An excerpt of Mana Mutants

Authorship unattributed.

Mana mutants are born when a being, animal or plant, is exposed to a level of mana that is insufficient to cause immolation or dis-integration, but sufficient to force a form of evolution to occur in order for the being to survive the increased energy density. Typically this only occurs when a beast of adequate strength, be it tamed or feral, ascends to a higher realm whereupon, for instance, a stormhawk may evolve into a lightning phoenix or other similar transformations.

However, in the case of planets penitent, when energy is removed subsequent generations of beings will be born in a devolved state. When energy is returned, the descendants of the beings present at the time of restriction will undergo a disproportionately high frequency of evolution as their dormant traits return to the fore. The rate of recidivism exceeds eighty-five percent, with the remainder experiencing partial (dis-integration) to full immolation.

As a consequence of this forced evolution, the beings’ ability to absorb raw mana is either severely restricted or suspended. As a mana being’s primary source of sustenance is raw mana absorption, rather than biochemical consumption, this creates a condition of starvation which the being will seek to correct with the consumption of sources rich in mana.

Mana beings coalesce their refined mana in the form of a core located within their bodies; the exact location varies. It is possible for the energy concentrated within this core to be absorbed by other mana beings upon consumption. However it is exceedingly difficult for said consuming mana being to do so. The stable nature of the concentrated mana within the core causes the energy to disperse slowly or, if forcibly dispersed, violently. As such, during times of starvation mana beings are most inclined to search for rich sources of free, refined mana.

For reasons as yet unknown, humans do not form equivalent cores, and their mana remains in a much more accessible ‘free state’ spread within their bodies. As an added attraction, the mana within humans is already refined. By some unknown action, even the energy of a child who has never cultivated will be purified, albeit crudely.

The net effect of these factors is that humans appear to be irresistible prey to any recently evolved mana being. On planets penitent this tends to lead to nearly innumerable mana beasts attacking any nearby human with irrepressible ferocity, lacking even the typical cunning one might expect from an animal, mana evolved or otherwise. Population centers tend to experience a particularly high frequency of attacks; perhaps more appropriately called assaults.

In the case of humans, the physical consumption of flesh is not needed for mana beings to consume the energy they require. Instead, it is more likely that such a creature will merely mutilate the corpse until all the refined energy within is released and absorbed by the killer.

Mitch had arrived at his chosen location, with Joel in tow. On the few occasions they had had for interaction on the relatively short journey, Joel’s earnest nature had put Mitch much more at ease about the possibility of his presence being a trap of some sort. Suspicion and anger had taken a much more prominent place in his personality since the installation of his relay, but he was starting to be reminded of the importance of other traits as well. This, however, did nothing to change his goal of gaining sufficient strength to revisit his pain upon its perpetrators.

The spot he had chosen was an old stone quarry that had been abandoned long ago. He had not found, nor had he been looking for, the time frame for when it had been deserted, but it had been long enough for a small lake to form in the artificial basin created by the mining. Nature had reclaimed much of the surrounding area resulting in a vista that was actually somewhat idyllic. This had not, of course, factored into Mitch’s decision making, but was an enjoyable bonus.

The truck Mitch had purchased had just barely made it to the rim of the pit, but it was clear that it could go no further. This quarry had not been made with the vehicle-centric layers of a modern strip mine. They would need to transport their respective gear down by foot.

There were still a handful of hours left in the day when they arrived, so after exiting their vehicles, Mitch suggested they proceed down and see what opportunities their new abode provided, so they hiked down the couple of hundred feet from the rim to the floor of the mine. There was a substantial open area surrounding the artificial lake on all sides that would be more than sufficient for their needs. Truthfully, there was room for a couple of dozen people to stay here if they so wished.

After he had had his fill of exploration, Mitch returned to the base of the trail leading back up out of the quarry. It was not long before Joel returned as well.

“Anything interesting?” Mitch inquired.

“Nothing out of the ordinary. It’s a pretty spot, but why did you pick it?” Somehow Joel found it unlikely that Mitch had chosen this place for the scenery.

“What did the Historian tell you about those stones he gave you?”

“Nothing really.”

“They’re called spirit stones. From the information I have, each one of them has the energy equivalent of a decent sized nuke.”

“Nuke. Like-“

“The bomb.”

“You’re serious.”

“Entirely.”

“Crap.”

“Right. I need to figure out how to use the energy in them before the next Tolling to protect against those mutants you mentioned so blithely. If I mess up, I thought it would be better for a nuke to explode out here than in the middle of the city.”

“That’s true… “

The stood silently for a moment.

“How likely are you to mess up?”

“I don’t know enough to even guess.”

“Ah.”

Mitch could almost feel Joel regretting being here.

“Can’t we just use the guns? I have a few in my trunk.”

“The warden claims modern weapons won’t help much.”

“Uh-huh.” Joel did not sound convinced.

“You want to try shooting down a dragon with a hunting rifle?”

“When you put it like- there are going to be dragons?”

“I don’t know. But I was told, in so many words, beasts of legend.”

“So, jackalopes to hellhounds.”

“That’s about the range.”

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as they both considered the possible implications. They knew what was coming, but not really. They had been thrown together by beings whose motives could not be fully comprehended. Neither person had any attachment to the other. They had no easily definable reason to work together with other than the assurances of the aforementioned persons of indeterminate impetus that they would be stronger together. On top of all this, they were faced with a bare handful of weeks to prepare for battle with an enemy who’s abilities and natures were both multifarious and not wholly understood.

Within that silence, a sort of understanding emerged, unspoken, between them. This understanding was so fragile that attempting to acknowledge it would have destroyed it.

Joel did not know of the atrocity that had been wrought upon Mitch by Kanshou. Even if he had, he would not have understood the fractures that the event had sent through Mitch’s personality.

Mitch could no longer relate to a person who had not suffered. Ever since being informed of his impending doom his only concern had been his survival. He had tuned out the world, focusing entirely on avoiding his demise. That single-minded focus had brought him into the clutches of the warden as he cavalierly ignored everything not pertaining to his continued existence.

Ignorance was the basis of this connection. Their various differences aside, neither knew the full extent of the forces arrayed against them. Both had no choice but to trust the words of individuals who had no interest in their survival beyond how it might benefit themselves.

The moment faltered and failed, but it’s impression remained.

“Let’s see this project of yours,” Mitch said.

Joel only nodded before stepping forward. After a moment to gather himself, he began his form.

Mitch, could not help but be impressed. The movements were clean, crisp, and clear, but, more than that, the energy around Joel responded to them. Mitch couldn’t tell if the fact that he was sensing these shifts in the flows of energy was the result of Joel’s form or his own recently augmented ability to interact with the energy. Either way, he could… taste the different kinds of energy that were responding to the form. Taste was not the right word, but it was the closest he could come to describing the sensation. Every three moves evoked a different flavor.

The movements were slow, almost tai chi like, but Mitch could see the effort that each took. Joel was grimacing and breathing in a controlled manner that spoke volumes of the discomfort he was experiencing as he progressed through the pattern. Joel’s response to the pain did more than anything before to change Mitch’s opinion of him.

When he had finished, Joel was sweaty and gasping, his limbs trembling. Waves of energy were swirling around him, portions breaking off back into the ether, but others seemed to be pulled at random back into his body.

Suddenly, Joel crouched into a low stance, his arms forward and the heels of his palms pressed together with his fingers extended forward as though he were holding something with both his hands. The energy Mitch could sense within him surged and gathered between his palms before shooting outward. There was no light, but a beam of invisible force shot forward from the focal point over the lake, causing very slight disturbances in the surface of the water.

When it hit the far wall of the quarry, it popped with a sound like a firecracker sending a single ripple expanding back toward where they were standing on the opposite shore.

When the beam gave out so did Joel’s knees, and he collapsed onto his side.

“You good?” asked Mitch.

Joel was breathing heavily and, rather than reply, only made a thumbs up gesture in Mitch’s general direction. He rolled onto his back and put his arms above his head as he attempted to regain control of his breath.

Joel rested for about ten minutes before uttering a single phrase.

“Your turn.”