Chapter 6 - Trail and Error

My dream was vague but it was about my past, the ringing of glass hitting the floor was jarring. I remember a bit more each time, my family, friends, job. The only thing I can remember this time is the assassins eyes.

A tap on the head woke me up, met by Meredith who had a nice breakfast layed out. Smells of egg and pork filled my mind as my bad dream left my head.

"Morning Meredith thank you for breakfast so early." My grogginess from my dream wore off with each bite of egg. Dreadfully I looked towards the books.

"You are welcome little one, its a small thing I can do for you. How is learning my techniques." Meredith looked at me studying my mana

"Its okay for me to learn but its very hard to do." I took another bite of egg. Then hopped off of my seat and sat my dishes next to the sink.

Returning to the books I opened to the page I had left on. Gathering my mana at my fingertips was easier this time, doing the stances I had ended with a very interesting skill of stretching my mana.

The second and third book was to teach me how to regulate my mana properly by circulating it through the mana around me and in me.

With my mana capacity increasing with both of these books allows me to use my magic. As the forth book touched my hands I felt something inside. Opening to find a ring that was made from some sort of high power metal alloy. The forth book was blank and only had a notch where the ring sat.

Something ornamental that stored mana made of this quality had to be rare. Putting it on I felt a strange sense comfort, the ring itself was light but had a sense of heaviness. Disregarding every sign of danger I opened the fifth book.

As to my surprise the fifth book had tons of spells, enhancements, ancient techniques, and even some bloodline abilities. The book lit up and started floating above my head.

"Thou who has opened this catalogue choose wisely, upon selection this will disappear forever." The books voice boomed in my head. Reading the catalogue in my head as everything spilled in.

Even some items were included, a random option was also available. Reading through I had already found a few items I would like. One was a pendant that would increase my affinity for mana. The second one was a random bloodline ability that could hold any type of bloodline ability.

The next was a tome that gave me advanced knowledge in irregular magic. These three were the top and some others also caught my attention. A spell for resurrection, a mana core boost, and a slim sword.

Either the catalogue disappears at the selection of one good item or the selection of many low tier items. I think I can get the token, sword and tome. All of these items are perfect.

"I will have the Slim Sword, Tome of Lost Knowledge, and the Token of Bloodlines" I spoke to the catalogue and it spat out the items then destroyed itself.

The sword was a bit big on me but shrank down to a dagger if I wanted to store it. The tome that I had just gotten poured its knowledge into me. I now had learned two of the very advanced irregular magic, Elder Flame and Electricity. My mana core is too unrefined for the others but it will unlock more knowledge every now and then.

Now all I have left to use is this token. The smooth edges and shiny outside was not enough to mask its dangerous energy. I flipped the token up in the sky and as soon as it landed I passed out.

Waking up in a dimly lit room I was met with a shadow figure in the back. Ready I drawn my blade only to quickly figure out that it was my old self frozen in time. A small letter was attached it read.

"You sadly do not reach the requirements to use this new technique, ability will now enter a dormant state. A small gift will be given to further push and aid you.

Thank you for understanding.

~M"

Annoyed I threw the letter away and looked at my former self. In the hand there was a cube, without thinking I grabbed it. A large hit knocks me to my knees a few details of my past life came back.

My mind was flooded with thoughts as my life before was told to me. A orphan who was donated to a war effort, trained to be a solider. Pushed to my limits I only remembered parts of the end and start.

After doing great deeds in the war I had been given my own territory as a way to shut me up. Information about the project was leaked, the scientists and political powers that were in on it ordered every tie to be severed. My death was set in stone.

But I wonder how much I can remember if I go deeper into my head. My past name was Ash and I cannot remember my last name. I wonder if I can remember the finer details.

[WARNING TRAUMA EXCEEDED LIMITS EJECTING]

My body fell from immense pressure, I was remembering everything at once. A smile from the person who killed me. I felt death once but to have yourself extinguished without the adrenaline was another level. Vague memories were coming back slowly.

I awoke to Meredith concerned, the fear in my eyes was visible. I cant seek revenge on my old life, I can only move forward. But still my hatred grows,

"Oh my you look so pale, that must have been a tough one. That book I had gotten a long time ago but saw no use." Meredith worried all night until I asked to be left alone to sleep.

Bored I opened another book but it was filled with stuff I already knew, my father had taught me this before. The seventh book was a sleek fresher looking book, random inscriptions on its back. Its contents was core refining techniques there was also sword techniques, but seeing that it was late I had put down the book halfway finished.

I was hesitant to go to sleep again but I was more tired than usual. My sleep was normal nothing interrupted it and I had no dream. Next morning I was met with the same smile from Meredith.

"I see you slept well." Meredith said as she cleaned dishes.

"After messing with the things I got I was more tired than I thought." I turned to my left and grabbed the book that I read the night before.

"Its good to get your rest. I also have found a way to get you home. It will take at the most a month." She finished cleaning and then handed me a paper.

It had notes on how to refine my core at a better rate than just focusing. Meredith patted my head then left to go outside. I started to refine my mana core with the new method she gave me.

The new method was to circulate my mana with the method I had gotten earlier, and then intake more mana while refining my core. Using the mana circulation technique was hard to use while intaking mana.

After a few hours passed I had progress my mana core was ready to refine. Its hard to stay focused but soon I found myself purifying my mana. My cores capacity started increasing until my orange core was bright.

I had successfully refined my core to lightened stage and I'm close to the next stage. When I had opened my eyes I had been met with a note from Meredith informing me of food being on the counter.

Feelings like this remind me of the family that I have to protect. I wonder how they are doing with my disappearance. They probably think I have died, I wish I could tell them I am okay. Them worrying wont be good for their health.

I must get stronger, to protect myself and my family. I think the way to get stronger is to understand who I was before all of this. The plate of food was delicious even though it was a bit hardy. I think I need to talk to the other 'me' inside of my dream.

My core had held the four basic elements as well as some understanding of a foreign magics. I must hone my magic even though my small 6 year old body cannot hold powerful magic yet, I have to practice.

Well my growth is only because of Meredith and my past memories. Maybe I should try to learn everything about my past. I should be better off with my current mana core. The last time I had remembered terrible smaller details.

Walking over to the bookshelf across the room I had found a book on deeper details on how magic works, I could tell this book was written by Meredith as her sleek handwriting was now burned into my mind.

Her findings were different from what I was taught, it says that there is multiple factors that affect ones magic. The core and mana channels are two of three factors in ones mana growth. That the bloodline abilities are irregular magics that had fused with ones body and ancestry.

Reading more I found that irregular magic such as my elder fire and electricity comes from a fifth mana element other than the base four. Its easy to understand as I get tired easily from using my eyes and elder fire than just water magics.

The third factor was how the mana veins and core entangled itself with the body. Essentially everyones mana signature is different like a fingerprint its unique because of the way the body and the mana interact.

This means that you have to understand your own body and mana to grow faster and achieve better growth. Its impossible for those who cannot understand the inner workings of your body.

Placing the book away I went search for Meredith as I wanted to show her what I read in her book. Walking outside I found Meredith tending to a few plants near the cabin.

"I learned something new." I said as I walked towards Meredith. She turned around to face me.

"Ah what is it?" Meredith leaned towards me and watched with curiosity.

I tried walking while intaking mana and exhausting my mana. It worked for a few to Meredith surprise. She stepped back and quickly nudged me inside.

"I read it from a book that you made but some of it was in this weird writing." I said as I walked inside the living room.

"You read one of my books on mana. As for the little mana thing you just did. That may be problematic." Meredith let out a sigh.

"That technique was something that very few know, and the people that do are very important people." Meredith sat down and put her fingers to her temple.

"I am almost ready to send you off anyways. You should get ready." Meredith looked towards me with a smile.

"Oh okay I understand" I said as I went to get ready. I am getting closer to seeing my family.

I watched as Meredith got a few things out of the way before I heard a knock at the door. Meredith made her way to the door and hesitantly opened it. I couldn't see who was on the other side, Merediths conversation with the people on the other side was cut off.

Multiple footsteps walked towards me and from a quick open of the door a frantic Meredith and two men were on the other side. Their black suits and shades to their white gloves, everything about them shouted importance.

"So this is the human child you have accompanying you, interesting." The man to my left said to me as he kneeled down.

"It seems he doesn't know too much. I applaud you Meredith for not roping more people in this issue." The second man moved near me as well.

"He's just a child so leave him out of this." Meredith commanded at the two. They quickly disregarded her words and looked at me. I was too scared to move.

"I think its time to end this. Meredith you are a fool kill both of them." The second one said as they started to use magic.

I watched in horror as to how or why this was happening. I looked over to Meredith as I heard her yell and rip off a amulet of hers. A sudden explosion went off and I was standing in front of a large white fox.

"I am very sorry I dragged you into this. I can get you out though it would be the end for me." The fox spoke in a soft tone.

"Meredith is that you?" My question seemed to be stupid to ask as I knew from her speech.

"Yes, I am sorry I kept this from you." Meredith smiled kindly

"What do you mean by you dying if you helped." I sat in astonishment as the area around us had stopped.

"Well to be honest I have sustained multiple injuries in a short time. I am sorry but I must leave you. Time is running out." Meredith made a portal behind her.

"Take this and you'll be near a civilization. I need you too live for me, experience life well. I will give you more answers in due time but for now this is goodbye." Meredith smiled as she knocked me into the portal. The last thing I heard was a thud.