Chapter 13: Magic Core
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I woke with pure excitement in my heart.
The endless possibilities magic embodied sent pulses of anticipation through my cold body. I could almost feel the power lingering in the air, waiting for me to grasp it. The mere thought of commanding the elements, of shaping reality to my will, set my mind ablaze with wonder.
For a moment, I felt as if the cold breezes on the mountain top were insignificant. The ice and frost that had tormented me since my arrival in this world seemed to fade in importance compared to the vast potential of magic. If I could master it, I would no longer be at the mercy of the elements. I would no longer have to struggle against nature itself just to survive.
I wanted to grasp magic and its uses immediately, as if my life depended on it—which, in a way, it did.
But reality anchored me. I just finished crafting my axe, and my hut was still far from complete. The brutal truth was that no amount of magic would help me if I froze to death before I could even unlock my potential. My shelter had to come first.
Without a hut, I would have to spend the next night perched on a pine branch again, exposed to the bitter wind and the ever-present danger of predators. I had already endured several nights like that, and I could feel my body protesting against further hardship.
So, while breathing in the lung-piercing cold air, I forced myself to think rationally. I gripped my frost-covered axe tighter, the ice crackling as it shattered under my fingers. My plan had to be practical.
My goal was simple:
Finish the hut. Eat. Become a mage.
I regulated my metabolism to speed up, forcing my body to generate more heat. The sensation of cold dulled, though I knew it was still there, clawing at me with invisible fingers. Coldness would only make me slower, hinder my progress, and I couldn't afford to slow down.
With the numbing chill out of the way, I could finally focus on my work.
I quickly scouted the nearby forest for trees that would make fitting logs for my shelter. Each step crunched against the thick blanket of snow, but I moved swiftly, my determination keeping me from faltering.
Swinging my axe, I felled the first tree with relative ease. The sharp blade bit into the frozen bark, sending wood chips flying with every strike. The rhythmic sound of chopping echoed through the silent woods, accompanied only by my controlled breaths.
The new axe made things much easier. Where before I had struggled with precision, I could now create notches and grooves efficiently. The rough work was done by the axe, while my knife refined the details. It was still tiring, but progress was undeniable.
Time passed quickly. By the time I was nearly done, the sun had begun its descent. The sky had turned a shade of deep orange, its light casting long shadows between the trees. I wiped the sweat from my brow, my breath misting in the frigid air.
The hut was finally "finished."
Well, at least it was complete enough to provide shelter. Some parts still had small holes where the logs didn't align perfectly, allowing cold air to seep in, but it was a vast improvement from a tree branch in the open.
I gathered small sticks and stored them inside so they could dry. I would need them for a bonfire later.
My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since morning. I reached for my remaining rations and quickly consumed everything—except for the hare meat. I had yet to find a way to properly cook it, and eating raw meat was not an option. The risk of illness was too great.
After finishing my meal, I made my way toward the river. The icy wind bit at my exposed skin, but I pressed forward. When I finally reached the riverbank, I knelt down and drank deeply, the freezing water sending chills through my core.
This would be the last thing I did before attempting to unlock my Magic Core.
On my way back, I couldn't shake an uneasy feeling. Something was bothering me, though I couldn't quite place it.
Why were there no humans nearby?
Even if most people chose to stay at the temple, there had to be at least a few others who had the same idea as me—to leave and survive on their own.
We had been more than a hundred people at the temple. Even if only a few dozen followed Leon, surely some others had left to explore?
Yet, in the past few days, I hadn't seen a single sign of human activity.
Were people too scattered?
Or was there something else going on?
Many questions bounced up and down in my head as I reached my humble campsite. The sky had darkened considerably, stars beginning to peek through the night.
I sat down on a fresh tree stump, the air turning even colder as the sun disappeared behind the mountains. I took a deep breath and settled into a lotus position.
I needed to calm my heart, which was beating with excitement.
Who wouldn't dream of having supernatural abilities?
Magic was mystical, legendary—something beyond the ordinary. If any normal person were given the chance to wield magic, would they hesitate?
No.
Everyone would say "yes" in an instant.
I shook off the distracting thoughts and turned my focus inward. I needed to figure out how to sense Mana in the air, how to grasp it and make it mine.
At first, stray thoughts tried to interrupt my concentration. I acknowledged them and let them fade away, one by one, like leaves carried off by the wind.
Seconds turned into minutes. Minutes turned into hours. My breathing slowed, my awareness expanded.
Then, at midnight, something changed.
A new sensation filled me.
Particles of all colors surrounded the forest, floating like fireflies in the darkness.
The most numerous were light blue—snow and ice particles, blending seamlessly with the winter air.
I reached out, mentally pulling at them, but they refused to move towards me.
The second most common were earthy brown particles, denser and heavier than the others.
These moved sluggishly when I willed them toward me, resisting but not outright rejecting me.
Green and red particles flickered occasionally. The green ones often gathered near the snow particles, and when they neared the red ones, an ice particle formed in their place.
That must mean…
Green = Wind. Red = Fire.
Both kinds of particles responded to me with difficulty.
Then, I saw other colors—ones I couldn't understand.
Unlike the ice particles, which outright rejected me, these unknown ones simply felt… beyond my comprehension.
They weren't ignoring me.
They were just out of reach.
Except for one.
Gray particles with a faint blue hue.
Unlike the others, they came toward me willingly, without effort. As if they wanted to be by my side on their own.
Their energy felt… soothing.
Like moonlight.
As all the particles gathered within me, I felt them condensing in my abdomen, swirling together with an unfamiliar but undeniable force.
A sensation unlike anything I had ever experienced took hold of me.
Something was forming inside me.
Something deeply connected to magic.
Something that belonged to me.
A Magic Core.