10 C10 - Baby's First Skill

I devoted countless days to recovering from the effects of mana poisoning. During this time, I seized every solitary moment to practice magic, endlessly exploring new approaches. I experimented with varying compression rates, different combustible materials, and different ratios of mana to combustible energy.

As I patiently awaited the return of my health, I noticed a significant improvement. Remarkably, it took precisely six days for my HP to regenerate fully. It appeared that weeks in this world were divided into six days, a fact that, while intriguing, held no immediate significance. What truly mattered was that I was finally restored to full health! Status. 

HP: 25/25

After what seemed like an interminable period, I had finally reached a point where I could resume my experiments. With my health fully restored, I decided to push the limits of the regeneration buff.

I cast a rudimentary cold spell that noticeably chilled the room, offering a refreshing reprieve from the summer heat. However, the spell consumed nearly all twenty-six of my MP. Undeterred, I began collecting and ingesting mana pills, cautiously increasing the dosage from one to two, then three MP.

Pausing for a moment, I braced myself, anticipating potential pain, and activated the regeneration buff.

Actively Absorbed Mana

Absorbed 3 MP worth of ambient mana, Increasing mana recovery rate by 3%. Duration: 3 minutes

Alright, this seems like a reasonable approach. I absorbed one more point and waited. After that, I absorbed an additional point, yet nothing happened. Undeterred, I continued until I reached a buff of twenty-three.

*Ding*

Warning! Poisoned with mana, losing 1 HP per second until absorbed mana matches expended mana.

I swiftly projected one MP worth from my hand, and the warning vanished. Thanks to my quick reaction, I only incurred two damage.

It appeared that I could absorb mana equal to what I'd lost, but exceeding that threshold led to damage. This suggested that while the regen ability wasn't efficient for small amounts of mana, its multiplicative nature scaled nicely.

For instance, with ten Intelligence, I'd have fifty mana and regenerate three MP per minute. If I drained myself and absorbed fifty ambient mana, my regen would be 150% of three, or five per minute, scaling more effectively as the numbers increased.

I allowed my MP to replenish over the next few minutes, contemplating my next steps. Now that I was mostly healed, I decided to attempt absorbing two MPs' worth in one go to see if the dynamics changed. Even though I considered the potential danger, theory would only take me so far.

With the high priestess's visit imminent, given that it was already fall, I felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety. I was eager to learn what information she would bring and how the ducal couple would react.

Despite my concerns, I pondered the possibility of the high priestess discovering my extraordinary abilities. It's not every day a baby displays such immense power at such a young age.

Perhaps I'm being somewhat self-absorbed, influenced by the attention and affection I receive from others. Maybe there's another exceptional baby out there, and I'm not as unique as I've been led to believe. 'Urgh, enough thinking. My apple-sized brain will ache again.'

However, this moment felt pivotal in shaping my future. I contemplated the moves of the other, unknown players. Would the other Dukes simply allow me to become Duke Calo's child? Nevertheless, more power would benefit me in both the short and long term.

"Enough," I murmured to myself, and with full mana, I absorbed two MPs' worth of energy.

Warning! By exceeding your maximum mana capacity, you have taken 11 damage.

You have absorbed 2 MP from the ambient mana! +2 MP capacity.

Congratulations! By repeated action you have generated a new skill! View it under the skill window!

Congratulations! By taking repeated damage and surviving your Fortitude has increased by 1.

Oww! That really hurt! My skin is still on fire worse than last time! It's surprising to discover I was mistaken; attempting to absorb mana in large quantities actually exacerbates the damage.

Continuing this pattern could lead to severe consequences, possibly resulting in death. In games, I was accustomed to seeing diminishing returns on damage as you pushed limits, but this seems to work in the opposite way.

I keep having to remind myself this isn't a game. I was consistently bewildered by each new discovery. I couldn't help but wonder if others experienced the system in the same intricate manner, or if they were even aware of its existence.

It struck me as peculiar that neither the servants nor the ducal couple ever mentioned anything system-related, such as HP or MP. A wave of fear and embarrassment washed over me at the thought of being an anomaly. There has to be other people with this? Right?

Mona entered the nursery to feed me, remarking, "It's unusually cold in here. I wonder if the enchantments have failed." Her entrance interrupted my exploration of the system.

Performing any overt magical actions in her presence would raise suspicions. Instead, I chose to observe Mona using Mana Sense. I could discern that her mana density exceeded that of the ambient mana, yet remained significantly lower than mine.

This realization implied that to any other mage, I would register as a mage myself. It also suggested the need for caution in my growth. While Mona likely possessed an average mana capacity for a commoner, she appeared to have more mana than I did when I initially started with just one point in intelligence. Clearly, mana capacity increased with one's own development.

She had finished feeding me but seemed hesitant to leave. In a playful gesture, I reached out towards her.

Mona responded by staying, gently bouncing me on her knee. Her voice, tinged with sadness, carried her hopes, "I really hope their lordships adopt you. I don't know what I would do if I had to return to the common folk. I know the Duke would appreciate having a son and not just a daughter." In an attempt to comfort her, I awkwardly patted her face and beamed my most radiant baby smile.

Her tension seemed to dissipate as she laid me back in my crib, leaving me to contemplate my newfound skill.

Basic Active Mana Absorption. Rank 1.

Absorb mana from the surrounding environment. Grants the following benefits:

-1% mana recovery per point of MP for a length of time equal to 1 minute per point of MP.

-If done at full capacity, increases total mana capacity at a rate of 1 per point of MP absorbed, doing 5 damage per point (plus 1 additional damage per point absorbed in one sitting).

-Use gives credit towards the ranking up of Mana Sense.

Fascinating! It's handy how I can create my own skills to gain mathematical advantages. I pondered why I hadn't acquired a skill for the flames I had conjured. Perhaps it was because I already possessed a skill. I opened it for a review and was intrigued to find additional information in the tooltip.

Magic Basics. Rank 2.

You know the basics of manipulating mana into casting magic. Effect of spells is increased per rank above 1.

I contemplated whether repeatedly casting the same spell in the exact manner would eventually grant me a skill. However, I hadn't yet found a spell that I wanted to immortalize with the system.

Despite being unable to move around as I was just a baby, I was surprised when the high priestess arrived the next day.