Chapter 19: Blessed By The Sun
When I woke up the next day, my back hurt so badly from sleeping on the ground, that I had to walk around hunchback.
"Haha, what's up kid, why are you slouching so badly?" Mr. Auger said as he walked out of a carriage.
"My back is killing me. I slept on the ground last night, and although that isn't uncommon... there were no pelts to sleep on, so my back has a kink in it." I said while tapping my back with my fist.
"Why haven't you used natural mana to speed up the recovery? You should be capable of doing that by now." He said while looking at me like I was an idiot.
'What?! Natural mana can help with sore backs as well?'
Wasting no time, I sat on the ground and started pulling mana into my back. Although it was slow, after about 10 minutes, my back went back to normal. I was so dumbfounded that I think Mr. Auger thought it best to explain.
"It seems you're still oblivious to how pulling in natural mana works. Let me start off by saying, that there are thousands of ways to use mana, and the majority of them stem from using the natural mana around you. First off, is the 'healing' technique you just used, all it's doing is speeding up your body's recovery process. It isn't actual healing magic, and it sure won't help you with large injuries. I mean, it took 10 minutes for you to heal an achy back... So how long do you think it will take to heal an actual wound?" He stopped to let me soak in the information as he walked over to me.
"I see... so I can consider this first technique as a type of pseudo-healing, that I should only use with small injuries." I responded while looking at him.
"Correct, the official name is 'Mana Healing', and only the top 0.000001% can actually use its full capabilities... so don't count on it. Not only does your mana pool have to be massive, but you also have to have perfect mana control. I've only ever seen one person that could ever fully use it, and... even just being around him is frightening." Mr. Auger said while getting the shivers.
'Mr. Auger... scared? Who in the world could be possible of such a feat?'
"What was it like Mr. Auger? How did that person use it?" I questioned.
"Curious, well let me just tell you... with every step he takes, the mana within a 2,000 feet radius disappears. I've only got one good look at him, and all I can say is... he is a true monster. Even if his heart gets pierced, the mana he sucked up, is enough to heal it. It's almost like he's immortal... if he has enough mana around him that is."
"Woah!! Could I ever be capable of what he does?" I said with a smile.
"Absolutely not, his mana pool is hundreds of times larger than a normal person's, and not to mention yours is hundreds of times smaller." Mr. Auger said while sneaking in that last part.
"What can I do?" I said while looking down.
"Huh?" Mr. Auger was confused.
"What can I do to catch up to a guy like that?" I said while keeping my head down.
"You don't, it is absolutely impossible to catch up to someone blessed by the sun, in terms of mana capacity that is. Instead, you should look at how you yourself, can get stronger now. Worry about figuring out how to beat someone like that later, because right now you can't even beat a wild lizard." Mr. Auger said while putting his hand on my shoulder.
"Blessed by the sun?" I questioned.
"*Sob* how cruel, I gave an amazing speech... and all you care about is the unimportant part." He said while wiping away his tears with a handkerchief.
"Yeah yeah, good speech, now tell me about this blessed by the sun guy." I said as disrespectfully as possible.
"Rude... but fine I'll tell you since you're so enamored. The one blessed by the sun refers to the emperor himself, and to anyone who has worn the crown. When they put the crown on for the first time… they're bodies shine so bright, that you'd think there was a second sun right next to you. It is said, that one of the emperors made a deal with the sun before they died, resulting in why every emperor has a large mana pool. In the end, I think it's a load of hogwash, but there has to be a reason why their mana pools are so large... I'm just not sure what it is yet." Mr. Auger said while lighting a cigar with fire magic.
"Woah, so it's the Emperor himself that has the capabilities of harnessing the true power of Mana Healing!" I said while remembering every little detail.
"Yeah… super cool, but enough with the children's stories, it's time for day two of your training. Like I was saying before, there are thousands of ways to use external mana, but I'm going to have you work on the basics today. First off, you're going to try and sense mana with all your other senses. This includes eyesight, sent, hearing, touch, and taste. Until you've figured out the method behind every sense... you'll never be able to be as strong as Monica." He said while sitting down on one of the logs from last night.
"I see, but aren't there supposed to be six senses, not 5?" I sincerely asked.
"Correct, and that sixth sense will be what happens after you master the first 5… the second technique… 'Mana Awareness'." Mr. Auger said while in a 'cool' pose.
"Mana Awareness, huh? Who's going to be teaching me this time around? I swear if you say, Victor, I'm going to lose it. I can't deal with him anymore... one day was enough." I said while sighing.
"Don't worry, brat, today you'll get only the best... because today Monica will be teaching you." He said while pointing towards a carriage.
*Birds Chirping*
"..."
"She isn't awake… is she Mr. Auger." I said with a blank expression.
"*Cough* don't worry… at any moment… she'll wake up and walk out of that carriage." Mr. Auger said while clearing his throat.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Monica woke up 3 hours later and didn't know what to say. Apparently, she forgot that it was her turn to train me, and for some reason, I got punished for it. She lifted me into the air and crushed me between her arms and chest. If this is what she considers a 'hug', then I feel sorry for the poor sucker who's gonna have to deal with this for the rest of his life.
When she was done trying to kill me, we walked over to the West side of the village and began my second day of training.
'Mana Awareness... I wonder where I should start'
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