability to house mana and use it fast, while the mana arts is what you can use the mana for. —— a lecture for second year students at Crater academy for nobles.

Nasha held her little brother close as chaos ripped through their small village. The screams from grown men and women outside her hut scared her beyond anything she had ever felt before. Mother went to go find father and never returned… when the sun set and the village grew quiet she decided to go find her family. Pulling little Nel behind her she cautiously exited her hut. So much was happening. People were moving here and there talking quickly and some were moving other people clearly too hurt to walk.

Stopping one woman Nasha grabs her hand mid stride.

"Do you know where my mom and dad went? We have been alone for a long time." Stopping abruptly and looking down with tears in her eyes the woman replied.

"Oh hunny I don't know but let's get you two over to the food hut and maybe we will find them there. Most of the village is gathering to find out what is going to happen now." The three then headed off to the largest and best covered hut where large meals are prepared for gatherings. Nasha held her brother's eyes closed even against his protests. The scene was horrible. Loud crying could be heard from several places as villagers held loved ones and tried to help clean up the blood. So much blood.

Nasha had seen someone clean a deer once and knew what blood looked like. It wasn't too bad. But that was one deer. There were so many injured people here and we only had two true healers. Off to one side she saw two men carrying a body draped in hide outside the hut. Nasha knew everyone here. Maybe not every name but every person here. Tears swelled in her eyes at the understanding that so many would never get on to her again for running through the village. With shaky hands she lead Nel back outside the tent.

She needed to find her parents but she couldn't be in there anymore. By now the jungle was dark. Lit only by moonlight the kids slid up against a hut nearby and Nasha covered her brother with her hide dress for a blanket. Nasha woke with a start as something touched her face. Blinking several times to focus her eyes in the darkness of the night she gasped. Squatting in front of her and her brother was Blick. Inside the village.

Removing his finger from near her cheek he smiles down at her and moves her body around gently like he is looking for something. With a nod he checks Nel who doesn't wake at the movements. Finding nothing, he grunts and gives Nasha a pat on her head as he stands up and walks towards the big hut. They can still hear the commotion inside. I guess we haven't been asleep very long she thinks to herself. Then with a frightened realization she jumps up waking Nel, who tumbles off her lap with a yelp.

"Wait you can't just walk in there!" Blick stops and turns back to look at her, clearly not understanding.

"How do I… they don't know you yet… oh dang you don't understand" With a head tilt Blick turns to the hut and then looks back at Nasha again before walking inside as she stands there looking nervously at his back.

Walking through the village was definitely a new experience. I did watch a lot of people moving towards the center of the area so I followed at a casual pace not wanting to alarm anyone but not being able to contain my curiosity. The few people I came across were too distracted by the chaos to realize how different I was, so without anyone stopping me I just wondered into the chaos. Coming close to the main hut with all the activity I hesitate and take a look around.

On the ground across the path and leaning up against another hut with their eyes closed is two familiar small people. With a lot of worry I approach. What if these children are hurt? Why did I sit in that tree if they were at risk? I hadn't even considered the possibility that children would be part of this. I'm terrified that they might not be alive when I reach out and poke the Nasha on its cheek. With a jolt and wide eyes it wakes up and I relax with a smile. Relieved I check them both for injuries.

Happy with the situation I nod and turn to try and find someone who may need help. A few steps away I hear Nasha speaking and I turn around, but I really don't know what she's trying to say. Oh well. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Walking into the hut was a scene I never imagined. There was a lot of blood drying in random places while people knelt beside other clearly injured people.

Some level of organization was happening but I had no idea how to understand it. Stop the bleeding. I can do that. I walk around a few groups before finding someone still bleeding slowly from a shoulder. While their companion was holding a cloth to the wound, the cloth was clearly soaked and could absorb no more. Inserting myself into the situation I reach over and remove the long haired persons hands and the cloth to take a look.

Ignoring the wide eyes an stumbling noises from them, I place a hand on the slowly leaking wound and concentrate. This time I do not close my eyes. I stare into the split flesh and focus on bringing it back together. Somehow this works even faster than before. While not immediate, the results are clear. When there is only a dark red line and the leaking has stopped I remove my hand and nod, moving to the next injured person.

It didn't take long before I was noticing a small crowd gathering around me in silence as I worked on yet another lightly injured person. They didn't speak to me at all tho, which I found strange. Nasha seemed to speak constantly. Finally trembling with exertion from probably the fifth injury I treated I stopped and stood to look for a place to sit and recover. With a glance I recognize how these people who I originally thought were "little" are on average taller than I am.

'Not by much tho' I think with pride. The whole hut was silent except for the handful of truly injured people who just may die soon. Knowing I can't do enough to help save those people I drop my head in sorrow and huff a sound of frustration. Still I have visible improvement. Before all this I could barely repair a single squashed flower. Remembering that, I stand up straighter and focus on the goal. I am cut off by some person with a lot of wrinkles and braided fur on top walking up to me.

They bow low and when they rise they touch my chest with an extended hand. I understand the gesture as appreciative and grunt with my own nod of acknowledgment and walk past them for a place to sit. Finding one out of the way someone brings me a small sack with a little spout on top. Looking at them in question they raise the sack to their mouth and drink. When they hand it back to me I nod and do the same. I eventually get comfortable and without noticing my fatigue I dose off.

Lash, the elderly healer known for smacking young hunters for their stupidity, watched the forest spirit move to a corner for rest and signaled a young man to bring him a water skin. Turning to another two people she sends one to inform the hunters gathered to watch the army camp for any updates, and the other to the elders hut to inform the old grump who just lost a hand in his haste to fight.

'Always trying to poke stuff with their stick, MEN ugh' she thinks with a shake of her head.

"Someone let me know when the wounded are stable. We may be moving soon. A forest spirit showing up in our direction hour is no sign of peace. He wouldn't be here is the gods didn't think we needed aid."

Terran finally helped Chris back into the army camp. He shuddered to think about the bodies they walked passed in the village. While all men, some of the villagers were young. Too young to have served in our army. It became difficult to hide the tears when thinking on the topic so he refused to. Coming into camp was awkward as they had to pass a line of hunters in hide with bows aimed at them as they slowly ambled by.

He even left his and Chris's swords on the ground before walking this direction to show they weren't going to be a problem. Finding a healer was easy. The camp had a designated tent with a green top. The only green in the camp went to the healers.

'No idea why they chose that stupid color'. Laying his charge/ alibi on an empty cot to be treated he patted Chris in the top of his head and went to go find a healer to help. There were some extensive wounds, although there were few wounded left in the tent by this hour. Most of the small stuff was patched and sent away to deal with later, while one cot was covered by a blanket indicating a soldier who didn't service his wounds.

"Can you update me? What happened? We didn't hear any order to attack and just got caught in the fighting." Asking one of the few fully armored soldiers near the exit, all he got was a sad head shake and a look of pity.

"It seems some of the conscripts went into the village and started a war. Nobody knows why yet, but the captain has been yelling inside his tent for over an hour now. It's going to be a tough night. They couldn't find the cook earlier so I'm not even sure if there's warm grub to be had." With a stiff nod and a thanks, Terran … the cook… walked out of the healers tent to go find his own and get to work on some easy to make meat stew.

"Good for nothing, at least I could be cooking!" Raising his chin and firming his resolve he points at two soldiers milling about and shouts with authority, "YOU TWO, we will be delivering grub to the command tent and healers in 15 minutes. Find me some extra hands, and bring them to the cook tent, it'll be the one with the smoke coming out of it." Without waiting for confirmation, he walks onward to finish his self appointed mission.