4: Chapter 4: Awakening

Chapter 4: Awakening

John and Ariel were at the main gates of the city. Upon seeing the gates, they were shocked by how huge they were.

'Well, it is the main gate so I guess this is what you'd expect..?' John thought.

It's only been a few hours since John came to this world and the sun was still out, but he had a feeling it was going to go down soon. And John doubted spending a night in the forest would be safe.

But this was what made it even more exciting to John. He thought if other people were to hear about his situation, they may think that he was acting too carefree. But John did not mind it and thought what else could they expect.

It was a fantasy world, John would rather not start thinking of the negatives after he just came here. After all, he doubted that he would ever be able to return.

John then explained to the gatekeeper that they were heading off to the forest to complete a quest, and he let them through.

After following the road, they arrived at the forest. Although it was called a forest, it didn't really look like ones that John had seen on the net. There were trees, but it didn't feel as exotic as a forest. It was more like a plain, with trees and bushes.

'This terrain is much better, though. In the forest we could have faced threats such as giant monstrous snakes attacking us or little poisonous snakes. Either way, it would suck.' John thought.

'But since this is an open spacious area with trees and Flora growing. I won't have to worry about being attacked in a blind spot'. John concluded.

They entered the terrain and went around searching for the herbs.

Surprisingly enough, after what seemed to be 30 minutes, they were able to find 10 herbs, which in John's opinion was really good. They also didn't encounter any monsters, which was very lucky

"Ariel, let's take a break. I want to test something out. Remember how I asked the lady how to use magic?" John spoke

"Yes, she said that you needed to have an aptitude for it and you needed a tutor to teach you how to cast spells..." Ariel replied.

'Wha- She has a pretty good memory.' John thought with surprise.

"I-Is something wrong?" Ariel asked with concern.

"Ah. N-no I was just surprised." John answered

"Why..?" Ariel asked

"Nevermind. Anyway, I'm about to try out what she said." John replied.

'Let's see... magic is the foundation of the world. It is everywhere.. so I guess I should start by trying to feel it?' John pondered.

He let out a deep breath and closed his eyes. He concentrated as hard as he could and focused on his senses.

It was then that John noticed it. His eyes were closed, but he could sense his surroundings. In fact, they were much clearer than when they were open. He could feel the movement of the wind, the brushing of the leaves on the ground behind him and the location of Ariel.

It was amazing. It was as if his eyes had been opened to a whole new world.

However, that was only the gist of it. He was able to feel the flow of mana within his body and he was able to feel Ariels too. To be specific, through her flow of mana, John was able to detect where she was.

"It worked! I did it! I was able to feel the flow of mana!" John said excitedly.

"That fast? Wow..." Said Ariel.

"Apparently, I'm able to sense the life force within a person, the trees and the plants. I'm also able to sense the flow of mana. I can also see the amount of magic power you have... you have a lot of potential." John said.

'An aura radiated from Ariel, that aura is probably how much magic power she has, and it's big. But why can't I see mine? I can see the flow of mana, but not my aura.' John wondered.

"Does that mean I can become a magician?" Ariel asked.

"Yeah, if you're properly instructed." John said.

"I see... I can become a magician..." Said Ariel with a soft smile on her face.

'Hm…'

Before John got to try out other things with the use of mana, he detected something big moving fast towards them with his magic perception.

"Ariel dodge!" John shouted.

John realised that she wouldn't make it in time, so he pushed her out of the way. Half a second later he felt an impact so hard that it swung him towards the closest tree.

*Cough* *Cough* *Cough*

John coughed out blood as pain flowed throughout his body.

'It hurts... I can't... breathe…' Thought John.

"John!!!" Shouted Ariel as she was about to rush towards him.

"S-Stop! Stay back..." John muttered

He couldn't even shout.

John's consciousness felt like it was slowly fading.

Before him stood a 3 metres tall boar. 

'Where did it come from..? And How…' John thought with surprise.

The boar got in a stance which indicated that it was about to charge straight at John. He couldn't move from the tree, so he had no way of avoiding it.

"Is this how it ends... My 2nd try at life..? Crap... I should've been a merchant..." John muttered.

Ariel, who noticed the boar's stance, picked up a rock and threw it at it.

It faced her and got in its stance again. Ariel looked at John and showed him a small smile which seemed like her way of saying "Thank you".

"Oi... What are you doing... Run... Don't... *Cough* Be... Stupid..." John muttered.

Ariel couldn't hear him, she was too far.

As the boar was about to charge at her, she pulled out her dagger and started to circle around it.

"Don't screw with me... that... won't do anything..." John muttered.

'Ah... Crap... I'm losing consciousness... Is this how it ends..?' John wondered.

His eyelids felt heavy. 

'Ah... Am I going to powerlessly watch someone die in front of me again..? Just like that day..? Death..? that existence... Can drop dead.' John thought.

Suddenly, Ice began to form on the ground around John. The air was getting colder.

John then realised time had slowed down.

The boar slowly charged at Ariel, who seemed to be trying to get behind it.

'What's happening... Is this magic?' John questioned himself.

He stretched out his hands and focused. He focused on the ice which seemed to be gathering around him.

'If I remember correctly... Ice is the solid state of water, which is chemically composed of 2 Hydrogen particles and 1 oxygen particle. Imagine more water being formed... More... This isn't enough... More!' John willed with focus.

As John imagined that, water particles began to form in front of him, so much that a sphere of water half the size of the 3 meter tall boar was formed.2

'What's going on... It's like I know what to do..?' John inwardly spoke.

He then imagined the ice freezing up the water, all the surrounding ice merged with the water and froze it. But it wasn't enough. 

'Colder... I need it to be colder…' John thought.

John then remembered. There are a few ways to freeze up water, but the fastest way he could remember was from an endothermic reaction he had learned in chemistry. 

'Ammonium nitrate... If water reacts with it then…' 

Ammonium + Nitric acid, John carefully imagined the detailed composition, and merged it with the frozen water.

Since time was slowed it felt as if each second was an eternity. However, John didn't lose focus.

The water started to slowly freeze up.

'Not enough... Think... There's not much time left... That's right... Physics... The colder something gets... The slower the kinetic energy (movement energy) of the particles and the weaker the internal energy…' John thought.

He imagined the atoms in the ice slowing down; It was draining his energy, with each second that passed he felt a stronger desire to sleep. His head felt like it was going to burst.

Ice had formed. It slowly froze the air around it. John imagined its tip becoming sharper, harder, denser and stronger so that it could pierce that thing. He poured all of his remaining energy and power into this icicle.

The ice which began in front of John's hand slowly shifted forward before propelling itself at a super-fast speed. Even with time slowed down, the Icicle managed to out-speed the boar and pierce it right on its side. Shortly after this, John fainted.

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"Well done, John..." Said a voice John didn't recognise

Who..?

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