0009 - Sense magic

I took out the paper, there was no difference from before but the only thing that differed was that I was able to make out the words written on the paper.

Sense Magic

Goal - heighten your 5 senses to create a new 6th one.

Process - use your senses while activating mana in to your body

"Hmm, it's pretty short but I get the gist of it. You have to know the keyword of the magic and the written description of what it can do." I analysed the magic learning method as I said this. Now what is mana and what does circulating mana mean?

As I thought about this I heard some faint noises from somewhere. "What's this?" This is drinking, beef, laughing, etc., it's the bar from down below. How am I able to hear the noises from down below? Sense magic. "So somehow I was circulating mana," all I was doing was thinking real hard. As I thought this, an information came to mind, "Brianna told me that the basic magic book had something about mana, guess I will have to read it next."

He took a small break by looking at the street from the window while thinking hard he was able to see a little further as well.

Continuing with my studies, I opened the basic magic learning book. " I thought I might feel some restraint, but the book opened easily," I said as I saw the first page of the book which had only "Basic of Magic" written on it.

As I turned to the first page, a huge burst of light occurred and similarly to the language books, the magic book was imprinted in my mind. Within 30 minutes or so I completely turned all the pages and understood the information written in the book. I closed my eyes and sat in the chair facing the window. The information gained moved in my brain, as I revised the book.

"Mana", it was nothing but magical energy flowing inside someone's body. Just like veins for blood, there were veins for mana. Though the mana veins didn't exist physically, it was there on magical terms.

There was a training called 'mana strengthening', it was a technique used to increase the flow of mana. Mana circulating and strengthening both came with practice and I decided to do that.

Mana circulating increased with focussing on mana and strength increased with using magic while training circulation.

There were many other things related to history and politics around magic. It also had information related to how magic changed wars and cultures. Names of famous magicians and their tips, which I believe I will use after a while. These pieces of information were interesting but not necessarily important.

The other important information other than mana was types of magic. There were 7 classes of magic, namely, fire, air, earth, water, light, dark and neutral. One spell of each was given to check whether you have affinity for the said magic class or not.

This can be dangerous, I will probably try them tomorrow in an open space. But I know one thing, learning and practicing magic will be expensive, "Ah, I need more money," I sighed as a tear formed in my eye. Thinking that the coins from the chest will not last long, I made a decision to do some work somewhere.

I practiced more for sense magic, trying to listen to the nearby noises, while focussing hard I was able to feel my mana and mana nerve. Though for a little, there was some sensation. After listening, I looked out the window and practiced with my eyes, though slightly but noticeably improving my eyesight.

As I spent a great deal of time practicing I got tired and sat at the chair, looking out the window, I looked at the night sky and noticed, "2 moons", I was astonished to see 2 moons.

One was bigger and the other was smaller, both shining like that earth's moon but 2 in number. After enjoying this bizarre occurrence, I closed the window and laid on the bed. I closed my eyes and called it a day. Though I walked through the town on foot and practiced magic so hard and for so long, I didn't feel tired at all. But somewhere in my mind a voice asked me to have some rest.

***

As I was thinking about the day I didn't realise I slept until the morning, when I heard knocking on the door. The waiter kept the buckets and left. I took a bath, got ready and went down to the bar. I saw the normal crowd at the inn, but something was off, "where's my food? "," it's already time to go to the guild"," hurry up slowpokes","I need the food now, not tomorrow", I got nervous as I listened to the insults sent at the father daughter duo.

I sat at the bar stool and glanced at Brice working hard, with sweat on her face. Some customers yelled at her, some said to close the inn, some were scolding her. "It seems like she is on the verge of crying. What can I do?" I cursed in my head and got up. I went towards the kitchen and saw Marcel, "Old man, give me the plates", as I said that the necks of both the cooks and Marcel turned towards me, with a tense look.

"Can you do it?" Marcel asked me. "Yes, I can." I said confidently. He then handed me food plates with flags pointing out of it. The tables had similar flags with numbers, "all I want to do is match the table number. Right? " I asked, confirming my duty. "Yes, that's all," Marcel said with a tired look.

As I was about to leave with 2 plates, I saw a wooden board lying on the side. I picked it up and checked it. The board was of alright strength. "Give me more," I said as I placed 2 plates on the board. With an anxious look Marcel passed 4 more plates, I assembled them on the board and picked them up. To my and everyone's surprise, lifting the board was an easy task.

"maybe the plates and board are not that heavy," with a confused smile I said to the staff. I exited the kitchen and activated sense magic on my skin and eyes. I believe skin protected me from obstacles on the floor and eyes showed me where to go and the table numbers clearly.

I reached the eating area and started serving the plates. As soon as the plates were done, I went inside the kitchen and brought out more plates. With 4 rounds of serving the current customers were occupied eating.

Marcel came out and said to the customers, "I am sorry," bowed his head and went back to the kitchen. "No problem","It happens","this is the best place," many comments were pleased and finally the mood of the restaurant lightened up.

Soon breakfast time passed and the heat turned down. Finally my breakfast was served, I was about to eat the new breakfast of pancakes and juice, Brice and Marcel joined me on the same table, with their plates.

"Thank you for your help, young Dave," said Marcel with a smile. "not a problem, I don't want you 2 to burn out due to workload," I said while enjoying the pancakes. "I heard that one of your waiters left work," I inquired about the problem.

"Yes, that waiter was one of the most promising ones, well what's happened has happened," Marcel said with a sigh, while Brice was nodding and chewing on her breakfast as quietly as possible. "Also I thought Brice was about to cry, so I had to do something," I said while looking at Brice, who choked on her food and gulped down her mug.

"It's nothing like that," said an embarrassed Brice as she focused on her meal. "As a token of thanks, I will increase your stay for one more day, at the same price," said a grateful Marcel. I was surprised, but I took the opportunity and said, "no need for that, a man must earn his keep. If gratitude is what you want to show, just answer some of my queries."

As I said this Marcel's eyes grew bigger and he proudly said," Give me anything, I will give a straight answer."

As I prepared a set of questions in my mind, Brice left the table. As she did that, I asked "what are the humans with animal ears and tails? What are the humans with horns? I saw them in front of the guild yesterday. I see them in and around the inn as well."

Brice immediately said, "The animal ears and tails are beastmen and beast women. There are many kinds, cat-human, dog-human, rabbit-human, bird-human, just to count a few. The ones with horns can be beastmen or they can be demons. Don't get the wrong idea just like humans, demons are also good and bad. The good demons are allowed to roam freely in the nation. But, I must say, they are subjected to unfair discrimination. The demons are generally with darker tones of skin but it's not always true, for one I have seen a demon so beautiful, she was no less than an angel."

"how can I post a job in the guild?" I said, as my next question. "You put a request at the reception and deposit the amount, that's it." said Marcel, hinting towards his experience.

"I need a place to practice my sword play, is there any free space?" I asked. Replying immediately, Marcel said, "there is an empty ground just behind the inn, use it freely."

I was relieved that I got an empty space close to the inn. "As for my last question, I am just curious. What was the salary of the waiter who left the job?" I said, thinking about future job opportunities.

"hmm, 7 coppers a day, why you ask?" asked Marcel, with a confused expression. "a thought came to my mind and I asked it." dodging his enquiry, I made an excuse and thanked him for his time.

As Marcel left, I said to myself, "the day has just started, let's make a plan and complete it by sunset." He put his hand in his left jeans pocket and left the inn for the guild building.