Return Of The Mana

Kaelar watched Ethan with a calm but knowing gaze as he began to explain the process. "Reclaiming your mana should be relatively easy," he began, his voice measured. "When you first created and entered this human body, your mana was so pure, but due to the nature of your transformation, your mana channels became blocked off. That's why, when you tried to use it, you felt pain and eventually got knocked out."

Ethan nodded, remembering the intense pain he'd experienced when trying to access his powers. It had been like nothing he'd felt before, a shock to his entire system.

Kaelar continued, his sharp eyes never leaving Ethan. "The solution is simple. All I need to do is push a bit of mana through your body, open up your channels again. But be warned, it might hurt a little."

Ethan winced at the thought but nodded. "I can handle it."

Kaelar raised an eyebrow, but there was no hint of amusement in his expression. He stood up, walking over to Ethan and placing a hand on his shoulder. His fingers seemed to radiate calm energy, but Ethan could feel the power simmering beneath the surface.

"Brace yourself," Kaelar said, his tone serious. "This will not be pleasant."

Before Ethan could fully prepare, he felt a surge of mana enter his body—sharp, hot, and overwhelming. What Kaelar had called "a little pain" turned out to be excruciating. Ethan's entire body felt like it was on fire, every muscle tensing as the mana forced its way through him. Sweat poured from his skin, and he gritted his teeth, trying not to cry out.

His vision blurred as the pain intensified, his body shaking as the mana began to open up his blocked channels. It felt like his veins were burning, every fiber of his being stretched to its limit.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pain began to fade, leaving behind a dull ache and a sense of relief. Ethan slumped forward, his body drenched in sweat, breathing heavily as he tried to regain control of himself.

"That..." Ethan managed to gasp between breaths, "wasn't 'a little pain.'"

Kaelar gave a slight smile, though his eyes were filled with understanding. "I warned you," he said. "But it's done now. Your mana channels are open. You'll feel your mana returning slowly, but right now, due to your human body, your mana levels are still low. Over time, with practice and training, your channels will expand, and your connection to mana will grow stronger."

Ethan nodded, still catching his breath, but despite the pain, he could feel it—something had changed. There was a flicker of power within him again, not as strong as it once had been, but there. Ready to be tapped into.

"Your next step," Kaelar said, "is to use what little mana you have and expand your capacity. The more you use it, the more your channels will grow, and eventually, you'll be able to handle the level of power you once wielded. But don't expect it to be instant. This will take time and patience."

Ethan leaned back, his mind still racing but feeling a small surge of hope. "So... it's possible to get back to where I was?"

Kaelar nodded. "Not only that, but if you learn to balance your human nature with your former self, you may become even stronger."

Ethan sat quietly for a moment, processing everything. His body still throbbed from the intense experience, but he could feel the spark of mana flickering within him again.

It wasn't much yet, but it was a start.

Ethan, still feeling the lingering pain from the mana surge, focused on the small spark of power within him. He concentrated on creating something simple—a metal cube. His body felt heavy, and his mana reserves were limited, but he pressed on, willing the mana to take form.

With great effort, he managed to create a small iron cube, no bigger than a fingernail, its surface smooth and cool. Ethan breathed heavily, exhausted by the effort.

Kaelar, who had been watching closely, raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "You can create metal?" His expression softened, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Interesting. Not many can do that."

Ethan, catching his breath, looked down at the small cube in his hand. "Yeah... and I can do a lot more than just that," he muttered, though the effort had drained him completely. His body still felt weak, and he could barely muster the energy to even think about trying again.

He attempted to summon more mana, to create another cube, but it was impossible. His reserves were empty—the first attempt had taken everything out of him.

Kaelar observed him for a moment, nodding slowly. "Hmm, I knew you were special," he said thoughtfully. "Metal manipulation is no simple feat. That ability, combined with your past, makes you quite unique."

Ethan collapsed back into his seat, still breathing heavily. "It took... everything I had," he admitted, feeling frustrated at how little he could accomplish compared to what he used to be capable of.

Kaelar, however, seemed calm. "That's to be expected. Right now, your mana usage is low, but your mana regeneration is quite high. It's a good sign," he said with a reassuring nod. "Your body is adjusting. Rest for a moment, let your mana replenish, and then try again. Each time, your capacity will increase, and you'll be able to do more."

Ethan sat back, letting Kaelar's words sink in. He hadn't considered his regeneration, but now that he thought about it, he could already feel a faint pulse of energy returning. It wasn't much, but it was something.

After a moment, he straightened up again, feeling the flicker of mana inside him slowly building. The path ahead might be slow, but he was moving forward, step by step. One small cube at a time.

---

Ethan spent the next few hours creating and resting, pushing himself to form small metal cubes over and over again. Each time he attempted it, he felt a bit more control, a bit more strength, but the exhaustion came just as quickly. Greg stood nearby, silent and vigilant, while Kaelar observed with quiet interest.

Kaelar eventually stepped away, muttering something about needing to attend to "wizard things" that Ethan barely registered in his tired state. His body ached, and his mana reserves, though replenishing faster than he expected, were still far from what he was used to. The small flickers of improvement were noticeable, but frustratingly slow.

After hours of repetition, Ethan could feel a small improvement, but not as much as he had hoped. The iron cubes were slightly larger, and he could create them with less effort, but the gap between what he could do now and what he was once capable of weighed heavily on him.

He sighed, leaning back against the stone wall, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "This is gonna take a while, huh, Greg?" he muttered. Greg, as always, stood motionless, offering no response.

Ethan closed his eyes for a moment, trying to focus on the faint pulse of mana inside him. There was potential—he could feel it—but he knew this would be a long, exhausting process. Building his strength back piece by piece, cube by cube.

Still, there was something satisfying about the effort, even if it wasn't yielding the immediate results he craved. This was a path, and he was moving forward, slowly but surely.

Ethan couldn't help but chuckle to himself. It feels like one of those hero stories, where the protagonist has to train to get stronger—each day a little more progress, a little more strength. But the reality of it was far more tiring and frustrating than the stories ever made it seem.

After what felt like forever of training, with iron cubes now becoming easier to form and his mana slowly responding more efficiently, Kaelar finally returned. He had an air of urgency about him, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a hint of haste.

"I have to go," Kaelar said, grabbing a few items from the shelves, quickly preparing to leave.

Ethan blinked, still catching his breath from his last attempt. "Wait, why? Where are you going?"

Kaelar barely paused as he threw on his cloak. "An important meeting—something I can't ignore. I'll be gone for a few days."

"Just like that?" Ethan asked, surprised. "What about my training?"

Kaelar turned, his expression softening slightly. "You've made more progress than you realize, Ethan. I've given you the building blocks you need to continue on your own, for now. Keep training, push your limits, and expand your mana channels. When I return, we'll take the next step."

Ethan nodded, feeling a bit more confident despite Kaelar's sudden departure. "Alright, I'll keep at it."

Kaelar offered a small smile before heading toward the door. "You're on the right path. Don't lose focus." With that, he rushed out of the room.

Ethan and Greg followed him outside, where the afternoon sun cast long shadows on the ground. They watched as Kaelar hurried down the street, disappearing into the distance.

"Well…" Ethan muttered, scratching his head as he watched the wizard rush off. "What do we do now?"

He looked at Greg, who, as usual, remained silent and unmoving. Ethan sighed, glancing around at the city of Greystone bustling with life. They had some time before Kaelar returned, and though he had the basics of training, Greystone was full of possibilities. Maybe it was time to explore more, test his abilities in new ways, or find out more about this strange world.

A sense of freedom washed over him, even if it was tinged with uncertainty. He wasn't stuck in Kaelar's tower anymore, and for the first time since arriving in this world, he had some control over what happened next.

"Alright, Greg," Ethan said, stretching his tired limbs. "Let's see what this city has to offer."

Ethan wandered through the busy streets of Greystone, Greg following closely behind. The city bustled with life, people moving about on errands, vendors shouting from their stalls, and the clattering of carts rolling along the cobbled roads. But despite the liveliness, one thing was clear—Ethan was lost.

"I still wanna see if I can get a gold coin," Ethan muttered to Greg as he walked, glancing around at the unfamiliar streets. "I've got some jewelry in my pack, maybe I can sell them and get some money. Let's find a store."

But as they turned corner after corner, the realization set in—he had no idea where he was going. The city was a maze of twisting alleys, wide streets, and bustling markets, and every turn only seemed to make things worse.

"Where are we?" Ethan groaned, throwing his hands in the air. "How do we get around this city?!"

He looked around, hoping for some kind of landmark to guide him, but everything looked the same—shops, taverns, and crowds of people. No sign of the path back to the familiar part of town he'd been in earlier.

"Maybe I should've asked Kaelar for a map before he left," Ethan muttered to himself.

As they wandered further into the heart of the city, the streets became narrower and busier, the chatter of people growing louder. Ethan sighed, glancing over at Greg. "We need some directions."

Spotting a young woman tending a fruit stand nearby, Ethan approached her, hoping for some help.

"Excuse me," he asked, trying to sound polite. "I'm kind of lost. Do you know where I could find a shop that buys jewelry?"

The woman gave him a quick glance, noticing Greg standing quietly behind him, before nodding with a smile. "You're not too far off. Head down this street, take a left at the fountain, and you'll find the Merchant's Quarter. Plenty of shops there that'll buy what you've got."

Ethan sighed in relief, thanking her before turning back to Greg. "Okay, that sounds promising. Let's head to the Merchant's Quarter and see if we can get that gold coin."

With a little more direction, Ethan and Greg set off, navigating through the streets, finally starting to feel like they had a plan again.