/Author's Note

ElPsyKongroo28 here,

I created a new cover for the fiction this week and updated the description. Please comment your thoughts on them or complete the poll.

Enjoy the Chapter!

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Chapter 6: The Ascent

As the day of his birthday drew near Alric began stockpiling his mana.

He stopped using his body strengthening and focused on training with his new gauntlet blades.

The original design of the gauntlets with the knuckle and forearm blades, while effective, had a few flaws.

While wearing the gauntlets the hand would be unable to fully open so they were unusable outside combat.

So he modified the gauntlets so that the blades would be detachable.

The blades would be holstered against the sides of his thighs and could be slid onto the gauntlets to ready them for use.

Using some of the leftover Living Steel he made a few alternate attachments for the gauntlet.

Some claws modeled after a certain side-burned mutant, a medium length spike protruding from each side of the gauntlet for stabbing, a set of padded knuckles for non-lethal takedowns, and a small mounted crossbow.

He prepared some meat preserved in salt and other rations.

He also gathered tools for fire starting and other survival items.

To solve his lack of currency in the land he will find himself, he packed a few mana crystals which he should be able to sell.

Finally, it was the day of his fifteenth birthday and he was completely ready for his journey.

For the Mana Titans the age of fifteen is very special.

It is the age at which most complete their development period and stop growing.

Because of this it is tradition for the fifteenth birthday to be the day each person chooses their future role in the colony.

Because there are so few children a large ceremony is held whenever one turns fifteen where the child in question announces their decision and officially becomes an adult.

------------Vareth’s Perspective-----------

“Today is going to be an interesting day.” I chuckled while thinking.

“I can’t wait to see the look on everyone’s faces when Alric becomes an explorer like me. He’ll be the first child to do so in the 80 years since I chose to become one.”

“Surely because of his exploits the other elders will assume that he will become either a warrior or a hunter.”

“I’ve always had my suspicions, with him always disappearing somewhere or another, but after he asked me about the Living Steel I became sure.”

“That boy has the eyes of someone who seeks the unknown.”

I laughed to myself just a bit too loud

“Vareth! Be quiet, it's almost time.” (Other Elder)

As if on cue a young Mana Titan walked out onto the center of the open space.

He had jet black hair and piercing blue eyes that were filled with determination and passion.

At 5’11” he was taller than most other mana titans.

He had the characteristic pointed ears and slim build of the mana titan race, looking much like a very tall elf.

However, unlike the others gathered here there was something different.

I noticed it after hearing the mumbling of someone in the crowd.

“What’s up with his muscles?”

He had well defined muscles that, compared to the other Mana Titans, were like heaven and earth.

Surprise ran through me. “Why would he waste his time on that? Doesn’t he know that he can just use body strengthening?”

The Eldest of our race called out. “State your name and tell us the path you have chosen.”

A determined voice rang from the youth’s lips.

“I am Alric! And as of tomorrow I will be leaving The Great Mana Cave to journey to the surface!”

The whole audience was silenced.

Where there should be applause and congratulations there was instead confusion from the younger members and extreme shock from the elders.

The younger ones were mumbling, “The surface? What is that?” while the elders were angrily conversing saying, “The surface? Is he a fool? An Idiot? Or is this some kind of joke?”

One of the elders yelled, “Boy! The surface is a place that is spoken of in only the oldest of our legends. You mean to say that you will actually go to this place that may be no more than fiction?!”

Alric, without hesitating in the slightest, responded, “I will.”

-------------Alric’s Perspective-------------

After I uttered that final word the assembly once again descended into shocked silence.

I was just about to make it absolutely clear to them when….

“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

Every person turned to face the sudden laughter.

The crowd parted to reveal Elder Vareth.

“Alric!” Vareth yelled, “You truly are remarkable!”

“Everyone! I came here today with the expectation that Alric would announce his path as that of the explorer, one who descends into the caves, mapping them, and preparing the way for their use.”

“Instead, my expectations were blown away! Alric has decided not to become an ordinary explorer, but the greatest explorer in the history of the Mana Titans! As of tomorrow he will set out to that place of legends, the surface, where light and life are boundless!”

“Alric! I’ve watched your remarkable progress over the course of your life. You truly are the best of us. Unmatched in body strengthening and mana storage, with an insatiable desire for knowledge. You now carry the hopes of our race. If there is anyone who can reach the surface, it is you!”

“Our celebration today is coming to an end. However, tomorrow we will have another! Gather at the foot of the great vent as we send off the greatest explorer of all time!”

Vareth’s speech had lit a fire in the eyes of all those gathered there.

I yelled back, “Thank you Elder Vareth! Your words of encouragement are worth so much. Thank you all for supporting me.”

I yelled one final thing with all my might, “I WILL REACH THE SURFACE!”

Then I went home to prepare for the following morning.

The next morning, with all my supplies, I made my way to the foot of the great vent.

Along the way the rest of the villagers had lined up to send me off.

They all wished me luck in their own way.

Some simply with a nod of the head, others with a hug, some gave me parting gifts, and one woman even yelled, “Marry me!”

When I reached the vent the elders were waiting for me.

They gave me a journal and told me to record my experiences on the surface in there.

Elder Vareth stepped forward and said, “There’s one more thing.”

He took out a bag that held some object the size of my hand.

He handed it to me and I took it out.

The object was a massive diamond.

But it wasn’t an ordinary diamond, it was filled with mana.

“Is this…” I trailed off.

“It is.” Vareth replied “This is a piece of the Heart, A massive diamond in the middle of a mana well.”

“It is filled with a massive amount of mana. You may use it when you are in need. Be warned, however, because there is so much once activated it will all flood out and may only be used once. Also, do not try to use it for something like starting a fire, you’ll just blow yourself up.”

I give them my thanks, pull out my climbing picks and begin scaling the sheer cliff into the unknown.

From below me Elder Vareth yells, “I can’t wait to hear what you discover!”