Into the woods Pt. 1.

I became so immersed in the practice of the Mana Breathing Technique that I lost track of time. The world around me faded away as I delved deeper into my meditation, attuning my breath to the flow of mana within me. It felt as if I was floating in a sea of energy, completely consumed by the rhythm of my breath.

Suddenly, a firm touch on my shoulder jolted me back to reality. Startled, I opened my eyes to find the librarian standing before me, her face a mix of concern and irritation. "Barrett, you've been meditating for over three hours," she said firmly. "You should be more mindful of the time."

I blinked, my mind struggling to catch up with the realization of how long I had been lost in my practice. Panic washed over me as I remembered that I was supposed to meet my mother for dinner. I mumbled an apology to the librarian and rushed out of the library, my heart pounding in my chest.

I sprinted through the palace corridors, dodging servants and guards along the way. The image of my mother's disappointed face flashed in my mind, spurring me to run even faster. I couldn't afford to be late; I knew the consequences would be severe.

Finally, I burst into the dining hall, breathless and flushed. My eyes immediately locked onto my mother's face, and I froze in place. Her lips curled into a smile, but it was a smile that sent shivers down my spine. It was a smile that betrayed her anger, her disappointment in me.

Without a word, she gestured for me to take my seat. The tension in the room was palpable as I settled down, avoiding eye contact with anyone. The meal passed in silence, interrupted only by the clinking of silverware against porcelain. I couldn't even bring myself to taste the food, my appetite stifled by the weight of my mother's unspoken wrath.

As soon as the meal was over, I excused myself and retreated to my room. I closed the door behind me and let out a long breath, the fear of my mother's anger still lingering in the air. I knew I had disappointed her, and the guilt weighed heavily on my shoulders.

Determined to distract myself from the evening's events, I returned to the Mana Breathing Technique. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, I closed my eyes and focused on my breath once again. As I delved deeper into the meditation, something felt different. The mana within me seemed to surge with newfound intensity, pulsating with power.

I realized that I was on the verge of a breakthrough, approaching the completion stage of the 1st Kosmos. It was a significant step forward, a minor realm within the vast landscape of magic. Excitement coursed through my veins, overshadowing the lingering fear of my mother's anger.

I dispelled all distracting thoughts and focused on the mana coursing through my body and with every breath I expelled impurities and absorbed pure mana into my core to increase the capacity, the process was long and boring but it produced results, and after an hour the moment arrived, and his veins began to bulge, throbbing with the surging power within.

A searing heat spread through my body, as if my blood had been set ablaze, igniting every inch of my being. The pain was excruciating, threatening to overwhelm me. It felt as though my body was being consumed by a torrential inferno, scorching my insides. Waves of agony coursed through my veins, relentlessly testing my endurance. In that moment, it seemed as if only my screams could dull the intensity of the pain, and yet I pressed on, my determination unwavering.

Hour after hour, I endured the searing pain, pushing past my limits and expelling the impurities that hindered my progress. Sweat poured from my brow, my body trembling with the effort. But within that crucible of agony, a sense of transformation began to take hold.

As I expelled the impurities, purging myself of the remnants that held me back, I could feel a change coursing through my veins. The searing pain started to subside, replaced by a newfound power that surged within me. Though the world around me was shrouded in darkness, my vision seemed to sharpen ever so slightly, as if a veil had been lifted.

My muscles felt more toned and responsive, as if they had been honed and strengthened through the intense ordeal. In an instinctive burst of energy, I leaped into the air, testing my physicality. To my astonishment, I felt lighter, as if gravity had relinquished its grip on me. I moved with agility and speed that surpassed my previous capabilities, as if my very essence had been elevated to a higher level.

I stood there, basking in the aftermath of my breakthrough, my chest heaving with both exhaustion and exhilaration. The pain had been a gateway to a new realm of power and potential. I could sense the untapped reservoir of energy coursing through my veins, ready to be harnessed and channeled.

Whew- I let out a tired sigh as an indicator of how exhausted and in pain I was but I felt it, the power I had gained was worth the pain I went through, I was happy but a part of me wanted more, to conquer all these realms that lay between me and pure and utter domination, only when that time came, my hunger will be satiated.

With newfound confidence, I realized that I needed to test my power. The forest behind the palace seemed like the perfect place to challenge me. But I knew I couldn't go in blindly.

Before I could put my newfound strength to the test, I knew I needed more information about the forest behind the palace.

"Wait...don't the palace Knights often go there to hunt, I bet they'd have a lot to tell me"

I decided, tomorrow I would seek out one of the knights who regularly ventured into the forest. I needed their guidance, impulsively venturing into unfamiliar terrain is just about as stupid as it gets.