Behold! My strengthened Mana Circuit!

Congratulations, your trait has been strengthened.

Mana Circuit (Passive)This integrates a network of mana channels throughout the user's body, optimizing the distribution of mana and amplifying the power of their mana-based abilities without additional mana consumption. This enhancement allows the user to draw upon their mana more efficiently, resulting in more potent spells and abilities while reducing overall mana expenditure.

Increased Mana Density: The Mana Circuit can now hold a greater density of mana, effectively increasing the user's mana capacity and the power of their mana-based abilities.

There were no options, and it just straightforwardly strengthened my Mana Circuit. The effect seems nice, so I don’t complain.

What made me change my mind and use it?

Perhaps it was Ruby’s lonely figure as she sat in front of the fireplace. Or maybe it was the realization that things never go the way I want them to. I just want to be as prepared as possible, even if it means making a mistake or two in the process. As of now, everything seems fine. My body feels more composed and my mana puts less strain on me as my enhanced circuit alleviates some of the effects.

But as I lay in bed, barely holding back screams of pain as my trait continued to strengthen, I think. What are the limits of the system and how far can it change my body? As many times before, it all feels just like a start. A small step towards a bigger goal.

And the journey to that point is mine to make.

I wave a piece of meat in front of Biscuit while he continues to try to grab it with his four mana arms. Every time he is close to grabbing it, I use [Disruption] to cancel his mana arms.

The corgi doesn't seem happy with that and barks a few times while trying to jump and grab it.

I am teaching him, right?

Yup, totally teaching.

I'm not being petty and taking revenge for last night when he continued to create mana arms to make fun of me while I tried to practice creating my own.

Totally teaching him.

I don't know what kind of system he got, but he better learn to put some stats into physical attributes!

After a few more minutes, I just throw it at him and he grabs it, instantly running behind the couch to hide and eat it.

You little twerp, I won’t steal it from you now.

Then I turn back to Hadwin and he sighs and starts using [Disruption] on me while I defend against it.

We already had some talk and I learned about his skills. They are [Disruption] and [Detection]. That explains why he did so well while scouting back on the first floor. His other skills are [Strengthening] which he can use to fortify his body, his skin, his bones, or weapons in his hand. It makes nearly anything he touches more durable and stronger.

Quite an interesting skill. I might try to learn it later.

Another skill he has is [Wound Contraction] and that's it. At this point, I am not too surprised. Lately, I have come to confirm my suspicion that I might be overly talented at learning new skills.

Is it my talent, something I am good at? Is it thanks to a combination of my skills [Focus], [Mana Manipulation], and [Perception] that allow me to learn them?

I don't know, but that's not so important right now! What's important is Hadwin's skill! A quasi-healing skill! If I learn it, it might give me some hints on how to learn Lily's skill, and damn, that would be amazing.

Once again, I come to be satisfied with my decision to not let my feelings take over and get rid of him. Sure, it might be hard to get along with him, and I am not too keen on forming friendships, but hey, I will use him to the fullest and might help him here and there, as thanks.

And then, maybe sometime in the future, I can try to create a Construct for him. He is quite durable, and it might strengthen him a lot, and it would help me learn a lot.

Okay?

Okay!

It's the first time I am actually spending some time with Hadwin. I am not counting the time when we had to sneak through the forest and meet to exchange a few words and then I went with Tess to scout.

Ruby is gone again so there are only two of us and the doggo. The older man seems to have some sense so he is not talking too much, and there is no annoying small talk.

It's slowly making me more comfortable and while I continue to observe his skills, I also observe him.

Even after all we went through, he seems to have some sort of confidence in himself and doesn't twitch every time I move as the kids did after seeing me fight. He is a realist, and now that we have a deal that's good for both of us and I have no reason to hurt him, he seems calmer and a bit more friendly.

He tells me about his experience with Ruby's master who kidnapped him.

He tells me about an army he was sold to, an army that is fighting against the Empire led by a Mind Manipulation Emperor.

And I listen quietly, only asking more questions here and there, creating an idea about the situation in this world. I don’t have to do that much as the man gives me the most important information, briefly, clearly, and understandably. Out of curiosity, I ask him once again why he wanted to kill me so much, not fully believing it was only because of what he told me about last time.

He gives me an evasive answer, something about someone close to him being hurt by someone who reminded him of me and I don't ask more.

I understand, but it's still not easy to fully "understand". I am not a person to be easily swayed by my feelings and usually, when I am, it's only because I decided that it's safe and it won’t go against my own good. People aren't usually like that.

Talking to Hadwin right now, after we almost fought to the death not so long ago, feels weird. Not weird in a way that I am uncomfortable, I already moved my feelings aside so it's okay. It's weird in a way how quickly things could change after sharing a conversation or two.

As for things he did to survive?

Who am I to judge? I still remember the weight of pieces of Emeric's body. I still remember the sight of Ethan, who I had thrown, flying through the air towards the Cinderbear.

People are difficult to deal with. Emotions are difficult to deal with.

So, as the newest member of our small group, it's up to Hadwin to cook. I decided it, and the man just looks at me, and I am sure he sighs somewhere deep inside, but then he just cooks.

Ruby sometimes disappears for a day or two and eats outside, but we have some food here. And that's good because we are once again in the middle of nowhere. The cottage we are staying at is nice and well-equipped, but on every side, there is nothing, just plains of grass that sway in the wind.

No monsters, no humans. I blame Ruby's master. Her behavior became all weird after the last time we talked and when she destroyed an entire mountain range.

So I do what I can when I can't level up. I try and try to improve my skills.

My mana arm is coming along nicely, and I can move it in the elbow pretty well and the fingers are getting there as well. I can already grab some things. Yes, I do not have any feeling in the arm and have to continue to watch it, but I am getting used to it quickly.

Now that I strengthened my trait, controlling my mana becomes easier and I don’t have to put my entire [Focus] into handling it. Currently, I am using one [Focus] to handle my mana and control the arm made thanks to [Armament] and [Mana Manipulation] while the remaining part of [Focus] is free to do anything I want.

So I observe my Construct but I do not dare to make any changes to it. Now, that I am out of the tunnels, I have a feeling that I was a little bit too reckless or brave to do it, and as I observe the result, I come to realize how a little mistake could have killed me.

But hey, it worked out pretty well. Yup, the construct is kind of wasteful and not that efficient when it comes to turning my mana into some kind of effect, but my mana pool is big enough to handle it without me even realizing it. Plus, it's a passive effect that boosts my body in a similar way to boosting my stats.

And if I ever need more mana I can turn off the construct.

I like it. I like it a lot.

Already I am coming up with ways to improve my current construct and increase efficiency and can't help but feel some excitement while imagining what I can do in the future.

The goal for the future is to have multiple constructs I can turn on and off and have them run in the background. I can prepare a construct for many different situations or types of opponents and then use the ones that will be needed and have them run passively.

Finally, I found one of the uses for my ever-increasing mana!

I also come to realize that my construct bears a little bit of similarity to my [Focus]. Just instead of part of my mind taking care of it, it's the circuit I etched into my body.

This is something I have to think about.

But now I need to practice a bit more. I'm really close to finishing the side quest, and the reward - a new passive skill - is within reach.