Deflecting and dodging to the side, Kai heard the whistle of Elijah’s strike pass an inch from his ear. Taking advantage of the small opening, he went on the offensive. Mana flooded his muscles and tendons as he activated Empower. His movements gained a burst of superhuman speed.
I got him.
His blade gleamed in the sun as he performed a horizontal slash. Arms, legs and torso, his whole body was in on the strike. Elijah was too close to dodge and his sword too far for an...
2023-07-03 15:50:45 +0000 UTC
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Kai was left awkwardly standing there, alone. He was 90% sure Virya was having fun at his expense, but the other 10% worried him. Sometimes she went into long explanations, then, out of the blue, she decided it was time to end it abruptly. He could not figure her out.
I’m sure it was a joke. My vow wasn’t even that restrictive.
What was done was done. No point losing his mind over it. He was sure Virya would have told him if it was something truly dangerous. His reaso...
2023-06-30 15:54:05 +0000 UTC
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“What do you think the Guide is, Kai?” Virya asked.
Kai’s barely managed to suppress a shrug. Wouldn’t it be nice to know? Not wanting to offend the mage, he tried to give it some thought. It was unlikely she expected a particular answer from him.
“In the archipelago, people believe it’s the gift of the spirits to guide and protect us.”
“And what do you believe?”
“If the spirits were truly responsible, then it doesn’t make sense how every...
2023-06-29 15:45:46 +0000 UTC
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Waking up to the first ray of sunlight peeking through his window, Kai wondered for the hundredth time if he should find something to cover it. But there was little point when he had to get up at dawn.
With eyes half closed, he put on a shirt and walked out of his house. The smell of salt and the crashing of the waves greeted him more strongly than usual. Today the tide was high and he only had to walk a short distance, before being faced with the crystal sea.
This is the life...
2023-06-27 15:54:04 +0000 UTC
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*Ding*
Mana Sense (lv50) ➔
As you reach the first milestone, you are presented with two choices to continue your journey:
- Stay the course on your current path. You won’t gain new significant benefits, but you’ll greatly deepen your insight into what you already know.
- Watch deeper. Choose to improve your senses to become able to perceive the elemental alignment of mana. The higher...
2023-06-26 16:07:18 +0000 UTC
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Kai was walking the paved path to the estate when Elijah appeared in front of him standing in his path, an impenetrable expression on his face.
Does he know what I have done?
Making use of Acting, Kai tried to behave casually. Nothing was wrong. He smirked at the pale man. “Did you miss me?”
There was no answer. Elijah remained motionless, looking at him. Kai didn’t think walking around him was an option, so he was forced to stop. His confidence quickly crumbl...
2023-06-23 15:39:52 +0000 UTC
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A thick tropical rain enveloped Greenside. The already muddy streets soon turned into a swamp. People hurried to take cover, no one spared a glance at a kid quickly making his way out of town.
The frenetic pitter-patter of thousands of drops of rain covered everything like a blanket. Kai moved like a ghost through the streets heading for the fields.
His heart thumped in his chest. The satisfaction of a plan well executed filled him. It was exhilarating. The murderer of his father ...
2023-06-22 15:18:59 +0000 UTC
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Looking at the slivers of sky visible through the green canopies overhead, Kai estimated it must be around noon.
He had no appetite but forced himself to eat a few bites anyway. He needed to be at peak performance. He had a few ideas in his head, but reality had the irritating tendency of doing its own thing. On the top of his head, he could think of half a dozen ways that random events could throw a wrench in his plans.
There were many factors out of his control. He couldn’t af...
2023-06-20 15:27:25 +0000 UTC
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Fury swelled inside of him with a force that surprised even him. A rage he’d forgotten, but never quite unkindled. It had always been there, smoldering beneath the surface.
His fingers softly caressed the knife's edge in his pocket. The source of the greatest sorrows in his life was getting drunk a street over. It wouldn't take much. He could slip in and out in a single breath. A jab of cold steel straight to his heart was all it would take.
After his father’s murder, he had f...
2023-06-19 15:12:52 +0000 UTC
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Author's note:
I made it in time! Enjoy the chapter :)
-------
His heart thumped in his chest, Kai ran out of his house. He looked around and ran down the street calling her name. Kea was nowhere to be found.
Panic rising, he continued running without a plan. Each second he didn’t find her was one more second she could do something stupid.
Think, think!
His thoughts moved a mile per second. He needed a plan, something to go off t...
2023-06-18 13:56:38 +0000 UTC
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After the long walk through the root maze, his pristine clothes were no more, covered in dirt and sweat. He did his best to clean himself up but didn’t have much success. It was already a great accomplishment he had managed not to tear them on the rough roots. With a good wash, they would turn good as new, hopefully.
The canopy of the great tree shielded the place from direct sunlight, but the humidity was even stronger in the Veeryd jungle. Coupled with the insect buzzing around it w...
2023-06-16 14:57:11 +0000 UTC
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A thousand different thoughts swirled in Kai’s head as he read the notification.
Has that really happened? Are the spirits real? Are they gods or something else?
This discovery changed a lot of things, but, before any of that, he had to take care of a more pressing issue. Elder Soluli was getting impatient as he kept ignoring him.
“Did you hit your head hard, kid?”
Kai’s gaze focused on the mayor, activating Acting as a reflex. “I’m fine.” He mas...
2023-06-15 15:00:09 +0000 UTC
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The ground was spongy squelching under his bare feet as Kai followed the group into the jungle. It had rained the day before and it showed. The leaves of the trees and shrubbery reflected the few rays of light that made it through the green canopies on their wet surface.
The smells of greenery and earth were intensified by the recent rain. The occasional droplet trickled down with a quiet tap when it met leaves or their heads. The sound added a new note to the melody of the jungle made ...
2023-06-13 15:13:35 +0000 UTC
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Author's notes:
Saturday I changed the currency from dollars (which had been put by default) to euros since I live there and I don't want to pay another percentage to Patreon for the conversion. What this means is that my prices were automatically converted from dollars into euros by Patreon. If you live in Europe this changes absolutely nothing since the prices were already adjusted to each region.
The difference 5€ = 5.38 $, but Patreon does whatever it wants with the conversi...
2023-06-12 15:21:53 +0000 UTC
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As Moui had predicted, the next day Kea went back to his house to continue the apprenticeship. No one had any idea what had happened and she refused to say anything, only giving vague answers.
From her words, she appeared very interested in hunting, but something must have upset her. When Kai tried to ask her if anything was wrong, she glared at him and closed herself in her room.
What did I do wrong this time? I give up.
It wasn’t a perfect scenario, but as long ...
2023-06-09 15:39:53 +0000 UTC
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In the morning Kai discovered the shenanigans of the previous day had not gone unnoticed.
*Ding*
New skill added to the Archive! Persuasion (lv1) – With the right words and gestures you’ll sway people to see the best way. Your way.
He had not expected to unlock another social skill. Not because he thought he had not done enough for it—he was pretty sure he got that covered—the problem was that he already had Acting. The overlap with ...
2023-06-08 15:54:02 +0000 UTC
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“You want me to take your sister as an apprentice.” Moui's voice made clear what he thought of his request and it wasn’t a yes.
Kai wasn’t deterred. At least it wasn’t the blunt no the hunter had given him when he thought Kai was asking for himself. He could work with a maybe.
Would it really be so terrible to take a world-class genius like yours truly as an apprentice?
He was a little hurt. But if he had to be honest, in Moui’s shoes, he would also refu...
2023-06-06 15:30:01 +0000 UTC
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The sun completed almost an entire arc in the sky before Kai left Moui’s house. He continued to try to teach him how to use Mana Manipulation for the whole day. It was one of the most frustrating experiences of his life. The stubborn hunter kept refusing to learn Mana Sense.
The good news was that Kai’s theory that was possible to gain some kind of feeling for mana through touch seemed to have merit. The task wasn’t impossible, but progress was slow. After all their efforts Moui c...
2023-06-05 15:31:14 +0000 UTC
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No one stopped him during the walk back home. Lost in the experience and discoveries made, Kai soon found himself in front of his door.
Looking at his ugly house, he realized an issue he had not considered. How was he going to explain the kilos of snake meat he had packed in his bag to his mother? He could not tell her the truth of how he got his hands on it. She knew he had spent the day with Moui, but Kai may have skirted on a couple of details.
No point making her worry for...
2023-06-02 15:38:22 +0000 UTC
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Kai felt somewhat disoriented, his mind floating outside his body. He chose to fight that snake on a whim. As a symbolic step forward.
Oh boy, did he get more than he bargained for. He had not expected the snake to be half as strong. Just a dumb beast, a bonk on the head and it was done.
Muoi gave him a piece of cloth, waking him from his reverie. Kai stared at it blankly for a moment, then his brain kicked back in.
I’m covered in snake blood.
Back in his ow...
2023-06-01 15:32:28 +0000 UTC
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Hearing Muoi’s proposal, Kai didn’t have to think twice. He had long wished for the chance to observe an awakened beast. The hunter said it was only red-tier and young, so it was probably even weaker than him.
“Remember to stay by my side and do what I tell you. Also, mind where you step. You are making too much noise.” Muoi reminded him.
Nodding eagerly and promising he would do as he was told, Kai followed the hunter trying to be as silent as possible. It was easier said...
2023-05-30 15:18:15 +0000 UTC
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The next day, Kai rushed his morning exercises. He had convinced uncle Muoi to take him to the outskirts of the Veeryd jungle. More like tricked into agreeing, but those were just semantics.
It was an opportunity to see an expert navigate the infamous jungle safely and he didn’t want to be late.
Just an hour after dawn, Kai was heading toward the hunter’s house to meet him, walking through one of the worst districts of new town. Muoi’s house wasn’t exactl...
2023-05-29 15:35:48 +0000 UTC
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As I've anticipated, I opened a Discord server. If your Patreon is linked to your discord you'll receive an automatic invite.
Otherwise, here is the link: https://discord.gg/K3jJG2N3
I'm open to any suggestions to improve the discord channel.
2023-05-27 12:57:28 +0000 UTC
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Author's note: I'll try to set up a discord this weekend. If you see a post it will be for that. It's still a work in progress, so I make no promises. In any case, it will only be opened for Patreon members for now.
Thank you all for the comments, here is today's chapter, enjoy.
----------
It took two more days for Kea to learn Mana Sense. Kai had to promise to help her both in the morning as soon as he woke up and in the evening when his mana regenerated.
2023-05-26 15:23:04 +0000 UTC
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Finally, it was over. Kai was almost dancing on his feet as he got home. Three new books were held firmly in his arms, 2 silvers and change in his pockets. He said goodbye and thank you to uncle Muoi and knocked on his door with a smile. It didn’t last long.
Alana opened the door. He barely had time to put down his books when his mother said, “Come, we need to talk.”
Taking his hand she dragged him outside, leading them away.
“Mom, I know you’re mad, but—“ Kai ...
2023-05-25 13:31:43 +0000 UTC
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As Kai wrestled with the bait poison, the day proceeded slowly and yet too fast.
During each brewing session, time seemed to slow to a crawl, as his mind worked in overdrive to solve problems. Trying to improve the quality of the final result and desperately searching for new ways to increase his efficiency.
As his skills got better, his mana continued to inexorably dwindle. No matter what he tried, how many small improvements he made. It was never enough. Kai started to wonder if...
2023-05-23 14:47:39 +0000 UTC
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Author's note:
I added a pdf if anyone reading it there. Thank you all for the comments and support.
------------
Waking up in a good mood the next day, Kai was pleased to notice it was barely an hour after dawn. His mana was also completely full.
Yesterday had gone splendidly, but he was happy this would be the last day of his crazy marathon. He really needed to take a break.
Curious about his progress, Kai checked his skills list.
Turning in his bed, Kai raised his arm over his eyes to cover them. He wanted to keep sleeping. Opening his eyes, a glimmer of light was filtering through his window. He had purposely left it open to wake up at the first light of day.
Strange. The window looks more closed than how I left it…
His eyes shot open. His mother must have closed it to let him sleep. Kai jumped off his bed, running out of his room. As soon as he opened the door his worst fears were proven true....
2023-05-19 15:06:09 +0000 UTC
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A few hours past noon Kai got home. Outside his house the improvised festival was still going strong. People were laughing, eating street food and generally having a good time.
He wished he could join them too, but he had no time to spare. He was not going to get another chance to earn so much money anytime soon. He might finally be able to help his family in a concrete way.
No one else was at home, so he immediately got to work. He had played like it was no big deal, but doubts w...
2023-05-19 14:45:08 +0000 UTC
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Following Reishi as he led the way to the cargo hold. Kai soon noticed the higher mana density on board, similar to that of Virya’s estate. Activating Mana Sense he tried to take a peek at the Fortuna. Maybe get a glimpse of the enchantments.
The boards of the ship lit up like a Christmas tree. Intricate runes and mana channels all around him. Astonished by the intricate design, Kai tried to take a closer look. A frown formed on his face. No matter how much he focused, his mana senses...
2023-05-19 13:43:42 +0000 UTC
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