Chương 56: Chapter 48: More Answers Than I Bargained For I

On our fifth day by the Gate, it activated. I stood up and waited for whoever was coming through… and waited… and waited. It was strange. When I went through the Gate, it was instant. But now, even though I felt the shift indicating someone was using it, it took a long time. After ten or fifteen minutes, I felt the Traveler's presence. I could sense they were there, and far stronger than me, but I still couldn't see them.

I started getting anxious, but none of my usual indicators—Luck, Perception, or anything else—warned me. So, I kept waiting. After about two minutes, the Invisibility dropped, and a man stood there. He had a smooth, youthful face, but something in his eyes made him seem much older. He was about five feet nine inches tall, lean, with tan skin, long black hair, and glowing green eyes. If I had to guess his nationality, I would have thought he came from South America, the Middle East, or a combination of the two.

We locked eyes and just stood there, studying each other. After a few seconds, he tilted his head and asked in English, "What are you doing here?"

"I think I'm waiting for you." His eyebrows shot up, and his stance became more rigid.

"Explain." I rubbed my neck and let out a breath.

"I'm a new Traveler, and there are a ton of things I don't understand. This whole magic thing is confusing… especially my mana. Once I raised my Luck attribute above 20, I could activate it and sense the direction I needed for something. I want to understand how my mana works, so I asked it, and it led me here." His stance relaxed.

"If you are new, let me teach you some Travelers' etiquette. When two Travelers meet, we do not identify each other. Ever. Instead, we introduce ourselves by saying our names and Classes. If one Traveler is new, we say our names and where we are from." He gave a quick bow.

"My name is Lissarom Munyon, but I go by Lis, and I am from Twisaris, a medium-mana world so many Gates away from here that I do not think I have enough life left in me to return." I returned the bow.

"My name is John Rue, and I'm from the planet Earth, a low-mana, low-tech world you just came from." A big smile spread across his face as he stepped toward me with an outstretched hand.

"You are John Rue? Let me shake your hand, and I will answer your questions without expecting an exchange." We clasped hands.

"Why?" I asked.

"Your description of your world helped me immensely. Usually, I dislike tech worlds; they are too confusing. But with all the information you provided, I could navigate it easily and even began to understand the logic of tech worlds for my future travels." That was nice to hear.

"I'm glad it helped you. I tried to be as thorough as I could." He laughed. It was a warm sound, full of fondness.

"A little too thorough, but more is better than less." I gestured toward the valley below.

"I have a camp set up down there. Would you like to join me?" He smiled and nodded.

"Gladly. Thank you." We climbed down the mountain to my glamping tent, and he whistled appreciatively.

"That is a nice tent."

"Thanks. It's like the mansion equivalent of tents." He laughed, sat down on one of the camp chairs, and tested it with a small bounce.

"You have a mansion of a tent, but why use folding furniture instead of sofas or armchairs?" I wanted to facepalm, stopped myself at the last moment, and answered him sheepishly, "Because I didn't think of it…" He laughed again, got up, and summoned two armchairs, presenting them theatrically.

"Better, no?" I nodded, my cheeks getting hot. He patted my arm.

"Do not be embarrassed. You are new; you will learn." I couldn't help but ask, "What do you stay in when you travel?"

"When I am with people I do not know or trust, I use equipment appropriate for that specific world. I use my portable cabin when I am alone or with a trusted group."

"Can I see it?" He stood up, walked a few feet away, and summoned a house. That was no cabin. It was a HOUSE, in the immense sense of the word. It stood on legs or stilts, with a big wraparound porch, deck furniture, and two hammocks. The house was three stories tall, with a steep roof and several dormers jutting out. A tall brick chimney rose from one side. Wide steps led up to the porch, and white railings lined the front and sides.

The second floor had large windows and balconies, while the upper floor boasted even more windows beneath the roof peaks. The walls were painted a muted blue-gray with white trim, and the entire structure looked large and impressive. I stared at it in awe, my mouth hanging open. I pointed at the stilts.

"How did those legs adjust to the uneven ground?"

"Enchanted. Do you want to see inside?" I nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes! Please!" He laughed again and led me inside. Stretch stopped at the door, barked, and sent me a questioning feeling.

"Can my dog come in too?" He paused mid-step and glanced back.

"It is a dog? Not a wolf?"

"Yes, I was surprised too, when I found out." His eyes unfocused for a second. His eyes unfocused for a second.

"Huh! I was sure he was a wolf. Why did you call him Stretch?"

"When we met, he was emaciated and looked stretched. Since then, he gained weight and filled out, so now he looks normal." His eyebrows lifted. He leaned in slightly, studying me.

"You knew how to awaken and bond with a regular animal? That is impressive." I rubbed the back of my neck, shifting on my feet.

"It kinda happened by accident?"

"By accident?" He straightened, and his tone sharpened. I shrugged.

"Yeah?"

"Please explain."

"I didn't know, but I fed him mana-rich meat until he awakened. Then he bit me, licked my blood, and we bonded."

"But how did you know to flood him with mana first, to prime him for awakening?" I blinked, confused.

"Flood him with mana?" He nodded.

"Yes. You can feed regular animals mana-rich meat. Doing so will make them stronger and smarter, but they will never awaken or bond with you. To properly prepare them for awakening and establish a channel for the bond, you must flood them with mana while maintaining pure intentions. Animals are perceptive and rely on instinct. If your intentions are not genuine or pure, even if you flood them with tremendous amounts of mana, they may awaken but will not form a true bond with you.

The sincerity of your intentions makes the difference. Only if you are pure at heart and intend a true friendship and partnership will they fully respond and bond with you." I thought for a moment, remembering.

"When we met, he attacked me, and I hurt him badly. I felt sorry and healed him, along with his old injury. Maybe that's what primed him?" He looked thoughtful.

"Did you have your Luck trait before you met?"

"Yes…?" He smiled, a broad, warm smile.

"That is an outstanding trait. I have it too. It has led me to numerous good encounters and connections. It led you to your companion and helped you take the necessary steps. But if you have already bonded, I recommend you also make him your familiar. It will benefit you both." He turned to Stretch.

"Come inside, Stretch; you should also be part of this discussion." We stepped into the living room, and the space was impressive. The room had a cozy vibe with wooden floors and walls, natural light pouring in through the large floor-to-ceiling window at the back, and a pleasant smell. It wasn't exactly floral, citrusy, or piney, but rather a blend of the tree scents with subtle differences. I sniffed a couple of times, trying to identify the smell, and Lis laughed again.

There were three main seating areas spread across the space. One set of sofas and armchairs, accompanied by a coffee table, faced an unlit fireplace, where wooden figurines sat on the stone mantel. To the right, a cluster of low tables and cushioned armchairs surrounded a long bar lined with bottles. Another arrangement faced the back wall, taking full advantage of the view through the big window. Outside, the porch continued around the house, furnished with more chairs and tables, a fire pit, and a barbecue setup.

The whole layout made the place feel open and inviting.

"Before we talk, can I get a house tour?" He nodded and motioned for me to come along.

"Of course. Follow me." He led me around the house, and it was… wow. Just wow. No other word would do it justice. To the right of the living room was a dining room with an enormous table and sixteen chairs, and a kitchen just beyond it. The kitchen had long counters, round metal plates set into the surface that I suspected were for cooking, an oversized pantry, and a big two-door cupboard. When he opened it, cold air rolled out, and I realized it was a fridge—one side packed with food, the other filled with drinks.

I tilted my head toward the round metal plates.

"Those for cooking?" He gave a single nod.

"How do they work? And how is the fridge cold?" He rested a hand on the counter.

"The entire cabin is enchanted. I have hot and cold water, temperature control, fire protection, shielding from attacks, cooking and baking amenities, and much more." My greedy squirrel woke up and started jumping inside my head, shouting, Want, want, want.

"Where can I get one of those?" He shook his head with a quiet chuckle.

"In a high-mana world. You are not ready. You would be dead in less than five minutes." I slumped my shoulders and let out a long sigh.

"Bummer!" He laughed again, his eyes twinkling as he looked at me. Lis waved me toward the seating in front of the fireplace.

"The second story has four bedrooms with washrooms and two additional toilets. The top floor is my library." He pointed casually at the door on the left.

"If you need a toilet, there is another one there." I flopped onto a couch and leaned back as I took in the space.

"Your home is super amazing, and I'm super jealous right now." He shrugged with a grin, settling into his own seat.

"You can get one, too. It may not have the enchantments, and the size will depend on your Intelligence trait level, but you can get one." I sat up straight.

"Intelligence? What does it have to do with the number? I don't understand." He leaned back and steepled his fingers. His pose reminded me of a teacher or a guidance counselor.

"When we use our Storage, it requires a certain amount of concentration and mental strain. You do not feel it with the small things, but as the size and weight increase, so does the concentration required. You will need Intelligence above 50 for a cabin this size, or you will be unable to store or retrieve it." I checked my stat screen.

"I'm at 49 already, so will I be able to use a smaller house?" His eyebrows shot up.

"You have it at 49 already? How?" I shrugged, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Well, between my Gate Traveler Class, my Profession, and my two Subclasses, it kind of climbed…?" He sat forward and stared at me, utterly bewildered.

"You managed to get a Profession and two Subclasses in a low-mana world? How?" I shook my head.

"I only got the Wizard Class here. I got the Healer and the Merchant on my home planet." He spread his hands and stared at me, looking even more confused.

"You gained a Class and a Profession in a tech world? How?"

"I treated an accident victim and got the Healer Class. Then I sold and bought a lot of stuff and got the Merchant Profession." He frowned, his eyes going distant, as if he were deep in thought. I took a breath, preparing to ask him another question, but he lifted a finger in the universal sign of "wait a minute," so I settled back and waited. After a few minutes, he finally looked at me.

"Tell me, did you earn skills or spells in your home world? I do not mean with Ability Points, but by actions?"

"Yes, and it was easy. I attended workshops to farm skill points."

"Workshops? Farm?" he asked, his tone uncertain. It was my turn to laugh.

"A workshop is a short one-day or two-day class to learn a specific skill. The word 'farm' comes from fiction, borrowing the concept of growing food and harvesting it, and applies it to doing things, then 'harvesting' the benefits." He laughed.

"Farm. I like this word. Very descriptive." His expression turned serious, and he looked me in the eye.

"But I have alarming news for you. I think your world is heading towards integration. It is not easy to acquire skills or Classes under normal circumstances. It is difficult unless you have a specific and distinct talent in something." I sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, I know. I read an article in the Archive that made me realize it."

"Which article?"

"Dangers and opportunities in integration, or something like that." He smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I know it, and the lady who wrote it." He paused briefly and gave me a questioning look.

"Are you returning to help them through it?" I shook my head slowly.

"I don't think so." His entire face tightened in confusion.

"Why not?" Stolen story; please report. I sighed again and leaned back.

"I didn't have a good life there. Discovering my Gate Traveler Class was a way for me to leave that place behind." He hummed, nodded, and looked deep in thought. After waiting patiently and giving him a few minutes, I finally asked, "Can I ask you a question that's been bugging me?" His eyes refocused on me, and he gave a small wave of his hand.

"Of course. Ask."

"I can't figure out which of my attributes affects my mana. The books say it's Intelligence, but even when I raise my Intelligence, my mana doesn't rise. It seems to rise arbitrarily, and I can't make heads or tails of it."

"Why would your mana be connected to your traits? Your traits are just that—traits. Specific characteristics that define how you handle tasks related to your Class or Profession. Traits like Intelligence or Strength influence how effectively you perform actions and solve problems. They serve as tools that guide your interactions and help you excel in your chosen path. You perform the actions your Class or Profession requires, and the Guidance rewards you with advancement in these traits.

This advancement might involve mana, but that mana is external, from the Guiding Spirits, not your own.

"Mana, however, operates differently. While traits affect how you use mana, they are not the source of it. Mana represents your personal energy and potential. It reflects who you are and your growth. Unlike traits, which influence how you interact with the world externally, mana is entirely internal. It is not dependent on the cosmos but comes from within you. More accurately, your mana level depends on what is within you. Of course, you still need to regenerate using external mana.

"Your mana directly represents your inner self, your abilities, and your personal progression. It reflects your ability to harness and channel magical energy based on your experiences and personal growth. As you advance and grow, your mana increases, showcasing your progress as a person and your evolving capacity to wield this energy. In essence, while traits guide your actions and help you manage mana, the mana itself is a manifestation of your personal growth and potential.

It is distinct from the external cosmic sources of mana. They are two separate things." I scratched my head, still puzzled.

"So, how come it rises?"

"You raise your mana according to its attribute." I thought about it for a moment and still didn't get it. With a shake of my head, I said, "You lost me." Lis gestured with an open hand.

"Look inside yourself with your awareness. You should find an orb of power. If it is in your head, your mana attribute is Mind. If it is below your heart, your mana attribute is Spirit. If it is in your abdomen, your mana attribute is Body."

"And if I have all three?" He blinked.

"You have three?" I nodded. He rubbed his chin.

"What is the origin world of your father?"

"Earth…?" He sighed, shifted in his seat, and looked away.

"I recommend you talk with him about it. I do not wish to get in the middle of a familial misunderstanding."

"I never knew my father. There is no misunderstanding to get in the middle of." He tapped his chin, looked off into the distance, and hummed quietly. After a moment, he nodded to himself and looked back at me.

"I am sorry if it shocks you, but your father is a Traveler. Only the children of Travelers can traverse the Gates. It does not occur in the general populace, regardless of the world. Also, a tri-mana system is a characteristic of very high-mana worlds exclusively, and only in the upper echelon of that category. Very high-mana worlds start at level 75 and above. Tri-mana does not appear before level 85 and higher." He paused, gaze fixed on me, and waited. After a few seconds, he went on.

"I have a question for you." I nodded.

"In what ways are you different from the people in your world?"

"The people of my world look different if they come from different continents." He nodded.

"Yes, that is the norm in all the worlds, but there are always common denominators. In your case, some of those common denominators should be different." I sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. As a child, I was different. I was always the smallest—not just physically, but in appearance too; I looked much younger than my actual age. On the other hand, I was always much stronger and faster than the other kids. When I went to school, I was also a much better student. Not smarter, just with better memory. When I was little, my eyes were too big for my face, but that became less noticeable as I grew up. Their color was unusual too." I waved at my eyes.

"It wasn't the color I have now, but more muted. I never met anyone else with that color, and people kept commenting on it." I thought for a moment.

"Oh. I have almost no body hair, and the little I do have is so fine and light that it's practically invisible. Also, everyone around me reached their maximum height at seventeen or eighteen, but I didn't reach mine until I was thirty." As I spoke, his eyes widened slightly, and he kept nodding. I couldn't pretend anymore and bit the bullet.

"This conversation makes me admit to myself something I suspected at the back of my mind from the moment I discovered the Gate," I said with a shrug, "but I didn't want to confront it or even acknowledge it. Now I feel stupid for burying my head in the sand." He placed a hand on my shoulder, squeezed it, and smiled.

"Do not feel bad about it. I imagine it was quite a shock discovering the Gate and your ability. You did not grow up as the son of a Traveler."

"How did you know it was my father and not my mother?" He tilted his head slightly.

"Male Travelers have only male children with the ability, and female Travelers have only female children with the ability. Nobody knows why." He stayed quiet for a beat.

"With the points you mentioned, I suspect your father is from one of the long-lived races."

"Long-lived? How long are we talking?" He gave a casual shrug with one shoulder.

"It varies between worlds." We sat quietly for a while—me absorbing the information, and Lis waiting patiently.

"Can we return to the mana issue?" I asked after a while.

"I still don't understand how it rose in the past or how to raise it intentionally." He gestured with his hand.

"Look inside and tell me. Which of your power orbs is the biggest?"

"The one below my heart," I said, without needing to check.

"Did you progress emotionally or spiritually since the Gate awakened your mana system?"

"Yeah," I said, rubbing my face.

"I was grieving my wife's death." A long sigh escaped me after a moment of quiet. I had to be truthful if I wanted answers.

"After she died, all the negative experiences from my past kept resurfacing in my mind. You could say they gained more weight, more presence, and pressed down on me. I was buried under an avalanche of grief and pain, and severely depressed." I drew a deep breath.

"When I started to heal from the grief, I managed to let go of the past too. I worked at it. Actively. I didn't just wait for it to pass." I gave a small, tired smile.

"At some point, I felt like I'd come full circle, and I could look at the present and the future with optimism instead of fear. When I finally let go, I think that's when my mana rose." I paused, thinking it through.

"Now that I think about it, I had another rise in mana after finding closure about my life on Earth, and another when I let go of the self-imposed obligation to heal every person I met." I sifted through my memories.

"I also noticed a jump in mana after I learned the spell Cleanse, channeled mana into myself, and did a deep cleanse…" He winced at the word Cleanse and shifted in his seat. He said nothing, but the reaction was clear.

"How much mana did you channel for the Cleanse?" he asked in a tight voice.

"Four or five thousand; I'm not sure." His face went pale with a sickly green shade, and he winced harder.

"I see you can imagine how it went," I said with a chuckle. He nodded, still looking uncomfortable but also sympathetic.

"How did you know the Gate awakened my mana?"

"It cannot awaken below mana level eight. Your world is a tech world, and it has not started integration yet."

"I see," I said, processing the new information.

"Anyway, after the Cleanse, my mana jumped again, and my Body orb is the next one in size. Is that because of the cleansing?"

"Definitely." He nodded.

"You progressed your body, so your mana went up. As I said, your mana is a representation of you."

"So how do I progress it now? I can only overcome grief once, and I've got no intention of doing another Cleanse."

"Regarding the Cleanse," he said, giving me an apologetic look, "you should do it at least another two or three times. But do not worry—the worst is behind you. Usually, it is done in stages: a thousand mana to start, then two thousand, and you keep raising the numbers until you reach six or seven thousand. This way, it is far more pleasant and bearable." It was my turn to wince, and I shook my head vigorously. No way in hell was I going through that again. Never. He chuckled but didn't press.

"Can we get back to the mana issue?" I asked.

"Yes. To progress your mana, you must focus on advancing its attributes."

"How?" He drummed his fingers on the armrest.

"Let me break it down for you. First, I will address the Mind. It is twofold: external and internal. The external aspect is the vast accumulation of all existing knowledge. To raise your Mind, you must draw on this knowledge." He lifted a finger in a warning gesture.

"But it is more involved than that. I admit, some scholars spend their entire lives learning and do raise their Mind attribute in this way, but it is the slow road."

"Why?"

"Because it is not your knowledge. It was accumulated and processed by somebody else. You can still raise your mana by gaining it, but it is slow. The better way is by developing your own knowledge and releasing it into the world."

"How?" He smiled and tapped his thumbs together.

"You learn, you correlate information, you come to conclusions, and you understand. At that stage, knowledge is no longer second-hand. It is yours. You arrived at it. It is about expanding your understanding and gaining new insights. This attribute represents your capacity to learn, to research, and to discover. The more you deepen your understanding of the world around you, the more you advance this attribute. Do you follow?"

"Yes. Please go on."

"Good. Now, the second aspect of the Mind is internal. We all know certain things about ourselves, but there are also aspects we do not fully understand. Sometimes it is because we refuse to confront or admit them; other times, it is because we truly do not know. Either way, the gap is there. When we learn, understand, or even acknowledge new things about ourselves, it also progresses this attribute." He stopped for a beat, then continued.

"Therefore, advanced study of magic, spell creation, magical inventions, and solving complex mental challenges contribute to this growth. Essentially, it is about engaging with knowledge and mental discipline, as well as examining yourself without lies, unwillingness, or fear of admitting reality. In addition, Wind magic is also associated with the Mind element because it symbolizes the flow of thought and ideas." He stayed quiet for a few seconds and watched me.

"Questions?" I shook my head.

"No, I'm good."

"Good. Now, let us move on to the spiritual attribute. Spirit is also divided into two aspects, one rooted in life's essence and the other in emotion." He touched the center of his chest.

"You might say that people are the soul of the world, its spark of life. To progress in this attribute, you must engage with people, understand them, and help them. In your case, healing others plays a significant role, since it directly touches both life and emotion. It is not only about keeping someone alive but also about easing suffering and restoring balance. Spirit grows when your actions leave a mark on the lives of others—when you give or receive something that resonates deeply."

He pointed at a painting of a sunset on the wall.

"Art also falls under the spiritual attribute, within this same category, because it reflects the soul of a culture or society. It conveys feeling, belief, and identity. Depending on your inclination, you might progress by appreciating art, by creating it yourself, or by allowing it to move you and change how you see the world." He leaned forward and fixed his gaze on me.

"More importantly, the Spirit attribute is about fully experiencing and expressing emotions. Most people allow themselves to feel only certain emotions while suppressing those they consider negative. This is flawed because all emotions are important, not just the pleasant ones. To advance this attribute, you must embrace the full spectrum of emotions. If you are angry, let yourself feel that anger fully. If you are afraid, allow yourself to experience that fear.

Of course, you should address the source of your fear to avoid harm, but do not suppress the emotion itself." He motioned toward me.

"I suspect that this aspect of the Spirit attribute was at the root of the rise in your mana. Remember, your mana represents you. And remember as well, if you suppress parts of yourself, your mana cannot reach its full potential. This connection between Spirit and emotion is also seen in magic. Water and fire are the key elements of the Spirit attribute because they symbolize the flow and transformation of emotions." Again, he stopped and watched me. I smiled and shook my head.

"No questions." He chuckled.

"The last attribute is the Body, and it is simpler since it has only one aspect. The physical one. That means exactly what you think it means: focus on physical advancement. Push your limits, build endurance, strengthen your capabilities, and keep testing what your body can do. We all gain trait numbers as we level, but tell me, have you ever truly pushed yourself to see how far you can go?" I shook my head, embarrassed.

"Push yourself," he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Whenever your traits increase, test your new limits. Engage in physical activities that challenge your boundaries. It can be dancing, fighting, swimming, or any other form of physical exertion. However, remember that it must be exertion, not a casual stroll through the fields. From a magical standpoint, work with matter." He tapped the wooden armrest, rose from his seat, and crossed to the fireplace. Giving the mantle a firm tap, he turned back to me.

"The world's body is composed of matter, so manipulating matter helps advance this attribute. Earth magic and its subdivisions—such as metal, stone, and wood—are essential. Physical creations and their manipulation also fall under this attribute," he said, giving the hearth another tap for emphasis. He looked at me with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes.

"Did you notice something?" I thought for a beat.

"No?"

"How about this: spell creation or magical inventions can fit into the Spirit category since they are a form of art. But if those creations are physical, made of matter, they overlap with the Body category. Learning and mastering these things also crosses into the Mind attribute." He spread his hands.

"Do you know why?" I shook my head.

"I have no idea. My magical knowledge is nonexistent." He walked back to the chair and sat.

"It is not about the magic or the mana, but about us. We are composite beings of Spirit, Mind, and Body, so our magic reflects this balance. Even if a person has only one orb, or even two, and their primary power attribute is limited to those, they are still a composite of Spirit, Mind, and Body and must progress all three. In such a case, however, only progress in the relevant attribute would affect that person's mana."

"What do you mean?" He pointed at himself.

"I, for example, have the Mind magic attribute. My power orb is located in my head, so I progress the most when I advance my Mind. But if I do not progress in all aspects of my existence—Mind, Spirit, and Body—my mana does not progress. Progress requires balance, and lack of balance can hamper growth." He drummed his fingers on the armrest.

"Let me give you an example. Have you ever met a person who is so dedicated to studying that they neglect their body?"

"Yeah, more than one." He pointed at me.

"That is what I mean. In a magical world, such a person would progress their mana at first, perhaps by five hundred units. The next time, it might only be three hundred units, even though they had learned and understood more than before. The time after that, perhaps only a hundred, and eventually they would stall. Why? Because their body would be in a poor state and beginning to deteriorate, or because they would have withdrawn from the world and lack human interaction.

As I said, we are a composite of three, so we must progress in all three to truly advance our attribute." He waved at me.

"You, with your tri-mana system, have a unique advantage. Every step you take should affect your mana. I must admit, now I am envious." I chuckled, shaking my head.

"That was a very philosophical explanation." He smiled, eyes twinkling with amusement, and gave a slight shrug.

"Of course. Philosophy is the study of the nature, meaning, causes, and principles of reality." He lifted a hand, made a circle in the air, and pointed at it.

"This is our reality, and we exist within it. To study reality is, in a way, to study ourselves. We cannot step outside of existence to look at it from the outside, so all we can do is examine it from within. That is what philosophy attempts to do." He spread his hand toward the circle.

"To progress within it, we must understand the reality of the world around us," he tapped his chest twice, "and the reality of ourselves." His eyes fixed on me.

"If you understand only the world, you will know its rules but not your place in it. If you understand only yourself, you will know your desires but not how to fulfill them. To grow, you must study both. Philosophy bridges the two." He leaned back, gaze growing distant.

"It is about more than just mana attributes. It is about seeing the interconnectedness of everything: how our internal states affect our external reality and vice versa, and how every aspect of our being is connected to every other. We cannot view ourselves as a disconnected collection of parts but as an interconnected whole. Consider this: your choices, your emotions, your understanding, and your progress all affect your mana levels.

At the same time, the results of your mana, the way you use it, and what you do with it, shape your inner state and the world around you. It is a circle. Philosophy studies that circle and tries to give it shape." He paused, then tapped his chest again.

"Mana is the representation of self, of personal progress and growth. It is not something separate that is added to you. It is you. Philosophy explains that, because philosophy is not just about abstract questions, it is about what it means to live, to change, and to become more than you were yesterday." He let his hands fall back onto his lap.

"Understanding this interplay allows us to grow in a more balanced and profound way. At its core, it is not only about mana but about the self, the awareness of 'I.' Mana and self are connected, each a mirror of who we are, and both force us to ask: How do I become better, stronger, wiser? And then they push us to achieve it." He looked at me expectantly.

"Thank you," I said.

"It wasn't what I expected, but it does make me think about some things." He smiled warmly, lines appearing around his eyes.

"That is the goal. To challenge your perspective and help you see beyond the immediate. Growth often comes from viewing things in a new light and applying those insights to both the magical and the mundane aspects of life." He shifted in his seat, his posture relaxing.

"One more thing to remember. If you do the things I mentioned, do not expect your mana to increase gradually. It does not work like that. Continue those practices, and occasionally you will experience moments when everything comes together, and your mana will make a significant leap. When this happens, a particular sensation arises that feels spiritual yet also has a tangible, physical aspect. Do you know what I am talking about?" I nodded slowly, thinking back to those moments.

"Yes, I felt it a couple of times."

"So, you will recognize it in the future." He gave a nod of approval.

"Good." I needed a few moments to process everything. It wasn't what I had expected. Taking a deep breath, I asked, "Would you like a beer or something else to drink?" He laughed, a warm, genuine sound.

"I should have offered. After all, we are sitting in my home."

"Yes," I agreed with a grin, "but I ambushed you by the Gate, so standard conventions don't apply here." He laughed again, nodding in agreement. His laughter was contagious, and I found myself smiling with him. He seemed like a naturally happy and warm person—someone who smiled and laughed often, but always made sure I was included, never letting it feel like he was laughing at me.

"I would love a beer," he said, his smile broadening. I took out two beers. As I popped the caps and handed one to him, Stretch, who had been lying quietly beside me until then, suddenly decided he wanted a beer too. He put his paws on my shoulders, looked me straight in the eyes, and sent me an unmistakable feeling of give me.

"Okay, okay." I laughed and grabbed a bowl to pour him some beer. Stretch lapped it up happily, tail wagging, and pure bliss flowed through our bond. Lis watched the exchange with an amused smile. Curious, I asked, "You don't look surprised he likes beer. Why not?" He shrugged and chuckled.

"Bonded mana beasts can have peculiar tastes. I know a giant feline that loves strong spirits and falls asleep snoring loudly shortly after drinking them. So, a dog drinking beer is nothing unusual."

"So what you're saying is all of them are drunks." He laughed, throwing his head back, then tipped his bottle toward me. I tipped mine back, and we sat in easy silence, sipping our beers.